The Now: July 20, 2022

It's my birthday. As is a tradition I created, I took several days off work. Having a summer birthday as a kid stunk. Rarely was everyone around for a party. As an adult, it rocks. I don't feel guilty taking off work. The weather is cooperative for outdoor things. And, popping a bottle of bubbly feels extra celebratory.

Here's what I'm focusing on.

WORK

• Research Assignment Design: Still more coding. We met to discuss our progress and thoughts. It was nice to know we're all generally frustrated with the qualitative research process. Also, one of my colleagues remembered that we also need to code the syllabi and assignments we're looking at. *sobs*
• Presentations and Publications: I submitted a proposal to provide a chapter for a forthcoming ALA Editions title Person-Centered Management in Academic Libraries. I want to provide a reflective chapter on the 5 questions I always asked my staff as a manager. I will be notified by the end of August if my proposal is selected. ​
• LibGuides: I put together an Asian Studies guide. This was a hard one. About halfway through I realized that I needed to define Asia. Technically, Asia includes the Middle East and Russia. I decided to focus on Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Oceania. Now I need to make a Middle East studies guide.
• Instruction: Provided another round of edits to the library instruction request form.
• Administration: Took a break from file renaming. 

PERSONAL

• Estate Planning: Nada. I really need to fix that.
• Email Newsletter: I did a bit of future issue planning to help me get ready for what is going to post while we're travelling in a few weeks. 
• Home Projects: I found a sofa table! I've been looking for over a year. It's not wood, nor does it have drawers. As I kept searching, I realized I was drawn to metal and black tables with clean lines. I ordered it from Wayfair and it arrived. Now I need to build it and post of our table for someone to grab.
• Hobbies: Nothing. I hope to get in some coloring during an upcoming evening.

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