Long hours, tight deadlines, brand launches, quick turnarounds, photo shoots, video shoots, spreadsheets, details, status meetings, more spreadsheets, more tight deadlines, more long hours. The life we lead. We don’t complain. We asked for this. It’s the life of an ad exec. But…. once in a while you have to call it, and let your hair down and unwind. Our Account Services group did just that this past week.

We started the day with my presentation on our vision and department goals. Katharine then shared with us some best practices from a recent digital conference she attended. Once we checked-off the academic stuff, it was time to party. We all went to lunch at Ava in south Tampa. Even though we didn’t see owner Joe Maddon (probably because he was managing the Chicago Cubs in spring training), we did eat and drink our hearts out. Best thing on the menu? How about a crispy pork belly with warm lentils and an egg on top? After eating that, we’re pretty sure if you put an egg on anything, it makes it better. Although… there are a few in our group that lean more towards chocolate or cheese on top of anything will make it better. We’ll just have to continue to eat out and research it.

We’d planned to go to the beach for some beach volleyball, but the rain kept us away from the sand. Instead, we pulled a Lebowski and bowled. What more fun could you ask for on a Friday afternoon other than wearing rented shoes! Let me tell you this – you really haven’t bowled until you’ve been with a first-time bowler and a person that is apprehensive to put her fingers in the ball without gloves. The game was crazy intense with Alex winning the high score of the day! You would think that would be enough fun, right? Nope, just when you thought the day was winding down, an impromptu game of charades broke out. Picture it. Right there, on the lanes, we were quacking likes ducks and swimming like fish. Some of the other bowlers there didn’t get it. That’s okay, we get us.

So, the rain didn’t rain on our parade, but it did give us something to look forward to. Next month, we hit the sand!

-Jamie Miller