It would be superstitious, not logical, to think that having said that the Demotivators in my sector had been rounded up caused them to shift shape and invade through the air ducts. When Shape-Shifting Demotivators get loose in a ship, they are very difficult to eradicate. Logically, one must remain alert and keep dealing with every sign of them. Logically, this is part of my duty as First Officer. However, I admit that I am not pleased to have spent several hours in the past week crawling through Jefferies tubes looking for Shape-Shifting Spotted Demotivator scat and nests. I do have other duties which I have not been able to attend to or to delegate. I will try to rearrange my time and duties this week.
In the meantime, if you are traveling with us, please indicate your chosen role on the ship. Are you a Science Officer, a Communications expert, the Pilot, or some other member of crew? Or are you (like JaneB) a passenger who is planning to spend most of the voyage in her quarters, perhaps with a cat for company, relying on the replicators for sustenance? Or a passenger who is social and eager to meet others on the ship?
The weekly reception for discussion of goals---past week, coming week, and voyage---is now open. Pan-Galactic Gargleblasters and other drinks are available from the bar near the viewing platform. A buffet of savoury items is to the bartender's right, with sweets on its left. Please serve yourselves and join the group. Live long and prosper.
Captain Daisy
1) Revisions
2) Revisions
3) More revisions
4) Deal with extensive fall-out from other people’s terrible decision
5) Do rescheduled fun things
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Polish and send query letters for Illuminated.
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated.
Write an hour x 5 outlining Translatio.
Organize desk 1 hour x 5.
Ask for conference reimbursement, call for doctors' appointments.
heu mihi
1. 3 hours of writing
2. 2 hours of course prep
3. Sit x 5, language x 4
4. Read 3 Collection essays and 18 sermons
5. Service miscellany (submit letter, fix 2 students' registrations, 2 Gen Ed reviews)
6. Catch up on journal work [is now a chronic fixture on my list]
humming42
1 celebrate finishing things. And report back on it. Encourage others to do the same.
2 finish and submit TRQ book review
3 fill out index cards for tiny!
4 write committee letter to the board
5 take care of five administrivia items
karen
-progress syllabi to complete draft expect for reading list
-provide feedback on all postgrad work/met/follow up with all postgrads
-document Hons progress to share next week
Susan
1. Try to get a week ahead for class
2. 4 sessions on famous author
3. Clear my desk
4. Keep up with exercise
5. Eat, mostly healthy (I've got a rich pasta dish I'm making tomorrow to celebrate having a President who actually wants to do the job, and my persimmon bread is only semi-healthy.)
6. Visit with friends, virtually
7. Follow up with Mom's doctor on home care
First Mate T’Melnor
*Finish grad syllabus
*Stick to schedule for research, languages, teaching, admin
*Keep making progress with my Albatross
*Sleep, stretch, walk, fun stuff
The first week of the semester went so well, barring the unfinished syllabus---I had a schedule, I stuck to it, I got stuff done, I exercised and had down time, I didn't thrash at all. Last week, not so much. Having three different roofers stop by for estimates was a distraction, as was a faculty meeting and having our cleaner revert to her usual day (in the good week, she came on Saturday, and that was a huge help, but she doesn't normally work on Saturdays). Also I didn't sleep well on Sunday, so started the week under par and struggling to get back to good sleep hours, on which the whole schedule depends. I spent fruitless hours trying to track down a part that I needed for a small home repair, visiting 3 stores and many online sites. The whole thing is kludged, anyhow, so maybe I can figure out a way to kludge the repair.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is useful to observe that when I'm well-rested, I'm far less cranky and better able to stick to a schedule. I think I need to establish some principles for what I do on days when there's an interruption to routine, whether scheduled or not. I actually like knowing that this is the time to do X and I can put off Y till its scheduled hour.
How I did:
*Finish grad syllabus. IN PROGRESS.
*Stick to schedule for research, languages, teaching, admin. NO.
*Keep making progress with my Albatross. 3 days.
*Sleep, stretch, walk, fun stuff. IFFY, 6/7, 7/7, SOME--had a Zoom with some friends that wasn't as much fun as anticipated. I'd rather play a game than just chat.
New goals:
*Finish grad syllabus, write and post some new assignments.
*Stick to schedule for research, languages, teaching, admin.
*Make plans B and C for days with interruptions.
*Keep making progress with my Albatross.
*Sleep, stretch, walk, fun stuff (read, visible mending, jigsaw).
I'm so impressed that you are making progress with your Albatross!
DeleteAdequate sleep is so important, the whole world looks different when one is rested. Good luck making that happen regularly!
Congratulations on your progress with Albatross!
DeleteI think that I would like to have some sort of role in reconnaissance. Something that involves subterfuge and occasional hiding. I don't know that the journey we're on will require anything like that, but it sounds cool (or looks cool in my imagination, anyway).
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. 3 hours of writing - DONE; I've been doing very well at writing these last two weeks or so!
2. 2 hours of course prep - DONE
3. Sit x 5, language x 4 - x3, x3
4. Read 3 Collection essays and 18 sermons - DONE
5. Service miscellany (submit letter, fix 2 students' registrations, 2 Gen Ed reviews) - DONE, I think, I did this stuff early in the week and only sort of vaguely remember it
6. Catch up on journal work [is now a chronic fixture on my list] - Did some, not all, what are you going to do
This week:
1) Write 3 hours
2) Read 18 sermons and 2 essays
3) 2 hours of course prep
4) yoga x 2, sit x 5, language x 5
5) Journal catch-up (this week's task: revise submission guidelines)
You're Section 31. You have a cover role in something more innocuous, like Communications. Are you crew, or a passenger?
DeleteAnd congratulations on all the writing and other done things!
DeleteThank you! And I can't decide whether I'm passenger or crew. Maybe that just adds to my mystique?
DeleteGreat job on the writing--it's becoming a habit!
DeleteHmmm. Yes, I think you're in uniform and people assume you're crew, but if we actually think about it, no one is quite sure what your role is---everyone thinks you're in some other division!
DeleteAs co-captain I’m steering the ship with the help of my excellent First Mate T’Melnor (who is totally awesome btw!). Most days I feel more like I’m the disorganized, slow crew member in the science party that goes on recon missions only to get bitten by the local fauna, or infested with something mean… But the Captain’s door keeps letting me into quarters so I’m adjusting!
ReplyDeleteIRL I’m the mum of everything, and it really does feel like EVERYTHING… From students, to colleagues (I’m in charge of a lot of things), to my professional association (president really means chief-mess-cleaner-upper), to my family… But I hate it when I’m not in charge so it’s all good really… I just wish there was time off for good behaviour…
Last week’s goals:
1) Revisions YES one paper done and sent to main author
2) Revisions YES page proofs done and sent back to journal
3) More revisions IN PROGRESS…
4) Deal with extensive fall-out from other people’s terrible decision IN PROGRESS
5) Do rescheduled fun things RESCHEDULED AGAIN (see point
4)
Well that was a horrible week. Fall-out from awful committee decision continues unabated, and general disgruntledness (is that a word? It should be…) has settled into my head for a nice long visit… I’m struggling with revisions and the amount of people-managing I have to do is making me want to cry every morning when I get up...
This week’s goals:
1) Revisions
2) Find the Earth Equivalent of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and drink the entire damn pitcher of them!
3) Keep it together… That’s all, just keep it together because I’m pretty close to losing it…
Good luck with the week everyone!
There is an Earth philosopher who sounds very Vulcan: Marcus Aurelius. He said, "In a sense, people are our proper occupation. Our job is to do them good and put up with them. But when they obstruct our proper tasks, they become irrelevant to us--like sun, wind, animals. Our actions may be impeded by them, but there can be no impeding our intentions or our dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." (Meditations, 5.20, trans. Gregory Hays)
DeleteYou are pursuing your proper tasks, Captain.
However, do note that we have a new bartender who will be pleased to mix you a pitcher of PanGalactic Gargle Blasters.
"What stands in the way becomes the way"... I love that!! I'm going to think about that a lot this week...
DeleteI've said this before, but Marcus Aurelius has gotten me through many unhappy times. I love the sentence that Daisy quotes.
DeleteI volunteer to serve as the ship's chronicler, so I'll keep track when we hit an iceberg, or are attacked by pirates. I'll do oral histories so everyone is confused about what actually happened.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, how I did:
1. Try to get a week ahead for class NO
2. 4 sessions on famous author YES. Five?
3. Clear my desk HAH!
4. Keep up with exercise YES
5. Eat, mostly healthy (I've got a rich pasta dish I'm making tomorrow to celebrate having a President who actually wants to do the job, and my persimmon bread is only semi-healthy.) YES The pasta was scrumptious, even when I substituted 1/2 and 1/2 for heavy cream...
6. Visit with friends, virtually YES
7. Follow up with Mom's doctor on home care YES and NO (Followed up, didn't get what we need.)
[8. Do UK taxes before the last minute, only the last minute but one.] YES
On Wednesday morning my time I started breathing -- as several friends have said, it's remarkable how much anxiety my body was holding. I've been sleeping better (Able to get back to sleep when I wake up is the big thing)
And the work on Famous Author has moved forward, I've added over 1000 words, and it's really helpful to think I want my students to have this.
Otherwise, the only vaccine side-effect was a very sore arm for 36 hours, so I didn't do yoga on Saturday.
My desk on the other hand is a disaster area, because everything is more interesting than sorting through the papers on it. And since I spend all day basically in one place, stuff keeps piling up. Sigh.
Goals for the week ahead:
1. Try to get a bit ahead on class
2. Work on Famous Author every day - touch it
3. Admin stuff for prof org (lots of emails) and for work (that's all starting)
4. Keep up with exercise
5. Keep eating relatively healthfully
6. Take Mom to Dr.
7. Do one hour of garden work on weekend
8. Clear desk before it is defined as a superfund site
9. Start putting together tax stuff
10. Visit with friends
Superfund site--yes, that's definitely what my desk has become. Thanks for the laugh!
DeleteExcellent progress on research, exercise, and social life!
DeleteThe "oral histories so everyone can be confused about what happened" made me laugh very hard!
DeleteSo very true...
Well, hello, everyone, I'm that passenger of a "certain age" who knits lace on the deck. I do so wish that it was a cover for some exciting secret mission, but alas, my secret skills are a mystery to me, as well.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm in full SOS mode these days. I'll be reading obediently on Translatio. In the middle of reading, I think "Ooh, there's some interesting early writing about education." In the next moment, I think, "Hey, what about the female professor here who was teaching Greek and Latin here in the late nineteenth century. What's been written on her?" Perhaps my secret skill is SOS.
Last week's goals:
Polish and send query letters for Illuminated Yes
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated. Yes
Write an hour x 5 outlining Translatio. No, but 3x
Organize desk 1 hour x 5. Yes.
Ask for conference reimbursement, call for doctors' appointments. Yes, yes.
It's been a weird couple of weeks. I have been more easily distracted, because I'm in full-on insomnia, getting 1-3 hours a night. I'm a zombie. Ah, well, this too will pass.
Next week's goals:
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated.
Write an hour x 5 finishing the outline for Translatio.
Organize desk 1 hour x 5.
Renew my professional societies' memberships.
Everyone, take care of yourselves, and float like mist.
I am so sorry about the terrible insomnia, and hope that improves soon. Your progress is especially impressive considering that you're working with that impediment.
DeleteCan I be the bartender? Providing a sympathetic listening ear fits in well with my day job, and I do like to scope for creativity that could come from replicating whatever ingredients I can think of!
ReplyDeleteLast week:
Was cut short by taking a day off at the end, and by having visiting family (which is a delight and source fo free child care but also additional chaos), but reasonably productive, if only because so many colleagues are still away.
-progress syllabi to complete draft expect for reading list - YES
-provide feedback on all postgrad work/met/follow up with all postgrads - YES
-document Hons progress to share next week - in bits and pieces, but still need to gather into a single place
This week:
A shorter one still, with only 3 working days and disruption from volunteering work. But I've been doing lots of exercise and relaxation up to this point, so that has to be good. In terms of manageable goals:
-complete the reading list for new course
-circulate completed Hons documentation for feedback
-spend 2 pomodoros on research project
We can certainly use a bartender! Mix the Captain a pitcher of PanGalactic Gargle Blasters, please. She had a hard week, with all the shape-shifting spotted demotivators as well as her Albatross. Vulcans do not ingest intoxicating substances, so if she becomes incapacitated I will take over.
DeleteLots of exercise and relaxation is definitely good!
We need a bartender!! So, pour me a small glass of the PanGalatic Gargle Blaster.
DeleteBecause it is actually my academic discipline, I will volunteer to serve as a COMMS officer. During my time in my quarters, I will brush up on the protocols for interplanetary and interspecies introductions and will also hope that universal translator will always be available.
ReplyDeleteLast week
1 celebrate finishing things. And report back on it. Encourage others to do the same: No. Definitely need to figure how to do this, then remember to do it.
2 finish and submit TRQ book review: Yes.
3 fill out index cards for tiny!: Yes and no. The cards arrived, I filled out two of them, and then suddenly I was able to follow the organizing/outline system I’ve always used. It was a relief, and the charming little cards will have their moment.
4 write committee letter to the board: No. Totally overdue, can’t seem to get to it.n
5 take care of five administrivia items: Not keeping a tally but definitely sweeping up the administrivia.
This week
1 write committee letter
2 submit old creative piece to new competition
3 spend 3 hours fitting tiny lit review items into outline structure
4 draft and submit Boredom abstract
I can imagine an adventure when the universal translator goes on the blink! I'll keep that up my sleeve if I need an idea for a week's theme, so thank you!
DeleteIt's great that you were able to return to your familiar system. Sometimes we just need to try something new and shake up the routines a bit.
I immediately thought of all the false cognates in the Romance languages, which often cause much hilarity and embarrassment.
Delete