Summer, the season for getting things done, has officially ended.

Graduate students regulate their circadian clock, blood sugar level, and mating periods according to conferences deadlines. For robotics people, the revered date is not September 21 (solstice), but September 15, the deadline for ICRA. For control people, the date is September 15… or 22… or 29, the ever-slipping deadline for ACC.

The peaks of my productivity for the summer were:

• Getting a driving license. It took 2 tries and too much good money spent on driving lessons.
• Understanding what’s the use of all the buttons on my camera, including the elusive “AEL”.
• Finishing reading the last two books of the Hyperion Cantos. (I’m actually disappointed because Simmons doesn’t explain the origin of the Shrike.)

My good propositions for the next academic year are the same as ever:

• I will buy a car,
• I will read all the papers in my giant “INBOX” folder,
• I will go swimming every other day,
• I will take at least two classes,
• I will write more often on this blog,

and on, and on, and on: I consider myself lucky to be in harmony with my procrastination.