The thing is, the week has been non-stop. I worked with the Baldwin Prize people out of Baltimore from Friday. I judged scores of papers for the national English Literature honorary society (Sigma Tau Delta) all week ahead of the convention at the end of March--the deadline for that was yesterday.
And I chaired the Women's and Gender Studies panel of the Michigan Academy conference yesterday, but also had to go to the Board Meeting which ran late on Thursday because somehow I'm now a board member. And I had a paper at the conference with EM, so we had to work on that all week too, finishing up in a burst of energy after dinner together on Wednesday.
And then I realized that we didn't have any speakers for Women's History Month, so I scrambled and used my professional connections and asked nicely and got two amazing speakers for us-- Heidi Lewis, President of the National Women's Studies Association, (via Zoom) and Lysne Beckwith Tait, Founder of Helping Women Period, (in person). I got some other activities arranged on the Women's History Month calendar too (a student symposium, International Women's Day Tea) but these things are more within my own control. When you work at a small college, one wears a lot of hats.
And then some bad news: The editor of an anthology where I had an accepted submission said The University of Louisiana Press had decided not to go ahead with publication. But in the wings, another anthology submission needed urgent copy-edits approval. The copy editor wanted to remove the parenthetical notation of the novels' dates of publication on introduction--I think it's highly pertinent? Anyway, some back and forth on that.
And as of this morning, back to regular upkeep of Canvas pages and class preps for my classes. (And oh, I graded *everything* by Tuesday.)
Looking ahead, there are additional things I've agreed to. There's a class for incarcerated students on the 18th--I'd already prepped this last year but didn't get to do it and I'm looking forward to it. And also I'm going to be on a campus-wide panel talking about 50 days of this administration on the 12th--that should be fun (NOT!).
I guess it's a good thing we had a midterm break so I could work on these things without juggling regular classes as well.
Happy March! Marching ahead! (Also, I'm glad I didn't take off for Turkey!! Neither did my mom and sis, actually.)
Pic: From under the Beal Street Bridge. A thin glaze of ice on The Red Cedar; brilliant blue skies and bitingly cold winds. I walked and walked and walked to clear my head.
16 comments:
Maya! You need a break from your break!! It’s no wonder you’re tired and feel a sense of dread about the second half of term starting up. You have so much going on on top of being a professor. It sounds like you need a boss day and/or shouldless day. I have a shouldless day coming up on Wednesday, which I’m really looking forward to.
I went for a long, head-clearing walk yesterday as well, and it was so good for me. But it was so cold!!
Sounds like your break really filled up. Isn't that how it always seems to go?
As I was reading this, I thought - good thing you didn't go to Turkey! And then you read my mind. Or I read your mind, I don't know. Wow, were you ever busy and did you ever accomplish a lot! Colour me impressed.
Bummer about the anthology!
Whew! I'm tired just reading about your "break!"
Good for you.
Kind of a Non-Break. I'm glad you went out walking. It's so therapeutic, even when it's cold.
So sorry about the anthology, but there will be more waiting in the wings.
I was confused. I thought break was starting not ending! Must have read that wrong. Well, it doesn't sound like a break at all, Maya! Just a shifting! That's an intense schedule on any level. I'm impressed but I hope in that time you were able to find a bit of space simply to "be" and to breathe. Hang in there. You've got this.
Egads- that was your break????? I'm exhausted just reading about it. Having school start again will probably feel like a vacation (I can just see you rolling your eyes and saying "guess again!"). Well- you must feel a great sense of accomplishment for all you've done over the break.
I should take a shouldless Day, Lisa... I think I could on Friday! Yay! (And yikes, on how cold it's gotten for us too.)
True that, Steph. I still got lots of break-y things like walks and good food in...
Nicole, right?! I think this was part of why Turkey seemed like a bad idea for me. Better to get all this checked off while at home on break rather than juggle it while on vacation or after returning from one!
Thank you!
I did get lots of walks and good food in me, Nance--I do feel refreshed although I checked off a lot of to-dos. Getting myself out of the house was difficult because of the bitter cold, but walks always, always help!
Thanks, Jeanie! I did find space for myself. Not having to commute puts so many (ok, two whole) extra hours in my day.
I did roll my eyes as you suggested, haha. But yes, feels good to have this sorted! Onwards!
I'm glad you got everything done, wow, that's a lot of accomplishments. I don't know you well enough to say, but do you perhaps need to say 'no' once in a while? Is your life always this busy? (Sorry if that was inappropriate, I don't want to be rude, I just know too many people (usually women) who take on all of the world's responsibilities.)
Jules, I count us as friends now, so please speak your mind. It's not that I can't say no, but more like I can't say no to things I want to do. No one asked me to do some of these things, but if I didn't do them, they wouldn't get done, and I think they deserve to get done, I feel happy when I do them, etc. I hope it didn't come off like I was complaining about having to do the stuff. I feel lucky I get to do this. (It's not well paid, but it's enjoyable.)
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