Today is Halloween, and Friday is Guy Fawkes Day, both holidays that I associate with light of some kind: flickering candles inside Jack-o-lanterns, bonfires, fireworks. In the Northern Hemisphere, we're beginning the Season of the Dark, which some people love (JaneB): it can be a time of hygge, cozy relaxing indoor activities, long nights of sleep, or for invigorating outdoor activities like cross-country skiing (Bardiac) followed by hot drinks. It makes me sleepy and sulky; for most of the Northern Hemisphere winter, I want to be an iguana in a heated, lighted box, with food delivered (please can I just join the Southern Hemisphere people and get spring and summer over again?). Autumn has its points. I do like the colored trees, and even enjoy cloudy, rainy days, though they don't make me energetic. They make me want to curl up with a book, a cat, and a pot of tea, and read a little, nap a little, sip a little. Down Under, however, plans are underway for new gardens and summer escapes (Karen), so it's a time of change, wherever we are.
What do you like to do at this time of year? What holidays do you look forward to, and how do you plan for them? What is the literal light doing, where you are, and what cracks let in the light, metaphorically?
Here are last week's goals. Let us know how you're doing, and what you plan to tackle in the coming week.
Daisy
1) Finish enormously giant pile of grad student feedback
2) Finish conference poster and upload all required things for conference
3) Continue with paper revisions for paper related to poster
4) Fun work visit with colleagues coming to town
5) Do modelling during long meetings (it is quiet and only needs periodic input from me so the ideal meeting task)
6) Finish Halloween costume (dragon this year, technically challenging!)
Dame Eleanor
Health: yoga x6, weights x3, very short walks, keep trying w/r/t sleep.
Research: topic sentence outline of chapter to writing group; dead language study; read a book; scan some essays.
Teaching: grade grads' Blackboard submissions.
Admin: meeting prep, deal with four sets of forms from my department.
Life Stuff: write to my dad, drop off a shoe for repair, renew car registration.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Goals are now three weeks past, so I'm not going to post them, just hope that you're all right and will come start fresh!
heu mihi
1) Address two of the reviewer's comments (which involves reading, thinking, and writing)
2) Prepare my presentation for Italian class
3) Finish my part of journal proofs
4) Compose a bibliography on monasticism and death (???)
5) Bottle beer
6) Continue with the business of muddling through somehow
Humming42
1 best behavior for a week with meetings on zoom and in person
2 complete and submit two article reviews
3 car wash! (a free bonus with recent oil change)
4 late book review, of course
5 submit creative work to journal
JaneB
1) self-care: do 3 songs worth of exercise each day, check in again on
fruit and veg and protein, clean out the flipping "basket swap", clear
off the reading chair in my work area, prepare and run Halloween D&D
2)
teaching: get week 6 materials prepared and start on week 8, including
sorting out rescheduled trip, fix the second half of the "list items"
for my VLE sites (6 sites)
3) admin: get caught up on last stupid CPD thing
4)
research: read over what we said we'd do for the grant that got funded,
and finish the notes. start on pedagogical paper which is somehow now
my problem.
Karen
Teaching - finish off current unit by releasing feedback and submitting
results; finish scaffolding map and start revisions to unit outline
Research
- set up writing group (outcome from a lovely cross-discipline event
hosted by nearby-department), 1 pomodoro on documentation
Self and home - yoga x 3, go bushwalking this weekend.
Susan
1. Do the grading!
2. Get writing prompt for next week up
3. Read manuscript for blurb
4. Contact landscaper, follow up with painter
5. Have fun with friends
6. be kind to myself
Did not get much done, and am feeling very hard done by as I can't see how I will get to spend any time on NaNoWriMo this year, never mind the time needed to complete it, and I really like to do it. But the temp replacement for the colleague on maternity leave is able to pick up very little of her work yet, and that's not going to magically change as the calendar changes, so my work load is stupid and I'm burnt out and fed up, in a completely not-normal-for-Autumn state of discontent, which is not conducive to writing. My brain thinks it wants naps, escape-without-engagement like phone scrolling or reading frivolities, and carbs.
ReplyDeleteGoal this week - do my job well enough, and rest in between.
Well, poot. I'm sorry to hear this.
DeleteYour goal is admirably focused. Sorry for the crazy situation.
DeleteI suppose I had better get my SAD light out of the attic, where it is currently acting as light fixture, it having been the nearest light-producing item to hand when I was looking for signs of mice, and yes, there are mice, so add getting some sort of light for the attic to my list---where was I? Since the short days make want to go to bed early, and sometimes I sleep when I'm there, less light isn't all bad.
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
Health: yoga x6, weights x3, very short walks, keep trying w/r/t sleep. x5, x2, yes, yes. I stopped strapping my ankle, and though it twinges, the foot feels better unstrapped.
Research: topic sentence outline of chapter to writing group; dead language study; read a book; scan some essays. Well, something went to writing group, but it wasn't a topic sentence outline & the group was not very helpful this time around; yes on one dead language, no to the other; yes (no notes yes, though); no.
Teaching: grade grads' Blackboard submissions. YES.
Admin: meeting prep, deal with four sets of forms from my department. YES, YES!!! Whew. Glad to get those done.
Life Stuff: write to my dad, drop off a shoe for repair, renew car registration. NO, YES, NO.
OTHER: went w/Sir John to open a new joint checking account, something we've wanted to do for months; had coffee with a friend, outside on a beautiful day; did some pre-frost garden tidying, including bringing a lot of green tomatoes in to see if they'll ripen. Frost is predicted every night this week.
New goals:
Health: yoga x6, weights x3, very short walks, bed by 10:30 at least 5x.
Research: keep working on chapter organization; study both dead languages; read a book; scan some essays.
Teaching: grade undergrad papers.
Admin: whatever comes up.
Life Stuff: write to my dad, renew car registration, joint account admin.
No notes yet, sorry, that line is confusing.
DeleteLots of things done, those are all wins! Hope the ankle keeps getting better and that novel-writing is fun and satisfying.
DeleteFall is lovely in my part of the world, but once November hits I have a really hard time with the darkness. I’m from the Southern hemisphere and really miss it in the dark months… I’m definitely part lizard, I want sun and warmth like DEH! Getting up to run or exercise in the pitch dark is rough… But I love cooking for cold wet days, and once ski season picks up I like winter a lot more than in the shoulder seasons of “cold and wet but no skiing” and the other end of “skiing over, freezing rain every day, rest of continent is getting daffodils and we have blizzards” that shows up in April…
ReplyDeleteWhat a week… My entire plan got upended by an unexpected grant application. A short call came out 2 weeks ago, I decided not to apply, but then got invited and encouraged to apply and told that the success rate might be pretty favourable… So there went 3 days of work, but the good part is that it was only 3 because deadline was so soon. So if it works it will be great, if not it was worth a try.
Today is shaping up to be the Monday-est of Garfield’s Mondays, I’m on my third cup of tea and it is only morning… If I had the ingredients I would make and stress-eat a lasagna all by myself! It is conference week for the society I head up, the only things scarier than running a hybrid conference yourself is watching the local committee run a hybrid conference and hoping it all goes well for them knowing that your organization is on the financial hook for everything that goes wrong… Crossing fingers!
Last week’s goals:
1) Finish enormously giant pile of grad student feedback DONE
2) Finish conference poster and upload all required things for conference DONE
3) Continue with paper revisions for paper related to poster PROGRESS
4) Fun work visit with colleagues coming to town YAY!
5) Do modelling during long meetings (it is quiet and only needs periodic input from me so the ideal meeting task) NOPE
6) Finish Halloween costume (dragon this year, technically challenging!) HUGE SUCCESS! It was beautiful!
EXTRA: grant application out of the blue… DONE!
This week’s goals:
1) Finish with revisions for paper related to poster
2) Get analytical time booked and organized, for me and for grad students
3) Finish last left-over bit of grad student feedback
4) Attend enough of conference to feel useful, do required talking at fancy events (remotely!)
5) Do modelling work for new paper
6) Get sleeping back on proper schedule!
Fingers crossed on the conference's behalf! I hope the Unexpected Grant application pays off (literally)! And I'm glad to hear of the dragon costume's success.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice prompt! Once I've accepted that summer is over, I like the first part of the cold season; the only real problem is that the days are too short/mornings too late for early runs, but the time change next week will partly solve that. I enjoy changing my wardrobe and planning Christmas presents; I love the changing seasons; and the wood stove is pleasant. By February I'll be thoroughly sick of all of it, but for now I'm trying to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1) Address two of the reviewer's comments (which involves reading, thinking, and writing) - YES!
2) Prepare my presentation for Italian class - I spoke for a solid three minutes today about "la storia di Capua, una città anziana," so I'm feeling pretty good about that.
3) Finish my part of journal proofs - Yes.
4) Compose a bibliography on monasticism and death (???) - Yes, I mean sort of, it's pretty half-assed, but it's a start and I do have some articles to read now.
5) Bottle beer - Yes
6) Continue with the business of muddling through somehow - Muddled, indeed.
Hardly exercised last week, which was annoying, although I walked a bunch. But it's okay to take a break sometimes, isn't it?
My husband is now officially out of work (although he gets two months' severance pay). This whole situation is patently not his fault, but the church (!!) where he was employed was a highly toxic workplace with some truly mean people running the show, and they basically decided that it was easier to get rid of their new pastor than to address their own disfunction. That sounds uncharitable, but it's pretty much spot-on, I think. He's doing okay--certainly there's less daily stress in our lives--but we're not really looking forward to living on just my salary come January. He's going to look for some kind of short-term employment, though--we're planning to go to France for my sabbatical next fall--and hopefully all will be well.
This week:
1) Rough in article revisions
2) Read two essays
3) Read & comment on grad student's prospectus
4) Exercise more than last week
5) Grade most of the latest batch of essays
That sounds like an excellent week! And yes, it's good to take a break from exercise sometimes. You'll come back stronger. I hope TM finds something interesting and useful to do until you leave for France.
DeleteThose dynamics at your husband's church are SO familiar. I'm so sorry, and hope something good turns up.
DeleteThe light is quickly diminishing in my part of the world. In a month, it will be dark when I go to work, and dark when I come home. Much like Dame Eleanor, I prefer to sit by my fireplace with a pot of tea and read by the light of my daylight lamp (another SAD sufferer here). I do like autumn, and there are some things I like about winter--the hush after a snowfall, the feeling of coming into a safe harbor when one opens the front door to the blast of heat and light.
ReplyDeleteI also like the winter holidays with the time to be grateful for family and friends. This year will be very different. In 2019, our son-in-law and eldest daughter were still in Virginia. We didn’t go anywhere for the holidays in 2020, but in 2021, we can see both daughters and their families easily, since they live very near one another. We will be going to see them for Thanksgiving as well, with an additional mission. We are going to pick up a mixed Jack Russell/Standard Poodle puppy who has gotten too big and rambunctious for its owner (my husband’s ex-wife). Our daughters would take him, but they already have several dogs, so we are riding to the rescue. I suspect that picture of me reading by the fireplace will include a puppy on my feet.
What have I been doing the past three weeks:
Several doctors’ appointments.
Taught the rare books’ class
Plugged away on the drama guide and entries.
Cleared off half the work desk and one-third the home desk.
Next week’s goals:
More medical appointments--one this week, and pneumonia and flu vaccines.
Work on NaNo project at least every other day.
Read up on the Belgian collector for the other collection--possible article?
Analysis:
The eye is slow to heal, but is getting discernably better now. I am getting used to a new diet, which isn’t exactly difficult, but I have to identify the cravings that are lack of hydration and those that are adjusting to the new foods and amounts. Last week was my oldest sister’s birthday, which was difficult for my middle sister, who was much closer to her. The holidays will be hard for her as well.
I am hoping that signing up for NaNo will jumpstart my academic writing as well. We shall see! Float like icy mist, everyone.
Yay, you're back! I hope you have great fun with the puppy. I'm unofficially doing a low-rent, that is, low word count version of NaNo, just 500 words a day. Bon courage!
DeleteSuch a lovely prompt. So perfect for this time of year. October is usually a dreadful month for me, but now is not then and then is not now, so I’m using mantras to roll into November hopefully. I generally ignore the holidays as they make me aware of how far away I am from family. I hope to visit my son and his family at some point, for which I will be most grateful.
ReplyDeleteI can never manage to NaNoWriMo so I’m committed to a draft of a poem every day, since I’m far more likely to put together a slender chapbook than I will ever be able to craft a novel. I used to do AcWriMo (Academic Writing Month) but don’t have a project in the writing stage. I had an abstract accepted for Favorite Spring Conference, but it’s a new project that calls for lots of reading and research that I look forward to.
Also, a confession. I realize that my gaps in posting here are the result of trying to finish everything on my list before I post, but that just doesn’t happen very often. So I am here with my undone work and my perseverance.
Last week:
1 best behavior for a week with meetings on zoom and in person: yes. I even reconciled with a person who I have considered my nemesis for many years. I’m not ready to hug and collaborate, but I am grateful for the peace
2 complete and submit two article reviews: one done, one to do
3 car wash! (a free bonus with recent oil change): thunderstorm in the morning on the last possible day but the afternoon was clear. It’s a quality of life improvement.
4 late book review, of course: not yet
5 submit creative work to journal: no. I didn’t make time to look for a piece that fit a very specific call, even though it’s in the neighborhood of my academic writing
This week:
1 submit three book reviews
2 submit article review
3 work on mentoring program application
4 catch up on grading, since there are assignments due this week
5 as noted, draft some lines every day
At least October is over! And if it's at all possible, try to make it a month in which something good happens, so you can remember that instead. As to finishing lists, look how many of us often have to say no, we didn't get to Thing. Sometimes reach exceeds grasp, sometimes we're Overcome By Events, or do Other/Extra stuff, sometimes we just don't feel like it. But perseverance is the main thing. We're glad you're here! And how lovely to have peace and reconciliation. Congratulations on finishing an article review!
DeleteThe closing in of the light is hard for me. I'm generally sluggish in winter, though I love winter soups: given where I live, I really can't do them the rest of the year. And I do love the holidays: in many ways especially Thanksgiving, but also Christmas, for which I do decorate. I used to have Christmas parties, but I'm not yet ready to return to that.
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
1. Do the grading! NOT DONE
2. Get writing prompt for next week up YES
3. Read manuscript for blurb ONE CHAPTER
4. Contact landscaper, follow up with painter GOT PAINTER< NOT LANDSCAPER
5. Have fun with friends YES
6. be kind to myself YEs
Well, I was at a conference. Which was lovely -- being with people, enjoying them, conversation, etc. Also walks along the waterfront in a beautiful place. But also, I have a cold. One thing I did not miss in 18 months of isolation was colds. ANd I almost wonder if I've lost some immunity because this has more or less followed the usual patter, but just seems LONG. I feel VERY sorry for myself. In addition, my mother has really not been well, though I think she's finally improving. So I've spent an hour to 1 1/2 hours daily with her, and that really eats into the time I have to do other things. We'll see her doctor on Friday, and see what we can figure out.
Goals for the next week:
1. Actually finish the grading!
2. Get draft of fellowship proposal done, sent to letter writers
3. Revisions of self-study as I get comments from others (Probably Friday, maybe Thursday)
4. Try to keep some mild exercise up while recovering
5. Visit Mom, try to help her get better
6. Sleep
7. Do fun something
And the cold turns out to be COVID. I’d even had my booster, as had my mother, from whom I think I got it.
DeletePhooey.
I'm sorry. I hope "long cold" remains what it feels like and that you don't develop any nastier symptoms. Best wishes to you and your mother!
DeleteSo sorry to hear that! I hope you are your Mom recover quickly! Get lots of rest and take things as easy as possible.
Delete