The difference a good night's sleep makes

Last night I was in bed, cats locked out, lights out, at 7:30 p.m. Peter didn't get home until 4:30 a.m. That's nine hours of uninterrupted sleep. I feel almost human again. This morning was a series of minor emergencies (other people's) which I dealt with in a slightly less-accommodating fashion than usual. Example:

1) "Are we going to have x issued before tomorrow"? At 9 a.m. My response: "It'll be done before noon." It was done by 11:30.

2) "I need (don't you LOVE statements that start with I need?) x information on a, b, c, d, e, f, AND g - today." My response: "I am busy this morning, you'll have it by 1:30." It was done by 11:50. I get back from lunch to a panicky-sounding call from this same person - "Call me." No. I gave you what you want, I am not calling you to decipher it for you.

Which brings me to a peeve of mine - useless phone messages. If you call someone for business reasons (or even for personal, for that matter), and leave a message on voicemail, tell them:

• Your first and last name. There are many people named "Mark", you are 1 of 15 that I know personally.
• Your phone number. Don't assume I have it.
• What you are calling about. Really, isn't that the point of the message?
• When you are available for a callback. I'm not glued to MY phone 24/7, I don't expect you are either.

There is NOTHING more time-wasting than a message that says "Hi, it's x. Call me." Odds are, when I call you back, I will have to listen to whatever your crisis is, take notes, look things up, pull files, get other people involved - all things I could have done BEFORE calling you back.

Sorry, ranting. I was starting to say how good I felt today. Yesterday I got both the new Vogue Knitting and new Interweave Knits and there are a few projects that I am considering ... down the road. Got a big list already and anything REALLY good doesn't go out of style, does it?