Back to Mexico tomorrow. Not quite sure when as the flight details are always kept a mystery from me until the very last moment at which point they're pulled like a rather mangy rabbit from a mouldy tophat and I set the alarm for 3am.
Hoping for a more reasonable flight tomorrow. Perhaps even something direct - although holding my breath would be an act of suicide on that one.
Still Jude is coming down to Mexico city for the weekend. We have wrestling, witches with eggs that can kidnap bad spirits and trips on flower boats through fetid canals to look forward to. It'll just be nice to escape the cold and the snow for a while.
The person who made "pish" type noises at our thought of buying a 4*4 obviously had a very peculiar sense of humor though. The roads here are rarely cleared. The hills are steep. The rear whell drive on my 4.0L muscle car is prone to sending the car into all kinds of wriggles and wiggles upon set off (it's great once you're out of first gear) and I spend my life praying that the mom vans behind me are piloted by moms who really, really, really don't want to get into an accident with 'precious' on board.
The pic by the way is from a store dedicated to cock fightung magazines. Plenty of cock to admire. They do bull fighting too. Now I'd have called the store Cock and Bull (obvious but descriptive) but instead they called it something like "fa-tha-tha-thaa-thee-tha-thaaah" - the name of all stores in Mexico.
Okay taks to be taken in hand here. Ciao all
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
All barking mad
So finally back in Ann Arbor (at least for three more days - then it's off back to Mexico City, the traffic, the noise, the peanut brands) and I've realized that everyone here is barking mad.
For example I spent a half hour today walking out in the -10c temps with Gareth to buy some dog food. We head out and en route see a Xmas Tree decoration shaped like an Octopus. This Gareth decides he has to buy for his artist gorlfriend who became famous with a slo-mo film of her trained Octopus and is currently exhibiting a range of Christmas Tree Ornaments. In we go and are greeted by a large woman who reminds us taht the Octopus has a very large place in certain forms of 'erotic Japanese literature'. Somehow the subject turns to Xmas and Lapland (Gareth had been chief elf there some years back - I kid you not) and she asks "Did you meet any of those big teethed girls who bite the balls off reindeer?" before adding "That might be customer inappropriate. They usually keep me in the shed"
We leave, bauble in hand and get to the pet store where we're told that a 'dog tag silencer' isn't an anal invention at all but a top seller. They then gasp when Gareth picks up a harness (it looks a bit like a bra) and ask that we don't touch the 3 foot high rubber chicken as "It's been reserved as a wedding gift."
On the way back we pass a store that says "The monsters are on strike" and has cut out monsters with signs saying things like "We demand bigger closets." Turns out it's a variation on the Brooklyn Superhero Store theme (there's also a Secret Agent version in Chicago that has a frontage that says "The really boring store" and a window full of gray boxes.
Seems that monsters are too hard to innovate around ('what do monsters need? drool?') and so it's about to become a Robot Store instead. We suggest that the Robot store is dropped on top of the monster store and that they have monster feet and monster goo dripping out of the front door where they were squished. It seems we're as mad as the rest of town.
30 mins, 3 mad people. Lots of gifts. It's good to be home
For example I spent a half hour today walking out in the -10c temps with Gareth to buy some dog food. We head out and en route see a Xmas Tree decoration shaped like an Octopus. This Gareth decides he has to buy for his artist gorlfriend who became famous with a slo-mo film of her trained Octopus and is currently exhibiting a range of Christmas Tree Ornaments. In we go and are greeted by a large woman who reminds us taht the Octopus has a very large place in certain forms of 'erotic Japanese literature'. Somehow the subject turns to Xmas and Lapland (Gareth had been chief elf there some years back - I kid you not) and she asks "Did you meet any of those big teethed girls who bite the balls off reindeer?" before adding "That might be customer inappropriate. They usually keep me in the shed"
We leave, bauble in hand and get to the pet store where we're told that a 'dog tag silencer' isn't an anal invention at all but a top seller. They then gasp when Gareth picks up a harness (it looks a bit like a bra) and ask that we don't touch the 3 foot high rubber chicken as "It's been reserved as a wedding gift."
On the way back we pass a store that says "The monsters are on strike" and has cut out monsters with signs saying things like "We demand bigger closets." Turns out it's a variation on the Brooklyn Superhero Store theme (there's also a Secret Agent version in Chicago that has a frontage that says "The really boring store" and a window full of gray boxes.
Seems that monsters are too hard to innovate around ('what do monsters need? drool?') and so it's about to become a Robot Store instead. We suggest that the Robot store is dropped on top of the monster store and that they have monster feet and monster goo dripping out of the front door where they were squished. It seems we're as mad as the rest of town.
30 mins, 3 mad people. Lots of gifts. It's good to be home
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Mexico City Airport
At the airport in Mexico city. A rather swank new terminal with free internet access and a huge number of 'helpers' in wheelchairs.
have another tight connection in atlanta and the threat of snow and ice storms closing detroit airport. So another stressful day. Why I can't fly direct with Northwest I don't know. But they won't let me. So it's deep breath, fingers crossed and here we go. Again
have another tight connection in atlanta and the threat of snow and ice storms closing detroit airport. So another stressful day. Why I can't fly direct with Northwest I don't know. But they won't let me. So it's deep breath, fingers crossed and here we go. Again
Friday, November 30, 2007
Yet more
the posts this week have been few and far between as we hopped from one hotel fiasco to another and one torturously slow internet connection to a virtually non-existant one. It's been a shocking show of organizational incompetence and jaw slackening ineptitude and yet somehow we managed to make it through the week with smiles on our faces and a growing conviction in our hearts that what we have growing on our laptops and in suitcases full of paper is getting closer and closetr to the answer. Which is a relief as the client here is lovely and deserves the best work that we can manage.
Another change of hotel today then tomorrow a flight home with a ludicrously short layover in Atlanta (it'll be land and run, customs, security, terminal transfer and boarding in less than an hour) so I hope AeroMexico are on time.
All of that said it's been an okay week, but really REALLY I just want to go home and hug my wife.
Another change of hotel today then tomorrow a flight home with a ludicrously short layover in Atlanta (it'll be land and run, customs, security, terminal transfer and boarding in less than an hour) so I hope AeroMexico are on time.
All of that said it's been an okay week, but really REALLY I just want to go home and hug my wife.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water
the fuckwittery continues. Yesterday's hotel took 20 mins to check in each guests, had none functioning lights, a wireless connection that required both a near impossible to acquire password and the ability to type whilst mimicking an aerial in order to get a connection, connection wires that didn't fit data ports and an alarming willingness to tell you that there was a message at reception and then deny all knowledge of ever having done so despite having left written evidence.
Today's hotel refused to let us in - as the company credit card (there to book two people into a hotel for a week) has a limit of $1000 and we spent that earlier. They wouldn't take an authorized number from my company (I left my wallet in the US) and their net connection (so we could pay off the work card and have it clear for one more night) was slower than the receptionist at the Hotel Indifferent.
Then there's the 'executive lounge' to which we've been moved (it's either executive nor lounge like), the ability of the staff to move so quickly to take your bags that you feel that you're being mugged and so aggressively to be tipped that technically you may well have been mugged.
It's all just awful. But Mexico remains lovely, the people are sweeter than a Betty White syrup cookie and I am ready for bed. Night all
Today's hotel refused to let us in - as the company credit card (there to book two people into a hotel for a week) has a limit of $1000 and we spent that earlier. They wouldn't take an authorized number from my company (I left my wallet in the US) and their net connection (so we could pay off the work card and have it clear for one more night) was slower than the receptionist at the Hotel Indifferent.
Then there's the 'executive lounge' to which we've been moved (it's either executive nor lounge like), the ability of the staff to move so quickly to take your bags that you feel that you're being mugged and so aggressively to be tipped that technically you may well have been mugged.
It's all just awful. But Mexico remains lovely, the people are sweeter than a Betty White syrup cookie and I am ready for bed. Night all
Monday, November 26, 2007
Mexico
a big hello from a Mexican taxi where el diablo is finding work for idle thumbs.
I am now fully immersed in Mexican wine, the shopping habits of over made up Mexican radio psychologists and the new Mexican hipsterism (dontcha just LOVE Lulu?) and have decided that my inability to string together more than ten words in the local language is no impediment to my moving here forever.
Of course forever isn't long enough to go amywhere in this traffic and the ominous appearance of Starbucks on every corner signals the end of any unique culture but that's okay. I'm tall here. I like the food. And i have a bevy of beauties (plus Gareth) attending to every detail of my life.
So what if i left my wallet in Detroit? Or that the journey here took 14 hrs? Who cares that the streets are giant parking lots? This is the land of Mistico - and he can FLY.
As Elvis might have said Viva Mexico.
I am now fully immersed in Mexican wine, the shopping habits of over made up Mexican radio psychologists and the new Mexican hipsterism (dontcha just LOVE Lulu?) and have decided that my inability to string together more than ten words in the local language is no impediment to my moving here forever.
Of course forever isn't long enough to go amywhere in this traffic and the ominous appearance of Starbucks on every corner signals the end of any unique culture but that's okay. I'm tall here. I like the food. And i have a bevy of beauties (plus Gareth) attending to every detail of my life.
So what if i left my wallet in Detroit? Or that the journey here took 14 hrs? Who cares that the streets are giant parking lots? This is the land of Mistico - and he can FLY.
As Elvis might have said Viva Mexico.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Didn't we have a lovely time....
So today was one of those cold winter days that begged to be allowed to drive you inside. It was bitterly cold in the wind and yet, on a whim, I decided to drive to the Detroit zoo for some pics. The drive was good, the zoo freezing and most of the animals had been replaced by signs that said "too cold for me"... all in all rather an abortive attempt at tweaking the black nose of jack Frost.
Tomorrow it's out at 4am and to the airport (30 mins away) for another week in Mexico. I'd been hoping that Jude would be able to join me for the week and work on the roof as I went off into the streets to sell peanuts - but of course she sometmes needs to be in the office and so has elected to stay (close to the fire I hope)
Why I'm being asked to give up all of Sunday for a meeting that doesn't start until Monday and all of next Saturday to get home is another question entirely and one that can be easily answered with the word of the week 'fuckwittery'
Still I'm packed for the trip, the Touch is loaded with CSI Miami and some new Glenn Close thing and the TomTom is promising to guide me to airport parking. Here's hoping that all goes right with the flights and that I don't get stuck in Atlanta with nothing to eat but Turkey (which they seem to think is a vegetable)
Okay back downstairs and to Jude, who I can hear is typing too.
Tomorrow it's out at 4am and to the airport (30 mins away) for another week in Mexico. I'd been hoping that Jude would be able to join me for the week and work on the roof as I went off into the streets to sell peanuts - but of course she sometmes needs to be in the office and so has elected to stay (close to the fire I hope)
Why I'm being asked to give up all of Sunday for a meeting that doesn't start until Monday and all of next Saturday to get home is another question entirely and one that can be easily answered with the word of the week 'fuckwittery'
Still I'm packed for the trip, the Touch is loaded with CSI Miami and some new Glenn Close thing and the TomTom is promising to guide me to airport parking. Here's hoping that all goes right with the flights and that I don't get stuck in Atlanta with nothing to eat but Turkey (which they seem to think is a vegetable)
Okay back downstairs and to Jude, who I can hear is typing too.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Black Friday
It's Black Friday today. The day after thanksgiving all of the stores have a huge sale and tend to generate lines longer than those in communist Russia around the time of bread delivery. It's insane. Earsly bird specials start at 4am. Stores offer free wake up calls. People go mad. The roads are blocked. Just madness; a perfect storm of boredom, consumerism and the need to fill 'family time'.
It's cold here too. The sun may well be shining down from a sky of brilliant blue but the temperature gauge is saying minus 9 centigrade and having taken the dog down already I have no reason to disbelieve the digital mercury. In fact there was a warning last night on the weather that went something like this...
"Well Friday may be black tomorrow - but your toes shouldn't be, so if you're going out remember to wear...."
Yup early frostbite warnings and yet I don't care. Thanksgiving dinner last night was full of geneticists, architects, economists and sustainable strategists. Arguments ranged from the biophilic through to the usefulness of happiness as a metric for anything and I have to say that I enjoyed it all tremendously. The temptation of course is to be Neanderthal and claim that you're to busy making things to actually think about things but it's something that I avoided. After all I'm in the business of creating desire - so when people start talking about how desire is a learned construct you really do have to listen or I do anyway.
Right, enough of this - Jude is out of the shower and we have some Black Friday wandering of our own to be doing. Happy post Thanksgiving all.
It's cold here too. The sun may well be shining down from a sky of brilliant blue but the temperature gauge is saying minus 9 centigrade and having taken the dog down already I have no reason to disbelieve the digital mercury. In fact there was a warning last night on the weather that went something like this...
"Well Friday may be black tomorrow - but your toes shouldn't be, so if you're going out remember to wear...."
Yup early frostbite warnings and yet I don't care. Thanksgiving dinner last night was full of geneticists, architects, economists and sustainable strategists. Arguments ranged from the biophilic through to the usefulness of happiness as a metric for anything and I have to say that I enjoyed it all tremendously. The temptation of course is to be Neanderthal and claim that you're to busy making things to actually think about things but it's something that I avoided. After all I'm in the business of creating desire - so when people start talking about how desire is a learned construct you really do have to listen or I do anyway.
Right, enough of this - Jude is out of the shower and we have some Black Friday wandering of our own to be doing. Happy post Thanksgiving all.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
It's shaping up to be a perfect day. We woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow, with flakes still gently wafting in the chill air and every house suddenly a potential cover for Victorian confection. A walk with the dog brought many cries of admiration and a few sweet conversations - the dog was beside herself with excitement at the perfection of it all, the people with th esweetness of the dog. Home and there's Judith wrapped in bed with a coffee and a good book (and a banana, worryingly?) Today we have no plans other than to join some people for dinner tonight and hit th egym in preparation for excess tonight. Like a perfect Pinot I am chilled to zen like perfection. I could get used to this.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Our first couples thing...
... last night we 'entertained' for the first time... well we opened a bottle of wine for a couple of new friends then walked into town for more wine and the best food I've had here so far.
The big difference between Jude and I (I think) is that she knows interesting people while I tend to know interested people. The former are people out doing things in the world that are new and pushing boundaries (one of our guests last night had recently headed up the digital lab at Harvard) the latter are people who have read about, attended and studied things that are interesting, The former gave stories, the latter have annecdotes.
What they have in common is an interest in the world and a determination to see patterns. Last night's people were both interested and interesting. Which was great. And once again I was the most stupid person in the room (Including all of the staff in the restaurant) which was even better.
Hoping to get my plates and registration today from Ford (my new license wasn't in the system yesterday)
The big difference between Jude and I (I think) is that she knows interesting people while I tend to know interested people. The former are people out doing things in the world that are new and pushing boundaries (one of our guests last night had recently headed up the digital lab at Harvard) the latter are people who have read about, attended and studied things that are interesting, The former gave stories, the latter have annecdotes.
What they have in common is an interest in the world and a determination to see patterns. Last night's people were both interested and interesting. Which was great. And once again I was the most stupid person in the room (Including all of the staff in the restaurant) which was even better.
Hoping to get my plates and registration today from Ford (my new license wasn't in the system yesterday)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
vroom vroom vroom
well it took forever and I still don't have valid plates but I am now the 'proud' owner of a Mustang. 4.0L of rumbling V6 muscle car that's pretty much as American as it's possible to be without actually attending a rodeo.It's a guilty pleasure. It looks great, it feels great and it sounds amazing but as you floor it and watch the fuel economy drop and drop you start to wonder whether a Honda Fit wasn't a better idea after all. But as Jude would say 'screw it' - I work on a car brand I should drive a car - rather than a shopping trolley.
Anyway the 'Stang is already nicknamed Death Star (black exterior, black interior, the low rumble of Darth Vader somewhere at its heart) and is turning heads wherever we go. Very cool - and at about GBP12k rather a bargain.
Of course I wanted to buy satellite navigation for the Death Star (there's nothing worse than accidentally destroying the wrong planet) but (and this is true) I couldn't find the store that sells them. Must have driven past it. Which could make a decent campaign - the last time you'll ever be lost is on the way to buy one.
Also went to a dentist yesterday in a bid to sort out and exploding (or rather imploding) tooth. While I was there the dentist took a drill to my uneven front teeth and in a matter of minutes had me looking more American and less Dickensian.
5 years in - saying too-na without even thinking about it, straighter, whiter teeth and now a muscle car. I think that this place is finally getting to me
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Mistico
So Mexico was a welcome respite - despite the fact that I was up at the crack of dawn each morning, get lagged to hell from the previous week and generally in need of sleep. The clients were lovely, the weather great, the sessions not bad at all and the Mexican wrestling all that you would imagine.
Yes they got us corporate tickets to tegh wrestling - where we saw kids ripping off their shirts to celebrate the victory of the good guys, a lot of grown men in masks and even the obligatory angry granny. But the highlight was Mistico. He's the #1 wrestler in Mexico, his white mask was by far the most common in the crowd and as the time for him to enter the ring neared he was the one that had the already over-wrought kids in tears with excitement.
We asked the guys in front of us what made Mistico so special. "oh" they said "he is the best. He can fly."
And he could, sort of. He was certainly limber enough - right up to the point where he got pinned by a bad guy and lost the fight. Shock from the kids, despair for the 100s of Mistico rip off merchandise sellers outside (paper belts with his crudely cut out head scotch taped my favorite) and for me in the crowd - cause I'd fallen for the myth of Mistico rather hard.
Still there's always next week... and the week after that.
Good to be home. Have topick up driver's license, test drive Mustang and do some work tomorrow.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Entendre
So I'm in Mexico to talk about Nuts and Seeds. Oh dear. It's entendre central and the poor clients let it all float about around them. Today was pretty good actually talked with nutritionists, anthropolgists, psychologists, food journalists, flavor profile inventors, chefs, traditional store owners and had people come in with their shopping. All a good base to look at what we should be looking at next time we're here.
The hotel continues to attract indie movie starlets Chloe, Sienna... erm.. Paris and the chocolate lab that they have adds a homely touch to what could be something very impersonal.
Hard to believe that there's snow in Ann Arbor.
Feeling knacjered, in need of a break, bloated and generally like a businessman abroad - even the 4 handed massage seemed more likely to end in sleaze than relaxation (it ended in neither)
Anyway 11pm to bed with me and something more worthy of your time afer tomorrow's Mexican Wrestling (!!!)
The hotel continues to attract indie movie starlets Chloe, Sienna... erm.. Paris and the chocolate lab that they have adds a homely touch to what could be something very impersonal.
Hard to believe that there's snow in Ann Arbor.
Feeling knacjered, in need of a break, bloated and generally like a businessman abroad - even the 4 handed massage seemed more likely to end in sleaze than relaxation (it ended in neither)
Anyway 11pm to bed with me and something more worthy of your time afer tomorrow's Mexican Wrestling (!!!)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
fuckwittery
so I'm closing out my contract with ?! by taking on a project in Mexico City. And of course this being ?! the travel was completely balls'd up from the off. Business flight on Delta is booked back to New York. Too late for a Detroit connection. So they book coach on air mexico,,, then an impossible connection in Atlanta and a switch to American, No blame is taken.
As I leave I'm handed a travel sheet that has the wrong flight details, the wrong hotel details, the wrong terminal information and the wrong time for the car service. And some chocolate - with a note that says "I hope that this make your journey sweeter"
A nice touch but what would really make my journey sweeter would be the knowledge that I could trust people on flights and a nice big seat on a 1st world airline that gets me home in time to have a weekend with my wife... rather than a 'get up at four to check in for shitbag air and worry about delays the whole way to Atlanta flight"
Proof, if proof were needed that amateurs, no matter how nice or talented really shouldn't be handling jobs better done by pros.
That said hotel booked by client for us is nice and the matchbooks are cool
As I leave I'm handed a travel sheet that has the wrong flight details, the wrong hotel details, the wrong terminal information and the wrong time for the car service. And some chocolate - with a note that says "I hope that this make your journey sweeter"
A nice touch but what would really make my journey sweeter would be the knowledge that I could trust people on flights and a nice big seat on a 1st world airline that gets me home in time to have a weekend with my wife... rather than a 'get up at four to check in for shitbag air and worry about delays the whole way to Atlanta flight"
Proof, if proof were needed that amateurs, no matter how nice or talented really shouldn't be handling jobs better done by pros.
That said hotel booked by client for us is nice and the matchbooks are cool
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Odd couple of days
Well the flight back from London took forever. Mainly because it went via Chicago - a giant airport with nothing other than overpriced pizza in it. Maybe that explains Oprah's new "thyroid problem"
Anyway 22hrs and I was in - at 2am and in a car that erroneously told me that my tyres were about to explode everytime I hit the Cruise control - but in.
Sunday was a day of shopping for Cashmere sweaters at a posh mall and on Monday I took the dog to the groomers, had lunch with my lovely wife and headed for my driving lesson.
The guy showed up early - in a knackered old Honda so full of 2nd hand cigarette smoke I could feel the tumors growing. "Wanna just take the test?" he asked. Sure I said. And 24 miles, a few un-reversed over cones and a lot of mirror checking later I'd passed. Hurrah. But the office was closed for Veteran's day, Boo. And I had to leave at 5am this morning for New York (Boo-sucks) and now won't be able to pick up my license until next Monday (Yah-Boo-Sucks)
So Mexico tomorrow... home on Saturday and then on Monday.... shopping for a car
Anyway 22hrs and I was in - at 2am and in a car that erroneously told me that my tyres were about to explode everytime I hit the Cruise control - but in.
Sunday was a day of shopping for Cashmere sweaters at a posh mall and on Monday I took the dog to the groomers, had lunch with my lovely wife and headed for my driving lesson.
The guy showed up early - in a knackered old Honda so full of 2nd hand cigarette smoke I could feel the tumors growing. "Wanna just take the test?" he asked. Sure I said. And 24 miles, a few un-reversed over cones and a lot of mirror checking later I'd passed. Hurrah. But the office was closed for Veteran's day, Boo. And I had to leave at 5am this morning for New York (Boo-sucks) and now won't be able to pick up my license until next Monday (Yah-Boo-Sucks)
So Mexico tomorrow... home on Saturday and then on Monday.... shopping for a car
Friday, November 09, 2007
long trip home
Visa arrived this morning at 7.15am
That was 1 working day (the warned of 5)
Juggled some flights and am now scheduled to leave Redcar tomorrow morning at 8.30 - get into London at 12.15
Then across town to the Heathrow express
Into Heathrow at 1pm
Flight to Chicago at 3
3 hr wait
Flight to Detroit gets in at middnight (5am UK time)
And then drive home
before getting up and flying to New York for a day
and on to Mexico for a couple more
knackered
That was 1 working day (the warned of 5)
Juggled some flights and am now scheduled to leave Redcar tomorrow morning at 8.30 - get into London at 12.15
Then across town to the Heathrow express
Into Heathrow at 1pm
Flight to Chicago at 3
3 hr wait
Flight to Detroit gets in at middnight (5am UK time)
And then drive home
before getting up and flying to New York for a day
and on to Mexico for a couple more
knackered
Thursday, November 08, 2007
a day in redcar
so got up, no visa (it might be Weds of next week) - read a bit, went to the all new and improved Retail Park, went into town, froze, got a couple of decent pics before the sun went down and hurried home to light a fire and open some wine. Slow day but not a bad day at all.
Oh I did some work too
Oh I did some work too
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Long Day
So a long day today. Up early to get to the embassy... then hours of waiting for the visa interview - which lasted all of 2 mins and saw me being approved (yeah!)... passport will be couriered 'soon' - I'm hoping that 'soon' is this week rather than next week as I'm due in Mexico soon.
Took the train up to Redcar where the neice hid in horror from me and everyone else listened patiently for me to finish up interminable stories about seeing 5 police men wade in to take down one guy outside of the US Visa office (hint to brutal policemen - in future kick the back rather han front of his knees if you want him to fall)
Right now I have a couple of presentations to look at - one to write and no real access to documents. Nightmare.
I'll head off and worry some
Took the train up to Redcar where the neice hid in horror from me and everyone else listened patiently for me to finish up interminable stories about seeing 5 police men wade in to take down one guy outside of the US Visa office (hint to brutal policemen - in future kick the back rather han front of his knees if you want him to fall)
Right now I have a couple of presentations to look at - one to write and no real access to documents. Nightmare.
I'll head off and worry some
Sunday, November 04, 2007
A change of heart
Jude and I have been deliberating over the past few days. The thing is that I'm going to be commuting about 75 miles a day. Which means that we need a car.
The practical "we have a big dog and know people in their 60s" side of our brains was saying - let's get an Escape Hybrid. It's big. It does 40mpg (UK), turns out almost no emissions and has plenty of room for everyone. Issues with that are that it looks like a brick, it's expensive (around 15k GBP) and there's a waiting list for a hybrid that would make it a Valentine's Day rather than Xmas gift.
Then of course was the sensible, McScrooge Duck side of us that pointed out the all new Focus, its many cool toys, 40mpg on the highway and low, low cost of about GBP7,500. Problem with the Focus is that they've nixed both the hatch and the estate and that means that it's less practical for the dog and for carting things around. If we're going to be buying a sedan why would it be the base model?
At which point we ame to a heart over head decision. If practical is expensive and inexpensive offers no real upside let's say 'Screw it" and buy a Mustang.
The Mustang is the car that Steve McQueen drove in Bullit. It's lovely. And powerful. And muscular. The new GT Shelby version is 540bhp. Which is the equivalent of 12 of my first cars (a Fiat Panda). We're not going for the Shelby but we are going for a 4.0L, V6 that's very torquey (240lbs), rather well made and that still will clear 30mpg (UK) on my trip to work. Best thing about it is that this Pony car is cheap by UK standards. Even by American standards.
Yup, a brand new American muscle car, 4.0l engine, sun 7 second 0-60 time and all manner of mod cons comes in at GBP 9,100 (and that's before any discount I might get). To put that into context in the UK a Fiat Panda with 100BHP will cost you GBP 10,160.
Obscene isn't it?
The practical "we have a big dog and know people in their 60s" side of our brains was saying - let's get an Escape Hybrid. It's big. It does 40mpg (UK), turns out almost no emissions and has plenty of room for everyone. Issues with that are that it looks like a brick, it's expensive (around 15k GBP) and there's a waiting list for a hybrid that would make it a Valentine's Day rather than Xmas gift.
Then of course was the sensible, McScrooge Duck side of us that pointed out the all new Focus, its many cool toys, 40mpg on the highway and low, low cost of about GBP7,500. Problem with the Focus is that they've nixed both the hatch and the estate and that means that it's less practical for the dog and for carting things around. If we're going to be buying a sedan why would it be the base model?
At which point we ame to a heart over head decision. If practical is expensive and inexpensive offers no real upside let's say 'Screw it" and buy a Mustang.
The Mustang is the car that Steve McQueen drove in Bullit. It's lovely. And powerful. And muscular. The new GT Shelby version is 540bhp. Which is the equivalent of 12 of my first cars (a Fiat Panda). We're not going for the Shelby but we are going for a 4.0L, V6 that's very torquey (240lbs), rather well made and that still will clear 30mpg (UK) on my trip to work. Best thing about it is that this Pony car is cheap by UK standards. Even by American standards.
Yup, a brand new American muscle car, 4.0l engine, sun 7 second 0-60 time and all manner of mod cons comes in at GBP 9,100 (and that's before any discount I might get). To put that into context in the UK a Fiat Panda with 100BHP will cost you GBP 10,160.
Obscene isn't it?
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Fort Lauderdale
Well it seems that we were beaten by a storm named Noel. How shaming. Noel. So instead of being on a boat in the Bahamas we're looking forward to a night at a local cinema (here in A2) and perhaps a glass of wine or two.
We did make it down as far as Fort Lauderdale - but from there out the flights ran out, Noel hunkered down and we decided to head for home. Still we got a day in a decent hotel, the chance to dip our feet in the ocean and some points on North West Airlines.
So disappointing but we're making the most of it... and Alex and Xtiana are safe, sound and hunkered down
We did make it down as far as Fort Lauderdale - but from there out the flights ran out, Noel hunkered down and we decided to head for home. Still we got a day in a decent hotel, the chance to dip our feet in the ocean and some points on North West Airlines.
So disappointing but we're making the most of it... and Alex and Xtiana are safe, sound and hunkered down
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Maybe not
So last night we flew down to Fort Lauderdale and then on to an airport motel for the night. Up at 7am this morning and back to the airport to find that all flights to the Bahamas are cancelled due to a tropical storm and that the chances of our getting there at all are slim. Well there's a day of my life and a grand I won't be getting back.
Decided to wait it out a day and switched to a Hilton hotel that has a decent spa, a pool and a view of a very rough ocean. Tomorrow we'll make the decision as to whether we jump on a plane towards the islands or we jump on a plane home and rue our misfortune.
Hoping that we can make it - but fearing that we can't. Gotta dash now as the hotel charges for internet in prices that might neccessitate my selling an organ or having Judith 'harvested' for eggs
Decided to wait it out a day and switched to a Hilton hotel that has a decent spa, a pool and a view of a very rough ocean. Tomorrow we'll make the decision as to whether we jump on a plane towards the islands or we jump on a plane home and rue our misfortune.
Hoping that we can make it - but fearing that we can't. Gotta dash now as the hotel charges for internet in prices that might neccessitate my selling an organ or having Judith 'harvested' for eggs
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
We're off
So after frantic unpacking... cat minder finding, dog sitter service vetting and a million and one other things we're off to Long Island Bahamas for a wedding. Should be lovely. And just what we need. Once we get past the flight time. And the inconvenience. And expense. Oh what the hell, it's warm, some of our favorite people in the world are there and if this wedding was in Milwaukee we'd be there, even if it meant walking.
Blog entries over the next 5 days may be few and far between
Blog entries over the next 5 days may be few and far between
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
And granny makes Sith
Took this as the Halloween Dog Parade... a whole family, including dog dressed in some kind of costume. Actually it was called Howl-o-ween which is of course pun tastic.
Today was spent unpacking boxes. The bedroom looks great now. The kitchen pretty good, The living room livable and upstairs as though Bobby and Whitney just made sweet lurve there - it's nasty.
Tomorrow I have a guy coming for the blinds, a guy coming to switch my cable box to one with HDMI connectors and I MUST, MUST, MUST fill in my visa form online and get it printed.
Then it's dog to the dog people, Jude to the paper store and us off to the airport for a bit of a trek, schlep and trudge down to the Bahamas.
Man I'm knackered.
Today was spent unpacking boxes. The bedroom looks great now. The kitchen pretty good, The living room livable and upstairs as though Bobby and Whitney just made sweet lurve there - it's nasty.
Tomorrow I have a guy coming for the blinds, a guy coming to switch my cable box to one with HDMI connectors and I MUST, MUST, MUST fill in my visa form online and get it printed.
Then it's dog to the dog people, Jude to the paper store and us off to the airport for a bit of a trek, schlep and trudge down to the Bahamas.
Man I'm knackered.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Paving the way for a move
So as Jude pulls all kind of flickr viewers with her new hair I started to prepare for the next couple of days and weeks with a spray on tan. Had to show a passport, get finger-printed and sign a waiver just to get permission to stand naked in front of what looked like a garden sprinkler. Then had to brave the overly well lit mirror as I wiped off the excess 'paint'.
What else did I do today? Took the cats to a place where they can stay while we're away - they have a room with a view of goats (who they stalked) and birds (who they ignored).
Also helped a guy remove the landlord's furniture... sitting in an empty room; on the floor with an exhausted dog as I write this.
FedEx brought me my appointment for the US embassy in London - will be there the nights of the 6th an 7th.
And I walked the dog. A lot. She's so happy here. Running in the park, sniffing at the leaves and being away from the BQE traffic. Best thing about the move so far - just how happy Velcro seems to be
Have movers bringing our stuff tomorrow, then flight out Wednesday, back Monday, fly to UK Tuesday for Wednesday meeting. Busy, busy
What else did I do today? Took the cats to a place where they can stay while we're away - they have a room with a view of goats (who they stalked) and birds (who they ignored).
Also helped a guy remove the landlord's furniture... sitting in an empty room; on the floor with an exhausted dog as I write this.
FedEx brought me my appointment for the US embassy in London - will be there the nights of the 6th an 7th.
And I walked the dog. A lot. She's so happy here. Running in the park, sniffing at the leaves and being away from the BQE traffic. Best thing about the move so far - just how happy Velcro seems to be
Have movers bringing our stuff tomorrow, then flight out Wednesday, back Monday, fly to UK Tuesday for Wednesday meeting. Busy, busy
Sunday, October 28, 2007
A L-O-N-G weekend
After a couple of days of packing (see Jude somewhere either left or right swarfed by boxes) and too much running up and down the 63 stairs that served to lead to our apartment (good protection from fat Jehovahs however) we finally managed to see everything on a truck and ourselves heading to what might well be the smallest hotel room in the history of New York hotel rooms. Okay the name 'Petit Double" should have given it away but at $309 a night (the cheapest room in town on the weekend of the NYC marathon) I'd thought that it would at least have room to swing a cat flea. Not so. Ne'er mind though. We had dinner at a vegetarian Korean place with Mike, bough pjamas and slept okay.
Woke up to monsoon style rains, flood warnings, near gales and a general air of 'stay inside'... which we ignored as we loaded up the black Ford Escape with the various bits and pieces required by a long journey with several animals and set off into the deluge.
13 hours, one burger king fish sandwich, too many Starbucks, a scary tuna melt in a scarier Ohio diner (Jude thought that it was a halloween costume party, I insist that it's just Ohio clientel), 250bn gallons of water, four dog stops, too much 80s and 90s music, an average of 23mpg (that's 28mpg to the UK gallon) and one wrong turn later (the wrong turn being the last one - thank heavens for Sophie our trusty GPS) we arrived.
Today the sun is shining, the dogs are out in the park and dressed in halloween costumes and Jude is putting together a bathroom cabinet even as I type (I'll help when it comes time to hang the doors - especially as I do soappreciate the fact that like good freshmen doors should be well hung and accurately mounted)
We're here.
Woke up to monsoon style rains, flood warnings, near gales and a general air of 'stay inside'... which we ignored as we loaded up the black Ford Escape with the various bits and pieces required by a long journey with several animals and set off into the deluge.
13 hours, one burger king fish sandwich, too many Starbucks, a scary tuna melt in a scarier Ohio diner (Jude thought that it was a halloween costume party, I insist that it's just Ohio clientel), 250bn gallons of water, four dog stops, too much 80s and 90s music, an average of 23mpg (that's 28mpg to the UK gallon) and one wrong turn later (the wrong turn being the last one - thank heavens for Sophie our trusty GPS) we arrived.
Today the sun is shining, the dogs are out in the park and dressed in halloween costumes and Jude is putting together a bathroom cabinet even as I type (I'll help when it comes time to hang the doors - especially as I do soappreciate the fact that like good freshmen doors should be well hung and accurately mounted)
We're here.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Long Drive
So with the house packed and the guys on their way to take all of our stuff down to Michigan we're girding our loins for the long drive down ourselves. Saturday is predicted to be full of thunderstorms and rain and general nastiness and of course we have over 600 minles to drive - most of it on the same piece of freeway. We've rented a car (you rent cars in America and hire people), we've trimmed the amount that we're carrying and we're ready to rock. Here's hoping it all is as smooth as a Vegas stripper's what-not
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Big day today
The people are here to pack the house. I quit my job. I'm waiting on a courier to bring me some plane tickets and legal documents and Jude had her hair colored and straightened. Surrounded by a million and one people here so this is gonna be short. More when we have Internet connection again
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Bloated
So flew down and pretty much ate my way through the day. Stuck in a hotel that was with in walking distance only of two chains. The first did huge Burrittos the second did huge Asian-ish food which it served under pictures of Asian-esque food described in Asian-like fonts.
Have a 4.10am wake up call booked for the morning so it's probably a good time to turn off Dancing With The Stars (post Marie Osmond faint) and try to catch up on some sleep.
Maybe pack my bag first though
Dull couple of days I know - but with a move coming up on Thursday it's probably a good idea to chill a little in Nowheresville, Arkansas
Have a 4.10am wake up call booked for the morning so it's probably a good time to turn off Dancing With The Stars (post Marie Osmond faint) and try to catch up on some sleep.
Maybe pack my bag first though
Dull couple of days I know - but with a move coming up on Thursday it's probably a good idea to chill a little in Nowheresville, Arkansas
Where on earth?
Today I had to get up at 4.30am to catch a 6.30am flight to the middle of nowhere.
That flight gets me in for my meeting at 10.30am.
The meeting starts at 4.30pm.
So I'm stuck in a Best Western hotel miles from anywhere.
And of course the first flight home is at 6.30am tomorrow
So a 5am start
Lovely
That flight gets me in for my meeting at 10.30am.
The meeting starts at 4.30pm.
So I'm stuck in a Best Western hotel miles from anywhere.
And of course the first flight home is at 6.30am tomorrow
So a 5am start
Lovely
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Quite a night
So after a lovely dinner at my friend kajsa's house we decided to head down to The Slipper Room and Burlesque. At first all was as Burlesque so often is - tape over the nipples in the shape of swastikas, drinking the blood of Jewish babies, a great flashdance routine, an exterimator routine that ended with cockroach nipple tassles and so on.
And then came Rabbi Rose Wood. Dressed as a Rabbi 'Rose' almost immediately removed the lower half of her clothing revealing, well her 'thorn' - (s)he then proceeded to dance a merry gig - stopping only to shove a wine bottle up her ass and continue dancing with it dangling what I imagined was precariously. Of course the rest of the clothes come off to reveal a large (but fake?) chest which seemed inconguous with the Haseed beard she was sporting. Most odd. The crowd of course lapped it up but I couldn't help but wonder when the arrests would start.
Guilliani - a man who claims a lot of credit as America's mayor rose a dip in crime to pass through a lot of regulations that all but closed down New York Nightlife. The club scene never recovered - but now it seems that performance art is fighting back. Sure you can't show a nipple anymore - unless it's fake, so here's to blasphemy, political incorrectness, huge fake boobs and a bottle trick that I'm sure I won't be seeing in Michigan.
As that hideous old trout always says "Only in New York"
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I saw this and thought of you
It was described thus(ly)The Cone may appear to be just a stylish sculpture on your nightstand, but press the light-up buttons at its base and this unique vibe will knock your sheets off. The adjustable speeds range from a gentle purr to a rumbling roar through any of The Cone's sixteen vibration patterns (including an "orgasm button" that skips automatically to the highest intensity vibration). Sit astride it in the lotus position while reading or watching your favorite erotica, or lay over it during partner sex. And the shape isn't just about style—its tapered proportions are easy and fun to use by all genders and people with varied mobility.
Size: 7-1/2" diameter, 4-1/2" high
Material: Silicone
Volume: ****
Intensity: *****
Batteries: Three C batteries
It's like a poor man's sybian machine.... who's up ifirst
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Traffic
Today it seems I have more traffic than the B5023 Wirksworth Road through the town of Idridgehay - the residents of which are forever banging on about people speeding and bemoaning the day that the government saw fit to allow motorized horses loose without a preceding man with yellow flag.
What this means I'm not sure. It's been a while since I tried the old trick of dropping blogsearch friendly terms and phrases like "Koreans eat Ellen's dog" or "Lindsay Lohan Sex Tape" into a paragraph to lure the perverted and unsuspecting (most of whom seemed to come from Saudi Arabia I have to say) so I'm thinking that this sudden surge must be something else.
I refuse to believe that people are visiting to hear my veilled hints at possible changes afoot or that they're here to hear me complain about having to call the movers. And much as I'd like to believe it I doubt that people are here for the gags - like the eyes of two Cyclops in a long distance relationship they are few and far apart (cylopses? cyclopsi?)
Maybe it's the spectre of death. The promise that something mentioned in passing is actually a malignancy that's killing me as I type. But then the spectre of death has hung over these pages in the past and the only extra people who visited were those who thought that a funeral may have good sandwiches and perhaps a decent song or two (no Angels for this guy)
Then what? What would drive me to a site is the pressure cooker recently described. Am I about to be minted a diamond or instead squished down to primordial sludge and used to manouvre a Buick around 4 and a half inches? There's certainly interest in there. The potential for total meltdown is high and the consequences potentially hilarious - if Britney could make the front pages with 5 blows of an umbrella then what celebrity could I muster from a street tantrum?
A therapist would say that it might be an indicator that people genuinely cared and were interested in me and my wellbeing. But then if I had so many caring people around yme, miss therapist, why am I paying for someone to talk to?
So instead I'm going to plump for an entirely different theory. There's been a groundswell, an upturn, a deluge of interest in the idea of Dakota Fanning playing me in a movie and people want to be able to say - oh well of course, I read the blog years ago.
Okay 8pm - Quorn time.
What this means I'm not sure. It's been a while since I tried the old trick of dropping blogsearch friendly terms and phrases like "Koreans eat Ellen's dog" or "Lindsay Lohan Sex Tape" into a paragraph to lure the perverted and unsuspecting (most of whom seemed to come from Saudi Arabia I have to say) so I'm thinking that this sudden surge must be something else.
I refuse to believe that people are visiting to hear my veilled hints at possible changes afoot or that they're here to hear me complain about having to call the movers. And much as I'd like to believe it I doubt that people are here for the gags - like the eyes of two Cyclops in a long distance relationship they are few and far apart (cylopses? cyclopsi?)
Maybe it's the spectre of death. The promise that something mentioned in passing is actually a malignancy that's killing me as I type. But then the spectre of death has hung over these pages in the past and the only extra people who visited were those who thought that a funeral may have good sandwiches and perhaps a decent song or two (no Angels for this guy)
Then what? What would drive me to a site is the pressure cooker recently described. Am I about to be minted a diamond or instead squished down to primordial sludge and used to manouvre a Buick around 4 and a half inches? There's certainly interest in there. The potential for total meltdown is high and the consequences potentially hilarious - if Britney could make the front pages with 5 blows of an umbrella then what celebrity could I muster from a street tantrum?
A therapist would say that it might be an indicator that people genuinely cared and were interested in me and my wellbeing. But then if I had so many caring people around yme, miss therapist, why am I paying for someone to talk to?
So instead I'm going to plump for an entirely different theory. There's been a groundswell, an upturn, a deluge of interest in the idea of Dakota Fanning playing me in a movie and people want to be able to say - oh well of course, I read the blog years ago.
Okay 8pm - Quorn time.
A quickie
Quite stupidly busy at the moment - even without MRI scans, moving people, posts of unwanted stuff on Craigslist and all the other thigs that come with shipping a house, working a project, updating your health status and generally being under the gun.
Still I'm coping. I'm losing weight. And I've yet to attempt murder - so I'm either more repressed than anyone thought or I'm coping.
More when I have some time - which of course will be anytime. Let's face it if I drop a ball people barely hear the thud - if some people drop the ball their patient's veins explode. I have a story about that - of which more later.
One last thing. A psychic (don't ask) told me that I wake up every night screaming in agony but don't remember because someone that Judith dated in the past was a wizard who has cast black magic upon us. A mere $200 would pay for research into who this person is - and another $800 could help break the spell. Sounds like a bargain. You know it wasn't until I mocked the idea in writing that I started to wonder about the likelihood of her being 100% genuine and 100% right. That's how they do it.
Still I'm coping. I'm losing weight. And I've yet to attempt murder - so I'm either more repressed than anyone thought or I'm coping.
More when I have some time - which of course will be anytime. Let's face it if I drop a ball people barely hear the thud - if some people drop the ball their patient's veins explode. I have a story about that - of which more later.
One last thing. A psychic (don't ask) told me that I wake up every night screaming in agony but don't remember because someone that Judith dated in the past was a wizard who has cast black magic upon us. A mere $200 would pay for research into who this person is - and another $800 could help break the spell. Sounds like a bargain. You know it wasn't until I mocked the idea in writing that I started to wonder about the likelihood of her being 100% genuine and 100% right. That's how they do it.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Exposed
Well today went about as well as could be expected. The movers made grumbling progress towards a signed contract, I managed to find cover for LA, the client promised to sign, the MRI people are scanning diaries, the life changing decision thing moved forward a step and I played rather a nice bingo on an internet scrabble site.
Of course nothing is tied down but I feel as though I'm starting to crawl out from under the weight of organization that I've been under for the last 18 months or so. It's going to be so nice not to get up with a list of people to chase that day.
coming up - a trip to the bahamas for a wedding - with stops in Florida both ways. A trip to Vegas - and a Xmas being quiet in Michigan as Jude tries to get a million and one papers out.
Nae bad - all this and Barking Bard Billy Bragg on Saturday
Of course nothing is tied down but I feel as though I'm starting to crawl out from under the weight of organization that I've been under for the last 18 months or so. It's going to be so nice not to get up with a list of people to chase that day.
coming up - a trip to the bahamas for a wedding - with stops in Florida both ways. A trip to Vegas - and a Xmas being quiet in Michigan as Jude tries to get a million and one papers out.
Nae bad - all this and Barking Bard Billy Bragg on Saturday
The most stressful day of all time...
>waiting on movers, a recruiter, a client signature, a big decision which could change everything and over which I have no control and a time and date for my MRI. It's a sit and wait game and so I'm sitting and waiting. And of course once this stuff is out of the way I have to deal not only with cleaning the shit from the fan but from all the walls that it hit while the fan was spinning.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A low key weekend
It's been a low key weekend - which is what I needed after a high drama week. It's been good just to run up the cell phone bill with Jude, play a little internet scrabble, catch up on the old TV and do a little bit of writing for myself. I did pop down to Sketchy's which seemed to have found a bit of form actually - with a 'beauty tames the beast' theme that had great monsters and a 'beauty' all too ready to tame him.
Today has consisted of a long walk with the dog in brilliant sunshine but cooler temps (16c); a half hour harboring the neighbors and their baby as the removal guys in their apartment took out the final pieces and I'm about to go and meet Will to talk about his cartoon series.
This afternoon? Kaiser and her new hair, maybe a movie (it's been ages since I went to the cinema) and then an evening spent writing up some of the work notes that I made this morning.
As I said pretty much exactly what I needed.
It's been an odd week - but it's been a good week. Here's hoping that Monday brings good news on something that I've been waiting to hear on forever and a date on the MRI that will look at the 'rupture' in my neck
Today has consisted of a long walk with the dog in brilliant sunshine but cooler temps (16c); a half hour harboring the neighbors and their baby as the removal guys in their apartment took out the final pieces and I'm about to go and meet Will to talk about his cartoon series.
This afternoon? Kaiser and her new hair, maybe a movie (it's been ages since I went to the cinema) and then an evening spent writing up some of the work notes that I made this morning.
As I said pretty much exactly what I needed.
It's been an odd week - but it's been a good week. Here's hoping that Monday brings good news on something that I've been waiting to hear on forever and a date on the MRI that will look at the 'rupture' in my neck
Friday, October 12, 2007
Continuing on the emotional path
it's amazing what happens when you allow yourself to lose the stiff upper lip. I've spent the day terrorizing other people with tales of my mood and of how I feel about almost everything. It's a wonder friends aren't running for the bunker.
Conversations ran for hours rather than minutes. I held eye contact. I freaked people out. And a weird thing happened. I started to notice things. The rats in the park with McDonald's wrappers in their mouths. The tiny spider caught in the glass of one of our pictures at home (Jude tells me it's been there forever). People on the train.
I feel alive and raw and vulnerable and strangely manic. I feel alert and full not just of noble intentions but a real sense of urgency - a real need to get things done. It's as though a heavy gauze has been lifted and I'm shocked by just how alive and vibrant the world is. I wish I could say that this was due to medication (legal or otherwise) but it's not. It's just about opening up and learning to be more open.
So if any of you call or see me over the next few days don't be surprised if I laugh louder, ask you about a mole that you've had for years or if I ask you very personal questions whilst staring at you with real intent. I'm not having a breakdown. I'm not high. Or drunk. Or possessed. I'm just feeling very alive. And that (despite appearances) is a godo thing.
Conversations ran for hours rather than minutes. I held eye contact. I freaked people out. And a weird thing happened. I started to notice things. The rats in the park with McDonald's wrappers in their mouths. The tiny spider caught in the glass of one of our pictures at home (Jude tells me it's been there forever). People on the train.
I feel alive and raw and vulnerable and strangely manic. I feel alert and full not just of noble intentions but a real sense of urgency - a real need to get things done. It's as though a heavy gauze has been lifted and I'm shocked by just how alive and vibrant the world is. I wish I could say that this was due to medication (legal or otherwise) but it's not. It's just about opening up and learning to be more open.
So if any of you call or see me over the next few days don't be surprised if I laugh louder, ask you about a mole that you've had for years or if I ask you very personal questions whilst staring at you with real intent. I'm not having a breakdown. I'm not high. Or drunk. Or possessed. I'm just feeling very alive. And that (despite appearances) is a godo thing.
72 Baps Connie
There's an old Victoria Wood sketch that shows just how emotionally distant the British are as a race. Two women talking and it becomes apparent that one has just (and only just) had her husband die
"What are you going to do?" asks the friend
"72 Baps Connie, I'll slice you butter" says the recently widowed one.
It's a better sketch than that - but not a truer one. As a race the British tend to true to solve a related problem rather than deal with the emotion of the issue at hand. It's about control of course. I think. So maybe not 'of course'
It's this emotional distance that gives us the famed "stiff upper lip" and it's why the world was stunned when Diana's death was greeted with an outpouring of emotion and a bashing for the one person (the Queen) who behaved like a Brit through it all. It's why the world wasn't stunned when 9/11 sent America into therapy but the British bombings sent Londoners determinedly to subway stops accross the capital complaining only about the delays.
Why am I wittering on about this. Because being British is fine until disaster after disaster heaps upon you - then reserve and resolve become quiet desperation and emptiness and you end up in the potting shed with your wicker work and a bottle of Barbiturates.
So I've decide to take Ikea's advice to "Stop being so British" and instead to be a little more in touch, if no more touchy feely. So watch out all you may find me strangely connected to the world.
"What are you going to do?" asks the friend
"72 Baps Connie, I'll slice you butter" says the recently widowed one.
It's a better sketch than that - but not a truer one. As a race the British tend to true to solve a related problem rather than deal with the emotion of the issue at hand. It's about control of course. I think. So maybe not 'of course'
It's this emotional distance that gives us the famed "stiff upper lip" and it's why the world was stunned when Diana's death was greeted with an outpouring of emotion and a bashing for the one person (the Queen) who behaved like a Brit through it all. It's why the world wasn't stunned when 9/11 sent America into therapy but the British bombings sent Londoners determinedly to subway stops accross the capital complaining only about the delays.
Why am I wittering on about this. Because being British is fine until disaster after disaster heaps upon you - then reserve and resolve become quiet desperation and emptiness and you end up in the potting shed with your wicker work and a bottle of Barbiturates.
So I've decide to take Ikea's advice to "Stop being so British" and instead to be a little more in touch, if no more touchy feely. So watch out all you may find me strangely connected to the world.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
careful out there
Lunch and dinner with (different) headhunters today - and another called yesterday morning. My brain (for the picking) seems to be in much demand. Hopefully this time they'll make enough in placements to pay me a decent commission. Enough to pay the moving costs anyway - went with middle estimate of $5124
Have a feeling I'm gonna get hosed later - but for now I'm happy with that one.
Well lunch waits for no man - and have two things to write between overpriced meals so I'll dash for the door, take the stairs rather than the elevator and finish this later
Have a feeling I'm gonna get hosed later - but for now I'm happy with that one.
Well lunch waits for no man - and have two things to write between overpriced meals so I'll dash for the door, take the stairs rather than the elevator and finish this later
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
a real williamsburg night
it's 1am and I'm just in.
My friend mike and I went out and ended up at a bar with an Opera diva bar tender, a "turning 50 at midnight" old queen with a penchant for conspiracy, a Farsi beauty with startling insight - and a huge number of people from Cleveland.
We talksed about Devo, Bowie as an alien soul, living in the outer suburbs of Sydney, emotional honesty, giving a gorilla hand relief and sexual attraction as an energy level.
And it was fun. I left the bar with a website www.absolute0.com, two numbers (farsi woman and her friend) memories of dancing to Peggy Lee and a reminder that I am still actually a modicum of fun (I thought that I was funny and charming and relaxed and carefree tonight; that might be me through beer goggles however)
All in all a very good vening. Now for 5 hrs sleep and an early conference call
My friend mike and I went out and ended up at a bar with an Opera diva bar tender, a "turning 50 at midnight" old queen with a penchant for conspiracy, a Farsi beauty with startling insight - and a huge number of people from Cleveland.
We talksed about Devo, Bowie as an alien soul, living in the outer suburbs of Sydney, emotional honesty, giving a gorilla hand relief and sexual attraction as an energy level.
And it was fun. I left the bar with a website www.absolute0.com, two numbers (farsi woman and her friend) memories of dancing to Peggy Lee and a reminder that I am still actually a modicum of fun (I thought that I was funny and charming and relaxed and carefree tonight; that might be me through beer goggles however)
All in all a very good vening. Now for 5 hrs sleep and an early conference call
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Big wedding anniversary
We have a wedding anniversary coming up. It's ten years since we got married and 15 since we 'got together'. 10 years in ye olden times was your tin anniversary. It says a lot that the modern gift is something made of diamond. Too much actually. Maybe I can buy Jude a drill bit - something practical and diamondy.
The truth is it's an anniversary that we're avoiding. Everyone wants to know what we're doing and how we're celebrating and the truth is that we're doing very little, both at work a couple of hundred miles away from each other and both determined that 10 years doesn't become a noose - the marriage equivalent of a 30th birthday.
It's been really tough not having Jude around the last couple of weeks - perhaps accounting for the brevity and general lack of enthusiasm in my posts. We've been apart before of course, lots of times but this time she's so close and I'm so near to being able to join her that it actually hurts. I'd have loved to have been there for more than just visits and to have had ten years mark the beginning of something. A new apartment, a new job, something new that we were embarking on together.
I'd also have loved to have woken up this morning 15lbs lighter, with better defined abs, American white teeth, hair and the ability to speak Dutch (I'm using Rosetta Stone to get me toward the last one)
But it's not to be just yet and so we soldier on and I try to think of a gift that's both swooningly romantic and non-fattening. I was thinking Vegas baby
The truth is it's an anniversary that we're avoiding. Everyone wants to know what we're doing and how we're celebrating and the truth is that we're doing very little, both at work a couple of hundred miles away from each other and both determined that 10 years doesn't become a noose - the marriage equivalent of a 30th birthday.
It's been really tough not having Jude around the last couple of weeks - perhaps accounting for the brevity and general lack of enthusiasm in my posts. We've been apart before of course, lots of times but this time she's so close and I'm so near to being able to join her that it actually hurts. I'd have loved to have been there for more than just visits and to have had ten years mark the beginning of something. A new apartment, a new job, something new that we were embarking on together.
I'd also have loved to have woken up this morning 15lbs lighter, with better defined abs, American white teeth, hair and the ability to speak Dutch (I'm using Rosetta Stone to get me toward the last one)
But it's not to be just yet and so we soldier on and I try to think of a gift that's both swooningly romantic and non-fattening. I was thinking Vegas baby
Monday, October 08, 2007
all a bit cold and empty really
so back in New York and busy as all hell at work. The sun is shining. There are a million and one packing things to be done and yet I still feel in limbo. This weekend showed just how quickly Jude can build a new life. New people, new challenges, new stuff all over the place and here I am feeling trapped in the same old, same old. Time for me to get off my ass and do some things. Where I do them is what's open for question. But it has to start somewhere and it will start today, in New York where I'm actually having a script meeting on a possible kids TV show. Cool
Sunday, October 07, 2007
a strange kind of doom
it's october. in michigan. we've been told to wrap up warm. last night at a party on guest brought hot chocolate. over on campus there was an "80s Sweater and Hot Cider" night going on. It's supposed to be cold. But it's not. Today it's 33c and the sunshine is spectacular. Yesterday was similar. This, of course, is not a good thing in terms of environment. But it's warm and people like warm. So we're wishing away impending doom and floating on the scented breeze of impending disaster. Global Cooling methinks would have more of a groundswell of public opinion behind it. Just an early morning thought is all.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
A somewhat different weekend
Yup after last weekend's nipple tassle extravaganza this week is DIY stores, Jam tasting and a fascinating slide show at the house of someone Jude knows. Oh and there's a 55mile bike ride to a cider mill too. This may take some getting used to
Thursday, October 04, 2007
sucker
okay I know. I'm a sukcer. A real sucker. But I just love sexy electronics. And so with th expenses mounting - $4k to move house, $3k for blinds, $14k for a new car, weekly $250 flights and the like I somehow managed to find my way into an Apple store today looing at the new i-touch.
Okay so it's 8 gig vs the 160 gig of a standard video i-pod. And the price will come down soon.
But it's touch screen.
And it knows which way up it is.
And it has wi-fi that's free in Starbucks.
And it plays movies beautifully.
And it's really thin.
It uses fonts fantastically.
And it really is as sexy as hell.
And besides I've spent more tha $300 on a good dinner.
And we're kinda well off on paper (we just lack the requisite kind of paper to prove it)
And I was celebrating not having cancer.
A "have the paper to prove it" kind of not having cancer
And I did give extra blood today in an act of altruism.
Plus it was my birthday recently
And it's my anniversary soon.
And did I mention that I'd been a good boy?
Okay - I'm a sucker.
But a happy sucker.
BTW - Anyone want a previous generation Video i-pod in Black?
It was a gift and I'd rather someone took it than it went into a drawer.
Okay so it's 8 gig vs the 160 gig of a standard video i-pod. And the price will come down soon.
But it's touch screen.
And it knows which way up it is.
And it has wi-fi that's free in Starbucks.
And it plays movies beautifully.
And it's really thin.
It uses fonts fantastically.
And it really is as sexy as hell.
And besides I've spent more tha $300 on a good dinner.
And we're kinda well off on paper (we just lack the requisite kind of paper to prove it)
And I was celebrating not having cancer.
A "have the paper to prove it" kind of not having cancer
And I did give extra blood today in an act of altruism.
Plus it was my birthday recently
And it's my anniversary soon.
And did I mention that I'd been a good boy?
Okay - I'm a sucker.
But a happy sucker.
BTW - Anyone want a previous generation Video i-pod in Black?
It was a gift and I'd rather someone took it than it went into a drawer.
Scans clear... now for the MRI
So scans were good this morning - except for what they think might be a heriation of a disk in my neck. Have an MRI scheduled just in case. Meanwhile it's all good. Hurrah. Another crap post I know. Monster busy here. (what?)
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
so- thai-ard
as they used to say in Singapore. I'm totally knackered. The head is aching. And I need to be in tip top form for the doctor tomorrow. Well actually I don't as the tests were done weeks ago and it's just a results day. But I still wanna look well. Weird huh? Anyway a real post first thing tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Lemonade
well after yesterday's disappointments I've decided to suck it up, make lemonade and concentrate on what's actually important. Doctor on Thursday. New client the week after. Time to throw myself into fitness, health and work. Erm, that's it. It's late. The glass of wine was a little too full. More tomorrow.
Life on hold
was promised an answer today on one of those big life shaping things. Actually I was promised an affirmative answer.
Instead I got a 2 week delay.
And a side order of uncertainty.
Powerless to change the outcome I'm moping instead.
Can't remember ever having been this down.
Facing the prospect of being homeless (lease runs out in 3 weeks), penniless (the move costs a fortune), wifeless (she's in Ann Arbor my options around getting there are diminishing daily) and animal-less (they will move end of month) and all I can do is cross my fingers.
Worse is that a 'yes' would have carried me towards something that I really want to do - rather than away from something that I don't. A very good step.
Sometimes I can see how having a belief in something other than the ability of organizations to bugger things up could be a comfort.
Still 2 weeks to certainty. And knowing is all. That gives me the ability to plan. And planning is what I do best.
Okay - back to work.
Instead I got a 2 week delay.
And a side order of uncertainty.
Powerless to change the outcome I'm moping instead.
Can't remember ever having been this down.
Facing the prospect of being homeless (lease runs out in 3 weeks), penniless (the move costs a fortune), wifeless (she's in Ann Arbor my options around getting there are diminishing daily) and animal-less (they will move end of month) and all I can do is cross my fingers.
Worse is that a 'yes' would have carried me towards something that I really want to do - rather than away from something that I don't. A very good step.
Sometimes I can see how having a belief in something other than the ability of organizations to bugger things up could be a comfort.
Still 2 weeks to certainty. And knowing is all. That gives me the ability to plan. And planning is what I do best.
Okay - back to work.
Monday, October 01, 2007
a waiting game
I'm really bad at waiting. Really bad. It's the lack of control that I hate. Other people setting the pace, the deadlines, the pace of your life. It's why I'm not a bus person - being able to see those gaps that "you could drive a bus through" whilst simultaneously not moving drives me bonkers. Gimme the subway anyday. With no front window to peer through and only blackness all around there's no way of viewing the cause of frustration.
So this week is a bad one. I'm waiting on movers. On doctor's results. On window treatment guys. And on a host of equally important - life in our hands - decisions from other people. And it's already driving me insane. By Friday I'll be a basket case. By next week worse.
I gues sit could be worse. I could be being hounded - a la Britney. Am I alone in finding Britney losing her kids a sad thing? It feels as though this has been the script that the press have been looking for all along. They've been pushing the Britney is a bad mom angle for so long (with the "Somebody help us" headlines plastered over pics of her kids) that the court decision today seemed inevitable. Sure she's hardly mom of the year but then she has staff to look after the kids - they're looked after by pros. And a lot of the toddler angst you see is caused by the media scrum around Brit and the kids whenever she leaves the house.
What I really object to though is one of the reasons most often cited as being a sign of Brit's depravity is that she's often naked around her kids. At this point I have to say - so what? They're 3 and 1. I'm not sure they'd notice naked and even if they did I'm sure that's not unhealthy. Okay the drugs might be an issue, that I can see - thoughnobody ever tried to drag Bobbi Houston off to a home for children of drugged up nutter parents, did they?
Enough of a rant "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE" etc.
Oh this waiting
Steve
So this week is a bad one. I'm waiting on movers. On doctor's results. On window treatment guys. And on a host of equally important - life in our hands - decisions from other people. And it's already driving me insane. By Friday I'll be a basket case. By next week worse.
I gues sit could be worse. I could be being hounded - a la Britney. Am I alone in finding Britney losing her kids a sad thing? It feels as though this has been the script that the press have been looking for all along. They've been pushing the Britney is a bad mom angle for so long (with the "Somebody help us" headlines plastered over pics of her kids) that the court decision today seemed inevitable. Sure she's hardly mom of the year but then she has staff to look after the kids - they're looked after by pros. And a lot of the toddler angst you see is caused by the media scrum around Brit and the kids whenever she leaves the house.
What I really object to though is one of the reasons most often cited as being a sign of Brit's depravity is that she's often naked around her kids. At this point I have to say - so what? They're 3 and 1. I'm not sure they'd notice naked and even if they did I'm sure that's not unhealthy. Okay the drugs might be an issue, that I can see - thoughnobody ever tried to drag Bobbi Houston off to a home for children of drugged up nutter parents, did they?
Enough of a rant "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE" etc.
Oh this waiting
Steve
Sunday, September 30, 2007
One of those weekends
A good weekende then. Sketchy's was a little low energgy, with lots of the jokes falling a bit flat - but then we were the stone cold sober table.
Still Jude did well at left handed drawing and I managed a couple of good pics.
Margaret Cho was funny during the stand-up and daring during the burlesque but I found myself admiring rather than enjoying the show... although her crotch in face rubbing, moustachio'd, permed, Cher lithe, gymnast flexible support was good value for money.
Kaiser and Nick's party was fun. Too many nibbles, too many drinks, enough interesting people and we stayed too late - just about perfect then.
Mythic Creatures at the museum not really worth the money... but you live and learn and it's always nice to see Mike.
Jude leaves tomorrow morning (on a 6am flight, ouch) and I head out there next weekend. Meanwhile I'm in limbo - waiting on news in almost every area of my life from health, to work. It'll be an interesting week.
Still Jude did well at left handed drawing and I managed a couple of good pics.
Margaret Cho was funny during the stand-up and daring during the burlesque but I found myself admiring rather than enjoying the show... although her crotch in face rubbing, moustachio'd, permed, Cher lithe, gymnast flexible support was good value for money.
Kaiser and Nick's party was fun. Too many nibbles, too many drinks, enough interesting people and we stayed too late - just about perfect then.
Mythic Creatures at the museum not really worth the money... but you live and learn and it's always nice to see Mike.
Jude leaves tomorrow morning (on a 6am flight, ouch) and I head out there next weekend. Meanwhile I'm in limbo - waiting on news in almost every area of my life from health, to work. It'll be an interesting week.
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