In Good Times

It has been really busy for me the past few weeks. It started when the primer of A&F went to the gruelling process of drafting, correction, implementing corrections, layout changes, and other prodcution stuff. Even though I had a pretty thorough exposure to magazine production back in my practicum in Gadgets, the system in SPEED is very different (they have a system. period.)
And since I am NOT in SPEED, but in a new magazine whose first issue would be the make-or-break point of its continuation, the pressure was there to make the primer and the maiden issue really "scream" (using our CEO's terminology).

The primer is out now, together with the August issue of SPEED (in case you want a copy :p), and now we're nearly finished with the layout of the first mag. The maiden ish is more challenging 'coz it has more pages, for starters. 104 pages is a big jump from the 24-pager primer. and to think there's only my editor and I who is working fulltime on it (my boss is out of the office pa most of the time so I'm left to handle the magazine).

I'm so happy when I hear good feedback about A&F. I've been with the company for only 3 months, and when I started I know nothing of the magazine I'm going to work in, except that it's a sporty lifestyle mag. In those 3 months I've seen the mag evolve into what it is now. Now I consider this "my baby". It is really hard to separate the professional from the personal in the workplace, but when you've poured out your all and given your best to something, it tends to become a part of you. You make it personal.

I've been so into my work the past weeks that I've been staying longer hours in the office than usual (read: no social life). The three-day weekend, therefore, was such a blessing to me. I spent the whole day, Friday, with Chad Michael Murray and James Laffery (I had a One Tree Hill Season 1 marathon... heehee. Can anyone say HOTTIES GALORE?) An absolute brainless activity: no thinking, no effort, just me on my bed and my roomie's laptop.

Saturday was a fun time also. Lani, Zy and I met up in Gateway coz we're gonna atten the Elim Singles Table Talk later that evening in Burgoo in Gateway. After two weeks the three of us got to get together again, exchange stories and laugh at the most mundane stuff, usually involving snails and hamsters. The whole night we introduced some of the Elim Singles to the very profound and mind-boggling "Doughnut Talks." :p

After the fun weekend I was back to work. When in my earlier entries I was kinda sorta complaining that I don't have anything to do in the office, now I do a lot of stuff! In all of these, inactivity or business, it's God's grace that saw me through it. Before I couldn't imagine myself doing so much work that is intended for two or more people-but I do.

It's been a really nice experience this is, my work. I love what I do, I'm enjoying myself even though the demand and stress are high. I was blessed to have really nice colleagues, a kind, forgiving and patient editor, and Godly bosses. The compensation may mot be much, but I was blessed naman with thriftiness. It may seem that I spend a big chunk of my time in my work, but in reality I have spare time in my hands. If I was in an ad agency, I won't have weekends to spend with my family and friends. I may not be able to have Saturday mass and dinner with my family or Elim Singles events. I may not have my Sunday CSI marathons. And for all of these I am really thankful :)

For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God - Ecclesiastes 3:13