the rest of it

G has a friend to sleep over tonight and slept over at a friend's house earlier in the week. This is news because she has never liked sleepovers, and I don't blame her: the feeling of being awake and alone in a strange place after the friend has gone to sleep is no fun, nor is having to put up with someone sleeping in your room when you can't. But she decided she needed to build up skills for sleeping away on school trips and the like, and so she's committed herself to more sleepovers. I'm proud of her for thinking that through.  Her sleepover (and having one more friend over this afternoon) means I've been exiling myself to other parts of the house to give them space/privacy while they play video games in the living room and draw on the dining table. And that's meant that I've done reading and writing today, which is not bad for a Saturday. I have failed in my goal to write up a journal article in July. Too much time spent on head-of-department stuff, e...

I'm probably on a gratitude jaunt. Which is to say, I'm intending to do daily lists.  Today I am grateful: For the postponement of a talk that I didn't really want (or have time) to do this week. I'll do it eventually, and will have a very good outline and start on the powerpoint then (autumn). And in the meantime, some of the prep for that was good for the book. For those who helped me meet my PAC (curriculum-approval) deadline today. For reviewers who send their reviews without being reminded.  For authors who make good on their promises to deliver by a revised deadline For Phil being happy with his book and his editor For especially tasty pizza cheese For Oreo ice cream sandwich For gorgeous weather and a (new) garden parasol that actually works!  For G playing Juggler with me And I am self-congratulating/relieved: that I met the PAC deadline (above) that I signed off on the blueline proofs for my first issue of Dictionaries . Late, but phew!! (It feels a bit unfair...

Today was G's first day of summer vacation, but she's been told to self-isolate for 7 days because she's been in contact with someone (a schoolmate) who's tested positive. She's not too upset. All of her friends left town the second school was finished (if not before) so the only reason to go out would have been parent-enforced exercise or family-time in the form of errands and who wants that? But at least we're finally getting some summer weather. I am grateful: For the great work Vic has done around our house today, making it homier. For speakerphone on the mobile. Helped me get things done during two long bouts of being on hold today. For (yesterday) being able to fit six people in the kitchen with no crowding. For Tim B'vard making allowances for my reluctance to be out in public.

For 65 weeks, I was titling my gratitude notes by counting from the first day of UK lockdown. Then I said I was going to stop that two weeks after my second vaccination. That happened three weeks ago. Now what do I do? The pandemic isn't over but many act as if it is, and I'm a bit more confident about going out—but still cautious. Should I have stopped counting? Anyhow, I keep meaning to write. But I'm also in a near-constant state of stressed-out. I can't believe how busy I am at work at time when there are no students but doctoral students. I need to do something about the poor sleep and the tight chest, but I haven't figured it out yet. One thing I should definitely do is go back to a laptop-free day per week. That went away during the renovation works. When you can't use most of your house, there's no point in restricting your activities further.  But now the house is good and despite being overworked, I'm very aware of how many things I have to be ...