Aug. 22, 2006

[tjaman]

Today was insane! And not all of it on the boards, neither.

I knew yesterday that today was going to suck in outrageous ways. I had a section of six food pages to build and three postage stamps for photos, right? So I make that thing last night and take a picture of it. And it looks great on the page but it's one photo.

So I grab the other photos and make them as big as I can and they look like crap. Small crap. I run them through Photoshop's dry brush function and they look less like crap (if somewhat more Impressionistic).

Thank G-d I slept in this a.m. I know I need to work out but sometimes you just really need to sleep, and after that thing yesterday where I was tired all day I didn't want to risk it. I'll wake up around 6 tomorrow morning and go for a walk.

Around midmorning I had to grab a final photo for the arts page tomorrow (and that's going to be the opposite problem -- not enough space). I've got a photo and cutline for an exhibit's closing reception and three photos of directors for the fall theater season at the schools (which as assignments-you- completely-make-up-because-there's-nothing-going-on-anywhere go isn't too shabby). I've got a couple of arts briefs including the upcoming season for the other community theater in town and then a tv column on "The 4400." With the space I've got it's going to be an exciting day for layout -- especially with the morning taken up with writing the tv columns and the review of "Rescue Me."

Anyway, whatever happens tomorrow is completely eclipsed by today. There was all this mishegah in the Character Arcs thread on the Fraud and around 2 or so Beef was apparently ticked that I hadn't stopped in at Ava's (you all should stop in there -- dez made the cutest milk carton of me. ;D ) so I made a quick stop there.

And at 2:30 our clerk stops back in pagination and needs to add something to the calendar page. At 2:30 in the afternoon. For a prepress section. I'll put it like this -- I need to be done at 5 with these things. * sigh * Fine. She adds it, it takes her forever, but I finally get back to the layout.

I take a smoke break and get this great idea for a "Buffy" video but have no idea when I'm going to make it because I'm still building pages like crazy until FINALLY! I got all six done by 4 p.m., spellchecked them and handed them off to be proofed. All the photos were processed by 4:15 and all the ads were set by 4:20. I get the first proofs back with no errors at 4:30 and send them back but there's a problem with the front page (besides the crappy smallish second photo I placed on it -- hey, I did my best ). I get it sorted out and send it again and I get my last three pages and they're virtually error free so quick work of those and the whole shebang's in the pressroom by 4:50. (whew!)

Couple of quick stops here and there and some things set up for tomorrow and I'm out the door around 5:15.

I get home and I'm not sure what I did until "Dead Like Me" came on at 6. I watched and taped that until 8 p.m. and then taped "Eureka" while watching "Vanished" since that's my column for Saturday's TVWEEK section.

I don't know about this one -- it's really complicated and the mystery's following way too many red herrings for it to be a series. I feel they should pare it down and make it a movie. Plus, everyone looks exactly the same and at this moment, having watched it with some attention, I couldn't honestly tell you any of these people's names (thanks G-d for tv.com, right?) I think the missing woman's name is Sarah, but I'm not swearing to it.

Then I watch and tape "Rescue Me" and I'm more convinced than ever that next week is the series finale, rather than just the season. And I watch "Eureka" waiting for the roast of William Shatner, but the website had it completely wrong. It was just "The Chappelle Show." And now it's "Reno 911." I guess I can wait a bit and see if it comes on at midnight but I'm not staying up for a whole lot longer.

All in all, though, what a wildly productive day!

[tjaman]

Aaaaaaand ... I overslept.

So much for predicting things in here.

[dEz]

So did you get your page done -- your big splashy Wednesday Showcase?

[tjaman]

Yes and yes. Tomorrow's arts page looks better than it deserves and we got most of the names spelled right.

People, when they call about us getting one name or another spelled wrong, what, no credit for getting everything else spelled right? There are thousands of words in a newspaper!

Oh, I'm absolutely gonna get my name misspelled in my obituary now. ;D

[tjaman]

It's so weird that I overslept, tho. I never do that. If I miss my alarm I usually wake up around 7:30 a.m. anyway and can scramble to work.

I hate insomnia and am very nervous about taking something for it.

[quantumcat]

Don't fight insomnia.

Rest is almost as good as sleep and it stresses you out a lot less than
struggling to sleep.

You want to avoid all major stimulation the last 4-6 hours before you sleep.

A little exercise (like a nice walk or swim), casual conversation,tv,music,reading...
whatever relaxes you is o.k.

Anything that gets your mind or heart racing like vigorous aerobics, reading a thriller,
a raucous debate,etc. is counterproductive.

A soothing soak in the tub and a light (not heavy or hard-to-digest meal is good.

(Especially if it's got dairy and carbs.)

The non-caffeinated teas,etc. are good and a wee nip o' the craithur.

(Alcohol can cut down on your useful sleep cycle,tho.)

The idea behind counting sheep is that it occupies both sides of the brain so
distractions can't get in.

Any other activity that soothes will do as well.

Boredom/depression might put you to sleep at work but they're too irritating
to be soporific at home.

If you don't settle into sleep in 20 mins., get out of rest mode and do something
else till you get drowsy.

It's better to drop off in front of the tube than train yourself to be wakeful in bed.

(Well, being wakeful when you're by yourself and wanting to snooze....)

Give yourself cues for every activity (and non-activity) and your body will learn to co-operate.

Dream well!

[dEz]

QCat always has good advise.

Seems like you mentioned sleep issues before. You should get it checked out.