The Family (Or most of them)

The Family (Or most of them)
The Family

November 15, 2006

The Absent (and absent-minded) Blogger

APOLOGIES ARE IN ORDER.
I have been so busy covering our national football championship Grey Cup Week that I can barely even look at my own blog and respond to comments, let alone getting to other sites and friends to see what they're up to.
I've been working 12-hour days for most of the week doing this...

Photo/caricature/print credit: Donn Coppens, a.k.a. Homo Escapeons

Instead of visiting and commenting on the brilliant postings by my friends and fellow bloggers, and I sincerely apologize for that, and I miss it. But it is virtually unavoidable.
Here was Wednesday's schedule:
6 a.m. -- Wake up, go pee, go back to bed.
6:15 a.m. -- Emergency backup alarm goes off. Drag sorry ass out of bed.
6:16 a.m. -- Fire up computer, turn water on for instant Maxwell House Coffee, good to the last drop.
7:30 a.m. -- Shave, etc.
8 a.m. -- Depart for press conference featuring head coaches of two teams.
9:15 a.m. -- Leave press conference, see that car has been towed away.
10:30 a.m. -- Retrieve car, have conniption, go to office, transcribe tape of press conference, try to write story, can't finish, must depart for B.C. Lions' practice.
1:30 p.m. -- Freeze in -10 temperatures with biting wind for next two hours at outdoor practice.
3:30 p.m. -- Get jostled during media scrums/interview opportunities with players for next hour.
4:30 p.m. -- Depart for home, but almost run out of gas in car that had been towed and which I now hate.
5:15 p.m. -- Arrive at home, write three stories, knowing still must write two more, but need to eat.
8:30 p.m. -- Daughter phones. Can I pick her up from work? Yes, at 10 p.m.
8:45 p.m. -- Check blog, respond to comments, decide to post about this insanity.
9:04 p.m. -- (Right now) -- Fall asleep at keyboard.

33 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:29 a.m.

    Yes, life can periodically be so busy.
    Towing away cars seems to be something universal :-)
    The cartoon is fantastic : the flames coming out of your laptop, the pins in your knee, smoking and drinking as in the good old days, and you have a big enthusiastic smile. Have a good sleep !

    ReplyDelete
  2. i LOVE h.e.'s cartoons! so daoes "falling asleep" mean you didn't pick up your daughter?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Way to go Arnold Sportzennegger!
    You should have had a 'Rye n Geritol' before you went to bed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. No apologies necessary. We all have weeks like these. I've got a few of those coming up myself--2 major projects, a quiz, a test, and finals...all in architectural history class.

    I am never taking a class that this instructor teaches again...if I can avoid it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aww, I'm sorry you had such a rough day. I know exactly what you need once this is all over. Maybe I'll blog about it. Hope the rest of the week and weekend aren't too brutal on you. And there's no need to apologize. Your loyal readers will still be here when you get back.

    ReplyDelete
  6. awwwwww and I have been missin ya!

    btw I had loads of SMILES for in my 'Kiwi Smiles' post. Check it out when ur not so sleepy.

    TC!
    Keshi.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What? No comments on my purple type?

    Hildegarde:

    Yes, things can be incredibly busy, but those couple of days were crazy.

    Things have quieted down to some semblance of near sanity now, except I'm on TV tonight to co-host a sports show.

    HE (Donn) did up that caricature several years ago and it's perfect, I love it, and I have since gotten him to do others on my kids and some other people.

    Angel:

    No, I did pick up my daughter, but I was asleep at the wheel. Bug HE to do more caricatures or to do a posting showing them...

    HE:

    Arse.

    Ms. Val:

    What's the problem there? Architectural history, huh...are you planning on constructing a few buildings in Arizona?

    Anna:

    Gulp. I think I'll wait for your post to find out...

    And hey, it's not about me, it's about visiting everyone else and that neat two-way exchange that I miss...

    Aidan:

    Yes, the groom is essentially ballast. Just make sure you smile a fair bit, kiss all the old ladies, put your cumberbund on right and don't forget the ring.

    And don't have a hernia when you're crossing over the threshold. It wouldn't be productive.

    Nov. 25, right?

    ReplyDelete
  8. A Canadian having a conniption -that I'd like to see ! :).

    ReplyDelete
  9. you choose:

    1.ww, i am not sympathetic to your plight. i am negatively affected by your absence and it's your fault that i started looking forward to your posts and comments. so put that in your laptop and smoke it.

    2. you have my total sympathy, ww, with your current burden. i am praying for your speedy recovery and i will accept the loss that i feel from your blog-absence

    3. make up your own....

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Keshi:

    Loads of smiles? Well, that's good. I'll get there, Keshironi.

    Aidan:

    Hmmm...You might lose a bit of the romanticism of the moment, I'd suggest.

    However, give it a whirl, mate. You might set a new nuptials precedent round the world.

    Just make sure you take pictures and post about it.

    Lee:

    What, don't Aussies have angst?

    KJ:

    I pick Door No. 1. It's so forceful and to the point...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well, only women can manage too many chores all at the same time. Men being men...need I say more?

    ReplyDelete
  12. BTW, I like the caricature..

    ReplyDelete
  13. ww, since you chose door # 1, you'd best come around to visit me. further delays are not acceptable. maybe you should start sleeping less.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous8:08 a.m.

    Aha! I have just come across the Jack Bauer of the sports world! Fabulous! ;p

    Hope you have a relaxing weekend! =)

    ReplyDelete
  15. WW, I don't know what to say because as busy as it sounds, there is no 5 loads of laundry to be done and no plucking of eyebrows and moistutizing the feet. I don't mean to say that women are busier but it is not fair that you can go out and have bushy eyesbrows and be labeled attractive while women on the other hand can't be and also, did you do all of these activities while wearing 2 and 1/2 inch heels?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gautami:

    Ooh, a shot! I think I'm having the Big One!

    Yes, the entire planet knows women are the multi-taskers in life, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. And they can iron.

    The biggest challenge facing men is just to pee straight, and we usually fail at that.

    I submit to your harsh judgment and beg forgiveness.

    KJ:

    With any luck, I may be able to accomplish this feat tonight. I have already done the less sleeping part.

    Irene:

    Welcome! Being anything but a TV freak, I had to actually find out who Jack Bauer was.

    I like it!

    Thanks for dropping by. Good night, Irene.

    Ces:

    BRILLIANT! But who says I don't pluck my eyebrows? And that they're bushy?

    Why, just today, I snipped off (could not pluck, too painful) a rogue white eyebrow hair and I snipped my nose hairs too.

    And yes, I did do all those things with my high heels on. Plus, if you must know, I did laundry, but only one load.

    I don't remember being labelled attractive but you can do that now if you wish.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A giggle for you WW. Aaaw! I can imagine you in high heels. The bushy eyebrows was in reference to men in general. Come to think of it, I know one man who goes to the hairdresser to have his mustache trimmed. :-) but I am going to kill him if her wears high heels!

    Yes, you are attractive and I saw those beautiful masculine legs from a previous photo.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ces:

    I was just joshin' about the "attractive" comment and about bushy eyebrows!

    I don't have the Cro-Magnon eyebrows that some guys have, just the wild loose 3-foot-long hairs that sprout out of them from time to time.

    Did I tell you that I once actually had a facial? Somehow, the woman got me to buy $300 worth of face cream crap.

    I have never gone back and my daughter now uses the 18-step "Time Reverse" line of products that I dutifully fell for.

    Gel Nettoyant, or so they say. (Whatever that means).

    Now I have to go work out my beautiful masculine legs...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:14 a.m.

    Life is crazy. Sorry your car got towed, that can't have been any fun.

    ReplyDelete
  20. That's great, actually -

    Angsty Aussies
    Conniptious Canadians.

    I love to use the word conniption in reference to Mum -e.g. Mum would have a conniption, Mum is having a conniption :).

    ReplyDelete
  21. Pam:

    That early-week crapola is old news now. The big game's tomorrow, sanity is somewhat restored.

    But thanks for the sentiments...

    Lee:

    Conniption is a great word, isn't it? Especially if you put that Aussie twang on it...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh you are so high-maintenance with the facial and so adorable. I can't stop smiling when imagining you with facial cream, oh that is worth a blog photo! I dare you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh and by the way, I have been voting for you and Andrea and Cyclone Cece and HE. I had to make sure my votes did not compete with one another. Good luck an the Canadian Blogger Awards contest.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ces:

    Yes, the woman who did my facial actually FORCED ME to look at myself in the mirror with all that gunk all over, it was revolting.

    A former girlfriend had suggested this was a good idea, and I took her at her word...

    Ha!

    The only way I could do a blog on it would be to go back and do it again. Whatcha think the chances are?

    Dare me all you want...I will not succumb!!!

    YOU, Ces, are the adorable one...I loved that pic of you and hubby hugging/kissing the batchelor across the street.

    And thanks for the Canadian Blogger Awards votes, although I am voting for Andrea and HE, assuming I can figure out how to do so...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous3:44 a.m.

    Hi there! I've been reading your blog for a while (hockey afficianado from 'way back!)and have just hopped across from Ces' page.This political rightness oops! correctness - is a load of ##*!^ We run into it at school, too, so I'm with you on your statement.
    Oh, this is a second-hand comment as my firewalls boot you out. Can't change things from this end as the Other Half has important stuff on here.
    Would a Manitoban care to live on Blogworld Road?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous12:13 p.m.

    Hey! I have whole years like that - and I do it all in high heels and still find time to apply mascara.

    I don't know that I could have stood for more than 2 minutes watching that training though. I only turn up for matches.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous12:14 p.m.

    I have whole years like that - and I do it in high heels and still find time to apply mascara.

    I'm not sure I'd have lasted more than 2 minutes watching that training though. I only turn up for matches.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous12:15 p.m.

    Will you delete one of those, please. The blogger bug is on the loose again.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dinahmow:

    I often get booted out by people. I'm starting to get a complex about it.

    I'll have to research Blogworld Road...haven't been getting out much lately but seems to me I saw mention of it at Ces's place.

    Hockey afficionado, eh? Would that be field hockey or ice hockey? Canada does pretty well at one, not so well at the other...

    Cherrypie:

    Nice to "see" you again.

    Apparently you weren't so offended about my teasing re your whereabouts on your mystery trip as to ex-communicate me.

    You are the magical mystery woman in your high heels and mascara. I must comment in more detail on your latest post, perhaps tomorrow, after today's big game.

    I hate to be a cad, but don't think I'll delete your repeat comment or your request for me to delete it.

    I like seeing your icon in my comments section...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Okay, you win. My life is much better, so I won't complain anymore.

    Love your picture! I can see your quite the snappy dresser. But maybe you should invest in long pants and boots, much warmer. I used to think sports writers lives were "glamorous", but it sure doesn't sound like it.

    Keep truckin and hope your Thanksgiving is a good one.

    ReplyDelete
  31. LOL @Keshironi! I sound like a pepperoni pizza :):)


    Keshi.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Babe:

    Hey, we ARE glamourous! We just don't dress that way.

    I have now invested in pants and boots, however. They came in handy in -10 temps today.

    I do hope your thanksgiving was/is a good one. Our Canadian Thanksgiving was last month.

    Keshi:

    Pepperoni: My fave.

    ReplyDelete
  33. ooo lala mine too ;-)

    Keshi.

    ReplyDelete

If you choose to use anonymous to comment, it is only fair that I reserve the right to obliterate your comment from my blog.