This morning, I loaded Minnow into the car, plugged in the iPod and started singing along to the children's songs as we backed out of the driveway. Twenty minutes later I realized that I had completely bypassed Minnow's daycare and was well on my way to campus. Oops!
When I finally made it to my office, I was pleased to find proofs for an article. Something to do during what is sure to be a long faculty meeting this afternoon. I'm dealing with lots of administrivia right now (registration, travel plans, conference organizing) and those sucked up my entire morning. With a solid afternoon of meetings and seminars, I'm (dis)pleased to report that yet another day with little research time has been accomplished. Some days the possibility of tenure feels very faint.
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This should really cap off your day
Ah, brings back memories--like parking my car on campus, only to realize that my daughter was still buckled into her car seat in the back. Sigh.
I was pleased to find proofs for an article ... Some days the possibility of tenure feels very faint.
I am sure we have all had days so bad we can help but completely focus on the negative stuff, but getting a paper to the proof stage is a huge step in the right direction. So is organizing a conference. At the conference, be sure to invite someone with tenure elsewhere to come give a seminar at your school. They will get to know you and your department a little better, and they should be in a good position to write a strong letter at tenure time.
Take a deep breath and relax.
I've done the "forgot daycare" thing before. (I also regularly forget to leave crucial items at daycare. Sometimes I get phone calls at work reminding me of what I've forgotten.)
Congratulations on getting to the proof stage. (Confession: I never looked at the proofs of my first paper. I was just so relieved that the darn thing was finally accepted that I couldn't face the proofs... so it was published with all sorts of typos. Oops.)
Break your research down into the smallest of tasks; ideally tasks many of which take five or 10 mintes. Accomplish at least one research task every day. That makes all days good days, and the research gets accomplished.
I was not meaning to sound so dismal. It has just been a very turbulent day. Indeed, getting to see proofs of this paper (initially submitted a few weeks before Minnow was born) is a great joy.
I am glad to see you found time to take my advice:
Repeat as necessary.