JANUARY 21ST PROGRESS REPORT: I'm feeling better. But I won't return to reporting until January 25th. Most of you don't know that I'm an insulin-dependent diabetic, which greatly complicates my health. I debated whether or not to put it in my first advisory, but I felt entitled to my privacy. Now I wish I'd disclosed it because of all the false and even crazy rumors. But diabetes gets its revenge on workaholics like me. I need a few more days of rest, so I'll come back slowly. Please be patient. Tomorrow I'll start occasional posting until January 25th. And I'm depending as always on your tips, comments and photos especially after my absence.
JANUARY 14th: I’m exhausted. I'm not feeling well. I'm overwhelmed. I need a week away from the emails and the comments and the phone calls and the rumors. Most of all, I just need to rest since I've been going, going, going, since the strike started. I look forward to coming back on January 22nd and finding it settled (?). In the meantime, stay out of crosswalks while I’m gone. And I promise to return refreshed.
Welcome back, Nikki. Please remember we all look forward to your insightful reports, but your health definitely comes first. Be well.
Comment by cekinla — January 21, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Feel better, Nikki
Comment by Reynier Molenaar — January 21, 2008 @ 9:24 am
You are way too good to us Nikki. Take more time off. Don’t kill yourself so much, try to limit your posts to just a few, we don’t need as many as you give us nor do we deserve all your scoops, especially since we get them free of charge. You have set the pace for news on this strike but even before the strike this site was addictive and required reading. Take care and get healthy. Don’t worry about us so much. DHD is important but you are far more important than news. You deserve a new book deal as a reward for the last three months of overtime you’ve spent updating this site. With thanks for all your amazing work here.
Comment by Anonymous — January 21, 2008 @ 10:31 am
So sorry to hear about your diabetes. I am VERY appreciative of the work you are doing, and knowing of your health situation makes me appreciate it even more.
I have many family members who live with this condition, and am aware of how much it affects your life, even under the best of conditions. So please, any of you who have been critical of Nikki’s time off in the past, stop passing judgment!
Comment by Deb — January 21, 2008 @ 10:36 am
So sorry to hear about your diabetes, and I hope you’re feeling better soon. I’ve really enjoyed reading your strike coverage, and hope you feel like contributing again. But of course, your health comes first. Rest and get well soon! You’ll need to be well in order to toast the WGA strike deal (with faux champagne, of course) when it comes!
Comment by munchkyn — January 21, 2008 @ 10:48 am
Nikki, hope you feel better. You’ve done an amazing job throughout this strike, but nothing is worth risking your personal health for. Come back sloooooowwwlllyy - and take care!
Comment by Alexander Chow-Stuart — January 21, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Just want to say that I hope you regain your energy and balance quickly, since diabetes isn’t something I can’t wish you to become free of (although I would if that’s all it took)… I know how exhausted I am from all of this, and the only problem I have is high blood pressure, so I can imagine the toll this is taking on you. I hoped it would be settled before you came back, too. However, I want you to know you’ve been missed.
Comment by well-wisher — January 21, 2008 @ 11:12 am
WE MISSED YOU MADLY !!!
So glad you are feeling better … foremost, take care of yourself!
Comment by Stuck in the Middle — January 21, 2008 @ 11:36 am
Good to see your feeling a little better. Get well soon. You’ve got time. At this rate seems the strike will be around a while.
Comment by Brian — January 21, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Nikki,
Take it easy and i hope you feel well soon!
Comment by just an observer — January 21, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
I am so sorry to hear you have been ill.
You are in my prayers.
I throughly enjoy reading your site. I have learned so much about the strike and you make it so I can understand what is REALLY going on.
Take Care,
Robin
(from NC)
Comment by Robin — January 21, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Nikki, I discovered you during the strike, but then also went back and read your old articles and posts on the site. Even when the strike is over, I’ll be a fan of your Hollywood/business coverage. Stay well.
Comment by New Fan — January 21, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
I’m sending prayers and all my love, Nikki!
Comment by Tennyson — January 21, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
Feel better Nikki. You’re missed here and I hope for your safe return.
Comment by ReiMehari — January 21, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Thank you so much for coming forward with the details of your illness. My son was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two weeks ago so it is profoundly comforting for me to hear that someone as accomplished as yourself is living with the disease. While it saddens me to hear that over-work can acerbate the effects of the diabetes (no book I’ve read has mentioned that yet), it only deepens my respect for your great work.
Comment by Jon Sherman — January 21, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Nikki –
Please stop moderating the comments section. It’s too much work for anyone! People know they’re not your opinions and if some crazies get through, so be it.
Comment by Klaatu — January 21, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Please take care of yourself first, Nikki. Let this blog comes a far, far second.
And ignore the arseholes. There are far more people who respect you than spread rumours about you.
- Richard
(And Klaatu’s right - get someone else to filter out the morons in the comments.)
Comment by Richard — January 21, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Nikki, we miss you terribly, but your health is the most important. Take care of yourself and come back when you’re ready.
Comment by Anonymous — January 21, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
For goodness’s sake Nikki hire yourself someone to help you with comment moderation and email reading so that you are freed up to take phone calls and write.
Believe me I know how hard this is…I am so lucky to be working with 5 other moderators to keep Fans For The WGA going not to mention that the specific show I am a fan liason (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has plenty of people who help me do various fan campaigns.
Please delegate the more tedious tasks and remember to breathe occasionally…we want you to be alive and healthy when this all ends.
S.E. Olson
Moderator & Law & Order: Criminal Intent Fan Liason
Fans For The WGA
http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/
Comment by VDOVault — January 21, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Health is #1. Get well and take all the time you need!
Comment by Michael Dobrofsky — January 21, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Nikki:
Health comes first. You’ll need your strength to cover this industry. Especially in light of what just happened at the LA Times, we need people who are not afraid of the corporate world and are willing to find out the true story.
All the best (also from NC)
Andy Lawler
(recovering ex-agent and schoolteacher)
Comment by Andy Lawler — January 21, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
While I’ve missed your updates, for now just take care of yourself. I’ve also had family members with diabetes. Get all the rest and recuperation you need - we’ll be waiting for your next scoop when you’re up to it!
Comment by Cat — January 21, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
Echoing everyone else: Nikki, you are very well respected and admired, and lots of people care about you deeply. Your work throughout this strike has been beyond outstanding. Please take care of your health first and pace yourself; your personal needs are priority one. We all look forward to your return.
Comment by Lee — January 21, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
Take care, Nikki - you’ve worked so assiduously on all this here strike-reporting, and it’s easy to burn yourself out doing that kind of 24/7 reporting.
Take as much time as you can…
“We can’t quite decide if the world is growing worse, or if the reporters are just working harder.” - The Houghton Line, November, 1965
Comment by QuoterGal — January 21, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Nikki, your health should come first. Of course we missed you like crazy and the Fib & Liar Trolls went wild at United Hollywood (BTW, should we nominate Michael Cieply of the NYT for Troll of the Year for his lazy-ass/unprofessional/bush-league Article on Young and Verrone?), but nothing is more important than your health.
You certainly derserve to win a MAJOR journalism award this year.
Get Well Soon,
A WGA Supporter
Comment by A WGA Supporter — January 21, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Nikki,
Health and well-being are most important so rest and get well! My Mom is a diabetic too so I know how easy it is to get sick from being run down and over-worked. I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work over the last few months, and we all really appreciate all you do.
Thanks for everything and get some well deserved rest.
Comment by Lisa — January 21, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
Hope ya get better soon!
Comment by Tony — January 21, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
As the rest of them said, health first, column second.
You are a valuable resource for this fan and website admin. While I’ve been missing your voice in the last week or so, I wish you well. Take care.
Becca B
http://www.theunithq.com Admin
Fan Liason for The Unit and The Shield
Fans for the WGA
http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/
Comment by Becca — January 22, 2008 @ 4:02 am
I’m a type I diabetic myself, Nikki, for 30 years. Testing 8-10 times a day is pain in the ass, but it’s probably saved my life, or at least my eyes and kidneys and all of the other complications. It’s a lot of work, but it’s way more important than this. We love you and your reporting, but not enough to pressure you to ruin your health. Please take care of yourself first.
Tor
Comment by Tor — January 22, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Oh, Nikki, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind, hey Nikki…..
(yes, stolen from the song “hey micky”).
Take care of yourself. I miss your posts, but your health is more important!!!!!!!
Comment by btl teamster — January 22, 2008 @ 8:20 am
Take care of your health, Nikki! I’m glad you’re back (even if it’s half-time for now!) but we need you long-term. So stop wearin’ yourself down, huh?
Feel better!
Comment by Velveeta — January 22, 2008 @ 8:51 am
I’m glad you are taking care of yourself! You deserve a few months in the Bahamas!!!
Comment by reader — January 22, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Please take your time coming back, all the cyber-laurels are worth nothing if your health gets ruined along the way. Sadly the cyber-snipers will be around regardless.
Thank you for giving such a private reason for your absence, hopefully people will have the decency to refrain from twisting the facts on this.
Try to get better, try to think more of yourself before thinking of putting another update out - although, to say I missed DHD these past days is an understatement. Before the strike DHD was a place I stopped by ~ twice a week, rarely more, as here in Europe Hollywood is not the gravitational center of the earth. Since November though I’ve logged on at least twice a day, so I was really having withdrawal issues.
All my best from far away, I’m looking forward to having you back on a regular basis, if you’re up to it.
Comment by Nanea — January 22, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Nikki, get well girl. Love your posts and looking forward to them again-but above all take care of yourself. If you can come back then so can the Writers.
Comment by Rusty — January 22, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
We appreciate all that you are doing. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Best,
Juliet (screenwriter)
Comment by Juliet — January 22, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Agreed. Get well soon. Please don’t work over extert yourself. You’re an invaluable resource to the community. I appreciate your dedication.
Comment by E — January 22, 2008 @ 10:40 pm