I never believed folks when they told me that life after tenure isn't really that much different than life before tenure. And in some ways, folks who told me that were really wrong. I am much less stressed about my future here. And I am sometimes highly cognizant that I am an associate professor with all the rights and privileges that come with it (essentially, I can be cranky and it won't bite me in the butt). I am very happy to be on this side of that employment decision. And that makes me very happy.
Nonetheless, things are not easier. I didn't work two Sundays ago and thought I would die trying to catch up the rest of the week. I still have a lot of manuscripts to work on, including one I'm turning in today (a revise and resubmit that I think is going to make a big splash in my research area). I've got more students who are working with me and who want to work with me--all bright, hardworking students who I am thrilled to have on my team. But it's a lot of work. I'm also upping my service work and am having to deal with a transition in one group that is, quite bluntly, been one of the biggest pains in my booty in my academic career. And I'm going to have to do something pretty big. It's the right thing to do, but it's going to be tough.
And things are moving along in the IVF department. Since the last two times, I've felt burnt by having to come back and report bad news, I'm not saying squat here until we know absolutely for sure one way or another.
And I'm still trying to exercise. I gave up running, but with my new orthotics, I think it's a possibility again. However, it will not be a possibility again on my normal running route. Besides stepping on a dying bunny in the dark (I think it was a bunny. I stepped on something and it squeaked. Gross to the extreme, even if I do hate bunnies now), I literally ran past two men stealing a car! This was definitely in the shadier side of my 'hood and they were definitely up to no good. They were fiddling around under the front of the car and in the glove compartment when I ran by and waved (I always wave). And then I heard the trunk pop and I thought, it that was their car, they wouldn't need to finagle it to open the trunk. I then sprinted as fast as my fat flabby legs could take me to a local gas station and called 911. I would normally have waited to call 911 until I got home, but they saw me see them and the look they gave me was not "Good morning, jogger!!!" Of course, maybe they had a flat tire. I don't know. In any case, the cops could help sort that out.
So there you go. Running over bunnies and into potential car thieves and not getting to eat bon-bons all day at work.
That is how this academic year has started. Thank God(dess) that fall break is in two weeks.
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