problems always arise at 5 pm

What a couple of days it's been.

It's almost 8 pm, I'm still at the office. No one else is here but I feel like maybe if I'm HERE then I'll be able to stop any more issues that arise from elsewhere. Unlikely, but whatever.

As you probably know, my main project lately has been these 'invitations' for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for a group of 1000 CEOs and execs. Tomorrow I send out the first 60, to the most important people (prime ministers of england, australia, etc). They are a custom designed book within a box. The box was the issue yesterday. Now, I sorted it out and I have all the boxes, and they look GREAT (see photo)... and I HAD most of the guts from the printer, until about 5 minutes ago when I noticed the printer had failed to fill in the variable text data for the DATES of the trip for each guest!!! This was 100% his fault as all the ones I saw were correct. I have spoken with him and he says he'll 'sort it out immediately' but seriously.... I mean an INVITATION HAS DATES ON IT PEOPLEEEEE! There's also all these problems with the Chinese - our translator (who, conveniently, is in Beijing) has "approved" the copy 3 times now, and then we send him the proof from the printer... and he changes MORE stuff... even though it's exactly like what he approved vigorously a week ago. So yes, these are the problems I'm dealing with, I know designers deal with them all the time and constantly - but what I REFUSE to do is move my original due date. I will have these invitations out at 4 pm to DHL (<- sensing a problem there).


outside of box


Inside of box showing book- which contains Invitation materials.


those are luggage tags- they have a different insert than that "INSERT BUSINESS CARD HERE" one.

Amir and I have dinner reservations for 630 (he doesn't know that - but he's on a plane so oh well)- It is nearly impossible to get in to where we're going and I will not forego these reservations and a pleasant evening with amir.
So there.

Anyway, it was my last day with Grace today as she's headed to Bejing for 3 months tomorrow... She is a JetSet contractor who has sat next to me since I was on Level 18 last month. She's also the one who told me to read Shantaram... which was the best book I've EVER read so she obviously rocks. Oh and she's Canadian. We took a pic.



Saturday is Derby Day. My outfit is fabulous. Sunday we go to Sydney, I'll be there till Wed, staying in Manly, and can't wait to see the boys.

I shouuld probably head out... I got a spray tan like 10 hours ago... I probably am in dire need of a shower before I turn to a carrot.

They just turned out the lights.