This and That

Well, it seems to be feast of famine with me and my writing. With my editor hounding me for stories, I am now forced to sit and write something. So, here's a bit of this and that...

I must first write about Dave, as this is something I've been meaning to brag about for awhile. My ever so talented designer guy has executed his first successful advertising campaign for City Square Mall. For those who don't know, this is a funky, little community-feel mall in a heritage building, located near Vancouver General Hospital. In his usual manner of getting work, Dave just reads his emails and checks his messages and there it was in December, a call from City Square Mall. They were looking for a new designer to head up their marketing and advertising and were interested in his work. After initial meetings, putting together a proposal and giving his pitch, he landed the contract. Yes, Dave, who has not had to make a formal advertising pitch like this since he was in school, went in and totally wowed them (as I knew he would). After coming up with some initial concept ideas and looks, (which they loved so much they had difficulty choosing just one!) his first task was to put together advertising and signage for the mall's Emergency Preparedness Fair.
I have become Dave's wordsmith and intern and had much fun brainstorming ideas for the tag line while soaking in the hot tub after a day of skiing. The result.... my tag line "Do You Have What It Takes?" with Dave's photography and all that other graphic design stuff he does on the computer, resulting in signs for the mall, ads in the Georgia Straight, advertising banners on the Clear FM radio station website, and ballots for draw prizes at the mall. VERY COOL! This is just the beginning of Dave's year long contract, which will allow him full creative freedom and the opportunity to expand his advertising portfolio. I'm so excited and proud of him!


Other news in Dave's world...he has been asked to be one of four judges at the Marketing Association for Credit Unions (MACU) Marketing Games and Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards (AIMEs). I believe he will be judging entries to determine the best marketing campaigns and strategies in the credit union industry. If you want to see his bio (written by his wordsmith and intern - that's me) check out: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Custom.aspx?cid=17&e=fc6855c6-09a4-468d-bdce-114f33580cae (just copy and paste it into your browser).

I myself had a two week funk (hence no blogging) which I survived. I was once again reminded by my shrink this week that, well, that's just the way it goes. Nothing else can be done to my already complicated cocktail and I just have to ride these times out. I'm now feeling better and so of course, it doesn't seem all that bad. I shall await for some researchers to come up with something better. In the meantime, I shall continue to try to just go with the flow. As always, I'm so grateful to Dave for all his patience and for knowing exactly how to deal with me and sticking to that plan.

I do seem to have exceptional karma at the moment though. Perhaps it is my payback for the times I feel so crappy. First, my brother calls to tell me that he's got us tickets to see City and Colour in May. He paid top price for front row seats and insists I will only pay the ticket price. I am so grateful that me and Dave (brother) have our relationship and that he is so darn good to me! And Helga...my sweet sister in law who I think is completely amazing and am so blessed to have in my life. Last night she informed me that she had purchased me a membership at the Aquarium so that I could take my sweet peanut Markus anytime we wanted to go. Just out of the blue, she does this for me. And then there is Mexico...

Yes, I am hopping on a plane tomorrow with my friend Maj for a week in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, I know it's totally sick. I have been back just over a month and off I go again. But then again, I figure this is my payback for all the times I've had to suffer through the crap of my mood swings. Poor Dave...he is currently in Ontario, where there is snow aplenty. I feel soooooooooo bad for him. NOT! Now it's my turn to be away somewhere hot and tropical while he is at home. Or in Ontario. Ha. Ha. And P.S. - I am stocked with Ativan and Seroquel for my flight, so there shouldn't be any problems. Other than perhaps Maj having to shake me awake when we get there.

So that is a bit of this and that in the world of Ange and Dave. Our year seems to be off to a smashing start, despite my own little dips here and there. Until I return with stories of sunny Mexico...I'm off!