tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post1480080453158422819..comments2024-03-27T21:39:17.479+00:00Comments on Top Left Quadrant: Week Eight: In Medias ResJaneBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-49987920453365481752017-07-15T20:31:57.567+01:002017-07-15T20:31:57.567+01:00Very interesting poem. It wants to be thought abo...Very interesting poem. It wants to be thought about the way a smooth pebble wants to be fingered...JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-49946430102125811752017-07-15T20:30:13.019+01:002017-07-15T20:30:13.019+01:00I'm having a similar travel or not self-discus...I'm having a similar travel or not self-discussion about some time off in September, it's never easy to decide when you really want BOTH and ANOTHER WHOLE MONTH OFF AT LEAST!JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-92028558330884440522017-07-15T20:14:55.443+01:002017-07-15T20:14:55.443+01:00Ooops, where did last week go and/or where was I l...Ooops, where did last week go and/or where was I last week? (nose down in work stuff trying not to lose my temper/self-control, the usual try to catch up post being under the weather on top of other commitments, and just... blah. When will summer get here? Why are my emotions so all over the place for trivial reasons?).<br /><br /><b>first half of session goals:</b><br />For the first six weeks, my goals are something like<br />1) domestic chaos reduction and self-care (semester recovery) <i>barely started</i><br />2) conquering all assessment paperwork efficiently and putting modules "to bed" as tidily as possible (i.e. with changes for next year either made or clearly identified, etc.) <i>about half done?</i><br />3) having a good set of lists of preparation for late September, and having the main logistics for the early October fieldtrip in place <i>nope - mostly Other People Problems...</i><br />4) complete analysis for ProblemChild project, and have drafted our parts of the first two papers (for a meeting on 29th June when we hopefully get all the authors together and submit the darn things) <i>YES</i><br />5) make good progress on PickyPaper <i>hahaha no</i><br />6) finish and submit that GrantINeverShouldHaveStarted! <i>waiting on other people. HAve made progress...</i><br />7) go through and act on all the notes from the conference and workshop I just attended, the two I went to in March, and the things I've left aside in my email since January (or at least add them to a single list). <i>about half way with this too</i><br /><br />I note I didn't set goals for the "second half" which was kind of wimpy of me, but I guess I was still hanging onto the dream of at least SOME "proper summer". As it is... well, I've got the first two weeks of September booked as annual leave (not sure whether to travel, stay here and domestic, or some of both). Then we get back straight into pre-semester Stuff (ugh. I still haven't completely finished LAST semester's stuff...). Before then, I've a week of family stuff (aunting, sistering and daughtering), four weeks of high school student supervising two of those with added academic visitor training, and a couple of "normal weeks" without those things but with meetings. In other words - aargh!<br /><br />So not adding much to the list, or taking much off!<br />Summer goals:<br />1) domestic chaos reduction and self-care<br />2) having a good set of lists of preparation for late September, and having the main logistics for the early October fieldtrip in place<br />3) submit two ProblemChild papers and have the third close to ready<br />4) make good progress on PickyPaper<br />5) finish and submit that GrantINeverShouldHaveStarted!<br />6) go through and act on all the notes from SouthernCountry conference I just attended, the two March Meetings, and the things I've left aside in my email since January (or at least add them to a single list).<br />7) slightly stretch: get Ferrett ready for submission, have a complete draft of Gallimaufrey Review, and have started NextGrant (whatever that will be).<br />JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-82701006908260254332017-07-15T07:39:37.455+01:002017-07-15T07:39:37.455+01:00I haven't read any Tana French, the "The ...I haven't read any Tana French, the "The Likeness" is on my to-be-read list. I will check out "The Trespasser," too. <br /><br />If you stay home, it seems that it would be important really block off time for relaxation and rejuvenation, yes? I'll be interested to find out what you decide.<br /><br />Hope you had a good swim!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-53308134026454440922017-07-14T11:26:32.321+01:002017-07-14T11:26:32.321+01:00I can't follow patterns so haven't graduat...I can't follow patterns so haven't graduated from scarves and blankets (and tiny hats) to anything more useful. The concentration required to follow a pattern removes the beneficial aspects for me! I've made a couple of beanie hats, Tin Can Knits have lovely patterns (some free) and critically, good tutorials for any complex bits. KJHaxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08049710199439771331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-1447437779824844232017-07-14T06:42:39.387+01:002017-07-14T06:42:39.387+01:00The process of knitting is so beneficial that it&#...The process of knitting is so beneficial that it's worth the risk of having too many knitted items. I'm not a very skilled knitter, so I just knit a lot scarves that I (and my children) rarely wear. I want to learn slouchy beanies.<br /><br />Glad you haven't been too tired!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-74221670186970063402017-07-14T06:39:40.554+01:002017-07-14T06:39:40.554+01:00DEH, I'm definitely being reductive as I think...DEH, I'm definitely being reductive as I think about it in relationship to my own metaphor (as I try to give myself permission to be the stone). Thank you so much for posting it!Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-87652298226991845112017-07-13T16:45:18.251+01:002017-07-13T16:45:18.251+01:00Thanks, heu mihi! Yes, that is the dream. I think ...Thanks, heu mihi! Yes, that is the dream. I think I'll be able to sustain the changes because I've rediscovered my interest in the project, and I can read earlier sections I've written without cringing! The true test will be when I get to the footnotes, bibliography, and index.Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-16512911754566011872017-07-13T12:52:22.251+01:002017-07-13T12:52:22.251+01:00I keep most of my knitting but am planning a few p...I keep most of my knitting but am planning a few potential Christmas present projects. The wee hats (for the tops of bottles) are given to charity. I'm close to saturation of knitted items - I don't think we need any more blankets (and one is for my office!).<br /><br />Last week: <br />1. Keep on knitting - 12 mm needles and multi-strands is so satisfying. - DONE<br />2. Submit conference abstract, small grant application, reply to important emails - Actually all done - woo hoo!<br />3. work on the first tasks in the writing plan - not done - booo!<br />4. draft ethics application and submit for signatures - partial<br /><br />It was actually OK in terms of getting stuff done. I've also been 'up and out' every day, either to campus or to the hospital and that's a routine I've been out of since November. So far I'm not too tired because of it.<br /><br />This week:<br />1. Keep on knitting (I'd abbreviate that but I don't think I want to Kok)<br />2. 15 hours of 'work' in keeping with 2 days/week<br />3. work on ethics application<br />4. make progress on printing projectKJHaxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08049710199439771331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-7890629031515118862017-07-13T02:12:33.278+01:002017-07-13T02:12:33.278+01:00Excellent thoughts, actually, and I hope that it w...Excellent thoughts, actually, and I hope that it works out that way. This week, I need to engage deeply with what I've got to see whether I can make the chapter work without ALL the extra reading.... heu mihihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529298049179816825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-41626773291284456812017-07-12T18:53:26.269+01:002017-07-12T18:53:26.269+01:00It's is difficult to see the days squirming by...It's is difficult to see the days squirming by, but I'm glad you're already almost halfway done with the radiotherapy. <br /><br />Fingers crossed for the conference.<br /><br />And you've probably said this before, but what do you do with all of your knitting projects? Do you keep most? Gift or donate most? You seem to be quite prolific with lovely items.Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-4975404697869600912017-07-12T18:49:50.086+01:002017-07-12T18:49:50.086+01:00I like "think positively, work practically,&q...I like "think positively, work practically," and it's good that you're focusing on getting words on the page even while you read. It's so easy to just read, read, read without writing! Good luck with chapter 2 this week. (It's a big week for second chapters.)Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-88177750208526200042017-07-12T18:47:55.458+01:002017-07-12T18:47:55.458+01:00I read it as saying that what catches our eyes, wh...I read it as saying that what catches our eyes, what is beautiful and exciting, happens as the result of a refusal. I never thought about it in terms of what's better.Dame Eleanor Hullhttp://dameeleanorhull.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-47140376715470540032017-07-12T18:47:22.645+01:002017-07-12T18:47:22.645+01:00Regarding Chapter 2, is there a big hole in the ch...Regarding Chapter 2, is there a big hole in the chapter without that extra reading? Is the "mess at the middle" related to this extra reading? If not, maybe you can wait to do more reading until the rest is finished? Then (if you have time to do the reading) you could pop in the footnotes during the post-acceptance editing process? Or maybe this extra reading is a whole separate project? Just some thoughts. I'm sure you know better than I do what might work best.<br /><br />Welcome home, and I hope you can get back into your routine quickly.Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-8353876580633286912017-07-12T18:37:34.720+01:002017-07-12T18:37:34.720+01:00As I said this week's post, kudos and gold sta...As I said this week's post, kudos and gold stars for all of the TLQ research work! It does seem like things in the UK are going well. And while I'm sorry Sir John has been struggling with house stuff, I am glad you're able to feel validated about your own struggles on that front. I hope things keep progressing.Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-6237371850886987632017-07-12T18:32:55.660+01:002017-07-12T18:32:55.660+01:00Apt, indeed! But I keep re-reading this poem to se...Apt, indeed! But I keep re-reading this poem to see if I think the stone's refusal is bad or good. Does this poem suggest it's better to be the water, the river, or the stone? Or does it remain ambiguous about all three?Good Enough Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531793545583712309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-65603630011667914392017-07-12T17:17:23.199+01:002017-07-12T17:17:23.199+01:00Half way?!! Ouch. The days are squirming by.
Ses...Half way?!! Ouch. The days are squirming by. <br /><br />Session goals:<br />1. Recover from surgery (it was last week) and finish up the current rounds of treatment. Negotiate return to work.<br />2. Submit an abstract for, create a poster for (assuming abstract accepted) and attend conference at end of summer<br />3. Finish some knitting projects<br />4. Start and finish a printing project<br /><br />I've recovered mostly from surgery, 6/15 radiotherapies done at time of writing, and I'm in phased return for work (2 days a week for now). I submitted two abstracts for the conference (a poster and a presentation) so hopefully they will be accepted. I've registered so am going. I finished a green sparkly scarf, and the knitting is going well, and I made the lino block and screen print for the printing project but both need more work. <br /><br />My revised session goals:<br />1. Recover treatment, get back to work full-ish time<br />2. create oral presentation and poster for (assuming abstract accepted) and attend conference at end of summer<br />3. Finish big blanket and purple scarf knitting projects<br />4. Start and finish a printing project<br />5. Submit ethics form for House project<br /><br />I'll be back with weekly goals...KJHaxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08049710199439771331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-28039617719512896022017-07-12T11:03:31.953+01:002017-07-12T11:03:31.953+01:00Hello,
It is already in the middle of this sessio...Hello, <br />It is already in the middle of this session. I cannot believe it, but I know it really is.<br /><br />Topic: <br />Well, if I review my session goals, I think I am working well in terms of my eating habit.<br />I can avoid chocolates and other sweets, even I love them. My exercise habit at the moment is not bad, anyway I need to cycle every day to take children to go to school. The important - most important parts of my goals, that is, my book project, is not going as well enough as I expected. My mentor advised me that writing a book is very difficult, and I know other people here are working very hard for their own book projects, so it is difficult…However, I am not going to change my goals, while I will change the details of the plan. <br /><br />1) Finish the revision of the first drafts of Chapter 2~5. - Only on the way of working on chapter 2.<br />2) Make a concrete plan of the structure of the book. - Revising continuously.<br />3) Establish good eating and exercising habits. - Keep going. <br /><br />This week’s goals:<br />1) Write chapter 2: reading the most fundamental sources first. - I am working on it. It is interesting, but I will need to write at the same time. <br />2) 5-minute-exercises several times a say. - not done. Only once or twice.<br />3) Find ‘my own 15 minutes’ as many as possible. - Well, Ok. <br />4) Think positively, work practically. - I think this motto is suitable for me, but I need to be more practical. <br /><br />Next week’s goals:<br />1) Write chapter 2: continue reading the most fundamental sources, and accumulate 1000 words per day by write / revise. <br />2) 5-minute-exercises several times a say.<br />3) Find ‘my own 15 minutes’ as many as possible.<br />4) Think positively, plan concretely, work practically.<br /><br />Have a wonderful week, and let’s enjoy the latter half of this session!<br />Matildahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496807875444414179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-88375103555170823062017-07-11T19:44:51.497+01:002017-07-11T19:44:51.497+01:00I agree with GEW: This is terrific! It's great...I agree with GEW: This is terrific! It's great that you see these changes as sustainable beyond the summer, too. That's the dream, isn't it?heu mihihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529298049179816825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-29703046472056537522017-07-11T19:44:19.423+01:002017-07-11T19:44:19.423+01:00Beautiful and apt!Beautiful and apt!heu mihihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529298049179816825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-29431731639793514272017-07-11T19:43:55.752+01:002017-07-11T19:43:55.752+01:00I am back from my trip and ready to go! I did mana...I am back from my trip and ready to go! I did manage to get through my two during-travel goals, albeit mostly on the plane home: 1) Read through and "final" (for now) revisions to ch. 5; 2) read over ch. 2 to think about how to revise it; 3) start working on the mess at the middle of ch. 2.<br /><br />(Re-)Assessment of goals:<br />Non-negotiable ones are complete--<br />1) Revise Norway talk (by 6/18) DONE; talk given<br />2) Draft tenure statement (by 6/1); revise it (by 7/1) DONE; submitted<br />3) Write ACLA paper (by 6/18) DONE; talk given<br /><br />My other goal was to finish Book 2, which involved the following:<br />4) Revise chapter 3 - DONE<br />5) Revise chapter 5 - DONE but for fiddly bits in the notes, etc.<br />6) Revise chapter 2 - JUST STARTED<br />7) Full read-through and revision - NOT STARTED<br />8) Write a conclusion - NOT STARTED<br /><br />I'm about where I should be through the list, hypothetically, but I have grave doubts about my ability to finish revising ch. 2 (with any degree of integrity) in time to do a full read-through in August. Add to this the following: We're going to the beach in two weeks (for a week), and my son's nursery school ends August 18, meaning that we'll have no child care for two weeks. So I may revise my goals to the following:<br /><br />6) Revise ch. 2 as best I can<br />7) Finish tenure portfolio (which I need to do anyway)<br />8) Prepare for final read-through (by fixing notes and obvious problems in some chapters).<br /><br />I'm in a bit of a conundrum with ch. 2: I could easily spend a year, or more, reading a bunch of untranslated (and sometimes unedited) Latin in order to ensure that there's nothing I'm leaving out of it. And this is the natural direction to go, given the way in which I started this chapter and what I was originally trying to do with it. But that seems...foolish, at this stage of the project, and I'm now seeking a way to keep the work that I've done, do SOME of the reading I just mentioned, but not spend a year + on what might turn out to be a handful of footnotes.<br /><br />So one goal for this week will be:<br />1) Decide what to do about ch. 2.<br />Others involve getting my life back to normal, post-trip:<br />2) Fix little fiddly bits in chapter 5<br />3) Back to exercise routine, more or less<br />4) Send book proposal to another publisher (I have interest from one, but am covering my bases)<br />5) Take care of little domestic things: a few errands, granola, laundry, etc.heu mihihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529298049179816825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-78062357983409529962017-07-11T01:20:50.082+01:002017-07-11T01:20:50.082+01:00I need to post this poem on my cubicle wall, and m...I need to post this poem on my cubicle wall, and my front door at home. After a lifetime of being water, I am the rock!Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-13451791305332810842017-07-11T01:17:53.876+01:002017-07-11T01:17:53.876+01:00Thank you, GEW! I think it is a combination of fac...Thank you, GEW! I think it is a combination of factors. I've finally decided to get out of my own way. I can do the research I want to without support from colleagues or even well-<br />meaning but very needy family. I take the time to go to the study, and everyone has to fend for himself. I leave work early one day a week, too. Tenure helps, lol.<br /><br />Better health, weather, and the prospect of a sabbatical don't hurt, either. Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-67281690000556866812017-07-10T21:07:51.452+01:002017-07-10T21:07:51.452+01:00HOW I DID (SESSION):
*First six weeks: primary goa...HOW I DID (SESSION):<br />*First six weeks: primary goal is packing up my house and doing necessary maintenance to sell it. I'm trying to put in 1-2 hours a day on research and teaching tasks. HOW I DID: I did a lot of packing. I made a long list of stuff yet to do (bad news: long; good news: actually possible to write a list more detailed than “pack all the things). I got estimates for necessary work, some of which is being done while I’m away. I got the bare minimum of summer course prep done, very little research. No point in revising anything here, since those six weeks are over.<br />*Five weeks in UK: in addition to teaching responsibilities, which involve field trips as well as classroom work and grading, visit two places of personal significance, and ramp up the research considerably, since I will be living a few minutes' walk from a major research library that calms and inspires me. HOW I’M DOING: keeping up with teaching so far; have been to one of the two places; have been putting in 15-20 hours per week of research. Things are going really well here. If I just keep this up, I’ll be very happy. I would like to add some fall course prep into the mix, if I can.<br />*Final three weeks: take a week off from all work, then prep for the fall semester, mop up whatever tasks need mopping. With any luck, unpack in new place. REVISE? I suspect we will not get the house on the market this summer, though that’s still up in the air and depends on how Sir John gets on without me. He has been finding the packing process tiring and depressing (this makes me feel better about how draining I found it). We’ll have to see what happens.<br />*Product goals: sell house, move; review all sections of translation that I have yet to review; get two R&Rs out the door (probably a good UK task); read, take notes, and move my book project forward; finalize syllabus for UK teaching; plan for fall classes. REVISE: do everything we can do to prep the house while keeping up with our jobs and staying sane (sell in the fall or next spring?). The syllabus is done. I will have to ramp up translation work to get through all my review sections (sometimes they go quickly, sometimes very slowly); if all goes well, I can get both R&Rs done; I’ve done very little toward the book<br /><br />END OF SESSION GOALS:<br />In UK: keep up with teaching; continue 15-20 hours of research per week; one more short trip.<br />At home: take a week off, prep fall classes, go back to house prep and consult with agent.<br />Product goals: finish translation review (a bit of a stretch, but I’ll keep it); finish and submit 2 R&Rs; write fall syllabuses.<br /><br />LAST WEEK:<br />Self: organize a couple of short sight-seeing trips. ONE ORGANIZED and TAKEN. Stretch every day. 5/7<br />Teaching: Organize a couple of tours for students. ONE ORGANIZED and TAKEN.<br />Research: Review 1000 lines of translation. 500. Make progress on MMP-3 revisions. YES.<br />House: type packing list and e-mail it to husband. NO.<br /><br />NEXT WEEK’S GOALS:<br />Self: organize second trip. Stretch every day. Swim 3-4 times. Do some shopping.<br />Teaching: Grade, be enthusiastic on field trip, organize the other tour.<br />Research: Review 1000 lines of translation; write topic sentences for new/revised paragraphs in MMP-3. <br />House: type the packing list.Dame Eleanor Hullhttp://dameeleanorhull.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-31924037468150644802017-07-10T18:17:02.605+01:002017-07-10T18:17:02.605+01:00What Any Lover Learns
by Archibald MacLeish
Water...What Any Lover Learns<br />by Archibald MacLeish<br /><br />Water is heavy silver over stone.<br />Water is heavy silver over stone's<br />Refusal. It does not fall. It fills. It flows<br />Every crevice, every fault of the stone,<br />Every hollow. River does not run.<br />River presses its heavy silver self<br />Down into stone and stone refuses.<br /><br />What runs,<br />Swirling and leaping into sun, is stone's<br />Refusal of the river, not the river.Dame Eleanor Hullhttp://dameeleanorhull.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com