All is most happy-making. In the agitation stage, I discover, less than 48 hours before the deadline, that some of the people I have scheduled to write haven't actually seen the anime they will be talking about, or forgot their deadline, or have to attend Uncle Louie's funeral. So I scramble about to get the writers copies of tapes, find substitutes, or order flowers to console Aunt Clara. 72 hours before the showing. A marathon session by our layout editors and other dedicated staff ensues.
Sleep is cast aside.
Ultimately, these Herculean efforts result in the week's Konshuu. Thus ensues the catharsis stage, and a sense of profound relief, as I ferry the master printouts to Kinko's on Sunday evening. This twinge is rewarded upon my appearance Monday at 5 p.m., where I find that we have 200 copies with the pages in the wrong order. Page accessed times, column accessed times since October 16, 2000. Rodney Romasanta for Cal-Animage Alpha.