Thank you...

I never imagined the day was so near. Like, so damn near !
But it is (was) and now I am at home sleeping till 8.30, waking up to think that on a normal day my bus would have reached Tripunithura by now; at 9.30 I am having breakfast and I can't stop smiling thinking, how at this time none of you reached office and I was happily cyber scaffing! ; at 11.30 I am watching a discussion on tv and my mind wanders to the chai-time discussions we had; at 12.30 I am lunching and I know that you guys are not even hungry....every train of thought is somehow leading to that little space we so fondly called our own, where we laughed, giggled, argued over silly stuff and did everything but work. Ok, I am exaggerating. There were times when we worked. ;)

I won't say it's bad sitting at home doing nothing. I am kind of enjoying it. But it is also true that I am missing a lot of stuff. I guess I must get straight to the point of this post, which is very simple. I want to thank you guys for being there, for loving me, for giving me opportunities for personal and professional growth (that last line is right outta my rsg. letter, but I mean it), for being true friends. I would be sinning if I do not write something nice about each one of you here. So here it is, from the depths of my heart...

Expresso aka RGB: I have never met anyone who can actually look 'perfection' in the eye and say 'I personify you'. RGB is a perfectionist when it comes to her work. You would overlook it- a spot on the design with a darker tint, an almost invisible line running around a nmemonic, a slight change in the tone of the copy, a broken link, a spelling mistake...the list goes on. On a personal level, she's the most chilled out person you would have ever met. No pretences, unnecessary flourishes, ego, attitude or bossiness. A friend who lends you a willing ear no matter how silly the subject you are talking about, who has a hundred interesting tales to narrate (re-re-re-replay sometimes..hihi), who encourages, motivates and inspires. I pray to God that everyone gets a boss like her. But I guess the Lord is busy. Wonder if He would entertain such requests. I can already sense that there would be none like you in the future. You have spoilt me for sure! Love you!

KK aka Holy Lama: Truth, righteouness, knowledge, goodness, spirituality...these words resonate when I say the words Holy Lama. The fact that it has little or nothing to do with what you really are (fun, funny, naughty), is something I choose to shrug off. You definitely are my holy guru. Who do I turn to for advice in times of distress, who shows me the inside of her palm with the tip of the thumb and index finger touching each other, saying All izz well, who mesmerizes me with that halo around the head (a trick of the light of course), and who, finally who, smiles that wicked smile and mouth that funny hash-push accent, making all woes disappear into thin air? Who? Who? Who? Of course, YOU! What would our office have been, without a soul like you? KK is just the person to go to when your spirits are low, hopes hit rock bottom and when the world seems unjust and unfair. Speaking to her you will realize, just how trivial your own mental problem is. ;)
Well, take this. KK is the only person on the face of this earth who will laugh heartily at a jibe like this. Sporty, thy name is Lama. :) Your are kids are lucky to have a mom like you around. I have never said this to you but I feel obliged to share the details of my day with you. Somehow, narrating them to you makes me feel great. I love the way you talk, yes, I do. :) I love you. Miss our non-stop chattering :(

Latte aka Novice Writer: You made the process of settling in easy. No, that's an understatement. You made me realize that it was not important to know a person for a hundred years to be able to call them your best friend. The best thing about you is that you are sensitive, which makes you sensitive to other's feelings. You can never hurt a person. Intentionally or unintentionally. You are crazy enough to have dreams where vampire attacks turn you into a rabid dog, where ants where pants and where all the books that you have read and not read, form a frightening collage! In you I found another sister, a friend for life. :) I love you. You have a bright creative spark and please, please, please, don't let it die down. Fuel it, nurture it and I see you going places. Literally and otherwise. :) I have not even said half of what I feel about you but I must say this, you really mean a lot to me.

Well, so that's that. This is what I feel. Before I get too emotional and all that let me round off saying that I was destined to meet you people. That's why I also call myself Destiny's child. Because so far, my destiny has taken me to people and places I have loved. Wish me luck dear friends, I hope my destiny continues riding this good tide....

-Cappuccino

Bang on!

Around 130 employees sat at their desks looking straight into the monitor. The only sound heard was the tik-tik-tik as fingers ran over the keyboards and the click-click-click of the index fingers on the mouse. The usually noisy Creative Department was unusually quiet as KK, Latte and Cappuccino sat thinking-typing-thinking-typing at their seats. Espresso was on leave and so her seat lay empty, the computer switched off.

BANG BANG BANG BANG! THUD THUD THUD THUD! The ‘computerish’ silence was suddenly broken.

Around 100 employees got up from their seats and looked towards the canteen from where the noise seemed to be coming. Yes, we have around 30 employees who seldom look beyond their computer screens, codes or programs. For them, no distraction is a distraction. God bless them! It takes all types….Ok…I am going into unnecessary details.

A few guys ran to the spot where the noise was coming from. We all stood there, watching the drama unfold. Latte looked alarmed. Cappuccino looked anxious. KK wanted to go with the investigating team but Latte and Cappu held her back.

After a few moments, we saw one of the big bosses (lets call him x) striding out of the canteen area with a frazzled look. His hair was slightly disheveled (mm…we couldn’t tell actually, he has close-cropped hair, you see) and his shirt was not completely tucked in. Out came another guy (the one who sets our computers right whenever there is a virus attack or something of the sort) with an equally fatigued look. Now, his hair was really ruffled and his face looked like he had received a blow. X strode off into the biggest boss’s room and the computer mechanic went out off the office. The investigating team was seen coming out with an exhausted look too.

'Fight scene! Fight scene!’ KK squeaked.

'What fight scene?’ asked Latte and Cappuccino

‘The mechanic and X had a fight! Isn’t that obvious? You didn’t see them coming out?’ KK said. She went on, ‘See X has gone in to complain to the boss and the mechanic he went out, right?’

Latte and Cappuccino nodded wildly.

'Now, I know where he has gone.’ ‘I know, I know.’ KK repeated so that Latte and Cappuccino would ask her ‘Where oh where?’ It worked.

‘Where oh where?’ chorused Latte and Cappu.

‘He has gone to write his resignation letter. Just wait and watch.’ KK chanted.

We saw the mechanic guy coming in and yes, he had a neatly folded sheet in his hand!!!!

‘See, see, what did I say?’ KK said triumphantly

Latte and Cappu swallowed hard. A fight (mm…physical) had never broken out in the office. It was surreal. Almost Hindi movie-like.

One of the guys of the investigating team sits next to Latte. He reached his desk. Keeping her eyes glued on to X and the mechanic who walked towards each other, in slow-motion, Latte asked the investigating team member, ‘What was it about?’

X and mechanic were now just a few feet away.

'Oh that..’ he said…

‘Oh what?’ Cappu, Latte and KK asked

X and mechanic were a few inches away now.

‘X got locked inside the bathroom; mechanic was trying to get him out. We helped him open the door.’

KK, Latte and Cappuccino stood there with their mouth slightly open. They must have looked very foolish indeed for the guy who broke (read spoiled) the news to them let out an amused chuckle.

The three of them looked on as X and mechanic came face-to-face; smiled at each other; X put a hand around mechanic’s shoulder in a thankful gesture and they walked towards the canteen.

Latte and Cappuccino sank into their seats and Cappuccino asked, ‘then what was that paper? Sheesh…what fools we are!’

KK narrowed her eyes, kept staring at the duo that walked into the canteen and said, ‘I think I know what the paper is…’

One vexed look from Cappu and Latte, and KK was back on her seat thinking-typing-thinking-typing….

- Cappuccino

What in the name of God does a copywriter do?

It’s a question I have been asked umpteen times. And it’s a question I am not particularly fond of. No, I am not in the habit of snubbing people off but circumstances compel me to answer that particular question with my eyebrows furrowed, with a tone that comes somewhere between a snarl and an irritated shriek and a look that tells wise people to back off.

You may think I am a zombie gone paranoid. But listen to the precise way the question is framed for me. May be you will empathize.

Someone: What do you do?
Me (Creased brow, shaky voice, suspicious look): I am a copywriter

Someone (looks amused. Giggles, shows all of his/her teeth and asks as if he/she has just deciphered the Da Vinci Code), ‘Haha…You copy and write. Right?’

I am going to call him Ignorant Fool now.

Me (Takes a deep breath, smiles fake, takes a deep breath again): No. We write original copy.

Ignorant Fool: Ha Ha! Hi Hi! How can copy be original? (Another fit of laughter)

Me (Sound of my teeth cracking): I mean we write content. Content for websites, print ads, brochures or whatever.

Ignorant Fool (Slightly enlightened expression): Oh…ok…I get it now…

Me (Eyes light up): Yes…now you know! (May be I should just call him ignorant.)

Ignorant (The doubtful look is back on his face): So, it must be an easy job? Right?

Me (What-in-the-world look): Easy?! Depends on how creative you are! (May be I must stick to Ignorant Fool)

Ignorant Fool: Hahahahaahhahaahhahaa……….Oh my…haha…how can you..hahaha (He is laughing so much that he cant stop the drool drops he is spraying around)

Me (What’s-tickling-you-so-much-you-@#$%&* look): What?

Ignorant Fool: What is so…haha...creative…haha…about typing in content?

Me: I DON’T JUST TYPE IT! I WRITE THE REAL THING YOU DUMBASS!!!

Most foolishly ignorant person on earth: Arrey! Don’t get so hyper. You should have told me earlier that you take down what is given to you and then type it on the keyboard.

Me: (Wonders if he thinks that content is self generated from the computer, before fainting and hitting the ground hard)

PS: The title is not actually about the question 'someones’, ignorants, ignorant fools or most foolishly ignorant persons on earth' have. It is the question we copywriters have: ‘What in the name of God does a copywriter do... when he/she is asked the most insulting questions about his/her profession?’

Cappuccino

A Cuppa Onam

It’s Onam! The festival is right here, right now!!!
Ok…I am overdoing the excitement but then it truly is something to rejoice about. The other day at office we celebrated Onam. And boy! Wasn’t it fun?

All the people in our office came in the traditional Kerala attire – girls in the Kerala Saree and guys in Shirt and Mundu. Of course, there were spoil sports who gallantly walked in, in casuals giving excuses such as ‘I don’t have a matching blouse for my saree’, or ‘I woke up late’ and the worst one, ‘It’s so damn difficult’! Aaargh! If we could, why couldn’t they? Anyway, the loss was all theirs. While we gathered compliments from all directions on how lovely we looked, we could see the kill joys regretting not donning the saree. Haha! That put us at ease (evil laugh)

The sumptuous Onasadya was followed by entertainment programmes that included dumbsharade. But before that we had an ‘introduce yourself’ session for the new employees. Since Latte and I fall into that category, we were to ahem…introduce ourselves (as if no one knows us already ;) )! And it was Expresso’s and Suze’s wicked idea to convert into a mini-ragging session.

We had to pick lots and do whatever stuff was written on that fateful piece of paper. Latte and I luckily escaped with simple stuff such as saying A-Z the reverse order (which I didn’t complete! ‘Grins shamelessly’) and saying Happy Onam in some absurd order, which Latte did. Some people got ‘sing a song’, ‘dance’ etc etc, after watching which Espresso wished she hadn’t come up with the ragging idea in the first place. Ok, I am being mean here. It really was fun.

We also discovered some great talents, such as our new receptionist who looks this meek and sweet girl, but she set the stage on fire with her absolutely delightful mimicry skills. She mimicked male actors and politicians, in a way that would have put even male artists to shame. It was fab. And that is an understatement.

So all in all, it was a day filled with fun and enjoyment. Did I forget to mention the Pookalam (floral carpet)? I think I did. Well, it was all colours, wonderful designs and fragrance. That must give you an idea of how beautiful it was…

So that’s Onam at Over a Cuppa Copy. We have a couple of day’s holiday and will be back with our Onam @ home experiences soon. Till then, it is one big ‘Happy Onam’ wish from all of us to you.

On behalf of Latte, Espresso and KK,

Cappuccino

Have a wonderful Onam folks! :)

The malady of redundancy

I hate doing nothing!
On some other day I might have said exactly the opposite. Opposite not in the sense that I love doing nothing, but in the sense that I hate doing everything. Now, don’t look at me as if both sentences mean the same thing. There is a slight difference there. In fact, quite an obvious one, i.e. when you look at it intently. When you say, love doing everything it means that you are….oh..ok…I got a little carried away, sorry, I won’t go on, on that. Happy?

Well…it’s been a long week, the last one. Longer still, because there isn’t anything interesting to do. And that’s the reason why I am blogging away (a month ago, I was slogging away! Come to think of it!!!). And I don’t know if the recession is to blame. Ah…let’s leave the poor thing out of this. I am sure everyone’s sick of hearing that word now.

But I am so thankful to this little, teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy, cozy-cuddly space of ours where we let down our hair, put up our feet and sit back in peace and type our way to relief. Er…the letting down the hair and putting up the feet part are used as the phrases they are meant to be. I mean, come on. We are in the office. How can we put up our feet?!

And when I am done with the blogging, I go back to work. Hit the key board and get bored(these days i.e. the story is absolutely different on hectic days). And that is when my eyes stray around. Not that there is a great scenery around but then, something is better than nothing.

I look right and there sits KK and typing intently. I crane my neck and look at her monitor. I stifle a yawn. She is lurking around our blog. Yeah, this one. I look left and I see Latte staring dazedly at the screen. I crane my neck again. Oh, she is checking the number of visits we’ve had on google analytics. Wasn’t she doing that a couple of hours ago too? Ah…whatever. I turn around and look at Espresso. Now she is doing some serious work. And then she yawns and gives me one of her animated smiles.

And she navigates her chair to a spot close to the three of us and we laugh over some stupid content we have been asked to edit. Like, ‘Resort XYZ is located on the absolute beachfront.’ Or, ‘the people of Kerala are gourmets. They not only taste different but are different in the method they are prepared.’ (Er, who? The people?! All of us gulp). Another masterpiece, ‘here you get many gastronomic opportunities…’ (haha! This is fun, yeah, really!)

After the giggling session that turns into a guffawing session, I go back to my seat. In fact, I am back at my seat now. I am looking at the graphic guys. One of them is scratching his head and staring at the screen(I must mention he has drawn something incredible, which I can’t make head or tail of), another one just belched loudly and he, on the far end, did he just try to pick his nose? I don’t know. Whatever, if he did, then my gaze stopped him right on time.

People, by now you know that I am having some idle hours. I wish to go on but suddenly, I remember one translation stuff I have been procrastinating. Lemme get back to it.
Will get back to you real soon. It’s a promise!

-Cappuccino

The power of cuppa sessions...

Cuppa sessions are really something, I tell you! The things that we discuss remain in my head for quite sometime. As in, say, till bed time? I guess even beyond.

Like the other day, we were discussing about pets and dear lil’ Latte spoke about some chicks she had at home who jumped off the edge. Literally and otherwise. Otherwise, because they must have been crazy to do so and literally because they really jumped off the terrace into a pit outside Latte’s residence. And after all the drama got over all that Latte saw was a few feathers rising up from the pit… just like we see in cartoons…dust getting kicked up in clouds when Tom cat falls off a steep ravine…

I was so inspired about these stories about hens that that night I dreamt about it. Ultimate Drama queen that I am, how couldn’t I add some spice to it? I dreamt that Espresso, the head of our team lives in a palatial house. It is fully done in marble; there are white satin curtains and exquisite furniture. Antiquities such as marble cherubs are placed around tables.

Soon I discover that she runs an academy there. And I am her new student. I have no clue what the academy is about. But I find out soon. I see espresso catching hens and putting them into cages. So I was in a hen academy!!!

Espresso asks rather commands me to do the same. I tell her that I cant do it. Immediately she walks up to the calendar hung on the wall, picks up a green highlighter and puts a tick across that days date. “What?” I ask her looking baffled.

“I will do this every time you don’t catch a hen. Last month Latte also had a few ticks across her chart.” She tells me serenely.

I stare at her for a moment, blink and then…I guess I woke up.

And when I narrated this dream to my cuppa mates, all of them went into fits of uncontrollable laughter. All but one. Our dear Katten, who felt left out because I hadn’t included her in my dream. Too scared to disappoint her, I vowed that she would be present in my next dream/nightmare whatever…

And my wild thoughts are kind to me. I had a dream with all four us, that very night. I, Latte and Katten are going in a lift. Espresso is the lift operator. The three of us look like zombies. Espresso is quite cool doing her job. But I don’t think she is doing it right. The lift stops at all the wrong places. Anyway, we soon make it to the right floor. All four of us enter a room. There, I see my sister mopping the floor; her limbs moving mechanically, and a blank expression on her face. And this time, all four of us look like zombies…

And boy! Didn’t this make Katten glad? She was jumping up in joy for being included in this bizarre dream.

And guess what, my dreams seem to entertain my teammates so much, that right now, they deliberately talk of weird things hoping to trigger my imagination so that I have amusing dreams. And more often than not, they don’t have to try very hard. The crazy and the whacky come quite naturally to all of us. Yeah, seriously!

Cheers!

Cappucccino

Names and Namesakes

Now that we have revealed our profiles we have to let you know how we came to be known as Espresso, Katten Kaapi, Latte and Cappuccino….Here is the story (reasons rather) behind our names and alias’s.

Espresso a.k.a Rhino

Of the several meanings the word (Coffee as well) espresso has, espresso conveys the sense of ‘just for you’ and ‘quickly’ which can be related to the process of its preparation. So, our dear Espresso is called so, because whatever she does is especially for ‘us’; her team mates; and she is quick and witty. And espresso is strong. So is this one. And that’s why she is also known as ‘Rhino’ – the thick-skinned, bold lady…And yes, espresso is also the base for all other coffee drinks…latte, cappuchino or even katten kaapi…Though technically, I must be saying none of us exist without her…it is actually ‘None of us exist without the other’....

Katten Kaapi a.k.a Wild Horse

The desi, malayalee version of black coffee, ‘katten kaapi’ is not everyone’s cup of …er…coffee. It can be made quick and one swig of the hot, black liquid is so refreshing that it can even bring back a corpse to life (well…somewhat…the small doses of katten kaapi at work, are what bring us alive!) So Miss Katten Kaapi, is just what black coffee is – refreshing and different. Her creativity knows no bounds and it all comes in a matter of seconds. As for her other name, ‘Wild Horse’, she is called so because she is wild and whacky, happy-go-lucky and fun-to-be-with. She does not gallop around like a horse, but her creativity sure does…

Latte a.k.a Wet Chick

The Italian word for milk, latte is a coffee that has more milk than cappuccino and is milder in taste. Copy Writer Latte is also a very mild person – gentle, kind, soft and serene. Like latte coffee which can be topped with creativity as in this image, our dear Latte a.k.a. Wet Chick also tops everything with creativity. Good at designing and conceptualizing, the credit for the design and construction of this blog goes to her. As for her other name – Wet Chick, she is this beautiful damsel in distress who frets over a small pimple, not because she’s worried about how she looks, but because she suspects it to be some major skin disease. She sneezes and she looks frazzled. I ask her, “what now?” She replies looking frazzled still, “Could this be swine flu?”

Cappuccino a.k.a. Hot chick in cold water

Cappuccino a strong coffee with frothy cream, topped with a pinch of powdered chocolate, has froth on top which resembles the hood worn by the Capuchin Monks. Well, I am no monk. Not in the least bit. Then why am I called so? Well, the froth that forms on top of Cappuccino Coffee helps retain the heat. And that is I what I do at our discussions over a cuppa copy! I keep the discussions going, keeping them heated and exciting all through (I know this is the heights of blowing my own trumpet…but I can’t help saying the truth!) I contribute and share my crazy dreams and ideas, keeping the chat hot as ever. As for my other name, I am as wet as ‘wet chick’ (you see, I am in cold water too) only thing is, I like to believe that I am hot. And when no one thinks so, it always helps to pretend. ;)

God! That was one lengthy prose. And my description is the longest. Unlike Latte, I seem to be full of myself…Anyway, now you know that our names were not decided just for the heck of it. Not because we wanted something ‘coffee-coffee’ type but because it’s who we are - Crazy, whacky, mad, nutty…add as many synonyms as you like. At the end of it, all geniuses are a little eccentric…

-Cappuccino

Copy Chronicles

Now that Espresso has explained how 'cuppa copy' happened, it's time to let you know what keeps brewing among the worlds whackiest copy writers ever. Concocting biographies, acting like fools to maintain our sanity and pulling each others legs with jokes that wouldn't make even a 5 year old mildly grin (but sends us into fits of uncontrollable laughter), we do everything to keep ourselves amused in this mad, mad world! And being madder always helps.

I know I've made it sound like we are four crazy women in an asylum, but trust me, it only gets worse! :D
For now, I am leaving it at that and will let my friends take the story forward.
Expect to read the world's four most interesting profiles in the next post. I can'tguarantee if I would be writing it, but expect something crazier. As Espresso said, 'one whackier than the other...'

Cheers!

- Cappuchino aka A hot chick in cold water