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[science_expat]

Can you not b*tch like hell and reach a local accommodation that everything except the absolute essentials will be boxed up in advance and that you'll agree to move the remainder out on one day's notice?

Or something along those lines? I'd go to the head of school then Dean if necessary.

[case_insensitive]

Can you not b*tch like hell and reach a local accommodation that everything except the absolute essentials will be boxed up in advance and that you'll agree to move the remainder out on one day's notice?

Or something along those lines? I'd go to the head of school then Dean if necessary.

Apparently not. I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll want accommodation. And, there are 35 or 40 of us on this floor. Almost the entire college faculty has offices on this floor. 

I did talk to my dept head who thinks the tech folks will bend over backward to try to load what I need on my personal laptop (the limitation is of course it's a crappy laptop).

For the record, I'm untenured...

[august_leo]

I think it's time to look at getting a new (hopefully "cheap") laptop. Could you charge it to a grant or start-up funds?

I'm in the UK and have my own window that opens and my own radiator with knob. Right this minute I am feeling better about my situation (I'm annoyed at some British attitude I got earlier today).

[dept_geek]

I second the idea of getting a kicka$$ machine at home. Have the IT guys load all the software you will need, and any/all data files you have.

We have thermostats in our offices.. curiously they don't seem to be attached to anything. They are like the "Close Elevator" buttons.. it just makes us feel in control.

[case_insensitive]

I think it's time to look at getting a new (hopefully "cheap") laptop. Could you charge it to a grant or start-up funds?

I'm in the UK and have my own window that opens and my own radiator with knob. Right this minute I am feeling better about my situation (I'm annoyed at some British attitude I got earlier today).

Very few grants and/or start up funds in my field.

I have two windows but none in this building actually open.

I second the idea of getting a kicka$$ machine at home. Have the IT guys load all the software you will need, and any/all data files you have.

We have thermostats in our offices.. curiously they don't seem to be attached to anything. They are like the "Close Elevator" buttons.. it just makes us feel in control.

The personal funds are a bit tied up at the moment for... big events and purchases over the next few months.

I'm sure there's a hidden camera so that the physical plant guys can watch you adjust the thermostat and secretly laugh at you.

[seventhyear]

Can you arrange to take your desktop computer home for the break?  You've got a couple of months to set up a short term office.  Troll the thrift shops for a desk, grab a couple of paper boxes and start setting aside or making lists of what you'd need for the one or two projects that you'll work on.  Do spend the $ on a chair (decent ones run $70-125).  It is amazing what a decent desk chair can do to make a home office better.

IT may have "loaner laptops" that go out with students or faculty for field work etc, or they may have that closet of slightly out of date but functional computers that they could lend you for the break, or an underutilized laptop sitting under someone's desk that could be spared.

This is one of those opportunities to come off either as a proactive person or as a prima donna. 

If all else fails, is there a really kick **s library in your field that you've always wanted to work at but never had time?  You could take a "working vacation" to check it out and do some of the reading that we never get time to do.