Thanks to Janey, I've finally decided what to do with my extra sketchbooks...turn them into practice pads, with the real sketches/journal going into the large moleskine sketchbook. I'm an organised nut and having my sketches/writings all over the place was driving me nuts!

News: Moleskineart broke the news that Modo e Modo may soon release a notebook that's watercolor friendly. No date given though.

I think I'm going through a phase now where nothing I usually enjoy is delivering goosebumps these days. It's just... nice. I don't know whether it's because of the stresses of work which on some days leave me drained. Or I'm bored. With what exactly, I'm not sure.

There are still books to be discovered and enjoyed. I'm sketching again after a long hiatus away from pen and paper. And this blog is morphing slowly. Into what direction, I'm still unsure. I'm just along for the ride. I'm discovering new interests and friends. It's been good. Safe. But nothing spine-tingling or adrenalin-pumping.

Work has been fun...so far. Good people and bosses make the daily grind very bearable and at times, pretty damm enjoyable. Exactly what I do makes it hard to pigeon-hole me: traffic, production, studio, marcoms and even some finance. How to get bored, huh? But there are days when all I want to do is escape to the tree-filled courtyard downstairs with my moleskine and a tall iced coffee to while away the afternoon.

Maybe I'm being too demanding of myself. Maybe it's because I need a break. A long one. Or maybe it's the moon or some wonky planet that's interrupting with my star sign. Whatever it is, I feel like Austin Powers in search of his mojo, only I'm in search of...??

Discovered in the weekend papers about 2 weeks back. That's 2/3s of Flush, comprising friends (from left): Collin and Bex. The third member is Jimbo. I've known Bex and Jim for ages, having worked with both some years back in the same design company. And Colin is a talented photographer at Black Studio.

It has been a long, long week. It's been a while since I last blogged but I've been on 'catch-up' mode at work since 15 August.

This is also the weekend of WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) and am trying to find the energy to go for a night out under the stars with friends to Fort Canning for the lush sounds of world music. I'm still not sure. You see, there are some big expenses around the corner and I have to be careful.

NOTE: Ended up enjoying a yummy sushi/sashimi dinner with hot sake near the office after shopping for my mom's birthday present.

I knew this was going to be a pain, but I didn't realise how MUCH of a pain!

EIGHTY trays to be delivered in 2 days to 80 Watson's (day two would be taken over by another colleague). Most of them were tedious enough but some stores had shelves I could not fit the tray in (a total of 3), so I left without putting them up. By the 19th shopping center, I was walking through it in a daze. The malls had all blurred together into one giant noisy, neon space. For the life of me, I don't remember Lot 1 from Pioneer Mall from Eastpoint. I know they had shops. I do however, remember the last one, Beauty World, where the whole venture was cut short by a resentful driver, waxing bloody murder about our client. We had calculated that it would take 4 not 2 days to complete, quite different from what the client had initially insisted.

I endured the trip back to the office at Gateway West listening to and sympathising with him. When another driver and van was arranged to pick up the rest of the product trays still in the van, he calmed down considerably enough to offer to drive me home.

To my oh, so wise directors...you hear me?? I'm NEVER doing that again!! Get the client to cough up next time!

Bkt. = Bukit (means 'hill' in Malay)

I've been dreaming and writing about escaping on a holiday or something that would take me far away from the humdrum of work for a week or two. Right about now, a desert island adventure sounds perfect. But of course, I'd want somethings with me. What would you bring?

I've never mourned a pair of shoes more.

If I didn't carry that obese wallet but kept the cash and cards I need in one of the many internal zippered pockets, I could carry a paperback.

The whole event was a great success!! We had about 600 people turn up for what was a rousing, fun-filled night. After several weeks of stress, frayed nerves and near sleepless nights, I was determined to have fun. So much fun that I barely remember making it home at about 1130pm (the time was on the taxi receipt). I spent most of today in bed, flushing my system out with gallons of water. Oh except for one frantic 6am phone call to Xin about my missing mobile phone. Sorry, luv - didn't realise the time till you came on line.

So now, Virilar is launched in Singapore. It's a purely herbal supplement, non-prescription version of Viagra but a lot safer without any of the latter's harmful side-effects. Not sure if it will be making its way to Malaysia, but our office there will handle its launch and they have promised to bus us all in for that.

But on Friday night...client was happy, guests were happy and more importantly, the bosses were happy with the whole shebang. And that was thanks to the monstrous efforts of Diora, a newbie to the company, who put the whole show together.

Normal work, I hope, resumes on Monday.

- Product Launch: I'm so tired of the chasing, the deadlines and the stress that's happening for the launch this Friday. Unlike our usual ad or design work, the stress here has gone up several notches cause we're handling the ENTIRE event ourselves to save our client a bomb that an event company would charge. That are so many things I need confirmed including checks for the night and for tomorrow's installation of our ambient media but the damm client has not given us the long-promised check! I'm fighting a state of near panic, thinking of all the monies I need by this Friday. Ack! I just felt 2 ulcers pop!

- Baptism: I am officially a godmother. Not the magical fairy kind, but a true blue one, nonetheless. My godson is Daniel, son of Danny and Karen who is my godsis (mom is her godmom). Even if I can't wave a wand for him, I will spoil him, so there.

- Milestone: I'm reaching a personal milestone at the end of August. Don't want to jinx it by saying what it is...that usually happens when I blurt stuff out too early...but will keep you posted.

- Copywriting: Did a 4th!!! rewrite of some 8 pages yesterday, a public holiday that I was hoping would see me curled up with The Historian. But no, my client tracked me down and requested the changes. The hoops you jump through to earn vacation dollars...*sigh*.

- Holiday: I think I'm going to resort to the dart and a world map, and let fate decide cause I can't!! Ees sent me to Trip Advisor to help me figure out the details. I thought it would give me all the information at a glance, you know, plan the whole trip. But it only gave me a headache. I still have to figure what and where I want to go, do and see. Oh, for a personal concierge to do this for me!

When I walk into a retail store to buy something, I don't hassle the poor salesperson to give me a substantial discount. Or worse, try to get the product for free. I also don't tell the store owner or buyer what he should be selling and how, nor would I dream of standing there criticising everything.

Then why may I ask, do clients persist in that annoying behaviour when dealing with their creative partners? People who they engaged specifically for their talent in design, copy or client servicing to market their product or service to the public. Then try a underhanded tactic by refusing to pay for new ad concepts, insisting it's part of a ridiculously low monthly retainer that was originally meant to cover generic ads...not a brand new product ad campaign. I'd like to see their reaction if a customer were to buy Brand A for $100 but insist on having Brand B for $400 delivered instead. It's just simply not done.

In any other profession, doctors, lawyers, electricians...their services are rendered and paid for with nary a quibble. Well, almost. Yet creative agencies perpetually face idiotic clients who try to play art director or copywriter, who get their secretary or some measly peon to comment on visuals (like they would know the marketing strategy behind it!), try to cut costs (most times to the detriment of their ads) then conveniently forget to pay when the bills are due.

I'd love to be able to tell them off one day, something like "Then go do the ad yourself! Or better still get your secretary to write it!" But there are the few, a mere handful who exist, who understand the fruits they could enjoy when in a true partnership with the agency. These are the ones who let the creative process roll, encouraging and sometimes reigning in the more exhuberant ideas for the overall good of their product or service. These few, almost dream clients make the whole process worthwhile and make me feel proud to be among such creative individuals.

I just know it's going to be a good weekend.