Around 9am yesterday morning, Chips and I were on VA Rufino, in front of my building. I was waiting for the traffic to mellow down so I could step out of the car (safely, without becoming roadkill). Chips then blurted out an "Oh my God." I turned toward his side and there she was, walking down the street. A lady (middle-aged) in a grass-green blazer, flip-flops and a big knapsack. That was it. No pants, no skirt, no anything under the blazer (which only aptly covered her ass). I only hope she was wearing underwear. She didn't look like she was coo-coo. Her hair was braided properly and she looked clean. She also looked happy (as in normally happy). She had this mark of awe on her face, similar to what Babe looked like when he first set foot in the city. It's probably that - her first day in the city. Well, whatever. It was weird. Probably the most absurd thing I've ever seen.


Moving on,I spent the day looking at my to-do list. Nothing is so far being scrapped out of it. My bosses are out for the entire week on an out-of-country conference, and I have no defense against powertripping clients. For example, a media meeting discussing the copy plan for the rest of the year (AOR and other people present):

Me: on the rushed --- campaign, copies are in-development and we're looking at the month of ---, as we agreed during the previous meeting.

Client: Fozzy, where's you're copy?

Me: (thought balloon: in development nga eh! at rush ito no! last week lang tayo nag-align sa brief... duh!) We're already working on it, but don't we need to settle media for this already.

Client: I don't want to commit media on a copy that does not exist.

Me: (ano ba! in development nga eh! sana kung dati mo pa inapprove yung brief may copya na tayo ngayon.) Okay, we can just talk this separately then. But we're looking at being ready for the month of --- so we can just slide in the new copy if needed.

Client: I don't want to talk --- yet. That's a separate issue kasi. Let's focus on

Me: Okay, clear. (fine, fine, fine!)

It's not like I can do anything. She kind of has the right to powertrip. She's the marketing director. I'm just an AE. Another encounter, this time with a brand manager who is asking for an FA by monday. We don't have an approved compre yet, she still has revisions. The artist will be at a shoot the whole day of friday, and FA artists are already working on publication deadlines for monday:

Client: Fozzy, we need it by Monday. I can't accept a Tuesday submission.

Me:(Sorry ka nalang, sana ikaw nalang gumawa)We're still revising the compre and I am still looking for a photographer who's available. The artist will also be attending another shoot. But we are managing it internally, because as you know, a lot of creative work is going on right now for the brand. I can't commit on a Monday. (meron akong installer ng photoshop, kung gusto mo)

Client: Marami namang art director dyan eh.

Me: (Hello, you're not our only client! Anong akala mo, buong ahensya sa'yo?!?) I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I'll send you the revised compre for your approval. I'll give you firmer timings once we talk with the photographer and the team. (Leche, bilhan mo ako ng sapatos ha)

This is the current wallpaper on my phone. It's Jay, my youngest cousin, being squeezed by my Dad. It's a feel-good picture for times like these. How cute is that? Okay, now I feel better.