Got to bed late last night having decided that white walls, mini tripod and auto focus were too good to resist and found myself justt experimenting with what my camera can do (more than I'm technically capable of carrying off I think)
Today I have interviews on Indulgence, a call with an Israeli company on bring some of their products to the US, the start of a two day workshop on what our offer as a company is and of course I have to write a presentation for next week's 'away days'
"All go" as my dad would say. So gonna duck out here at three paragraphs.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Wheeeeee
and so the merry go around continues.
Today sees more celebrities checking into and out of rehab with alarming frquency (Britney three times in a week, Lindsay for Oscar parties, Gay anti-gay preachers 'cured')
It will doubtless witness Hillary racing Barrack to be the first to raise enough money to buy the next election (or failing that enough to just buy America and have doen with it) whilst growing in girth and stature Al Gore waits in the wings - Oscar polished, Nobel prize in the bag and plan to have Bono as running mate carefully considered
It will see another couple of centuries of time poured into watching bad mime on You-Tube (where on earth are the drag queens? they could rule a world of shoddy mime, camp theatrics and unconvining busoms)
It will see me heading in to work and sitting down with a bunch of very smart people only one of whom is dedicated to making the world better in any solid way (our Independant diplomat) but all of whom are trying to improve things one product, one package and one category at a time.
It will see me check the site statistics on this page at least twice and me suck in my (soon to be eviscerated) stomach at least twenty.
It will see the Girls of American Idol trying a little less hard after making it through last week. The fattest one full of hope having seen the success of Jennifer Hudson, the smallest wondering whether a deformed midget, female, Richard III look-a-like really could hog the spotlight in anything other than the circus.
And doubtless it will see somebody else drawn to my suddenly saleable mix of 'quirk', 'distain for business as usual', 'years on the job' and 'bizarro accent'... or at least I hope it will. There is after all nothing more flattering than flattery - and being chased (rather than chasing escape) is something that lifts the soul, just a little
Today sees more celebrities checking into and out of rehab with alarming frquency (Britney three times in a week, Lindsay for Oscar parties, Gay anti-gay preachers 'cured')
It will doubtless witness Hillary racing Barrack to be the first to raise enough money to buy the next election (or failing that enough to just buy America and have doen with it) whilst growing in girth and stature Al Gore waits in the wings - Oscar polished, Nobel prize in the bag and plan to have Bono as running mate carefully considered
It will see another couple of centuries of time poured into watching bad mime on You-Tube (where on earth are the drag queens? they could rule a world of shoddy mime, camp theatrics and unconvining busoms)
It will see me heading in to work and sitting down with a bunch of very smart people only one of whom is dedicated to making the world better in any solid way (our Independant diplomat) but all of whom are trying to improve things one product, one package and one category at a time.
It will see me check the site statistics on this page at least twice and me suck in my (soon to be eviscerated) stomach at least twenty.
It will see the Girls of American Idol trying a little less hard after making it through last week. The fattest one full of hope having seen the success of Jennifer Hudson, the smallest wondering whether a deformed midget, female, Richard III look-a-like really could hog the spotlight in anything other than the circus.
And doubtless it will see somebody else drawn to my suddenly saleable mix of 'quirk', 'distain for business as usual', 'years on the job' and 'bizarro accent'... or at least I hope it will. There is after all nothing more flattering than flattery - and being chased (rather than chasing escape) is something that lifts the soul, just a little
Monday, February 26, 2007
It's snowing!
Or it least it snowed... last night. Only an inch of two but after the dirty frozen chunks of ice that littered the sidewalks a sheet of something that at least looks a little more clean and fresh is very welcome.
All manner of US only related things to be getting on with today. Mis-billed insurance claims, State income tax refunds, covering for some people out on "Charisma enhancement training" that kind of thing.
A short entry this morning as I'm dashing around like Nigel Havers on speed... more (interesting) tomorrow
All manner of US only related things to be getting on with today. Mis-billed insurance claims, State income tax refunds, covering for some people out on "Charisma enhancement training" that kind of thing.
A short entry this morning as I'm dashing around like Nigel Havers on speed... more (interesting) tomorrow
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Blur of a weekend
Well the weekend passed in a blur of inactivity... we rushed from place to place doing almost nothing. The pic sums it up really.
Tomorrow I have to call the hospital (they billed the wrong insurance company for my scans); call the dentist (it's been almost 3 weeks waiting for insurance approval) and call my client (she's been in Africa)... not a lot I know but busy enough for a Monday
Tomorrow I have to call the hospital (they billed the wrong insurance company for my scans); call the dentist (it's been almost 3 weeks waiting for insurance approval) and call my client (she's been in Africa)... not a lot I know but busy enough for a Monday
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Art, art everywhere
You can take the cow out of Wisconsin, but you can't take Wisconsin out of the cow
Originally uploaded by Hello Doodle!.
The city has gone art crazy - especially as city bonuses are at an all time high and it's Tax Refund time. So once you have the houses and the cars the only thing that's left to do is invest in some canvas... and people are going crazy.
Of course all of this leads to endless debate about the Disney-fication of art and the show stopping tactics of young artists trying to make a name for themselves (giant beams of light being a biggy this year). PS1 - one of my favorite modern art places has responded to the feeding frenzy with a show called 'Not For Sale' where, you guessed it, nothing on display can be purchased.
Me? Well I'll see how big the bonus is and check out the original Everharts.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday
It's Friday and there are all kinds of things going on in the city. The weekend will see us going to some of the armory shows (lots of art this weekend) to some bodice ripper of a movie that Jude fancies, to an Oscar party (I'm going to squeeze myself into a cheap frock and go as Jennifer Hudson) and to '75 inches' a show about a straight man who worked as a drag queen - and all that people assumed as a result.
Throw in a gym session, some dog walking and a few episodes of Battlestar Gallactica on DVD and you have the recipe for content.
Hurrah
Throw in a gym session, some dog walking and a few episodes of Battlestar Gallactica on DVD and you have the recipe for content.
Hurrah
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Sauce!
A slow week at work this week has meant that work on the book is now in full flow. What started as random rants gained some structure when I decided (somehow, subconsciously?) that the whole thing should be structured around that time when agencies are their most 'agency like' - the new business pitch. The words are tumbling out and the jokes aren't bad either.
What's left to decide is whether I use langauge as clumsy as this sentence or not. No that's a given I won't, what I do need to decide is whether to make this a straight peek behind the curtains of the agency world or whether it should be a work of 'fiction' populated by a few well chosen characters. It's starting to feel that way to me.
Oh well writing is rewriting (as this un-re-written diary so often proves)
What's left to decide is whether I use langauge as clumsy as this sentence or not. No that's a given I won't, what I do need to decide is whether to make this a straight peek behind the curtains of the agency world or whether it should be a work of 'fiction' populated by a few well chosen characters. It's starting to feel that way to me.
Oh well writing is rewriting (as this un-re-written diary so often proves)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I'm Lovin' It?
Yesterday I had to turn down a job that, in truth, I'd have loved to say yes to. The timing was wrong, the city was wrong, the money was wrong etc. but just as it was starting to hurt I got this e-mail from a guy at work - and was reminded that the people I work with are pretty cool.
I'll admit it. I was in Wisconsoson. And I was crazing a Big Mac. I was cravin’ some Mickey D’s in Wisconsin. Having not eaten at The Clown’s House in a year or so, I wanted it. I craved it. And today I went for it.
The food was fine, just what I expected, exactly what I craved. But here’s the disturbing part: They put the nutritional info on the packs now.
What are they thinking? Is this meant to be a positive PR campaign?
Oh, 4569 grams of fat. Kewl. Make it a double.
McDonalds is being above the board now! Great! I feel better about my weakness and gluttony.
They might as well put a label that says “NOTE: Hey loser. Not that you care, but your ass WILL get bigger after eating this, and I can smell your pancreas smoking” (Ha-ha, bitches. MINE’s already dead! Who’s the smart clown mascot now!)
It’s like a prostitute wearing a t-shirt that says “over 678 served. This month.” Just not what you’re looking for in advertising...
I was one of the 3 people in the US who thought that Supersize Me was - while very entertaining and thought provoking - alarmist bullshit.
And I also studied food science, so I know how much fat is in fried things.
But, for friggin’ out loud, even I don’t want to think about what’s in my McNuggets...
I'll admit it. I was in Wisconsoson. And I was crazing a Big Mac. I was cravin’ some Mickey D’s in Wisconsin. Having not eaten at The Clown’s House in a year or so, I wanted it. I craved it. And today I went for it.
The food was fine, just what I expected, exactly what I craved. But here’s the disturbing part: They put the nutritional info on the packs now.
What are they thinking? Is this meant to be a positive PR campaign?
Oh, 4569 grams of fat. Kewl. Make it a double.
McDonalds is being above the board now! Great! I feel better about my weakness and gluttony.
They might as well put a label that says “NOTE: Hey loser. Not that you care, but your ass WILL get bigger after eating this, and I can smell your pancreas smoking” (Ha-ha, bitches. MINE’s already dead! Who’s the smart clown mascot now!)
It’s like a prostitute wearing a t-shirt that says “over 678 served. This month.” Just not what you’re looking for in advertising...
I was one of the 3 people in the US who thought that Supersize Me was - while very entertaining and thought provoking - alarmist bullshit.
And I also studied food science, so I know how much fat is in fried things.
But, for friggin’ out loud, even I don’t want to think about what’s in my McNuggets...
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Jude and Dave
It's quite rare to get Jude and Dave together these days. He lives in London, she lives in New York and ne'er it seems shall the twain meet. Unless of course somebody else is paying for the plane ticket.
There's a very odd thing that happens once your company starts to fly you around the world at great expense - you begin to believe that Business Class is the standard way to fly and that anything else is both 'slumming it' and somehow 'what I used to do before I earned the lounges, fawning and flat beds'.
You justify this in your head by thinking of business as a 'middle class' - not the ridiculous opulence and fake looking wood inlays of First and not the clot inducing tightness of economy.
Of course as soon as you have to put your hand into your own pocket and actually PAY for your own ticket things change. You take out your Gold cards, you start phoning people, you look for the upgrade and you chat too amicably to anyone in a uniform at the airport.
The card means that you can still use the lounge, so the idea of your being extraordinary is maintained and a fantasy of 'temporary slumming' and tales of 'no room in business' fill your head.
But what really happens is that you fly less. Fly less or not at all.
Which is why, I think, that the siblings see so little of each other. Whilst one really can't afford the time or the cash to fly in any class the other can't afford to 'fly right' and so neither do. It's a case of time and cash poverty meeting business induced snobbery. Though everyone involved will deny it.
Anyway I have jobs to turn down and scan payments to sort out (the hospital billed the wrong insurance company) so it's ciao from me
There's a very odd thing that happens once your company starts to fly you around the world at great expense - you begin to believe that Business Class is the standard way to fly and that anything else is both 'slumming it' and somehow 'what I used to do before I earned the lounges, fawning and flat beds'.
You justify this in your head by thinking of business as a 'middle class' - not the ridiculous opulence and fake looking wood inlays of First and not the clot inducing tightness of economy.
Of course as soon as you have to put your hand into your own pocket and actually PAY for your own ticket things change. You take out your Gold cards, you start phoning people, you look for the upgrade and you chat too amicably to anyone in a uniform at the airport.
The card means that you can still use the lounge, so the idea of your being extraordinary is maintained and a fantasy of 'temporary slumming' and tales of 'no room in business' fill your head.
But what really happens is that you fly less. Fly less or not at all.
Which is why, I think, that the siblings see so little of each other. Whilst one really can't afford the time or the cash to fly in any class the other can't afford to 'fly right' and so neither do. It's a case of time and cash poverty meeting business induced snobbery. Though everyone involved will deny it.
Anyway I have jobs to turn down and scan payments to sort out (the hospital billed the wrong insurance company) so it's ciao from me
Monday, February 19, 2007
For my consideration
Since I changed jobs I've had nothing but interest from other companies who would like for me to work with them.
I have a call sitting on my answering machine that needs returning, a polite refusal in my draft box that needs to hit my outbox and a man wanting to meet me for breakfast later in the week to talk work.
It's all a little beyond fathoming but it's nice to know that the reputatio hasn't been entirely squandered while I've been in the US...
The weird thing is that this is the first time I haven't really wanted to move in as long as I can remember. Perhaps the stench of desperation was too strong to allow people to track the quieter smell of ability in the past. Or maybe I'm just sluttier these days. Who knows. But it is nice to be wanted.
I have a call sitting on my answering machine that needs returning, a polite refusal in my draft box that needs to hit my outbox and a man wanting to meet me for breakfast later in the week to talk work.
It's all a little beyond fathoming but it's nice to know that the reputatio hasn't been entirely squandered while I've been in the US...
The weird thing is that this is the first time I haven't really wanted to move in as long as I can remember. Perhaps the stench of desperation was too strong to allow people to track the quieter smell of ability in the past. Or maybe I'm just sluttier these days. Who knows. But it is nice to be wanted.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Help!
So it seems that Britney had quite a weekend. First checking herself out of Eric Clapton's Antiga rehab center and then flying back to LA for a night of self mutilation (head shaving, tattooing), mad muttering ('I'm sick of people touching my head, no-one can touch my head') and desperration to make the front pages.
It's sad to see our little pop strumpet so obviously and painfully exposed - but it's also tremendous fun. Britney it seems is falling into the 'tragic' narractive arc that has to lead to either an Elton John style redemption or an Anna Nicole Smith type ending.
Anna Nicole has dominated the headlines here all week - in a way that she always sought but never managed when alive. A dodgy will, a paternity battle for her newly rich (or potentially rich) baby, a fight over her body, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, drink, drugs, death and somewhere in all of that something snarky and mistimed from Rosie O'Donnell.
Britney of course should be able to avoid the Nicole Smith trap. Anna needed the headlines in order to pay the bills. Her pathology for attention was of course what paid the rent as the fight over who got her elderly husband's money dragged on and on. She was a peculiar star in that she had absolutely no talent other than being able to generate headlines and sell pictures of her exploits as a result. She didn't sing, dance or act. She didn't model. She didn't write. Instead she showed up, she created a storm and she cashed the cheque as a result.
Brit' isn't in that situation - but her situation is equally out of control. She was manufactured. A perfect pop tart, singing perfect pop songs, wearing perfect pop clothes and making perfect pop videos. But the songs, the clothes and the videos weren't hers. She didn't have the voice to break free of the studio straight-jacket or the talent to break free of her image. The mouseketeer's only job was to stay beautiful, give good photo and keep her nose clean. So when the babies, the booze and the boys wrecked her looks and image there was nothing left. She's failed to uphold her end of the bargain and of course there was no-one there to stage manage her anymore.
People keep asking whether Britney can pull it back together. The answer is no. She's a product and if she's going to make it back then she's going to need to be put together piece by piece, note by note, gym session by gym session. Right now that's still possible - everyone loves a triumphant return from the brink; but if the next album flops expect to see the downward spiral of Britney take on fresh dimension.
It's sad to see our little pop strumpet so obviously and painfully exposed - but it's also tremendous fun. Britney it seems is falling into the 'tragic' narractive arc that has to lead to either an Elton John style redemption or an Anna Nicole Smith type ending.
Anna Nicole has dominated the headlines here all week - in a way that she always sought but never managed when alive. A dodgy will, a paternity battle for her newly rich (or potentially rich) baby, a fight over her body, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, drink, drugs, death and somewhere in all of that something snarky and mistimed from Rosie O'Donnell.
Britney of course should be able to avoid the Nicole Smith trap. Anna needed the headlines in order to pay the bills. Her pathology for attention was of course what paid the rent as the fight over who got her elderly husband's money dragged on and on. She was a peculiar star in that she had absolutely no talent other than being able to generate headlines and sell pictures of her exploits as a result. She didn't sing, dance or act. She didn't model. She didn't write. Instead she showed up, she created a storm and she cashed the cheque as a result.
Brit' isn't in that situation - but her situation is equally out of control. She was manufactured. A perfect pop tart, singing perfect pop songs, wearing perfect pop clothes and making perfect pop videos. But the songs, the clothes and the videos weren't hers. She didn't have the voice to break free of the studio straight-jacket or the talent to break free of her image. The mouseketeer's only job was to stay beautiful, give good photo and keep her nose clean. So when the babies, the booze and the boys wrecked her looks and image there was nothing left. She's failed to uphold her end of the bargain and of course there was no-one there to stage manage her anymore.
People keep asking whether Britney can pull it back together. The answer is no. She's a product and if she's going to make it back then she's going to need to be put together piece by piece, note by note, gym session by gym session. Right now that's still possible - everyone loves a triumphant return from the brink; but if the next album flops expect to see the downward spiral of Britney take on fresh dimension.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Look who's back...
... Wavy Davy is back in New York for a few days and so to Brunch. This time at Wombat; an Australian restaurant that serves cheap food to minor celebrities (today the cool architect guy from Top Design) from a decent space in a weird part of town.
It was fun actually and good to see him again. Monday is President's day - so we'll hit the stores with elbows raised in a bid to beat the rest of NYC to a bargain.
Good day today - brunch, Battlestar Gallatica and tonight a Hugh Grant / Drew Barrymore movie (Music and Lyrics)... how much more chilled can it get?
It was fun actually and good to see him again. Monday is President's day - so we'll hit the stores with elbows raised in a bid to beat the rest of NYC to a bargain.
Good day today - brunch, Battlestar Gallatica and tonight a Hugh Grant / Drew Barrymore movie (Music and Lyrics)... how much more chilled can it get?
Friday, February 16, 2007
Back
Despite the best efforts of Greenpeace (protests that brought Paris to a halt), of Air India (planes old enough to make you look at the sunset as though it was your last), the weather (Jesus it's cold), the Holland Tunnel (90 minute delays to get through it) and a narcoleptic driver ('traffic give me headache, headache give me sleep') I made it back.
Tax morning this morning then in to work with a spring in my step and a nip of rum in my coffee.
Tax morning this morning then in to work with a spring in my step and a nip of rum in my coffee.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Valentine en Paris
Paris on Valentine’s day is weird. There’s a line outside McDonalds whilst Pan De Vin Blanc (little phonetic French joke for you there Sun readers) have pulled their Valentine’s day special chocolate box due to lack of interest. Not at all what you’d expect.
However you can still tell it’s Valentine’s day by the low moans of amour creeping in under the door of your hotel room as young couple after young couple, checks in, checks out of their clothes and begins le dance d’orizontal - forgetting that Paris hotels have walls made of crepe paper. Or perhaps, in the fashion of the true boheme, just not caring.
Still there are worse places to be... spent the day in a coffee shop that predates ‘kill the natives and steal their turkeys’ America drinking short café noir with a rotating cast of characters... all of whom turned up on time and had an attitude to indulgent pleasure matched only by my frotting neighbors. To quote both (and Billy Idol) the order of the day seems to be “More, more, More”
Best ideas I’ve seen here are a flat zero calorie coke (for those who don’t want to feel bloated), a store that expands out into the street at the touch of a button and a fantastic Tequilla Soda concoction that fizzes all over you like a mentos spiked Coke agitated by the rocking of the bed of my (increasingly noisy) neighbors
C'est magnifique
However you can still tell it’s Valentine’s day by the low moans of amour creeping in under the door of your hotel room as young couple after young couple, checks in, checks out of their clothes and begins le dance d’orizontal - forgetting that Paris hotels have walls made of crepe paper. Or perhaps, in the fashion of the true boheme, just not caring.
Still there are worse places to be... spent the day in a coffee shop that predates ‘kill the natives and steal their turkeys’ America drinking short café noir with a rotating cast of characters... all of whom turned up on time and had an attitude to indulgent pleasure matched only by my frotting neighbors. To quote both (and Billy Idol) the order of the day seems to be “More, more, More”
Best ideas I’ve seen here are a flat zero calorie coke (for those who don’t want to feel bloated), a store that expands out into the street at the touch of a button and a fantastic Tequilla Soda concoction that fizzes all over you like a mentos spiked Coke agitated by the rocking of the bed of my (increasingly noisy) neighbors
C'est magnifique
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Done!
Well my time in Paris is (hopefully) coming to an end. New York is su zero, 60mph winds, 6" of snow and raterh nasty but the Air India flight today looks like landing 13 mins early and so I have my fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Paris has been okay - expensive but not prohibitively so. Stylish but not swank. And the respondents have all turned up on time, well recruited and ready to talk
Last night in the mini room with the concrete mattress. I may even miss it.
BTW the pic is from our archery centre... very 80s I thought
Paris has been okay - expensive but not prohibitively so. Stylish but not swank. And the respondents have all turned up on time, well recruited and ready to talk
Last night in the mini room with the concrete mattress. I may even miss it.
BTW the pic is from our archery centre... very 80s I thought
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Are these bites?
Half way through the flight to Gay Paris (Paris is the gayest thing I've seen... and I've seen two men shagging) I awoke with hands itchier than than the Singing Detectives balls.
"Ouch" I thought and went back to sleep.
This morning I looked at my hands and I'm covered in bites. So not only did they fail to provide a plane at the specified time, fail to entertain me, wake me twice to ask whether I REALLY wanted not to be woken for meals then feed slop disguised as said meals but they also failed to clear up their 'infestation' problem.
Sacre Merde!
"Ouch" I thought and went back to sleep.
This morning I looked at my hands and I'm covered in bites. So not only did they fail to provide a plane at the specified time, fail to entertain me, wake me twice to ask whether I REALLY wanted not to be woken for meals then feed slop disguised as said meals but they also failed to clear up their 'infestation' problem.
Sacre Merde!
Monday, February 12, 2007
I still hate Paris
One hour in Paris and the cell phone that I've had for 3 years is gone.
Call it jet lag, call it thieving cheese surrender monkeys, call it dopey old guy - call it what you want the truth of the matter is that like Hall and Oates girlfriend "She's Gone"
Now losing the Blackberry, the wallet, the credit cards, the computer or the passport would be much worse of course but it still annoys.
On the plus side I did manage to snap the above pic whilst out. I rather like it
Call it jet lag, call it thieving cheese surrender monkeys, call it dopey old guy - call it what you want the truth of the matter is that like Hall and Oates girlfriend "She's Gone"
Now losing the Blackberry, the wallet, the credit cards, the computer or the passport would be much worse of course but it still annoys.
On the plus side I did manage to snap the above pic whilst out. I rather like it
Greetings from Paris
Well Air India is a trip. First they call me to tell me that the 9pm flight that I'm supposed to be on is delayed until 'at least 3am' and then I watch as that time slips and slips.
I call the reservations dept. and figure out that all of the planes the previous day had been cancelled and that two planes were leaving around 18hrs delayed but mid afternoon. Get myself on the 5.30pm.
The airport is filled with screaming families - all delayed a day and facing a long NYC - PARIS - MUMBAI - Azabazramdan (or something) flight. I bypass them all merely by waving my ticket in the air and get checked in and through security in under 10 mins.
The flight is almost empty - there are 3 paying passengers in Business class. We're outnumbered by stray flies but still outnumber the number of TV screens available. No in-seat TV here. Still they have wallpapered - which is nice.
Crew are weary looking and pleasant without being helpful. They wake me up for dinner and for breakfast - despite me asking them not to (both meals are dire) and they refuse to put my bag in the closet at the back of business class even when I offer to carry it.
Still we arrive on time and I head for the world's smallest hotel room via the back of a taxi that seems to be heated to steel warping temperatures.
Paris is - well Paris. I feel alien, afraid to order anything and scared of taking too many pictures. But it's good to be here and I'm hoping that the project goes well. Already found that the cafe at which we;re meeting has had a change of name, been ripped off for two notebooks and 4 pens (E60???) and figured out how to log on to the hotel internet.
Off to explore before it gets dark now
Steve
I call the reservations dept. and figure out that all of the planes the previous day had been cancelled and that two planes were leaving around 18hrs delayed but mid afternoon. Get myself on the 5.30pm.
The airport is filled with screaming families - all delayed a day and facing a long NYC - PARIS - MUMBAI - Azabazramdan (or something) flight. I bypass them all merely by waving my ticket in the air and get checked in and through security in under 10 mins.
The flight is almost empty - there are 3 paying passengers in Business class. We're outnumbered by stray flies but still outnumber the number of TV screens available. No in-seat TV here. Still they have wallpapered - which is nice.
Crew are weary looking and pleasant without being helpful. They wake me up for dinner and for breakfast - despite me asking them not to (both meals are dire) and they refuse to put my bag in the closet at the back of business class even when I offer to carry it.
Still we arrive on time and I head for the world's smallest hotel room via the back of a taxi that seems to be heated to steel warping temperatures.
Paris is - well Paris. I feel alien, afraid to order anything and scared of taking too many pictures. But it's good to be here and I'm hoping that the project goes well. Already found that the cafe at which we;re meeting has had a change of name, been ripped off for two notebooks and 4 pens (E60???) and figured out how to log on to the hotel internet.
Off to explore before it gets dark now
Steve
Sunday, February 11, 2007
en Paris
Overnight flight to Paris tonight... with the very lovely Air India ($2400 vs. $5000 on Air France)
A couple of days there talking with people about minor indulgence, one lonely Valentine's day night in a hotel full of starry eye lovers (though it beats last year when I was dying and the year before when I was in an hotel on a Coventry industrial estate) and then home.
Nothing much to complain about there.
A couple of days there talking with people about minor indulgence, one lonely Valentine's day night in a hotel full of starry eye lovers (though it beats last year when I was dying and the year before when I was in an hotel on a Coventry industrial estate) and then home.
Nothing much to complain about there.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
We went to archery last night
it was such a long trip back we decided to buy a car.
Honda Fit here we come
Honda Fit here we come
Friday, February 09, 2007
Another day - another ban
It seems that the US's ability to justify anything from war through to the banning of pink fluffy bunny slippers in public places by means of using a quick chart knocked up in Excel continues.
Today Philly voted to join New York City in banning transfats from restaurant menus. Now transfats are bad. They make you fat. They clog your arteries. They may well give you cancer. They do terrible things to the nation's healthcare system. That said they do store well at ambient temperatures and don't look runny when you take the top off your margerine in the morning.
I'm all for warning people about the dangers of transfats. And all for telling people when transfats are in the food that they're eating... but a ban? really?
I can understand a ban on smoking in public places. Smoke drifts. It gets into other people's hair and clothing and lungs and leaves them feeling like an ashtray. It's a health hazzard that spreads indiscriminately - so great ban it to protect the people who haven't chiosen to smoke from its nasty side effects.
But to the best of my knowledge the inside of my Custard Cream biscuit (100% transfat) does not wander around the restaurant smearing itself upon people's hair and clothes and finding a way into their lungs and bloodstream. No it's contained (deliciously between layers of crispy biscuit) and thus I should be free to eat it - having made a choice based on the fact of what's in it and my own particular weakness for 'cream' filled biscuits.
So Philly, City of Brotherly Love - get off your high horses and stick to label warnings - or the next thing you'll be banning might be gypsies... and you know where that leads....
Today Philly voted to join New York City in banning transfats from restaurant menus. Now transfats are bad. They make you fat. They clog your arteries. They may well give you cancer. They do terrible things to the nation's healthcare system. That said they do store well at ambient temperatures and don't look runny when you take the top off your margerine in the morning.
I'm all for warning people about the dangers of transfats. And all for telling people when transfats are in the food that they're eating... but a ban? really?
I can understand a ban on smoking in public places. Smoke drifts. It gets into other people's hair and clothing and lungs and leaves them feeling like an ashtray. It's a health hazzard that spreads indiscriminately - so great ban it to protect the people who haven't chiosen to smoke from its nasty side effects.
But to the best of my knowledge the inside of my Custard Cream biscuit (100% transfat) does not wander around the restaurant smearing itself upon people's hair and clothes and finding a way into their lungs and bloodstream. No it's contained (deliciously between layers of crispy biscuit) and thus I should be free to eat it - having made a choice based on the fact of what's in it and my own particular weakness for 'cream' filled biscuits.
So Philly, City of Brotherly Love - get off your high horses and stick to label warnings - or the next thing you'll be banning might be gypsies... and you know where that leads....
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Oh well
I woke this morning full of expectation... last night I'd turned on the $5 Craigslist bread machine and I was expecting an oaty, slightly crunchy loaf this morning.
Alas I think that I may have gone heavy on the oats as what I have instead is a loaf that looks like the surface of a witch's nose, cuts with a crack like the earth itself splitting and a taste somewhere between honey and hemp. Oh well it was an experiement in middle class noddling doomed to fail from the beginning.
I do love the way that once essential working class skills are now becoming middle class hobbies or even eyebrow raised hipster entertainment. Baking, knitting, sewing (even cooking) - they're all now genteel or drunken pastimes rather than the essential tools in the housewife's armoury.
Oddly they're skills that Judith seems to miraculously possess - along with the ability to fix a puncture, speak almost any language thrown at her, paint, draw, handle statistical models that prove eye wateringly complex at second view, handle animals, hack up donkeys and of course the essential ability to program the DVR without erasing any of my crap reality shows (Top Design, Survivor, Amazing Race, Beauty and the Geek...)
I only the other hand am a whizz with shaded arrows in powerpoint
Alas I think that I may have gone heavy on the oats as what I have instead is a loaf that looks like the surface of a witch's nose, cuts with a crack like the earth itself splitting and a taste somewhere between honey and hemp. Oh well it was an experiement in middle class noddling doomed to fail from the beginning.
I do love the way that once essential working class skills are now becoming middle class hobbies or even eyebrow raised hipster entertainment. Baking, knitting, sewing (even cooking) - they're all now genteel or drunken pastimes rather than the essential tools in the housewife's armoury.
Oddly they're skills that Judith seems to miraculously possess - along with the ability to fix a puncture, speak almost any language thrown at her, paint, draw, handle statistical models that prove eye wateringly complex at second view, handle animals, hack up donkeys and of course the essential ability to program the DVR without erasing any of my crap reality shows (Top Design, Survivor, Amazing Race, Beauty and the Geek...)
I only the other hand am a whizz with shaded arrows in powerpoint
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Thinking of warmer climes
With the winter continuing its brutal onslaught (-11c outside right now) and with Jude getting closer to completion of her PhD it's time to start thinking about how much of the summer we can spend together and where that time might be spent.
To date there's time in the diary for Jude and her mom to take off in May to a Caribbean island somewhere. A sort of celebration of freedom from the tyranny of deadlines. After which Jude has booked herself close to eight weeks in Africa. All in that means her being away from the middle of May through to the end of July. A long old time. More time than I have vacation. Which is why I need to choose carefully.
My ideal would be to head off mid May for Caribbean sun and then early July for African winter. That way we don't spend much more than 4 weeks at a time apart. Manageable for all, you'd hope.
Still it's nice to have one eye on the sun (even if the other is on the bank balance) when all that you see outside is grey and icy
To date there's time in the diary for Jude and her mom to take off in May to a Caribbean island somewhere. A sort of celebration of freedom from the tyranny of deadlines. After which Jude has booked herself close to eight weeks in Africa. All in that means her being away from the middle of May through to the end of July. A long old time. More time than I have vacation. Which is why I need to choose carefully.
My ideal would be to head off mid May for Caribbean sun and then early July for African winter. That way we don't spend much more than 4 weeks at a time apart. Manageable for all, you'd hope.
Still it's nice to have one eye on the sun (even if the other is on the bank balance) when all that you see outside is grey and icy
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Poor Velcro
With the temperatures hovering around -10c Velcro isn't getting the walks that she's used to and whilst she's taking it with a stoic resolve there's a spring in her step whenever we do venture out that leaves no doubt as to the fact that whilst it may be too cold for me out there it's walk in the park weather for her
Still she's as cute as a button (whatever the hell that means)
Still she's as cute as a button (whatever the hell that means)
Monday, February 05, 2007
To quote Hannibal
"I love it when a plan comes together"
Ok it's Hannibal Smith from the A Team rather than the great elephant marching general but the quote still holds. Finally have French recruiters and translators working for me and my Paris trip will be something other than disasterous. Hooray.
I guess that the mounting panic I felt was a control thing - I'd sent out the requests, had heard nothing back and was starting to get itchy - as I didn't know what my next move would be. All a little seat of the pants for me; but hey I'm here and pretty 8 days out; which can't be at all bad.
It's -11C outside and thus I am delaying my departure for work for as long as I can. The thought of being stuck on a station platform in this weather is too much to bear. As is the thought of the heating bill which will surely follow. During really cold snaps we spend about $15 a day heating this brick and glass heat sieve.
Still the journey outside cannot and will not be put off forever - and thus I shall end this brief but audible sigh and head for work - wrapped head to knee in goose down (if only we'd bought a bigger goose)
Ok it's Hannibal Smith from the A Team rather than the great elephant marching general but the quote still holds. Finally have French recruiters and translators working for me and my Paris trip will be something other than disasterous. Hooray.
I guess that the mounting panic I felt was a control thing - I'd sent out the requests, had heard nothing back and was starting to get itchy - as I didn't know what my next move would be. All a little seat of the pants for me; but hey I'm here and pretty 8 days out; which can't be at all bad.
It's -11C outside and thus I am delaying my departure for work for as long as I can. The thought of being stuck on a station platform in this weather is too much to bear. As is the thought of the heating bill which will surely follow. During really cold snaps we spend about $15 a day heating this brick and glass heat sieve.
Still the journey outside cannot and will not be put off forever - and thus I shall end this brief but audible sigh and head for work - wrapped head to knee in goose down (if only we'd bought a bigger goose)
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Burning man
I'm thinking of going to BurningMan this year... part Edward Woodward (a man whose name Noel Cowerd said sounded like 'a fart in a bath') Wicker Man horror, part Mad Max desert apocolypse, part hippy festival, part excuse for people to get naked in the desert. The photo ops are amazing and the art is all huge in scale and impact.
That said this is taken from 2005's "Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro) a much smaller scale installation than most, but one that's still impactful.
Tickets are a non-hippy friendly $250 and I'd need to get to Nevada but a friend has a Winnibago and a spare ticket and I might just offer to drive across from San Fransisco for the whole thing.
Things to think about
That said this is taken from 2005's "Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro) a much smaller scale installation than most, but one that's still impactful.
Tickets are a non-hippy friendly $250 and I'd need to get to Nevada but a friend has a Winnibago and a spare ticket and I might just offer to drive across from San Fransisco for the whole thing.
Things to think about
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I think that this is too stunning a picture
... not to add to my blog. I could do with a little glamor as today felt comfortably mundsane with work slowly coming to life, people coming and going and a very late spicy tofu dinner that I have to say was really rather good.
The day saw me helping a llttle towards some new electronics ideas, had a bunch of students in and ranted endlessly at them, bought them drinks at the bar (they may not have ALL been old enough) and then headed for home and aforementioned spicy tofu stuff.
Breakfast with a recruiter tomorrow (I'm feeding him names, he's keeping me on his radar) then in for lots of company meetings and a lunch with one of the students from tonight (I liked how forward she was, was I ever that confident?)
Now bed is calling (as is Jude) - one more look at this pic and off with me. More profound entries to follow.
The day saw me helping a llttle towards some new electronics ideas, had a bunch of students in and ranted endlessly at them, bought them drinks at the bar (they may not have ALL been old enough) and then headed for home and aforementioned spicy tofu stuff.
Breakfast with a recruiter tomorrow (I'm feeding him names, he's keeping me on his radar) then in for lots of company meetings and a lunch with one of the students from tonight (I liked how forward she was, was I ever that confident?)
Now bed is calling (as is Jude) - one more look at this pic and off with me. More profound entries to follow.
NIce day
Spent the day today talking about new gizmos and gadgets and will spend the evening talking to MA students about advertising.
Bliss
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Weight
I'm reading a book at the moment - not unusual for me I will admit. I rad a lot of books. Or rather I read three quarters of lots of books - either losing them or interest as the days pass and the pages turn. But the book that I'm reading at the moment is a 'look up and realize that you're still on the subway and somewhere in Queens' kind of a book.
It's by Daniel Gilbert (a refreshingly funny pyschologist) and is called "stumbling on happiness)
The font and fronnt quote immediately alerts you that this is a 'Freakonomics' style book - but I find it much more fascinating. Central to the argument at the moment is that we spend half of our time investing in the happiness of a future self who will look back in horror at all that we did (and all that we collected - 'where did this junk come from') and that happiness requires at least the illusion of control.
It's packed with great experiments and nice annecdotes and is quick to dispel advice such as 'live in the moment' as trite, impossible and the recipe for a living limbo that feels a lot like hell (you wanna live in the moment - have a lobotomy)
Anyway the control that I seek most often is over my weight. This is healthier than trying to exert control over somebody else's weight but not a whole family away from anorexia (I have a healthy perspective on my body - I know it's crap right now) but the choosing of a light dinner, my decision to quit drinking, not eat meat and spend at least 30 mins over lunch are all linked, all exercises in control and all investments in my future self.
I'll stop rambling now and have an ultra high fibre breakfast
PS - I LOVE THIS PICTURE, check out more of Esther's work over at flickr
It's by Daniel Gilbert (a refreshingly funny pyschologist) and is called "stumbling on happiness)
The font and fronnt quote immediately alerts you that this is a 'Freakonomics' style book - but I find it much more fascinating. Central to the argument at the moment is that we spend half of our time investing in the happiness of a future self who will look back in horror at all that we did (and all that we collected - 'where did this junk come from') and that happiness requires at least the illusion of control.
It's packed with great experiments and nice annecdotes and is quick to dispel advice such as 'live in the moment' as trite, impossible and the recipe for a living limbo that feels a lot like hell (you wanna live in the moment - have a lobotomy)
Anyway the control that I seek most often is over my weight. This is healthier than trying to exert control over somebody else's weight but not a whole family away from anorexia (I have a healthy perspective on my body - I know it's crap right now) but the choosing of a light dinner, my decision to quit drinking, not eat meat and spend at least 30 mins over lunch are all linked, all exercises in control and all investments in my future self.
I'll stop rambling now and have an ultra high fibre breakfast
PS - I LOVE THIS PICTURE, check out more of Esther's work over at flickr
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Cat Scan!
The CT scans came back clear...
"you're still boring" quoth the Doctor, unimaginatively but with remarkable consistencty
Next one due in April
"you're still boring" quoth the Doctor, unimaginatively but with remarkable consistencty
Next one due in April
Results day
Nasty day today - I have a dentist apppointment this morning - a chip to a tooth that is causing no pain but is making me aware of its presence via a dull throb.
Then it's off to the hospital to get the results of my CT scan. Hopefully it will offer a better result than the one picture here, which I think has some suspicious looking shadows. It's a great image though.
In between I'm writing some recruitment criteria (check) drinking too much coffee (check) and hopefully taking the dog out for a walk in the sub zero temperatures (-3 and sunny as I write)
I think I'll take the camera with me - something tells me that today will be filled with photographic opportunity. My spidey sense is tingling.
Then it's off to the hospital to get the results of my CT scan. Hopefully it will offer a better result than the one picture here, which I think has some suspicious looking shadows. It's a great image though.
In between I'm writing some recruitment criteria (check) drinking too much coffee (check) and hopefully taking the dog out for a walk in the sub zero temperatures (-3 and sunny as I write)
I think I'll take the camera with me - something tells me that today will be filled with photographic opportunity. My spidey sense is tingling.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Way too early
It's Monday morning and I'm up way too early - preparing for a meeting that I won't be running but that feels somehow pivotal to something that has yet to reveal itself.
As I write the car is sitting in front of the screen and the dog, back from daycare and affectionate is retsing her head on my lap. All looks quite idyllic until I turn up covered in cat hair and smelling of dog. Ho-hum.
Okay Velcro needs out and I need to get going - aren't these posts interesting?
As I write the car is sitting in front of the screen and the dog, back from daycare and affectionate is retsing her head on my lap. All looks quite idyllic until I turn up covered in cat hair and smelling of dog. Ho-hum.
Okay Velcro needs out and I need to get going - aren't these posts interesting?
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Back at last
Toronto was fun - if cold. We ended up having to stay a day longer than we wanted to as Air Canada cancelled our flight claiming 'freezing rain' was buggering up their de-icing procedures. No other airline had this problem and later flights took off on time but of course when a delay is weather related the airline doesn't have to compensate its passengers and so we were stuck with a hotel bill and a 9.15am flight home for which Judith was only waitlisted (she was the last person they allowed aboard) and which got us in far too late to meet up with Wahn Yoon and other friends for brunch.
I enjoyed Toronto, it's a cosmoplitan city with a good mix of Europe and the US but visiting did confirm just how hard it's going to be to find a place that isn't going to disappoint after New York. As we decided yesterday - if great jobs came along in Toronto we could move there for them but we wouldn't move to Toronto in search of great jobs.
Busy couple of days coming up. Monday is an all-day meeting at work followed by 'couples drinks' with Faith at her house. Tuesday sees me first at the dentist and then getting the results of my scans. Here's hoping that both go smoothly. We'll see.
I have a 100 things to catch up on here so this will be it for today. More tomorrow
I enjoyed Toronto, it's a cosmoplitan city with a good mix of Europe and the US but visiting did confirm just how hard it's going to be to find a place that isn't going to disappoint after New York. As we decided yesterday - if great jobs came along in Toronto we could move there for them but we wouldn't move to Toronto in search of great jobs.
Busy couple of days coming up. Monday is an all-day meeting at work followed by 'couples drinks' with Faith at her house. Tuesday sees me first at the dentist and then getting the results of my scans. Here's hoping that both go smoothly. We'll see.
I have a 100 things to catch up on here so this will be it for today. More tomorrow
Friday, January 26, 2007
4.28am
And I'm waiting for a cab brave enough to risk the swirling winds and double digit minuses and take me to the airport.
Brrrr
Velcro is at Eva's, the cats I'm not sure about but they certainly see my being up as a proof that it's time they were fed. I bought their silence with some cat milk and will make a run for it before they start to protest again.
Knowing that I had to get up this early made for a very restless night. I woke up at midnight, 2am. 3.30, 3.50 and gave in at 4.10. I will, of course, be absolutely knackered and no use to anyone as of about 9am today. Never allow other people to book your tickets... there's a life lesson.
Still it's good to be getting away - if only for a day or two and I am looking forward to exploring
Hope that you have weekends a little more fun than usual, it's -15C in Toronto so not taking the camera (it'll freeze, the battery will run dry and my fingers will fall off)... back Sturday night anyway
Brrrr
Velcro is at Eva's, the cats I'm not sure about but they certainly see my being up as a proof that it's time they were fed. I bought their silence with some cat milk and will make a run for it before they start to protest again.
Knowing that I had to get up this early made for a very restless night. I woke up at midnight, 2am. 3.30, 3.50 and gave in at 4.10. I will, of course, be absolutely knackered and no use to anyone as of about 9am today. Never allow other people to book your tickets... there's a life lesson.
Still it's good to be getting away - if only for a day or two and I am looking forward to exploring
Hope that you have weekends a little more fun than usual, it's -15C in Toronto so not taking the camera (it'll freeze, the battery will run dry and my fingers will fall off)... back Sturday night anyway
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Here it comes
I'm really hoping that my plane tomorrow morning (it's a 6.15am flight so I need to be at the airport by 4.45am) manages to take off. The Canadian Lakes are gearing up to dump cold air on us and the weather people are gleeful about the soon to be felt high winds, squalls and sub, sub zero temperatures.
We're talking about temps of -12C that feel like temps of -27C. And that's in New York. It will be the coldest day since Jan 2005 and of course it's the day that I need to leave the ground on time. We'll see.
No word on scan results yet but I'm sure that they'll come along in their own sweet time. I'll just add a little sucrose to the mix and hurry sweet time along a little.
More - and more entertaining - later today. It's too early for this.
We're talking about temps of -12C that feel like temps of -27C. And that's in New York. It will be the coldest day since Jan 2005 and of course it's the day that I need to leave the ground on time. We'll see.
No word on scan results yet but I'm sure that they'll come along in their own sweet time. I'll just add a little sucrose to the mix and hurry sweet time along a little.
More - and more entertaining - later today. It's too early for this.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Gearing up for Toronto
I'm not entirely sure that one gears up for Toronto, I'm told it's too laid back a place for any upward gearing. But I'm looking forward to the trip anyway - despite it having a ridiculously early start. It's gonna be nice to get away and be forced out of my comfortable Friday night rut and into exploring - or as much exploring as the cold allows.
Don't have my scan results yet - which is a good sign I think. Certainly all of my experience points towards a call from the doctor when all isn't well. I do need to call Adela today and set up an appointment to see him between his public speaking and his golfing engagements. That's not fair I know but I think that Thurs is 'clinic day' and I do wonder what he does the rest of the time.
Work is finally weighting up enough that I feel busy, i if not useful. Hard to get used to being the 'know nothing' personin the room and harder still to embrace a process that works at a much slower rate than you like to personally. I can see that it works, I just need to figure out how it's going to work when I run it.
Still worried about my ability to gain weight at the drop of a hat and my inabiliy to grow much hair at all. But the thyroid checked out fine and the scans might offer a clue. As might the fact that the gym sessions have been ramping up and we're looking at muscle building rather than fat burning. Still 5lbs in two days isn't a normal weight gain - unless it's all water, in which case I guess I'm the Dead Sea.
Okay enough of this gloomy noodling - breakfast, dog walk, work
Don't have my scan results yet - which is a good sign I think. Certainly all of my experience points towards a call from the doctor when all isn't well. I do need to call Adela today and set up an appointment to see him between his public speaking and his golfing engagements. That's not fair I know but I think that Thurs is 'clinic day' and I do wonder what he does the rest of the time.
Work is finally weighting up enough that I feel busy, i if not useful. Hard to get used to being the 'know nothing' personin the room and harder still to embrace a process that works at a much slower rate than you like to personally. I can see that it works, I just need to figure out how it's going to work when I run it.
Still worried about my ability to gain weight at the drop of a hat and my inabiliy to grow much hair at all. But the thyroid checked out fine and the scans might offer a clue. As might the fact that the gym sessions have been ramping up and we're looking at muscle building rather than fat burning. Still 5lbs in two days isn't a normal weight gain - unless it's all water, in which case I guess I'm the Dead Sea.
Okay enough of this gloomy noodling - breakfast, dog walk, work
Monday, January 22, 2007
A year since Chemo
Saturday was one year since I started chemo... thought that I'd reprint the two chemo posts from a year ago by way of 'celebration'
Looking at a long old day today. Standard chemo takes about an hour to administer... but the R part of CHOP R takes 5 hrs the first time.. infusion reactins are common and the slower they go the less likely I am to become a shivering wreck. Add in blood work and the all important Insurance Checks and you're looking at a 10 hr day.
Have loaded up the i-pod (Cyndi Lauper - The Body Acoustic). the DVD player (Deadwood Series One) and have my taking forever to read Roddy Doyle book with me (the one where the Irish guy comes to New York in the 20s) so I'm as ready as I think I can be... and looking forward to actually starting treatment.
September seems a long time ago - but that's when the cough started and when I had the first x-ray. Starting today means being finished end of July (and end of World Cup) meaning that I can start in the gym ahead of a September beach holiday. OK, maybe October (we'll head south) - besides September is the US Open and perfect, perfect weather.
Time to head off...
Well yesterday was long - but not unpleasant.
Everything went pretty much to schedule and to plan... I needed a break from the Rituxin at 100ml / hr, but a benedril shot fixed that and the rest of the infusion passed without incident and I got up to 300ml / hr without incident.
Had an M&M meets injection of orange goop vomitting spell toward the end of the day... never has vomit so closely related ad' - a whilrl, swirly, chocolate kaleidoscope of color.
Everything else was unremarkable.
Got home last night, slept well, took all the drugs suggested and feel good today... slightly strange, but by no means sick. Have walked the dog, picked up more drugs and checked football scores, brunch later... of course next couple of days will be the real test of how things are really going; worst comes at 3-5 days I'm told.
We shall see
hemo +3 today and I'm up early and ready to head in and get my white blood cell boosting shot of 'as seen on TV' Neurestra (?)
Last three days have been the tale of three coughs. Saturday my tight cough of 4 months became a deep, chesty. booming thing that had me coughing up old wounds, bits of body and (for an hour over brunch) rather a lot of blood.
Day two was less bellowing - but no return to the love lorn seal bark of yore. Lots of nasty thick phlegm yesterday.
And today, much better. What a restaurant might describe as a 'stunningly light cappucino foam' - certainly the lighest cough (and the lightest 'product' of that cough) in months and months.
Of course by way of recompense (the universe demands payment after all) I woke up singing the Boyzone version of the Cat Stevens song 'Father and Son' - at 7am!
Not the most pleasant of posts I admit - but feeling sparkly good here today, let's see how long I can keep this going
No coughing today - which is miraculous.
Managed to get out and about quite a bit and to move with phlegmatic impunity until the early afternoon when my back started to ache like a rotten tooth in a Robin Williams movie. It's agony and my immediately turning into Albert Steptoe has done nothing to help matters.
Other stuff.
Bought a vacuum cleaner with a 7 year warranty - there's optimism! - it's Italian - there's more
Started to resent unfit looking smokers - bastards, who gave you the good genes?
My brother announced / admitted that he's about to become a dad - in 7 weeks. It's a girl
Walked through the Polish part of town - marvelling at how only in NYC can you go from hip to hip replacement in 3 blocks
Fell in love with Newborns at Ralph Lauren - making me the gayest straight man in the world (but c'mon cashmeer kimonos)
Took a pic in which I looked terrible - then posted it anyway in a 'see I AM sick' statement
Looking at a long old day today. Standard chemo takes about an hour to administer... but the R part of CHOP R takes 5 hrs the first time.. infusion reactins are common and the slower they go the less likely I am to become a shivering wreck. Add in blood work and the all important Insurance Checks and you're looking at a 10 hr day.
Have loaded up the i-pod (Cyndi Lauper - The Body Acoustic). the DVD player (Deadwood Series One) and have my taking forever to read Roddy Doyle book with me (the one where the Irish guy comes to New York in the 20s) so I'm as ready as I think I can be... and looking forward to actually starting treatment.
September seems a long time ago - but that's when the cough started and when I had the first x-ray. Starting today means being finished end of July (and end of World Cup) meaning that I can start in the gym ahead of a September beach holiday. OK, maybe October (we'll head south) - besides September is the US Open and perfect, perfect weather.
Time to head off...
Well yesterday was long - but not unpleasant.
Everything went pretty much to schedule and to plan... I needed a break from the Rituxin at 100ml / hr, but a benedril shot fixed that and the rest of the infusion passed without incident and I got up to 300ml / hr without incident.
Had an M&M meets injection of orange goop vomitting spell toward the end of the day... never has vomit so closely related ad' - a whilrl, swirly, chocolate kaleidoscope of color.
Everything else was unremarkable.
Got home last night, slept well, took all the drugs suggested and feel good today... slightly strange, but by no means sick. Have walked the dog, picked up more drugs and checked football scores, brunch later... of course next couple of days will be the real test of how things are really going; worst comes at 3-5 days I'm told.
We shall see
hemo +3 today and I'm up early and ready to head in and get my white blood cell boosting shot of 'as seen on TV' Neurestra (?)
Last three days have been the tale of three coughs. Saturday my tight cough of 4 months became a deep, chesty. booming thing that had me coughing up old wounds, bits of body and (for an hour over brunch) rather a lot of blood.
Day two was less bellowing - but no return to the love lorn seal bark of yore. Lots of nasty thick phlegm yesterday.
And today, much better. What a restaurant might describe as a 'stunningly light cappucino foam' - certainly the lighest cough (and the lightest 'product' of that cough) in months and months.
Of course by way of recompense (the universe demands payment after all) I woke up singing the Boyzone version of the Cat Stevens song 'Father and Son' - at 7am!
Not the most pleasant of posts I admit - but feeling sparkly good here today, let's see how long I can keep this going
No coughing today - which is miraculous.
Managed to get out and about quite a bit and to move with phlegmatic impunity until the early afternoon when my back started to ache like a rotten tooth in a Robin Williams movie. It's agony and my immediately turning into Albert Steptoe has done nothing to help matters.
Other stuff.
Bought a vacuum cleaner with a 7 year warranty - there's optimism! - it's Italian - there's more
Started to resent unfit looking smokers - bastards, who gave you the good genes?
My brother announced / admitted that he's about to become a dad - in 7 weeks. It's a girl
Walked through the Polish part of town - marvelling at how only in NYC can you go from hip to hip replacement in 3 blocks
Fell in love with Newborns at Ralph Lauren - making me the gayest straight man in the world (but c'mon cashmeer kimonos)
Took a pic in which I looked terrible - then posted it anyway in a 'see I AM sick' statement
I have a meeting today
with a client whose name I'm not allowed to speak - even within the walls of the agency. It's not my meeting or even a meeting in which we have to do much other than listen and take notes but the fact that there are going to be new people there and that I'm new at this meant that I found it very difficult to sleep last night - I just kept waking up and wondering what the day was going to be like and worrying that I might have missed something and will be forced to perform unprepared, leaving the worst kind of impression.
I do hope it's not too long before I start taking things in my stride here. It's not tough work, no ditches are being dug and I'm smart enough to get stuff done without too many hitches, glitches and balls ups.
But still the stomach is knotted
I do hope it's not too long before I start taking things in my stride here. It's not tough work, no ditches are being dug and I'm smart enough to get stuff done without too many hitches, glitches and balls ups.
But still the stomach is knotted
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Very little to report here
the weather is cold but not nearly as sexy as you might imagine from this pic.
It's all blustery winds and aching ears here.
Silent negotiations are taking place over who takes the dog out and who gets to play their game on the bigger of the screens in the house. Each look, each sigh, each indication of comfort a plea to be let off the hook.
It's going to be a long winter
It's all blustery winds and aching ears here.
Silent negotiations are taking place over who takes the dog out and who gets to play their game on the bigger of the screens in the house. Each look, each sigh, each indication of comfort a plea to be let off the hook.
It's going to be a long winter
Friday, January 19, 2007
I love nyc
and I'm not sure where else I'd be as happy
went to see "at least it's pink" tonight
Took this pic on the way home
Man I love this place
went to see "at least it's pink" tonight
Took this pic on the way home
Man I love this place
Close-up of Voter Card (chip)
So as I sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office yesterday - fighting for the pen that would enable me to fill in all of the details demanded by the papre attached to the 'welcome clipboard' I started to wonder why the insurance company - who has all of the details asked for - didn't put them on my health insurance card - which I have to carry to an appointment anyway.
How much easier 'check in' would be if we could all swipe our cards and give the hospital honest, accurate records (I lied about my weight - just a pound or two) there and then - rather than having to try to recall what we had, when we had it and which box that info goes into.
It can't be be hard - can it?
Scan went well - though midway through they had me drink some fizzy concoction designed to bloat me - it did and I was too vain to go out last night looking that way. I'll call for an appointment for results next week and should get it for the week after (specialists see patients between rounds of golf and media glad handling)
Anyway thanks for all of the good wishes - here's hoping that it's June before I need them again
How much easier 'check in' would be if we could all swipe our cards and give the hospital honest, accurate records (I lied about my weight - just a pound or two) there and then - rather than having to try to recall what we had, when we had it and which box that info goes into.
It can't be be hard - can it?
Scan went well - though midway through they had me drink some fizzy concoction designed to bloat me - it did and I was too vain to go out last night looking that way. I'll call for an appointment for results next week and should get it for the week after (specialists see patients between rounds of golf and media glad handling)
Anyway thanks for all of the good wishes - here's hoping that it's June before I need them again
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Desperation
I'm beginning to think that maybe desperation has a scent. During my 4 years and 2 days in my last job I was clawing the walls in search of an escape and the need for exit oozed from every pore.
Since I left - and since I've consequently relaxed - I have job offers flying at me from all directions. Interesting stuff. Senior stuff. Proper, in charge, work. It's a fantastic feeling and comes from my being more interested in the opportunity than in fleeing a situation.
Of course tomorrow is a powerless day - as I have a CT scan (corridor, barium, long waits, iodine, tingly feelings, yellow exit forms and no alcohol) but I've managed to sandwich it between the gym at 8am and a meeting with an old acquaintance whose company I always enjoy - so at least the day won't be totally wasted
Since I left - and since I've consequently relaxed - I have job offers flying at me from all directions. Interesting stuff. Senior stuff. Proper, in charge, work. It's a fantastic feeling and comes from my being more interested in the opportunity than in fleeing a situation.
Of course tomorrow is a powerless day - as I have a CT scan (corridor, barium, long waits, iodine, tingly feelings, yellow exit forms and no alcohol) but I've managed to sandwich it between the gym at 8am and a meeting with an old acquaintance whose company I always enjoy - so at least the day won't be totally wasted
Winter
It's finally hit us. I woke up this morning to brilliant sunny skies and a temperature of minus 5.8C (-5.8C)... listen closely enough and you can hear a collective sigh of relief being let out across the city - maybe, just maybe, this isn't the 'end of days' after all.
I'm pretty busy today - which has to be good and will stop me thinking about CT scans tomorrow; better still. The idea of all of that bloody liquid being forced into me, cup by cup in 10 minute intervals is always the worst thing about CT scans. I'd much prefer an IV though my right arm is completely shot from the 5 rounds of chemo. The veins used to be great but have turned to Play Doh and now offer no resistance to needles and allow no blood through them. If I DO need more chemo it's probably going to have to be through a port - places just above the collar bone. But I'm getting way ahead of myself here.
Anyway the dog needs out (brrrr) and I need to be in the city in 45 mins so I'll sign off here and wish y'all bon jour
I'm pretty busy today - which has to be good and will stop me thinking about CT scans tomorrow; better still. The idea of all of that bloody liquid being forced into me, cup by cup in 10 minute intervals is always the worst thing about CT scans. I'd much prefer an IV though my right arm is completely shot from the 5 rounds of chemo. The veins used to be great but have turned to Play Doh and now offer no resistance to needles and allow no blood through them. If I DO need more chemo it's probably going to have to be through a port - places just above the collar bone. But I'm getting way ahead of myself here.
Anyway the dog needs out (brrrr) and I need to be in the city in 45 mins so I'll sign off here and wish y'all bon jour
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Moby featuring Debbie Harry - New York New York
I've been watching Bridget Everett build her career forever now, it's been frustratingly slow but with 'At least it's Pink' now a REAL show (opening tonight) and a role as Tammy in this, I think that she's on her way. I hope so.
Great track too. That's Moby btw... not me
I love this picture
... I've not taken very many pictures in the last week - it's a very small office and a very wet winter, confining me to that office and to only partially willing subjects. But I"m hoping to get some tonight, if you'll pardon the expression.
Not a great deal new to report as I hover in this holding pattern, my life on hold as I wait to find out from scans whether I can live another 6 months free from treatment and from work what my next move will be. Lots of people have said 'enjoy it, coast along for a bit' - but my fear is that it's not coasting, it's my treading water in a very cold ocean unaware of the hypothermia even as my skin turns grey.
I like that image, quite dramatic in a Titanic with Leo kind of way.
Anyway I'm running late and my toast just 'popped' so it's time I ran. Bonjour tout la monde (or something)
Not a great deal new to report as I hover in this holding pattern, my life on hold as I wait to find out from scans whether I can live another 6 months free from treatment and from work what my next move will be. Lots of people have said 'enjoy it, coast along for a bit' - but my fear is that it's not coasting, it's my treading water in a very cold ocean unaware of the hypothermia even as my skin turns grey.
I like that image, quite dramatic in a Titanic with Leo kind of way.
Anyway I'm running late and my toast just 'popped' so it's time I ran. Bonjour tout la monde (or something)
Monday, January 15, 2007
But will it suck like a Dyson?
This week looks crappy. I've already had a meeting cancelled. Jude has to go up to school. The weather is stuck on London Drizzle and threatening to turn to bone chilling cold. The cat has a new habit of licking my hands as I type and I'm going to spend at least half of Thursday sucking down Barium disguised as a liquid and the other half trying to flush iodine out of my system - all the while knowing that I'm going to be responsible for payment as my $2000 excess has yet to be dented.
So we already know that it's going to suck - but will it suck like a Dyson and keep on sucking (hard) or will it suck like a baby and let go once it's extracted its dose of misery. Stay tuned for what I'm sur will be many rants from the dark side.
So we already know that it's going to suck - but will it suck like a Dyson and keep on sucking (hard) or will it suck like a baby and let go once it's extracted its dose of misery. Stay tuned for what I'm sur will be many rants from the dark side.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
baldie
Despite the facial hair making a bit of a comeback (no more Hitler style moustaches half way through the day, but still big smooth patches on my cheeks) I'm still not really managing to grow any hair on my head.
Odd, a little disconcerting and hellish aging.
makes me look like this
Odd, a little disconcerting and hellish aging.
makes me look like this
Vacation
Well I have a trip to Toronto booked for the 26th... Jude and I really want to see the city and I finally got an excuse to go there; but of course it's not Toronto that's really on my mind at the moment.
We're also looking to book something in May - a kind of post PhD getaway that will have us fit, strong and ready to deal with the freedom offered to us once the tyranny of timetables is lifted.
Jude's mom is coming along and we're trying to get an answer out of her brother - for whom commitment to anything beyond saying yes to more food is near impossible.
Right now I'm looking at places in Barbados. A Villa for 5 people would come in at around US$90 per person, per night. There's enough to do beyond the beach and you're not likely to get mistaken for a cruise ship passenger and stabbed in the face.
Of course there are quieter places - Mustique for example - but it will be nice to have some activities to consider and some life beyond the beach.
Anyway need to speak to the Mrs and Misses Hompe and then to book asap - these things fill up fast and direct flights (4hrs 30mins) are thin on the ground.
I, btw, have scans on Thursday of this week. More details when I know them
We're also looking to book something in May - a kind of post PhD getaway that will have us fit, strong and ready to deal with the freedom offered to us once the tyranny of timetables is lifted.
Jude's mom is coming along and we're trying to get an answer out of her brother - for whom commitment to anything beyond saying yes to more food is near impossible.
Right now I'm looking at places in Barbados. A Villa for 5 people would come in at around US$90 per person, per night. There's enough to do beyond the beach and you're not likely to get mistaken for a cruise ship passenger and stabbed in the face.
Of course there are quieter places - Mustique for example - but it will be nice to have some activities to consider and some life beyond the beach.
Anyway need to speak to the Mrs and Misses Hompe and then to book asap - these things fill up fast and direct flights (4hrs 30mins) are thin on the ground.
I, btw, have scans on Thursday of this week. More details when I know them
Friday, January 12, 2007
Pollution
Faith Popcorn reckons that this is the year that we start to rail against mental pollution and the constant junk, chatter abd crap that is projected at us day after day, hour after hour. Here in New York city we get a commercial message every 19 seconds - making a 30 second commercial 11 seconds too long and causing most people to put up the walls, turn up the i-pod and feign death.
Meanwhile my friend william is trying to sell airlines on a miles for trees program that could make flights carbon neutral and I'm trying to sell a bank on a Carbon Neutral Car loan - where they plant enough trees to offset the 12,000 miles a year that I'm going to be driving rather than pay a huge commission to a broker and of course Jude is looking at corporate governance and sustaintable strategy.
Perhaps, just perhaps, one of us will make a difference soon,
Oh - and should get scan dates today
Meanwhile my friend william is trying to sell airlines on a miles for trees program that could make flights carbon neutral and I'm trying to sell a bank on a Carbon Neutral Car loan - where they plant enough trees to offset the 12,000 miles a year that I'm going to be driving rather than pay a huge commission to a broker and of course Jude is looking at corporate governance and sustaintable strategy.
Perhaps, just perhaps, one of us will make a difference soon,
Oh - and should get scan dates today
Thursday, January 11, 2007
still waiting
Okay I'm still waiting on dates for scans but a call to the hospital this morning resulted in the lind of 'I think I saw an approval on the fax machine somewhere... but it's clinic day... can I call you later call' that's leaves you unsatisfied in much the same way as hollow sex with a soapy madame (allegedly)
I"ve not told my second hand soapy mistress story on here, have I? Okay here goes - a friend of mine calls up to my hotel room in a bit of a panic. "I think I've killed my hooker" he says. Ever ignorant of the accessory to the fact laws of many countries I head down to investigate.
I arrive in a long, narrow room (with nasty but inevitable shower stall in corner) to find said friend sitting on an inflatable matress on a floor covered in soapy suds with a dauntingly still Thai woman in the corner.
The service paid for had been 'soapy massage' - but the woman had been a little over eager. She's laid down said friend on the mattress and filled the room with fairy liquid (or the Thai Version thereof) and had proceeded to slide across his increasingly slippery body with her equally hard to handle torso. Until, in a moment of uncharacteristic enthusiasm, she had set off to the back of the room in order to gather further momentum for the launch that she then embarked upon... hurling herself with some force toward him - only to skip off, be propelled in an upwardly direction by the compressed and decompressed air-mattress and plant herself, face first in the wall. Cueing phone call and my arrival.
Luckily she wasn't dead, he wasn't naked when I arrived and soon everyone was patched up and either richer or poorer as was deemed appropriate.
What a cheery tale of prostitution, debasement and western arrogance
I"ve not told my second hand soapy mistress story on here, have I? Okay here goes - a friend of mine calls up to my hotel room in a bit of a panic. "I think I've killed my hooker" he says. Ever ignorant of the accessory to the fact laws of many countries I head down to investigate.
I arrive in a long, narrow room (with nasty but inevitable shower stall in corner) to find said friend sitting on an inflatable matress on a floor covered in soapy suds with a dauntingly still Thai woman in the corner.
The service paid for had been 'soapy massage' - but the woman had been a little over eager. She's laid down said friend on the mattress and filled the room with fairy liquid (or the Thai Version thereof) and had proceeded to slide across his increasingly slippery body with her equally hard to handle torso. Until, in a moment of uncharacteristic enthusiasm, she had set off to the back of the room in order to gather further momentum for the launch that she then embarked upon... hurling herself with some force toward him - only to skip off, be propelled in an upwardly direction by the compressed and decompressed air-mattress and plant herself, face first in the wall. Cueing phone call and my arrival.
Luckily she wasn't dead, he wasn't naked when I arrived and soon everyone was patched up and either richer or poorer as was deemed appropriate.
What a cheery tale of prostitution, debasement and western arrogance
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
A genuine US Patent
Thanks to Patently Silly for this one
Penile Volumetric Measuring Device
patent#: US 7147609
Penis size: For too long (puns are inevitable when discussing the subject), it has escaped the rigorous analysis of modern science and has been left prone to self-serving exaggeration. Thankfully, one fearless inventor has arrived to clear the field of biased pseudoscience:
"Throughout history, there has been discussion and focus on the human male sex organ. Generally, having a large penis is seen as more masculine and manly than having a small penis. Well-endowed male pornography stars are looked at by many with admiration and envy due to the size of their penis."
"there is a remarkable lack of convenient and accurate methods for measuring the penis. Most men merely take a ruler and measure the size of their penis in inches. However, to adequately describe the size of a penis the length alone is not enough. Nor is it enough to know the diameter at an arbitrary point. The penis is not shaped like a true cylinder, but rather it has a more complicated shape. Therefore, a method for measuring the size of a penis needs to account for the unusual shape and size of the human penis."
In the short 22 centuries since Archimedes first shouted Eureka from his bathtub, inventor Jason Turner has applied the same techniques of fluid displacement to accurately measure the one-eyed trouser snake.
Of course, scientific breakthroughs can often be met with fierce resistance: Knowledge is power, but the truth, if small enough, can hurt.
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