I’m just back from a relaxing vacation in Orlando with the kids. To ease into the writing groove (and adjust to the shock of a 30 degree drop in temperature), I decided to share some words of wisdom I discovered while standing in line at the Spiderman ride in the Islands of Adventure theme park (an absolute MUST-DO for anyone traveling to that area!).
The queue winds through the Daily Bugle newsroom where the following three posters are displayed:
You don’t win a Pulitzer by
sitting on your
assci characters …
So get moving!
_________________________________
Midnight Deadline:
You must turn in
either:
Your final story copy
or
Your resignation.
It’s your choice.
Sincerely, the Management
___________________________________
Don’t procrastinate!
Expect delays!
Anticipate cutoff times!
Deliver your material on time!
Lateness is unacceptable and
Inexcusable!
No
Excuses!
Anyone who has worked as a journalist, or in any career dictated by deadlines will see both the humour and truth of these posters. As a writer, I cracked up laughing when I saw them. My sudden, unexplained outburst mortified my son and earned me the reprimand (muttered under his breath of course) “Mom, stop being random.”
And so I extend my sincere thanks to Spiderman – for the thrilling theme park ride, the wonderful chuckle in the 40-minute queue and the opportunity to embarrass my teenage son. After all, public humiliation is the bone nature throws to parents who endure the incessant eye-rolling of their beloved adolescents.
Love it! I’m so glad you could escape to sunshine. Oh, how I need sunshine and green grass.
Wendi
We’re having a snowstorm here in NL today … my toes are frozen again. Alas! 🙂
Love it! So glad you escaped to sunshine. Oh how I need sunshine.
All the best to you,
Wendi
Or my all-time favourite (taped outside my editor’s door): Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
Yes, that was often my reaction to Minister’s Office staff when they asked for press releases to be written and pushed through the bureaucratic approval system within three hours (always on a Friday afternoon). 🙂
“Stop being random!” LOLOLOL. I love it! 🙂
😀