journal features

jetlag, nytol, and "wake-ups"

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2011.01.06

At this time of year, Tokyo and Toronto are some ten hours off-set. This is my third switch across that big gap in eight weeks.

I don't know how people who routinely flit back and forth across such great distances do it. I've met several, I know that they're out there, I just don't know what they're made of.

As for me, I've had an average of about four hours sleep a night, and now that I'm back at work it's no more napping (damn these low cubicle walls). Enough of going it alone, I'm trying something new. As I write this, I'm currently stumbling through the late afternoon on a "wake-up" caffeine pill. They're like the migraine drugs I take but pared down to just the 100mg of (synthetic) caffeine. Doesn't ease the exhaustion but it certainly gives me something .. I've managed to knock off some to-do items despite being barely able to keep my eyes open.

And for tonight? I've lined up a date with "extra strength Nytol". Yes, yes, liver, I know. Shhhhhh.

rand()m quote

On the endless saga of Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto; "It shouldn't have had to come to this. I'm so tired of getting up every morning and wondering, 'What will it be today?' I'm so tired of giving the benefit of the doubt again and again, only to be let down again and again.... Somewhere a responsible adult has to appear, draw a bright moral line, tell the truth and say unequivocally what won't be tolerated. Somebody has to do the right thing."

—Denzil Minnan-Wong