Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Owing to the Fact That I Can

Rarely does one find a job awesome enough that she can use expletives to drive home a point. Because, ahem, I can, here's an excerpt from something I wrote for a client today...

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What do Lance Armstrong, Ronaldo and LeBron James have in common?


Aside from being the most celebrated athletes of their own leagues (and having names synonymous to Nike), they are about every dreamer’s idea of smashing success. They have broken records, shamed their peers with their handiwork, and brought it home each time it mattered so much so that they have become household names.


But see, when you look more closely at their careers and journey to rock star status, it would be foolish to ignore the part they have been served their fair share of drawbacks. Lance and all his 7 Tour de France titles did not come without winning the more important battle which is against cancer; Ronaldo’s career was threatened to be cut short because of his knee injury; and LeBron, well, the 2-time league MVP has yet to win a ring to silence his haters.


Be it in the form of personal struggles, test of character or challenges as a pro athlete, bottom line is: Shit happens. Point-blank. And even after they have hurdled past the shit, they did not hang the gloves just yet. Lance Armstrong will forever be known as the cancer survivor who came back to feed younger riders his dust. Ronaldo played on from an injury-laden career to win 2 World Cup titles for Brazil. LeBron is the epitome of having a path full of professional debacles that will inevitably happen. And in the end, it’s all about rising above the challenges and coming to fight another season.


It has not been an ideal 2 years for (name of company). Hey, shit happens. But we get on with business and we stay the course. We’re just about to rock it out here.


You must have preempted the parallelism already because clichés are clichés because they always ring so true. That’s the whole idea, by the end of the Conference, we’d like you guys to feel like you’re the world’s greatest… That nothing and no one, not even the unfavorable position you’re in, can put a halt to such a force that has gathered strong momentum. This is especially truen when your team rallies behind you-- a team that is competent and one that you can trust with your life. Yes, we have go-to guys and clutch players but come on, one-man teams are, much like the Loch Ness monster, a myth.


“Anyone who imagines they can work alone winds up surrounded by nothing but rivals, without companions. The fact is, no one ascends alone.” Lance said. He may be known for his accolades as an individual but even he acknowledges the shining moments of each of the other 9 people in his team as they surge to the top.


There cannot be a better jump off point in this journey to unity than a brand we can all take pride in. Growing up, surely you guys, with the exception of none, have been exposed to all sorts of products (name of company) proudly carries. Brand recall, check. Being equated to quality, check. Being a trusted name, check. This weekend is all about reminding us of that fact, and of course, about dreaming and achieving as a single unit. In as much as we want you to shine like Lance, Ronaldo and LeBron, ultimately we must come out as Team US Postal (or Radio Shack), or Brazil, or The Miami Heat. YOU ARE GREAT. You already know that. But you cannot do it alone. You are at your greatest when you are with your team.


Finally, a notable pro sport coach once said, “The strength of the pack is the wolf. The strength of the wolf is the pack”. LeBron cannot win the O’Brien trophy by himself. We need the Wades and Boshes and the rest of the guys. That is why we dream as a team. And that is why we are THE Dream Team.

***
I love writing and I love selling ideas. This particular brief is the most fun I've had in a long time. Still crossing my fingers it flies, though! =)



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Friday, April 15, 2011

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Here's the plan...


This is not what I can call mine but I wanna take/make more of these...

photos
lines
memories




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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Social Science Lab

Stay tuned for the story of this sticky note-



Spreading-the-love attempt #1! =)

Monday, April 11, 2011

Zambales is Love!




I always have the best of days in Zambales. Of all drivable r&r destinations, my mom's home province is definitely in the highest rung.

I've been up the crater of Pinatubo...


Marvelled at the magnificent landscape of Anawangin...


(and burned my skin badly in the process)

I've been all over the province for an adventure race with Ageo...


And just over the weekend, to taste and see again just how awesome Mother Nature is. =)
(it was nice to shoot Camara Island using my own camera this time)








Cindy, Ageo and Johan made the trip all the more special. We took turns in driving, ate a-plenty, laughed so much it felt like we were kids, and went through crazy things like we were in some alternate reality. =)







P.S.
Here's a vid/photo collage Cindy put together



P.P.S.
Also got a kick out of reminiscing the adventure race with Ageo. I think it's sweet he remembers the days like they just happened. Bestest teammate, I swear! :)


Tuesday, April 5, 2011

I Think of You and I Whistle :)

Today was a happy day :) One of the biggest projects has come to a (semi-)conclusion-- I'm saying semi because unless the finished products have been delivered to the doorstep of the client, I'd still be continuing to tiptoe-- and because today someone got injured. And I rejoice because I'm evil like that. >=) But relax, he's fine. He'd go on to be an Ironman China finisher in  8 weeks' time but for now, I'm just relishing the thought he twisted his wrist and turned to me for affirmation that, despite the fact that he won't be able to train for swimming and loofah the same way in the next 7  days, it's all good. Yeeeeee. :)


And there's more...
It's been more than a month since I celebrated my birthday. I'd be lying if I say I wasn't looking forward to our honoring tradition but travels and work got in the way. Something always gets in the way. How convenient is that? Anyway, I'm still contemplating on demanding for that session but for now, let it be said that my eyes well up with happy tears every time I  read the post-birthday honoring from my Twinstah and Evil Sistah.  Since they're too heartwarming not to share, let's post 'em here so I can access them in one place whenever I need a thought that would make me whistle (and cry).


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1)
Author: My Twinstah
Date sent: 08 March 2011
Manner of sending: Yahoo! Mail


You know what I realized today?


You were the one who introduced me to:
1. Climbing mountains
2. Running
3. Local travel

Three things that make me feel alive, that give me joie de vivre.

Thank you, Winsy. :)

You and I are different in many ways, but essentially we're made of the same stuff :
an appreciation for the sun, sand and sea, an affinity for the mountains, a curiousity
for the world and its wonders, the desire to live a life that is joyful and meaningful.
And I am grateful for your friendship - for this soul sisterhood.

I hope you realize how special you are. And many people would agree for sure. :)

The other half of the power couple - whoever he may be - is in for a delightful life with you.



2)
Author: My Evil Sistah
Date sent: 30 March 2011
Manner of sending: As blog post


It’s been over a month since your birthday but we never really had a formal honoring session. So I thought I should post my thoughts on my blog…just so you’ll have an excuse to visit my page again. :>

Kidding aside, I really missed you after our quick breakfast this morning. I guess my realization triggered this post. Anyway, my thoughts go something like this…

If your life is a storybook then yours will have colorful pages. Colorful pages that represent the happy memories that you constantly create with your family and friends. Wherever you are, you always bring sunshine with you. You’re like this perfect glint of sun on a dreamy day at the beach.

Your storybook also comes in thick fat sheets. Because it carries the distances that you covered both literally and metaphorically to add meaning, substance and depth to your life.

These things are all in the present if not in the past. But guess what…your storybook also has of lots of blank spaces. For memories that have yet to come. For life experiences that will gain you more insights. For revelatory dreams that you have yet to achieve.

You are one strong woman. Beautiful, smart and really quite a catch (any guy—wait, dapat runner, matangkad, di maputi, outdoorsy, matalino, God-fearing at magaling mag English—will be lucky to have you). So whatever comes your way, however you wish to tread the tides of the future, I’m sure you will daringly carry on with so much grace and passion.

I love you, Evil Sistah! :-* Belated happy botdei! >:D< 



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Dalawa pa lang yan. Tell me whose birthday is not complete after getting these 2 messages? :"> Thanks, girls. Actually, this blog entry is about you (Not that guy! Haha!) I'm just too sabaw to establish the connection which is bad because I'm already about to end it with a sudden halt. 
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Okay, sleepy. Gotta go and dream happy dreams already. Night night! :-"



No no no no no nooooooo!!!!

If it’s a joke, well no one’s laughing.

I panicked when I typed my blog’s URL and Google told me it has been deleted. The hell? Site told me they detected “unusual activity” in the site so they had to take it out. Excuse me sir but did you mean unusual INactivity? I know, I’ve been a slacker-blogger but to delete my page on that basis? Wag naman.

So I followed to the dot everything Google asked me to do recover my 9lovelysummernights page, hoping the “unusual activity” they are referring to did not mean my site was used for pornography or child prostitution (still on Jan-jan mode). After keying a couple of times passwords and other verification info, I was finally redirected to my site. *phew!* I let out an even louder sigh of relief to find it unscathed.  No gross stuff in here, thankfully.

It’s been almost 8 months since I last wrote here. Even worse, I have not been reading my friends’ blog entries either. :( I’m sorry to myself and to you guys. :( I’m not gonna make excuses for not allowing myself to write like I used to. My old self is seriously disappointed at the one I have become into. But hey, since I consider this time my second life at Blogspot, I promise to TRY my best to check in more frequently. Try being the operative word. Hehe. For now, I’m just relieved to know I still have my little corner in cyberworld.

Hi, friends! It's been so long and I’m glad to be back!