I have time for a rare mid-day entry. This morning I decided to stay away from the office and knock out a few work-related projects on the front porch. I put my feet up, answered emails, took a couple phone calls from students and faculty, and organized a couple of conference proposals. I also worked my ass off Monday through Wednesday, in the office, so tomorrow will be pretty laid back. I have an Italy thing at 5PM, but nothing pressing in the morning, so I may not leave home until after lunch. My job is weird, and I sometimes feel guilty about the position’s inherent flexibility. I’m sure I could adjust to normal hours again, but I like times like these, when I’m sitting at the table, mid-day, so I hope whatever I’d exchange for returning to a more structured lifestyle would be worthwhile.
Anyway, the last three days have been decent. I worked all day Monday then drove to the airport to pick up M and the boys. Their plane was late, so I hung around the airport, read Murakami, and tried to get close enough to the television to hear what the hell was going on in Virginia. The boys were exhausted by the time we reached home, the house was spotless, and we had a decent night. The boys’ hair was hilarious…strawlike and all over the place after Florida weather. Rain began early Tuesday morning and fell two days straight. The floor at work seemed more or less deserted, so I closed my door, played music (Sparklehorse, Air, new Wilco) , and caught up on a ton of paperwork. The next month doesn’t look too bad, especially if my dissertation feedback is positive. Oh, I take that back. Next week will be busy. After next week my existence should slow down some. Still, all the work I finished this week should make next week at least tolerable. Do normal people work as hard as I do in the office? Are they more efficient? Less efficient? I fear they’re more efficient. I don’t know.
Today was a bit weird in that, after lunch, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I suppose I could revise my dissertation in some way, look through tenses, structure, whatever, but I’m really just waiting on feedback before I proceed. I have two projects, one medium, one easy, to finish at work, but I’d need to be in the office to finish them both. I have about an hour of unscheduled time in front of me. What should I do? I think I’ll hit the coffee shop and read Murakami. More later.