ask and you shall receive

where im staying in chicago on monday

it might have been god who said "ask and you shall receive." or it could have been your mother but then maybe not coz that would be a sick joke to make especially that you might be of the sensitive type. so let me stick with god then and say, "hey god, good job. you got that one right."

was all nervous all day coz i was going to ask julian, the creative director, whether i could leave early next monday to fly to chicago. the catch is of course, my paid days off are all spent or planned for already with that trip to manila in december. so, i didnt know whether he'd let me off especially that the tv concepts are going to be presented that week (and im sort of the lead art director on that). well, as it turns out, all the worrying was unnecessary (as with all worrying).

knocked on his door. more like wall actually. "hey jules, can i leave early next monday." "ya sure." no questions asked, no definition of early wanted, just a quick yes. but of course, i ended up explaining to justify the useless worry a bit. "im heading to chicago for that art show. they've picked 3 of my works. the chicago office is flying me over..." "oh, wow. show me your work." "i dont have them with me but ill show them next time." "well, good luck." "thanks, jules." it was that easy. i didnt even need to tell when id be back. amazing.

of course, this is the same julian whom i saw in the office last sunday. who was his quite usual funny self again. so i go to the office. hoping no ones there so i can work on my personal shit (and print the loads of colored pages for my book). but turns out 4 of us had the same idea of coming to the office. one of them julian. "what are you doin here?" he asks. "umm, my quark isnt working so i had to come to the office (read: i need to print loads of shit and i dont want to spend a shitload of money at kinko's) " "are you working on office stuff?," he asks. "no." "ok good." turned out he wasn't either.

but anyway enough of this bullfrog. ive booked my flight and hotel (grand total of $440+ for a 12-hour stay in chicago all to be paid for by the office there, wow). will be staying at the hilton hotel with my very own room with a king-size bed and complimentary internet connection (coz they know ill be dying to blog whatever good news by then). of course, im looking forward to the big small trip. looking forward to see the other works at the exhibit as well. and hopefully win a few awards here and there (to make julian proud of his delinquent art director).

but of course that's for monday next week. there's still a lot in store for this week. a dinner meeting tomorrow coz ive been formally invited to be part of the ateneo alumni association core here in NY. 2 officemates' cabaret type show on thursday with some 15 of us from the office watching. another saturday career workshop with the art directors club. and several others im sure im missing.

if there's anything you need, just let me know. ill go and check with julian. if he says no, which i doubt, ill bring it up to god. if still no, then ill go ask your... your boss.