zeee
Epic Member
Posts: 26 
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Post by zeee on Feb 1, 2017 7:48:40 GMT
Phds Thinking it Through
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zeee
Epic Member
Posts: 26
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Post by zeee on Feb 1, 2017 7:59:00 GMT
Hi Ct
Will you get some new pants? If you have the time, i say go for it. it's worth the financial splurge.
I know many who have "political depression".
I heard from one on another forum who said she was in bed most of the day and crying all day yesterday, mainly about what is going on in the world, but is also, secondarily, unhappy about pain and health issues and DH issues.
I am starting to get some distance, for survival reasons. I think it's important to stay informed but not excessively so, and also to focus on other things. I have been pretty dark-minded of late for political and other reasons, but am now (today at least) focusing also on more positive things, however small they be. (cats, nice meal, a moment of sun, a garden, a walk, etc.).
For survival reasons. Being in only dark mood doesn't help anyone or anything so if there is anyway to feel otherwise, i think i'll have more energy to take little actions for a better world. I called a few congresspeople the last days; I didn't say what state i'm from since my state is a "D" state, but gave my email address and name.
I am not very motivated to do strong political actions about this, though i am taking political action on other things in Paris.
A friend said today, Feb 1, is the 1st day of spring according to the Celtic calandar. I need a fresh beginning, if only psychologically.
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Post by gsciencechick on Feb 5, 2017 13:48:17 GMT
Hi, Zeee, thanks for starting the Feb thread. This has been such a crazy busy week. First test of the season. I now have two students out with the flu, so it is definitely going around here, so one will miss the test tomorrow. I got a flu shot, but most of the students don't. Yeah, unfortunately, social media should be fun and for me to get info for my job, but it is just so depressing. I have been following the March for Science threads. It is set for Earth Day, April 22. A big march in Washington, DC, but lots of sister marches around the country and around the world. Not sure if you can see this: twitter.com/ScienceMarchDC/lists. If I don't go to DC, there is one in Atlanta (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so that makes sense and is not too far) or else there is one locally. Maybe I can help mobilize undergrads here? My step counts have been so-so. Some days are horrible and other days I am well over goal. My weights workouts have been good. I am doing OK on tracking, but DH is still doing much better in the weight loss. He is at nearly 20 lbs! Wen to Zumba today vs. Spin since my favorite Zumba instructor teaches the first Saturday of the month, and last month we had the storm, so no classes. I may go to Spin today, but my favorite instructor is not teaching. On top of normal workplace stress, our department chair is stepping down, and the Dean wants to name someone as interim chair. I am likely under consideration. This could be good or bad. There are really only 4 of us who are tenured who could do it. It not fair to name Assistant Professor as interium chair, though chairs do not have to have tenure. So, I have my meeting with her this week to talk about our department. He will remain with the regular faculty, but I don't blame him if he leaves. Not too excited for super bowl. Don't really care about any of the teams, but I guess we will watch. Have two conferences this month, regional and national, so have to work on the presentations. One is oral presentation, one is poster. Speaking of early spring, I saw a dogwood tree with buds the other day. That is really early, and our weatherman has even mentioned it. This weekend was pretty cold, and I had to break out the flannel pajamas. Have a good day. Stay warm. |
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zeee
Epic Member
Posts: 26
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Post by zeee on Feb 12, 2017 12:15:04 GMT
GS, this is one quiet thread.
Will you go to the March for Science? If you are sometimes over and sometimes under, maybe an average step count is good, no? Good work on tracking! How have things evolved in relation to the interim chair position? Is the chair stepping down, due to trouble? I can see how that could be good, in terms of cv, evolution. you said it could be good or bad, is the bad meaning the time and multiple admin things you'll have to do? did you enjoy the Super Bowl? I'm not into it at all but am from MA, so i saw some old hs friends were excited. I dislike the vengeful (merited or not, i have no idea) response to the nfl guy, with T-shirts with him as a clown, etc. It seems to reflect the hostile political atmosphere we are currently in.
How were the conferences? Blossoms and flannels: sounds like early spring.
We've had a very mild winter and it feels like early spring but then we finally had a cold spell with temps around 30 and scattering of snow. That is fairly cold for here. We get very little snow. Usually just a bit that melts upon touching the ground, a few days a year.
Life has been challenging with ups and downs. I aim to enjoy the ups, and manage with the downs.
How are you GS, KS, CT and any others passing by? I guess we lost UVA forever with the change of boards.
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Post by gsciencechick on Feb 16, 2017 1:37:36 GMT
Hi, zeee, it has just been very crazy these past few days or so. I had to work on one conference presentation and get that done, then I have another I need to work on next week. At least that's the conference on the beach in Florida. We had our annual reports due today, and although I do work on it throughout the year, it is still a scramble at the last minute. There are just so many things to upload. we have to comment on every single class we teach, every section. I am so tired because I've been up past midnight the past two nights. Then I have to travel about 2 hours to the regional conference tomorrow, but at least I can rest a bit tonight. And I do feel good about what I accomplished this past year.
I will do a March for science, but it may end up being local or Atlanta. That is our last weekend of classes and I am just not sure I can get to DC. Overall, things are just so down here in the U.S. I don't know if you get that feel overseas.
DH and I went out for Valentine's Day dinner last night. Then I felt horrible because I had to finish the annual report.
No word yet on the Chair search. She says she will make a decision by April. I had a meeting with her since she was meeting with all the faculty. She and the current chair butt heads, but then so did our previous chair! So, maybe a year would be enough for me. But I feel stuck in a rut and maybe the change would be good. I told DH we would be hiring a cleaning lady if I get it, LOL.
Here is the craziest test cheating I've seen: Student asked to use the bathroom, and left his phone in the classroom. Seemed to take a little longer so he was found in the computer lab looking up the answers! Someone saw him and there are video cameras, so we have video footage. Wow.
I've become very concerned about air quality since I was in Beijing. I've read that certain parts of Europe also have bad air quality, too. Might have an opportunity to go to Singapore with some of the folks who went to China, but I am not sure the timing is good for me. It is not quite my spring break week.
So, that is it. I have to do an overdue manuscript now.
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zeee
Epic Member
Posts: 26
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Post by zeee on Feb 16, 2017 16:32:03 GMT
GS i hope you get some rest. local march is great. i feel down since the elections. many but not all are shaken up here. here,we are shaken up both due to the great orange american power and also due to the current, very troubling wind here. had there not been "T" and Brexit, we would not be so afraid. the left parties here are fractioned, with the far-left with a strong candidate, the middle left with almost a randomly chosen candidate (much younger and hopefully less bad than the ones in office), the right and middle parties accused of corruption (fictional employment of spouse, children, etc., to the tune of 100,000 euros) which brings them way down, in the polls. With such fractioning and dissatisfaction, the extreme right, the only party to have endorsed trump pre-election, has highest polling at present. Many think she will win and some people working in the government, i have read, are preparing for that. They expect it.
Maybe you could hire a cleaning lady whether or not you get the chair position. I got one since september, 1st time ever, and i hope never to go back. I have a small place, so if everything's ok and there is no deep cleaning to do, now she just comes an hour a week, to clean kitchen, bath, floors, iron a couple of things, and do a little straightening. She cleans in a place just 1 minute away just before me and lives nearby, and has tons of work. WOW about that cheating. That's unusual. I sometimes have a bit of plagiarism: 1 or 2 cases per year/semester. I had a student forge my signature on a certificate this year. The school saw the difference in signature and checked with me. Dumb and cheeky, but the example you gave today is even cheekier.
I expected HC to win and to be, not exstatic, but happy about that, her being a female, glass window...I have been upset in a way since. I follow the news quite a bit, with the constant shake ups. I am not in touch with any republicans. are they down too? I guess they have much reason to be.
good luck on your manuscript, and get some rest.
Hi CT KS and any passerbys.
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Post by CT on Feb 24, 2017 2:01:25 GMT
Hi. Had to reload computer and still having some trouble with it, so have been offline. Didn't lose any data, but it's upgrades of a lot of programs. Been good about getting more steps, but not about cutting back on eating, so weight is still the same. Expensive bite guard seems to be helping the headaches, but have not been sleeping well at all. Very vivid dreams the past few nights, and I'm awake every hour or two. Fuzzy kitty is doing well. She went nuts over some grackles at the birdfeeder earlier today. The snow is almost all gone. In employment news- my long-term sub job is almost up, but the district asked me to go to a library at another school in the district for about two more months, so that's good.
Thoughts on walking vs. running? My ex always said you could only lose by running, but I always believed that a mile is a mile no matter what. Besides, I hate even the idea of running.
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Post by gsciencechick on Feb 25, 2017 2:38:24 GMT
Hi, CT, thanks for checking in. It is so crazy that people have had snow. We have had unseasonably warm weather, and I've even driven the Mustang with the top down, including today.
Running can certainly help with weight. The advantage is that you can cover more distance and expend more calories.
I was gone last weekend for the regional conference with the students, and I fly out again on Sunday for another conference, in Florida. So much to do grading, etc. I did buy that little 11" laptop for travel.
We got word that the international workshops are on hold until they update the certification exam. We had potential to go to Shanghai over Spring break. New study guides have just come out, so everything must be changed.
Kitties are great. Little girl likes to lie on DH's keyboard. I don't know if it's because it's warm or she wants attention. Maybe a little bit of both.
I will try to check in on the road.
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Post by CT on Mar 1, 2017 23:53:32 GMT
Hi. Right wrist very bad. Worst it's been in years. Taking a day off to see orthopedist. Cortisone shot made it better last week, then I wrecked it by crocheting on Saturday. Something's wrong--the tendons feel crunchy when I move it. Paid $10 for a fitness challenge at work. I have to either maintain or lose each week, and you get tix for time of WO for raffles.
Does anyone have an ergonomic mouse? I was looking at vertical ones online, but can't find one in a store to try. Ouch.
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