Putting out

[pjthompson]

Heard on the radio of the day:

(1) One of the local public radio stations is having a pledge drive, interspersing bits of NPR amidst flogging the audience for money. The morning flogger is an annoyingly perky woman who doesn't always think too hard about what she's putting out on the air. When they came back from a story about the trapped coal miners in Utah, she'd moderated her perkiness to a somber tone, speaking about the tragedy of those men being trapped and needing rescue. Still in the somber tone, she said, "And we here at Radio Station X are trapped and need rescuing, too..."

(2) During the drive time the other night, to avoid the woman who does the flogging in the evening—a dreadfully serious, lecturing creature—I turned to another public radio station, KUSC, our one classical venue in L.A. It was a blessed moment amidst the rancor of the traffic because they were playing, The Lark Ascending, one of my favorites. Transcendent. I felt so much better as the final ephemeral notes faded off. Rich Caparella, the host, is a man who understands quite well what he's putting out on the air. He has one of those dreamy creamy classical music station voices, always so calm, erudite, and mellifluous. In that dreamy creamy voice, he announced, "That was The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams. An anti-road rage offering. Now that it's over, feel free to go back to driving like complete idiots."

Random quote of the day:

"I don't need time. What I need is a deadline."

—Duke Ellington


This is certainly true about me. It was true in school, and one of the things my employers have always appreciated about me was that I'm good at nailing deadlines. Unfortunately, I'm not so good at nailing self-imposed deadlines. It's as if my psyche is saying, "Her? You don't really have to take her seriously."

Comments

[sboydtaylor.livejournal.com]

The effect of a deadline on me is random. Either I go insane in order to meet it, or I can't do a thing and freeze in place. Fight or flight, basically. And I never know what I'm going to get.

[pjthompson]

Fortunately, I seem to be a "fall apart afterwards" kinda gal. I do sometimes fall apart, but...after. :-)

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

I loved the story about the radio and going back to driving like idiots *G*.

As for the deadlines - yes! Yes, yes, yes. I am exactly the same. I've stopped editing Rivers and Gate because I don't have a specific deadline. If I did I would work 24/7. Instead, without that impetus, I am bored. Give me date and say 'must' and I will deliver the goods.

That is another reason I like OWW. If I haven't put a chapter up I feel guilty. Daft, but guilty. It makes me work, keeps me going. It is a psyche thingy, though. It's like my brain is saying, Of course they won't want to see the rest of the novels, so why bother? Naturally the other half is saying, but what if they do??? *Gulps*

[pjthompson]

lol--yeah, OWW was real motivating for me that way, too. "Must have a chapter up for them not to read!" ;-)

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

"Her? You don't really have to take her seriously."

Ha!

[pjthompson]

See. I told ya.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I'm not so good at nailing self-imposed deadlines. It's as if my psyche is saying, "Her? You don't really have to take her seriously."

Hah! Wish I had some tips for ya, but I'm in the same boat.

[pjthompson]

Harrumph.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That is a favorite!

[pjthompson]

The lark or the quote?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Lark--one of my faves of all time. Not a note wasted.

[inkbabies.livejournal.com]

An anti-road rage offering. Now that it's over, feel free to go back to driving like complete idiots.
::grins:: I love Rich!

[pjthompson]

He's such a funny guy. I love listening to him.