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)

Midyear Session 2025 Week 9

Happy Bastille Day! 

Let's talk about what happens when something goes wrong while you're cooking: maybe the recipe is wonky, or you forgot to add an ingredient, or your stove isn't hot enough, or (much too common) you don't know what the problem is but the dish is . . . not as hoped. What do you do?

• try to adjust on the fly (say, add another potato to absorb salt)
• throw it out and start over
• re-purpose it (as in turning dry cake into trifle)
• doctor it by adding new materials (custard sauce, or vinaigrette, depending on the type of dish)
• take some other action

And how did you do with last week's goals? Is this recipe working? If not . . . what approach will you take this week?

Daisy

Five days in the field
Write giant curriculum document first draft
Write web articles, short but annoying task
Update organization page, send planning emails

Dame Eleanor Hull

- make weekly schedule for the rest of summer
- two campus days, meet with two grads, spend 30 minutes tidying my office, visit potential "field trip" sites
- swim x 2, yoga x5, cardio x 4
- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume (v much past due: what's more TRQ than TRQ??)
- take notes on articles read last week
- create syllabus for one to-be-proposed course
- organize the guest room closet and shelves
- get a massage or facial or something self-indulgent
- think about fall courses 

heu mihi

1. Complete and send in book review
2. Complete revision of article (that will finish up all of my required academic/research-related work for the summer!)
3. Next 50 pages of Italian novel
4. Read dissertation
5. Update graduate handbook on website; reply to student
6. Make progress on one home/life goal 

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, start decluttering study etc. room
3) blocks: one teaching block
4) writing: do some work on the collaborative paper with a deadline
5) grad students: catch up on feedback to PhD students; meet with all students.

Julie

1. Inspired by JaneB, write July plan for three weeks that are left before holiday.
2. Outline the chapter!
3. Read chapter for PhD student.
4. House/life admin: SIL's birthday, update calendar, chase patio furniture, contact shed man, tidy desk, book hairdresser
5. Self-care: exercise, reading, try again on sleep, journal, enjoy hosting dinner for friends.

Susan

1. Read microfilm
2. Read essay for journal, expedited emergency read
3. Plan later summer trip to archive
4. Follow up on Famous Author
5. Enjoy various social things
6. Walk to work every day, home at least once.
7. Finish the novel I'm reading.

Midyear Session 2025 week 8

Topic of the week: favorite, or most-used, kitchen tool or gadget? Is it new/fancy, or an old friend that might have seen better days?

And to extend the topic into metaphor, what new or old gadget or routine helps you with writing or getting things done? Is there something you need to pull out of the cupboard and put to use? Something beat-up that you could replace with a newer, shinier version, such as a new ritual writing mug or notebook?

And how did you do last week, or during the last couple of weeks? We hope those missing in action (CC, Daisy) are doing all right, and send our good wishes your way!

Latest weekly goals set:

Dame Eleanor Hull

- make weekly schedule for the rest of summer
- campus day tomorrow, meet with two grads, spend 30 minutes tidying my office
- swim x 3, yoga x5, get up early enough to walk on days gym is closed, or else climb stairs somewhere with a/c
- send e-mails related to last week's conference
- identify and contact reviewers for edited volume (v much past due: what's more TRQ than TRQ??)
- read and note three articles or chapters
- create syllabus for one to-be-proposed course
- fireworks! Dinner with friends! 3 x 20 minutes in the garden!
- organize the guest room closet and shelves

heu mihi (held over)

1. Finish book to review
2. At least 50 pp. of Italian novel
3. Keep my inbox(es) fairly clear
4. Finish green sweater that I don't really like

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project, take some time to think and journal about what "better habits" really are, get a bit ahead on D&D preparation
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, start decluttering study etc. room
3) blocks: make some lists and set up a July Plan
4) writing: no goals
5) grad students: no goals

Julie

1. Claim expenses
2. Check revisions to a PhD thesis and sign off.
3. Report on chapter for review.
4. Outline one of the chapters I have to write.
5. House stuff: catch up, book a hotel room for a regatta trip in two weeks time, do some research for summer travel.
6. Read, get back to exercise, finish TV series before I see any more spoilers.

Susan (held over)

1. Make sure power point is set up for talk
2. Read paper one more time. Do I dare read off my i Pad?
3. Spend some time with microfilm
4. Read essay for young scholar
5. Enjoy the workshop
6. Get ready for vacation

Midyear Session 2025 week 7

I hate to tell you this, but we're midway through the session! And that means checking in on our goals, deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, as well as (sometimes) having to add something new that has come up. Sticking with the recipe theme, sometimes things go bad in the fridge, or the electricity goes off and you have to use up everything in the freezer, or something delicious comes in as a gift or appears at the farmers' market and so you drop the original plan in order to use the new item. So if something like that is going on, think of it as being a thrifty house-holder and using your stores effectively.

Of course, you may already have accomplished something significant, so we can have midterm celebrations along with the sorting-out of goals. Here's something sparkly for all of you (alcoholic or not, as you prefer). Tell us what you're lifting a glass to!

First, here are last week's goals; session goals are further down:

Dame Eleanor Hull

- enjoy conference and visiting friends
- write down everything anyone wants me to do and leave it till I get home

heu mihi

1. Finish book to review
2. At least 50 pp. of Italian novel
3. Keep my inbox(es) fairly clear
4. Finish green sweater that I don't really like

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, electric meter visit, book car for service
3) blocks: no goals this week
4) writing: at least one hour on each of three different projects with meetings this week
5) grad students: meetings, comment on mountain of first draft of discussion from now-senior graduate student, try to sort out review meeting for junior MSc by Research student
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Write and submit report for PhD review.
2. Read chapter for a PhD student.
3. Finally finish French PhD I was reading.
4. Read a paper the French PhD student has sent me and email back with comments.
5. Last big meetings of term, get Windows upgrade, do other work-related admin, catch up on emails.
6. Self-care: read, exercise, catch up on TV series, enjoy time with brother and niece.

Susan

1. Make sure power point is set up for talk
2. Read paper one more time. Do I dare read off my i Pad?
3. Spend some time with microfilm
4. Read essay for young scholar
5. Enjoy the workshop
6. Get ready for vacation

And now for the session goals. How are you doing? Are things ripening in the garden? Is there anything you can put in the compost?

Contingent Cassandra

You had a lot going on; do you want to post rest-of-summer goals now?

Daisy

Two new papers submitted
Revised course material for fall and winter
One defended graduate thesis
Good experience for 2 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
* yoga on the deck as often as possible
* work in the garden 3x/week
* do 5 Life Stuff tasks 

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
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 (assuming it will come back some time this session)
  ii) Outline at least, write if possible, two different chapters I've been invited to contribute to edited volumes. Both mean revisiting old material, so I'm dragging my feet a bit here. One is also for a popular audience, so a different style of writing (cookery?) than I'm used to.
  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 review

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).

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

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

2025 MidYear Session, Week 6

 We have just had a couple of days of Really Hot Weather by UK standards - which means humid and sticky and miserable, given our infrastructure is all set up around the oceanic climate norms of cool, damp, and frequently windy.  So lets talk about heat-wave beverages and treats - what would you ideally have on hand?  I've already written about my Grandma's lemonade, but elderflower cordial made up with cold water, ice and a dash of sparkling water is another lifesafer, or Citron Presse.  And putting individual serve smoothie pouchs or yoghurt tubes designed for kids into the freezer creates healthy delicious ice-lolly type treats for grownups too.  What about you?

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

Dame Eleanor Hull

- write next conference paper
- errands in Our Quaint Village (previous town)
- swim x3 (pool is reopening!!), cardio & weights x2
- pack for next trip
- tasks for summer TA (very urgent!)
- continue progress on clearing study and/or guest room
- read book for mystery group meeting

Heu Mihi

1. Round of revisions to article
2. Italian novel to p. 196
3. Draft fall syllabus
4. Start reading book to review
5. Respond to student re. grad handbook; finish (??) handbook revisions

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make the most of spending time with the decluttering person
3) blocks: no goals this week
4) writing: referee another article: at least one hour on each of three different projects with meetings this week or next
5) grad students: meetings, comment on mountain of first draft of discussion from now-senior graduate student
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Prep for workshop (read papers for my session, think of some discussion points), try to enjoy workshop when it happens
2. Finish PhD thesis if time.
3. Review for PhD student.
4. Read book in library in Paris on Wednesday afternoon.
5. Pack for trip, organise son's expedition (possibly at a distance)
6. Enjoy weekend with friends!

Susan

• Vacation!  Hope it was wonderful!

2025 Midyear session, week 5

Week 5 already; goodness, time flies when you're having fun! Thanks, JaneB, for doing last week's post, and for a fun on-theme discussion question. I'll be traveling again next weekend, so I hope you can pitch in again, but then I'll be back to do the midterm check-in and the rest of the summer.

Also, we're sending good thoughts to Contingent Cassandra and Daisy! We hope all goes as well as it can.

That's the housekeeping taken care of. This week's discussion question: what food do you like to pack for a trip? Is it different for a road trip or plane flight? Do you always hit a particular restaurant on your way out of or into town? As usual, answer if the question speaks to you, and skip it if it doesn't appeal or if you're in a hurry.

How did you do last week, and what's on your plate for the coming week?

Dame Eleanor Hull

- Have a good time at conference
- Visit the library here in hope of finding something useful for essay due in September
- unpack at home
- behave self at fundraising shindig
- put up next week's main TLQ post
- work on organizing either guest room or my study

heu mihi

1. Try very hard not to get kid's cold
2. Enjoy my birthday (tomorrow)
3. Enjoy kid's birthday (Saturday)
4. Italian novel to p. 147
5. Tenure letter, which includes finishing a book and reading 3 articles
6. Do at least one self-indulgent fun thing for my birthday

JaneB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure, start a new yarn project
1b) go to physio appointment re Hurty Foot
2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make booking to see decluttering person
3) blocks: do one teaching block
4) writing: referee an article: spend an hour on one of the research writing things I need to do
5) grad students: meetings, start junior MRes student on their lab work
6) be kind to myself and stick to the three days.

Julie

1. Finish reading PhD thesis.
2. Progress review for PhD student.
3. Do some planning for a book chapter.
4. Boring admin stuff: send yet more details about patio furniture, collect prescription, go to doctor's appointment, get appointment and X-ray for son, renew library book.
5. Self-care/fun stuff: video call with friends, read, exercise, get back to healthy eating (fruit snacks!), get more sleep, maybe do something creative.

Susan

1. Finish the review essay
2. Draft keynote for the end of June
3. Read dissertation chapter
4. Keep unpacking and reorganizing
5. Get garage door fixed
6. Get organized for trip to UK/ France
7. Keep up with the exercise

Midyear Session 2025 Week 4

 Hi everyone, I'm just popping in this week whilst our hostess is travelling - I hope it went well!

It's been a very slow/brain dead week here (end of term-itis, I hope) so I've been watching a lot of random short-form videos because that's been about the right speed.  I seem to have a fairly wholesome persona to the algorithm - rescuing cats from trees, a wombat sanctuary, baby zoo animals, baby goats, D&D facts or stories, random science facts.  And for some reason, this week, snack plates - people putting together a balanced plate of snacks for children after school, as a quick lunch, to go with a movie - so for this week's prompt, what 5-6 items would you put on an adult snack plate, whether that was to go alongside an afternoon of writing or sitting out in the garden, or for a lazy evening with books and cats/people of your choice? 

DAISY

Taking June off from goal setting

DAME ELEANOR

* finish first/most important conference paper
* Plan summer TA work to at least first approximation
* gym x 4, yoga x 5
* do some poking at one course proposal
* make appointment for eye exam
* at least 3 hours on garden
* work on organizing either guest room or my study

HEU MIHI

1. Italian novel to p. 98

2. Finish copy-edits

3. Kid's birthday prep

4. See some friends

5. Go for a walk in the woods

JANEB

1) building better habits: one creative thing with the hands, keep reading for pleasure

1b) pay contact lens replacement bill, book GP appointment re Hurty Foot which is Not Going Away

2) Environment: get caught up on chores, make booking to see decluttering person

3) blocks: make a list of teaching-related blocks for this summer

4) writing: do at least one hour on each of two different writing projects (in addition to meetings/emails with people about projects).

5) grad students: meetings, hope defense goes really well

6) be kind to myself because some weeks are just grey and low energy and that is just HOW IT GOES.

JULIE

1. Finish book and write review

2. Chase workshop participants, finalise programme ahead of organisers' meeting on Thursday

3. Read a PhD thesis in my research area.

4. Boring work admin: do mandatory online training, book Windows update, book train travel.

5. Boring home admin: cancel a subscription, chase patio furniture company, change son's orthodontist appointment, pack for weekend away.

6. Self-care: continue healthy eating (at least until weekend), exercise, sleep, journal, read.

SUSAN

1. Finish everything for book and share file on Monday

2. Write review essay

3. Unpack, get house organized

4. All the appointments

5. Find new home insurance

6. Get exercise