Today was the first day of Public Administration 610: Research Methods.   It's the last required course, and it leads to the dissertation proposal.  For the first time, it's being stretched over two semesters, though it's a one-semester course, to give students time to actually read the literature they need to get under their belt before completing a dissertation proposal.  Also today, I got asked to provide my available times until the end of October, since they're having trouble scheduling the oral comp that I was wanting to have happen this week, not next month.

And of course, one of the contracts that I thought I'd successfully put off until November re-emerged today, to kick in to some degree before a meeting at the end of September.  And then there's the social policy simulation game proposal that's been funded and needs to be completed by November. And Raising the Roof's launch next month, and the World Summit on Social Development plus five site for Canada in November.

Plus a research methods course?  Lunacy, I think.  But, since at least two of these projects provide the case studies for the dissertation research, to read about and consider research methods now rather than a year from now makes a certain amount of sense.  Tortured sense, but sense nontheless. 

And then there's the "should we grow the business?" issue, and the attendant business plan.  It seems to me that the business is growing all by itself.  There does seem to be work to do.  And people interested in doing it are emerging from the woodwork.  So, if we have to make a change, why would we not consider growing rather than shrinking? Other than a lack of time to explore either option properly, of course.  But a choice will either be made by us or for us.   I'd like to at least try to be making the decision rather than having circumstance make it on our behalf.

So, I suppose I'm choosing intentional overload for the next three months, maybe four.  Lunacy indeed, through three lunar cycles at least.   And even then, it's not like the to-do list will be shorter. If we're lucky, it will have fewer items, but they'll probably just take more time to accomplish.  Ah well... I never did have much tolerance for boredom.

***

To keep us at the human level, my life partner got a call today from the school of the youngest of the Gashi clan: nine-year-old Mentor has nits (the eggs of head lice), found in a routine inspection of students in the elementary school class.  So we bought the shampoo and comb and all, and went to visit this evening, to give him the treatment. 

It was our first visit since all family members had started school, and they seem happy to be doing what they're doing.  They're also happy because they've learned that dad's arriving a week from tomorrow, at the Ottawa airport.   We (my life partner and I) have decided to host the welcome party, which will coincide with the eldest son's birthday.  We've not had the clan at our home yet (or even all the sponsor group members yet), so it should be a grand occasion, and we'll do a potluck, introducing the family to another great tradition.  (I wonder what culture actually originated "pot luck" dinners.  Any informed guesses are welcome!)

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