STRICTLY BUSINESS: GETTING READY FOR BED NO EASY TASK

Lullabye and good night ... but don't forget to let Spot in, brush your teeth, set the alarm, adjust the thermostat, check the kids and check in on Letterman and Leno.

Getting ready for bed is no easy task.

Despite today's fast-paced lifestyle, Americans believe in bedtime routines and seldom change their rituals, according to a "Late Night With Listerine Survey."

Rituals are important, says Shari Beagelmann and Mary Curtin of Fleishman-Hilliard, which conducted the survey.

A Listerine survey of more than 500 people found that when Americans get ready for bed, taking care of their teeth and gums tops their list of things to do.

Forty-nine percent of all Americans spend more than 15 minutes getting ready to hit the sack, and the average American includes at least seven separate activities in his or her bedtime ritual. They include teeth care (85 percent), taking care of a family pet (36 percent), and adjusting the thermostat (32 percent).

Folks at the Southeast Missourian fit right in as average Mr. or Ms. America. An in-office survey of more than half of the Missourian employees paralleled the national survey, with few exceptions.

More than 75 percent of Missourian employees placed brushing their teeth at the top of the list. Nationally, 85 percent said teeth-brushing was a normal part of their nighttime routine.

So ingrained is the brushing ritual, according to the survey, that more than one third of the people will get out of bed to brush if they forgot to clean their teeth before hitting the sack.

Americans also turn their attention to the spiritual during their end-of-day routine. Exactly half of the Missourian employees responding to the survey include prayers in their bedtime routine and at least 15 percent say they pray at least some time as they settle in. This compares to 51 and 18 percent of the Listerine poll.

Seventy-six percent of Americans say worrying delays the sandman. And, concerns for family and children are shared by one of five (19 percent); almost 16 percent worry about health problems or can't sleep due to stress and strain. Still, about one of five (19 percent) sleep like proverbial babies, saying nothing keeps them awake at night. We'll ride Listerine's total on these statistics; they were not included in the Missourian poll.

Getting ready for bed takes 15 to 30 minutes for most of us, the survey revealed. Sixty-two percent of the folks at the Missourian reported they spend about 15 minutes preparing for bed, compared to the 51 percent nationally. Only 11 percent of us reported taking more than a half-hour.

Even when it comes to getting shut-eye, it seems a woman's work is never done. Women, according to the national survey, spend seven minutes longer on their nigthtime ritual than men, and those with children in the household used even more time getting ready for bed.

Both surveys uncovered some interesting and eye-opening facts, like who's wearing (or not wearing) what and why night stands are cluttered.

Read on:

Nightgowns and pajamas top America's bedtime wardrobe list, but both surveys found that men and women have clearly different preferences in their sleeping attire. Men are much more likely than women to sleep in their underwear (46 percent 1 percent). Most of the ladies in the Missourian survey preferred nightgowns (30 percent), and about 10 percent preferred T-shirts.

Nearly one in five men (17 percent) prefer to sleep in nothing at all, compared to about 4 percent of women. These percentages were similar in both polls.

Caring for the family pet is a high nightime priority. About 62 percent of Missourian staffers attend to pets' needs at bedtime, compared to 36 percent nationally. Thirty-seven percent of Missourian parents make a final check on the children, compared to 30 percent in the national survey.

The family's faithful dog or cat are also common bedtime partners, especially for Missourian employees who report a dog or cat sleeping on the bed. Thirty-six percent say the pet occasionally sleeps on the bed and 17 percent say a pet sleeps on the bed every night. That compares with about 30 percent nationally. And an animal-loving 2 percent let both a cat and dog sleep on the bed.

American night tables are crowded with necessities, whether using the Missourian or Listerine poll. The majority hold alarm clocks (81 percent), radios (77 percent) and telephones (72 percent). In addition, some night tables also hold tissue, magazines, books, medicine, lamps, cigarettes and eyeglasses.

Americans subscribe to at least part of the Old Farmer's Almanac's advice and are often "early to bed," with most retiring before 10:30 p.m. On average, Americans begin their bedtime routine at 10:15 p.m. on a workday. Weekend routines start about 45 minutes later. Although most Americans are in bed by midnight, a few late owls don't hit the sack until 1 a.m.

Geographic differences in the national poll abound. The go-getters of the Northeast start to get ready for bed later than other Americans, about 10:45 p.m., while the more relaxed and genteel southerners start their routines from 9:45 to 10 p.m.

This Missourian poll, however, reflected some night owls who may be working on the nightshift, with at least 36 percent hitting the sack after midnight.

New on the business scene

An old service station building, empty for more than 20 years, has reopened as a produce market.

The Corner Produce Market, 501 Morgan Oak, features fresh produce and specialty items.

"The structure here has been completely remodeled," said Richard Hagedorn, president of Cauble and Field Fruits, Vegetables and Groceries, which owns the new market.

Cauble and Field and the new market are family operated, noted Hagedorn. Involved in the operations are Hagedorn's wife, Doris, secretary of the company; and sons, Rick, vice president; and Ryan.

Rick Hagedorn is a produce buyer for the company, visiting farmers throughout the area and in other states. Ryan, still in college, works during the summer.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week. It is closed on Sunday.

Cable Busters has moved.

The 3-year old company that sells and services cable systems is now in East Cape Girardeau along Route 146.

The company, previously in Cape Girardeau, is expanding, said owner Ron Lunsford. The new location will house sales staff, telemarketers, finance office and warehouse in one location.

The ImageMaker, a new high-tech copy duplicating and design business, has opened in Lorimont Place, 280 S. Mount Auburn Road.

Sherry Gerecke is manager of the business, which occupies 3,100 square feet between Herbst and Company Jewelers and H.R.H. Dumplin's Restaurant on the upper level of the Lorimont Place development.

The company specializes in high-speed copying, graphic design services, color copies, laminating, desktop publishing, fax and mailing services and hourly computer rentals.

B. Ray Owen is longtime business editor and writer for the Southeast Missourian.