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Saturday 27 February 2021

2021 Session 1, Week 8: Mid-voyage Goal Review

Well, it is that time of the voyage… We’re just about half-way and it is time to check in with ourselves and our voyage goals. Don’t know about you but these always give me a nasty shock and I always ending up feeling a mixture of pity and annoyance for the naïve sod who made my plans 2 months ago… So for this round I promise to treat that naïve sod with kindness and not be overly harsh when reviewing my goals. I also promise to be ruthless in throwing out the ones that I do not want to keep carrying with me on this voyage, there are other trips, other ships, and not everything needs to be dragged along this time…

We will be having a special baggage/goal jettisoning session in the aft loading bay at the end of the week. Please prepare anything that needs to be thrown off the ship and we will have it picked up in a cabin sweep before the ceremony. In order to minimize our contribution to space flotsam/jetsam pollution we will be chuck our excess baggage and goals, and then immediate vapourize them with the defensive laser array. If anyone who wants to press buttons for shooting at cargo please sign up below, I can highly recommend this as an excellent destressing activity. Our safety officer will be on hand to make sure we do not do any damage to innocently passing ships or planets.

The baggage ceremony will be followed by the official MidWay Ball where we will get a chance to wear our gorgeous gowns (or suits or leisure leggings of your choice) and dance with our voyage guests. The dance teacher will be offering refresher lessons on waltzes and maybe tangos for the brave, and medical team will notified to expect the occasional sprained ankle… The sign-up sheet for dancing with Captain Vorpatril is right next to the one for laser duty. In the interest of collegiality (and concern for the Captain’s health) please limit yourself to signing up for two dances only. If he’s still standing after those it will be first-come for the rest of the evening!

SESSION GOALS:

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

Reassess my 5-year plan.
Get Illuminated out to a journal.
Outline Translated.
Organize quarters.
Deepen and normalize self-care practices.

 Captain Daisy

1) Finish my Albatross paper! This has been an ongoing goal for ages but the paper keeps changing and is constantly being shoved aside for more urgent things.
2) Analysis and Report on fun local project
3) Do a good graduate course for lovely students
4) All the revisions for all the things
5) Figure out a way to have some fun with my courses instead of just surviving them

 heu mihi

1) Research and writing:
a. Public/private conference paper (due March)
b. Pedagogy conference paper (due May)
c. Collection intro
d. Death essay
2) Teaching: Have fun, be good, and don't let it take over my life
3) Habits:
a. Sit regularly
b. Language study at least a few times a week
c. Write/research three hours/week
d. Try out Monk Manual for this term

 Humming42

1 finished draft of tiny project
2 keep up with teaching things
3 present at three online conferences that unfortunately all fall in March
4 submit Boredom to online conference
5 write short death piece

 JaneB

Professional Survival – do all the things needed for this…

(Captain’s note: we’re sending someone to check on you in your cabin, they will deliver a selection of fresh healthy snacks and a bottle of something sparkly along with some Andorran bath salts for tired brains/bodies. We cannot replicate those because they cause small explosions so they are kind of a treat.)

 Karen

-Deliver new course with at least two weeks lead time in prep across the semester
-Complete NTRO output
-Hand over all service responsibilities esp Hons project
-Get two postgrads through examination
-prep the mighty kombi for long service leave

 Susan

1. Finish chapter 2 of Famous Author, start chapter 3.
2. Keep up with teaching, but don't let it take over my life.
3. Finish big transition for Proforg
4. Repeatedly going to the decks for relaxation and exercise programs
5. Ensuring that I regularly "hang out" with friends (and maybe by the end of the session some of that will be in person!)
6. Watch out for my mother (she's in assisted living, I can't visit, so. . .)
7. Other duties as assigned.

 First Mate T’Melnor

*Deliver quality classes online, keep up with grading, give my students a decent learning experience.
*Finish the article that has turned into my Albatross and move on to something else.
*Unpack all my books and do more settling in the new house.
*Stick more or less to the work schedule I've devised, which allots regular time to teaching, research, reading, languages, service, exercise, and down time (the real question is how fast it will take for this to go completely down the tubes).
*Prioritize sleep and physical health.

 

GOALS from last week:

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

Scan paper files for archiving.1x5
Work on peer review.1x5
Outline the proposal for the reference work on Famous Printer (for work but still fun).
Write at least 250 words a day on Translatio; Feminae; or UnnamedAsYet.

Captain Daisy

1) Make beautiful conference poster out of giant piles of gnarly data
2) Write a summary of everything in poster so that when paper-writing comes around I actually remember what was in it
3) Check in on the albatross egg and see whether it is ready to hatch, extend contract for babysitter if going well
4) Finish grading before next batch of grading arrives
5) Catch-up on all association business and meetings
6) Do all my research accounting
7) Take-out dinner treat for me and kid

heu mihi

1) Write 3 hours
2) Exercise daily
3) Service misc: Gen Ed review, job description for service position, LOR
4) Finalize paper and email organizer for March 1 presentation; get book from office so that I can finish it!
5) sit x5, language x5

Humming42

Recover from disaster-ridden away mission.

Karen

-Finish contacting external peoples, get through week 1, plan week 2/3.
-Comments back to postgrads on messy article draft, complete exegesis.
-Respect research day - 4 pomodoros, 500 words.

 Susan

1. GRADE PAPERS (TRQ)
2. Famous Author: 2 sessions
3. Try to get a bit ahead on LMS stuff and assignments
4. Start next task for organization
5. Get good sleep
6. Keep up with exercise
7. Pull some weeds, fertilize roses
8. Have some nice conversations
9. Be kind
10. Float like mist

 First Mate T’Melnor

Finish grading undergrad papers.
Write new essay assignment.
Load new grad readings.
Stretch & cardio daily; weights x3.

 

24 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. "A nasty shock and . . . a mixture of pity and annoyance for the naïve sod who made my plans 2 months ago" exactly sums up my feelings about midterm goals. I was really NOT planning on having a leaky roof!

    Session goals:
    *Deliver quality classes online, keep up with grading, give my students a decent learning experience. KEEP: though I struggle with all of these, I think I'm achieving this, so I'll hang on.
    *Finish the article that has turned into my Albatross and move on to something else. KEEP the "finish Albatross" part; let go of moving on before May.
    *Unpack all my books and do more settling in the new house. JETTISON, at least until we have a new roof.
    *Stick more or less to the work schedule I've devised, which allots regular time to teaching, research, reading, languages, service, exercise, and down time (the real question is how fast it will take for this to go completely down the tubes). ???? It has gone down the tubes, but OTOH it worked well in the beginning, and I have hopes that I'm about to get to a point where I can resume it, or something like it. Let's say I'll replace this goal with Revise Schedule.
    *Prioritize sleep and physical health. KEEP. Definitely need this one!

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    Replies
    1. Last week's How I Did:
      Finish grading undergrad papers. YES!
      Write new essay assignment. YES!
      Load new grad readings. YES, through week 11!!!!!
      Stretch & cardio daily; weights x3. If I do everything tomorrow, then YES---let's just say I have. ;-)
      I also finished grading the grad papers, collected my new glasses (yay! I like them better than the pair that broke), went for a walk in a local arboretum/botanical garden, ordered some fun books ILL through my local public library, and did some service work.

      New goals for next week:
      Catch up with grading discussion boards.
      New topics for grad writing.
      Dead languages 4x each.
      Albatross-handling 3x.
      Set up March calendar pages.
      Fall course descriptions.
      Daily stretching & cardio, weights x3.
      Get car noise checked out.
      Stretch goal: tidy study.

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    2. That was a great week for goals, late or not! Yay for all the Yesses! I particularly like that they came with exclamation marks, made me smile!
      Good luck with the week and the roof repairs! And with the slightly revised goals, have to adjust when necessary!

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  3. Yeah, goals are going to have to be changed a bit… I’m struggling with some of them and beating my head against those particular brick walls is not helping and that’s not going to change. I’ve been spending too much time on my chair, I’m struggling with running injuries, so I need to completely overhaul how I’m doing that and really make a point of doing things slowly and carefully to get better.

    Session goals:
    1) Finish my Albatross paper! This has been an ongoing goal for ages but the paper keeps changing and is constantly being shoved aside for more urgent things. DROP
    I cannot do this now. I’m moving that out of my brain to deal with after classes end. I will change this goal to “start over on Albatross paper”.

    2) Analysis and Report on fun local project KEEP
    Yes, in progress and actually quite satisfying and fun, keeping this one.

    3) Do a good graduate course for lovely students KEEP
    Yes, in progress and going well, keeping this one. There are occasional in-person days so it is much closer to what I would normally do than a straight online course. I love the students, they are doing excellent work, and it is real actual science…

    4) All the revisions for all the things KEEP
    Four papers have been revised and two have been sent back and accepted, the other two are back and being decided on, so should be confirmed soon. Will keep this one for now but shift over to student thesis chapter revisions.

    5) Figure out a way to have some fun with my courses instead of just surviving them DROP
    Nope, I’m done trying. I’ve tried everything recommended by everyone and I can safely say that I will not be getting to the “fun” point with the undergrad courses. (Midterm reviews say my students love the courses, I am the most organized prof they have, and they appreciate the structure and activities and everything else, so it is not like I’m bad at this!)
    And honestly the perceived pressure to try and enjoy these is doing my head in and hearing about how wonderful some people think it is definitely does not help. I just need to be ok with the fact that I hate everything about teaching online, and I need to stop listening to everyone telling me they love it and that it will get better if I just work harder and longer and make more videos and give students my cell number so they can text me any time and do fl&pgrid this and yo$tube that and tw#tter the other thing… So I’m done. I’m going to finish them and that’s it…

    Revised Session Goals:
    1) Start slow and sensible strength training/exercise program
    2) Analysis and Report on fun local project
    3) Do a good graduate course for lovely students
    4) All the revisions for all the things, mainly student stuff
    5) Survive classes

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    Replies
    1. Last week’s goals:
      1) Make beautiful conference poster out of giant piles of gnarly data DONE
      2) Write a summary of everything in poster so that when paper-writing comes around I actually remember what was in it DONE
      3) Check in on the albatross egg and see whether it is ready to hatch, extend contract for babysitter if going well DONE BUT OH BOY IT IS UGLY!
      4) Finish grading before next batch of grading arrives NOPE
      5) Catch-up on all association business and meetings DONE
      6) Do all my research accounting NOPE
      7) Take-out dinner treat for me and kid DONE

      I’m calling this coming week a catch-up on teaching week. I have a ton of grading, and if I can that done and plan ahead a bit the coming month will be greatly improved from the current outlook…

      This week’s goals:
      1) Conference recording
      2) GRADING!!!!! So much grading…
      3) Walk every day
      4) Do all my research accounting
      5) Plan and post remaining course activities
      6) Analysis for local project

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    2. Awww damn, also forgot
      7) do next year's course planning which is so way behind it is not even funny...

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    3. I love it that you dropped the requirement to make your classes fun! Just get through them. I'm not convinced that students find all the "fun" things all that much fun anyway--they just want to get through, too, and being organized can be quite a gift to your students.

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  4. Can I please shoot at some things? Also, I'm going to indulge in some serious fantasy-dress construction. Sometimes I look in my closet these days and pine for all that cannot be worn (in large part because of weather, but also, where did all those shoes come from?).

    Session goals:
    1) Research and writing: - KEEP ALL
    a. Public/private conference paper (due March) - GIVING THIS TALK TODAY! Wish me luck! (It's only 15 minutes, so not really a big deal, though. Plus, because it was rescheduled from last year, it's on something that I've already published.)
    b. Pedagogy conference paper (due May) - Have done nothing on this, but I'm keeping it because it must be done.
    c. Collection intro - This is going to be March's project.
    d. Death essay - I've been slogging away. Not sure when/where I'll submit it, but I've enjoyed working on it, which is a win in itself.

    2) Teaching: Have fun, be good, and don't let it take over my life -- HM.... A worthy goal, but I can't really assess how well I'm doing with it.

    3) Habits:
    a. Sit regularly - SORT OF
    b. Language study at least a few times a week - BETTER AT THIS
    c. Write/research three hours/week - YES!
    d. Try out Monk Manual for this term - TRYING; it's going okay. Not sure I want to invest in a whole year's worth, though (it's like $35 for 3-4 months, which is a little nuts, I agree).

    Last week:
    1) Write 3 hours - YES
    2) Exercise daily - Not quite, but close. I decided that I should start taking better care of some of my joints and give myself a week off of running. I hope to resume on Wednesday, partly because it'll be sunny and in the high 40s!
    3) Service misc: Gen Ed review, job description for service position, LOR - 2/3 of these are done
    4) Finalize paper and email organizer for March 1 presentation; get book from office so that I can finish it! - YES
    5) sit x5, language x5 - x3, x5. I'm enjoying my new language study texts!

    This week:
    1) Send off essay collection emails (2 batches)
    2) Write 2 hours
    3) Ask a question at this morning's panel
    4) Walk more than run this week
    5) sit x5, language x5

    I think it's going to be kind of a light week, which means that I probably ought to get ahead on something--but I'm not sure what yet, so I'll just keep my list short for the week. Luxury!

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    Replies
    1. I've had the same thought about getting back to running on Wednesday b/c of decent weather. For me, this will be a walk with some jogging intervals, but that will still be a step up from the walks I've taken in colder/ snowier weather. So I'm considering this a pact: we'll go running on Wednesday!

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    2. Hope you get out for that run! Nice to have that to look forward to.
      Congrats on all the completed goals from last week!

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    3. Well, that was lovely! It is a beautiful day, it was great to get out, and fun to imagine running with heu. Also no worries about keeping up/slowing her down, since it was virtual! I hope you also have a good run!

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    4. I marvel at my closet. I did a virtual presentation at another university today and actually put on jewelry and make up! But I too wondered where all those shoes came from and if I will be able to figure out to coordinate things when I am in the world again.

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    5. When I went into my office earlier this week, I looked at my "work shoes" underneath the desk, and at first, thought "I should take those home." The second thought was "Why?"

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    6. I did manage a short run yesterday! And virtual/imagined co-runs are a lovely idea!

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    7. When I moved away from my former city to my current place very far away 10 years ago the hardest thing was losing my running buddy, so I bought us both bluetooth headsets and we continued running together by doing phone calls with the headsets so we could run and chat simultaneously just like we did in person. Not as good, but an excellent substitute!

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  5. I'm going to borrow T’Melnor’s attitude toward the “poor sod” who set session goals. I’m also going to sign up to vaporize jettisoned goals.

    Session goals:
    Reassess my 5-year plan. KEEP.
    Get Illuminated out to a journal. MODIFY
    Outline Translated. MODIFY to get as far as I can with .
    Organize quarters. KEEP.
    Deepen and normalize self-care practices. KEEP.

    The reassessment will stay, because it helps to look forward these days.
    I am also going to keep organizing the quarters. I have finally followed the advice given me by several friends to do a hour of organizing a day, being consistent and persistent, rather than doing a straight eight hours, and never wanting to do it again.
    In addition, I am keeping the self-care. I am slowly developing and modifying rituals, and am partway to making them habits.

    I am modifying getting Illuminated out to a journal to “get a polished draft.” I thought I’d have more time--ah, the foibles of humanity.
    Outline Translated is going to be “Get as far as I can with outlining Translated.” See above re foibles of humanity.

    Last week's goals:
    Scan paper files for archiving.1x5 No, but I did spend more than 3 hours going through boxes to compile more files to archive--and recycled a lot more..
    Write up peer review.1x5 Did not even touch. Rolling it forward..
    Outline the proposal for the reference work on Famous Printer (for work but still fun).No, still reading up on background. .
    Write at least 250 words a day on Translatio; Feminae; or UnnamedAsYet.Yes--finally a yes! Some of it is more annotated bibliography than words that will end up in the article, but I’m okay with that.

    As is obvious from my last week, it was a bit of a failure, although I suppose I should call it a setback. Frozen water pipes began the week--what builder thought it was a good idea to run the plumbing in the exterior walls in upstate NY?? The same guy who put zero insulation in those same exterior walls, that’s who!! The resultant mess gave us permission to clean up a lot of storage areas we’d not yet addressed, but I’d rather not go that route again.

    By the end of the week, I was able to get some writing and reading done, but it was not a great week.

    Next week's goals:
    Write at least 250 words a day on Translatio; Feminae; or UnnamedAsYet. 1x5
    Write up peer review.1x5 Nearly TRQ
    Read background on Famous Printer 1x3
    Call three doctors for appointments.

    I’m looking forward to vaporizing my excess baggage, as well as partying into the wee hours at the ball. Sparkle like icy mist, everyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. New Session Goals:
      Reassess my 5-year plan.
      Get a polished draft of Illuminated.
      Get as far as I can with steady progress on an outline for Translated.
      Organize quarters.
      Deepen and normalize self-care practices.

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    2. O.M.Cat. Deep & heartfelt sympathy re the pipes and insulation!!! (((EAM))) If you got back to reading & writing in the same week as that happened, it WAS a GREAT week for overcoming adversity and carrying on regardless! You have what it takes to be a starship captain!

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    3. Thank you for the sympathy, and kind words. I do think a leaky roof trumps (when will I be able to use that word without shuddering?) frozen pipes, so you certainly have a capacity for overcoming adversity. Many thanks, nonetheless!

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    4. Frozen pipes and leaking roofs are all awful, hope you get them all resolved quickly and with minimal damage!
      Hang in there! And congrats on all the things you got done despite the mess!

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  6. So those session goals.
    1 finished draft of tiny project: Jettison this one. Some day I’ll figure out how to write a thing without someone else’s deadlines pushing me
    2 keep up with teaching things: No choice here, but I still half a semester to do better
    3 present at three online conferences that unfortunately all fall in March: rapidly approaching
    4 submit Boredom to online conference: Yes, paper due at the end of March
    5 write short death piece: No. There is an extension but I am not sure it’s in my best interest to add another project to the mix

    This week:
    1 Submit material for Conference 1
    2 Attend virtual business meetings for Conference 1
    3 Make some progress with grading: 4 hours/day
    4 Create some order somewhere in my life: following EAM’s wisdom, I’m going to try for 1 hour/day in my office

    Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Maybe I’ll look for one of those holodecks with a yoga class.

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    Replies
    1. I'll join you on that yoga holodeck. I could use the extra meditation.

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    2. Good for recognizing goals that no longer fit in this particular voyage! They are hard to let go of sometimes but they will eventually find a new home on a new trip that will suit them better.
      Yoga sounds great! The ship has several programs for outdoor sessions in calming environments, perhaps something warm and sunny to distract from current temperatures?

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