I just saw this meme at ScienceMama's, which I believe originated at Sciencewomen. Yeah, so I'm late to the party on this one, but what the hell, it's late and I'm too wired to sleep, so here goes:
In 10 minutes .... I'll hopefully be in bed, trying desperately to get some sleep before tomorrow's busy busy day.
In 10 hours .... I'll be in yet another meeting, cursing the fact that I'm sitting in a meeting instead of doing Real Actual Work That Could Get Me Tenure.
In 10 days .... I will be playing hooky from doing Real Actual Work That Could Get Me Tenure so that I can do Fun Things I Don't Have Time For On Weekends Anymore, such as planting containers of herbs and doing various projects around the house. I am so looking forward to this.
In 10 weeks .... I will hopefully be submitting a conference paper on a new line of research, and will have run a 5K.
In 10 months .... I will be handing in the first of my tenure materials (eek!) and will hopefully have a better idea of what my odds are of obtaining tenure at my institution.
In 10 years .... I hope to be at peace with myself and my career path. Hopefully this means I am tenured and working towards full prof, and starting to dabble in administration-related stuff. (Yes, my dream is to be an Evil Administrator. There. I said it. You can all stop respecting me now.) Mr. Jane and I will hopefully still be going strong and making each other laugh, and who knows, maybe there will be another kid in the mix...
Education & Careers
Comments
Sounds like a plan. Nothing wrong with being an administrator. Evil or not.
It's a dirty job but, as the saying goes, someone has to do it. Besides, if there weren't administrators to bitch about those that like to bitch would be naturally unhappy. And the other folks, who just complain because it seems like the thing to do, would have a lot of free time on their hands. They might turn inward and bitch to themselves about themselves. They might would have to accept themselves or change. No possible good could come of this.
What with half the people unhappy and frustrated because they got nothing to bitch about. And the other half bitching about themselves under their breath unable to figure if they should get over it or change nothing is going to get done.
You see administrators are essential for progress. They don't really make it happen or organize any of it. Even though this is ostensibly their job. No, the real value in having an administrator in charge is that it keeps everyones psyche in order by giving them something to bitch about. They are the essential flaw that keeps the all the organizations working.
A grand and grandly tragic, but essential, calling.
Posted by: Art | May 27, 2008 4:06 AM
Ooh, Fun Things I Don't Have Time For on the Weekends Anymore! That sounds lovely!
I didn't know you were a runner too!
Posted by: ScienceMama | May 27, 2008 1:29 PM
Art, that's an interesting theory. :)
ScienceMama, I am a runner, although much less so than I used to be (stupid injuries!!), and I do short distances (5 miles is a long run for me, and that's increasingly rare). But I love it---it's the most relaxing exercise for me, even more so than yoga. Good luck w/ your half-marathon this summer!
Posted by: Jane | May 27, 2008 9:33 PM
Jane, try biking if it's feasible for you -- less hard on the shins/ankles than running and it's a bit more practical (you can put racks on your bike and carry things, so running to the store to fetch milk/eggs/etc. is easy and cheaper than hopping in the car to do it). I've even transported live plants in my bike pannier! (Cherry and beefsteak tomato plants as well as basil and Thai chile plants. I've got a little herb garden on my deck and am waiting for the alpine strawberries to kick in, which they should in a week or two.)
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | May 28, 2008 11:07 PM
Phoenix Woman, I do bike occasionally too, although, sadly, not since I got pregnant.
Posted by: Jane | May 28, 2008 11:12 PM