Well, that was pretty anti-climactic. I sent the paper off to the editor today (via email). Of course, I won't even get an acknowledgement until Monday (at least). Now- on to the next tasks... what to present at the conferences next spring? One abstract was submitted back on June (for a conference in May- isn't that crazy?). The other deadlines are coming up soon- I actually just changed my plan for one conference, and need to decide about the other one. I don't know how conferences are in other disciplines, but I tend to write abstracts on work that is not yet complete and then scramble to get some results in time for the conference. The trouble is that the research doesn't seem to turn itself into a paper afterward. The paper I just submitted contained research that I presented at a conference about 18 months ago!
OK- I am just too tired to write more right now- I am going to go watch some TV and sleep...
To everyone whose blogs I read, I have not been reading much, since I've been drowning in work. I hope to catch up soon...
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Hear that sound?
It's the sound of that wretched paper churning out of the printer to be proofread! Hooray! It's a complete draft, complete with figures and tables. I still need to sort out the references, but it shouldn't be too tough. I also need to write an abstract, but since the conclusions will need some finalizing, I will wait to write it. I plan to submit it by 9/30 (preferably by Friday). It will be good to send it off, since I have nothing in review right now- well, I do have one NSF proposal in review and a pre-proposal to another agency in review, but no papers since that one was accepted a few weeks ago. Since this is my last year before going up for tenure, I want to be sure to have things in the works at all times! I'll let you know when I submit the thing. I will be SOOOO happy to have it out of my hands for a few months. I hope the reviews come back quickly, though.OK- I'm off to watch SNL re-runs and maybe drink a beer!
Monday, September 18, 2006
stop the ride. i want to get off...
Just checking in to tell you that I am still alive. Things are quite insane and I find that I don't even have time to read blogs, let alone write one! The past few days were pretty crappy- I had a run-in with my chair over P&T issues, my sister-in-law had emergency surgery on Friday and we spent the weekend checking in on her (she's home now). I feel like I am coming down with a cold (since I haven't been able to exercise, eat well, or sleep enough). I am getting ready to head for bed to watch TV and sleep by 10:00. Hopefully, I will catch up soon. If anything is going on at your blogs, I will check back soon! Take care everyone!
btw- there was a GORGEOUS sunset tonight- even though it was raining:
See more at my flickr page...
btw- there was a GORGEOUS sunset tonight- even though it was raining:
See more at my flickr page...
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Tra-la-la-la-la...
Saw this over at Dr. Medusa's place...
| Your Theme Song is Beautiful Day by U2 |
 "Sky falls, you feel like It's a beautiful day Don't let it get away" You see the beauty in life, especially in ordinary everyday moments. And if you're feeling down, even that seems a little beautiful too. |
Catching Up
OK- I've been neglecting my blog. I have lots I've wanted to tell you, but haven't felt justified in spending the time doing it with that cursed paper still hanging over my head. However, I felt it was time to fill you in on the last week or so.
Post-Birthday Wrap Up
My birthday fell on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, so that was really nice- no teaching that day or the day before or after, either! We went out to lunch (as a family), then H and I went to see Little Miss Sunshine that night. At my request, H had bought me a bunch of DVDs: X-Files Seasons 1, 2, & 3; Star Trek TNG Season 3. I've been enjoying these on the treadmill! My mom sent some nice jewelry and some bath & body products from Boots (she was in London over the summer and I LOVE Boots). I still need to write thank-you notes!
Teaching
Classes are going fine so far. I am teaching every day, so that is hectic. I get tired of colleagues (who already have tenure) complaining about having to come in an additional day for meetings. Um- some of us have to be here EVERY day for teaching, so shut the f--- up!
I am doing one thing differently in my 100-level class this time. I have always had students turn in a SHORT writing assignment each class to earn in-class points (and check attendance). There are 90 students and I have always gone through the sheets myself. This semester, I am delegating to my TA to do it. This is really nice to free up that time (that I shouldn't have been using anyway), but I am not learning their names as well as I usually do. I feel kind of bad about that, but really felt it was better to start delegating a bit (I am very bad about this- as the control freak that I am!)
I don't know my T/Th students well, yet, either. I have met with them a whole 5 times so far (because of the bizarre Miami practice of Monday/Tuesday Exchange Day- there was no T class last week). Thursday I had a guest speaker, so that's only four classes! I guess we can catch up this week.
Research
I am feeling more and more bitter/frustrated about failed proposals and how it all relates to tenure. I have no tenure requirements for external funding, but there is pressure from university administrators to bring in money. The biggest pressure is from myself, because I need money to get any sort of research going (aside from using free data and having no RA, which severely limits things). As a result, I have been a PI or co-PI on at least one federal grant proposal every year I have been here. As you can imagine, that has taken a lot of TIME. This time has diminished the amount of time left to work on papers (especially during semesters that I teach 3 classes). I should just manage to have enough papers accepted to get tenure, but feel that the appearance of just "squeaking by" is very misleading about the way I've spent my time here. I know other departments and other universities where SUBMITTED proposals count as a peer-reviewed paper. Even if each of my proposals counted as a HALF a paper, I would be looking pretty good. Even if I had criteria, like saying "all NSF panel reviews good or better will count" I would be fine. Unfortunately, I don't have any senior faculty advocating for me on this. I get a "thanks for your hard work" from my chair, but that's it. So-I am struggling to finish that paper by my self-imposed deadline, plus putting together another one with some colleagues to submit to a journal special issue (so there's a REAL deadline!)
Etc.
OK- I better go get breakfast for D and grade some papers (from one of my two classes that has no TA). I'd love to hear if anyone has similar frustrations with the research stuff. I know you are all in a range of places- from R1 to community colleges, so it would be interesting to hear what your expectations are. I'll keep you posted on my various deadlines! BTW- D is enjoying first grade and riding the bus. Maybe I'll do another self-destructing picture at some point! I think she is really learning a lot and having lots of fun, too.
Post-Birthday Wrap Up
My birthday fell on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, so that was really nice- no teaching that day or the day before or after, either! We went out to lunch (as a family), then H and I went to see Little Miss Sunshine that night. At my request, H had bought me a bunch of DVDs: X-Files Seasons 1, 2, & 3; Star Trek TNG Season 3. I've been enjoying these on the treadmill! My mom sent some nice jewelry and some bath & body products from Boots (she was in London over the summer and I LOVE Boots). I still need to write thank-you notes!
Teaching
Classes are going fine so far. I am teaching every day, so that is hectic. I get tired of colleagues (who already have tenure) complaining about having to come in an additional day for meetings. Um- some of us have to be here EVERY day for teaching, so shut the f--- up!
I am doing one thing differently in my 100-level class this time. I have always had students turn in a SHORT writing assignment each class to earn in-class points (and check attendance). There are 90 students and I have always gone through the sheets myself. This semester, I am delegating to my TA to do it. This is really nice to free up that time (that I shouldn't have been using anyway), but I am not learning their names as well as I usually do. I feel kind of bad about that, but really felt it was better to start delegating a bit (I am very bad about this- as the control freak that I am!)
I don't know my T/Th students well, yet, either. I have met with them a whole 5 times so far (because of the bizarre Miami practice of Monday/Tuesday Exchange Day- there was no T class last week). Thursday I had a guest speaker, so that's only four classes! I guess we can catch up this week.
Research
I am feeling more and more bitter/frustrated about failed proposals and how it all relates to tenure. I have no tenure requirements for external funding, but there is pressure from university administrators to bring in money. The biggest pressure is from myself, because I need money to get any sort of research going (aside from using free data and having no RA, which severely limits things). As a result, I have been a PI or co-PI on at least one federal grant proposal every year I have been here. As you can imagine, that has taken a lot of TIME. This time has diminished the amount of time left to work on papers (especially during semesters that I teach 3 classes). I should just manage to have enough papers accepted to get tenure, but feel that the appearance of just "squeaking by" is very misleading about the way I've spent my time here. I know other departments and other universities where SUBMITTED proposals count as a peer-reviewed paper. Even if each of my proposals counted as a HALF a paper, I would be looking pretty good. Even if I had criteria, like saying "all NSF panel reviews good or better will count" I would be fine. Unfortunately, I don't have any senior faculty advocating for me on this. I get a "thanks for your hard work" from my chair, but that's it. So-I am struggling to finish that paper by my self-imposed deadline, plus putting together another one with some colleagues to submit to a journal special issue (so there's a REAL deadline!)
Etc.
OK- I better go get breakfast for D and grade some papers (from one of my two classes that has no TA). I'd love to hear if anyone has similar frustrations with the research stuff. I know you are all in a range of places- from R1 to community colleges, so it would be interesting to hear what your expectations are. I'll keep you posted on my various deadlines! BTW- D is enjoying first grade and riding the bus. Maybe I'll do another self-destructing picture at some point! I think she is really learning a lot and having lots of fun, too.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
I never knew I was so agreeable...
H might disagree (sometimes!) How can you be neurotic AND agreeable? Hmmm- interesting.
My Personality
From luckybuzz
My Personality
66 | |
52 | |
3 | |
92 | |
51 |
MySpace Surveys, MySpace Codes and MySpace Layouts by Pulseware Survey Software |
From luckybuzz
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Red Pen is Silent
I got this email today:
"The above captioned manuscript has been accepted for publication by the International Journal of XXX"
Hooray! We sent the revisions back on August 13th, so that was a quick turn-around. My co-author and I are quite happy about this development. We weren't sure whether red pen would have more concerns, so what a relief. I have given myself that 9/15 deadline for that other paper, so I should be right on track for tenure. I'll keep you posted.
"The above captioned manuscript has been accepted for publication by the International Journal of XXX"
Hooray! We sent the revisions back on August 13th, so that was a quick turn-around. My co-author and I are quite happy about this development. We weren't sure whether red pen would have more concerns, so what a relief. I have given myself that 9/15 deadline for that other paper, so I should be right on track for tenure. I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
36
That's my age now (check my profile!) I haven't yet reached an age where I dread birthdays or don't want to reveal my age to people, so I am not depressed about adding another number. Some things that make me feel old are:
- knowing that some of my current students were BORN the year I graduated from high school (class of '88)
- being called "ma'am" at the grocery store
- realizing that I've been driving a car for 20 years
- having a student guess my age is 25 (this actually happened last week!)
- being one of the youngest faculty members in my department
- being carded when buying alcohol (most recently I was carded ordering a beer at the San Diego airport)
- my adorable 6-year-old daughter (she's very excited about my birthday this year)
photo will disappear later todayGONE- sorry if you missed it!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Hope for short men everywhere
Apparently Captain Picard is shorter than Barbie...
I find this particularly amusing, since Patrick Stewart isn't terribly tall...
I find this particularly amusing, since Patrick Stewart isn't terribly tall...
Why can I not seem to finish this paper?
Do I want to get fired? Because if I don't get this paper accepted by next summer that is likely to happen! Every time I come back to working on it, I realize that the paper is almost FINISHED! I have to make some serious progress this weekend. If only I had finished it in JANUARY instead of spending so much time on proposals that weren't even funded. ARRGHHH! I think I better go for a walk this morning. I am tempted to skip it and work on this paper before D wakes up, but I'm afraid the stress will drive me crazy if I don't get some exercise ( I already missed 1 exercise day this week).
Did I mention that I go up for tenure next year?
Did I mention that I go up for tenure next year?
Friday, September 01, 2006
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