Executive decision

Our lab manager is going to be splitting her time and transitioning to a new position at the University. This is a great opportunity for her, and one she could not pass up even though the head of our lab will not be retiring for at least three more years. As a result, the lab manager will be out of the lab for about 1 1/2 days every week for the next six months before they reevaluate how busy she is at the new job. I have been appointed the go-to person for lab emergencies during this time. I cannot really imaging much people would need me to do while she is out unless someone needs a reagent for their experiments ASAP, and then I can place an order, as I have done in the past.

I knew this was coming for months, because the lab manager and I are friends. Most of the other people in the lab did not know. The official lab email announcement was sent at the end of the day on Thursday and mentioned that the lab manager would be out Friday, Monday and half day on Tuesday. This happens to coincide with the head of the lab being out of town for those days as well. I was officially put in charge.

Putting in a few hours of lab work on the weekend definitely makes me feel more productive during the week. I have been going to church Sunday mornings then working in lab in the afternoon in recent weeks. (I consider Saturday my "day of rest" mostly.) I planned to work this afternoon to start a couple of things for the week.

I am going to take this opportunity of "being in charge" to make the executive decision* to stay home and catch up on work reading and data analysis. Plus this is what I get to look at from home! Time to make another pot of coffee.

* I could have made this decision regardless, but whatev. I MUST get work done. I MUST get in the habit of being work-productive at home. Today seems like a good day to practice.