tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post7886440514064762198..comments2024-03-29T00:34:24.152+00:00Comments on Top Left Quadrant: Week 7: getting some distanceJaneBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-72078471993916600622016-06-24T14:31:11.544+01:002016-06-24T14:31:11.544+01:00Thank you, CC and JaneB! Packing is done, and the...Thank you, CC and JaneB! Packing is done, and the conference is going well. Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-70100698630768406122016-06-24T14:28:22.433+01:002016-06-24T14:28:22.433+01:00I hope you can manage a day or more off, CC. Acad...I hope you can manage a day or more off, CC. Academia is like some kind of goo that spreads everywhere, taking up all the time you give it, and more. Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-71052309953401318202016-06-24T14:24:10.282+01:002016-06-24T14:24:10.282+01:00Karen, train trips are wonderful for my thinking. ...Karen, train trips are wonderful for my thinking. I work through all kinds of personal and professional problems that way. <br /><br />Knitting or other needlework is part of my stress reduction therapy. In fact, I don't have anything to work on this week, and I'm suffering greatly. I will be digging through the craft boxes the minute they come out of the truck. <br /><br />I like your phrasing, JaneB, "the production of fabric. " It is supremely satisfying.Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-85834672540294660982016-06-24T14:17:48.893+01:002016-06-24T14:17:48.893+01:00I agree with JaneB, concentrating on the positive ...I agree with JaneB, concentrating on the positive helps.Elizabeth Anne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733237123376048432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-33705431123326719042016-06-24T02:32:04.532+01:002016-06-24T02:32:04.532+01:00Thank you for your comment, JaneB!
Thinking 'p...Thank you for your comment, JaneB!<br />Thinking 'part of last week went well' consoled me. Matildahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496807875444414179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-63165222333653676052016-06-23T21:44:31.390+01:002016-06-23T21:44:31.390+01:00At least part of last week went well!
Writing, ge...At least part of last week went well!<br /><br />Writing, getting stuff out of your head onto paper, definitely helps with the distance thing, thanks for the reminder.JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-13439220862260935202016-06-23T21:42:09.500+01:002016-06-23T21:42:09.500+01:00Trains are good!
And with regard to your number 6...Trains are good!<br /><br />And with regard to your number 6, I've got a 'mile a minute' crochet afgahn I'm working on at work and home for those moments - basically I'm making a bunch of scarves which will get sewn together to make a blanket later on, using a simple pattern (two stitches, alternating, 1,2,1,2, for every row - not even a turning stitch needed) which makes a nice texture and the sort of multi-dyed yarn which makes the finished piece colourful and interesting without any particular effort. I basically bought 4 balls of all the colour ways I liked in a sale, am making a 4-ball-long strip of each colourway, then will decide if I need to make some plain strips for in between or just leave it. Sometimes the production of fabric - especially from rainbow yarn! - is very soothing...)JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-50053984606636583072016-06-23T21:37:15.792+01:002016-06-23T21:37:15.792+01:00Sometimes GETTING a grant is just the start of the...Sometimes GETTING a grant is just the start of the struggle... hope you get a bit more time to enjoy the season this weekJaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-48154297711797521542016-06-23T21:23:47.576+01:002016-06-23T21:23:47.576+01:00'psychic distance', that's a good phra...'psychic distance', that's a good phrase for what I'm looking for, thank you!<br /><br />Hope the packing goes well and the conference is fun and rewarding!JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-50787861047300232602016-06-23T21:16:48.183+01:002016-06-23T21:16:48.183+01:00And think how great you'll feel when you come ...And think how great you'll feel when you come back from vacation with even a few of those tedious chunks handled! it's very humid here this week - just the words 'rivers and mountains' sound cool and pleasant. Hope you all have a lot of fun!JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-42605942117759366462016-06-23T21:13:29.632+01:002016-06-23T21:13:29.632+01:00Yay for progress! Drafting things for grants is a...Yay for progress! Drafting things for grants is always hard because its so easy to second and third and fourth guess yourself, but hopefully you'll get some useful feedback this weekJaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-10486278334948408962016-06-23T21:06:05.217+01:002016-06-23T21:06:05.217+01:00Yay for the book contract, approaching vacation, a...Yay for the book contract, approaching vacation, and possibility of bookshelf space in the new office (I've been in my 'new' office for nearly 2 years and I still have books in boxes. Facilities apparently don't understand that 'but the floor area is larger' doesn't translate into 'there are more feet of usable book shelf' (all our shelves have to be fixed to the walls, so I can't just get a cheap bookcase from a charity shop). Hope yours do better!<br /><br />"What do I want to do with the last 8-10 years of my career?" A very interesting question. I'm trying to gear up to asking myself "do I really want to spend the remaining 20-25 years of my working life doing THIS, HERE? If not, then what?" which I think is partly why I want some distance, that question is becoming noisier but I can't deal with it sensibly...JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-53365800796656685692016-06-23T21:01:26.627+01:002016-06-23T21:01:26.627+01:00Hope the physical distance works well, and the cat...Hope the physical distance works well, and the cats forget themselves enough to show themselves to be briefly pleased when you return...JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-53020606232888893172016-06-23T20:57:34.226+01:002016-06-23T20:57:34.226+01:00Have a great retreat! My real life writing group ...Have a great retreat! My real life writing group is planning to have write-ins this summer - we'll book a meeting room on campus, and mix writing bursts with social coffee and cake breaks, and probably get a huge amount done!JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779448611795379774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-20316199973386308232016-06-23T15:49:07.508+01:002016-06-23T15:49:07.508+01:00Hello, everyone,
Late checking-in, again.
Topic:
...Hello, everyone,<br />Late checking-in, again.<br /><br />Topic:<br />Do I think my situation from distance? When did I try to do so last time? I don’t know, but when I need to think about my situation from some objective perspective, perhaps I try to write anything down on my notebook, then read it and think. It seems that I have anything to think, I just work it on my notebook. <br /><br />Last goals:<br />1) Set the time to write, and keep it.- The first half of the week was ok, I wrote or do my TLQ. The later half was…<br />2) Continue to work on Chapter 2. Revise the revision plan. - I worked, without much progress, though. <br />3) Writing exercise 4 of Goodson’s revised book. - I read the part and did some, but not continuously. <br />5) 5 minute short exercise three times a day. - Three days. <br />6) No snacks at night, just a good cup of milk, tea or coffee, instead. - No. I had lots on Wednesday, somehow I wanted to eat. <br /><br />Next goals:<br />1) Set the time to write, and keep it. <br />2) Continue to work on Chapter 2. Revise the revision plan. <br />3) Writing exercise 5 of Goodson’s revised book. <br />4) 5 minute short exercise more than three times a day. <br />6) No snacks at night, just tea or coffee, instead. Or healthy snack. <br /><br />Have a good week, everyone!<br />Matildahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496807875444414179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-75781702518232827802016-06-22T20:31:33.677+01:002016-06-22T20:31:33.677+01:00Topic - I normally find that disengaging from spec...Topic - I normally find that disengaging from specific tasks entirely for a while helps with distance and perspective. Putting a paper aside for a week before revising the first draft, working at home for a day to avoid getting caught in the politics when I need to do stuff. Attending one day meetings that involve train travel - sitting for a couple of hours is wonderful space to think.<br /><br />Goals from week 5<br />Meetings - the meetings are over for the time being<br />Marking - the marking is done for the time being<br /><br />Goals for this week which is a little long and a bit bitty but I'm missing the satisfaction of meeting goals. <br />1. survive yet more meetings <br />2. prepare for and run two outreach activities<br />3. leave office in tidy state despite outreach activities<br />4. submit draft application for consideration<br />5. submit paperwork for new degree programme<br />6. plan blanket for new wool and start it [I have rainbow yarn, http://www.thehomemakery.co.uk/dusky-rainbow-yarn-pack-stylecraft-special-dk because I need some easy knitting. I can't follow patterns at the moment because I'm too tired. So nice easy colour block blanket]<br />7. review summer students' work and get other 3 summer students started (and sort out their payment)<br />Circehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646237311802933183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-38781077679307310342016-06-22T03:55:03.134+01:002016-06-22T03:55:03.134+01:008. Finish my contributions to prep work stage of g...8. Finish my contributions to prep work stage of grant project (that day off is looking less and less likely, but at least I'll be able to include it in the "done" list!) Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-78010838833760541952016-06-22T03:35:19.512+01:002016-06-22T03:35:19.512+01:006. make progress on connecting with family and fr...6. make progress on connecting with family and friends<br />7. begin planning real break for after summer term (these two are probably connected, and may not actually happen until next week, but at least I'll have the reminder). Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-56445457741067639802016-06-22T03:33:26.760+01:002016-06-22T03:33:26.760+01:00Sounds like the diss. is really coming together. ...Sounds like the diss. is really coming together. <br /><br />And yes, tedious citation work sounds like just the ticket while you're traveling: it needs to be done, it's bearable in short bursts but deadly in long stretches, and you don't want to leave it to the end (because it's really deadly, and hard, when you're exhausted). Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-33719605399733351272016-06-22T03:18:48.204+01:002016-06-22T03:18:48.204+01:00And a second "congratulations" -- and en...And a second "congratulations" -- and enjoy the vacation when you get to it. At least there's light at the end of the grindstone-tunnel. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-6271141096005417252016-06-22T03:08:48.193+01:002016-06-22T03:08:48.193+01:00And good luck with the move! At least the end (be...And good luck with the move! At least the end (beginning?) is in sight. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-73673652102757882092016-06-22T03:07:53.452+01:002016-06-22T03:07:53.452+01:00Glad the candle is working. I don't usually l...Glad the candle is working. I don't usually like fake/artificial versions of things, but the current crop of candles is pretty effective. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-12936787342962016032016-06-22T03:06:18.619+01:002016-06-22T03:06:18.619+01:00Apologies for the missed (and late) check-in(s). ...Apologies for the missed (and late) check-in(s). I seem to have reached that point in the summer when I get frustrated and discouraged by how little time I have, and how many things (including just stop for a while) I need/want to do (and yes, telling which is which is a problem). This summer's schedule is also particularly difficult, through no real fault of my own: the times when I might otherwise at least have detached from email I've had to stay connected to keep the grant project on track, and now that the planning stages of the grant project are almost done, and members of the group can work independently for a while, I have a class to teach. So it goes. The topic is a useful reminder that I really should plan to go away for a week or so in August. Also that I need to practice detaching from the computer/internet on a regular basis for short periods, even when that's where most of the work of the day takes place (which tends to lead to breaks being devoted to web-surfing rather than things like gardening or taking a walk or even cleaning up the apartment). <br /><br />Anyway, here are the goals for the week before last, which bled over into last week: <br /><br /> 1. Keep moving; add at least walking and swimming to gardening (at least one most days), maybe weight-lifting<br />2. Initiate or follow up on friend/family connections/reconnections (need to do more of this)<br />3. Continue computer work (get backup computer ready to serve as main computer; organize main computer & gather supplies/info in prep for upgrades)<br />4. Do initial planning/organizing for summer class (will be TRQ, but isn't yet; I want to allow time for both computer upgrade and taking some time off before start of summer term)<br />5. Long-form reading, chaos-reduction, and/or minor repairs as time allows<br /><br />Accomplished: <br />1. No<br />2. A bit <br />3. A good deal (but still need to do the actual transition)<br />4. Yes (more than initial planning; I'm probably more than halfway through producing the materials I need to have ready for the first day of the term, and the most fiddly/detailed work -- the course schedule -- is done, as of today). <br />5. A bit of reading and a bit of chaos reduction. <br /><br />Analysis: as tends to happen, I'm taking unplanned breaks (i.e. lost or semi-lost days) rather than the more solid, sustained break I'd like to take, and which would be far more restorative. I know the solution to this -- take a break first -- and am usually pretty good at implementing it, but, as mentioned above, the logistics of this summer are tough. At least it's in a good cause; I do believe in the grant project. But I'm still tired, and frustrated. <br /><br />So, goals for (what remains of) this week: <br />1. Finish preparing for summer term class (begins next Monday, so TRQ at this point) <br />2. Finish computer update (including adding memory to backup computer, just in case the update takes longer than planned; I'm cutting it a bit close at this point) <br />3. Try to take at least a day off (maybe 2?) <br />4. Get moving at least a bit (a walk? a swim?) <br />5. Reading and chaos-reduction as time allows. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-90253520418701748432016-06-22T02:44:39.796+01:002016-06-22T02:44:39.796+01:00Good solid progress can sometimes be more satisfyi...Good solid progress can sometimes be more satisfying than finishing things. I think I really enjoy that feeling of being deeply engaged by a research project. humming42https://www.blogger.com/profile/12124332870168394148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607718568717088162.post-28073654936280623882016-06-22T02:38:09.360+01:002016-06-22T02:38:09.360+01:00Congratulations on your book contract! That is fan...Congratulations on your book contract! That is fantastic news. I hope all of the other pieces fall into place--you have a lot underway.humming42https://www.blogger.com/profile/12124332870168394148noreply@blogger.com