Thursday, February 05, 2009

This Week

So last Saturday was the final ever Weekend America, an occasion on which I have expended so many words and emotions that I'm frankly wrung out. I mourn the loss, I stride into the future. There.

Saturday included a party at one of our producers' house. Then there was a Super Bowl party over at our friends' Steve and Sarah's house. They're Wisconsinites so there was Leinenkugels and weenies. And on Sunday night I was thinking, "I'm not ready to go back to work." After escorting Weekend America through the death process, it felt plum goofy to plunge back in on Monday and begin the long and complex process of developing new national programming. So at the urging of my wife, who is wise, and my boss, who is doing this same thing and is also wise, I elected to take a week off. Use vacation. Clear my head.

Part of Jill's plan was for me to do Bikram yoga, which is this crazy thing where you go into a room that's set at like 110 degrees and then you fail for 90 minutes while you attempt to do things that everyone else's bodies can do. Today was day four.

In the afternoons, I've been seeing movies. Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Wrestler.

The neat part is that I now can't wait to get back to work. I have more enthusiasm, ideas, inspirations than I ever would have had going back to work this week.

*

12 comments:

Amanda from Georgia said...

Rest does do a body and soul good.

Good luck!

Kate said...

Sounds like it was just what the dr. (or wife and boss) ordered. I'm glad you got a chance to rest and recharge before you go back. I'm glad you're ready and full of ideas.

Jerry said...

It's amazing what a rest and a few good movies can do for the artistic mind. Take some time and watch "Trapeze" with Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis some time. That movie will re-charge any battery.

margmor said...

I'm mourning WeekAm along with you, and know lots of others are too. Can't wait to see (hear) what you come up with next.

Ben said...

Godspeed, John Moe

Pam said...

To add insult to injury, Minnesota Public Radio has put the annoying, self-absorbed "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" program in the time slot previously held by Weekend America.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed all of the work done by the WA staff. Sorry for MPR/APM's decision...they lean toward getting things wrong (i.e., the morning show, bill kling's salary).

Have only now discovered your blog. Nice to know there's another immediate source for your writing. After catching up on previous posts, one other pizza recommendation for you: Pizza Luce in Mpls. Great crust, good flavors abound.

Good luck. I'll look forward to hearing more on the radio from you. --Mike in Mpls.

girard31 said...

I've done Bikram Yoga before...Just sitting in that room for ninety minutes is a workout, let alone twisting my body into a pretzel...You're a better man than I...

Jennifer said...

I turned on the radio during Weekend America's time slot yesterday and it was just too much to not have it there. I miss you, John!

"Post-Google" by TAR ART RAT said...

I was devastated to hear about the end of Weekend America, John. I podcast it and listen to it as walk around Berlin, it has always made me feel at-home. :(

jeans said...

John, Weekend America is my favorite podcast. I will miss it. Glad you're getting some mental downtime before the next big thing.

Anonymous said...

i am still so disappointed about the show. i'm mourning right there with you.