First Day at DraftFCB

So today was my first day at DraftFCB. My first REAL day at work since, well, since the Navy really. It was actually refreshing to be able to not only SAY I'm working but KNOW that I'm doing something that I love and doing it where I want to be doing it at! I have to tell you though that I was extremely nervous this morning when I woke up. It probably be started when I kept waking up at various intervals last night. Just like a kid before his first day at school, I woke up at 4, 5, 6 and so on until I had to get up. Yep, I was a bit tired but super anxious to go. Who was I gonna meet? How were they going to treat me? And what if they don't like me or my work? Those questions ran through my head, naturaly.

So how did I do? I think I did alright. Here's the break down.

7:15 AM - Woke up and made coffee while Creta (my roommate) was in the shower.

8:00AM - We headed out the door and walked to the station. I had my breakfast - a bannana and a cup of coffee.

8:15AM - We got on the train and headed downtown. She got off at 55th and I headed down to 33rd on the 6 train.

8:45 - I made it out, walked towards the Empire State Building and sat down at the park to think. I was waaaay early (didn't have to be in until 9:30) so i just people watched and drank my coffee while concepting. I just scribbled some notes, nothing much.

9:15 - I headed for the building and signed in at security.

9:30 - Met Danna and she took me on a tour. Come to find out everyone in my department comes in around 10 - 10:30 so it was pretty dead in the office. I love being a Creative!

10AM - Went to my desk (I'm so freaking happy to have MY OWN DESK!) but didn't see a computer there so Danna went to take care of it. The not-so-new but highly usable MAC showed up on my desk about 15 minutes later. 

Well, not to keep doing the times break down thing but it all kind of muddled into one after that. I did things such as meet with my mentor, Justine, and my supervisor, Frank (whom I met on last Monday's reception). Met with my other co-creatives on the team (they all seem pretty cool). 

I wanted to kind of catch myself up on what the client was all about so I took some of the stuff they did prior and started going through it and reading the copy. It was pretty good from what I saw. Nice and clean and simple. Had a lot of humor and witty copy in it so I also sat in on a conference call with a client which was interesting. It kind of helped me get up to speed too on how the client wants the DM's and other things to look. 

So I ended up working on this project with Justine by about 2 o'clock. I really wanted to just get started working so I basically took anything she handed. It was pretty cool actually to work on something and show them how savvy I was in the programs. I asked another guy, Tomas, about giving me stuff too but since the original file was in Quark, I asked him to hold off on it since I'm not too comfortable in it. So the map came in an illustrator file but was very roughly done. I kind of knew that it had to be cleaned up and the color scheme/font changed to fit the look so I did that for the rest of the day. I didn't leave until about 6:30pm but time just flew by so I didn't mind. I hope I get more stuff to do tomorrow.

 I think I'm going to like it here. It's a very corporate yet laid back atmosphere. It reminds me somewhat of the Navy in a way in the sense that there seems to be a lot of structure and management going one. There's a lot of people working there so it seems like a hierarchy would make sense. I just hope there's none of the negative stuff that I remember in the Navy. Like people not pulling their weight or B.S.-ing around all day and leaving early. That totally irks me about it. 

Alrighty, off to look for apartments on Craigslist. Oh, I better call Sean too. I kind of miss him.

What a weekend!

Okay, so still not in New York but what a trip it has been! I just drove from San Diego to DC in about a week. That does seem like a long time, it usually takes 3 days driving but since I also stopped in Denver and Orlando, it took a bit. 

The adventure began with the drive from San Diego to Denver. I thought driving to Vegas was bad, this was ridiculous! I drove 1100 miles straight up and down the mountain on rural roads. What a drive too! My paranoia totally took over. Images of falling rocks, high-speed chases - a la "Grindhouse" - and even alien abductions ran through my head. That's what happens when imagination runs away with you!

So finally stopping in Colorado was fun as well as a good break from driving. I got to see some friends that I haven't seen for about 4 years now. Damon was my roommate while I was stationed in Japan. He certainly hasn't changed much which is a good thing. He's always been a very considerate and cool guy. I am glad I took the time out to see him. Josh is a great guy too and he looks like he's as happy as he's ever been. Sarah seems happy too. Certainly more calm than what I can remember from such a long time ago. I hope they all do well in the future.

The real fun begins next with the longest drive EVER from Denver to Orlando. A total of 1800 miles straight. Originally I was planning to stop at a motel for a night and then get on but since I figured that I should save some money, I just stopped at rest stops to nap then be on my way. I did that for about 100 times...lol. No, I didn't but it certainly felt that way. The first half of the drive certainly breezed by. Especially with Elton and George Michael to help me out. Now I can totally do a concert with them anytime...just ask!

Now the second half...was the longest, most exhuasting, and downright boring drive I have EVER done. I was struggling to stay awake, even with rest stops and all. I could not get up for the life of me. Karaoke, beef jerky, and soda did not work like it should have. Man! 200 miles doesn't seem like much but it felt like forever when it's 200 miles left out of 1800.

I got to Florida at about 7 in the morning and it was the happiest moment ever. I was ALIVE! Now all I wanted to do was sleep like the dead. I met my friends from San Diego and Tampa there so it was a good reunion. Met some new ones too.

The next couple days were, safe to say, full of ups and downs. I had the best time of my life but there were people around who were not as lucky and affected everyone around them. I think that there is a lot of maturing to do for this friend of mine and hopefully, after this, he will. If not, we might not be as close friends as we were anymore. No one needs that kind of headache and responsibility in their life.

So I need to save the juicy stuff for the next post. Or if you end up talking to me in person....just ask.