Been Busy

It's been almost two months since I posted last. I've had to perform triage on a daily basis, and to be blunt, I've put my responsibilities to loved ones, to students, to colleagues before myself.

I'm weary. I can see the end of the semester and feel gratified with what I have done but I am bone weary.

Public Speaking

I gave a very brief report this morning at a meeting of our Trustees. Most of the presentation was in writing, distributed ahead of time. That is tedious to compile but not particularly deep.

As is my wont I gave a two-minute summary of process and asked for questions.  I used to be terrified of that kind of public speaking, and I'm not complacent now, but I seem to do it well and the fear isn't there.

I've gotten much better at figuring out what listeners want.  I've also gotten good at constructing some kind of hook or comment at the beginning that is unexpected, to make sure and engage the listeners and grab their attention.

Meetings, meetings, more meetings

Our university's Planning Week has a large number of overlapping meetings.  Most of the planning has actually occurred before this week; it's more a matter of telling everyone what the plans are.

The meetings aren't bad, but they're not what I came here for. I'm looking forward to my first class next week.

Preparing for Another Academic Year

Now is the time in the summer when my adrenal glands start to work again. Or is the massive caffeine intakes?

All my problems with focus earlier in the summer seem to have faded and I'm turning out course materials and committee documents efficiently, reflecting my years of experience.

I'm going to miss the summer even as I exult in what I can do during the academic year.

Too Hot

We are having duct-work replaced in our house for a large amount of money. Without running the AC it is unpleasant.

I don't handle the heat very well, less so since I've put on weight but even when I was younger I greatly preferred the cooler weather.

Summer's Over After July 4

Each summer we travel to visit family on the July 4 holiday.  Afterward it always feels as if there are more tasks to perform then there are days left in the summer on which to do them. For me in a very real way July 4 marks the end of my summer.

I don't really have summer break as a faculty member; I have no classes to teach so my schedule is more flexible but I regularly set unreasonable goals for research and course preparation, especially when I don't have quite the adrenaline rush.

Final Exams

I commit to my students to complete their grades within 24 hours. I do not like to keep them hanging.

Often grading my final exams is quick if not painless, so it is not a hard commitment to keep. It does mean trying to block out the other parts of my job description and to try to coordinate my family responsibilities as best I can.

Respiratory Infections

I've had a long history of respiratory infections.  I can remember my first case of pneumonia during my first year of graduate school.  My digestive system rebelled against the antibiotic erythromycin and I was growing weaker and weaker until a nurse suggested yogurt and all was well again.

I had recurring pneumonia for a decade or so every year or two.  I imagine with each case my system became more susceptible. Finally a kindly nurse pointed out that I had a standard trajectory:  sinus infection to sore throat to pneumonia, and that if I was faithful with irrigating my sinuses I could stop the progression early on.

That has worked for me, unpleasant as it is to irrigate daily.  I still get colds, sore throats, etc. but since then no pneumonia for which I am exceedingly grateful.

This came to mind as I am now recovering from a chest cold and sore throat.  April seems to be when I am most worn-down physically and prone to catching something. I am glad to be on the other side of it now.

Drained

My wife returned from her travels with a bad case of pneumonia. I've been doing a lot to help out at home and not been able to sleep with her coughing. Now I'm going to drive 400 miles to PA and back for a wedding.  I am not feeling very energetic right now.

Leadership Position

I'm going to be nominated to chair a large regional professional association.  I'm not yet elected but I don't know of any nominations from the floor at the business meeting where the election occurs so it seems likely.

I'll spend a year as chair-elect, two years as chair, than a year as past-chair.  The organization has appeared to be getting careless, with many things related to conferences being settled close to the last minute.  I believe that I can help with that as I tend to be well-organized.

I had considered this post but had thought that it had passed me by.  The request to be nominated came late so it is likely that I am not the first choice.  I'm still pleasantly surprised that my name came up. Apparently there is not much competition from NC, which is where they were looking for the chair to come from.

If elected I will need to end my service contributions at work in a number of ways to free up time. It is a good choice but that still comes with an ache.

Home = Terminus

We have a lot of coming and going in our household in the coming weeks. Our son just returned for his Spring Break, our daughter leaves on a school trip, our son returns, our daughter returns, I leave for a conference, my daughter and wife leave on a school trip, I return, they return, all four of us converge in Pennsylvania for a wedding.

It makes things more stressful in general, trying to coordinate.  I think that I'm getting more serene about it all.  I could be wrong.

I am looking for a little peace and quiet when I have the house to myself.

Grading

I'm back at it, three classes in the Spring Term.  Right about now the grading is wearing me down.  So far the class preparation (recycled from courses from the past two semesters) isn't so bad.

I want to do a better job of grading, offer more advice and counsel.  Yet the time pressures build up and it's hard not to just assess.

Back for More

Our Spring semester starts tomorrow.  I'm ready for my classes. The committee work is still hanging over my head, but things are basically going okay.  Just have to keep my head down and plow through the next three months.