After the main course come what we might call the follow-on courses. Dessert proper, the fruit and nut course, is the very final element of the service, preceded by the sweet and the savoury (which is often simply the cheese course, though it might be mushrooms on toast). After a large meal, the sweet might well be an ice, since we had various cakes at afternoon tea.
Do you prefer sweet or savoury to round off a meal? Or both? Or just a handful of grapes and some almonds? Continuing our metaphorical discussion, what element of work or life gives you that sense of a sweet or rich something extra, an enjoyable plenitude?
We'll leave the post-prandial port for next week, I think: as there seem to be no gentlemen present, we can remain comfortably at table and discuss whatever topics we please without fear of shocking the poor men. No doubt there will also be liqueurs and coffee. Next week will be the middle of our session, already, so I think we'll need some sort of stimulating refreshment.
Here are the goals from last week; let us know how you did and what's coming up, in the comments.
Daisy
1)
URGENT NOW Continue writing original text for new local paper
2) URGENT NOW Finish modelling work for new local paper
3) URGENT NOW Do grad course prep and organize readings for students
4) Service days and organizing meetings (6 this week…ouch)
5) Coffee with friend
Dame Eleanor Hull
Health:
get ready for bed at 10, yoga x6, weights x3, stay off twisted ankle.
Research: take notes on very significant article, read one book, keep up with
dead-language group.
Teaching: grade undergrad papers, write two assignments, respond to 2 grad students'
submissions.
Admin: prep for two meetings, put off two online trainings.
Life Stuff: pay bills, send birthday card, excursion with friends.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
5-10
entries a day on the French drama guide.
Write the handout for the class session.
Pick out the books for show and tell, and print out the handouts.
heu mihi
1)
Read bits of that damn longer book and try to make an effort to get caught up
with my "research plan," such as it is.
2) Self-care etc.
3) Revise WH intro.
4) Plan revisions to contingently accepted essay.
5) Grade Essay 2
Humming42 (carried over)
1 submit
now late book review
2 write
remaining assignments for 7 week class
3 submit
abstract to spring conference
4 write and
submit other book review
JaneB
1)
self-care: do 3 songs worth of exercise each day, do some meal prep on my work
from home day(s), clean out the flipping "basket swap", clear off the
reading chair in my work area
2) teaching: get week 2 materials prepared and week 3 mostly prepared, fix all
the "list items" for my VLE sites (6 sites)
3) admin: get caught up on stupid CPD videos and things (1 to go if I can find
it). Send email to sort out local chatty group.
4) research: read over what we said we'd do for the grant that got funded, and
make some initial notes. see if we can get Small But Necessary application done
(might be too late...).
Karen
Teaching
- remain positive, even if with gritted teeth.
Research - fulfill supervisory duties
self & Home - op shop drop, home office 2 x pomodoros, if weather permits
plant out summer vege, 3 x yoga, enjoy school holidays
Susan
1.
2 sessions on famous author
2. Finish sorting through the assessment stuff I have
3. Read manuscript I'm blurbing
4. Do something fun at some point
5. Get second set of plane tickets
6. Follow up with garden guy who hasn't answered calls
7. Watch fun movie
8. Keep up with exercise & healthy eating (which includes chips!)
Hello hello! I prefer the nibbly bits of meals to the substantial to be honest - little dishes of nuts and petits fours and fruit and cheese and chocolate are all good. The cat-dragon will help if anyone wants snapdragon or s'mores for dessert, or a meringue crisping, or a roast apple or chestnut. Right now work is overwheming and I am overwhelmed. I don't remember what made it work smoothly really, right now. Reading time probably, and the mental energy to read properly and deeply, but as I managed to read exactly one book of light fiction in the last 5 weeks... not at my best.
ReplyDeleteLAST WEEK:
1) self-care: do 3 songs worth of exercise each day, do some meal prep on my work from home day(s), clean out the flipping "basket swap", clear off the reading chair in my work area no - I was doing OKish then had 5 repeats of a lab and somehow upset my bad hip, back to it today though, yes once, no. no. Did scrub out the litter box though, as opposed to just scooping and topping up, that's something
2) teaching: get week 2 materials prepared and week 3 mostly prepared, fix all the "list items" for my VLE sites (6 sites) week 2 finished half an hour ago. WEek 3... well, I made a list. Fixed the important half of the list items...
3) admin: get caught up on stupid CPD videos and things (1 to go if I can find it). Send email to sort out local chatty group. only found it yesterday, cannot be bothered. did not send email but DID solve problem email sought to solve so that counts.
4) research: read over what we said we'd do for the grant that got funded, and make some initial notes. see if we can get Small But Necessary application done (might be too late...). no. mind you we were awarded in June & my uni still hasn't sorted out the contracts so I can't officially announce it or start work, so... and probably - deadline is tomorrow, just hoping things can get signed off...
On the plus side, a BIG grant I've been working on as a Co-I for months and months was submitted this week and LikesMaths (former PhD student) had another paper accepted from her PhD work to a really good journal.
THE COMING WEEK
1) self-care: do 3 songs worth of exercise each day, do some meal prep on my work from home day(s), clean out the flipping "basket swap", clear off the reading chair in my work area, do something on new D&D project
2) teaching: get week 3 materials prepared and week 4 mostly prepared, fix the second half of the "list items" for my VLE sites (6 sites)
3) admin: get caught up on last stupid CPD thing, organise autumn meeting for local chatty group
4) research: read over what we said we'd do for the grant that got funded, and make some initial notes. see if we can get Small But Necessary application done (might be too late...), do edits on PaperThatHasGoneOnForever, SoIForgotItsAcronym now reviewers comments are back after nearly TWO YEARS.
Congratulations on submitting the big grant, and more to LikesMaths for her acceptance!
DeleteWe will all cheer for celebrating the grant submission and the paper acceptance! Those are big wins any time, but particularly in the current mess!
DeleteOooooh, cheese, cheese, and more cheese! I have only once or twice met a cheese I didn’t love! I would really appreciate it if the lovely cat-dragon can give the brie a light crisping before we start too, just the light smoky touch we need!
ReplyDeleteI’m struggling with focus… I need a good few days of progress to get me kick-started again, so this week I really need to keep the distractions and service tasks to a minimum. I want to start every day with real research work instead of getting sucked into other things, so that will be a daily goal! This is a short week because of a holiday, I deliberately took the weekend off and read novels and slept late and enjoyed tea outside in lovely Fall weather. And cooked and baked a ridiculous amount, so that was all fun! I hope the reset helps with the mental discipline to focus properly!
Last week’s goals:
1) URGENT NOW Continue writing original text for new local paper PROGRESS MADE
2) URGENT NOW Finish modelling work for new local paper PROGRESS MADE
3) URGENT NOW Do grad course prep and organize readings for students DONE
4) Service days and organizing meetings (6 this week…ouch) DONE BUT ONGOING
5) Coffee with friend DONE
This week’s goals:
1) Start every day with research task first, no service before that is done!
2) More original text for new local paper
3) More modelling work for new local paper
4) Paper revisions for Baby Albatross because
5) Meeting follow-up with many people
6) Run a few times in nice Fall sunshine
Cooking, baking, and novel-reading all sound like excellent pastimes! And you've made a lot of progress on your goals. Definitely try to put research first---sometimes it really is impossible, but it helps so much when you can start the day with it.
DeleteI find it hard to put research first, but it helps if I don't open email. Which is itself a discipline!
DeleteFor the sweet and savory, I’d be happy with a cheese course I can nibble on, and a light dessert such as a sorbet. Translated to writing, I do well to give myself some “cool-down” things to do after a protein-heavy writing stint, especially in the afternoon when my energy is waning.
ReplyDeleteI want to try a version of the pomodoro method where I do the heavy lifting in a 45-minute sprint, then some lighter work in a 20 minute sprint before going back to a 45 minute sprint.
Last week’s goals:
5-10 entries a day on the French drama guide. On the average, 7 detailed entries per day.
Write the handout for the class session. Drafted, but not finished.
Pick out the books for show and tell, and print out the handouts. I’ve picked the show and tell books, but have not yet printed out the handouts.
Analysis: I’m still hindered by the corneal scratch, but will see the doctor this afternoon for more guidance (and I hope, more patience with the process). As for the class session, I’m trying to bridge an information gap that is eluding me. Every other time I’ve taught this, the students would have taken a foundational course in the subject, but this time, they are not required to take it, and therefore have not done so. We’ll just have to see how it goes.
Next week’s goals:
Medical appointments: go to two; make appointments for three more.
10 entries a day on the French drama guide.
Finish the class handout; print out the handout.
1 square foot of desk clearing x three.
Read one article to get back into a long-neglected project.
Autumn is progressing slowly in my part of the country. I’m not sure why it is delayed, but I hope I get to enjoy some fall color before all the leaves drop. I hope everyone is managing the semester, and doing well. Float like mist, everyone.
Autumn seems delayed in the midwest, too. Some trees are turning, but I would expect more color by now. Curious.
DeleteExcellent progress last week! Congratulations!
I'm greedy, I'll take all of it. I like the idea of sitting around a table for hours and hours (maybe outdoors, in good weather) with good friends and a long succession of courses with many interesting things to eat, matching wines, and pauses between courses to digest and get deeper into conversation. We watch the afternoon turn to evening and then the sun set and stars come out until finally we stagger to our beds.
ReplyDeleteIn work terms . . . most literally, I suppose the savory would be reading proofs, just before the sweetness of seeing one's work in print.
How I did:
Health: get ready for bed at 10, yoga x6, weights x3, stay off twisted ankle. Mostly NO, x5, x3, mostly YES.
Research: take notes on very significant article, read one book, keep up with dead-language group. Started, yes, yes.
Teaching: grade undergrad papers, write two assignments, respond to 2 grad students' submissions. YES, YES, NO.
Admin: prep for two meetings, put off two online trainings. YES, YES (ha! they'll catch up with me eventually).
Life Stuff: pay bills, send birthday card, excursion with friends. YES, YES (as of today, a bit late), YES.
New goals:
Health: get ready for bed at 10, yoga x6, weights x3, stay off twisted ankle.
Research: finish notes on very significant article, read one book, keep up with dead-language group.
Teaching: grade grad papers, respond to 2 grad students' submissions.
Admin: do one of the two online trainings.
Life Stuff: consult with Himself about house stuff; find new doctor.
Lots of great Yesses on that list!
DeleteProofs are a great moment in the life of a piece of work, sometimes I forget that in the panic of trying to find all the mistakes before the final version!
Well this week is turning into a disaster--not for me in any immediate sense, but my husband is experiencing a work crisis and I of course am empathetic and supportive, so it's rather distracting for me, as well--so, in the interest of actually checking in, I'm going to skip the prompt (I had a fun idea for it, too! But I've forgotten what it was) and go straight to the check-in.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1) Read bits of that damn longer book and try to make an effort to get caught up with my "research plan," such as it is.
*YES, sort of, I've forgotten my research plan altogether, but I did read *one* substantial bit of the damn longer book, at least.
2) Self-care etc.
*Ehm...mostly? A little slacker on exercise due to weather, dark mornings, and the beginning of this week's husband-work-crisis.
3) Revise WH intro.
*Did my stuff; it's back to co-author
4) Plan revisions to contingently accepted essay.
*Yes, but that took about 20 minutes, so I'm not sure it counts? Sure, it counts.
5) Grade Essay 2
*Yes; finished on Monday, but that's fine!
This week:
1) Submit grant application!!!!
2) Reread contingently accepted article; locate books that I need to read for revisions
3) Process at least 1 WH essay
4) Catch up on the journal
5) Brew beer
6) Self-care and all that
I'm sorry for your husband's work crisis. Churches can be very difficult.
DeleteAgree, though I think I know about this more from reading than from experience. Here's hoping yours is more Barbara Pym and less Joanna Trollope!
DeleteI have a stunning sweet tooth. Cups of coffee and trays of sweets (JaneB, I’m with you for petit fours, nuts, fruit, and chocolates) will be an hours-long delight for me.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks ago:
1 submit now late book review: yes
2 write remaining assignments for 7 week class:yes and turned in grades yesterday!
3 submit abstract to spring conference: yes. Deadline extends to now more time to wait for decisions
4 write and submit other book review: yes
This week:
1 work daily on upcoming conference presentation
2 make progress on grading (would like to get caught up but it’s unlikely)
3 submit most recent last book review
4 do daily creative writing prompts, every day
5 as DEH reminds me, complete overdue training
Wishing you all peace & joy in the week ahead.
What a lot of YES! You are awesome!
DeleteI love rich cakes and things (I like but don't love chocolate, which is why my siblings think I'm a changeling), though eat them rarely. When I choose my birthday dessert, it's either carrot cake or a fruit tart... But I'd be happy to sit with JaneB and others nibbling on petit fours, fruits, nuts, and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of work, I think satisfaction comes from completion and companionship. I think of time with friends as a dessert, or a good conversation. And sending something off, usually I just stop for a bit.
How I did (noting that it's Wednesday night):
1. 2 sessions on famous author YES
2. Finish sorting through the assessment stuff I have MOSTLY
3. Read manuscript I'm blurbing NO
4. Do something fun at some point NOT REALLY
5. Get second set of plane tickets YES
6. Follow up with garden guy who hasn't answered calls HE STILL HASN"T ANSWERED
7. Watch fun movie NO
8. Keep up with exercise & healthy eating (which includes chips!) YES
I like people, but I'm ready to become a hermit: I was on the phone or skype meetings for four hours today, on the day I was going to really dig into the program review. And I forgot my massage today (had booster yesterday, and am a bit tired today). I get drafts tonight and tomorrow morning that need a very quick turnaround, and then grading will come. So need to breathe.
The big news is that I learned last week that I will have a big fellowship in 24-25, and I'm now negotiating my retirement as of the end of 2025 school year. (I.e. not returning after sabbatical.) My department chair, who agreed that it made total sense, said that if they were jerks, he'd give me teaching releases for all my classes.
Goals for the week ahead:
1. Two sessions on famous author. Might finish this chapter!!!
2. Get draft of program review FINISHED. It will have highlighted sections that say "GET DATA" or "IS THIS TRUE" but it will be done. (And I think this is pretty much possible).
3. Try to read some of ms for blurbing
4. Grade, and catch up with class modules which I'm behind on
5. Do something fun
6. Call painter now that floor is done
7. Keep up with exercise, good sleep, etc.
8. Be kind to myself somehow
As it's now Saturday, I hope you've had a good couple of days---maybe even finished the chapter? Congratulations on fixing your retirement date and, especially, on the fellowship! That's exciting. Give up on Garden Guy and find someone else.
DeleteIs anyone else working this weekend? I've been trying to take at least part of the weekend off, but the last couple of weeks have seen various Non-Work things during the work week (fun excursion last week, ominous vet trip this week :( ) so I need some weekend time to make up.
ReplyDelete