Yes, it's been another of those weeks, or two, when not much happened. Supervised student projects, attended various committee meetings, and found yet again only a few moments when I was alone in the office staring into that abyss they call 'backlog'. Here's a list of things I need to do, in no particular order:

• Make changes to a paper an ex-student wrote
• Make changes to a grant proposal my ex thesis advisor wrote
• Make changes to a paper that I and an ex-postdoc wrote
• Write a paper about some experiments that I and an ex-postdoc (the same one) run about 3 years ago
• Write a paper with a different ex-postdoc about some experiments that we run about 2 years ago
• Write a paper with a colleague in the US reviewing work we've done with all our ex-colleagues
• Write a chapter with a current colleague for another current colleague reviewing work we and others did even longer ago
• Co-write a grant proposal with a hopefully future colleague that is due in 3 weeks
• Write a book review for THES that was due today
• Mark 10 3rd year literature surveys (marks due yesterday)
• Write a letter in support of a US academic seeking (well-deserved) promotion
• Review at least two papers still outstanding
• Try not to think about the 2nd edition I need to write of a book I once wrote but which I don't have time, now, to write (one chapter of the new edition does exist, though)
• Try and remember all the other things I need to do but haven't yet done, including, no doubt, replying to many emails languishing in my inbox...

Is it any wonder I despair? Probably not. Just as well, though, that I got through my Karate grading this week. I am now a modest 5th Kyu, as is my 8 yr-old and as is not my 11 yr-old, who is now a fully-fledged 1st Kyu (which for the uninitiated means that his next grade will be black belt). I've still got a couple of years to go. At least a couple. I can't wait, as then I'll really kick @ss!