January 2012
9 posts
And the search continues...
It has been tough looking for a new job.
A friend of mine told me once that job ad and HR departments can be very dumb.
“Seeking Graphic Creative with 10+ years of experience in Museum Work” - I am not a curator
“3+ years professional retail automotive experience” - I never sold used cars
“Must have 5+ years experience in Creative Suite 5 (CS5 came out last...
My ultimatum
From: Needtopayrent@me.com Subject: PayChecks Date: January 21, 2011 To: thebosses@thecompany
Bosses,
It has been 4 weeks since we were able to cash a paycheck.
The continuous pressure of unpaid bills, the loss of my savings, plus an expensive daily commute to Long Island has made it impossible for me to keep waiting for paychecks that never arrive.
Until I have all 4 paychecks that are...
The first time I touched snow
I remember the first time I touched snow.
I was 5 years old. I was out with my mother, probably running errands. She was carrying both, me and a tube of candy very similar to M&Ms.
My mother, as new parents tend to do, had covered me in so many layers of clothing that I walked like a penguin. My tiny hands were encased in thick mittens, but the tube of candies allowed me to pop the sweets...
“Technology is an enabler of rights, not a right itself…It is a mistake to...”
– Vint Cerf, co-creator of the internet.
Sadness
Yesterday I was very sad.
The people who knows me knows that is take a lot for me to be sad. But yesterday I was in the brink of tears.
The Company is yet again, not paying their employees. This Friday it will be the fourth week that we don’t get paid. To add insult to injury, we were hand out checks last Friday, 3-week-old checks, but we were told not to cash them until we are told we can do...
Bad Rep
Today I had to call a previous provider for The Company. We have run out of boxes for a small product so they asked me to call the company who made the boxes before for pricing on a second order.
The sales person, James, told me a few things before we can start talking about business.
Before I tell you anything about pricing, you should know that The Company is a on a credit hold list. You guys...
2 tags
The Annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge.
Every new years day, Coney Island (which never cease to keep me amuse) hosts the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge.
On that day, hundreds of people come to Coney Island, in the middle of the winter, at 1:00 PM, the national anthem is sang and MC announces that the plunge is officially on. At that point, hundreds of brave newyorkers jump in the freezing waters of the Atlantic.
There is a lot...
Another year that goes.
Here what happened in my world in 2011
-I freelance a lot
- I sailed around the Caribbean (again)
- I sailed across the Atlantic.
- I visit Spain (Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid)
- I traveled first class international from Madrid to New York.
-I did summer stock theater in Indiana.
- I got a importantish job at “The company”
-I traveled to China
-I move out of my place in 171st...
December 2011
7 posts
The bible says so
We all know the cry of Christian homophobes who use Leviticus (18:22) to condemn homosexuality. Well, as JC said “Whoever is free of sin….” you know the rest.
Here are other finds:
Leviticus forbids round haircuts (19:27), touching pig skin or eating pork (11:8), fortune telling (19:31) the punishment for which is exile (20:6), tattoos (19:28), wearing polyester or any fabric...
Overtime
The week of the Greater New York Trade Show I worked 62 hours. That is twenty-two overtime hours. The week before that I worked, 55 hours. That is fifteen extra hours. All that extra work in order to cover holes, fix mistakes, and have print materials, promotional pieces, and 3 infomercials ready for the show. It was a very stressful couple of weeks.
Three weeks later, after the company not being...
8 tags
Commute from Hell
Here how my hellish daily commute goes…
• 6:20 am - Alarm sounds .. snooze • 6:29 am - Alarm sounds again .. I get up. • 6:45 am - I leave the apartment. • 7:00 am - Catch the A train downtown (from 181st St to 34th St) • 7:20 am - Arrive to Penn Station and grab some breakfast (if i can afford it) • 7:31 am - Got in the LIRR towards Babylon. • 8:10 am - Arrive to Rockville Centre Station...
A new place.
The plans of moving to the West village fell through. The person who was helping to get us in this place downtown (that I never got to see) got stopped and delayed by the co-up board. Now there is not word about when this place will be available for move in, also, the current tenants are still in this apartment, so even if the co-op board allows subleters, there will not be an apartment to move...
Late payments
This new jobs of mine is becoming a big hassle already.
First, what used to be a one-hour, $30 a week commute thanks to a car pool, jumped to a 2 hour, $120 a week commute. Why? The chick that is fucking the driver moved to the city, so I got kicked out of the car pool. Oh the power of vagina.
On top of that, this company has been failing to pay its employees, or in my case, hand out bad checks....
Nothing is too wonderful to be true
I thought I found it. I though I got the ultimate job. I do what I love, I have a lot of room for creativity, I am free to make mistakes and learn from them, I get to travel around the world with all expenses paid (one trip to Shanghai so far), all while getting pampered back at the office. But, Nothing is too wonderful to be true.
This will be the fourth week in a row that we do not get paid....
November 2011
3 posts
3 tags
Greater New York Dental Trade Show.
The past 3 weeks have been a blur.
THe largest trade show of the year was coming up, and there was so much to do and so little time.
I had a lot of work to do, first one being that I have to come up with a lof of artwork for promotional materials. Bag, pens, clips, mouse pads, brochures, product samples, video presentations, out booth…
I know this is part of the job, but as fast I was...
Gift Cards
Every year, msotly because of my tight New York living, I made a christmas tree that saves me space, usually on a wall.
THis year I had the idea of making one of gift cards. So, I started collecting them.
In some stores, they have them sprinkled around, so is as easy as just taking them. One of each kind they have in display.
Some stores have them behind the counter, so just have to ask for...
October 2011
11 posts
International Trade Show
The reason I was send to Shanghai was to attend the International China Trade show 2011.
My company had a booth where we advertised our products. Besides being in the booth promoting our brand, part of my assignments included date gathering about what is new in the industry, how we can improve our presentations (trade show wise) and to find cheaper providers for the company.
The main problem I...
1 tag
Shanghai - Day 01
After a grueling 22 hour commute from New York City, I arrived to Shanghai, China.
I arrive to my hotel room at night time. My full panel windows on both sides of my room corner allowed me a fantastic view of Shanghai at night. I walked to the windows breathe in the view. It was an interesting feeling. This was my first intercontinental business trip. I was already looking forward to many more to...
2 tags
Getting ready
Tomorrow I am off to China. My first business trip. Acording to my intinerary, I will have a few days off. I am looking forward to wander the street of Shanghai.
Because we are going as a support team for one of international providers, we have several outfits that we will wear on specific days. We even have to wear a uniform (Adidas sweats pants an jacket with our logo in the back) for the trip...
The Ultimatum
One of the main issues about the company where I currently work is how they have taken the concept of “We are a family company” a little to far. Every body here is related at some level, with a few exceptions (Mostly the heads of the company), and mostly everybody belongs to the same family. This can work great for the company at times, but it also can be a problem.
Lately, there has...
4 tags
To the citizens of the United States of America...
In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves and also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the USA and therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictionary.) Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II...
So You Think you can Drag?!
In my past life (just one year ago) I was part of the New York City night entertament industry. I worked in front (waiter), behind (bartender) and on top (go-go boy) of a bar for many years. I meet a lof of people from promoters to drag queens, and those conections come in handy now and then.
Last night Tim and I went to see a fun contest being held at New World Stages. “So you think you...
3 tags
Zarkana
I have seen many Cirque Du Soleil shows in the past. From Alegria to Zumanity, in New York, Orlando and Las Vegas. They are all fantastic, but Zarkana will have a special place in my heart.
Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana, showing at Radio City Music hall is (as most Cirque shows are) an amazing spectacle of color, movent, music and fantastic acrobatics. But, all this feats are not what made...
Serino Coyne
It has been many years since I discovered Serino Coyne. I been wanting to work there since I started college. Serino Coyne specializes in advertising. Theatre Advertising. Two of my passions.
After years of applying to join the ranks, and a few pushes from a good friend of mine who is one of their biggest clients. I finally got a call from them to interview. Then the call me again for a second...
1 tag
Moving out
I packed my bags, and gifted the furniture. I throw away most of my kitchen stuff and my grandma and my aunt took must of the food in the kitchen. I stuff all could in a store facility and pack a travel suitcase with some clothes and small backpack with some books. My wallet and phone in my pockets.
I shut down the lights and left the keys with the building’s super. It was done. Another...
September 2011
9 posts
Brand Manager
“A brand manager typically ensures the quality and successful promotion of a certain line of products. He or she analyzes sales figures, sets prices, and oversees advertising campaigns. The manager explores different marketing strategies and directly contacts retailers to convince them to carry a brand. Brand managers work in almost every large corporation that manufactures commercial or...
Your trial period is over
My trial period at the Company has expired. Tomorrow morning I will have a meeting with The Bosses of the Company to discuss my pay. We had a brief talk today and they are really happy with my work. The want me here, and I do like it here too, but we have to agree on a price first.
I really wanted to work at Serino-Coyne, but I never hear back from them, althought I am constantly reviewing the...
The Company - Week 2
My trial at the Company ended last Friday, and this Monday I will have a meeting with the owners about what would be fair to pay me.
So far, they seem trilled with all my work. I have connected them with packaging designers, product photographer and I have bring new ideas on how to improve advertising and marketing for the company. I think I have leverage to request a better pay. I know I may...
7 tags
Fashion Week
The past week, I was once more working Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
Like the past season, I was assigned to the VIP Mercedes Benz Star lounge.
I learned that most of the Fashion week events are by invitation only. I know for sure that entrance to the VIP lounges (just 3, Amex, ING and Mercedes Benz) are definitely by invitation only.
I never see models in the VIP lounges, unless they are...
“I discovered today that ripe bananas glow under black (UV) light.”
– Link Salas
1 tag
4 tags
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Urban Dash - New York City
A new form of advertising in our days are apps.
There has been several companies who announce their precence by realizing an app of sorts. usually is just information about the store, or sweepstakes sponsor by the company.
Some adds are targeted to a very specific demographic, from light/ interior designers (GE’s “Mood Cam” lets you snap a pic of a room and see what it would...
August 2011
6 posts
The Company -Associate Art Director
My job hunt has taking me to new places. Funny enough, none of the job leads I have found have come from applying to jobs directly, but from connections and friends.
This couple of weeks I am working as an Associate Art Director as the Company. I assigned the title myself, because they did not know what title to give me when they were entering me in the system. The company needed an in-house...
3 tags
Hurricane Irene
I have live to odd times in New York City before: the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the smoke ban of 2003, the great black out of 2003, the transit strike of 2005, etc. I can add another odd day to my list now, the night that Irene touched New York.
The subways were not running, neither the buses, many people got evacuated from flood risk areas (beach towns and areas near the water, like battery...
The Wedding
I have not havd much time lately to blog about anything. I it is not looking much better in the upcoming days either.
This past weekend I was in Philadelphia at a wedding. I love weddings!
My besties’ family have been my adopted exended family for years. I know a lot of them, and they are all awesome fun people.
The weddingw as in a large venue in North Philly, after the church...
5 tags
The Quest
This past week I have taken a new job. I am looking for a job.
I spend a good 8 hours a day, polishing my portfolio, writting and rewritting cover letters and applying to anything I can find that is suitable to me
I am learning a lot. For example, my original resume was bad, I mean really bad. After a lot of changes it has improved a lot. ALso I learned that the kind of job I do, although...
The Job Hunt
I am drowning. I never felt this broke before. It feels like being poor. (Being broke is temporal, being poor is eternal)
I have never worried to much when my finances are low; always a solution present itself. I may find a few odd jobs here and there and I am back a float. Not this time. I am really struggling this time and nothing has come my way. The different debts I have to pay, from 2 CC...
July 2011
9 posts
Feeding Frenzy
I usually do not like to write things that happen while working at Restaurant Associates, but this is worth mentioning.
Last night we worked at Time Warner Center for a conference related to Mexican tourism. The guest where mainly travel agents and travel writers. I recall being asked constantly if there will be food after the conference. “We will have some Hors d’Oeuvres later...
“For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know”
– Wise Man - Sucker Punch (2011)
8 tags
