My Little Reader

For the first time tonite, Callen read a whole book by herself! We only helped her with a few of the words. I am so proud of her! Here's a picture of the book - Pizza for Sam.

Why Academics Suffer Burnout - Inside Higher Ed

Much of what is said resonates in the academy of today. I wish they had been more proactive in suggesting structural rather than individual level changes to deal with this issue. Why Academics Suffer Burnout - Inside Higher Ed

Full Professor!

I received official notification on Tuesday that I have been promoted to Full Professor. I wanted to post the letter from President Garrison on the blog but can't figure out how to insert a pdf file into the blog. Oh well.

Several people have asked me if I feel any different since receiving the notice. I don't yet. I think it hasn't set in yet. Perhaps it is because I am so busy with so many different things that I haven't had a chance to even reflect on it yet.

My chair sent out a notice to the faculty in my department. All but 2 of my colleagues either stopped by or sent emails to congratulate me. I posted it on Facebook and lots of friends have congratulated me. Some of my grad students brought me flowers yesterday. Bo and Callen did too. My office smells so great with the flowers! What a celebratory week!

A colleague asked me how I planned to celebrate. He knows I love going to the beach. Relaxing for a few days at the beach is a great idea but I haven't found a time to go relax at the beach yet. Hard to do this when you have a grant proposal due in about 6 weeks! Hopefully I'll find some time soon to take a few days and contemplate this phase of my academic career.

Thanks to all my friends, family members, and colleagues for the emails, notes, and comments. I couldn't have made it this far without the support and friendship that I've received from each of you!

Here's to the next phase of my career, fun celebrations, and wonderful family, friends, and colleagues!

It’s 4:30 in the morning, do you know where your work/life balance is? - Inside Higher Ed

This post from Inside Higher Ed really resonates with me, even though I am no longer an assistant professor. So hard to find the work/life balance but we do the best we can! It’s 4:30 in the morning, do you know where your work/life balance is? - Inside Higher Ed

Shoes From a 5 Year Old's Perspective

When I dropped Callen off at her preschool yesterday, a girl in her class walked up to us and said: "Callen, I LOVE your sandals. You HAVE to tell me where you got them." So cute and so funny coming from a 5 year old! I wish I had a video of her saying it.

Out of the Mouth of a 5 Year Old

Callen says so many things that I want to remember and post on the blog, but as you know I haven't blogged much lately and by the time I do I usually can't remember the things she said or the way she said them. Here are just a few that I can remember.

• Lord have mercy.
• Don't make me get upset at you. (With as much attitude as any 13 year old!)
• You're awesome Dad.
• I love you more than the world Mama (I never tire of hearing that!).
• You make me do EVERYTHING! (After I've just finished making her lunch and taken her to swimming lessons, when I asked her to take her dishes to the sink.)

There are many more that unfortunately I can't remember at this time. Out of the mouth of babes!

Goals for 2011 - revisited

I posted these on Facebook on January 3rd. Thought I'd post them here too, now a month later.

Rather than resolutions for 2011, I'd like to think there are goals that I'd like to achieve. They include (in no particular order):

• live a more balanced life
• take a picture of my daughter each week
• laugh more often
• listen to good music on a daily basis
• don't let the political BS at a certain institution of higher education get to me
• move more on a daily basis
• spend more time with friends and family
• begin writing a book
• write more consistently on a daily basis
• check email less often
• enjoy the feel of the sun on my face more regularly
• spend more time near oceans
• update my blog more frequently
• cherish the friends and family in my life

I'm not sure how many of these have been worked on on a regular basis. I haven't met the goal of updating the blog more often. Hard to believe it has been two months almost since my last post. I guess it is more about the process of trying to be proactive in striving for the goals than in actually accomplishing them. Small steps eventually add up to large distances.

What are your 2011 resolutions, goals, etc? And, what is your progress thus far?