I have... did it today, as a matter of fact. Concurrent with yesterday's depo, which appeared to be a 1:00 o'clock document custodian at first glance, turning into a 250-page overnight rush somewhere around 7:00 p.m., I also started getting panicked voicemails to cover a crucial realtime depo in Jackson, Mississippi this morning. Sometimes I like to see if I can burn the candle at both ends while it's resting on my kerosene-soaked groin, so I took the assignment.

So I caught the early Southwest flight over to Ole Miss, picked up my rental and started following Mapquest's scavenger hunt-esque directions, which led me to, of all places, a truck stop. Insult to injury, the flight attendants' safety speil lasted longer than the depo, and in less time than it takes to spell M-I, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, I, Crook -- ah, screw it -- my presence was no longer required. Seems "crucial realtime depo" has varied meanings to different folks.

But everything happens for a purpose. There was a local reporter already set up to take this plum job, who turned out to be my senior class instructor from Stenograph Institute of Texas. After wet-nursing us whiny brats, she finally realized "How hard can it be if these schlubs can do it," enrolled in theory and is now a working reporter. It was worth the trip to see her face when she walked back in the room and saw me parked at the table. We had a nice lunch, reminisced about old times, and I was back in Houston before the kids got home from school.

"It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear." - Douglas Adams