Things happen for a reason....

Sorry for not being good at updating, but I'm trying. Things are very busy for both of us: Chip is crazy with readings and school and work and attempting to be an actor (more on that to follow) and I've been working on the Honda holiday clearance stuff (which we pitched today, and went well. I'm getting much more confident standing in front of 30 men without being nervous.)

Chip has been asked to be in a movie. No kidding: it has ties with Jennifer Connolly and Clive Owen, apparently. He dies in the movie, btw. Apparently his character has a girlfriend, but they don't do anything intimate. Sounds like some of the people I've dated.

I digress...

So, today we pitched for Honda...and I just received a phenomenal compliment from my Executive Creative Director:

"Brenda, you did a great job presenting today. You have something that a lot of talented Art Directors fail to have: CONFIDENCE IN PRESENTING. Many, many Art Directors get up, and freeze up - but you - I don't know if you're born with it, or if you've learned it - you've got that confidence that sells. Even if you don't like the idea, you show them that you're proud of the work that we've done together. Great job, girl."

This, my friends, is one thing my Alma Mater didn't teach: confidence in work. Even if you know the spot is being done just to SELL (not to show creativity - even in limited form) you have to act like your work is the best thing for the client. You have to believe in the product. I don't think enough people believe in their work, and the client can tell. I can't tell you the number of times I watched my classmates and peers get up in front of the class and teacher and were unable to explain their way through the creative work they spent 20 hours making. How is that possible? Maybe some people just don't like standing up in front of a large audience. Maybe I'm in the wrong business. Maybe I need to be in the spot light more often. Just like my Chip. He has that confidence. He knows what he's good at and it shows. I hope to emulate that as well.

In hindsight, I recall presenting the work in a booming, clear and very confident way. I think it may have made a very lasting impression, and for my coworkers to take notice in my natural ability to speak to a mass of 30 men in suits without stuttering, getting nervous or having a shaky voice - speaks volumes to me. It was a great compliment and it's nice that someone noticed.

In other news, Liz, my maid of honor and best friend - who moved out here in April - is leaving after being here for six months. Where is she going, you ask? ENGLAND.

yes, to the land of our former owners, the land where it is separated from the US by a common language. To England: the land of patron saint St. George, the land of crumpets and real football, of spotted dick and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, of a monarchy and Parliament and Union Jack, of the BBC and David Bowie; of continental eating: with fork in the left hand and the knife in the right; and of course - home to the original TV shows that we Americans kindly rip off - poorly.

There's much more to what the country has to offer - I'm sure. Like fog and rain and cold (I'm not talking only about the personalities over there)...but in honesty, the Britons don't show affection to anything other than dogs and horses.

I'm kidding here.
Liz will be attending the University of Winchester to obtain her Master's degree to help her career in Journalism. She has promised to return for the wedding - because if she didn't, she'd probably want to stay in England because it's too far for me to travel and kill her. :)

I wish Liz all the luck in the world, because I know she loves Europe. She'll be successful and happy there and she will be missed. I toast to Liz and her ventures, and here's to the next year until we meet again.

Now...Chip. He's going to act in an independent movie. He met a guy at one of the auditions for Nancy Hayes, and the guy thought Chip was exactly what he needed. The film deals with a lot of touchy issues: from homosexuality to global warming to politics to rape. It's a different kind of "Crash" it seems - except this one isn't about race - it's about HUMANITY.

so that's it in a nutshell. I want to extend birthday wishes to a few people who are my wonderful September babies (apparently, a lot of NYE humping??)
-Liz
-Jill
-Emily Morrison
-Tess Dixon
There might be others....but the most important September Birthday comes to one person, without whom there would be no blog here to read.

No...not me...but my MOM!

Happy 59th, Mom. Love you!

Ok, this is Brenda....I'm outta here. Love and kisses to all.

PS: Hang in there Jeff. xo