We're almost at the end of the line -- I think next week is the last week. For many of us in the US, summer (as in the time we're not teaching) is winding down, if it hasn't ended, and we're gearing up for teaching. So as I was reading about local expressions, I was also thinking about change. If the seasons shaped by the rotation of the earth provide rhythms for the year outside, for those of us who are academics, there are work patterns that often dominate our lives. The big one is the difference between teaching time and non-teaching time; but there are also conference seasons, job search seasons, etc. This year is feeling a bit strange for me, because we're gearing up for the start of the semester, but none of the things we generally do are happening, at least not in person. Are there ways you mark the these work related seasons? Are there rituals, clothing, meals, or anything that you do at the start of a semester? How might they be different now?
In your response this week, could you also note if you're interested in hosting the fall session, running perhaps September 4-December 18 (16 weeks). I'm making the dates up, but it's basically taking a week off between sessions...
Goals from last week:
Daisy
1) Outline and rough draft of local paper
2) Revive neglected paper yet again (this one is starting to remind of an albatross of some sort!)
3) submit almost ready papers with co-author
4) Fun thing for child: online science camp
5) Fun thing for me: 2 night cabin writing retreat with two dear friends, both in my social bubble (also beach and kayaking and good food and a cooler of drinks coming!)
Dame Eleanor
Work regular office hours, with some on each of research, teaching, languages. Finish undergrad syllabus, write grad syllabus, write some assignments, put things into online course shells.
Regular exercise, stretching, safe eating (stop experimenting!), fun things.
~2 hours a day unpacking and/or life admin (try to clear out some significant number of energy-sucking undone life admin tasks).
Keep track of what I'm doing so I don't wonder where the day went.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Finish outlines on Illuminated, Sources, and Parody.
Take notes on articles for the lit review: 2 a day x 6
Continue cleanup of paper and electronic files: 2 hours x 5 .
For fun: one new craft project 1 hour x 6.
Heu Mihi
1) Record 4 more lectures (did 2 on Monday, so this is semi-cheating, but it'll be a small miracle if I do the other two this week, too)
2) Review article!!!
3) Assign reviewers for other article
4) Prep 2 more powerpoints (need to do this before I can record the lectures)
5) Comment on grad student's essay
6) Final syllabus for seminar
7) Brew beer
8) Finish processing first 50 lbs. of tomatoes (almost done already, but I'm putting it on here anyway)
9) Read other grad student's conclusion
Humming42 (carried over)
1 finish Square and submit
2 keep up with grading summer online classes
3 finish reading next book for review
4 consider editing a creative piece for submission
JaneB (carried over)
1) get to bed before midnight at least 5 nights
1b) do something Not Work and Not Noodling every evening
2) Do workshop follow-up stuff (we have a follow-up meeting on Friday afternoon. In the 'ot. And my desk is in the hottest corner of my house. SIGH). Do comments on manuscript for post-grad.
3) do all the set up for transitioning into my next bullet journal...
4) do at least one more Summer Thing off my fun ideas list
5) be ready to start gaming with niece...
6) make some progress on at least setting up the VLE pages for the new academic year...
Oceangirl101 (carried over)
1. COntinue to prep stuff for new grad student orientation
2. Outline Ch 8 and start writing
3. Data bits finalized for Ch 7, rewrite text as needed
4. Data bits together for co-authored paper
5. Consider if I want to write regional text-like book for well known press
6. Paperwork for aunt in memory care to get her into state system
7. Consider buying porch furniture so outdoor space is more comfy and available for social distancing with a friend at a time during cooler months
Susan
1. Record, caption and upload 2 welcome videos
2. Release pre-course welcome module.
3. Get most of module 1 done before I go away
4. Read essays for article prize #2. Why did I say yes to a second article prize? (#2 is the earlier commitment).
5. Three hours on famous author
6. Get basic syllabus for grad course. (I'm less stressed, because this is a workshop course, so...)
7. Keep walking
8. Keep reading for pleasure
9. SLEEP
I keep thinking about what to wear on the first day of classes and reminding myself that it doesn't really matter. Not that I am one of the people who has been living in pajamas for months. A pandemic is no reason to lower one's standards, IMHO, and I get properly dressed every day. But I wear shorter skirts than I wear to campus! Another difference is that I don't have to start packing lunches and other meals to take to school. I mean, I could pack them to save a bit of time, working from home, but things taste better made fresh, so I will do that.
ReplyDeleteAs I expected, I lost some time this week to errands etc related to Sir John's foot surgery; also sleep has turned shockingly bad. I think I'm really wound up about finishing all the prep for teaching online. It takes so much time to think through how to do things that I would normally do on the fly, in class; but I'm trying to make online classes really worthwhile and not a waste of time. So there's been a lot of TRQ, and this coming week is really going to be TRQ-oriented.
Nonetheless, I have persisted at reading/noting about 20 pages of a massive book most days, so I'm keeping up with my 100-pages-per-week goal. That's the most I'm managing w/r/t research. Heu mihi, I'm looking forward to reading your Silence essay, which I collected with my mail on a recent trip to campus.
Also! Remember in June, I had an R&R rejected and just sent it out again the same day because I did.not.have.time. to even consider revisions? The next place accepted it, with revisions, but at least it's an acceptance, so I'll try to beef it up the way they want and get it off my plate.
Oh, right, report on old goals, set new ones.
DeleteHow I did:
Work regular office hours, with some on each of research, teaching, languages. Finish undergrad syllabus, write grad syllabus, write some assignments, put things into online course shells. Not so much. I tried, and persevered on reading (as above), made progress on teaching stuff, but there is still so.much.to.do. No languages :(
Regular exercise, stretching, safe eating (stop experimenting!), fun things. YES. Doing well here: managed a bit of running yesterday, more than I expected to be capable of; the Criterium du Dauphiné is happening, and televised, so we've been watching it in the evenings. Yay! It's just not summer without cycling. Talked to one friend; wrote to another.
~2 hours a day unpacking and/or life admin (try to clear out some significant number of energy-sucking undone life admin tasks). Just a couple of admin things; not much unpacking.
Keep track of what I'm doing so I don't wonder where the day went.As usual, more or less: at least I have some accomplishments each day. I get more done on days when I track more closely, but those are also days when I am home with my computer rather than out doing errands.
New goals:
Work regular office hours, with some on each of research, teaching, languages. Finish undergrad syllabus, write grad syllabus, write more assignments, put things into online course shells.
Regular exercise, stretching, safe eating, fun things.
~2 life admin tasks; clear areas of my study that would be visible on web cam.
Keep track of what I'm doing so I don't wonder where the day went.
I'm willing to host the fall session, or to share it if someone is interested in trading weeks.
Aw, thanks! I hope you like it! (You're acknowledged there, by the way!)
DeleteYay on the acceptance! Even being given directions for revision is helpful!
DeleteEchoing the congrats on the acceptance! Also, I need to think about clearing some of the attic for the webcam, although I have a virtual background in the interim.
DeleteCongratulations on the acceptance! Hope the revisions are painless and sensible!
DeleteAnd good luck with the course planning and construction!
Hi. I had a week off last week. I only did about 15 hours of essential work stuff, and I spent a lot of time being idle which I think I really really needed. BUT now I have three weeks to make the first five weeks of online teaching AND get community project launched AND sort out a load of problems with non approved student risk assessments AND AND AND. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteSo some goals for a very last week:
a) self-care. The usual. Try to get some better habits. TRY
b) at least make some good lists of what teaching prep needs doing, and try to prioritise. (All The Things)
c) Get all my lists transferred to my new work journal
d) prepare for the next big meeting of community project, and get interns started. UGH.
I am so not in the mood for being a grown up.
I completely agree on not being in the mood for being a grown up.
DeleteA week "off" in which you work 15 hours just isn't fair! I'm sorry.
DeleteI agree, that was *not* a week off. No wonder you don't want to be a grown up! That was a hard sell when I was a kid, and even harder sell now.
DeleteBeing grownup is highly overrated! I remember my mother telling me that when I wanted to be "older and in charge of my own life"...
DeleteIt is especially overrated when allthe other supposed "adults" are squabbling like toddlers...
Good luck with prioritizing, it always feels better to have a list with things we can tackle in a sensible order. Take care of yourself too!! That is priority 1!
This semester is even stranger since my husband won’t be teaching. I will miss working with him through all of the writing of syllabi and planning of classes and activities. I don’t have any usual rituals but as Dame Eleanor said, the question of what to wear hangs with me too, but first for the college-wide faculty meeting that happens the week before classes. This semester, it will be a Zoom meeting. Then I decide what to wear for first day...although I’m teaching all asynchronous classes so I need to figure out how to “go to class” during the day. I’m planning to make a space for myself in the living room on the most comfortable and cozy couch I’ve ever owned, so that should be a happy thing. WIth hope I can also find the dedication to clean my office and maybe make that a useful space as well.
ReplyDeleteLast week and the week before:
1 finish Square and submit: Got an extension, now TRQ
2 keep up with grading summer online classes: Yes, happy to see them finish
3 finish reading next book for review: Yes
4 consider editing a creative piece for submission: Edited one, feeling shy about submitting although I’m not sure why
This week:
1 finish Square and submit
2 finish Fall syllabi
3 clean up leftover student admin issues from Spring and Summer
4 complete second round review for resubmitted article
Wishing you more peace, less hassle in the week ahead.
I imagine the further disruption of the atmosphere of your husband not teaching would be very odd, but it sounds like you have some good plans for "class."
DeleteAlso, I understand completely your shyness about submitting your creative piece, which I susupect feels more personal than your academic articles, but I'd encourage you to send it out. A piece can never find the person who needs to read it if it ian't released into the wild.
Lots of great done things, good luck with getting the Square all done!
DeleteI second EAM's encouragement to submit the creative piece, definitely harder to let go than our standard academic articles but will be satisfying in a new and fun way I'm sure!
My major Summer/Fall anchor is field work. I go away for fairly long stretches most years, and usually come back right about this time in August. The ritual of cleaning and packing away the field gear is a clear punctuation mark for most summers. I have not done any field work this summer, still don’t have “permission” to go out, even locally, which makes me feel completely unmoored and lost. Field work is also the part of my job I like best, and the part that restores my enthusiasm and joy every year, so I’m struggling without that. I don’t like that feeling at all.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing that I will miss most is the whole “first week of class” excitement. Meeting new students, getting the classes going, seeing colleagues again, just the general excitement... All that will be missing, and even though I’m usually pretty upbeat and positive, I’m dreading everything related to online teaching. Knowing that it is the safe and sensible choice helps a lot, so I’m trying very hard to keep an open mind and preparing to be pleasantly surprised by everything that doesn’t suck!
Last week’s goals:
1) Outline and rough draft of local paper OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE YES, DRAFT NO
2) Revive neglected paper yet again (this one is starting to remind of an albatross of some sort!) NOPE, BUT RENAMING IT ALBATROSS…
3) submit almost ready papers with co-author HE KEEPS PROMISING…
4) Fun thing for child: online science camp GREAT
5) Fun thing for me: 2 night cabin writing retreat with two dear friends, both in my social bubble (also beach and kayaking and good food and a cooler of drinks coming!) GREAT
Our retreat was a lot of fun! I did lots of thinking and notebook scribbling and reflecting and planning, all the stuff I never have time for. Also did a ton of kayaking, ocean swimming, and beach sitting, which were all fantastic. But wow, I always forget how high-maintenance people can be when traveling and even though we generally rubbed along quite well I had many good laughs about the incredibly miniscule (to my mind of course) people will freak out over or complain about. Of course I recognize that I am used to very different environments and have a very low bar for comfort – if I don’t have to dig my own outhouse hole and carry a bear gun I consider it a luxury camp! So a great success overall. Apparently to my friends I’m “the one who pushes them out of their comfort zones and drags them off on adventures they would never consider”! There are worse things to be, I’ll take it!
This week’s goals:
1) Create order in house chaos, tidy up and throw out summer pandemic detritus
2) Revive Albatross paper
3) Plan out two courses and try to keep existential panic to a minimum
4) Planning meetings with colleagues teaching in my program
5) Stop worrying about when co-author submits the damn papers
6) Fun things: kid birthday
I laughed out loud at your description of the picky campers, Daisy. I am not a "glamper," but I would draw the line at carrying a bear gun! Truthfully, the retreat sounds so lovely.
DeleteAlbatross is a great name for your paper; you may find it helps you to pay attention to it now that it has a name.
And giving up worrying about the co-author is a very sane goal.
August is always the month of processing tomatoes for me, and that hasn't really changed--I have pounds 70-100 (of 100, purchased at this one farm stand over the last two weeks) sitting downstairs, waiting to be turned into tomato soup, puttanesca, and herby pizza sauce, which will be stowed away in the chest freezer. At a batch of sauce/soup per day, I should be done on Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI mostly gave myself a break from running last week, for the first time since March--I only ran twice instead of 5 times. This has been the Year of Exercise.
I'm also feeling antsy about research again, which is good. I stopped working on my own stuff about a month ago to focus on teaching prep, and it was a relief at the time...but I want to re-engage with scholarship now. It'll be nice once my son is back in "school" (online begins 9/16; he might be back in person 10/19) and has something to DO. But my classes start on Monday (24th) so I don't know how much time I can put into my own stuff! Husband has had August mostly off from work, too, and that's going to end.... Ugh, I kinda wish that everyone would go away sometimes. My work space doesn't have a door on it, either.
Last week:
1) Record 4 more lectures - DONE. An annoyance is that our internet is sucking hard at the moment, so I need to go to campus to record these things. Hoping that my class meetings actually work.
2) Review article!!! - DONE
3) Assign reviewers for other article - DONE
4) Prep 2 more powerpoints (need to do this before I can record the lectures) - DONE
5) Comment on grad student's essay - DONE
6) Final syllabus for seminar - DONE
7) Brew beer - NOT DONE
8) Finish processing first 50 lbs. of tomatoes (almost done already, but I'm putting it on here anyway) - DONE
9) Read other grad student's conclusion - DONE LAST NIGHT
Wow, that was a lot of stuff.
This week:
1. Finish prepping for MA defense (which is today)
2. Brew beer (delicious Belgian abbey-style ale)
3. Prep for day 1 of seminar
4. Edit transcripts/cc for two lecture days
5. Process rest of tomatoes (approx. 40 lbs)
6. Get back o n exercise schedule
That is a lot of "done." I'm also impressed with the 100 lbs. of tomatoes! It sounds lovely to have the products in the freezer, and not so lovely to put the work in, but that's just me :)
DeleteI hear you about the lack of a door. I dream of a she-shed with a advance warning system, but in the meantime I will be happy with the set of stairs that wards off most intruders.
Trying to visualize 100 lbs of tomatoes and failing! I love cooking ahead and freezing things, now I want to try the bulk tomato thing!
DeleteHope beer and MA defense both went well!
Things usually don't change for me in the fall, and the new normal will continue in part for this fall. In the spring, I had to adjust the ritual of "going to work." There are some changes that will continue. Not only am I climbing an extra set of stairs to the attic, but I get to take my tea with me. I do have paper clips in the attic, but still no ink pens. Like Dame Eleanor, I have been dressing for work all spring and summer; also like Dame Eleanor, I have been wearing sundresses and shorter skirts that I would never wear on campus. I do put on makeup for "official" Zoom calls.
ReplyDeleteLast week’s goals:
Finish outlines on Illuminated, Sources, and Parody. Yes, although I don’t completely like the outcomes.
Take notes on articles for the lit review: 2 a day x 6. Only an average of 1 a day.
Continue cleanup of paper and electronic files: 2 hours x 5 . Yes. The Philosopher has begun scanning paper files that do not need to remain paper, and that is proving extremely helpful for cleaning out the attic office.
For fun: one new craft project 1 hour x 6. Yes. Actually did a bit more, until the arthritis in my hands started complaining.
Analysis:
Things started to move at warp speed this past week. I had one department meeting last week to figure out how to open our research room safely, and even after 1 ½ hours, we didn’t tack everything down, so we have another meeting this week. I still don’t know what class I will be taking this semester (which starts Monday), since my advisor is still on sabbatical and (I suspect) not reading his email. I got the green light for using my grant monies to go to the archive, but it is still up in the air when it will open to researchers.
I have done outlines and some lit review for the presentations that I was planning to turn into articles. I found out that only one will be easy to convert, but the other two may offer some seeds for further investigation. I wouldn’t have known that without doing a survey of the literature, so I’m okay with that.
I’ve also been asked to do a review of an article as well as co-edit a special issue. What happened to my “No” button? Well, it all looks good on the cv, but I will be busy this fall! Speaking of which, I was invited yesterday to an all-day retreat of the Informatics’ home college, occurring today (!). I think it is because I am officially beginning the program this fall, although I am certainly not the usual Ph.D. student. It should be interesting--I hope.
Next week’s goals:
Concentrate on the lit review for Illuminated: 2 articles a day x 5.
Continue to cull, combine, and organize electronic files. 2 hours x 5.
Get everything in shape for the beginning of the semester.
Continue working on the lace curtains: 1 hour x 6.
I hope that those of us facing an imminent semester have well-girded (or is that well-girt?) loins, and that those with a little more breathing room have some time to relax before the semester starts. Float like mist, everyone.
One article a day is an impressive pace in my book!
DeleteThat was a busy week! And sounds like a busy but satisfying semester coming up.
DeleteThe thought of organizing my electronic files causes terror and makes me want to hide! Hats off for doing that!
My one regular back to school ritual is that I have a special necklace I wear on the first day of class - it’s a book (with real pages inside) so inspiration for the semester. But I miss the less formal rituals of the start of the year - running into colleagues in the hall, chatting and catching up. Yesterday I had a zoom panel to record, and my colleagues and I kept talking for a half hour after we’d finished recording. We just wanted to hang out!
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
1. Record, caption and upload 2 welcome videos YES
2. Release pre-course welcome module. YES
3. Get most of module 1 done before I go away YES, ready to release tomorrow
4. Read essays for article prize #2. Why did I say yes to a second article prize? (#2 is the earlier commitment). YES
5. Three hours on famous author. ??? I think 1?
6. Get basic syllabus for grad course. (I'm less stressed, because this is a workshop course, so...) YES
7. Keep walking. YES
8. Keep reading for pleasure. YES
9. SLEEP. MOSTLY
Well, the videos were more stressful than I expected, because they mentioned the need of captioning, but we actually don’t have software that makes it easy. So... I had a meltdown, some very nice tech staff helped me, and I worked it out, but it was a whole day of anxiety. But now I know, and I’ve even recommended better software to the campus. Anyway, I’m finally feeling like I have things under control, more or less. We also had some drama related to prize #1, as we wanted to split it and were told we couldn’t... All this stuff takes time.
Goals for the week ahead are modest, since I’m sitting in a hotel room overlooking the water, listening to the tide come in, and watching the birds. I even thought Isaw a sea lion swimming a few minutes ago, but I think I was wrong.
1. Set up videos for week 2 of undergrad class
2. Do welcome video for grad class
3. Have meeting about article prize #2
4. 1 hour on famous author
Reality strikes next Monday, which is also my birthday: the first of 2 4 hour zoom “retreats” with our new chancellor. Wednesday classes start. I’m still terrified, but at least I understand the technology and have figured out how to manage things in our LMS.
I should have added to my to do list — enjoy the sea, walk and read! But that will happen anyway :)
DeleteOh those retreats sound awful! Good luck! Turn off your video and do other things while they're going on.
DeleteI have to agree with heu mihi--those retreats sound definitely worthy of "no video." I also wanted to say you should wear the first day necklace anyway--it will serve as a ritual, and that may help.
DeleteI was totally going to wear my first day necklace. And will do a fair bit of those retreats with video off...
DeleteEnjoy the ocean and let it wash away all the stress!
DeleteForgot to mention that I am happy to host or co-host the next season, as long as you keep the expectations for my prompts verrrry low!
ReplyDelete