2025 Session 3 - Week 9, pencil cases, pots and other containers

Storm Claudia brought a day of heavy rain and flooding to my part of the UK yesterday, and I was very glad it was my non-contract day so I could stay in, even if I did have work to do!  Not having Thanksgiving to look forward to can make this part of the year especially "slogging through mud that sticks to your boots" in nature, but we are definitely past the half way point of the semester so we should all give ourselves a little pat on the back and some virtual chocolate!

This week, lets talk about how we corral our writing implements on our desks and when we're moving around - do you still have a nice pencil case like we had in school, or are you more of a "pen in every bag and pocket" type?  Does your desk have a special pen pot or tray, or do writing implements hang our free-range?

A Shoutypants laser-hunting victory caught on camera! (Ignore bucket of washing up items being collected from all over the house, I didn't get to clear the photo zone before playtime was demanded)

<b>LAST WEEK'S GOALS:</b>

Daisy

Write something on a paper again
Sample processing
Review
Awful 1.5-day committee meeting in different town
Friend visit in former town after meeting

Dame Eleanor Hull

- swim x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 4 writing sessions
- grade undergrad papers; grade last grad quiz, make up next one & grade it; grade at least one in-class assignment from undergrads; do some prep of objects for a special class
- more work on sample syllabus for a proposed course
- more planning of writing projects
- dig compost-heap potatoes

heu mihi

1. Decide on and announce spring and summer teaching
2. Read grad student's note and respond to it
3. Three articles/chapters
4. Follow up on conference-related work
5. Cook and deliver meal for sick colleague
6. Get Covid vaccine
7. Exercise etc.

JaneB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days
b) making a couple of times a week
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) prepare week 10 materials
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) finish current graduate student text and do at least one more piece of graduate student writing (both MSc by thesis students submitted drafts of stuff last week)
RESEARCH
a) prepare for large project meeting (comment on revised document)
b) finish very long lasting multi-author paper resubmission
c) if possible read revised manuscript from last autumn's visiting pot-doc.

Julie

1. PhD viva.

2. Submit proposal for conference next year.

3. Work on article edits - 1 day.

4. Work on chapters - 1 day for each.

5. House/life admin: find plumber for annoying small things that don't seem to be working, send BIL birthday card, chase prescription, book eye test for daughter, book haircut for me.

6. Self-care/fun: find date to meet up with friends, read, journal, sleep, exercise, pub quiz with other friends.

Susan

1. Write paper

2. Enjoy conference

3. Hang out with friends and academic friends

4. Try to get some exercise during conference

5. Deal with any emergency stuff on work

6. Sleep well

7. Be zen about airline travel on 12 hour trips..

2025 Session 3 - Week 8, pencils and their accessories

Hi everyone, the weather is unseasonally warm and now the clocks have changed it's getting dark very early - sadly teaching is ramping up, when it feels like I should get to snuggle up with a book every evening and possibly make Christmas lists.  The stressing about assignments (from students who have noticed that they have assignments due the coming week... which we've been talking about since mid-September, but that doesn't count) is also starting, so it must be November.  And no Thanksgiving Break here in the UK - fun as Bonfire Night is, I live in a part of the country where fireworks are much loved and go off from a few days before Hallowe'en until the middle of the month which makes it less special (fortunately Shoutypants seems to understand that they aren't a threat to him, and largely ignores the bangs).

  

It was fun to read everyone's responses about washi tape - although I feel I should apologise for causing spending!  Here are a few of my current favourite tapes - the cat in the hat reminds me so much of the late lamented Fluffball with his derpy little face!

This week let's talk about a really basic stationary tool - the humble pencil.  Are you a mechanical pencil, a grab any pencil, or a never touch a pencil type?  Do you always have a sharpener and eraser, or never?  Do you have specific requirements for those accessories (I looove my T'Gaal pencil sharpener) or just use whatever comes to hand?

And here's the weekly Shoutypants, taking a nap in a very Autumnal palette - he's fond of this footstool even though he has multiple cushy cat beds available.  And the boxes are there because I've been needing a new bookcase for... multiple years.  MULTIPLE years.  And they're boxed to save dust and make them less likely to randomly fall over.

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

Daisy

Minimize people-managing issues, or hide

Write something on a paper, any paper

Sample processing fun stuff

Plan out November activities and commitments

Work on co-authored paper

Urgent review as favour to someone I like and want to support

Do something fun

Dame Eleanor Hull

- swim x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5*

- at least 4 writing sessions

- grade undergrad papers; do some planning for both classes

- more work on sample syllabus for a proposed course

- planning to see if I can possibly take on another writing project next year

- pay bills

- final putting-to-bed of garden

heu mihi

1. Take notes on the three essays that I read; read and take notes on two more

2. Rec for friend

3. Admin: Select summer teachers, start sorting out grad students’ teaching preferences

4. Life things: Make two annoying calls

5. Exercise, sleep, try to find some repose—go for a walk or two

JaneB

SELF-CARE:

a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days

b) making a couple of times a week

c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)

d) keep up reading for pleasure

e) call dentist - think I'm due my annual check up and they haven't contacted me, so I need to check in.

IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT

a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores

b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room

c) don't make clothes worse

TEACHING AND ADMIN:

a) week 9 materials prepare and start week 10 if possible b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend

c) wrap up last graduate student application

d) comment on and return at least one piece of graduate student writing (both MSc by thesis students submitted drafts of stuff last week)

RESEARCH

a) read reply to budget email, take appropriate actions. prepare for next meeting about this project

b) prepare for large project meeting (comment on document)

c) organise and run mock viva for Junior PhD student, debrief

d) work on very long lasting multi-author paper resubmission (which was going nicely until the most annoying author - who led the original project but didn't work on this part - started in on the "have to make it more exciting for REF" line which is going to be a pain).

Julie

1. Submit the book review!

2. Work on one of the chapters.

3. Email other authors in other edited volume to check for overlaps.

4. Start edits to article.

5. Prep for viva next week.

6. House/life admin: renew son's passport, thank you gift, sort out payment for shed, try to find option for piano, get repeat prescription.

7. Self-care: read, sleep, journal, exercise, watch new series about menopausal women who form a rock band (Riot Women on BBC if anyone is interested - only seen first episode, but a lot resonated!)

Susan

1. Keep up with copyedits on Famous Author.

2. Do another session on microfilm, get stuff I might use for the next paper (just to add something new)

3. Deal with Unnecessary Report / formatting, any revisions, etc.

4. Set up spring talks

5. Get back to exercise (none really while traveling)

6. Get back to tapestry

7. Eat well/ sleep well

2025 Session 3 - Week 7, washi tape

The trees are more branch than leaves, and I made it half way through the teaching weeks before Christmas. It's also the half way check in for this session - that came around fast!  This week, as well as reviewing our goals, let's talk about a relative newcomer on the stationary scene (at least to me) - washi tape.  Until I looked into it, I assumed it was something that had been around for decades in Japan and in hobbies like scrapbooking, but it turns out it was only invented in 2006 (although washi paper has a much longer history).  So, do you use it at all?  Is it still a mystery to you, or is it one of those things that are irresistably collectable "little treats"?

I'd also like to pick up some chat from last week - in some weeks, months or academic years, TLQ might not be research - there might be so much else going on that that important but not urgent things might be looking after yourself, supporting a graduate student or colleague in their work, or getting a report or teaching session prepared before it becomes screamingly urgent.  This is particularly true as our careers advance and, right now, given the stresses on all our universities from finances and the wider world.  Using this group for company, for TLQs which aren't research, for habit building - all fine!  When I ran an in person version of this group for a few years, one professor used to set the goal "write the word research on a piece of paper" as a goal for his really busy weeks - he said remembering he had a research life to get back to was still a useful goal.  One week he turned up to the reporting in round up with an airline sick bag with "research" written on it in Sharpie... and told us he'd actually had a useful idea and noted it down on a more traditional surface.

I'm glad you all enjoyed Shoutypants and the laserpointer - I'll try and get some success shots for later weeks.  And I'm sure hw will deign to be a mascot.

Can you see how sad his life is and how badly he needs trests?

SESSION GOALS:

Daisy

Turn two half-done papers into submitted papers
Figure out exercise routine
Try new teaching things with favourite courses
Shepherd four research students through their work

Dame Eleanor Hull

- keep up with morning exercise
- finish chapter for volume of collected essays
- write abstracts for three conferences next year (shoot me now)
- process student work in timely manner
- find readers for essays, do other editorial work
- deliver various not-museum-studies workshops (about half a dozen planned at present)
- try to do a couple of things on my Life Stuff list

heu mihi

1. Finish proofs and index for forthcoming book (has to get done, but I'm putting it here anyway)

2. Rough plan for Companion essay; research for essay; get ready-ish to draft in January

3. Teach my tiny class as well as I can (it's a required course for our major, but for weird demographic reasons I only have 3 students!)

4. Keep the administrative balls in the air; work on improving departmental climate/cultures

5. Get plenty of exercise, plenty of rest, and plenty of time for quiet contemplation

6. Think ahead to a creative project for the future

7. Finish my current Italian novel

JaneB

SELF-CARE: I struggle with this, so putting in some process goals -
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days a week (this can be stretching or more active exercising, but it needs to be intentional and additional to just "doing life"),
b) doing some kind of making (art or craft) a couple of times a week,
c) doing something gently social (playing D&D online counts, or a multi-text exchange with a non-work friend - living alone makes hermitting easy when life gets stressful and work uses up most/all/more than all of my interaction-tokens for the day) a couple times a week
d) keep up reading for pleasure - I seem to have my mojo back, and its definitely a Good Thing
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
Another thing which tends to go astray in busy/stressful times. And this is my heavy semester of teaching (plus the new stuff).
a) keep doing the weekly list of chores - aiming for 75% done every week to be realistic.
b) sort out new shelving in my living space - and maybe a sofa
c) clothes storage solutions (currently all my actually-in-the-rotation clothes are either in the laundry basket, on the airer, or piled on a chair or in the clean undies basket. This is not ideal).
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
Basic goal is to deliver every class as timetabled and grading on time - this is my heavy trimester, and I'm still having various burn-out-related health issues, so I don't feel like this is entirely a guarantee. Also dealing with some ISSUES with teaching team colleagues - the changes left us with several not-exactly-competent colleagues and the smaller staff numbers push me into interacting with them more often ::grumble:: But I'ma set some goals anyway. I only have familiar admin roles so nothing new there, and whilst there's a lot of reacting to smaller changes from the Centre, I don't have any big projects in mind. So only two goals for this session:
a) end each work week (Thursday) with everything set up ready to go for the following week and, if possible, have a solid start on the week after that.
b) limit working on teaching and admin issues over the weekend (let's say no more than 5 hours) and if possible ZERO
RESEARCH
I have a lot of balls in the air at the moment. I'm not sure how I feel about most of them.
a) submit multi-author paper (due 15 October) & hopefully get through to acceptance this session.
b) be on top of contributions to large project where I have a small part
c) make measurable progress with at least three other writing/data processing projects (I'll make a list now of what I'm working on)

Julie

1. Research

I am on research leave this academic year, so this should allow TLQ stuff to take priority more.

(a) Write chapters for two different edited volumes (one I have a rough draft of, the other is in the outline stage, both need reading I can't easily do here).

(b) Research trip for two weeks: use archive and library time well.

(c) Revisions to journal article when these come back in (should be this session).

(d) Work on article for Big Journal

(e) Book review (due 30th October)

(f) Follow-up conversations from workshop last June.

Teaching/Admin

1. See PhD student through viva and hopefully minor corrections.

2. Two PhD vivas (one internal, one external).

3. Keep up with mentees.

4. Plan for conference next year (last year on the committee, but it's a big centenary conference, so probably more work than usual).

Kids:

1. Steer daughter through university application process.

2. Help son with school work (this is going to be a lot of Latin)

3. Be general taxi driver, sports cheerleader, handy target for emotional teen outbursts, breathing ATM.

House/life admin:

1. Big project: clear piano and old cupboards from dining area, get new bookcase.

2. Medium project: get garden shed built.

3. Small projects: aim for one a fortnight.

4. Travel plans for next year (two significant birthdays to celebrate)

Self-care/fun stuff:

1. Reading for pleasure

2. Keep up with journaling.

3. Exercise: running, pilates, walks, maybe start some weights.

4. Buy a standing desk (for back problems).

5. Do more creative stuff.

6. See friends as much as possible.

Susan

Research:

1. Any follow up on Famous Author, or Big Collaboration

2. Get microfilms on Interlibrary Loan and scan them so I can read them on my computer; start reading them

3. Write 2 papers that I have accepted for conferences this fall

Administrivia:

1. Keep up with whatever needs to be done for the graduate program

2. The Systemwide committee I chair is at the sharp end of a major proposal from our regents that is NOT GOOD, so between now and November 10 I will be running a workgroup to have the faculty response to the whackadoodle proposal. It will be insane.

Life:

1. Keep up with exercise, 5-6 days a week (bike, yoga, weights). I've started working with a trainer on weights every few weeks, and that keeps me going. But it's a good way to deal with stress, of which there is a bit.

2. Do something fun with people every week. Like JaneB, I can become something of a hermit, especially until it cools down here and I want to spend time outside.

3. I am planning to move when I retire, so I am starting now on the de-cluttering process. By the end of this session, I want to have got rid of the teaching books I will not need, and reduced my book collection by about a third to a half. I also want to have dealt with the boxes of stuff in my extra room. And cleared the garage a bit.

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

Daisy

People-managing issues

Student posters and presentations

Paper review

Work on co-authored paper

Dame Eleanor Hull

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5

- annual online trainings (TRQ at this point)

- at least 3 writing sessions

- revise undergrad syllabus to cut or cram in reading, work out days for final "experience" work, grade grad quiz

- more work on sample syllabus for a proposed course

- clear my own Chair of Doom (I did laundry; why won't the clothes put themselves away?

- acquire some sort of Halloween decorations: at least a pumpkin or two

heu mihi

1. Write rec for friend on the market, trying to flee her terrible state

2. Get through the rest of the week, which is now almost over

3. Begin (re?)reading something towards the essay that's due in July and that I'd like to get a little start on in January

Jane B

SELF-CARE:

a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days

b) making a couple of times a week in addition to Inktober,

c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)

d) keep up reading for pleasure

e) eye clinic appointment, book GP appointment for medication review.

IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT

a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores

b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room

c) don't make clothes worse

TEACHING AND ADMIN:

a) prepare for week 7 meetings

b) week 8 materials prepare other half and start week 9 if possible (because week 7 and 8 have little time for preparation)

c) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend

d) wrap up graduate student applications postponed due to group paper

RESEARCH

a) find time to work on budget planning following a meeting two weeks ago. Grrr!

b) confirm mock viva for Junior PhD student

Julie

1. Meeting for final review conference programme.

2. Finish reading book, write and submit review.

3. At least one day research/writing.

4. Self-care: exercise, keep up with better sleep patterns, read.

5. House/life admin: renew son's passport, thank you present for guitar teacher, start planning trip away in February.

Susan

1. Finish paper/ set up slides

2. Schedule talks for spring

3. Get grad student TA assignments sorted out

4. Send out revised draft of report that we shouldn't have had to write

5. Have fun at conference

2025 Session 3 - Week 6, colour coding

It's clock change time in the UK this weekend - an extra hour of sleep is always a nice thing, but it means we are now officially into the "come home from work in the dark" time of year.  Autumn is my favourite season, followed by winter, but something about driving to work in the dark and coming home in the dark makes work feel even more takes-all-the-time-and-energy than the rest of the year.  And of course students get more unhappy about "late" classes (the latest end at 6pm - to students used to finishing school or college by 3 or 4, it is probably quite painful!).  Quite a few students are on their second or third illness and starting to drag a little - yes, definitely time for clock change and late Autumn, despite the weather remaining comparatively warm.

Interesting to read that we're all not much for the highlighters - I mentioned that seeing undergrads using them inspired this topic, and to expand it was because it seemed a rather retro thing for them to be doing.  This week, lets talk a bit more widely about colour - is colour important to you when it comes to stationary and the organisation of work things, or not?  Do you have colour associations with particular subjects or aspects of your work?  Or do you just grab the nearest folder or pen regardless of colour?

As a reminder, NEXT week is week 7, our goals review week (we planned a 13 week session ending 14th December, although we can go on an extra week if we want).

Mr Shoutypants LOVES this laser pointer cat toy (it has several different shape options - he seems to like this star and the butterfly ones best).  He has developed a specific combination of meow and stance that commands me to make the prey appear so he can stalk and chase it.  A blurry photo taken phone in one hand in poor light - the other hand was busy manipulating the cat toy.

LAST WEEK'S GOALS

Daisy

People-managing issues
Accounting
Read and comment on thesis work (3 students)
Update course outlines
Finish giant review task
Review co-authored paper
Finish grading!!
Something fun with friends

Dame Eleanor Hull

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 3 writing sessions (TRQ paper, think about abstracts for conferences, festschrift, how to make all this work)
- re-write grad quiz, comment on last week's in-class undergrad work, plus another if I dare assign anything else right now, grade grad quiz
- work on sample syllabus for a proposed course, also add required boilerplate to another one I mostly did last summer
- breathe!

heu mihi

1. Read ch. 3 and 4 of the dissertation

2. Run event and get organized for colleague's service/admin position

3. Final (??? I hope) edits to book MS--I just got another email with some very fiddly questions that I need to answer

4. Gift for baby shower

5. 35 pages of Italian, keep up with workouts

JaneB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days b) making a couple of times a week in addition to Inktober,
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) prepare for week 7 meetings
b) week 8 materials half done
c) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
d) pick up graduate student applications postponed due to group paper
e) do appraisal training (new system. SIGH)
RESEARCH
a) read and comment on draft of paper for not-my-grad-student
b) read and comment on draft of paper from surprise collaboration
c) find time to work on budget planning following a meeting two weeks ago. Grrr!
d) work with lead author on revise-and-resubmit of the multi-author paper which has been ongoing for at least 5 years - get sent to rest of multi-author team.
e) confirm mock viva for Junior PhD student

Julie

1. Finish the damn abstracts (deadline theoretically today)
2. Personal Research Plan (deadline Friday)
3. Start reading book for review
4. At least one research/writing session.
5. Self-care/fun stuff: baking, make soup, exercise, sleep, maybe do something creative, hopefully see friend at weekend.
6. Home/life admin: stock up at farm shop, take daughter for haircut, organise getting piano taken away.

Susan

1. Send out draft of Big Stupid Report
2. Get a bit more of paper written for next week.
3. Set up brown bags, schedule seminars for next semester
4. Clear journals off my desk
5. Keep sorting stuff, getting rid of what I can
6. Enjoy trip to city, time with friends, and even the committee meeting
7. Keep up with exercise (cycle x 3, yoga and weights x2)
8. Make sure I keep sleeping

2025 Session 3 - week 5, highlighters!

Well, that was a week - a LOT of drama from both staff and students, and two writing projects coming to urgent deadlines.  Hopefully some of you had a quieter time to balance that out!  At least the article due 15th October was finally submitted (after 2 hours 45 of fighting the submission site), so we get virtual chocolate all around!

This week's discussion topic is inspired by a couple of super-organised female first years who like to sit at the front of any class, have those large canvas pencil cases stuffed with supplies, and pull out 3-5 coloured highlighter pens as soon as any kind of handout appears.  I have bought so many highlighter pens over the years - ones in cute cases, ones arranged into a flower shape, ones which promise to be muted colours, ones which claim to not bleed through even the thinnest of paper.  But somehow they never transformed my reading comprehension, my memory r my organisation.  Opening a new pack and making test-swipes in my notebook is always a moment full of promise though so it will probably happen again!  What's your experience with highlighters?  Must have or meh? 

Home office supervisor/micro-manager

LAST WEEK'S GOALS

Daisy

Paper data processing
Student abstracts/presentations/posters
Web posts
External event and preparation
Accounting
Start on giant review committee task
Two fun friend meetups

Dame Eleanor Hull

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 3 writing sessions (TRQ paper, think about abstracts for conferences, festschrift, how to make all this work)
- grade the rest of the undergrad essays, prep for grad class, write another grad quiz, write another undergrad assignment, comment on in-class undergrad work
- write a sample syllabus for a proposed course

heu mihi

1. Read ch. 2 and 3 of the dissertation
2. Write teaching award recommendation after observation
3. Answer interview questions from my press for a blog post of some kind
4. Read undergrad's short story ahead of Friday meeting
5. Read 35 pages of Italian
6. Keep up with workouts--I might run in a 5k on Saturday, because why not?

JaneB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days b) making a couple of times a week in addition to Inktober,
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
e) do not eat sweet treats already bought for Christmas (not a good move)
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) week 6 materials ready to go
b) limit teaching and admin to 2 hours at weekend (I have a three hour research meeting on my "no work day" so...
c) pick up graduate student applications postponed due to group paper
d) do appraisal training (new system. SIGH)
RESEARCH
a) multi-author paper (due 15 October) - create final draft on Monday, send to the two copy-edit/references volunteers. Submit the whole darn thing on the 15th (allow several hours for the stupid exhausting submission system for this set of journals, and writing the cover letter).
b) test the computer stuff we set up two weeks ago if possible... collaborator on that project goes away end of week, so we want this ready to go if possible for the next stage
c) return box text to main team
d) schedule mock viva for junior PhD student.
e) find time to work on budget planning following a meeting two weeks ago. Grrr!
f) work on revise-and-resubmit of the multi-author paper which has been ongoing for at least 5 years. SIGH.

Julie

1. Meeting with PhD student to discuss viva prep.

2. Reference for another student.

3. Complete Personal Research Plan (department requirement, but more sensible than other plans forced on us).

4. Finish typing up some notes, organise photos and notes from this trip.

5. Put meetings etc in new diary.

6. Review abstract submissions for big conference next year.

7. Life admin: book dentist and flu jab, organise son's school trip, order school photos, send sister's birthday card.

8. Get back to exercise.

Susan

1. Actually start drafting paper for conference in two weeks

2. Set up brown bags

3. Set up speakers for spring

4. Keep up with BIG STUPID COMMITTEE

5. Do one box from room of doom, and the cart

6. Call doctor for referral to PT

7. Contact realtors for initial meeting

8. Do something fun at the weekend

9. Keep up with exercise

10. Keep up with regular sleep

2025 Session 3 - week 4, sticky notes/scratch pads

 Hello everyone, I hope you all had a decent week. the leaves are turning properly now making the drive home from work in the afternoon on sunny days much prettier than usual, and the students are well into sharing around the Freshers' Flu with staff, another well known seasonal marker!  So far I've avoided it but I am firmly masking and when I had to teach a couple of lab sessions I improved the seal with wardrobe tape - the teaching room is nicely laid out but has no open windows (some CAN open but only if people climb on benches to make it happen manually - old building retrofitted somewhat thoughtlessly, doubtless by the cheap bidder), no air conditioning, is on the afternoon-sun side of the building... so it gets both hot and stuffy.  And we could hardly open the doors to the corridor because firstly, setting a bad example, and secondly, the practical involving grinding and sieving soils then measuring out a lot of fine soil powder for various tests, and this was our first years first introduction to laboratory work, so the corridors would not have stayed clean either.  We use non-contaminated soil from a nice local nature area, it's VERY visible when they do spill anything on tables, floors or their lab coats, and the only chemical involved in this first class is water, so it's a perfect first practical in terms of minimal risk, easy to see if they have or have not spilt a bit or followed the rules about cleaning up as they went AND it yields useful data for later in the course (IF instructions were followed.  I got three reliable-looking datasets from about ten groups this time).  But it was definitely something of a germ party and a dust storm in there!

For stationary this week let's talk about what we use for ephemeral notes.  Despite all my notebooks, I do tend to still need some less permanent writing surface - to remind me to do something in 5 minutes, jot down a number I need in a different software package to look up a student, to make a to-do list for the afternoon, to write down a book name or sketch an explanation for a student.  Do you do all those things electronically, use a whiteboard, use sticky notes (branded or not? shape and size?), use the backs of old handouts and envelopes, keep a reporter's notebook on your desk... many options!  I look forward to hearing what you do!

Two Shoutypants pictures this week - the boy attempting to psychically persuade me to get out the treats, and a clearer shot of the begging/threatening paw he often offers as part of the process(he has very large murder mittens at full spread, but they are very hard to photograph!).  He likes to spread his toes so aaaaallll the very white claws come out then gently pat my leg with just the paddy part underneath, it's somewhat unnerving the first time he does it!

  

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

DAISY

Complete talk
Record talk
Paper outline and section points to go with talk
All the marking
Web posts
External committee wrap-up
Accounting

DAME ELEANOR HULL

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5

- at least 3 writing sessions (I've scheduled more than that on my calendar; let's see if I can stick to them!)
- grade the rest of the undergrad essays, prep for grad class, write another grad quiz
- read another essay submission
- read the rest of the files for committee work

HEU MIHI

1. Really must read the dissertation, at least the intro + 2 chapters
2. Consider writing LOR, but without a deadline, this may get pushed
3. Read 35 pages of Italian
4. Spend Saturday helping Mom declutter some part of her house

JANEB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days b) making a couple of times a week in addition to Inktober,
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) get week 4 and 5 materials ready to go, and STOP THERE (after this week I'm only coordinating the first years, not teaching the classes, for a couple of weeks - a bit of a breather before things get seriously busy - but I need to focus on research not on teaching this week),
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) review processes for graduate student applications and catch up on relevant emails
d) do appraisal training (new system. SIGH)
RESEARCH
a) multi-author paper (due 15 October) meeting, at least half a day of work.
b) test the computer stuff we set up two weeks ago
c) edit/precis box text using comments.
d) talk about viva preparation with junior PhD student, and post-wildfire issues with junior MSc student.
e) continue to work on budget planning following a meeting last week

JULIE

1. Maximise final afternoon today in other archive before trains stop running on Tuesday (didn't realise this before I came). How many photos can I take in four hours?
2. Maximise rest of time in Barcelona
3. Celebrate my dad's birthday tomorrow.
4. Squeeze in as much time as possible walking around my favourite bits of the city.

SUSAN

1. Last letter of recommendation, due Friday (it's for a grant, and I really want them to get it.)

2. Start planning late October paper

3. Plane tickets for November conference

4. Set up talks

5. Be ready when ILL microfilms arrive to sit and save them to a file, which will be a massive PITA.

6. Clear out one box from the room of doom. (JaneB has a chair of doom, I have a whole room!)

7. Clear the chair in my office of accumulated paper

8. (optimistic) deal with one pile from my desk

9. Keep up with exercise

10. Do fun things at the weekend

11. Maintain healthy sleep schedule

2025 Session 3 - week 3, pens

 

Greetings from a very windy UK, where the first Atlantic storm of the season is letting the trees get all dramatic and cast their leaves around, and annoying Mr Shoutypants because his windowledges are cold on windy days.  It's still relatively early in Autumn and mild, but it is REALLY DEFINITELY Autumn now.  My favourite season!  Despite the students... and the colleagues... and the new software...

Last week we talked about which writing tools we used when - this week lets focus in specifically on pens.  I have very strong feelings about pens, and I know many of my academic colleagues do, and I keep a pen-pot of university issued cheap biros on the student facing side of my desk in hopes of stopping them accidentally walking off with either the slightly better, mosre costly uni issued gel pens or even worse one of MY pens.  As a mark of the financial situation of most UK regional (and this year also Brand Name) universities, the stationary cupboard is no longer stocked, but I have a box in my office which contains leftovers from past activities and years, so should be able to stock the student facing pen-pot for at least this year - and if at least half of them continue taking notes on their phones instead of paper (postit notes are left next to the pen-pot) perhaps two or even three years!  So which pens do YOU guard jealously?  Do you have an old favourite, a new discovery to share, or complete bafflement as to why people care?

He knows he shouldn't be there but he can't see me so I don't know, right?

LAST WEEK'S GOALS

DAISY

Complete draft of upcoming talk for co-authors to look at
Paper outline and section points to go with talk
External committee work and travel
Write web posts on plane or something
Do at least one fun thing while away for trip

DAME ELEANOR HULL

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 3 writing sessions
- grade undergrad essays, prep for grad class, write and grade grad quiz
- read another essay submission
- read files for committee work

HEU MIHI

1. Write LOR for third student
2. Revise index
3. Read 35 pages of Italian novel; maybe attend Italian discussion group
4. Complete periodic review of Gen Ed course (been on my docket for months now)
5. Start reading dissertation
6. Read prospectus

JANEB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days b) making a couple of times a week,
b) print off Inktober prompts and start doing them

c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure

IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) get week 3 materials finished off for the first year module (the coming week is week 2)
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) make contact with all my tutees/supervisees - again
d) get week 4 materials sorted for the honours class (they need releasing Tuesday of week 3 so if they are done by the end of this week that will help me relax over the weekend)
RESEARCH
a) multi-author paper (due 15 October) a couple of hours of work, schedule meeting
b) read and comment on chapter for meeting, add to methods text
c) test the computer stuff we set up last week
e) edit/precis box text using comments.

JULIE

1. Get reading for two different chapters done and fill in as many gaps as possible.

2. Start looking at primary sources (two different archives in different places, so need to work how to juggle)

3. Co-habit peacefully with my dad.

4. See family.

5. Ignore all but urgent and essential emails.

SUSAN

1. Find chair for session

2. Organize talks

3. Write report on sabbatical (due Wednesday)

4. Write two letters of reference

5. Start thinking about the paper I am giving at the end of October.

6. Buy plane tickets for conference in mid-November

7. Do something about ILL stuff

8. Keep up with exercise

9. Do something fun

10. Sleep

2025 Session 3 - week 2, writing tools

 Hello everyone, I hope your week has gone well.  It's properly Autumn now the equinox is past, and here with pleasing symmetry the equinox was the first day it was definitely cool enough for me to add an extra layer to my outfit.  The new teaching term arrived with added drama, but at least the leaves are turning and I had some pretty weather to look at outside the window when glancing up from the computer!

For this week's optional discussion topic, let's take a high level view of writing implements (in future weeks we will have space to get into the details of brands and swap recommendations for specific types).  What parts of your work do you type, what parts get done by hand?  How has that changed over time?  Do you find yourself having strong feelings about whether a task requires ink or pencil?   

Here's Mr Shoutypants making the most of a patch of late season sunshine (I am a terrible photographer and black, curious cats who tend to rush up to the camera whenever it is pointed at them are not great subjects, apologies)

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

DAISY

Review
Write outline for upcoming talk
Write one section of talk as paper section
Field work with student on weekend
Major committee stuff - internal
Major committee stuff – two sets external
Write web posts

DAME ELEANOR HULL

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 3 writing sessions
- grade grad quizzes, comment on undergrad in-class writing, prep for grad class
- read another essay submission
- read files for committee work

HEU MIHI

1. Catch up on emails in all three accounts
2. Write letters of recommendation
3. At least *start* reading (other) grad student's dissertation
4. Finish preliminary round of proofs and indexing
5. Get on top of various life things (call Mom, pay bills, that sort of stuff)
6. Exercise at least 5 times--Friday is optional

JANEB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days (the two non campus days and one of the weekend days)
b) making a couple of times a week,
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) complete prep for new honours session and revise week 2 slides to introduce it.
b) get week 3 materials set up (next week is week 1)
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) make contact with all my tutees/supervisees - again
RESEARCH
a) multi-author paper (due 15 October) schedule two meetings
b) attend meetings for big project (more meetings. they love meetings)
c) read and comment on chapter for meeting following week
d) test the computer stuff we set up last week
e) edit/precis box text using comments.

JULIE

1. Prep for viva on Thursday and submit report afterwards.
2. Workshop for recently retired colleague on Friday.
3. Prep for research trip.
4. Prep for being away for two weeks (my mum is very capable, but still need to make sure everything is lined up for her).

SUSAN

1. Find chair for session

2. Organize a couple of talks

3. Prepare for workgroup meeting on Wednesday

4. Return to exercise when I return to health

5. Figure out how to get microfilms on Interlibrary Loan.

6. Have fun trip to winery on Friday

2025 Session 3 - week 1, notebook week

Happy solstice!  Campus was swarming with anxious, excited, slightly hungover, confused students this week which definitely changes the mood of the department - partly because of all the people who are rediscovering that summer is different, and we're back to the 30 minute wait at every food venue for coffees, and the soup runs out at our usual lunch place at least half an hour earlier, partly because it's curtain up time.  This is definitely new stationary season!  This week, let's talk about notebooks - how do you keep all your ideas and thoughts and little things you need to remember and research materials organised?  Are you fully digital, or do you still have physical notebooks?  Are you a "use the basic old reliable and throw them out when full" or the "ONLY this brand in THIS colour" kind of person?  Any notebook use tips you've learnt as you've grown into your academic self?

Anyone who wants to join a week late, please do, you're always welcome!

Shoutypants doesn't approve of the new curtains in this room because he has to wait for me to open them before he can get on the windowsill to people-watch (this window looks onto the narrow one way street at the front of my house - we have no front places, the door opens onto the pavement, so he has good people watching and can also see into the houses opposite.  He used to be able to open the old curtains himself.  Yes, I still need to paint the "new" plaster from when the windows were upgraded about three years ago.  or more maybe? 

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK

DAISY

Clear up all adminstrivial things I ignored the last two weeks while registration was in full swing.
Organize student project meetings and tasks
Organize my writing tasks so I can pick something to work on each day
Organize my schedule so I have some time blocks to write
Pick one block and write! (if only it was that easy…)

DAME ELEANOR HULL

- swim x2 or x3, cardio x3, weights x2, yoga x5
- at least 3 writing sessions
- grade grad quizzes, comment on undergrad in-class writing
- read another essay submission
- do Saturday loooong workshop thingy
- assorted appointments (eyes, PT, other)
- remember to be in all the right places at the right times!

HEU MIHI

1. Get through Very Fancy University event.
2. Proofs & index of 50 pages of book.
3. Read 35 pages of Italian.
4. Read grad student's chapter.
5. Exercise at least 4 times. (It's a busy week with many inconvenient meetings that will require me to be creative about my workout schedule....)

JANEB

SELF-CARE:
a) intentional movement for at least 15 minutes three days (the two non campus days and one of the weekend days)
b) making a couple of times a week,
c) two gently social things (D&D hopefully)
d) keep up reading for pleasure
IMPROVING MY ENVIRONMENT
a) 75%+ of the weekly list of chores
b) make a plan for the shelving in the living room
c) don't make clothes worse
d) get a new cat litter trapping mat
TEACHING AND ADMIN:
a) get week 2 materials set up (next week is week 0)
b) limit teaching and admin to 5 hours at weekend
c) identify reading/outline discussion points for new topic for honour module
d) admin role - check my allocation of other people's ViLE sites (we have a checklist of the minimal information that needs to be there, for consistency, and guidelines for assessment requirements. Some people do not think it applies to THEM. This led to a major and embarrassing situation at the exam board with all the external examiners, so this year we are doing the checking By The Book. Sigh. WHY can't we trust adults to follow the rules?)
e) make contact with all my tutees/supervisees

RESEARCH

a) multi-author paper (due 15 October) schedule two meetings
b) attend meetings for big project (more meetings. they love meetings)
c) make the list of all the projects that are in the air, and their current status
d) do feedback comments on texts for senior MSc student and former visiting postdoc.
e) get box text back from former PhD student and send to other author for a different paper.

JULIE

1. Write report on PhD thesis and send to other examiner.
2. Work on chapter for edited volume.
3. Difficult conversation with car crash PhD student. This should be a final conversation, but he's reluctant to accept the inevitable, and my co-supervisor is not good at confrontation so....
4. Self-care: physio appointment (back is playing up again), journal, read, do something creative.
5. Pilates and run if physio allows.
6. House stuff: clear some stuff from garage, fix a couple of small things, buy new coffee pot (nothing happens without coffee!).

SUSAN

1. Get new chair for conference session where chair can't come

2. Organize a bunch of talks and events for our graduate program

3. Draft one paragraph on the research of a colleague for a merit review

4. Deal with all the admin stuff which is coming at me very fast right now.

5. Empty two boxes. Get stuff I've organized to the various sales they need to go to. (There's a large bag of shoes for goodwill, other stuff for the cat rescue yard sale.)

6. Submit expenses for summer TOMORROW before they make us use the crappy online system ourselves starting Wednesday.

7. Do fun stuff this weekend

2025 Session 3 - week 0, time to set some goals

Welcome to the new TLQ session!  This is the first week of 14, so we're setting goals for the period between now and 14th December, and will have a mid-session check in/recalibration on 2nd November.

Since it is autumn and the start of the new academic year (for most of us at least), I thought we could have a theme of stationery.  As soon as I see a change of leaf colour or a cool, crisp morning or another hint of Autumn, I feel this powerful urge for new school supplies.  this year so far I just got some new stickers, plus the acronym for the new unit I belong to following the August reorganisation is the name of an animal so I've acquired some tiny models of those animals for my office.  But clearly I need MORE stationery.

Let's start by talking about work bags.  Do you have a dedicated bag (or two or three bags) for work?  Are you a back pack person, a handbag/purse plus tote bag person, a grab the laptop bag and shove everything else in your pockets person?  How do you move your stuff between home and campus, and what sort of things do you move around?

So, four things, this week - introduce yourself if you want to, session goals, goals for the coming week, and, if you have time, tell us about your work bag(s).

When setting goals, think about your current context, and what do you need to get done by Christmas.  What top left (important, non-urgent) things and personal things would make you feel like it's been a good year overall, or that the calendar year ended well, when we wrap the session up on 14th December?

Here's the boilerplate from previous sessions about goals: Goals can be in any aspect of life, although the key focus is often writing tasks that are personally and professionally important but that never quite tip over into important AND urgent. Urgent things sometimes find their way in here too; that is completely okay, and process goals are also most welcome. 

If you've been thinking for awhile about joining in, we'd love to have you try us out this time around!

Oh, and here's a picture of Mr Shoutypants settling in on my D&D notes just when I needed to check them.  He looks like he was very well aware of that!

Intermission week 3

 We start properly next week so I thought we might as well have a final placeholder in case there are things to share - work doesn't stop, so TLQ important stuff should also carry on!  Autumn is slowly getting going here, and I needed to wear a cardigan for a couple of hours yesterday which was a pleasant treat.

Here's Shoutypants having a nice bath to be all spruced up ready for the start of the new session - cats are so bendy (and black cats are hard to photograph).

Intermission Week 2

 Greetings all!  I have a bad case of the Sunday Scaries, complete with anxiety dreams, and the new teaching year is three weeks away for us (two weeks until Welcome Week (we don't call it Fresher's Week because that implies binge drinking and hedonism and might be off putting to some) which means three weeks to starting classes and four weeks until the first serious outbreaks of Fresher's Flu at a guess).  But the leaves on the bird-cherry tree outside my window are just starting to change colour and we had a lovely Autumn-feeling rain storm yesterday (back to summery humidity today but it was a pleasant reminder), so I am trying to Get Organised in ways that will help with the anxiety.

So, new session - I suggest we start with goal-setting on the 14th of September and end 14th December with a mid-session review 2nd November, does that work for everyone?  And I think we can have a nice simple theme appropriate for the "back to school" season of stationary and writing tools.

Shoutypants is requesting food with menaces (several hours before food time)

Intersession Intermission

 Hi everyone,

It's a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, and I have a bad case of the "Sunday Scaries" for the start of the academic year even though I still have a few weeks!  I'll pop back in to give information about the new session, which will start mid-September, but in the meantime here's a post for anyone who needs to set some goals or share some news.  In absence of any funny or sensible words, here's Bear, catching up on his rest.

Midyear Session 2025 Week 14: The End! Party Time!

Mid-August! Let's celebrate all the things we've done this summer, because we have done things. Many goals have been met. We've traveled, seen people, tried to balance life and work. Maybe there have been fun books read in place of serious reading, or time with companion animals and family in place of work, or just plain summery drifting instead of crossing off list items. Celebrate those things, too. 

In fact, here's a toast to each of you: to Susan, who sent off Famous Author and spent the summer in famous libraries, with a side trip to Paris! To Julie, who got promoted and went to Iceland! To JaneB, who sets a good example in making incremental progress, taking time for creativity, and keeping a sense of humor in the face of institutional incompetence! To heu mihi, who read a lot of Italian and saw a lot of family (those things seem like they go together well)! To Daisy, whose work facilitates Real Summer goals (and who can repel bears with curry!)! To me, who did stuff even though it doesn't feel like it! We have Prosecco (rather than champagne, because of the Italian readers), we have elderflower pressé, we have gin and tonic; help yourself to a sparkling drink and some nibbles, and make yourself at home in the comments section.

First I'll list your goals from last week, and below those, the session goals as revised in week 7 or 8. As you respond to both, make sure you include your ALSO items: those things that cropped up or offered themselves, that may not have been on your radar but which you can nonetheless note having done. For session goals, I kept things that people had finished by midterm, because we are all about the celebrating the DONE this week!

Last week:

Daisy

Next major document from giant meetings
Finish up pile of work from committee
Decide on promotion, if yes, start writing
Work on student projects
Send away rest of samples
Finish really depressingly overdue review
Write one section of new paper
Keep learning new music [can I just say that I love this goal? --ed.]

Dame Eleanor Hull

- cardio x3, PT 2x/day, weights at least once
- at least one campus day, meet with grad, continue project known as 'tidying' (actually cataloguing, but it will lead to a tidier office eventually); at least two other meetings
- make time for 5 hours research on projects W and M
- plan fall teaching, complete at least one syllabus
- do something fun and summery b/c it's not over yet!

heu mihi

1. Read grad student's prospectus
2. Read other article to decide whether I want to teach it
3. Do some "for real" course prep (e.g. setting up some of the ViLE)
4. Make the anniversary book! Our anniversary is Friday!
5. Return to in-earnest exercise.

JaneB

1) Building better habits: yarn project, read, D&D, hobby things

2) improving my environment: well, let's be ambitious! sorting out the war/floor-drobe situation, progress the sofa-and-shelving ideas, get the front gutters replaced, do chores.

3) blocks: One block for the first year module - class slides and activities, handout, assessment questions. Make a revised revised block list.

4) Writing - the week after next I have multiple meetings, so I am going to set the goal of at least 1 hour on each of the projects for which I have a meeting scheduled later in August.

5) check in with all the graduate students

6) Check the timetable for trimester 1 and make SURE it meets my reasonable adjustments. Complete one CPD thing (urgent). Catch up with all email. Make appointment to have the I Have Issues/Adjustments conversation with the new interim Head of School.

Julie

1. Organise trip for kids.
2. Post-holiday email catch-up.
3. Start reading one of the two PhDs I am examining in the autumn.
4. Start some reading for chapter for second edited volume.
5. House/life admin: pay car tax, physio appointment.
6. Self-care/fun: meet up with old friend for the day, enjoy kid-free time!

Susan

1. Get over jet lag
2. Do as much admin stuff today and tomorrow so I can pivot to Famous Author when it arrives.
3. Get going on next round of revisions, which I've been promised are not huge
4. Get back into exercise regime
5. Finish organizing the odd stuff that I haven't put away yet
6. Draft syllabi. (I got as far last week as putting my classes into my calendar.)
6. See friends, enjoy myself.

Session goals (updated at midterm):

Daisy

Two new papers submitted 
Revised course material for fall and winter
One defensible graduate thesis 
Good experience for 3 hired undergraduates 
Kayaking 
Exercise 
Garden improvement 

Dame Eleanor Hull

* write essay due at the start of September
* plan work for summer TA and do some supervising of her
* write and deliver two conference papers, focusing most energy on the one that will be the core of a book chapter.
* plan classes for next year
* submit two course proposals
* swim 2-3 times a week: 
* work in the garden 3x/week: KEEP BUT tailor to weather, and keep sessions brief, 20-30 minutes
* do 5 Life Stuff tasks, aiming for one per week
* think about conference proposals for next two years (!)

heu mihi

1. Research/writing: Complete copy-edits of book, submit revised article, submit abstract for MK, start working (idly) on research for MK, read and review book. Revise article for collection. 

2. Creative: Finish green sweater, work on knit dress, make a book or two, other projects!!

3. House: Clear out storage area, fix basement doors that don't close properly, wash windows at some point

4. Family: Costa Rica album, anniversary book, vol. 2 of uncle's memoirs

5. Personal: Read Italian novel vol. 2, get outdoors as much as possible, lots of exercise

6. Misc. work: Update program website, prep new class

JaneB

Home, self and life:

1) Building better habits: more small things that bring joy, especially in terms of making stuff/doing art. More things which engage my brain and are Not Work (D&D, reading for fun). Paying attention to eating as a self-kindness not as a tool to shut up the toddler/appease the negative brain weather.

2) improving my environment: sorting out the war/floor-drobe situation, doing one big Improvement Thing (I'd like that to be getting a sofa - so would ShoutyPants!), getting the front gutters replaced, doing a big turn out of the spare bedroom/craft space/home office where I spend most of my time at home.

Academic work (the job and the work both):

3) use the block model as last summer - aiming for 24 blocks (3-4 hours of future-focused work like preparing for teaching in the following year). Aims are to get on top of teaching prep and maybe do some "just for me" research tasks (exploring future ideas).

4) I have a lot of writing projects (grant ideas and journal articles) which all involve other people therefore are not fully in my control - I'm setting the goal of substantial progress on four of them this summer.

5) supporting graduate students (it's only sort of a TLQ thing, but it is taking up a larger than normal amount of my summer, and it is important, so I'm including it).

Julie

1. Research & writing (this will be buffet style)

i) Revisions to article currently under review if necessary
ii) Outline at least, write if possible, two different chapters I've been invited to contribute to edited volumes. 
iii) Organise workshop in June.
iv) Do some research on current project. Depending on outcome of grant application, work out priorities for next year.
v) book reviews

2. Teaching

i) Get all marking done.
ii) Read final final drafts for one PhD student; wait to see if other student will ever send written work (this is heading for a car crash).
iii) read added PhD drafts

3. House

i) Big project for this session: getting the garden how I want it. 
ii) Small jobs as and when time allows. 

4. Fun stuff/self care

i) Exercise - improve fitness. 
ii) Eat healthily - this session will either be great for this or terrible.
iii) Sleep! 
iv) Continue reading for pleasure.
v) Journaling, more creative stuff. 

Susan (original goals, as I couldn't find an update)

1. Get Famous Author out the door (goal June 1)
2. Write short essay about recent book, theoretically due June 1
3. Write keynote address for late June workshop, preferably before I fly to the UK on June 15
4. Start poking around in archives on new project
5. Have a good vacation with my sister in Paris and with friend
6. Start preparing my head for the fall and a return to teaching.
7. Keep up with some kind of exercise/ fitness
8. Enjoy myself - museums, theatre, etc.
9. Be sociable, try to meet people

Midyear session 2025 Week 13

This is the last goal-setting week; next week will be the end-of-session party at which we report on session goals and congratulate ourselves and each other.

So, whether the recipes were well-chosen and all is going smoothly, or they were overly complicated and the kitchen is now a disaster area, the guests will arrive soon. Are you setting the table, uncorking the wine, and looking forward to the gathering? Chasing the cat away from spilled cheese sauce, clearing up broken glass, and praying everyone will be late? Rushing to take a shower and put on something festive (because you can always ask a guest to set the table and another one to open the wine while you do final touches in the kitchen, but you do need to be clean and present when people start to show up)?

How did you do last week? What are your plans for the week ahead?

Daisy

Work on student projects
Send away samples
Finish depressingly overdue review
Write conference abstract
Write one section of new paper

Dame Eleanor Hull

- one campus day, meet with grad, spend 30 minutes tidying my office
- swim x 3, yoga x5, cardio x 3, do PT exercises 2x/day
- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume
- finish syllabus for one to-be-proposed course AND start a syllabus for one fall course
- finish organizing the guest room closet and shelves OR start on my study (preferably both)
- make some measurable progress on 2 research projects (M and W)
- try to get Basement Cat to the vet
- reschedule the eye exam that I totally forgot about today!

heu mihi

1. Teaching prep: Read 2 articles that I may assign for upcoming course
2. Fix basement closet door??? (I would have to do this today, and I'm not sure that I want to)
3. Start on anniversary book (select pictures)
4. Read grad student's prospectus

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project, journal, play D&D, prepare for future D&D.

2) environment: Complete Large Financial Chore, work on simple financial chores/make list for complicated ones (including planning to pay for the car repairs). do serious investigation of sofas, cat litter box furniture, and shelving for the living room, do at least three house chores, keep the kitchen immaculate (the decluttering person worked miracles...). hopefully get the car back.

3) Work - ONE THING - do email triage mid-week to pick up some researcher-issues and reduce the overwhelm when I start back

Julie

- spot whales
- figure out Icelandic supermarkets
- other holiday activities as desired/possible

Susan

1. Catch up with all the admin stuff
2. See if I can sketch the article I want to write
3. As soon as I get anything from my editor, go into revision mode.
4. See friends
5. Prepare to leave... pack, organize, etc.

Midyear Session 2025 Week 12

I realize the UK members still have some time ahead of them, but here in the US I am very much mired in oh-shit-it's-August syndrome. So my totally self-serving request this week is for recipes (incantations, mantras, approaches) for warding off panic, avoiding thrashing, and actually tackling the to-do list instead of zoning out and refusing to do anything other than the most basic and most required tasks.

I hope the rest of you did better than I did last week! Let us know in the comments.

Daisy

Write documents resulting from giant meetings
Finish web articles
More awkward meetings
Finish much overdue newsletter
Work on student projects with all of them
Process and send away samples
Finish overdue review

Dame Eleanor Hull

- one campus day, meet with grad, spend 30 minutes tidying my office
- swim x 3, yoga x5, cardio x 3, do PT exercises 2x/day
- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume
- take more notes on articles read last month
- create syllabus for one to-be-proposed course
- finish organizing the guest room closet and shelves OR start on my study
- think about fall courses
- make some measurable progress on 2 research projects (M and W)
- do some other Life Stuff and/or tedious work tasks

heu mihi

1. FINISH uncle's memoirs. Yesterday I spent a really long time integrating all the photos, so I'm very close now. 600 pages!
2. Read book for upcoming course; work a little on syllabus
3. Figure out August travel plans, such as they are
4. Questions for student's upcoming exam
5. Dissertation defense (this morning--not optional--but I'm putting it on here anyway)
6. Pick up some supplies for beer brewing; my stash is alarmingly small!

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project, journal, play or prepare for D&D

2) environment: Sort out post pile of doom. do simple financial chores/make list for complicated ones. book gutter fix. at least three house chores. Decluttering person at last (I hope). Car service.

Julie

On holiday!

Susan

1. Get whatever I can out of archives today
2. Try to figure out what shoes have dropped that I have to pick up re admin jobs
3. Start planning events for year
4. Finally get back to microfilm
5. Enjoy theatre, meeting with friends, etc.
6. Figure out last working week here.

Midyear Session 2025 Week 11

Abstraction is not my greatest ability, but let's give metaphor a shot this week: do you have a "recipe" for any part of your work? A standard approach to writing an article, designing a syllabus, or planning a lecture (pick one or more, as you like)? Do you need to proceed step-by-step or can you dump all the ingredients in the same bowl and stir like mad? What "ingredients" do you need to have on hand in order to produce an article, a syllabus, a lecture? What do you vary according to the season?

And how did you do with last week's goals?

Daisy

- Accounting from trips

- Giant meetings with many committees

- Write web articles, now just annoying

- Majorly overdue review

Dame Eleanor Hull

- try to figure out some sort of "syllabus" for the rest of summer (interim due dates, etc)

- one campus day, meet with grad, spend 30 minutes tidying my office, scan essay and return book (yes, again, different book)

- swim x 2, yoga x5, cardio x 3, do PT exercises 2x/day

- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume

- take notes on articles read 3 weeks ago

- create syllabus for one to-be-proposed course

- organize the guest room closet and shelves

- think about fall courses

- make some measurable progress on 2 research projects (M and W)

heu mihi

1. Finish uncle's memoirs

2. Housework projects (clean garage and/or wash windows)

3. Finish reading research-ish book

4. Yoga retreat this weekend! Drinks with friends on Wednesday!

5. Clean up email somewhat

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project, journal, play D&D

2) environment: do week's chores. Sort out post pile of doom

3) blocks: two teaching blocks - one sorting out the laptop, second looking at the module I am now fed up about

4) writing: do some more work on the collaborative paper with a deadline, two re-reviews for journals (sigh).

5) grad students: Only ONE meeting this week, in the diary at least. And maybe no paperwork? MAYBE?

Julie

1. Write as much of chapter as possible, ideally close to full draft.

2. Send PhD student comments.

3. Read a chapter for a colleague.

4. More bits of boring work admin.

5. House/life admin: holiday prep, nephew's birthday, reply to some emails.

6. Self-care/fun stuff: lunch with friend, find holiday reading, exercise, journal, keep going with sleep, watch more T de F.

Susan

1. Finish reading dissertation, prepare for defense tomorrow late afternoon (time zones from BST to PDT mean an 8 hour range...)

2. Try to get to the library for a few hours of microfilm tomorrow

3. Order documents for Scottish research (which has now expanded to another library to help a friend in the US).

4. Keep up with administrative stuff, keep planning events for start of semester. (This will be mostly early morning/ evening stuff)

5. Have fun! Enjoy walking, even if it does rain.

Midyear Session 2025 Week 10

Shifting away from the kitchen this week (maybe), if you had the perfect conditions to throw any sort of party you wanted, what would it be? Tea for two, garden party, casual barbecue, formal sit-down dinner? Assume that the good fairies will come and clean up both before and after (and the bad fairies will zap any annoying neighbours who might complain about noise). Fairies will also polish the silver or stock up on paper napkins, roll the lawn or possibly even add that extension you've been considering . . . all you need to do is decide on the type of event. Feel free to consider menu and guests, if you want to!

Consider it practice for our end-of-session celebration. ;-)

And how did you do last week?

Daisy

Two office days for all the office things….
Three days in the field, plus weekend, plus first three days of next week…
Edit giant curriculum document first draft
Write web articles, short but annoying task
Grant report
Keep on top of student tasks

Dame Eleanor Hull

- try to figure out some sort of "syllabus" for the rest of summer (interim due dates, etc)
- one campus day, meet with grad, spend 30 minutes tidying my office, scan essay and return book
- swim x 3, yoga x5, cardio x 4
- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume
- take notes on articles read 2 weeks ago
- create syllabus for one to-be-proposed course
- organize the guest room closet and shelves
- think about fall courses
- make some measurable progress on 2 research projects (M and W)
- get fasting blood draw

heu mihi

1. FINISH ARTICLE REVISION (we're talking like ONE footnote here, people)
2. Next 50 pages of Italian novel
3. Make significant progress on one home/life project--probably uncle's memoirs
4. Clean some parts of the house
5. Try to keep my shit together as the fall schedule keeps hitting hiccups (mixed metaphor[s], that's fine)

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project, journal

2) Environment: do week's chores. Sort out post pile of doom

3) blocks: two teaching blocks - one sorting out the laptop, second looking at the module I am now fed up about so I can a) regain my equilibrium and b) get going EARLY on "non-nagging nagging" the others as we are supposed to be completely changing the assessment to make it more AI-resistant which requires coordination and planning, and I want to do my share of the work before the semester starts (and now know the others won't want to, so I need to start NOW).

4) writing: do some more work on the collaborative paper with a deadline, go to a meeting about same.

5) grad students: do substantial paperwork for two students, send a couple of emails for third. Only ONE meeting this week, in the diary at least!

Julie

1. Carry on writing chapter.
2. PhD student's chapter and possibly more.
3. Add some references to my reading list.
4. Read article for a post-doc.
5. Do some boring work admin.
6. House/life admin: prep for holiday, nephew's birthday, sort out home insurance renewal.
7. Self-care/fun stuff: read, exercise, keep trying on sleep, watch Tour de France.

Susan

Read full dissertation when it arrives
ACTUALLY READ SOME MICROFILM
Plan for research trip in Scotland
Organize meeting with some people I saw at the workshop
Do fun stuff at the weekend, visit My Favorite Museum
See friends
Keep walking (this in preparation for a walking holiday that's coming up)