Sad

 'Killing Fields' journalist dies

Foolishly causing myself stress

So every spring, I do this to myself. If you've read my previous post, you can see that I have an overwhelming amount of work to complete in the next week. Every fall when the call for abstracts go out, I ambitiously write mine with big plans of what I will have accomplished six months later. This year was no exception. Small conference in driving-distance city? Yes- I'll do a talk- no need to do a poster! My RAs and I will have lots of results by then. Giant conference that I hate to miss? Sure- I'll submit to an organized session that could fit my in-progress research! Now that these conferences are looming, I am frantically trying to finish analysis and prepare my talks- on top of the other things that are coming up- like two Master's defenses next week. And a poster session for the undergraduate advisee I agreed to take on (without really knowing what would be involved). 

So, here I sit in my usual stressed out state for this time of year- working all weekend to get things done in time. And I just got tenure! I should be feeling relieved (which I am about that). All I know is that next year I will take a break from conferences- maybe I won't go to any! I just wish I had decided to skip one or do a poster for one of them. I was just a little too foolishly ambitious about things last fall and I'm paying for it now! sigh

scientiae carnival

Spring is always too busy! (with regular updates!)

I leave for a conference in 8 days (8 days!) and when I return, leave for another one four days later. In the mean time I have a million things that need to get done. Here is a list so that I can come back and check things off and feel accountable:

• read Master's paper #1 for Monday defense OK- it's already done, but I did do it this morning!
• read Master's paper #2 for Tuesday defense done!
• plan for next week's upper level class, including updating lab part of this was really just some decision-making so far, but I did decide!
• plan for next several freshman class meetings, including my absence for conference #1
• prepare talk for conference #1 I can't cross it off, because it isn't done, but I only have the results to finish. Not too bad, considering I have an entire week until I leave! Now to the other items...
• finish analysis for conference #2
• prepare talk for conference #2
• finish tedious data processing task
• prepare data, maps, and poster template for freshman advisee meeting on Tuesday
• grade labs for upper level class  done!
• grade exam revisions for upper level class
• re-check exams for freshman class done!
• submit taxes done!

OK- it's bad, but I have a few days, right? Yikes. I better get busy. I also promised D that I would help her repot some seedlings that she sprouted from seeds and I'm sure the laundry has piled up, too... At least it's sunny outside (maybe that makes it worse).

Shopping advice? updated

Is it worth spending $100 on a maternity suit from Ann Taylor Loft? It is on sale... It pains me to spend too much on clothes that I will wear for only a few months in the fall, but I will have to have something to wear to work!

UPDATE: Well, I caved before I even heard from anyone, because this dress was on sale for $9.88 (from $84.00!!) I got the suit, too and one other top (in black). Thanks for helping me rationalize my retail therapy, Dr. Brazen Hussy!

Pregnancy Post (9th week)*

So I am officially almost 9 weeks now and I haven't even felt sick for the last several days. I'm afraid to think that I am done with morning sickness, because I had it for a good month with D and it didn't even start until about 8 weeks, then. But- I've been feeling good all week, eating what I usually would- even drinking decaf again. I am in disbelief because it seems that everyone I've talked to who had morning sickness had it worse with subsequent pregnancies. I scoured the web and did find several posts from women who were less sick with a later pregnancy, so I guess it can happen- I just can't believe that I could be that lucky. It has been 9 years since my last pregnancy, but I figured that being older would make everything worse! We'll see if it returns tomorrow when I have to get up EARLY again for my 8:00AM class. (I hope not!)

I'm still hungry ALL THE TIME and fearing that I am already gaining weight, when I shouldn't be. I've been eating pretty healthy, but am amazed at how hungry I've been. I also have been having trouble exercising, because I get light-headed really easily. Last Saturday, I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes and almost fainted when I came upstairs. I think my blood sugar got too low, since I exercised after breakfast instead of later in the day. Extreme hunger and difficulty exercising: sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!

I went for my first ultrasound last week and we got to see and hear the baby's heartbeat (170 bpm!). The baby was 1.59 cm, which confirmed that I was around 8 weeks that day (a little past actually). I won't post the picture, because it's pretty hard to identify anything on such an early ultrasound. I think I can see the head and the left arm and leg buds, but H thinks I am imagining it! I'll post one later when you can really start to see things.

Today, I have a TON of work that with no hope of finishing everything, but I have to try. I leave to conference #1 in two weeks! yikes!

*I will be giving these types of posts clear titles, so that my readers who are not interested in the topic can skip right over it! 

I'm no political blogger, but...

this makes me laugh:

Maybe this is why Hillary Clinton's campaign hasn't said anything about Obama's connections with Reverend Wright.

Ironic Anniversary

Peace.

Makin' progress!

It's only Tuesday, but I'm already feeling the week slipping away before I finish all the work I need to. I have been focusing on some tedious work that keeps getting pushed to the back burner, so that I can finally hand off the data to my RAs next week. I haven't started working on the conference presentations yet, but once I have these other tasks out of the way, I think I will feel a LOT better- even if the presentations get put off until classes start up again (I still have almost three weeks until the first conference).  I also took a LONG break for lunch and watched some HGTV (in HD)- something I probably haven't done since last summer. It was fun, but I was riddled with guilt as I sat there on the couch. At the same time, I was feeling like I should allow myself a break since it IS spring "break" this week.

OK- back to it- I have lots to do!

Also: Welcome IHE readers- I noticed the HUGE traffic spike from my quote! Feel free to look around and stay a while...

I've been quoted!

I'm glad to know that I am such an authority on tenure!

Thanks to Mommy/Prof for pointing out the link...

Whew!

Man, am I glad that this week is OVER! Next week is spring "break" so I will have time to catch up some research things and sleep in! The last few weeks have been so exhausting for me with the candidates here for interviews, exams in my classes, and the onset of morning sickness. It wasn't a good combination, let me tell you. Our last candidate left last night (actually this morning, but we left him at an airport hotel) and I didn't get home until almost 9:00 (after leaving here at 9:30AM). I'm pretty happy with the interviews- I think we made good judgements about people based on their files and invited some good candidates for the interviews. Unfortunately, we won't be able to decide on this search until ... 

oops! major interruption there- I was supposed to call my new grad student this afternoon to answer some questions about the program. I got a hold of her and it's all good- back to blogging now

...week after next, because of Spring Break. I wonder who we will be pick... 

So, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am a little concerned that I will have trouble finding motivation next week, especially with the fatigue and nausea.  I *really* need to accomplish things.  I HAVE to.

pregnancy posting below- feel free to skip if not interested

I also have my first ultrasound next week and I am very disturbed that I have to drink 32 ounces of water an hour before my appointment and NOT go pee. I have no recollection of such a process occurring nine years ago. WTF? Is it because it's too early and there isn't enough amniotic fluid yet? I hope I don't pee all over the exam table. 

end pregnancy content (I wish I had html tag to use for that!)

That's about all I have report. I am just worn out and ready for any kind of break I can get- even if it's just from teaching. 

One week to go!

Unlike some of you, I still have another week until Spring Break. And I am so looking forward to it, because I have a boat-load of work to catch up on. I'm actually a little afraid that I won't accomplish what I need to- even though it's still a week away. We have our last candidate in this week for the search I am chairing, so one of my work-at-home days is gone. However, my classes are pretty light this week (no labs), so that should provide a little extra time. My biggest concern about getting things done next week (and this week) is that I am so damn tired all the time.* I swear- I do not remember being so tired when I was pregnant with D. By this time, I had barely even found out about her yet and now I am sleeping a full 8 hours at night AND needing afternoon naps! I keep wondering if it's my "advanced" age- I was only 28 for most of my first pregnancy. I think I will have to try to work mornings next week. I think afternoons are going to really tough, as I keep nodding off on my computer.

Here's what needs to get done:

• research for conference #1
• research for conference #2 (which an undergraduate also needs for a presentation that same week)
• catch up on image processing tasks that I can't have my RAs do
• catch up on grading
• catch up on class prep- especially for days I am missing for conference #1 and conference #2

I guess the list doesn't look too awful- especially with the week away from class, but I'm still worried about it. It will be way too easy to just rest next week (which I feel like doing), but the conferences are sneaking up fast! Anyway- I have to be positive and think I can do it.  I'll keep you posted!

*see- here is that complaining that I promised!

OK, fine.

Well, I am really terrible at keeping secrets- about myself, anyway. I've already been telling lots of my friends, so I figure I might as well share the news with you, too. Just like this blogger, this blogger, and this blogger, I will be having a baby before the year is out! I'm only six weeks, so it's really early, but by telling you I am now at liberty to complain about how tired I am this time (nine years after D) and wondering how I will handle my classes in the fall (when I am due mid-semester) and reporting my valiant efforts at chairing a search committee and being really moody. We're all very excited- including D, who will finally get to be a big sister at age nine. Wow- that's a BIG age difference. So maybe my new (if temporary) blog name should be "what a tenured, pregnant professor shouldn't be doing..."