This is a good test for me.

And an interesting test of 'boundaries' all round.

The Science Faculty librarian asked if he could take, and I quote "the library ipad" with him on a road trip. Not back till Monday.

I've always known that I was getting the thing through attendance at the learning conference and that presumably it was a library ipad. But no one ever spelt out how that would work exactly. Particularly given that they do have to be tied to an iTunes account and quickly become tied to email, Twitter and a host of other things in quite a personal way.

I rather assumed that it would be 'mine' like the laptops we were given nigh on five years back - but then all those who wanted one got one, so it's not normally an issue to 'borrow' one. (Though I have once or twice borrowed the external optical drive of a colleague as I leave mine at home. Not the same thing!)

And so it's been until now. Although I've always said that if anyone wanted to have a play over lunchtime, or check out The Elements or Solar System apps (or any apps really) that they'd be welcome. Thinking minutes or an hour or two really! And the 'pass and play' Scrabble at lunchtimes with up to four of us has gone down really well.

But 6 days?! And 6 days knowing that he only really wants to check his Hotmail account he says? And 6 days knowing that his joking remark in the staff room that he was only borrowing it to wind me up, probably wasn't quite a joke?

But it might be good for me to be without for a bit. Remind myself of what I can (and can't) do via my iPod Touch. Find out what's *really* necessary!

I've made sure my calendar is up to date with Google, I've emailed myself any documents written only on the iPad (although I now know how to sync Papers with dropbox which is a nifty trick), and so on. But still... as one Twitter follower observed, they are quite personal devices now. No doubt Apple's intention so we'd all have to have our own rather than share. But I'd not realized just how much I've integrated into my life already. Diary, reading matter (color, letter sized PDFs are just great), twitter, email, games...

Ironically what I miss most so far is the discovery that I could use Brushes - with it's layers - as a way of creating fantasy world maps. I've long enjoyed this on paper but not had the tools to make electronic versions I could submit for publication. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can get something along these lines published.

Anyway, Mr Senior Colleague, I hope you're enjoying it and exploring some of it's capabilities! Safe traveling.

Loved the Superbowl yesterday. Great game that wasn't (finally) decided until the last minute. I'm sure I remember a bunch of games in the 90s that were rather one sided, but the last few have been marvellous.

When I'm not fussed about either team I'll generally root for the underdog. Not sure who was the underdog this time, but as my flatmate at Uni supported the Steelers I cheered for them for old times' sakes. Shame they didn't quite manage it in the last seconds as they did a couple of years back.

I was going to post yesterday about one of those days when, for no very discernable reason, the aches had definitely upgraded to pain, a headache developed at lunchtime only got worse, and the ability to concentrate was about as low as it ever gets - working through a head of cotton wool isn't a bad description. But that was yesterday and just sounded like a downer.

Today's better although the concentration is still a battle.

However, I've just been looking at a job ad on the Uni web site. My boss, who was promoted last year to Head, is finally being replaced. Of course, I ought to be applying for this although in the past I've muttered about it being all of the dismal parts of my job and none of the fun parts (teaching students, buying new (interesting) books, exploring Web 2.0 things and so on).

There's nothing on the job description I wouldn't qualify for although it's slightly offputting that I know two colleagues are applying. (A kind of lose-lose: if you get the job you feel bad for them, if you don't get the job you feel bad for yourself.)

But in any case, I don't think I can rationally apply for it (never mind the energy - both physical, mental and emotional that it would take), given how much I feel I'm struggling right now. Or is that just being terribly negative and unambitious?

The other Associate post may come up in soonish in any case as its holder nears retirement. So I think on this occasion, I should make a decision to say 'no' for once.