Why we have no life.

If you've ever had difficulty making plans with a friend or family member who happens to be a reporter, here's why.

Newsrooms do send out "schedules" and sometimes we're lucky enough to get that schedule the day or even week before that schedule kicks in. 

Schedules, however, like our journalism degrees, hold little value. I was reminded of that fact today when we all got an email that went a little something like this:

"Hey you people in the cubicles!  The schedules are out for the first two weeks of July, but they're TENTATIVE. So check again and again and again until the hour before your shift starts because we may need to change it again and then again and then call you in when someone calls in sick.  So, what I'm trying to say is that nothing is really scheduled. Schedule is a loose term for "you have no life".   Just please be aware of the shackles on your desk that are meant for your wrists.  There are tents out back. Bed pans are on order."

We're on call 24/7, just like those doctors, minus 99% of their paychecks.