Just got the results of my CT scan
And I don't have cancer
Again
Which is good
Though I'm still not great at holding my breath for the time needed to get a decent scan.
Not a bad trade off though.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The days just fly by
I'm really busy at work at the moment - and enjoying it so much that I often check my watch and find that it's way past the time that the canteen has closed and that I've missed lunch. While this might not be the healthiest way to diet it's certainly effective - and over the past week I've lost 3lbs.
My weight, I've decided independant of any real evidence, is corrolated to just how interested I am in the world around me. The more engaged I get - the thinner I get. Ruts show on my waistline.
Of course the last time I was really enjoying myself was on a pitch - and that was when I was told that I was full of tumors that may kill me. But the tumors were, I insist, a physical manifestation of the resentment I felt at being 'trapped' in a job. I get weird like that sometimes - I blame Sydney. It was a very Crystals and Tantric Chants kind of place.
Feeling the need to visit Sydney right now. Have an old friend opening a wine bar in The Rocks that looks fabulous and I'd like to be there to see the opening ---> as well as to have the opportunity to see Chris and Ray's little slice of heaven taking shape.
Only problem is time. With Cyprus in a couple of weeks, friends in in august, my parents coming over, Uganda in December and a possible trip out to Asia to meet up with some people who are moving in that direction.
Everyone it seems is doing interesting stuff. Jude is saving the world, we have friends travelling the world, friends moving to and living in Africa, friends moving to Asia to do innovation, friends taking time out to learn about fashion before heading to Brazil, friends opening bars in australia, friends setting up sculpture parks, friends in bands and friends with books on the shelf and movie deals in the works.
What I need to do next is get interesting again
My weight, I've decided independant of any real evidence, is corrolated to just how interested I am in the world around me. The more engaged I get - the thinner I get. Ruts show on my waistline.
Of course the last time I was really enjoying myself was on a pitch - and that was when I was told that I was full of tumors that may kill me. But the tumors were, I insist, a physical manifestation of the resentment I felt at being 'trapped' in a job. I get weird like that sometimes - I blame Sydney. It was a very Crystals and Tantric Chants kind of place.
Feeling the need to visit Sydney right now. Have an old friend opening a wine bar in The Rocks that looks fabulous and I'd like to be there to see the opening ---> as well as to have the opportunity to see Chris and Ray's little slice of heaven taking shape.
Only problem is time. With Cyprus in a couple of weeks, friends in in august, my parents coming over, Uganda in December and a possible trip out to Asia to meet up with some people who are moving in that direction.
Everyone it seems is doing interesting stuff. Jude is saving the world, we have friends travelling the world, friends moving to and living in Africa, friends moving to Asia to do innovation, friends taking time out to learn about fashion before heading to Brazil, friends opening bars in australia, friends setting up sculpture parks, friends in bands and friends with books on the shelf and movie deals in the works.
What I need to do next is get interesting again
Monday, May 05, 2008
One for my mom
My mom hated the last pic of Jude that I posted
So here's one taken today
And they say I don't listen
So here's one taken today
And they say I don't listen
Short term-ism
There's a real rush, especially in Europe but growing in the US to hit the car manufacturers with the blame for Global Warming and all of the associated evils that come with it.
You can see why - cars are a very visible symbol of the pollution that we're so worried about. But of course what we drive contributes a relatively small percentage of the CO2 in the air. Sure car companies have to get better and we, as the people who buy cars, need to get smarter about both what we buy and how we drive. But the truth is that we're stupid.
We'll buy a Prius because we think that it has a lower environmental cost ---> without looking at the lifetime energy cost of the vehicle. We don't look at the cost of manufacture and disposal; just at what comes out of the tailpipe while we own it.
It's the same with Plug Ins. We'll buy them and feel superior as we hum around town with zero emissions - whilst hundreds of miles away our pollution is displaced and churned into the air buy the giant power stations doing the dirty business of giving us our 'clean' energy.
I'm all for a 'lifetime energy cost' or 'total pollution' label being added to everything we buy. Show the footprint of Fiji Water and see how sales do (I find the idea of flying water to countries that have an abundant supply horrific)
I know that it's a lot to ask that we get smart about how we think of the planet ---> but it's only an understanding of the supply and manufacture chain that will allow us to make choices that make sense.
Okay - off my soapbox. And back into my 4.0L car (oops)
You can see why - cars are a very visible symbol of the pollution that we're so worried about. But of course what we drive contributes a relatively small percentage of the CO2 in the air. Sure car companies have to get better and we, as the people who buy cars, need to get smarter about both what we buy and how we drive. But the truth is that we're stupid.
We'll buy a Prius because we think that it has a lower environmental cost ---> without looking at the lifetime energy cost of the vehicle. We don't look at the cost of manufacture and disposal; just at what comes out of the tailpipe while we own it.
It's the same with Plug Ins. We'll buy them and feel superior as we hum around town with zero emissions - whilst hundreds of miles away our pollution is displaced and churned into the air buy the giant power stations doing the dirty business of giving us our 'clean' energy.
I'm all for a 'lifetime energy cost' or 'total pollution' label being added to everything we buy. Show the footprint of Fiji Water and see how sales do (I find the idea of flying water to countries that have an abundant supply horrific)
I know that it's a lot to ask that we get smart about how we think of the planet ---> but it's only an understanding of the supply and manufacture chain that will allow us to make choices that make sense.
Okay - off my soapbox. And back into my 4.0L car (oops)
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Gorgeous
It's gorgeous here - so while Jude plays golf I'm going to take the dog for a run (buggering her hips and my knees as we go), take some pictures and prepare myself for an afternoon in Ypsilanti.
Now Ypsi calls itself "Ann Arbor's Brooklyn" - which is a little like me calling myself... well you get it. It has 3 bars. It's not Brooklyn. But the bars are scruffier and edgier and have more space, less polish and more affordable menus. So in that regard it's Brooklyn. I guess.
There's a car thing on in Ypsi this afternoon. I'm gonna try to get people rather than car shots. We'll see what happens. Meanwhile - it's off to run I go (4lbs down, 7 to go)
Now Ypsi calls itself "Ann Arbor's Brooklyn" - which is a little like me calling myself... well you get it. It has 3 bars. It's not Brooklyn. But the bars are scruffier and edgier and have more space, less polish and more affordable menus. So in that regard it's Brooklyn. I guess.
There's a car thing on in Ypsi this afternoon. I'm gonna try to get people rather than car shots. We'll see what happens. Meanwhile - it's off to run I go (4lbs down, 7 to go)
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Ouch
Woke up this morning with my neck and shoulders feeling as though they belonged to a post 'incident' Monica Seles. Just horribly painful. Plus they're creaking and groaning like Victor Meldrew playing the ghost of Christmas future.
And I woke up EARLY - which never helps on a weekend but seems to always be the way - especially when you have cats who are perma-hungry and an apartment with no doors or walls. Grrrrr.
Not masses here this weekend. Going down to a hotrod drive tomorrow and to watch a man eat roadkill live on stage tonight as hula hoopers strip behind him and his friend has 'contributions' stapled to his face by audience members. Yup, the FreakShow is happening all over again and I'm intrigues to find out why.
Anyway as I type I hear the less than delicate banging and crashing of my wife in the morning. Time to dash.
And I woke up EARLY - which never helps on a weekend but seems to always be the way - especially when you have cats who are perma-hungry and an apartment with no doors or walls. Grrrrr.
Not masses here this weekend. Going down to a hotrod drive tomorrow and to watch a man eat roadkill live on stage tonight as hula hoopers strip behind him and his friend has 'contributions' stapled to his face by audience members. Yup, the FreakShow is happening all over again and I'm intrigues to find out why.
Anyway as I type I hear the less than delicate banging and crashing of my wife in the morning. Time to dash.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
So long virgin queen
Brooke White went on this week's Idol.
The 'celebrity mentor' was Neil Diamond - the result... everyone sounding as though they were on between the salmon and the cutting of the cake at a ritzy wedding at which at decoration had substituted for beauty and extravagance for taste.
Brooke made the mistake of leaving the comfort of her piano. I liked her as a poor man's white bread Tori Amos.
Still we won't have to put up with her Cheez Whiz, Gee Whizzery anymore. So there is a silver lining - though I'm sure that any day now people are going to find out that silver linings are toxic.
The 'celebrity mentor' was Neil Diamond - the result... everyone sounding as though they were on between the salmon and the cutting of the cake at a ritzy wedding at which at decoration had substituted for beauty and extravagance for taste.
Brooke made the mistake of leaving the comfort of her piano. I liked her as a poor man's white bread Tori Amos.
Still we won't have to put up with her Cheez Whiz, Gee Whizzery anymore. So there is a silver lining - though I'm sure that any day now people are going to find out that silver linings are toxic.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I've started playing
I've started playing marketing bingo in meetings.
The three 'gimme's seem to be
"White Space"
"Cadence"
&
"Heavy Lifting"
In a bid to make the game a little harder I now shout each of these words right after anyone says them
"I think that what we're searching for here is 'white space'
"WHITE SPACE!"
"Excuse me?"
"WHITE SPACE, I just got a line on bullshit bingo"
This of course makes me a little unpopular but it also stems the tide of marketing terms for a while, making the game harder and my life a little more pleasant.
Now if I could just find out what "Cadence" means...
The three 'gimme's seem to be
"White Space"
"Cadence"
&
"Heavy Lifting"
In a bid to make the game a little harder I now shout each of these words right after anyone says them
"I think that what we're searching for here is 'white space'
"WHITE SPACE!"
"Excuse me?"
"WHITE SPACE, I just got a line on bullshit bingo"
This of course makes me a little unpopular but it also stems the tide of marketing terms for a while, making the game harder and my life a little more pleasant.
Now if I could just find out what "Cadence" means...
Monday, April 28, 2008
A lot to be proud of
Torch Lake, Michigan "World's 3rd Most Beautiful Lake" license plate
Originally uploaded by Jeff Smith's Pictures
By all accounts it's beautiful
And very proud of being "The world's 3rd most beautiful lake"
The ranking was supposed to have come from National Geographic Magazine, though National Geographic flatly denies ever publishing such a ranking"
Locals have been pushing this National Geo. story for years and I have to say - I'm intrigued enough to book me a place there
Mad Busy
I'm crazy busy today.
Have all kinds of things due and as ever it's a race to get the data in enough time to actually analyse rather than merely copy it.
I'm looking at the way that the US car industry breaks down (not literally) and at the growth in segments and the expectations within those segments ---> then trying to predict desire 5 years out.
I love this kind of stuff ---> but pulling the 'how are people feeling outside of the 0.002% of the time they spend thinking about cars" is tough. We're data rich to the point of excluding the outside world.
I want to know what effects daycare has had on 16 year olds, what Viagra will do to aging boomers (again not literally), what the democratic design movement has meant, what sustainablity will mean for design (if we get a Green president will saving the planet by this generations 'going to the moon' and what will that do to car design?). I want to know what the overprotection and overscheduling of kids is going to mean in terms of transport and of course what expensive fuel will do to the commute.
And I can get all of that stuff. It just takes time. And co-ordination. And I'm getting itchy as I wait.
Have all kinds of things due and as ever it's a race to get the data in enough time to actually analyse rather than merely copy it.
I'm looking at the way that the US car industry breaks down (not literally) and at the growth in segments and the expectations within those segments ---> then trying to predict desire 5 years out.
I love this kind of stuff ---> but pulling the 'how are people feeling outside of the 0.002% of the time they spend thinking about cars" is tough. We're data rich to the point of excluding the outside world.
I want to know what effects daycare has had on 16 year olds, what Viagra will do to aging boomers (again not literally), what the democratic design movement has meant, what sustainablity will mean for design (if we get a Green president will saving the planet by this generations 'going to the moon' and what will that do to car design?). I want to know what the overprotection and overscheduling of kids is going to mean in terms of transport and of course what expensive fuel will do to the commute.
And I can get all of that stuff. It just takes time. And co-ordination. And I'm getting itchy as I wait.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
This lovely car
This lovely car had only one previous owner - a famous Arab collector who had the car delivered in the shiniest of conditions. Okay so it needed a service before it was taken out - but with only 9000 miles on the clock and with a sticker price of around $20k it wasn't bad value.
The cars were going cheap today - kinda wish I'd raised my numbered lollipop now
Ho - hum
The cars were going cheap today - kinda wish I'd raised my numbered lollipop now
Ho - hum
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Getting jiggy with it
Woke up this morning with my back killing me and a refusal on my application to take shots of fetish models in an abandoned Detroit hotel. It's a professionals first event and all of the spots are now filled - so I got turned down. Never mind - there are other women in latex out in the world, I'm sure.
It's graduation weekend here in A2 - so lots of parents in posh frocks and not so posh suits wandering around campus in the unusual warmth. It makes for a lovely atmosphere actually - though the sudden stopping without warning on the sidewalk gets wearing after a while.
Another venue with no tickets for me is The Ark - a lesbian folk haven staffed by muscled women with cropped hair wearing wifebeaters (is that PC for lesbians?). Wanted to see The Proclaimers there - will now have to take my chances with Craigslist. We'll see.
Not much of a plan for today. Erotic Expo in Detroit has a seminar on piercing parties (a la Janet Jackson) which has perked my interest, I have a massage booked for later to try to beat this pain in my back (I can feel the vertabae grinding) and then maybe a jackie chan . jet li movie later.
Tomorrow is a vintage car auction with Andy - a friend of Jude;s. Should be fun - I even have my eye on something for our vacant parking spot.
It's graduation weekend here in A2 - so lots of parents in posh frocks and not so posh suits wandering around campus in the unusual warmth. It makes for a lovely atmosphere actually - though the sudden stopping without warning on the sidewalk gets wearing after a while.
Another venue with no tickets for me is The Ark - a lesbian folk haven staffed by muscled women with cropped hair wearing wifebeaters (is that PC for lesbians?). Wanted to see The Proclaimers there - will now have to take my chances with Craigslist. We'll see.
Not much of a plan for today. Erotic Expo in Detroit has a seminar on piercing parties (a la Janet Jackson) which has perked my interest, I have a massage booked for later to try to beat this pain in my back (I can feel the vertabae grinding) and then maybe a jackie chan . jet li movie later.
Tomorrow is a vintage car auction with Andy - a friend of Jude;s. Should be fun - I even have my eye on something for our vacant parking spot.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Good day yesterday...
...started when I got up at 7am, showered and set off for the hospital on a route that took me right through central park. Then blood work done straight away (the lab tech still knows me) and across the road for scans... alas posh facility booked so back to the old building and the corridor of long waits to drink liters of bloating drinks and generally kick my heels whilst watching "Mad Men" (excellent btw) on the i-pod.
Then back to the Park to meet up with Jude, lunch with a friend then on to a leaving party for my friend Kajsa who's leaving the US to learn about hat making, dress-making and 'trimming' and then moving to Brazil. Gotta love that.
From there it was on the the Theatre to see a performance / read of another friend's play - The Beauty Project. It was actually rather good.
Then on to a bar where low cut tops, a tertiary grasp of English and hotpants to make a Camel Chiropodist blush were much in evidence.
Ride home today was uneventful. My evening will be spent with data.
Happy
Then back to the Park to meet up with Jude, lunch with a friend then on to a leaving party for my friend Kajsa who's leaving the US to learn about hat making, dress-making and 'trimming' and then moving to Brazil. Gotta love that.
From there it was on the the Theatre to see a performance / read of another friend's play - The Beauty Project. It was actually rather good.
Then on to a bar where low cut tops, a tertiary grasp of English and hotpants to make a Camel Chiropodist blush were much in evidence.
Ride home today was uneventful. My evening will be spent with data.
Happy
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
back in the old routine
I'm writing this from Touchdown 4 - the computer used for visitors and floaters at my old company in New York.
After blood work and scans delayed by paperwork I met Jude in central park where we watched tiny kids playing baseball and a movie being shot (an old woman walked a small dog - it was thrilling!)
Then we split up. I headed to Grace for lunch with my friend Gareth whilst Jude headed uptown for lunch with our mutual friend Ali.
I have drinks with a futurologist this afternoon (weirdly she sensed I was in town and invited me) and thought that I'd fill in a little time with a visit to the office and a cup of tea.
It feels very different here to Detroit. The people are younger. And more energetic. And less afraid. The music is playing out loud. Two people just left to buy fruit for a 'cooling' sangria that's being made. And generally the vibe is one of 'we're enjoying this'
Of course the atmosphere in the office was never my issue. The work was. And I LOVE what I do now. Weirdly I've worked out that I'm an ad guy - by trying to leave advertising twice.
It's good to know that some decisions you got right
After blood work and scans delayed by paperwork I met Jude in central park where we watched tiny kids playing baseball and a movie being shot (an old woman walked a small dog - it was thrilling!)
Then we split up. I headed to Grace for lunch with my friend Gareth whilst Jude headed uptown for lunch with our mutual friend Ali.
I have drinks with a futurologist this afternoon (weirdly she sensed I was in town and invited me) and thought that I'd fill in a little time with a visit to the office and a cup of tea.
It feels very different here to Detroit. The people are younger. And more energetic. And less afraid. The music is playing out loud. Two people just left to buy fruit for a 'cooling' sangria that's being made. And generally the vibe is one of 'we're enjoying this'
Of course the atmosphere in the office was never my issue. The work was. And I LOVE what I do now. Weirdly I've worked out that I'm an ad guy - by trying to leave advertising twice.
It's good to know that some decisions you got right
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Weird morning
First the decidedly grannish woman who was appraising my Mustang for damage told me that removing the dent from the hood of of my car would mean removing the hood, stripping it, beating it and respraying it. Total cost $400.
Then my New York hospital told me that I may not get scans after all because they don't have recent blood work. Well that would be another $1000 in flights wasted. Much haggling and pleading led to a morning blood bath - I'll be phlebottomized, analyzed and certified at 8am for 9am scans. Maybe.
Bought two 'space chairs' for the balcony (it's 24c and sunny today and on the roof it's 10c warmer) - noit sure I'm fully adepyt at shifting my weight and levering my legs as counterbalance yet - but it will come.
And finally day 2 of the pre Cyprus shirt off diet has me feeling strangely full at all times. Jude's saying fiber, I'm saying tumor.
Then my New York hospital told me that I may not get scans after all because they don't have recent blood work. Well that would be another $1000 in flights wasted. Much haggling and pleading led to a morning blood bath - I'll be phlebottomized, analyzed and certified at 8am for 9am scans. Maybe.
Bought two 'space chairs' for the balcony (it's 24c and sunny today and on the roof it's 10c warmer) - noit sure I'm fully adepyt at shifting my weight and levering my legs as counterbalance yet - but it will come.
And finally day 2 of the pre Cyprus shirt off diet has me feeling strangely full at all times. Jude's saying fiber, I'm saying tumor.
Suddenly spring
suddenly in A2 it's spring,
but we don't really care because today we leave for New York
yup it's Cancer Scan time again
which means admitting that somewhere amongst all the blooming, sprouting and growth of daffodils I may also be sprouting malignant cells and growing tumors.
not that the scan causes that - but it does bring up the issue.
that said if I'm clear today then it's getting very close to the 2 year - 'safe' mark. The point at which relapse becomes less likely and we can breathe easy again (bar the spring pollen)
So fingers crossed
but we don't really care because today we leave for New York
yup it's Cancer Scan time again
which means admitting that somewhere amongst all the blooming, sprouting and growth of daffodils I may also be sprouting malignant cells and growing tumors.
not that the scan causes that - but it does bring up the issue.
that said if I'm clear today then it's getting very close to the 2 year - 'safe' mark. The point at which relapse becomes less likely and we can breathe easy again (bar the spring pollen)
So fingers crossed
Monday, April 21, 2008
A word on Love from my friend Gareth
My Friend Gareth
said this about love today
"For me, love means doing something terrifying and not being terrified at all."
Check out his adventures - and send a check if you can - here
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Dalai Lama is in town
... so I thought that I'd try out Buddhist 'hair' for the event
Whaddya think?
Whaddya think?
More Idol Nonsense
So I missed Idol for a week and it seems that they booted the Castrated Hutchence wannabe Michael Johns. Shame - the benchmark seems to have been - "Well I have to last longer than Kristie Cook" and of course he didn't.
This week's guest coach was Mariah Carey - who came across as a slutty Oompah-Lumpah, only a tad more orange. She loved everyone, they loved her, the show was duller David Cook's eyes (and they're DEAD)
What did people do, I hear you shrug half heartedly.
Well Cut Priced Whitney (I like to think that she'll be a Crystal Meth Gal married to a backing singer) Syesha coasted through that well known shoulda been a B side "Vanishing" and promptly vanished from memory.
The Bruiser kept the bat wing wobble in check as she attacked "Without You" and I mean attacked. The song later reported the assault to the police and is recovering from the severe bruising she gave it. All credit to the girl though - she did attempt a full 'power squat' at one point.
David Cook did his angsty thing on "Without you" and just failed to recognize that it could be the most awesome stalker song of all time done right. He was getting there but as ever the bigger picture evaded him as he tried for a vibe that's Radio Friendly.
The Mormon's magic pants were working as he did something soppy to immediately forgettable effect
Jason Castro on the other hand is turning into a poor man's Sanjaya. "I don't wanna cry" was sung with such tender virginity that you could hear hymen in the audience tearing. Either that or he missed a couple of notes horribly.
Two left - Kristy Lee Cook did an adenoidal version of "Forever" (which FINALLY sent her home) and Brooke White piled in the vanilla with her anodyne version of "Hero"
It's all toe curlingly wondreful
Saturday, April 19, 2008
It's getting hot in here
In fact as I look up at the temperature gauge I see that right at the desk it's 88f... no wonder I'm sweating. I'd take my shirt off but if Jude gets back to see me sitting near naked at the computer she'll be checking the History folder faster than you can say 'spyware'
Dalai Lama in town tomorrow. Lots of parents in for graduation today. So the bars are full. The outdoor tables coveted and the locals slightly snarky.
Me? I'm just taking pictures, walking the dog and trying not to eat
Dalai Lama in town tomorrow. Lots of parents in for graduation today. So the bars are full. The outdoor tables coveted and the locals slightly snarky.
Me? I'm just taking pictures, walking the dog and trying not to eat
Friday, April 18, 2008
That time of year again...
Well Michigan certainly seems to switch weather gears fast. Last Sunday we were sitting inside watching the snow whoosh horizontal past the windows. Today it's 24c, there's the smell of summer in the air and the window boxes are being moved outside.
The dog, predictably, loves it. Yesterday we took her to The Arb' (a kind of wild flora and fauna refuge in the middle of town) and she sniffed, scurried and bounded her way around with an abandon that some would have called gay (were they over 70)
Tonight we're off to see Natalia Zuckerman who is described thusly by the venue "(She has a) voice that could send an orchid into bloom, while her guitar playing can open a beer bottle with its teeth."
I'll test that theory later.
The dog, predictably, loves it. Yesterday we took her to The Arb' (a kind of wild flora and fauna refuge in the middle of town) and she sniffed, scurried and bounded her way around with an abandon that some would have called gay (were they over 70)
Tonight we're off to see Natalia Zuckerman who is described thusly by the venue "(She has a) voice that could send an orchid into bloom, while her guitar playing can open a beer bottle with its teeth."
I'll test that theory later.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Bad repair
Well after Jude's first attempt to fill the suicidal bird's scrape on the hood of the car I had her redo it - and maybe I was wrong.
Never mind will have dent taken car of at 10,000 miles and may use the scratch repair as a justification for getting the stripes that Jude's wanted forever.
Mad at work today - wanting to prove that one of the reasons that people got into SUVs were that they were high - and when people feel threatened (say post 9-11 or by the number of huge cars on the road) they tend to look for safety by trying to get above imminent danger (they used to climb a tree). There are other reasons of course - but it's odd that in a culture of engagement we have an automotive culture of disengagement. Or so I'm hypothosizing.
Steve
Never mind will have dent taken car of at 10,000 miles and may use the scratch repair as a justification for getting the stripes that Jude's wanted forever.
Mad at work today - wanting to prove that one of the reasons that people got into SUVs were that they were high - and when people feel threatened (say post 9-11 or by the number of huge cars on the road) they tend to look for safety by trying to get above imminent danger (they used to climb a tree). There are other reasons of course - but it's odd that in a culture of engagement we have an automotive culture of disengagement. Or so I'm hypothosizing.
Steve
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
In the wars again
On my way to work this morning I had a suicidal bird swoop down and hot the hood of the car. Result - small dent that ruins the lines, big scratch that we've just tried (and failed) to disguise.
Will hit the dealer on Saturday about the dent but it seems as though hard objects are drawn to this car - at speed.
Will hit the dealer on Saturday about the dent but it seems as though hard objects are drawn to this car - at speed.
Long drive for a home run
This morning I was invited to join a hundred people on a trip up to Toronto to see a baseball game. Sounds like a riot, but all are driving up there in their own cars and it's about four and a half hours.
Of course part of me says "screw it, head on up" while the other says "work, long drive, overnight stay" and of course "you don't like baseball" - which side will win I have no idea.
Last night we went to a gallery opening. Photographs of Alabama taken over 40 years by a guy whose technique didn't seem to improve. Most of the people there seemed to be asking the same question "This guy is famous because....????"
It's one of the great statements of the upload age. People used to say "I could do better than that" ---> now they say "I HAVE DONE better than that" and in many cases they have.
I was reading an interview with Sir (!) John Hegarty where he was talking about being the chair of an art committee. He said that he can easily search for "picture of woman holding a baby" and the search engines and stock photo sites will give him 10,000 options. The only problem is that they'll all be rubbish. And what he wants is one GOOD pic of a woman holding a baby. Alas "Good pic of woman holding a baby" isn't a search engine friendly term.
As he said if you search the art world for the same pic you may not find the exact image and angle that you want but you're much more likely to stumble upon something that shows you something new or that invites you to think about the subject in a new way - and that's more valuable.
Also last night 38 Drinks with the very lovely Rebecca, who looked amazing swathed in the diffused glow of my favorite bar in Ann Arbor. I may have had more thatn I thought though -as this morning I'm feeling weirdly weak and out of sorts. Blaming the allergy patches for that though.
Of course part of me says "screw it, head on up" while the other says "work, long drive, overnight stay" and of course "you don't like baseball" - which side will win I have no idea.
Last night we went to a gallery opening. Photographs of Alabama taken over 40 years by a guy whose technique didn't seem to improve. Most of the people there seemed to be asking the same question "This guy is famous because....????"
It's one of the great statements of the upload age. People used to say "I could do better than that" ---> now they say "I HAVE DONE better than that" and in many cases they have.
I was reading an interview with Sir (!) John Hegarty where he was talking about being the chair of an art committee. He said that he can easily search for "picture of woman holding a baby" and the search engines and stock photo sites will give him 10,000 options. The only problem is that they'll all be rubbish. And what he wants is one GOOD pic of a woman holding a baby. Alas "Good pic of woman holding a baby" isn't a search engine friendly term.
As he said if you search the art world for the same pic you may not find the exact image and angle that you want but you're much more likely to stumble upon something that shows you something new or that invites you to think about the subject in a new way - and that's more valuable.
Also last night 38 Drinks with the very lovely Rebecca, who looked amazing swathed in the diffused glow of my favorite bar in Ann Arbor. I may have had more thatn I thought though -as this morning I'm feeling weirdly weak and out of sorts. Blaming the allergy patches for that though.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
What a feeling
I went in for the second of my allergy tests this morning.
The guys took a bunch of panels, attached them to my back, bandaged me up and said "see you Thursday". Before they said that though they said "You're probably going to itch like hell. Don't scratch. Even if it becomes unbearable"
Now maybe it's just me but there has to be a better way of doing this. A blood test perhaps. Or stem cells. Or cloning. Just all seems a tad old fashioned to me.
Also got a call from the New York hospital... I'm due scans for cancer again. It's weird that every 8 weeks or so I have to start planning a New York scan trip. It kinda throws you off balance and I know that it's too much of a reminder for a lot of people around me - having my mortality questioned with such regularity.
Still it's a trip to New York - a place I adore, so (for once) I won't be complaining - unless of course it's about the itch that seems to be coming from directly under the bleach tab on my back
The guys took a bunch of panels, attached them to my back, bandaged me up and said "see you Thursday". Before they said that though they said "You're probably going to itch like hell. Don't scratch. Even if it becomes unbearable"
Now maybe it's just me but there has to be a better way of doing this. A blood test perhaps. Or stem cells. Or cloning. Just all seems a tad old fashioned to me.
Also got a call from the New York hospital... I'm due scans for cancer again. It's weird that every 8 weeks or so I have to start planning a New York scan trip. It kinda throws you off balance and I know that it's too much of a reminder for a lot of people around me - having my mortality questioned with such regularity.
Still it's a trip to New York - a place I adore, so (for once) I won't be complaining - unless of course it's about the itch that seems to be coming from directly under the bleach tab on my back
Monday, April 14, 2008
Stupidly Busy
I'm ridiculously busy today, which means that this will be shorter than Obama's "Mission Accomplished" list.
I have to say that my interest in the Hillary / Obama thing has been dampened by the descent into politics as usual. Hillary claiming that she'd been under sniper fire, Obama attending the church of somebody that some people don't like - each claiming that they're not about smearing the other and then having proxies apply liquid manure.
It's a shame really - this was an election that I wanted to care about. But I do have a weird feeling that McCain is going to drop dead before November... he's just SO old. And it's a real strain. And he's not looking good at all. Weird that he's leading in the polls too. Though with his age and health being what it is his choice of running mate is going to be critical - as we're all imagining the President being upable to fulfil his duties at some point over the next 4 years.
Scary
I have to say that my interest in the Hillary / Obama thing has been dampened by the descent into politics as usual. Hillary claiming that she'd been under sniper fire, Obama attending the church of somebody that some people don't like - each claiming that they're not about smearing the other and then having proxies apply liquid manure.
It's a shame really - this was an election that I wanted to care about. But I do have a weird feeling that McCain is going to drop dead before November... he's just SO old. And it's a real strain. And he's not looking good at all. Weird that he's leading in the polls too. Though with his age and health being what it is his choice of running mate is going to be critical - as we're all imagining the President being upable to fulfil his duties at some point over the next 4 years.
Scary
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I always feel like
somebody's watching me... and I get no privacy.
Back from Vegas and back into the swing of a warmer but very wet Ann arbor. The dog has been walked, there's a gallery show opening downstairs, we have a new BBQ (yesterday was 21c, we got giddy) and of course I got my camera back... so Jude's 365 days pic series is back on track.
Jude has dinner tonight and is out running right now and so Im home alone and trying to work my way into writing my book (it's about falling into the vast crevice between who you are and the person that you project to the world) rather than heading downstairs, opening a beer and watching Top Gear.
It's good to be writing again. Something that I promised myself - and that I can be good at - given the discipline. This blog is a testament to my indiscipline ---> but honestly I can turn a sentence once in a while.
The pic btw was taken in the Bellagio Glass Flowers and Butterfly garden. The butterflies are real - though I told the tourists that they were animatronics and many believed me. The gullible should not be let out unchaperoned in Vegas.
Back from Vegas and back into the swing of a warmer but very wet Ann arbor. The dog has been walked, there's a gallery show opening downstairs, we have a new BBQ (yesterday was 21c, we got giddy) and of course I got my camera back... so Jude's 365 days pic series is back on track.
Jude has dinner tonight and is out running right now and so Im home alone and trying to work my way into writing my book (it's about falling into the vast crevice between who you are and the person that you project to the world) rather than heading downstairs, opening a beer and watching Top Gear.
It's good to be writing again. Something that I promised myself - and that I can be good at - given the discipline. This blog is a testament to my indiscipline ---> but honestly I can turn a sentence once in a while.
The pic btw was taken in the Bellagio Glass Flowers and Butterfly garden. The butterflies are real - though I told the tourists that they were animatronics and many believed me. The gullible should not be let out unchaperoned in Vegas.
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Vegas Miracle
10 minutes before I checked out yesterday I got a call.
"I've done a little investigation work and don't ask me how I did it but I think I have your camera"
I went downstairs and lo! behold! My camera.
And most of the pics were still on it too.
Flight was a nightmare, much delayed... but at least it was business.
In at 1am, up at 6am... now at work and slightly dazed
Proper post (and pics!) asap
"I've done a little investigation work and don't ask me how I did it but I think I have your camera"
I went downstairs and lo! behold! My camera.
And most of the pics were still on it too.
Flight was a nightmare, much delayed... but at least it was business.
In at 1am, up at 6am... now at work and slightly dazed
Proper post (and pics!) asap
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Lesbian Las Vegas
So last night we finished up the show and headed for the Private Members bar at the top of the Mandalay Bay hotel. The views were gorgeous, the bar staff still had their 'penthouse' looks and figures and the place was an oasis of calm, quiet and the scent of Asian spice.
Yesterday's massage was good. I arrived early and headed toward the individual hot tubs, then on to the sauna, the plunge pool and the steam room, then massage, more steam and a fantastically lit shower. A zen like experience spoiled only by the naked wandering of what seemed be the result of splicing the genes of an amphibian, a bear and a Russian.
Today I walked the strip wishing I had my camera and rueing the day that I didn't use the safe. But coming out from behind the lens does interesting things. I started noticing things again. Having ideas. Theories. Plans for how I could test my hypotheses... and sell the results. More on that later.
And finally there were the lesbians. Some older, leather faced and sinewy as the marched the strip. Other in bigger groups all blonde hair and Abercromie T-shirts, happy with life - out in the sunshine in gangs of belonging. I must have passed a dozen or so groups like this.
Not the Hogs and Heifers experience (above) by any means... but a cool morning. Check out in a half hour and head for A2.
Yesterday's massage was good. I arrived early and headed toward the individual hot tubs, then on to the sauna, the plunge pool and the steam room, then massage, more steam and a fantastically lit shower. A zen like experience spoiled only by the naked wandering of what seemed be the result of splicing the genes of an amphibian, a bear and a Russian.
Today I walked the strip wishing I had my camera and rueing the day that I didn't use the safe. But coming out from behind the lens does interesting things. I started noticing things again. Having ideas. Theories. Plans for how I could test my hypotheses... and sell the results. More on that later.
And finally there were the lesbians. Some older, leather faced and sinewy as the marched the strip. Other in bigger groups all blonde hair and Abercromie T-shirts, happy with life - out in the sunshine in gangs of belonging. I must have passed a dozen or so groups like this.
Not the Hogs and Heifers experience (above) by any means... but a cool morning. Check out in a half hour and head for A2.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Camera hunter
So today I wandered off into Vegas in search of a new ultra zoom camera. I figured - what they hell, why not and other questions of a similar 'excuse to buy' ilk.
Instead I came back with a freshly steamed John Varartos shirt, a blister on my heel and the knowledge that the Sony ultra zoom is so complicated with its flickr wheels and scroll menus that you'd never be able to shoot a living thing. It's a still life only cam'
Knackered here so about to have a spa treatment that costs $1 every 20 seconds. I hope that for that kind of outlay I get oral sex from a unicorn.
Nap time
Instead I came back with a freshly steamed John Varartos shirt, a blister on my heel and the knowledge that the Sony ultra zoom is so complicated with its flickr wheels and scroll menus that you'd never be able to shoot a living thing. It's a still life only cam'
Knackered here so about to have a spa treatment that costs $1 every 20 seconds. I hope that for that kind of outlay I get oral sex from a unicorn.
Nap time
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
sad
so yesterday I was happy
the show was going well
I'd taken some amazing pictures
Life was a blast
And then....
I got up this morning and found that my camera was gone.
I was viewing pics last night
Went to work
Then on to jet
And my camera went 'poof'
It's not the money
It's two things
1. The pics
2. The idea that someone else is using my camera
I feel sick to the stomach
And sad
Have searched the room a dozen times
Retraced steps to places that I knew I had no camera
And called Lost and Found to the point of their distraction
But it's gone
And I'm a loser
Sigh
the show was going well
I'd taken some amazing pictures
Life was a blast
And then....
I got up this morning and found that my camera was gone.
I was viewing pics last night
Went to work
Then on to jet
And my camera went 'poof'
It's not the money
It's two things
1. The pics
2. The idea that someone else is using my camera
I feel sick to the stomach
And sad
Have searched the room a dozen times
Retraced steps to places that I knew I had no camera
And called Lost and Found to the point of their distraction
But it's gone
And I'm a loser
Sigh
3am
3am and home alone, drunk but not embarrassingly so, in Vegas
met up with some guys who had tables at Jet and the persona to pull off the VIP room
Spent abput $5k on booze and 'union girls' but happy here. despite inabilty to type
\
Up in 4 hrs to repeat.
Wow
(to quote Kylie)
met up with some guys who had tables at Jet and the persona to pull off the VIP room
Spent abput $5k on booze and 'union girls' but happy here. despite inabilty to type
\
Up in 4 hrs to repeat.
Wow
(to quote Kylie)
Monday, April 07, 2008
Excess
Vegas is all about excess.
Just a few minutes ago I passed a bunch of people gawping and whispering "oh----my------God" at "the world's tallest chocolate fountain"
I was too full from my 8pm fish n chips to comment.
The flight here was hell. Delayed. Too hot. And ripe with the scent of the obese in too thick sweaters. Many of the assembled looked more reptilian than they did human. Which should have stopped me eating. And it will. I swear.
The thing I'm here for looks mightily impressive. If unfinished. People will be working throughout the night - but things are looking good. I have faith in the product. All we need to do now is build marketing into the product too. The way that Apple do (thinnest, touch screen etc.) Then we have it made
Just a few minutes ago I passed a bunch of people gawping and whispering "oh----my------God" at "the world's tallest chocolate fountain"
I was too full from my 8pm fish n chips to comment.
The flight here was hell. Delayed. Too hot. And ripe with the scent of the obese in too thick sweaters. Many of the assembled looked more reptilian than they did human. Which should have stopped me eating. And it will. I swear.
The thing I'm here for looks mightily impressive. If unfinished. People will be working throughout the night - but things are looking good. I have faith in the product. All we need to do now is build marketing into the product too. The way that Apple do (thinnest, touch screen etc.) Then we have it made
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Is it just me or is this plane a little too close?
Revving up this morning for my trip to Vegas.
Jude is sewing and pressing the suit pants that I bought on the last trip.
I'm emptying trash and sorting recyclables ahead of a 4 day absence
The cats are merrily shedding
Velcro is hiding out in the hope that she might manage a stealth grab on a stray sock from my packing
And all is good with the world.
Jude is sewing and pressing the suit pants that I bought on the last trip.
I'm emptying trash and sorting recyclables ahead of a 4 day absence
The cats are merrily shedding
Velcro is hiding out in the hope that she might manage a stealth grab on a stray sock from my packing
And all is good with the world.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
"Nice tits missus, now where do you want these blinds"
Jude woke up this morning determined to get her 365 days of Jude shot in early. I noticed that if I stood at this angle the shadows from the blinds gave me the abs that two glasses of wine a day have been denying me.
That said I did go to pilates this morning and a long walk with the dog is slated for half an hour from now - so perhaps I'm not the slob that I seem to be in my mind's eye.
I know that when you ask women to judge themselves against other women they tend to place themselves against people a full dress size bigger - I'm hoping that's my issue. Body dismorphia. Not chocolate, guinness and an ability to dodge the gym like my brother does salads.
That said I did go to pilates this morning and a long walk with the dog is slated for half an hour from now - so perhaps I'm not the slob that I seem to be in my mind's eye.
I know that when you ask women to judge themselves against other women they tend to place themselves against people a full dress size bigger - I'm hoping that's my issue. Body dismorphia. Not chocolate, guinness and an ability to dodge the gym like my brother does salads.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Friday
It's Friday. Or as people of a certain age would say "Thank Crunchie" or maybe "TGIF"... amazing isn't it how consumption based advertising creeps into real life.
You can imagine the Crunchie strategy meeting.
"People love Crunchie. But they don't ever choose it. They get one in a selection box and think to themselves that they like this, that they should buy it but the next time they're in the shop they just don't. It's just not high enough in their daily repertoire."
"What it needs is an occasion Bob"
"Exactly Bob. A trigger. Something that just says - it's time for a Crunchie"
"How about Easter Bob?"
"Creme Eggs Bob. Same company. Cannibalization of brand and Creme Eggs make more money per unit... but good thinking"
"After dinner?"
"Too thick. Wafer thins own post dinner"
"Friday Bob!"
"Friday?"
"Yes Bob. People are in a good mood. They're gearing up for the weekend. They're lookiing for treats - for something celebratory"
"But what's my reason to believe Bob?"
"Champagne. The honeycomb in a Crunchie pops in your mouth like Champagne. And when do people drink champagne Bob?"
"FRIDAY!"
"FRIDAY Bob"
"Right that's settled then, 3 martini lunch anyone?"
You can imagine the Crunchie strategy meeting.
"People love Crunchie. But they don't ever choose it. They get one in a selection box and think to themselves that they like this, that they should buy it but the next time they're in the shop they just don't. It's just not high enough in their daily repertoire."
"What it needs is an occasion Bob"
"Exactly Bob. A trigger. Something that just says - it's time for a Crunchie"
"How about Easter Bob?"
"Creme Eggs Bob. Same company. Cannibalization of brand and Creme Eggs make more money per unit... but good thinking"
"After dinner?"
"Too thick. Wafer thins own post dinner"
"Friday Bob!"
"Friday?"
"Yes Bob. People are in a good mood. They're gearing up for the weekend. They're lookiing for treats - for something celebratory"
"But what's my reason to believe Bob?"
"Champagne. The honeycomb in a Crunchie pops in your mouth like Champagne. And when do people drink champagne Bob?"
"FRIDAY!"
"FRIDAY Bob"
"Right that's settled then, 3 martini lunch anyone?"
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Bye bye bobblehead
>Say goodbye, Bobblehead.
Having shouted her way through Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" on Tuesday night's show the Filipino would be lounge singer was answered by an indifferent America. "No you don't" they said, or rather didn't - as they failed to vote for her by the million.
Who was shocked? Nobody.
Also in the bottom three - Ms. Lobotomy Brooke White and 'horseless' Kristy Lee Cook.
Better still - i-tunes cover mechant David Cook had heart palpitations and needed treatment for high blood pressure near the end of Tuesday's show. The 25 year old obviously has the constitution of a grandpa and had to be treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
His story? "I have high blood pressure, and it spiked."
Very rock 'n' roll
I expect elasticated leisure pants from him next week
Having shouted her way through Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" on Tuesday night's show the Filipino would be lounge singer was answered by an indifferent America. "No you don't" they said, or rather didn't - as they failed to vote for her by the million.
Who was shocked? Nobody.
Also in the bottom three - Ms. Lobotomy Brooke White and 'horseless' Kristy Lee Cook.
Better still - i-tunes cover mechant David Cook had heart palpitations and needed treatment for high blood pressure near the end of Tuesday's show. The 25 year old obviously has the constitution of a grandpa and had to be treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
His story? "I have high blood pressure, and it spiked."
Very rock 'n' roll
I expect elasticated leisure pants from him next week
Another day in paradise
there's the possibility that we might be extending our stay here in A2. Just a possibility. Which ain't a bad thing. But as friends start to contact me with tales of offers further afield, in more exotic locations and with better titles I can't help but wonder whether I've blown the career a little.
Of course there's a reason for this trajectory. Dr Jude is now a Doctor. And her desire to have that prefix far outweighed my desire to be Director of Creative Turpitude at Bangle Bongle Stronglemeijer.
And there are upsides. Cool apt, cool car, happy animals, job I like here, money in the bank and some cool vacations. I guess I'm just questioning my willingness to stay in one place for more than 2 years. I equate it with immobility rather than content I guess. Which is weird - 'cause I like it here.
Therapy here I come
Of course there's a reason for this trajectory. Dr Jude is now a Doctor. And her desire to have that prefix far outweighed my desire to be Director of Creative Turpitude at Bangle Bongle Stronglemeijer.
And there are upsides. Cool apt, cool car, happy animals, job I like here, money in the bank and some cool vacations. I guess I'm just questioning my willingness to stay in one place for more than 2 years. I equate it with immobility rather than content I guess. Which is weird - 'cause I like it here.
Therapy here I come
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Dollywood
It was Dolly Parton night in Idol last night and the results were all rather predictable.
Brook White sang Jolene as though it was the sunniest and most carefree song in the world. Then smiled vacantly as Simon raised the issue that she's rather missed the point and that her violin player was offputtingly ugly. I can't work out whether this girl is deeply cynical or whether they're about to reveal her lobotomy any day now - but I'm done with her.
The batwinged bruiser belted out something or other without missing a note or making any real impact. Someone ought to check with the INS and make sure she's not here on an exceptional talent visa as it would be in danger of being revoked
The Magic Mormon did a ballad that reminded him of home and did a nice job on it. The problem is that he really does only connect on overly earnest ballads and he comes across more as grandmother's choice than he does American Idol. He could open for Niel Sedaka. Really.
David Cook searched I-Tunes for someone to rip off, failed to find anyone and faded into the background.
Jason Castro still has dreads and those eyes - so the performance was irrelevant. Just as well really.
Kristy Lee Cook chose nice jewelry and a simple "Coat of many colors" - her last hurrah (she's safe this week but she has to go soon) wasn't really a bang, but hey she might get a gig with the ice-capades that allow her to buy back her bloody horse
Michael Johns did his Australian Rocker schick again and it worked. He's genuinely happy to be there - realizing that this is his last shot at the industry and that kind of appreciation and humility goes a long way - even if he does look like a marketing manager at a kareoke.
Ramiele Malubay is still a bobble headed midget. I can't remember anything about her last night. Maybe TiVo cut her off. Maybe she just disappeared.
And finally cut priced Whitney Syesha Mercado did - you guessed it "I will always love you" minus Dolly's sincerity or Whitney's range.
So a bit of a flat night - where competence reigned and nobody really managed to stand out. That makes it a popularity contest (bar country girl, who;s safe on home turf)... expect Ramiele, Syesha and Carly Bruiser to be tonight's bottom three
Brook White sang Jolene as though it was the sunniest and most carefree song in the world. Then smiled vacantly as Simon raised the issue that she's rather missed the point and that her violin player was offputtingly ugly. I can't work out whether this girl is deeply cynical or whether they're about to reveal her lobotomy any day now - but I'm done with her.
The batwinged bruiser belted out something or other without missing a note or making any real impact. Someone ought to check with the INS and make sure she's not here on an exceptional talent visa as it would be in danger of being revoked
The Magic Mormon did a ballad that reminded him of home and did a nice job on it. The problem is that he really does only connect on overly earnest ballads and he comes across more as grandmother's choice than he does American Idol. He could open for Niel Sedaka. Really.
David Cook searched I-Tunes for someone to rip off, failed to find anyone and faded into the background.
Jason Castro still has dreads and those eyes - so the performance was irrelevant. Just as well really.
Kristy Lee Cook chose nice jewelry and a simple "Coat of many colors" - her last hurrah (she's safe this week but she has to go soon) wasn't really a bang, but hey she might get a gig with the ice-capades that allow her to buy back her bloody horse
Michael Johns did his Australian Rocker schick again and it worked. He's genuinely happy to be there - realizing that this is his last shot at the industry and that kind of appreciation and humility goes a long way - even if he does look like a marketing manager at a kareoke.
Ramiele Malubay is still a bobble headed midget. I can't remember anything about her last night. Maybe TiVo cut her off. Maybe she just disappeared.
And finally cut priced Whitney Syesha Mercado did - you guessed it "I will always love you" minus Dolly's sincerity or Whitney's range.
So a bit of a flat night - where competence reigned and nobody really managed to stand out. That makes it a popularity contest (bar country girl, who;s safe on home turf)... expect Ramiele, Syesha and Carly Bruiser to be tonight's bottom three
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Fabulously Nasty
As a Brit I'm kind of rejoicing in the weather at the moment. It's gray and wet. It's as windy as hell. The temperatures are shifting between minus and plau 15c daily. It's unpredictably damp, then wet, then icy. This may be a sign of the apocolypse. It may be a sign of spring. I have no idea. I really ought to look at Weather Channel viewing figures in the area. They skyrocket when the weather gets unusual. They thrive on 'extreme weather'... as of course do I.
Into this weather was born the new baseball season. Detroit lost 5-4 in the last inning (or something) and there are all manner of stats now showing how / why and where it fits comparatively to the rest of the league and previous seasons - none of which I understand. Perhaps I ought to try harder. It can't be that hard a game.
Into this weather was born the new baseball season. Detroit lost 5-4 in the last inning (or something) and there are all manner of stats now showing how / why and where it fits comparatively to the rest of the league and previous seasons - none of which I understand. Perhaps I ought to try harder. It can't be that hard a game.
Monday, March 31, 2008
VEGAS BABY!
Yup - it's back to Vegas this weekend. And this time the temperatures will be in the high 20s. Centigrade. Which will be nice ahead of Cyprus in May.
Of course none of the Cyprus villa people are answering calls - which is a worry.
And I'm not confirmed in the Vegas hotel. Which might also be a worry come Friday.
But I have a flight. I have a plan. And I'm looking forward to some sunshine.
Of course none of the Cyprus villa people are answering calls - which is a worry.
And I'm not confirmed in the Vegas hotel. Which might also be a worry come Friday.
But I have a flight. I have a plan. And I'm looking forward to some sunshine.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hair
Jude went out yesterday and got herself new hair. It's lighter, toned down a little and, for the moment, it's dead straight.
Inky is still losing his hair and as I write is sitting on my lap smothered in unction and wearing an unfetching collar
I of course have no hair - but do have an infection of the hair follicles (I know how unfair is that?) which is requiring some hardcore treatment. Basically I'm taking medication for other scalp / hair diseases and turning up the dosage to nuclear.
I have lice treatment, I have scabies medication, I have steroidal creams - all being taken at around 6 times the dosage for the disease that they're meant to treat (6 pills at a time) in a bid to kill off what's lurking on my post chemo head.
Weird thing is it seems to be working - even i the people at the pharmacy now start to scratch at the sight of me
Inky is still losing his hair and as I write is sitting on my lap smothered in unction and wearing an unfetching collar
I of course have no hair - but do have an infection of the hair follicles (I know how unfair is that?) which is requiring some hardcore treatment. Basically I'm taking medication for other scalp / hair diseases and turning up the dosage to nuclear.
I have lice treatment, I have scabies medication, I have steroidal creams - all being taken at around 6 times the dosage for the disease that they're meant to treat (6 pills at a time) in a bid to kill off what's lurking on my post chemo head.
Weird thing is it seems to be working - even i the people at the pharmacy now start to scratch at the sight of me
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Safari
I joined some Flickr folks on a wee A2 safari today. Nothing spectacular - just a walk around Ann Arbor with some cameras and various pics. Got a few that I like - though my fondness for high contrast images may be getting a little out of hand
Friday, March 28, 2008
An invitation
I've just been invited to attend a cooking class. By the people at Gourmet magazine. And while I know that the invitation is business rather than personal (they know that I have money to spend and products to promote) I'd like to think that at least a little of the invitation was based on my being interesting.
So French Bistro cooking here we come.
So French Bistro cooking here we come.
A joke from my dad
After numerous rounds of "We don't even know if Osama is still alive",
Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own
handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of coded message:
370H-SSV-0773H
Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice. Condi and her
aides hadn't a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.
No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, and then to MI6.
Eventually they asked the Mossad for help.
Almost immediately the Mossad emailed the White House with this reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside down."
Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own
handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of coded message:
370H-SSV-0773H
Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice. Condi and her
aides hadn't a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.
No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, and then to MI6.
Eventually they asked the Mossad for help.
Almost immediately the Mossad emailed the White House with this reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside down."
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Faux'd to Gray
... there was a time when I reacted to everything as though it and I were magnets. I was either irresistably attracted or equally violently repelled. Life was love - hate - love and shades of gray were seen as compromise.
Of course life is made up of shades of gray - but then embracing that fact would mean embracing a gray life, wouldn't it? You see only a couple of sentences in and already this seems circular and self indulgent.
What I've learned of course is that you can be black and white some of the time. That it's all about choice. When to get annoyed, when to hit back, when to hit first, when to track down their ISP and report them to their boss and when to simply think "what a tosser" and move on to something more deserving of time (like mayonaisse)
There's been a lot of mayo contemplating recently.
On a more concrete side I am officially allergic to everything other than dogs. Dust, trees, grass, mites, people with beards. Did an allergy test today - in a bid to find out what turns me into a Geisha Panda on occasion - and was amazed to find out that there's nothing that I don't react violently to (well I react only mildly to cats). This is not a good thing. And there's very little that anyone can do - other than advise me to live in a sterile environment with a dog. Which wouldn't be so terrible - Connecticut here we come
Of course life is made up of shades of gray - but then embracing that fact would mean embracing a gray life, wouldn't it? You see only a couple of sentences in and already this seems circular and self indulgent.
What I've learned of course is that you can be black and white some of the time. That it's all about choice. When to get annoyed, when to hit back, when to hit first, when to track down their ISP and report them to their boss and when to simply think "what a tosser" and move on to something more deserving of time (like mayonaisse)
There's been a lot of mayo contemplating recently.
On a more concrete side I am officially allergic to everything other than dogs. Dust, trees, grass, mites, people with beards. Did an allergy test today - in a bid to find out what turns me into a Geisha Panda on occasion - and was amazed to find out that there's nothing that I don't react violently to (well I react only mildly to cats). This is not a good thing. And there's very little that anyone can do - other than advise me to live in a sterile environment with a dog. Which wouldn't be so terrible - Connecticut here we come
What possesses
people to take pictures of people on American Idol and then upload them to Flickr is quite beyond me. But I'm rather glad that they do. This is Carly Bruiser and her fighting lizard husband. Can America bring itself to vote for flesh desecrators I wonder?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
American Idol
I realised today that I've been almost entirely silent on the subject of this season's American Idol - which is most unlike me as it's a bit of a corker.
Let me start by bringing you up to speed with the contestants
Brook White is the toothy Carly Simon type. She's never seen an R rated movie, is relentlessly positive and likes to play the piano in a way that reminds me of a chaste Tori Amos (her knees are resolutely never splayed). She's harmless enough but alas she's about 40 years too late to have a career - and 40 years ago we had tapestry and carole king anyway.
Carly Smithson is an Irish bruiser who this week admitted that she'd murdered Total Eclipse of the Heart in part because her slimming girdle had been too tight. Married to what appears to be a fighting lizard she's the kind of girl you'd like to have a pint with - and she can belt out a song but in the age of HD and widescreen the bingo wings are a killer.
David Archuleta is a singing mormon foetus who seems too earnest for his own good but really connects on songs with a pseudo refligious content. He makes the girls scream but only because girls are evil and they see how it makes him squirm. Tellingly he's almost never acknowledged by another contestant. He'll go far, but never far enough
David Cook is a doughy Daughtrey. He's done a couple of good covers that have turned out to be accurate enough rip offs but he does at least sound current in an emo rocker sort of way. I'd like him more if he didn't look like a Cornish Pastie.
Jason Castro is the young, blue eyes, dreadlocked bedroom strummer with the hippie attitude and the ability to turn 12 year old girls into puddles of jello. He's crap but that doesn't really matter - it's all about the eyes.
Kristy Lee Cook has played every Idol card she can. She sings with a country twang. She has a "I sold my horse" story and after WEEKS in the bottom three she this week made the most cynical and brilliant choice of songs in the history of the show "God Bless the USA" - Americans bought shovels to help them gobble that shit up faster and she's moving on.
Michael Johns is from Australia and has a Queen fetish. This makes people compare him to Michael Hutchence. Maybe a castrated Hutchence. He's already in a hotel room - somebody hand him a noose and save us from more weeks of self indulgent vocal noodling.
Ramilele Malubay wouldn't be out of place belting out slightly mis-pronounced covers in the Mandarin Oriental, Manilla. When she does end up there be sure to ask for a room as far from the 'cabaret lounge' as possible.
Syesha Mercado is another cut priced Whitney. She has nice hair. And she's making the most of good dentistry. But really girl - you need to get your own schtick 'cause this has been done and been done so much better.
And that's it. Nobody as excruciating as 'beat boxer' Blake Lewis, as deformed but brilliant as Doolittle or even as deranged as last year's winner - a hairy pre-pubescent giantess . But it's been a blast so far.
Expect weekly updates hence.
Let me start by bringing you up to speed with the contestants
Brook White is the toothy Carly Simon type. She's never seen an R rated movie, is relentlessly positive and likes to play the piano in a way that reminds me of a chaste Tori Amos (her knees are resolutely never splayed). She's harmless enough but alas she's about 40 years too late to have a career - and 40 years ago we had tapestry and carole king anyway.
Carly Smithson is an Irish bruiser who this week admitted that she'd murdered Total Eclipse of the Heart in part because her slimming girdle had been too tight. Married to what appears to be a fighting lizard she's the kind of girl you'd like to have a pint with - and she can belt out a song but in the age of HD and widescreen the bingo wings are a killer.
David Archuleta is a singing mormon foetus who seems too earnest for his own good but really connects on songs with a pseudo refligious content. He makes the girls scream but only because girls are evil and they see how it makes him squirm. Tellingly he's almost never acknowledged by another contestant. He'll go far, but never far enough
David Cook is a doughy Daughtrey. He's done a couple of good covers that have turned out to be accurate enough rip offs but he does at least sound current in an emo rocker sort of way. I'd like him more if he didn't look like a Cornish Pastie.
Jason Castro is the young, blue eyes, dreadlocked bedroom strummer with the hippie attitude and the ability to turn 12 year old girls into puddles of jello. He's crap but that doesn't really matter - it's all about the eyes.
Kristy Lee Cook has played every Idol card she can. She sings with a country twang. She has a "I sold my horse" story and after WEEKS in the bottom three she this week made the most cynical and brilliant choice of songs in the history of the show "God Bless the USA" - Americans bought shovels to help them gobble that shit up faster and she's moving on.
Michael Johns is from Australia and has a Queen fetish. This makes people compare him to Michael Hutchence. Maybe a castrated Hutchence. He's already in a hotel room - somebody hand him a noose and save us from more weeks of self indulgent vocal noodling.
Ramilele Malubay wouldn't be out of place belting out slightly mis-pronounced covers in the Mandarin Oriental, Manilla. When she does end up there be sure to ask for a room as far from the 'cabaret lounge' as possible.
Syesha Mercado is another cut priced Whitney. She has nice hair. And she's making the most of good dentistry. But really girl - you need to get your own schtick 'cause this has been done and been done so much better.
And that's it. Nobody as excruciating as 'beat boxer' Blake Lewis, as deformed but brilliant as Doolittle or even as deranged as last year's winner - a hairy pre-pubescent giantess . But it's been a blast so far.
Expect weekly updates hence.
Like the real thing - but not quite
Not much happening today... which isn't really the way to start any blog entry. No the way to start a blog entry is thus
"So there I was wrist deep in a post op-tranny"
The reason that's the way to start a blog entry is simple. At any given moment there are a huge number of men looking online for any mention of "Post op trannies"
Perhaps some are surgeons - looking for a new, neater stitch. Or nurses hoping to find a favorite ex-patient. But the majority are guys on the slow slide into fetishism. Pushing boundaries further and further in a bid to find the thrills that once came so easily. That's the problem with infinite options - they dull the senses. Things that are easy to find - and shared by many are somehow less thrilling - and so we search for the unusual.
Families try to "get there before McDondalds" when travelling. Businessmen stay in 'boutique' hotels owned and run by mass chains. Teenage girls search second hand stores in search of vintage. And a million boys sit in bedrooms trying to create the ultimate mash-up - the modern mix-tape without the awkward connotations.
We're all looking for the unique. Defining ourselves by the increasingly small number of things that we do that are different. For the things that make up the 2% of our lives that we believe is ultimately 'us'.
We're becoming nomads. Constantly moving in the search not for stimulation but for uniqueness. We want to drink from the fountain of interesting... to experience what others haven't and as a result become what others aren't. Choice does that. It allows us to indulge fantasy.
Maybe that's why I get so many hits looking for post-op trannies. Or maybe it's just that guys are predictably in search of cheap titillation.
Whaddya think?
"So there I was wrist deep in a post op-tranny"
The reason that's the way to start a blog entry is simple. At any given moment there are a huge number of men looking online for any mention of "Post op trannies"
Perhaps some are surgeons - looking for a new, neater stitch. Or nurses hoping to find a favorite ex-patient. But the majority are guys on the slow slide into fetishism. Pushing boundaries further and further in a bid to find the thrills that once came so easily. That's the problem with infinite options - they dull the senses. Things that are easy to find - and shared by many are somehow less thrilling - and so we search for the unusual.
Families try to "get there before McDondalds" when travelling. Businessmen stay in 'boutique' hotels owned and run by mass chains. Teenage girls search second hand stores in search of vintage. And a million boys sit in bedrooms trying to create the ultimate mash-up - the modern mix-tape without the awkward connotations.
We're all looking for the unique. Defining ourselves by the increasingly small number of things that we do that are different. For the things that make up the 2% of our lives that we believe is ultimately 'us'.
We're becoming nomads. Constantly moving in the search not for stimulation but for uniqueness. We want to drink from the fountain of interesting... to experience what others haven't and as a result become what others aren't. Choice does that. It allows us to indulge fantasy.
Maybe that's why I get so many hits looking for post-op trannies. Or maybe it's just that guys are predictably in search of cheap titillation.
Whaddya think?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A marble gray day
it's one of those heavy gray days here today - the skies look marble and the earth feels as cold. Everywhere you look there's evidence that this has been a brutal winter - from the pallid complexions of the faces you see here through to the dirty grey chunks of decomposed road mixed with week old slush that are thrown up by the trucks. Cars are glazed with crusted salt, concrete structures act as a black holes - overpasses sucking what weak light there is available into their very bases - like monsterously selfish plants. Clothes that started black and tight are now faded and slack, as are the bodies below them - the winter adding inches of marbled flesh to bodies programmed to expect famine.
Yup today is marble gray
Yup today is marble gray
Monday, March 24, 2008
Home alone
I'm home alone today.
Judith is at work but I have the day off to celebrate the rising of The Lord (aka R. Savior) in the traditional fashion (Quorn, chocolate, a trip to the vet, a walk with the dog, an hour in the gym and some thinking about an event I'm organizing)
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the snow is melting despite it still being -1c and somehow it feels like spring.
A month ago I'd have filled the day with searches for Hillary and Obama - but I have Primary fatigue and besides there are too many other things to find online to be worried about THAT particular black man - older white woman pairing.
Right now I'm going book myself tickets to Vegas, Miami, Cyprus and maybe LA. Now that's what I call spending,
Judith is at work but I have the day off to celebrate the rising of The Lord (aka R. Savior) in the traditional fashion (Quorn, chocolate, a trip to the vet, a walk with the dog, an hour in the gym and some thinking about an event I'm organizing)
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the snow is melting despite it still being -1c and somehow it feels like spring.
A month ago I'd have filled the day with searches for Hillary and Obama - but I have Primary fatigue and besides there are too many other things to find online to be worried about THAT particular black man - older white woman pairing.
Right now I'm going book myself tickets to Vegas, Miami, Cyprus and maybe LA. Now that's what I call spending,
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Molecular Gastronomy
I've always thought that Molecular Gastronomy was more about theatre than food. Well when I say always I mean during my years as someone poncy enough to be thinking about Molecular Gastronomy rather than whether to have the fish sticks or the chicken sticks.
Anyway last night we headed down to our landlord's pub and then on to his restaurant. It's about a 60 mile drive each way and the town of Clarkston is a two stoplight town so we weren't quite sure what to expect. Other than it would be good. But was that good for such a small town, good for Michigan or good for America?
As it turned out it was gorgeous, the food was good (my Ahi Wellington- seared blue tuna wrapped in rice paper with shitake duxelle, wasabi white bean puree and ponzu demi-glace was great), the decor was great and our landlord was generous with his time , his attention and his cash (he comp'd our entire meal - wine and all)
Best of all though was the ice-cream. Wheeled out on a trolley with a bowl lit blue from below by a light box the ice-cream was an exercise in molecular theatre. Yup they took the ice cream mix and added liquid nitrogen, right there tableside. They then did the same to both citrus fruit and chocolate. The result was spectacular tableside theatre and an icecream that tasted like none I've ever tried before. The flavors were fresh. The ice-cream smooth. And the citrus just zing'd.
We'll be back - and next time we'll be paying
Anyway last night we headed down to our landlord's pub and then on to his restaurant. It's about a 60 mile drive each way and the town of Clarkston is a two stoplight town so we weren't quite sure what to expect. Other than it would be good. But was that good for such a small town, good for Michigan or good for America?
As it turned out it was gorgeous, the food was good (my Ahi Wellington- seared blue tuna wrapped in rice paper with shitake duxelle, wasabi white bean puree and ponzu demi-glace was great), the decor was great and our landlord was generous with his time , his attention and his cash (he comp'd our entire meal - wine and all)
Best of all though was the ice-cream. Wheeled out on a trolley with a bowl lit blue from below by a light box the ice-cream was an exercise in molecular theatre. Yup they took the ice cream mix and added liquid nitrogen, right there tableside. They then did the same to both citrus fruit and chocolate. The result was spectacular tableside theatre and an icecream that tasted like none I've ever tried before. The flavors were fresh. The ice-cream smooth. And the citrus just zing'd.
We'll be back - and next time we'll be paying
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