Sabbatical Ends
So my 2nd sabbatical from work ended today.
I woke at 5 a.m. and finally got out of bed by 5:20. Because I was better at managing my online time this morning I was able to get on the road by 6:37, so was at work at 7:07 a.m.
Getting to work at 7 a.m. means:
* better parking space.
* less traffic.
* can get some work done and be oriented properly before others need to talk with me.
So I am going to work on doing this every day.
I spent the first half of the day just going through around 500 emails. They give me SOME idea what is going on, but we will have a meeting this afternoon to go over a review of tasks and so on.
The question comes up: did I have a good sabbatical? Well, I feel good, so the answer is yes. If I look at the list of all the things I wanted to do, well, I did not score well. However, I tend to be optimistic about these kinds of things. I created a list that is much more than anyone could do (at least anyone who needs 7 1/2 hours of sleep).
On the whole, though, our house and my life is much more orderly as a result of the sabbatical. I also have some experiences I will continue to enjoy for some time.
So, rather than list all the things I didn't get to do, I will focus on what I did do:
* restructured the connection to the downspout.
* fixed one rain-barrel and replaced both rain-barrel spigots.
* replaced the mirror on the Ford Focus.
* filled up the tire on the Falcon.
* planted three patches of perrenials (each rainbarrel and The Square).
* took three bicycle trips.
* watched the first six of the available Alfred Hitchcock films.
* made DVDs of all the Star Trek Phase II movies.
* hooked up and tested an analog to digital converter to enable DVD creation from VHS tapes (and any analog source).
* created generic voice tracks and programmed several new Mr. Smooth Shows.
* visited Las Vegas, Nevada; St. George, Utah; Hoover Dam; and Bryce Canyon National Park.
* attended Oregon Symphony Orchestra for several concerts.
* went to the last of the Salon Orientale performances.
* had the dealership replace a broken cruise control switch on the truck.
* teeth cleaned.
* ultrasound on my liver area and set up a biopsy for further analysis of my condition later in November.
* had Sky Heating folks check our heating/ac systems and clean the heat pump.
* converted more DVDs to thin case.
* identified missing DVDs for James Bond movies and ordered to fill some of the gaps.
* hung the plates in the bathroom.
* fixed frames for several paintings.
* re-hung paintings and hung several new paintings in the bathroom.
* filled a new bookshelf in the bathroom.
* began research on Federal programs for public art.
I woke at 5 a.m. and finally got out of bed by 5:20. Because I was better at managing my online time this morning I was able to get on the road by 6:37, so was at work at 7:07 a.m.
Getting to work at 7 a.m. means:
* better parking space.
* less traffic.
* can get some work done and be oriented properly before others need to talk with me.
So I am going to work on doing this every day.
I spent the first half of the day just going through around 500 emails. They give me SOME idea what is going on, but we will have a meeting this afternoon to go over a review of tasks and so on.
The question comes up: did I have a good sabbatical? Well, I feel good, so the answer is yes. If I look at the list of all the things I wanted to do, well, I did not score well. However, I tend to be optimistic about these kinds of things. I created a list that is much more than anyone could do (at least anyone who needs 7 1/2 hours of sleep).
On the whole, though, our house and my life is much more orderly as a result of the sabbatical. I also have some experiences I will continue to enjoy for some time.
So, rather than list all the things I didn't get to do, I will focus on what I did do:
* restructured the connection to the downspout.
* fixed one rain-barrel and replaced both rain-barrel spigots.
* replaced the mirror on the Ford Focus.
* filled up the tire on the Falcon.
* planted three patches of perrenials (each rainbarrel and The Square).
* took three bicycle trips.
* watched the first six of the available Alfred Hitchcock films.
* made DVDs of all the Star Trek Phase II movies.
* hooked up and tested an analog to digital converter to enable DVD creation from VHS tapes (and any analog source).
* created generic voice tracks and programmed several new Mr. Smooth Shows.
* visited Las Vegas, Nevada; St. George, Utah; Hoover Dam; and Bryce Canyon National Park.
* attended Oregon Symphony Orchestra for several concerts.
* went to the last of the Salon Orientale performances.
* had the dealership replace a broken cruise control switch on the truck.
* teeth cleaned.
* ultrasound on my liver area and set up a biopsy for further analysis of my condition later in November.
* had Sky Heating folks check our heating/ac systems and clean the heat pump.
* converted more DVDs to thin case.
* identified missing DVDs for James Bond movies and ordered to fill some of the gaps.
* hung the plates in the bathroom.
* fixed frames for several paintings.
* re-hung paintings and hung several new paintings in the bathroom.
* filled a new bookshelf in the bathroom.
* began research on Federal programs for public art.