This Is My Life

It’s 10am on a Thursday morning. I’m sitting at Bo’s Coffee MOA branch waiting for word that the truck bearing our booth for the Franchise Expo within a half hour drive away.

I had been in the area since 8am, the scheduled opening of the ingress today. I’m anxious because we should have started our ingress yesterday but our contractor is being their inefficient self so we couldn’t.

I’m also at the verge of calling off the sampling activity we have at Ateneo. They are asking for things that are not practical, bordering on unreasonable. So if things don’t go my way this afternoon, the whole thing is off.

I already called the office to adjust the arrival of our stuff. I had left instructions for them to leave the office at 12nn. But with the booth arriving just around that time, there is no point pulling people from the office till mid-afternoon.

That’s today. The past three days, almost 90% of my time was taken up by the preparation for the expo. I try to keep up with the rest of the things I must attend to but I must admit everything else has taken a backseat.

But I must also admit that I feel so fine. I’m in my element. Work piling 3 stories high, time running out, I’m keeping my temper in check, running the show as efficiently as I can.


Last week is almost a blur in my memory. All I remember is that Xavier, Buddha and Magneto were all here last week and Magneto added more to my work load. But that’s alright because the work he assigned is something that I want to do.

The week before that is what I remember more. On top of my regular work, I accepted the role of the California Raisin Lady. It paid me well considering that it’s just about 3-hour work every day. But before you all ask for balato, I already spent it all.

Yes, I did. And yes, a part of me is asking if it’s necessary. but taking into consideration the people on whom I spent the money on, and my reasons, then the answer is yes.

And yes, had I not spend a single cent of it, I have already saved half of my fare to the US, a trip that I really should make a couple of times before 2012. But if you saw the faces of those people, my expiring multiple entry visa is almost no match.

Sometimes, when I’m alone, I would ask myself if I’m unknowingly trying to buy their loyalty and affection. But then I’d dismiss the thought. Because I am certain that I will not ask that of them, that it is I who feel affection towards them, and that I am just celebrating their being good people.

And then I’d ask myself if I’m unfairly tying them to debt of gratitude towards me. But then I’d dismiss that thought too because I know I will not obligate them in any way, that what I will ask of them is what I will ask of them no matter what.

Anyway, the stint as the California Raisin Lady is the one thing that I had been wanting to write about but my life is kind of hectic for almost a month now. So instead, I will just tell you that that experience is something that I will remember for a while. Among other things, it’s the first time that someone asked for my autograph. True, it’s actually the green-haired lady from whom the kid asked for an autograph. But I am the green-haired lady!

I had also been looking around for an assistant. But we haven’t found a good enough candidate. You know anyone who might be interested? Believe it or not, we are actually hiring for attitude combined with instincts for Marketing. Xavier and I share this belief that skills can be learned. So if you know anyone who is looking for a different kind of a learning experience, send him (or her) my way.

Okay. That’s it for now. I just received a phone call. I have to make a quick presentation for sending to Cebu after lunch.