"Academic leave," commonly called "sabbatical."
Everyone offers congratulations on the sabbatical. It's supposed to be a high honor. Actually, it's a lot like being back in grad school, slaving on a dissertation all over again. The writing requirement hangs over one's head like a pall. I was missing being in the classroom before classes even started. If nothing else, academic leave strengthens one's vocation for teaching.
Some people do fun things and travel to exotic places for sabbatical. That was not possible for me for a variety of personal and family reasons. So perhaps some of the problem is that I'm not terribly excited about my project in the first place. It's something that must be done. A chore. A necessary step on the road to (hopefully) promotion someday. Bad idea.
Summer is over and the project has officially begun. At least the writer's block and procrastination passed during the summer months. Now, on to the project. But I'd still rather be teaching.
