Gillian Polack's Blog, page 231
September 17, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-17T10:22:00
My ANU email (all ANU email) is down until 5 pm. If you need me this morning, please ring . If it can wait, I promise I'll check up this evening.
September 16, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-16T14:57:00
Indoors is good, today. I've been rather desultorily doing housework (a load of washing, a few papers away) and phoning friends, and re-arranging anything that might take me outdoors over the next few days (with the help of friends, in fact, though not the ones I was phoning). I shall be all clear for work, soon.
We have a big Spring wind swirling around the valley. I can hear it, even if I'm indoors.
I'm indoors because of an industrial accident that has made national and even some international news. Canberra started getting exciting at midnight but will calm down soon. We're not a city that enjoys panics.
I'm too far off from the explosions here to hear them or even to see plumes of smoke - the worst that is happening to me personally is being indoors. Schools are closed and busses are strange, but I'm fine. My milk is past its use by date, but still sweet, so I'm not even missing cups of tea. I have had any number of worried friends check up that I'm being good and not going outside, though. Chemical explosions and asthmatics are not a good mixture.
I need to finish this post on a good note. Middle C, is a good note, maybe (though I'm not very partial to it, myself - it's a bit common). A better note is to remind those people who keep meaning to book banquet tickets, that there are only 10 days left for booking: http://www.conflux.org.au/2011/files/conflux7_banquet.pdf
The reason for all these reminders is the number of people who come up to me at Conflux each time and say "Now where do I get my banquet ticket." You pay for it now, through the website. Occasionally there are resale tickets available on the day, but there is totally no guarantee of that. Book now. Because otherwise I will just tell you at Conflux "Sorry, I can't help you." Because I'm mean. Also, with no teaching until Tuesday night, I have no outlet for my evil.
I need to do something about a costume for the banquet. I'm not turning up as a flapper. That much I know for certain.
We have a big Spring wind swirling around the valley. I can hear it, even if I'm indoors.
I'm indoors because of an industrial accident that has made national and even some international news. Canberra started getting exciting at midnight but will calm down soon. We're not a city that enjoys panics.
I'm too far off from the explosions here to hear them or even to see plumes of smoke - the worst that is happening to me personally is being indoors. Schools are closed and busses are strange, but I'm fine. My milk is past its use by date, but still sweet, so I'm not even missing cups of tea. I have had any number of worried friends check up that I'm being good and not going outside, though. Chemical explosions and asthmatics are not a good mixture.
I need to finish this post on a good note. Middle C, is a good note, maybe (though I'm not very partial to it, myself - it's a bit common). A better note is to remind those people who keep meaning to book banquet tickets, that there are only 10 days left for booking: http://www.conflux.org.au/2011/files/conflux7_banquet.pdf
The reason for all these reminders is the number of people who come up to me at Conflux each time and say "Now where do I get my banquet ticket." You pay for it now, through the website. Occasionally there are resale tickets available on the day, but there is totally no guarantee of that. Book now. Because otherwise I will just tell you at Conflux "Sorry, I can't help you." Because I'm mean. Also, with no teaching until Tuesday night, I have no outlet for my evil.
I need to do something about a costume for the banquet. I'm not turning up as a flapper. That much I know for certain.
September 15, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-15T18:13:00
I had an exciting 2 minutes and 28 seconds today. I put on my brightest clothes (to combat nerves) and went to the Writers' Cente, and I was recorded for a phone app. Until the phone app comes out, the 2:28 will be on a website. When it goes up, I'll let you know. You may not want to hear the dulcet tones of my really rather Australian accent, but then again, it's better to give you the choice. I think it might be an OK recording because Lis, the wonderful lady from Varuna (who is pulling together many writers for this app and travelling a great deal) had an enormous grin the whole way through.
In other, less exotic news, I managed to find some unripe dates in the greengrocer. They are yellow and crunchy and not too sweet. I don't find them too often, but I adore them. I also bought useful stuff, but the dates make me happy.
In other, even less exotic news, I did all my today's and tomorrow's editing yesterday, which was great, but meant I didn't get any writing done. Unless I get my act together and write fiction tonight (which is unlikely, because I suspect tonight is a Medieval kind of an evening) I shall be writing a great deal tomorrow. Fortunately, I have chocolate.
In other, less exotic news, I managed to find some unripe dates in the greengrocer. They are yellow and crunchy and not too sweet. I don't find them too often, but I adore them. I also bought useful stuff, but the dates make me happy.
In other, even less exotic news, I did all my today's and tomorrow's editing yesterday, which was great, but meant I didn't get any writing done. Unless I get my act together and write fiction tonight (which is unlikely, because I suspect tonight is a Medieval kind of an evening) I shall be writing a great deal tomorrow. Fortunately, I have chocolate.
September 14, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-14T12:37:00
Today was quantum physics for poets day. We've finally reached the stage where my students moved to the edge of their chairs and had baited breath: photons and electrons behaving differently when observed to when not observed. They totally loved it and have a choice between writing poems about this or writing about medieval unicorns for homework.
I was supposed to have a lovely time with friends tonight, but have had to dip out in order to create the table favour for the banquet.
The Canberra Times had a nice little article about the banquet today, though I mysteriously lost my doctorate. I never know what to do about lost doctorates. Do they get handed in at special lost degrees collection places, or can they be found hiding in lonely caves at the End of the World*?
I need to write 2,000 words of novel today.
Oh, and Spring has finally arrived.
*The End of the World is also called "Little hell" and I've been there. It's very pretty.
I was supposed to have a lovely time with friends tonight, but have had to dip out in order to create the table favour for the banquet.
The Canberra Times had a nice little article about the banquet today, though I mysteriously lost my doctorate. I never know what to do about lost doctorates. Do they get handed in at special lost degrees collection places, or can they be found hiding in lonely caves at the End of the World*?
I need to write 2,000 words of novel today.
Oh, and Spring has finally arrived.
*The End of the World is also called "Little hell" and I've been there. It's very pretty.
September 13, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-13T14:16:00
I have a twelve week plan, just for my PhD. I have sorted out what I can do (sensibly, taking into account things like paid work and health) in that time and how much I need to do and when I need to do it if I want to submit in time. I have taken into account the fact that things are likely to go wrong next year (since it's the last year of the doctorate and this is when if things go wrong, they do - last time my father reached the penultimate stages of his cancer, I managed to get glandular fever and I ran out of money, for instance).
What's really worrying about my twelve week plan (I blame ADM for this plan, BTW, if blame must be laid) is that it looks quite possible I might complete it. Even with Conflux and booklaunch and other work. Even with the new review book that landed in my letterbox today and with the review I forgot I was writing and with the writing that didn't get done yesterday because I neglected it when I became absorbed in my dissertation (it's not due til this weekend, thank goodness - I allowed neglect-time!). This achievability may possibly because I overworked last year. I've done so much groundwork, and right now it's a matter of pulling things together and making sure I've covered all that needs to be covered.
I have two small (no more than a dozen books in each) batches of actual research to go. I've started sequestering material that really shouldn't belong in the dissertation but may well belong in the longer book that I rather think I may end up writing on the subject. And so the lines are clear. I can see what I'm doing and where I'm going and how I'm getting there. In twelve weeks time I am allowed to panic, however. Moments of lucidity do not last. Nor do cups of coffee.
What's really worrying about my twelve week plan (I blame ADM for this plan, BTW, if blame must be laid) is that it looks quite possible I might complete it. Even with Conflux and booklaunch and other work. Even with the new review book that landed in my letterbox today and with the review I forgot I was writing and with the writing that didn't get done yesterday because I neglected it when I became absorbed in my dissertation (it's not due til this weekend, thank goodness - I allowed neglect-time!). This achievability may possibly because I overworked last year. I've done so much groundwork, and right now it's a matter of pulling things together and making sure I've covered all that needs to be covered.
I have two small (no more than a dozen books in each) batches of actual research to go. I've started sequestering material that really shouldn't belong in the dissertation but may well belong in the longer book that I rather think I may end up writing on the subject. And so the lines are clear. I can see what I'm doing and where I'm going and how I'm getting there. In twelve weeks time I am allowed to panic, however. Moments of lucidity do not last. Nor do cups of coffee.
September 12, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-12T21:00:00
I have this grand desire (sudden, and rather unwise) to create a chapter that's the length my whole dissertation must end up. Or I could cut some words and streamline it and make it much less fun. Why are dissertations always too short?
gillpolack @ 2011-09-12T16:16:00
I just had a really cool phone call from a bank. Not my bank, but the one that handles the body corporate stuff for my flat. The ongoing issues I've had with paying my levy seem to be resolved.
This bloke found me a simple way of paying, online, using the current system, without incurring extra fees. Neither of us know why the system wouldn't accept my earlier payments (though I suggested maybe a glitch at the time they were set up) and it became really obvious to me that the management bod I spoke to about it hadn't run any checks when I had rung to sort it last year and the year before. "Your bank is the problem," he had said. And it may have been a part of it, but my bank sorted out its problems in processing those payments ages ago with a long talk on the phone and walking through procedures until we found which ones weren't working and the bank techie made them work. So the problems were not at my bank's end.
At any rate, this quarter I have paid my levy on time and with signficantly less undue angst, thanks to the nice guy from Macquarie Bank who was answering a rather distressed email I sent in the middle of my migraine, yesterday. I am still migraine-y today, but at least I have paid my bills!
In other news, I have finished enough review books for two articles and most of them will be able to be in the library for Conflux*. I just have to write those two articles today and that's one big swag of work done. I don't need to proofread those articles today, which is good, because the migraine makes my vision funky. I had to help proof read the Conflux programme last night, so any errors in the final are the fault of my migraine. This was not intentional. It just happened that way.
Looking at the Conflux programme was very salutary. Now I know when all the cool book launches are. These are the ones I plan to attend at this moment in time: the Angry Robot launch (5 books, with a bonus Ticonderoga book), Dawn Meredith's launch (she might not be happy if I stayed away from that, since guest launcher), Mary Victoria's launch (where I have the honour of doing a reading), Simon Hayne's Hal Jnr launch (I have Simon's permission to make Young Hal and Falstaff jokes) and, of course, the cookbook launch. Ten books! Also, writers from all over, from Perth to NZ.
I've scored a kaffeeklatsche, BTW, and, it being a Gillian kaffeeklatsche, I will be bringing chocolate. I was thinking after dinner mints, but we'll see. I'm taking my surprise holiday to Melbourne next week (act surprised when I'm on holiday and it will all work out) and maybe I'll find something else, there. One never knows, with Melbourne. One visit I brought back Perceval, after all**.
* as opposed to occupying the futon
** Perceval may be open to visits this Conflux, or he may make a trip to meet people at the con itself - we'll see.
This bloke found me a simple way of paying, online, using the current system, without incurring extra fees. Neither of us know why the system wouldn't accept my earlier payments (though I suggested maybe a glitch at the time they were set up) and it became really obvious to me that the management bod I spoke to about it hadn't run any checks when I had rung to sort it last year and the year before. "Your bank is the problem," he had said. And it may have been a part of it, but my bank sorted out its problems in processing those payments ages ago with a long talk on the phone and walking through procedures until we found which ones weren't working and the bank techie made them work. So the problems were not at my bank's end.
At any rate, this quarter I have paid my levy on time and with signficantly less undue angst, thanks to the nice guy from Macquarie Bank who was answering a rather distressed email I sent in the middle of my migraine, yesterday. I am still migraine-y today, but at least I have paid my bills!
In other news, I have finished enough review books for two articles and most of them will be able to be in the library for Conflux*. I just have to write those two articles today and that's one big swag of work done. I don't need to proofread those articles today, which is good, because the migraine makes my vision funky. I had to help proof read the Conflux programme last night, so any errors in the final are the fault of my migraine. This was not intentional. It just happened that way.
Looking at the Conflux programme was very salutary. Now I know when all the cool book launches are. These are the ones I plan to attend at this moment in time: the Angry Robot launch (5 books, with a bonus Ticonderoga book), Dawn Meredith's launch (she might not be happy if I stayed away from that, since guest launcher), Mary Victoria's launch (where I have the honour of doing a reading), Simon Hayne's Hal Jnr launch (I have Simon's permission to make Young Hal and Falstaff jokes) and, of course, the cookbook launch. Ten books! Also, writers from all over, from Perth to NZ.
I've scored a kaffeeklatsche, BTW, and, it being a Gillian kaffeeklatsche, I will be bringing chocolate. I was thinking after dinner mints, but we'll see. I'm taking my surprise holiday to Melbourne next week (act surprised when I'm on holiday and it will all work out) and maybe I'll find something else, there. One never knows, with Melbourne. One visit I brought back Perceval, after all**.
* as opposed to occupying the futon
** Perceval may be open to visits this Conflux, or he may make a trip to meet people at the con itself - we'll see.
gillpolack @ 2011-09-12T11:48:00
A link for your reading pleasure (it's a grotty Monday morning here and will possibly be a grotty Monday morning when Monday morning reaches the rest of the world - reading plasure is esssential*): http://normblog.typepad.com/normblog/2011/09/fiction-after-the-psychology-lab.html
*so is a big pot of coffee and a square of chocolate, both of which are about to enter my life. Monday afternoon, therefore, will not be nearly as grotty as Monday morning.
*so is a big pot of coffee and a square of chocolate, both of which are about to enter my life. Monday afternoon, therefore, will not be nearly as grotty as Monday morning.
gillpolack @ 2011-09-12T11:38:00
It's BiblioBuffet time! Also BiblioBuffet morning. I have two pieces to write today. Only 100 pages of reading to go, though, so it's quite possible it may happen.
September 11, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-09-11T18:00:00
Today is achesome because today has very strange weather. It's six degrees and, while my weatherchange migraine is not past* the worst is over. I've really not done a lot of work since lunchtime, because the aches suddenly became too much, but at least I did half the housework and half the day's other work before the 'too much' stage. I would go outside and shake my fist at the sky, but, honestly, it's cold out there and I have bare feet.
The strangeness of the weather doesn't just lie in the unseasonal temperature, but also in the fact that I can't actually predict it. it's an abnormal weather pattern and my body is reacting, but I don't know how to evaluate the reaction.
It's all very exciting.
The strangeness of the weather doesn't just lie in the unseasonal temperature, but also in the fact that I can't actually predict it. it's an abnormal weather pattern and my body is reacting, but I don't know how to evaluate the reaction.
It's all very exciting.
