so the birthday yesterdy was a weird one. I spent the morning working in excel and the afternoon working in a conference room so soul sapping that a visit to Starbucks actually provided some light relief.
New York Starbucks aren't the same as Starbucks in other places. They're smaller, theere are very few places to sit and the places that are there are in the major walkways guaranteeing that you'll be nudged and that your table will be sticky.
There's an air of disappointment about them too. Of staff worried about making the rent rather than happy to have found a good and decent employer. This disappointment is usually masked by a attitude of disinterest with a coating of surlyness (weirdly this doesn't apply to the Grand Central Starrbucks - the one right by the Poughkeepsie platform - open to the world with no doors and always with a smile on its face)
Anyway finished the soul destroying afternoon and came back to over-eat, overindulge in wine and generally attempt to inhale my age in crap. Which I managed.
Today is gonna be more social. I have the gym (gotta keep working at my age), I have a friend for qa bikeride across the bridge and into town, I have a movie lined up and we have plans for The Slipper Room and a little raunchy show to keep our fancies squirmy.
We'll see how it all goes....
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
It;s my birthday today
and I'm celebrating by writing cost agreements, visiting a financial institution to talk with some MBA grads and walking my dog through the filthy streets of "Second Stop" Brooklyn. Rather splendid actually.
Also sitting by the phone waiting to hear on the MI apartment. Today should do it - after which my visits to Jude will see me sleeping in the bed above (or to the side or wherever)
Lots of great movies opening this weekend - so lining up friends of different filmatic persuasion to maximized the post film discussion / fist pumping / beard stroking.
That said it's time for coffee, the bread I made the other night and a wee peak at the morning news.
Have fun y'all
Also sitting by the phone waiting to hear on the MI apartment. Today should do it - after which my visits to Jude will see me sleeping in the bed above (or to the side or wherever)
Lots of great movies opening this weekend - so lining up friends of different filmatic persuasion to maximized the post film discussion / fist pumping / beard stroking.
That said it's time for coffee, the bread I made the other night and a wee peak at the morning news.
Have fun y'all
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Another early morning here
and still no real word on the apartment. We gave references yesterday - they're being checked today. We're hoping for a contract tomorrow. Haven't managed to catch up with out current landlord yet... which is a worry as he could 'say anything.' We're hoping that 3 years in the building, no damage done and every payment on time will stand us in good enough stead with him to make his recommendation good.
News here talking about "Popcorn Lung"... there's a chemical in microwave popcorn that gives it a buttery flavor.. and gives people in the factory lung disease. Now it seems that lardy microwave popcorn users have the same condition. Who'd have thought? Two bags of popcorn a day, from a microwave oven, with a chemical topping tyhat tastes 'buttery' could be bad for you.
Oh and Pavavorotti is dead. How's that for an obit?
News here talking about "Popcorn Lung"... there's a chemical in microwave popcorn that gives it a buttery flavor.. and gives people in the factory lung disease. Now it seems that lardy microwave popcorn users have the same condition. Who'd have thought? Two bags of popcorn a day, from a microwave oven, with a chemical topping tyhat tastes 'buttery' could be bad for you.
Oh and Pavavorotti is dead. How's that for an obit?
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
unbelievable summer
the weather here continues to make all of the cionstruction, dirt and noise bearable. My friend Gareth claims that there's a secret 'minimum noise level' in New York and that when the city gets too quiet the mayor sends out men with jackhammers and vehicles with sirens. He may well be right. It's a city that prodes itself on excitement (and the fact that New Yorkers now live longer - that's what a falling murder rate and city set up like an obstacle course that has to be walked quickly will do for you) and the energy levels are usually Red Bull high.
It's not a jahhed, coked up London energy either/ No aggressive delusions of grandeur here - just an awareness that we're a small island off teh coast of America that votes, eats, drinks and worships differently to the union to whom we're tied. Yup this morning I'm glad to be a New Yorker.
It's not a jahhed, coked up London energy either/ No aggressive delusions of grandeur here - just an awareness that we're a small island off teh coast of America that votes, eats, drinks and worships differently to the union to whom we're tied. Yup this morning I'm glad to be a New Yorker.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
News today
we should get news on Judith's swanky pad today. From what we heard over the holiday weekend the news ought to be good - with only the fine details of contracts holding us up. We shall see, we shall see. Busy week for me this week - lost a day to the holiday (though I actually did a lot yesterday in terms of concept re-writes, client calls and revised research plans) and have two days of training to attend (we're giving it, I'm a viewer and able pair of hands) as well as a day of follow-up to that training. Have to watch the weight during all of that too - as there's food always at hand and candy prizes aplenty to be had. One dense paragraph this, I'm sorry.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Weekend in Ann Arbor
I am an idiot. This I have known and confessed at regular intervals for some time. But this weekend proved it. Jude was down in Ann Arbor - getting ready to start school and staying in an Extended stay Hotel 'Efficiency'... I was doing nothing here so I threw caution and checkbook to the wind and jumped on the first flight I could find to be with her over a 'long weekend'. Of course it could have been a longer weekend as tomorrow is a public holiday here. A fact that I forgot. So as I landed in a deserted NYC (the route from airport home was eerily quiet) Jude was sitting in her hotel room miles from anything but the mall.
The weekend was good though. Hertz provided transportation in the form of a new but oddly creaking Economy Vehicle that cost a mere $30 (that's 15 quid) a day. Said vehicle took us to a monsterous WholeFoods (Jude had been living on mall food), to all of the spots we needed to be on campus, to a gay bar that served brunch to very un-gay couples on a Sunday as well as to a park, a lake and a couple of hours of canoeing.
It also ferried us to look at a few houses. There were scant few that matched the 'close enough to walk to school; bright enough to need no lights, cool enough to compensate for not being NYC ' brief but the one pictured did and we put in an offer to take it. Now it's wait and see time as the owners contemplate the offer, the chance that we might one day want to move pets there and the idea of having Jude move in almost immediately. We're hoping that they say 'yes' whilst trying to stay relaxed about the possibility of an 'no'. It would be perfect for Jude - one Bedroom, an upstairs study, a rooftop balcony and almost immediate occupancy. And of course not being New York adds the considerable advantage of it also being affordable. Let's hope it goes our way.
Now that I am back I'm not entorely sure what to do with myself. Ordered food and beer to be delivered (I figured that 2 hrs on the water had earned me a Wombat dinner) - checked e-mails, stroked the very excited (and newly groomed) dog and texted Jude to the point of distraction. I guess all that's left is to try and catch up with the TiVo (easy this week as fall season is still 7 days away) and to see who's looking good in the tennis.
The weekend was good though. Hertz provided transportation in the form of a new but oddly creaking Economy Vehicle that cost a mere $30 (that's 15 quid) a day. Said vehicle took us to a monsterous WholeFoods (Jude had been living on mall food), to all of the spots we needed to be on campus, to a gay bar that served brunch to very un-gay couples on a Sunday as well as to a park, a lake and a couple of hours of canoeing.
It also ferried us to look at a few houses. There were scant few that matched the 'close enough to walk to school; bright enough to need no lights, cool enough to compensate for not being NYC ' brief but the one pictured did and we put in an offer to take it. Now it's wait and see time as the owners contemplate the offer, the chance that we might one day want to move pets there and the idea of having Jude move in almost immediately. We're hoping that they say 'yes' whilst trying to stay relaxed about the possibility of an 'no'. It would be perfect for Jude - one Bedroom, an upstairs study, a rooftop balcony and almost immediate occupancy. And of course not being New York adds the considerable advantage of it also being affordable. Let's hope it goes our way.
Now that I am back I'm not entorely sure what to do with myself. Ordered food and beer to be delivered (I figured that 2 hrs on the water had earned me a Wombat dinner) - checked e-mails, stroked the very excited (and newly groomed) dog and texted Jude to the point of distraction. I guess all that's left is to try and catch up with the TiVo (easy this week as fall season is still 7 days away) and to see who's looking good in the tennis.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A miserable drunk?
Since Jude left I've been wondering why it is that the wine is disappearing at a rate of knots. Then I realized that I've been downing it "like fizzy pop" here on my own. Determined not to buy any more - but still have a bottle to do before I run 'dry'. Shame as I find myself quite amusing when spewing cider fuelled bile.
Anyway my flight down to see Jude leaves at 6am this morning - that means a 4.30 departure. Time for bed.
Anyway my flight down to see Jude leaves at 6am this morning - that means a 4.30 departure. Time for bed.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
It;s scan time again
Realized last night that my last scan was on May 7th... making me 3 weeks overdue for a new one. Originally the plan had been to have scans every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months after that 'danger period'
Actually the danger period is usually two years and that might well be why the doctor said last time - "All clear. No problems. But let's stick to a 3 month schedule."
Of course that was three and a half months ago and it's amazing how the time flies when you're tumor free (it flies in a different way when you're tumor filled, less purposeful march, more flitting swallow)
So today it's back into the hands of Adela who needs to negotiate with insurance companies, MRI providers and her own doctor to get me in in a timely fashion. I'm always amazed that she manages it and always equally amazed that there's no 'reminder service' telling me, her and all concerned parties that a scan is due.
Will let you know when I have a date with the magnetic donut confirmed
Actually the danger period is usually two years and that might well be why the doctor said last time - "All clear. No problems. But let's stick to a 3 month schedule."
Of course that was three and a half months ago and it's amazing how the time flies when you're tumor free (it flies in a different way when you're tumor filled, less purposeful march, more flitting swallow)
So today it's back into the hands of Adela who needs to negotiate with insurance companies, MRI providers and her own doctor to get me in in a timely fashion. I'm always amazed that she manages it and always equally amazed that there's no 'reminder service' telling me, her and all concerned parties that a scan is due.
Will let you know when I have a date with the magnetic donut confirmed
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Not tempting fate I hope
The title of this picture was "One too many irons in the fire" and as I only have one iron in any fire at the moment (so to speak) I'm hoping that it's not prophetic. Can't be any less cryptic than that but those of you who have fingers, toes or any other body parts that can be crossed for me please do it this week.
Wondering where 'fingers crossed' came from as a superstition... well there are theories here
www.seiyaku.com/customs/fingers-crossed.html
Last day with Jude as New York residents today. I have to work, she has to pack, that sucks. I'll be home early I think just to get some more time in. And more time means less time here ---> that's me back to bed
Wondering where 'fingers crossed' came from as a superstition... well there are theories here
www.seiyaku.com/customs/fingers-crossed.html
Last day with Jude as New York residents today. I have to work, she has to pack, that sucks. I'll be home early I think just to get some more time in. And more time means less time here ---> that's me back to bed
Monday, August 27, 2007
The sun is a shining
so today the sun is shining and having started work at 6am I feel fully justified in having knocked off at 3.30 in search of something more interesting. Have my Pilates session at 5pm and then Ali comes over and helps undo all of that ab tightening with an invitation to drinks and dinner somewhere closeby.
I'm knackered (it's the getting up to work) but figure that the gym will help and that there's no substitute for food, friends and booze. Well no legal substitute anyway
I'm knackered (it's the getting up to work) but figure that the gym will help and that there's no substitute for food, friends and booze. Well no legal substitute anyway
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Letting the belt out
Been a big weekend - especially where food is concerned. Dressler was good but cost a fortune. Bembe was hot and sweaty, latin and sexy and last night D.O.C gave us a 'farewell' bottle of wine to enjoy in Michigan - they're such sweet people and it has to be our favorite spot in the world to eat.
Jude leaves on Wednesday for her 2 year stint in Michigan. I'm going down Friday to keep her company until work starts (Sept 1st) and to help out with finding the stores, the gyms, a house and the like. Then on the 13th she's back in NYC and we have half a plan to be in Europe for a day or two end of Sept. / beginning of October.
Tonight we cooked (bland fish), tested our traveller IQs (mine is poor) and generally tried not to feel as though this was out last weekend as New York residents. There's a sadness that's masking the excitement at something new at the moment and an underlying anxiety at arranging a move, distribution of furniture and all of the transport anxieties that come with another stint as along distance relationship.
I have more to say but eloquence deserts me and the screen blurs as the eyes mist. So I'll stop for now and spend time with my wife rather than with this blog.
Jude leaves on Wednesday for her 2 year stint in Michigan. I'm going down Friday to keep her company until work starts (Sept 1st) and to help out with finding the stores, the gyms, a house and the like. Then on the 13th she's back in NYC and we have half a plan to be in Europe for a day or two end of Sept. / beginning of October.
Tonight we cooked (bland fish), tested our traveller IQs (mine is poor) and generally tried not to feel as though this was out last weekend as New York residents. There's a sadness that's masking the excitement at something new at the moment and an underlying anxiety at arranging a move, distribution of furniture and all of the transport anxieties that come with another stint as along distance relationship.
I have more to say but eloquence deserts me and the screen blurs as the eyes mist. So I'll stop for now and spend time with my wife rather than with this blog.
Friday, August 24, 2007
nita nita
So last night ended with drinks and small plates at Nita Nita - a local bar with a friendly vibe, a good kitchen, a way with sweet potatoes and a really inventive bar menu. All very cool and the conversation was as good as the Jukebox (when I hear "This is a man's world" I know it's gonna be an okay crowd)
Today has been a mix of work (proposals, billing, a presentation) and exercise. Took time out from the scheedule to go to the gym, to have a massage and to take the bike out and across the Williamsburg bridge into the lower east side where I exchanged lighthly used but very much broekn sex toys for new, shiny toys on behalf of a friend not too embarrassed to buy but too embarrassed to return 'used'
Tonight Dressler is Kajsa and Nick and then on into the night for drinks on the LES.
Today has been a mix of work (proposals, billing, a presentation) and exercise. Took time out from the scheedule to go to the gym, to have a massage and to take the bike out and across the Williamsburg bridge into the lower east side where I exchanged lighthly used but very much broekn sex toys for new, shiny toys on behalf of a friend not too embarrassed to buy but too embarrassed to return 'used'
Tonight Dressler is Kajsa and Nick and then on into the night for drinks on the LES.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
A quiet night out
As Jude prepares herself for departure from the B'Burg scene we're doing more than our fair share of eating out. Last night was Bozu (pictured) a small Japanese that does the best Tuna Tatake and can be hit and miss at other times. Last night they were a huge hit. This might have something to do with the fact that we bought caraffes of Sake (numbing even the pain of the 'we need Ikea shelves' / no we need West Elm shelves' conversation happening to our left and the old twat in mad specs (I know, dangerously pot like) behind us). The fatty Tuna was great, the smell of the place amazing (I love the smell of fruit being smashed for mojitos) and the lighting just dark enough.
Coming up we have broadway (as I said to my friend Baxter 'even my hands are jazzed'), a trip to Dressler (one of the new hot but expensive B'Burg spots) and a ciao for now to D.O.C our favorite winebar and scene of some of our most drunken moments (I blame the owner and his lethal post drink shorts - liquid death as Jax calls them)
Things shaping up in other areas. Housing to rent in MI still loooking tight but saw some places. Looking to help a friend plot a kid's animation series *think Bob the Builder with more of an educational subplot. A film producer (and yes he's real not just trying to see my tits a la Fames CoCo) wants me to have a go as a script doctor (we met at a Svedka party he may well remember me through very hazy lenses) and I'm back in touch with some people who have a track record of taking things off of my computer and actually taking them out into the real world. It's a strange and somewhat magical time. Wappingers Falls was all about hibernation and weight gain. Williamsburg has been about discovery and inspiration. Suddenly I feel the need to DO things again (rather than watch things from the good seats) and all seems to be falling into place.
Anyway enough premature crowing... it's time to do the daily. Dog out, me to work blah, blah, blah
Coming up we have broadway (as I said to my friend Baxter 'even my hands are jazzed'), a trip to Dressler (one of the new hot but expensive B'Burg spots) and a ciao for now to D.O.C our favorite winebar and scene of some of our most drunken moments (I blame the owner and his lethal post drink shorts - liquid death as Jax calls them)
Things shaping up in other areas. Housing to rent in MI still loooking tight but saw some places. Looking to help a friend plot a kid's animation series *think Bob the Builder with more of an educational subplot. A film producer (and yes he's real not just trying to see my tits a la Fames CoCo) wants me to have a go as a script doctor (we met at a Svedka party he may well remember me through very hazy lenses) and I'm back in touch with some people who have a track record of taking things off of my computer and actually taking them out into the real world. It's a strange and somewhat magical time. Wappingers Falls was all about hibernation and weight gain. Williamsburg has been about discovery and inspiration. Suddenly I feel the need to DO things again (rather than watch things from the good seats) and all seems to be falling into place.
Anyway enough premature crowing... it's time to do the daily. Dog out, me to work blah, blah, blah
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Man it's been cold
We've had two cold wet days in a row here and the temperature inside the apartment has dropped from an aircon assisted 24c to a rather chilly this morning 20c. Thank god it's going to be back into the 30s this weekend as the though of turning on the heating is something that's just TOO wintery to contemplate.
The house in the picture is one that's in Ann Arbor and (I think) would be lovely for Judith. According to the information I have here it was built in 1919, is 1248 sq feet and has a taxable value of $133,200 (about 65,000 of your UK pounds or 98.750 Euros)... why I have this information I'm not at all sure but I thought that as I seem to have turned into statto this morning I may as well go the whole hog.
Judith moves to Michigan in less than a week. Actually she moves in 5 days which is a scary thought as the days between now and then are packed and she's not. I have no doubt that we'll be packing and shipping books as we move forward and that she'll be looking to me to fill a suitcase full of 'home' with every visit. That will get easier once we find a house down there.
Ann Arbor is a buyers market at the moment. With major industry (think auto and pharma) pulling out of the area there are too many houses for sale and too few people moving toward the area. Of course the town is immune to the local economy to a degree as 1 in 2 people there are linked to the University (and therefore to out of state taxes) but what this means is that the rental market is extremely healthy (35,000 students all looking for a place to live for a year) whilst the buying market is weaker than a flu ridden Mr Bean.
So do we buy? Well no. Prices are falling. Houses aren't selling. And we don't want to be locked in to a place that we end up having to rent out just to cover the bills. So we join the rental charge and pay too much (by MI standards, not by NY standards) for somewhere like the above.
Ain't life complicated?
The house in the picture is one that's in Ann Arbor and (I think) would be lovely for Judith. According to the information I have here it was built in 1919, is 1248 sq feet and has a taxable value of $133,200 (about 65,000 of your UK pounds or 98.750 Euros)... why I have this information I'm not at all sure but I thought that as I seem to have turned into statto this morning I may as well go the whole hog.
Judith moves to Michigan in less than a week. Actually she moves in 5 days which is a scary thought as the days between now and then are packed and she's not. I have no doubt that we'll be packing and shipping books as we move forward and that she'll be looking to me to fill a suitcase full of 'home' with every visit. That will get easier once we find a house down there.
Ann Arbor is a buyers market at the moment. With major industry (think auto and pharma) pulling out of the area there are too many houses for sale and too few people moving toward the area. Of course the town is immune to the local economy to a degree as 1 in 2 people there are linked to the University (and therefore to out of state taxes) but what this means is that the rental market is extremely healthy (35,000 students all looking for a place to live for a year) whilst the buying market is weaker than a flu ridden Mr Bean.
So do we buy? Well no. Prices are falling. Houses aren't selling. And we don't want to be locked in to a place that we end up having to rent out just to cover the bills. So we join the rental charge and pay too much (by MI standards, not by NY standards) for somewhere like the above.
Ain't life complicated?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Slutz
In recent times Barbie - herself no stranger to sleaze - has found herself under attack from The Bratz. The Bratz are a bunch of obnoxious 'tween' dolls with a taste for the mall and a penchant for sluttery. This has prompted Barbie to ditch Ken (too boring) and move into the odd world of 'dating.'
Meanwhile The Bratz have gone from doll to animated series (basically how to be a highschool teen bitch / slut n 26 easy episodes) to real action live movie that has flopped harder than Naomi Campbell's literary pretensions.
Not sure what all of this means for America but when we're told that teen girls are hooking in the mall for the money to charge their phones and put gas in the VW daddy bought them as a sweet 16 then there's either smoething very wrong - or we're really seeing a generation that understands the protestant work ethic.
This should go somewhere but it won't. It's late, I'm tired. People have defaced the posters. The movie sucked - mainly because the gir;'s kinda promised that they would and then didn't really put out. Too real for Tween girls, too lame for teen boys - rock meet hard place.
Meanwhile The Bratz have gone from doll to animated series (basically how to be a highschool teen bitch / slut n 26 easy episodes) to real action live movie that has flopped harder than Naomi Campbell's literary pretensions.
Not sure what all of this means for America but when we're told that teen girls are hooking in the mall for the money to charge their phones and put gas in the VW daddy bought them as a sweet 16 then there's either smoething very wrong - or we're really seeing a generation that understands the protestant work ethic.
This should go somewhere but it won't. It's late, I'm tired. People have defaced the posters. The movie sucked - mainly because the gir;'s kinda promised that they would and then didn't really put out. Too real for Tween girls, too lame for teen boys - rock meet hard place.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
All a bit grim
Today the clouds came, the sun vanished and the temps plummeted. It's still mid 20s here but you can feel winter edging in. The stores are selling off flip-flops, new products are at least 75% lambswool and all over the city people are stripping down whenever they see a human being sized pool of light.
Meanwhile the 'gentrification' of Williamsburg continues unhindered. The new condos cast a literal and figurative shadow over the community and we're all left looking at the biggest building boom in 45 years and wondering "where are the neighborhoods going to go?"
It seems that people are attrected to the grit of the Bowery, the flighty here today gone tomorrow squalor of the lower east side and the skinny jeaned hipsterism of Williamsburg and will pay top dollar for ivory towers that afford them the best views of these places - yet fail to see taht the very act of moving in changes the neighborhood beyond recognition. That's not always a bad thing but it's not what anyone signed up for either.
My solution? Well I don't have one. I say build massive homeless shelters. Have free needle exchanges in very public places. And encourage more 'affordable housing' not near but IN the new towers of glass and bamboo flooring. Maybe that will attract the right kind of money and scare off the tourists. Said he from his too expensive, security camera'd loft
Meanwhile the 'gentrification' of Williamsburg continues unhindered. The new condos cast a literal and figurative shadow over the community and we're all left looking at the biggest building boom in 45 years and wondering "where are the neighborhoods going to go?"
It seems that people are attrected to the grit of the Bowery, the flighty here today gone tomorrow squalor of the lower east side and the skinny jeaned hipsterism of Williamsburg and will pay top dollar for ivory towers that afford them the best views of these places - yet fail to see taht the very act of moving in changes the neighborhood beyond recognition. That's not always a bad thing but it's not what anyone signed up for either.
My solution? Well I don't have one. I say build massive homeless shelters. Have free needle exchanges in very public places. And encourage more 'affordable housing' not near but IN the new towers of glass and bamboo flooring. Maybe that will attract the right kind of money and scare off the tourists. Said he from his too expensive, security camera'd loft
Friday, August 17, 2007
A hybrid, a hybrid - my kingdom for a hybrid
Jude is about to start work in Michigan. That means that she's going to need a car. But not just any car. It needs enough room for visitors and their suitcases. Enough space for the dog (lest she head there for the odd weekend). It needs to be low emission as Jude works in Sustainability. And it needs to be American as she's going to be less than 40 miles from Detroit.
Which doesn't leave much. What it does leave is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The seats are recycled. The caqr does 34mpg to the US gallon (that's 40 mpg to a UK gallon) around town and it won't get trashed by disgruntled Ford workers when she's in the city.
Plus as a Hybrid it has the advantage of a $3000 tax break from the government - as well as a generous $2000 off from Ford. That brings it down to around $21000 (10k GBP) making it a real bargain.
The problem is - you can't get one. The 2007 Hybrid was a sluggish seller - but the 2008 (available since Jan 2007 - I know!) has been sold out almost since day one. Getting one is going to take about 8 weeks, minimum. Weird I know. A Ford with a wait list.
Which just goes to show - get it right and Ford could be okay. It's not about badge it's about the right product, sold in the right way to the right people.
The temptation is to give in and get a Honda Fit (Jazz) but that feels wrong in Michigan. So onto the waitlist we go. Insane.
Which doesn't leave much. What it does leave is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The seats are recycled. The caqr does 34mpg to the US gallon (that's 40 mpg to a UK gallon) around town and it won't get trashed by disgruntled Ford workers when she's in the city.
Plus as a Hybrid it has the advantage of a $3000 tax break from the government - as well as a generous $2000 off from Ford. That brings it down to around $21000 (10k GBP) making it a real bargain.
The problem is - you can't get one. The 2007 Hybrid was a sluggish seller - but the 2008 (available since Jan 2007 - I know!) has been sold out almost since day one. Getting one is going to take about 8 weeks, minimum. Weird I know. A Ford with a wait list.
Which just goes to show - get it right and Ford could be okay. It's not about badge it's about the right product, sold in the right way to the right people.
The temptation is to give in and get a Honda Fit (Jazz) but that feels wrong in Michigan. So onto the waitlist we go. Insane.
A watched phone never boils
I've spent much of this week waiting for the phone to ring. Of course this has driven me to the outer reaches of my patience and driven everyone else to distraction. Even as I wrote that sentence my phone buzzed and my heart leapt. Alas it was a friend wanting lunch rather than the person I wanted to talk to offering balm for my itching flesh. I do hate waiting for any kind of news.... I blame the internet
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Word gets out
I got bored the othe day and had a quick but happy muse on the future of the web. A half hour thing. I e-mailed it to the guy sitting next to me. This morning I woke up to an e-mail asking for permission to pubish it elsewhere. Within an hour it wa everywhere. Weird. It's not even that good. Still here's a link
www.bigshinything.com
www.bigshinything.com
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
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