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Sunday 18 April 2021

2021 Session 1, Week 15: Approaching Primaveran Space

Back in January, we said "We’ll go for 16 weeks, ending the first weekend in May." As I interpret this, it means that we have two more forward-planning weeks (weeks 15 and 16), followed by a final post on the first weekend in May (1-2 May), in which we wrap things up and report on session goals, but don't set new goals for 3-8 May. 

So if there's anything stored in the hold that you want to shoot out an airlock before we enter Primaveran space, this would be a good time to root it out and jettison it! Or if you want to start packing up, that is, see if there's a goal you want to move to the top of your list so you can get it done before we arrive, do that. Our midterm goal review was in week 8, if you want to check it. 

Next week, we'll have good views of planets in the Primaveran solar system. When we dock, we're going to have the ship thoroughly fumigated to get rid of the Demotivators. I wish we could leave the Albatrosses on board for that procedure, but unfortunately, while they are not endangered, they are a protected species, and we're going to have to make suitable arrangements for them.

This would also be a good time to discuss the next session: when, for how long, run by whom? Volunteers? Please let us know.

And here are the goals set last week. Let us know how you did, and set your penultimate weekly goals in the comments:

Captain Daisy
1) Keep all the committee discussions on the rails and focused and kind
2) Submit local project report
3) Do modelling and results for other local project
4) Final marking and grades for undergrad class if everything gets handed in
5) Final marking and discussions for grad class
6) Something fun dammit! Extra points if with kid!

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Walk 2x5.
Read 1 hour x 5 on early printers.
Edit translatio sections 1 x 5.
Draft a daily schedule.

heu mihi (held over)
1) Write 3 hours
2) Get some Kalamazoo stuff organized (register, contact panelists)
3) Write exam questions for grad student
4) Copy-edit journal article
5) Run, yoga (try for twice), sit, language

Humming42 (held over)
1 Submit Because           
2 Submit Young Ones
3 Write and submit review of already-read book
4 Write and submit T-House abstract
5 Try to focus on teaching-related responsibilities too

Karen
-send around syllabi for sem 2 and draft teaching plan
-catch up on student feedback and be prepped for next week's crits
-be one week ahead in LMS content

Susan
1. Get to be early enough to not be wrecked by Ginger George's 4 AM wake up call.
2. 2 x 2 hours on Famous Author
3. Read 3 more chapters in book for review
4. Grade papers
5. Write citations for lifetime awards for professional association
6. Go to sessions for remote conference
7. See someone for fun
8. Do stuff in garden
9. Sit outside with a drink at least one evening. Roses are in bloom, as are orange and lemon trees. It smells heavenly.
10. Float like mist and ignore the stupid

T’Melnor
Research x 6: 4 x book, 2 x revisions.
Dead language prep for group; anything on #2 is gravy.
Grade grad papers and discussion boards, start undergrad papers.
Prep for committee meeting.
Write letters.
Visit stores to look at actual washers & dryers.
Continue gentle activity while healing from injury.
Do some mending.

 

15 comments:

  1. Hello!

    I just looked back at my term goals, and I'm pretty pleased with how most of them have gone. Not over-doing it seems to have worked. I still have some more to do in the next two weeks, and some things that I'd hoped will be finished will only be partly finished, but that's still somewhat better than expected. Thanks to our hosts for keeping us going!

    Last week:
    1) Write 3 hours
    2) Run, yoga, sit, Latin - x2, x2, x5, x3. Heavy rains on Thursday and heavy snow (6") on Friday limited the running, but the weather is glorious again (for a couple of days, at least), so I'll try to jump back in later this morning.
    3) Decide whether I'm going to buy this picture I've been wanting, sorta - DONE! I bought it! Here's a link if you want to see:
    https://www.artsy.net/artwork/laura-avello-conference-2
    It's from a gallery where my mom shows her work a lot, and she's good friends with the owner, so I like buying from him--it supports the artists in my mom's community and this great little gallery. Plus his prices are reasonable.
    4) Major email catch-up, which includes reading some papers - DONE
    5) Buy plants! - No; we're facing below-freezing temperatures on two nights this week, so this will have to wait.

    This week: is my son's spring break, and my dad and stepmother will be here for two days, and I only have one teaching day, so I'm planning to Take It Easy as much as possible.

    To do:
    1) Uncomfortable phone call with difficult colleague (planning on doing this by 9:15 this morning, just to get it out of the way)
    2) Write 2 hours if possible
    3) Gen Ed review!! Rapidly becoming urgent
    4) Run, yoga, sit, language--as fits my schedule
    5) Get to the plant store (Saturday?)
    6) Get first vaccine shot! I'm FINALLY eligible (today), and amazingly, I was able to get both my husband and me appointments for later this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hooray for vaccine eligibility and a sensible decision to take it easy this week! I hope you enjoy the family visit and have a good time with Bonaventure. And nice picture---that does seem very "you"!

      Delete
    2. Enjoy the taking it easy with visitors and kid! And yay vaccine!!!

      Delete
  2. Oh how I want to chuck my Albatross out the airlock and blow it to smithereens! But I also want that line on the CV and the sense of having truly finished off a project that consisted of several separate articles. So I have to finish it sometime. Boo. Hiss. I may have to turn off the internet and lock myself in a room with the Albatross and nothing else to do but tame it. Depending on how many students take extensions on their final papers, I might actually have a couple of days to do that before this session ends . . . or I might be grading and grumbling for two weeks straight.

    How I did:
    Research x 6: 4 x book, 2 x revisions. YES book, NO revisions (and the book work is mainly reading: a new edition of the primary text I'm working on came out a few years ago, so I'm reading and putting in color-coded stickies to make writing easier when I get there).
    Dead language prep for group; anything on #2 is gravy. YES prep, NO gravy.
    Grade grad papers and discussion boards, start undergrad papers. YES, YES, in fact, finished undergrad papers!
    Prep for committee meeting. YES (last one of the term, woooot!)
    Write letters. Wrote ONE, one remains.
    Visit stores to look at actual washers & dryers. YES! Washer & dryer ordered, to be installed in late May.
    Continue gentle activity while healing from injury. YES: back/side injury is down to stiff/sore, and improving noticeably.
    Do some mending. NO.

    Goals for the coming week:
    Research x 6: 4 x book, 2 x revisions.
    Dead language prep for group; anything on #2 is gravy.
    Grade whatever there is to grade.
    Prep for faculty meeting; review grad apps.
    Write letter.
    Gently increase activity while healing.
    Do some mending.
    Visit store for paint chips.

    I hate the color my study is, and want to paint it. There wasn't time last year. With many of my books moved out anyway due to the roof leak, the end of this term seems like a good time to paint, if I can settle on a color. In theory, the new roof goes on this week . . . I'd like to hire the painting out, but with the expenses on roof & appliances, am leaning toward doing it myself, once I'm no longer sore etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like painting (at least, the first coat). It makes everything so new and pretty! I hope that you find a color that will all add peace and pleasure to all the work that you'll be doing in your study.

      Delete
    2. What I really hate is the taping. There's quite a bit of white trim in here that doesn't need to be painted so it will have to be taped.

      Delete
    3. Oh I so relate to the urge to blast the albatross!! I'm fantasizing about braising mine in a nice red wine sauce with wild mushrooms and herbs... It makes me feel a bit better about schlepping it all the way across to a new planet and still not being any further along with it... We'll get there!
      You got a lot of things done, all of that counts!

      Delete
  3. Previously having failed to do any of these things, I didn’t post last week and still don’t have quite as much done as I would like. As the end of the semester approaches, focus on teaching is definitely the priority. Knowing that there are only two more weeks of classes and some breathing space looms in the near future is encouraging.

    I would gladly volunteer for the next session, but I have thought several times that the current session sets an incomparable standard for creativity and engagement. I am willing to be your rather boring host, and also willing to work with a co-host who has a splendid idea.

    Last two weeks:
    1 Submit Because: Not yet
    2 Submit Young Ones: Not yet
    3 Write and submit review of already-read book: Yes
    4 Write and submit T-House abstract: Decided not to
    5 Try to focus on teaching-related responsibilities too: Much yes

    This week
    1 Submit Because
    2 Submit Young Ones
    3 Write and submit next book review
    4 Focus on teaching-related responsibilities
    5 Also, awesome conference with Boredom presentation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, shoot. I was going to volunteer to host on exactly the same conditions. I'm not sure whether the group can handle two boring co-hosts. (Not that I think you're boring, of course--just quoting you there!) Or maybe that's exactly what everyone wants?

      Delete
    2. There is no need to have every session take place on a starship or on a fantasy quest! You two can be the "get down to business" hosts!

      I think we've all (except maybe Elizabeth) been immersed in teaching this term, so maybe the summer (in the northern hemisphere) will be a chance to make up for that and get down to serious research.

      Delete
    3. There's definitely no wrong way to host! We just really needed the escapism because real life... well... you know...
      Good luck with getting the teaching things under control, and enjoy the awesome conference!

      Delete
  4. Ooops… Somehow it got to be Wednesday and I didn’t notice…
    My goal for the rest of the voyage is to make the local project a priority, it has been going well, but needs lots of attention preferably in nice large blocks to be able to get it to the point where it needs to be. It is very satisfying to work on and will be a huge boost to someone I really want to help so it it worthwhile for science and for people, a good combination!
    That was an odd disjointed week, partly the near-end of term let-down and partly the constant rain that passes for “spring” in these parts… I like rain and everything, but three weeks at a time is excessive…

    Last week’s goals:
    1) Keep all the committee discussions on the rails and focused and kind GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE VOICES IN MY HEAD…
    2) Submit local project report DONE!
    3) Do modelling and results for other local project ONGOING
    4) Final marking and grades for undergrad class if everything gets handed in NOPE, STILL WAITING
    5) Final marking and discussions for grad class DONE
    6) Something fun dammit! Extra points if with kid! GREAT LUNCH OUT WITH FRIEND, KID AND I HAD MOVIE MARATHON!

    This week’s goals:
    1) Help grad student with proposals and grant applications
    2) Society website updating and general organization
    3) Make sure all committee organization is ready for 2 weeks of interviews
    4) Keep working on local project, report to partner
    5) Outline new grant application for work in new area
    6) Final marking and grades for undergrad class if everything gets handed in
    7) Field trip!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Three weeks is definitely too much rain! I hope the local project goes well, and yay for lunch and movie marathon!

      I felt like doing something to mark the end of the semester (though next week there will be lots of grading; nonetheless I am done with classes and prep for them), and really had trouble thinking of anything special and fun. Life has been so closed down in so many ways, for so long, it's hard to get out of that rut! After Sir John is fully vaccinated we'll probably get out more, but I don't want to risk bringing anything home to him till he's done. The best I've come up with so far is a new jigsaw puzzle.

      Enjoy the field trip!

      Delete
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    ReplyDelete
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