Category: Musings

s.u.w.n.

After a weekend of tropical heat in the 90s New York has decided to go decidedly British today with freezing cold rain. Since I am wearing shorts, sandles and t-shirt I am not amused!! The good side of this is that it means the office has not been a complete sauna.

Spent Sunday in the park with Kirsteen having a picnic. We went to the Rose center for Space for a bit to catch up with StJohn and his chums. Jodi Foster explained, in conjunction with a laser light show, how the universe began. 10 seconds later we were on our way through time – from the big bang to the present day. Yawn-a-fuckin’-rama! They could have made it more exciting but it was pretty dull all told. The mouse we saw running under the exhibit was the big excitement. In the evening we went for some smashing sushi at some place in the East Village on A between 5th and 6th.

Saturday was spent a lot on my mobile having discussions in the park, then getting pissed off. Ended up at cush on 5th between A and B. Emily’s friend was DJing playing a nice mix of weird dance. The sofa was hella-cool. Sharp cuboids of black rubber coated foam. Nice. Tim wanted to try and steal one but we decided it would be tricky to get past the bouncer. I was also completely sober which made it seem a less sensible option… Yes, I’d decided – based on Friday night where I’d got highly drunk down at Liquids after a meal down at Holy Basil including one blue drink that I can’t remember the name of. Probably safer that way. They were playing good music again but the crowd was mix of chinos and chinos. Yoiks.

Well, mum and nan’s last night in New York City tonight. Mum made roast beef dinner so I’m now feeling extremely fat and bloaty. Luverley. We all went to see Beauty and the Beast just off Broadway. This turned out to be pretty fun (although they wouldn’t let me take my extra large vodka and coke back to the seat) – especially when they did a dance based around all the characters banging metal cups together. Amazing stuff – especially when they had four different people hitting cups together in time with each other.

Strangely enough it all ended happily ever after… bless.

Today I went up to Boston for a two hour meeting. A great way to spend the day. Also involved seeing the Marine Terminal at Le Guardia airport which is pretty amazing with painted ceilings and strange, Russian style sculptures. I was running too late to really appreciate this though!

Ended up spending some of the night with evil playmate StJ and and legal alien, Herta (boss of Uber Inc and Nicole). St had set up his projecter on Herta’s roof on 27th and Lex (v cool) and we watched American Movie. Then went down to Baktun and listened to some luverley tunes at what is going to be the last static for a while – sigh. Had another amaretto sour – lovely. The owner/barperson was giving me consistent weird looks which, it transpired, were because she thought I was Bodie – the Saturday doorman. She hadn’t heard of Doyle though… Must have been my Grade A Bruce Lee shirt (which I still love more than life itself) and my CyberDog grey/blue rave pants combo – they make synchronicity flow….

Cycled in again this morning – third day in a row and I’m getting progressively more knackered!! It takes a lot more time overall than getting the subway but I get to have a shower in the office and feel refreshed for the day (before the Q back room sweatshop effect kicks in). I love the views over the bridge on the way into town. Wish there was a park on the way. One thing I really miss from London is cycling into work along the river from Tooting. Oh, and trying to beat Russ’s time around Richmond Park.

g.b.t.w.n. – 4 hours after last communique!

s.u.w.n.

{:(

New York weather is amazing sometimes. It was hot and humid at 4pm then by 6pm a torrential downpour struck Manhatten midtown. Lightening struck the Empire State buiding a number of times and to stand outside was to get drenched. The most sensuous weather – although not really appreciated when trying to carry a bag without getting it wet! Hopefully it won’t be that strong when I fly to Montreal tomorrow for the eofy.2k.

Abigail’s birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday Abby!) – she’s hit her first set of double figures, 10 years old. I was trying to remember what I was doing at that age. Probably being bullied, my last year at Crawley Ridge Middle School before going to RGS Guildford! Everyone else going to Collingwood. Nothing appears in my mind even if I focus on it. It’s amazing how a smell can make you think of somewhere or something instantaneously but when you try to think of an event you can’t. No wonder they have such trouble simulating the human mind. Probably a good thing.

A cat is now officially required for my apartment since I just caught a mouse. Cute little thing. I was unsure whether to chuck it out the house or keep it as a pet. For lack of a suitable home it was returned outdoors. Apparently we can’t get an exterminator for the building as one person refused permission to spray or whatever since she’s pregnant – everyone’s using traps. Bizarre. My roof is still leaking as well, even though they’ve re-tarred about five times now . Perfection is not something one should ever aspire to – in themselves, others or apartments in New York.

New toy alert – a Music Clip. Definate cool toy potential – size of two AA batteries and stores 170 minutes of music. Totally N.A.F. (nice as fuck). Only downside is that Sony are playing super-retentive by only supporting Windows 98 (the VAIO standard deploy) and I have Windows NT. Ho hum.

Meanwhile getting involved in two cool eCommerce bids – one for my current project and one for an old client. More news as and when and if. Very excited when I’d been seriously lacking work direction for a day. I need to learn to stop taking the high ground and accept that things aren’t always perfect whilst striving to get them there!

Today I are mostly being happy. Thank you.

{:)

Back in the US of A again. Had a superb weekend back in London thanks to Steve, Craig, Bob, Dan, Jon and everyone else for their company at various stages of inebriation. Saturday ended up at Strawberry Sundae in Holloway dancing to heavy trance/house till 4am then driving back to Camberley in the Quidnunc red Alfa (TM) at speeds more than slightly over those preferred by the local constabulary. Driving in and out of London late at night to go clubbing is definately a winner. Nice. Good club too.

Sunday was spent at my dad’s house playing croquet in the sun and giving Abigail way too many helicopter rides for my poor back! I need to get seriously fit to keep up those fun and games, although Nicole had a ride a few weeks earlier and I survived. I think Abigail was a little less scared than Nicole though! Caught up with Jon with a quick pint in the P&P in Chiswick then a Thai before wandering back to Richmond and harassing him about buying Glasto tickets (which he’s now done – good lad). I still find myself weirded out that he lives where I used to live on Lower Richmond Road for various reasons so I can never stay too long there.

Monday was a meeting then flying back to the US courtesy of Virgin shaglantic. Usual flight trauma but got to see the Pokemon movie in lieu of The Talented Mr Riply. Don’t think I got the best end of that deal… Collected more of virgin’s cute little toy ducks from their packs of goodies. Soon I’ll have a whole flotilla.

A superb four days. Hectic and full of friends and family. Started to resolve some life conflicts and totally failed to resolve others – overall score: 12 – 1 in favor of good resolution though. Result. Living in a different country can be very stressful sometimes but one of the cool things is going on holiday at home. Yay.

More jet lag. Bought some essential oils to try and revive me on the recommendation of Angela from work. She recommended eucalytpus and grapefruit – tasty. Body shop could only supply lemon as a citrusy flavour though – should be good.

So why do I need reviving? Well, I’m off up into town to catch up with some more London chums at Gemma Wilson’s birthday drinks somewhere near Picadilly Circus. Not sure if I’ll last too late since I’ve had 6 hours sleep in the last three days… but who knows. I’ve had a good day at Camberley even if the traditional Pizza Express tuna and tomato pizza was not up to their usual high standards. Thinking about it that’s a nightmare trans-atlantic pizza – in Brit-land it’s pronounced ‘tuner and tom-ah-toe’ and in Yank-town it’s ‘tooner and tom-aye-toe’. I would do some sound samples of me saying this but I’m feeling way too lazy… Off to town I go! Wish me good parking karma…

Yep. I’ve come back to the UK for a long weekend in order to look into WAP on Monday. Today was spent shopping at Cyberdog to replace t-shirts I destroyed for lack of washing abilities and new trousers (pants to the Americans in my readership). I also got sidetracked by a cool watch that flashes when you move. Nice!

So now the world seems a little blurry due to the 1 hour of fitful sleep I achieved in Virgin’s Economy class even with 3 seats to myself! I ended up watching Sleepy Hollow which was beautiful but lacking in substance. Tonight I’m catching up with Quid-Brits then tomorrow my mum and Sunday my dad. It is, as always weirdly familiar yet different now I’m here…