Monday, September 10, 2007

No Really, I'm here

No Really, I'm Here!



Just trying to do some juggling. One of my goals this year at SLAC is to really try to be more a member of the SLAC community, which means actually seeing other people rather than hiding in front of my computer. This is becoming easier in some ways -- the hall where my office is located is now full of very social faculty, which is occasionally very distracting. And harder in others -- departmental tensions and a colleague moving out of town and commuting in to Dabbaville mean that, while I feel more connected to the campus and my colleagues in general, I am feeling somewhat disaffected in terms of my department. I do have to say that advising is helping a lot, as is being here for a second year -- students know me, and I know them. I've had lots of people popping by my office. And, in pursuance of my community-oriented goal, I went with colleagues to an actual!sports!event! this weekend. We tailgated, and ended up seeing only a little of the actual event, but saw a lot of folks, reconnected with each other, and I was really kind of happy to walk up to the stadium and have all kinds of students shouting, "Hi, Dr. ADM!!"

But this kind of meant that I have not really achieved what I need for the Big September 15 Deadline. Which means at best a probable submission to the General Sessions, unless I hear from the roundtable people that they can use me. And I will put in for chairing a panel. Hey, I had a topic -- it's just now being given elsewhere. Plus I have to think about Leeds ...

So, expect more after I get through this week. For today, I have FIVE lecture hours to get through.

update: Yay, I'm on a professional panel at K'zoo. And I will put in to chair a panel. So if I can get an abstract submitted by the end of the week, great, but honestly, I'm thinking that I am teaching 8 classes this year, 4 of them new preps, and I have to turn in my T&P stuff at the end of the summer. My first essay for a pedagogical journal is out to the reviewers, and I really want to work on getting at least one medieval article accepted this year, plus get the book proposal honed. So I think I'm going to try to focus on getting things published, and get some things in the pipeline for next year's circuit, including perhaps Leeds, which is on a different fiscal budget. How does that sound, oh wise intrawebs?

ETA -- Clarification: I am giving a medieval paper this year, just not at Kazoo. The paper I had planned to propose for Kazoo will instead be delivered at a Very Large Triennial Conference of Women Historians. So that's still one paper that will work towards article/book chapter, plus a second conference presentation, plus possibly chairing a session if Kazoo needs me to. I'm not cutting back that much.

5 comments:

heu mihi said...

Sounds good to me. I'm presenting at a conference in November and plan to attend K'zoo (maybe I'll put in to chair a panel), but I ain't submitting no abstract. I've had some guilty feelings about this, actually--I haven't been to Kalama since 2005 (like the new abbreviation?), and I'd like to generate some new work this year!!--but the reflections in your post make me think that maybe my guilt is misplaced. Which, in turn, validates your own musings! Isn't that nice?

Another Damned Medievalist said...

Why yes! I likes me some validation!

Ancarett said...

I'm going to try to finish my proposal for Kazoo tomorrow so I can justify going. Your plan sounds pretty intelligent, though -- better to concentrate on certain accomplishments while you work through that heavy load!

Notorious Ph.D. said...

I'm in awe of how much you are doing. Really. I've been far too lazy and too willing to make excuses for myself. Reading this has given me a much-needed kick in the ass.

Another Damned Medievalist said...

So says the woman who has garnered a prestigious fellowship and is working on a Real!Book! I did teach five classes yesterday ...