FOLLOWING MY INSTINCTS

Someone set a meeting with me to offer a project for the opening of a new spa (let's call her Karen).   Everything sounded good except something about her and her boss (let's call him Shane) didn't quite sit right with me.  Don't get me wrong, I've known Karen for quite a while now --- we're not super close or anything but we've hung out a couple of times and apart from some insecurities stemming from an ex-weight problem and a failed marriage, she's alright.  Anyway, we wrapped up that meeting with agreements on next steps, etc.

The week after, they both came to an event of mine and in that event I noticed that they were both quite touchy-feely with each other.  Well, she was separated from her husband and so was the guy so whatever right?  My only issue was that they worked together, never a good idea to crap in your own backyard right?  So I asked her:  "Are you and Shane sleeping together?" I was expecting either a "no" or a "nah, we just like to flirt" or "is it that obvious? we just clicked and it happened", etc.  Instead, I got an "Of course darling!  That's how I work!"  Whoah...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging.  Good for her that she knows what she wants and will do anything to get it.  Good for her that she obviously doesn't have any limits.  I, personally, got turned off by it and instinctively replied:  "That's NOT how I work!"

So, even if almost all of the people involved in this project are good friends, I'm afraid I had to decline.  I can't work with her knowing what her work ethic (or lack of) is and I certainly don't want anyone to think I'm willing to do what she does.  This is unfortunate for me because I hear that the spa is coming out beautifully but that's ok, I can always just support her by being a customer :-)  She is still my friend and I wish her all the luck in the world.

KUDOS TO GLUTAMAX!

Now I am definitely not the target market for any whitening product as I couldn't get any whiter nor do I want to. I am one of those people who is constantly laying in the sun and TRYING to get a decent tan. It usually takes forever to happen and fades with a snap of my fingers but I can't seem to to give up on it. I am, however, a believer in gay rights and I just want to say kudos to Glutamax for releasing a very very openly gay ad. I saw it while I was driving down South Super Highway sometime ago and it gave me a double take as it is the first ad of it's kind I've seen in this country. Now, I heard something about the same billboard on EDSA being removed due to some religious group's complaints but I have no details on that nor do I really want to research on it as it will probably just make my blood boil.

Gay people are FABULOUS, deal with it.

THE LIFESTYLE OF BEAUTY AND LIES

I work in an industry where everyone kisses each other's ass. We're all good at it and it is necessary for us to survive. Problem is, I hate it. Don't get me wrong. I love the result of what I do, I just sometimes don't like what I have to do to get my job done. The end justifies the means eh? Not so much. It really does take its toll. And since my son is still 12 years old and I need to put him through at least 9 years more of school, the words that come to mind are: SUCK IT UP. So, let this blog be my release of sorts without really hurting anyone. Don't worry, it won't all be bad. More like random excerpts of the things I go through for my job plus other things I want to add to the mix. Enjoy :-)

INSECURITIES ARE FOREVER

I thought diamonds were the only things that were forever. Apparently not. I logged on to my Facebook account today and on my news feed was a post from--- let's call him Lester to--- let's call her Tamsin.

It went like this: "I have a question, for one who crowned you "XXXXXXXXX" as a cover in cousin XXXXXX's XXXXXXXXX in 2000, WHY oh why haven't you EVER published my picture in your column or even invite me to your house party EVER. Have I offended you? We were once close, wondering WHAT went wrong. Enlighten me please."

Wow! I'm not sure if he didn't realize he was posting it in a very public manner or not but it's out there now. Remember people, when someone in this industry does something for you, you HAVE to be in their debt FOREVER. Mafia much? Someone needs to get a life... or at the very least learn to send private messages.

KAPALMUKS

Unfortunately, there are people who have been in this industry for so long that they feel like everyone around them should be so lucky if they even pay the smallest bit of attention to them. Sad but true. A recent experience really made my stomach turn. I was hired by a certain service company to help them get press releases out about their new branch. The deal was, I get media/lifestyle personalities to try out a service at their shop for free and all they gotta do is write about their experience. Pretty simple, right? Well, I got a call from a certain person asking to avail of the free service, let's call her Maria. Maria said she would go get the service done and then write about her experience in the upcoming issue of her magazine. We texted back and forth the next couple of days figuring out the schedule after which I added her to my roster and submitted my contract to the service company, let's call them Saharra. Saharra ok'd the contract with one exception--- Maria. Apparently, Maria and 2 other girls from her magazine already approached them earlier this year and availed of services with a list of release promises which never came to pass. I texted Maria and asked her about it in a very delicate way, not even mentioning that I knew any details. I just mentioned I was having a problem getting her request approved as there seems to have been a problem with some previous releases earlier in the year. I even asked her to look into it. Guess what? She never replied to any of my textes after that. Not even to pretend to check on it. Isn't it the responsibility of any employee of any company to at least pretend that they care? Guilty na, kapalmuks pa.