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An Experiment
2024 so far has a rough start. My brain feels like it’s thinking constantly but there’s no cohesiveness or through line. Last year, I had hopes of being systematic and methodical in order to clear out a backlog of “work” that has been hanging over my head. A clutter of thoughts and tasks that was “preventing” me from spending time on activities that I truly wanted to do and working toward a daily life that reflected my interests rather than others. This plan was in both my personal and professional life. What happened was the opposite. My dad asked for help recovering from surgery and I was thrilled to spend…
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Summer work
The semester is over and we are officially in intercession. The building has been quiet, but that hasn’t stopped the work. I need to turn in the first draft of this years performance review. I’m somewhat hesitant to look at it and see what targets I miscalculated on. However, I am looking forward to writing this years goals because I have a more focused idea in mind. I seriously want to have one goal with many facets to that goal. Last year I had several goals and some were dependent on others instead of me. I need to make sure the I get the basic foundation of my liaisionship stable…
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Curriculum goals
Today I was asked to lead on a data management curriculum initiative. This was something that I had intended to do already, but this was also a goal of our data management group. I will be officially in charge of getting it completed. I have a few reservations on creating a curriculum by committee. Mostly it has to do with making the overall product bland. What I am thinking of now, is that it would be a good time to get in touch with a few of my former instructors for some advice and insider tips. I had been meaning to but didn’t know how to approach it. There’s a…
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Day in review Sept 9, 2015
The workday began well enough. I spent some time fixing my citation managment database for the meta-analysis that I am involved in. I am thrilled to say that the working relationship between the PI and I is good. So far, he has been prompt in conversations and responding to email. He has been clear in his communications, deadlines, and goals. The tenor of the relationship has been positive and one of equals. Not bad for a first run. The next month will be heavy on work, but worth it do get it done. I hope to have the majority of it done by the end of the year. The pilot…
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Back to work
I have been on vacation for the past ten days. They weren’t structured in a way ideal for me to feel rested, but it was still time off. Three mini events broke it up: a Ravinia weekend, a trip to Springfield, and a Fourth of July barbeque at home. Ravinia was fun and less stressful than I imagined because the alcohol was kept in check. The weather wasn’t cooperative, being rainy and quite cool. The music made up for it and being able to talk with friends. Springfield would take an entry of it’s own. There was enough to see in the two days that we were there. I walked…
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Day in review May 29, 2015
Good news on the employment front. It looks very good that my contract will be renewed. I’ll be happy when I have the contract in hand, but this is as good as it’s going to get until the budget gets in and things get signed. That said, it feels good that I can focus on planning for the year. Some thing I have been trying to do for a month. My current time has been taken up with preparing for this weeks lecture and working on the regional NN/LM proposal. I am working with a colleague on this and will be turning in a draft of it on Monday. I…
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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 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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Month five starts
I’ve started my fifth month. Hard to believe that in November I will be half way through my first year. This month I made a tracking device to be able to monitor my work and what I’m spending time on. I’d like to be able to put some metrics to work in my first evaluation. I’m not sure when that is exactly going to be. I will be up in June, so the decision needs to be made before then. Annual reviews aren’t done until June-July. So I’m not sure what the contract determination will be made on or if I will have to go through the process early. In…