Adventures in Advertising

Last week, we had a company field trip that started off as a scavenger hunt in downtown Toronto. I tackled the Queen Street strip with my team mate, Steve, who lives in St. Catherines or something - somewhere far away - and I got to introduce him to several Toronto hot-spots like The Condom Shack and Hooters. Unfortunately, it was really fucking hot that day, so I chose not to post any of my pictures from the scavenger hunt because I just looked like crap.

Afterward, we all boarded the S.S. Minnow (MIN_O!!!) where we were forced into singing the theme song to Guilligan's Island. This was probably the low point of day.













We had lunch on the boat while we drifted along on Lake Ontario. I was really pooped from the whole morning of running around (even in my cherry Keds, my feet blistered) so I was super cereal (thuper theareal, ref: South Park) that afternoon. See me here with my manager, Adam. Adam is a superstar account manager - only 25 years old, practically running our account by himself, and he just bought his SECOND house. I'd consider myself lucky if I had my own place by 25. But Adam's married. Things are different for married people.













This is my team. On the S.S. MINO, we had to build an invention for the island. Our fearless creative director, Josh, came up with the igenious idea of building a boat for a dozen parachute men. Needless to say, we didn't win the prize for having the best invention. We lost to some Nazi squirrel ultimate fighting arena. I must say, though, the pitch for it was amazing.













I used to think working at Python was fun with their X-Rated Christmas parties, but this summer, I've gone to three company parties! And each time, I find myself more comfortable and more grateful for where I was fortunate enough to work on my internship. I've met a lot of really cool people. People like Laura, who used to live in New Zealand and is one of the coolest chicks I have ever met in my life. She taught me how to use the cappuccino machine downstairs, for which I am eternally grateful.



















Nothing like caffein (and any other type of addictive substance) to draw people together. The skinny guy in the middle down here is Nick, one of our resident copywriters. He makes an amazing cappuccino. He is always trying to steal ths squish toys I have decorated my cubicle with.













Besides being social and everything, I got an amazing chance to enjoy Toronto from afar. The breeze on the lake and the sun warming my skin is one of my favourite memories of the day. With all the craziness going on right now (my lack of permanent employment, my grandmother being very sick, my closet overflowing, &c.), I drank in the simple pleasure of being on a boat cruise on a beautiful August day.













Afterward, we all took cabs to the Dock's patio where everyone got even more drunk (except me). This was probably the MOST memorable part of the day, in fact, one of the MOST memorable part of my life (perhaps) because Nick and Barbara (see pic below) convinced me, Michael (chief creative director) and Jeff (the other intern) to try the bungie swing thing, where they strap you on to a bungie chord, crank you up like five stories and you pull a chord and swing downdowndown and upupup screaming so loud that your screams actually drown out the other voices also screaming beside you! I've always wanted to try it, but it costs $75 at Wonderland (it's probably taller there). At the Docks, it only cost $25 - $20 extra if you want to go again - which we did! I loved it. The feeling struck deeply with my strange long-standing facination with death, mortality and the afterlife. I don't know if I'll ever go sky diving (5 stories is NOTHING compared to say a couple thousand feet in the air off a moving aircraft!), but I'm definately more open to the idea of bungie jumping and zip lining.



















This was the first time I'd ever gone anywhere with a bunch of people where 1/4 of us actually went on the bungie swing. I discovered a newfound respect for my co-workers, people who like me seek out new and stimulating experiences wherever they may find us.

And it is for this reason, I have decided to extend my internship and hopefully find a full-time position in October. I figure... I'm new to the industry, I might as well stay where I'm learning with people I like and respect, and who like and respect me (I hope).

I know this was a work post, but I owed you guys some pictures at least since I haven't been posting regularly. Don't get too excited, but I've been working on two very special drawings, which I hope to finish and post before September. Stay tuned...