Good morning to all our crew and passengers! This week we are travelling through the region of space I like to call the “Honeymoon is Over Expanse”… It is far enough away from our departure that the initial excitement has waned, it is too far from the halfway point or the destination to have a real sense of progress, and it is usually inhabited by a fairly featureless cloud of gas that often makes the crew feel an urgent need for shore leave or induces a desire to retrain and work on organic farms in the outer reaches of the Galaxy…
But if we look closely at the cloud there are some wonderfully sparkly bits of planetoids, gorgeous cloud formations, and during some voyages we catch a glimpse of the spiral galaxy hidden in the cloud. We will gather in the observation lounge (yes, the one with the bar!) starting at 6pm to see if we can spot some of these phenomena, guided by our astronomy team.
For this week’s check-in it would be wonderful
if you can share your own sparkly bits that get you through the bland periods
in your voyage.
Note: As a point regarding ship safety, PanGalactic Gargle
Blasters should not be removed from the bar area. They tend to melt right
through the bulkheads on the rest of the ship if spilled and since that happens
with alarming frequency it is best to keep them in the bar where the floors are
reinforced for exactly that eventuality and the new bartender is on hand to
administer first aid.
GOALS from
last week:
*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).
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated.
Write an hour x 5 finishing the outline for Translation.
Organize desk 1 hour x 5.
Renew my professional societies' memberships.
Captain Daisy
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…
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)
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
-complete the reading list for new course
-circulate completed Hons documentation for feedback
-spend 2 pomodoros on research project
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
Since I spend so much time knitting and reading in the lounge with the forward viewing ports, I've seen lots of sparklies. Okay, true, it doesn't hurt that the bar's right there, as well.
ReplyDeleteLast week was full of sparklies in my research, too, which helped pull me out of the Slough of Despond. After several weeks of finding that many ideas from my "further research" file have been worked on by other scholars, I started to find gems of ideas, sparkling away in obscure works. It's so nice to stumble across a gem, even if the ruby turns out to be a garnet. There are so many works that deserve attention, even if they take more digging and polishing.
Last week's goals:
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated. Yes.
Write an hour x 5 finishing the outline for Translatio. Only 2 hours.
Organize desk 1 hour x 5. Yes.
Renew my professional societies' memberships. Yes.
My insomnia is slowly getting better, in that I'm sleeping about 4 hours a night. It's not where I want it to be, but it's on the right trajectory. I'm able to get more work done, even if some of that has to be more mindless, like filing and organizing.
Classes start tomorrow, but that won't change things much for me until the beginning of April, since I'm getting the first vaccination in mid-March. Until then, I'm still working from home.
Next week's goals:
Edit at least 5 pages of Illuminated.
FINISH the outline for Translatio.
Organize desk and files 2 hours x 5.
Write exploratory notes about two possible topics 1 hour x 5.
There's going to be rough weather across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast United States the next few days. I hope all of you in the path of the storm stay safe and warm. Also, everyone, take care of yourselves, and float like mist.
It's good to hear that you have research sparklies and that sleep is headed in the right direction! It sounds like you also have a much clearer, more organized desk, which will help a lot. I hope things keep going well this week.
DeleteOn behalf of Team Garnet I feel like I should object - garnets are way cooler than rubies in every possible way! Garnets tell us things about temperature and pressure in the depths of ancient mountains, record exhumation pathways, tell me about deformation mechanisms, preserve inclusions that can be dated... and many many other cool things! Never discount the garnets!
DeleteBut other than that, great week for you!
Definitely joining our esteemed captain on Team Garnet. The so called "semi precious" stones are more resilient, stronger, and more colorful.
DeleteWonderful that you are finding sparklies that will shine when brought out into the light.
Oh, I'm glad to find friends of the "semi-precious" stones. I much prefer the color of the garnet to the ruby, as well as many others, amethyst, aquamarine, and on and on.
DeleteI humbly offer my apologies to all those who understandably read my comment as an affront to the lovely garnet.
And thank you, Captain, for the fascinating information on the scientific strengths of garnet--fascinating!!
DeleteHehehe, my geology geek is showing!
DeleteGarnets also come in lavendar, pink, green, orange, black, along with the various shades of deep red... I literally take them apart for research, so endlessly fascinating!
Sparkly bits are the so good and so necessary! I’ve been trying hard to notice those as they come by… I found a great one in the shape of a new project with old friends, still in planning stages but if it works it will be amazing… Another good sparkly bit was a really good thing that happened for someone else. And I was reminded that I have wonderful co-authors because one of them suggested a new project and I hated it and was totally overwhelmed and cried all over him (new use of zoom) for a bit, and so he reorganized it so I would have the good bits without the parts (more accurately, the people) that caused the emotional turmoil. He’s the best!
ReplyDeleteI found a big one in the shape of a strategic retreat from revisions… I did something new to me this week… I had revisions to do for a paper, and after two weeks of working on it I realized that doing the revisions the way the editor and reviewers wanted them made the paper, well, boring… As in perfectly confirms everything we knew already, but without the somewhat controversial bits I had in it was solid, but a bit boring… And that meant that doing the “make globally relevant to international readers” requests were going to be virtually impossible, or at the very least arm-wavy in the extreme… And I don’t like that. If I’m going to wave about something it should be something new… So, we pulled the paper out of the volume! Said thanks but no thanks, I’m going to do another few months of analytical stuff to fill in some gaps, and we’ll write the fancy exciting version later instead of doing the boring one now… It was quite a revelation to me, knowing that I had enough papers (2 others in that same volume and it is only January!) that I did not have to make myself crazy doing another one… And that I had enough confidence to say I will wait and do something bigger…
Last week’s goals:
1) Revisions SOME DONE, SOME CANNED
2) Find the Earth Equivalent of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and drink the entire damn pitcher of them! DONE!
3) Keep it together… That’s all, just keep it together because I’m pretty close to losing it… LOST IT FOR A DAY AND THEN GOT BACK ON TRACK.
This week’s goals:
1) Take a day and finish all association stuff and admin for student thing
2) Do a morning of Albatross planning
3) Tackle one part of Albatross
4) Make arrangements for grad student class projects
5) Do something fun with kid, and something fun with friends
Wow! Things are so different in the sciences, but it's great that you can hold off and do something bigger instead of the thing that bored you. I think probably "losing it for a day" is ultimately therapeutic. Good luck this week!
DeleteMy shinies are people, and the chance to see people whether it is on holodeck or in real life. Lessons from last year, I think - build and maintain relationships when you can.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
Rather disrupted by being a short week and life distractions
-complete the reading list for new course - progressed but not completed
-circulate completed Hons documentation for feedback - no
-spend 2 pomodoros on research project - no
This week:
-complete reading list, have welcome section, task 1, and week 1 content online.
-respond to all postgrad writing received by end of Wed
-close out last year big online unit inbox and set to bounce
-research day enforced (4 pomodoros)
Life distractions happen; in a writing group run by Another Damned Medievalist, we used to use the term Overcome By Events, or OBE. You made progress, so that's good, and this week offers new chances!
DeleteEnjoy the research day! Sometimes those can be a really good reset button!
DeleteGetting outside generally helps. Occasional get-togethers with friends (woefully infrequent these days, because it's so cold). And also the moments when writing is going well!
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I'm in the doldrums yet, because classes start tomorrow, for me--ask again in a couple of weeks!
Last week:
heu mihi
1) Write 3 hours - 2.5
2) Read 18 sermons and 2 essays - Yes
3) 2 hours of course prep - Yes
4) yoga x 2, sit x 5, language x 5 - Yes, x4, x4--so pretty good
5) Journal catch-up (this week's task: revise submission guidelines) - Forgot all about this; mostly ignored the journal(s)
This week:
1) Write 3 hours
2) Journal work: read over and find reviewers for 2 essays, editorial guidelines, check-in with co-editor
3) Write up my part of internal program assessment
4) Read over paper due 3/1, which I haven't looked at in about a year
5) Firm up plans for asynchronous and honors students in my class
6) Read 20 sermons
7) Sit x5, language x5
You did well with your goals, and a week off from the journal is probably therapeutic! I agree about getting outside. I hope your semester starts well: good luck with everything!
DeleteGreat week for goals! Here's to keeping the momentum up and the doldrums away!
DeleteWhen the sun comes out, the whole world sparkles, since it's covered in snow. I did some shoveling yesterday, and will do more today. I'm generally very contented with life these days: the new house is great, Sir John seems to be enjoying retirement, I like not having to commute, the cats are well, and I keep ordering little things (books, a silk slip) that I forget about and then it's like getting presents in the mail. So while I can't think of any big sparkly things, I live in a sort of sparkly mist!
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
*Finish grad syllabus, write and post some new assignments. MORE OR LESS. Syllabus is halfway through the term, and the most urgent assignments went up.
*Stick to schedule for research, languages, teaching, admin. CLOSE ENOUGH.
*Make plans B and C for days with interruptions. YES (as of this morning, when I was reminded of this goal).
*Keep making progress with my Albatross. HMM--I spent research hours this week re-reading the primary text. I'm not sure that was necessary, or that it moved me forward, but I found a couple of useful bits to add somewhere.
*Sleep, stretch, walk, fun stuff (read, visible mending, jigsaw). YES to all, though I didn't start a jigsaw--some books arrived and I read them, instead.
OTHER: made another storage-unit run. The next will be the last!
This week's goals:
*Final bits of grad syllabus, write and post some new assignments.
*Stick to schedule for research, languages, teaching, admin.
*Write two sections of my Albatross.
*Pay bills, other financial stuff.
*Sleep, stretch, walk, fun stuff (read, visible mending, jigsaw).
The end of the storage unit is in sight! So exciting!
DeleteLove the idea of a sparkly mist! Maybe the mist which we all try to emulate as we float around can have some additional sparkles added? Will talk to the procurement department about that!
DeleteI'm so glad the house and surroundings and everything else are cooperating to make life pleasant!
Sparklies. . . it was a lovely warm day today, and I attended a zoom birthday party for my god-daughter's son, who turned 13. Unfortunately with zoom parties, you don't get cake. And my students are largely game, and engaging. So all good.
ReplyDelete1. Try to get a bit ahead on class NO
2. Work on Famous Author every day - touch it 5 days
3. Admin stuff for prof org (lots of emails) and for work (that's all starting) YES
4. Keep up with exercise YES
5. Keep eating relatively healthfully YES
6. Take Mom to Dr. YES
7. Do one hour of garden work on weekend YES
8. Clear desk before it is defined as a superfund site YES (though this will be a constant struggle.)
9. Start putting together tax stuff NOT REALLY
10. Visit with friends YES, several
So it appears that my class will be very much shaped in relation to questions my students ask, so getting ahead is a challenge. I end up doing lots of playing around in various articles and sources. I've made progress on Famous Author, even when (as today) I've spent a half hour looking at some sources but not writing a word. Surprisingly, the admin stuff feels under control (for a few minutes, at least!). The garden needs lots of work, and we had a lot of rain last week, so the cleanup was extensive. But I've finished pruning the roses. Now to start feeding plants, and pulling weeds.
THe thing is, I'm just tired. Even when I get good sleep I'm tired. Like most people I know, the fact that it's been almost a year of isolation and trying to carry on is just wearing. Even when I've had my second shot, it's clear that I'll still be cautious, just a bit less anxious. I'm worried about my mother -- nothing specific, but I just see her failing and struggling. I'm trying not to pay attention to the idiocy from the admin by mostly boycotting the 3241 town halls scheduled each week. And I think the preceding paragraph (with a few different details) could be written by almost everyone I know.
Anyway, that's enough grumbling. There are shiny things, and I've made progress on Famous Author, which may not be an albatross after all. And I'm thinking about doing stuff with life project at conferences next year, which means I assume I *will* finish Famous Author this summer.
Goals for the week ahead:
1. Keep on doing *something* with Famous Author every day
2. Keep up with class things
3. Write memos for committee
4. Review proofs of article from last year
5. Try to keep desk under control
6. DEAL WITH EMAIL WHICH IS JUST A DISASTER. 1 hr x 2
7. Keep on working out
8. Keep up with healthy eating
9. Hang out with friends.
Congratulations on all the Yesses! And the nice sparkly bits, along with a not-albatross makes for a pretty good week! Being tired and fed-up resonates with so many of us, it is a long slog... Keep doing the things that help!
DeleteUrgent need for shore leave, indeed. Or at least a holodeck space where I can get some extra time? I’m not sure how the time/space continuum works out here in the Honeymoon is Over Expanse.
ReplyDeleteIn my online creative writing class, I was discouraged about this week’s piece. To boost my confidence, my instructor said the piece had both sparkle and shine (which in fact, the two parts were about objects that might shine and the second part had a lot of celestial references). This pleased me, because there is sparkle here at TLQ and my word of the year for 2020 was shine.
Last week
1 write committee letter: nope
2 submit old creative piece to new competition: yes
3 spend 3 hours fitting tiny lit review items into outline structure: nope
4 draft and submit Boredom abstract: yes
This week
1 write terribly late committee letter
2 spend 3 hours fitting tiny lit review items into outline structure
3 read book for upcoming review
4 catch up on teaching things
We'll definitely sign you up for extra holodeck time.
DeleteTime is really a construct anyway, and since we've now realized that Mondays last approximately 187 hours, and a week can vary from being slightly longer than a day (of indeterminate duration) to about a month (which is now defined as "slightly longer than the period of time since one's last haircut but a bit shorter than the period of time since one last wore real pants and a bra at the same time) we're really not too fussed about the amount of time our crew or passengers spend doing anything... So enjoy the holodeck! May I recommend "Put the PANDA in Pandemic", a lovely nature documentary consisting entirely of pandas eating bamboo, rolling down hills, climbing on snowmen, and being generally adorable, it is very relaxing!
And congratulations on the sparkle and shine! That's a lovely comment to get on any writing!!
Put the PANDA in Pandemic sounds like an absolute delight!
ReplyDeleteLast haircut: January 10, 2020.
Today seemed only like a week, where yesterday was definitely a month.
Thank you for the cheer!