Library
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Day in Review May 27, 2015
Today was the first day of my Divvy riding. I successfully, and enjoyably, rode from Union station a half mile west to my library. I don’t think it saved me any time, but I think it will save me some money and give me some exercise at the same time. I went to the gym and at least I feel like I’ve had a full workout. I figure that if I use Divvy three times a week to work, that’s saved me minimum $24 per month. Four times is $32. At that price, if I bike for two months, I break even. I don’t mention riding back from work, because…
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Day in review May 26, 2015
I came to work today feeling the psychlogical weight of all the work I had to do. I had a list (overly ambitious) of a few that I wanted ot knock off over the weekend. I figured that a weekend at my mom’s house would have enough down time. If not that, then the holiday would give me the room I needed. But it didn’t. I was tired the whole weekend. The funeral for Donald was quiet and quick. But it was draining just the same. The emotional energy it takes being around my mother, circumstance notwithstanding, is always tiring. Then there was the drive home, dropping off the sister,…
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Day in Review May 21, 2015
Today is the end of my week because my uncles funeral has been scheduled for tomorrow. As such, the timing isn’t great because I have to get the last of my teacing materials for next week, and the week starts with a holiday. I’ve done the distasteful thing and brought work home. I certainly do this more that I have (or could) in my previous job, but I have to be careful that it doesn’t become a habit. I can see how that happens now. I feel good about the coming year. I have a lot of opportunity and a lot of work ahead. It will be good work too.…
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Day in review May 19, 2015
I have been trying to plan my workweek so that I have time blocked through Wednesday. I find it difficult to plan much beyond that right now because I don’t have a good idea of how long tasks take. By Wednesday I have a better idea and can fill out the rest of the week. I’m hoping that I can take this one step further this year. I have my goals laid out for this year and once the review is done, then they will be solid. At that point I can start blocking out my time in terms of what I need to get done in a given month.…
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Day in review May 18, 2015
This week is a relatively light load. I don’t have instruction or many meetings. Most of my days will be like this one: Worked on a search for a meta-analysis I am partnering on. Prepped the handouts for the mobile pharmacy resources that I will be teaching next week Prepped a little of my performance review (that I absolutely need to finish tonight) Search for information for an inmate in another state that was referred to us for medical information Loaded my stats for the day For the coming year I will take my review document and populate it with the things that I will do these coming months. I…
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Semester end
The semester just ended and only noticed at five pm today when non one was at the circ desk. This marker evaded me despite that we had a “party” for one of our students on Tuesday because she was graduating on saturday, and depite that I knew my pharmacy students were studying outside my office door, and despite that my daughter is moving back for the summer even as I type this. For as much as I have an excellent navigational compass, it must come at the expense of being able to measure time. I sat for part of my train ride home and added things to my planning list…
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Week 49
This Monday I wrote week forty-nine on the top of my schedule. It took me a minute to understand the significance of that, but I am three weeks out from my first year at this job. I will be completing my annual review paperwork soon; I have the form already. I accomplished most of the goals that I had in mind for the first year. Some of them are somewhat out fo my control as they depend on the rate of integration with my departments. As a whole, I am pleased. A short list: established orientation for first year basic science students embedded instruction for two classes about a dozen…
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Conference season
It the end of April and I feel that I have been running since March, mainly because I have been running since March. I’ve taken to calling this conference season because of all the associations and groups that are holding theirs between the months of March and June. It feel like everyone got spring fever at the same time and started scheduling. My last conference is tomorrow, a one day symposium locally that discusses the current environment of scholarly communication. A week ago I was in Minneapolis at a two day conference talking about research data preservation. That one was fabulous and I can’t wait to go next year. It…
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Site environment and stress
Friday I spent the day in one of our regional locations. I had planned on this to make sure that my site students had the same in-person availability that my home students did. I went to site and students didn’t come. I brought other work in case that happened, but the majority of it didn’t get done. I got work done, it just wasn’t that work. What I did get done was an initial scouting for workshops we have internal funding for. Made impromptu appointments and discussed opportunities. I was warmly received and felt that I got a lot accomplished in a few conversations. For this particular project, this was…
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Month nine
I am currently in month nine of my new job. I appear to have integrated myself well enough into the organization that I get the comment that it feels like it has been longer. In the next month I have to turn in my performance review on the work that I have done so far, as well as outline what I want to accomplish in the next year. This morning I have a meeting with a department head in Pharmacy. I still have department heads to meet in both my colleges. I am embedded in three classes and have plans for at three more. I need to get a curriculum…