theLaconic

A sofa

Oh yeah I forgot - I bought a sofa (and a shinny thing) today. I just need to get a bed and TV and I'll be sorted, well at least I'll be semi settled.

It seems that there has been an a hugh list of to dos and everytime I think I'm getting there it seems I discover there is whole new set of tasks: people to phone, items to buy and of course forms to fill in.

Spending money

I got paid on Friday - which was nice, so I had intended to go shopping on Saturday and Sunday (even visit Ikea) and chill on Monday, but with getting really drunk on Saturday and feeling like I was going to throw up all day on Sunday, the planned shopping trip never really happened.

I feel like I have made up for it today, the best thing about a hangover (yes there is such a thing) is the day after (the day after the day after? - sounds like a movie) is a day of promise.

And so it has been, I met up with a friend Miguel from London (pictured) for lunch and he took to me to a cool little cafe a couple of blocks away from the apt. The more I see of the East Village the more I realise I have somehow managed to a very good choice, well that's mainly thru the advice of my friends :)

This is the worst...

...hangover I've had for quite a while. I knew all of the hangovers (or lack of them) were going to catch me up, but I didn't take heed I just drank for 8 hours solid yesterday. I even took precautions like taking two Advil and buying some Gatorade last thing last night. I know I had to be in a bad way because I was still drunk at 11am this morning.

Let me do a quick calculation: 3-4 pints of beer, 1 pineapple margaritta, 1 bottle of white wine and 4 large whiskeys = not feeling very well at all.

All of this happened within 4 blocks of my new apartment. I am now scared.

Looking foward to the weekend

Monday is Memorial day here in the states. Which means that we are going to have some days off.

Well only one and half days off but its a start. I only have a half day tomorrow and then all of Monday. May 27, 2004 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Glad I moved

Just got this email from Jimmy Dower:

ooh yes that's reminded me

I had a mad dream about you last night. I dreamt that you'd actually moved to the bottom of the ocean.... or was it a fish tank? I can't remember, but you were in your house in the sea, a normal house, drinking red wine and burping big red, wine bubbles. adn you had a fish tank too.... with people living in it

f**king mad

-------------------
I'm now really scared. Can someone go and help him?

Makes mouths happy

according to packaging that is...

Interesting or not

I had quite a productive day at work yesterday so I decided to go exploring downtown. I needed a haircut and after a reccomendation from someone at work i headed downtown. I found the hairdressers without any real problem and was just going to get an appointment, but the guy had time to do it there and then.

The place was called Mud Honey and was pretty cool - I especially liked the old electric chair as a hair dryer thingmeebob.

Looking all cool, I took a walk to the East Village to get a feel for my new neighborhood*. I had dinner in ok but nothing special Italian restaurant that is just round the corner from my new apt. To cap off my enjoyable evening, I bought some new Candy for photographing and posting...

My new neighbor*

This guy is my new neighbor or was, I found out that my new apartment is on the same street as an old police precinct.

And that precinct was the one that NYPD Blue was based on. I never watched NYPD Blue so I don't know if that was a bad thing... What I do know is that everyone I speak to here says that I'll have a great time in the East Village.

*American spelling

Got it

I have just returned from signing my apartment lease, wooohooo. And have be given a cell (mobile) phone. I will distribute the number via email - I don't think posting to a open website is that clever.

The Wedding

Just uploaded some photos of the wedding. click on the image to see them.

I'm back

So that was a weekend and a half, travelled almost 8000 miles and saw two of my best friends get married in a stately home, ate a hog roast (only some of it!) and spent over 28 hours travelling.

There are too many things that happened to mention them all but here are some hightlights:

1. Sitting next to some cool interestin g people of the flights (there and back) including a Belgium couple (who had obviously never flown longhawl before) and were on a trip to see Bruce Springsteen in his native New Jersey.
2. Having a proper curry.
3. Seeing the Bobbin's wedding photos (send me the link Andy).
4. The 'Wedding'
5. The Barn Dance thing - the caller was obviously a headmaster at a primary school - thanks Sarah & Nick
6. Having only 4-5 hours sleep for 3 days

and of course the best thing was seeing all of my friends

Chocolate raisins...

aren't as good here. A big dissapointment, I think we would all agree.

I love this town

Ok its safe to admit it, I hadn't got a suit for the wedding. In fact I hadn't got a tie. It seems that this wasn't really a problem in this town.

So I finish work and leave at 6pm, walk home (30secs) and get to the apt. By the time I have dealt with my mornic real estate broker and spoken to Neil for a bit its nearly seven.

Oh dear I planned to see if I could get over to 5th Avenue to look around some shops there. Well I chance it and its all right because they stay open to 8pm every night.

I walk in this store and try on a few jackets but nothing is really doing it for me. So after a few minutes the assistant comes over and starts helping, he shows he this suit I try it on and it fits and looks pretty good.

He hasn't given me the most expensive suit in the shop but one from the sale rail. I try the pants (he he) on and they fit too. Its a sale. I end up buying a tie and shirt too. Grand total. 515 dollars which is approx 300 quid.

And this isn't a shabby store its on 5th Avenue (their Regent/Bond St) an American designer called Kenneth Cole, opposite Saks 5th Avenue. In the UK I would expect to pay twice that much. I am going to wear the jacket tomorrow and try and get upgraded when I fly back :)

Back to good ole blighty

Tomorrow I head back to the UK for Sarah and Nick's wedding and I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to post anything on this site for a few days.

It's weird I am really looking forward to seeing everyone but I'm not that happy about having to leave New York. This place is feeling more and more like home, I am trying to avoid Times Square already, I am taking the subway way more often and taking cabs less frequently. I am getting bored of Mid Town - a sure sign that I am fitting in according to my friends at work.

I can't wait to get my apt. sorted out so I can really feel at home but that should all sort it self out soon. In fact I should going to see my broker this evening to hand over the first months rent so I can hopefully get everything signed tomorrow.

I just found this:

A great sushi restaurant just across the street from the apartment that I might get.

Due to the expense of renting an apartment - 1 month deposit and 1 month and buying furniture is too much money for my feeble savings. I am having to get the assistance of my company but that means paperwork and delays. So getting the contract signed is still up in the air, hopefully tomorrow or I'll have to go looking again.

Look at Bobbin's

Look what I had in my inbox this morning, Bobbin's whoppers. Thanks Andy, it put a large smile on my face.

Semi Legal

I got my Social security number thru the post today, I opened a bank account on friday (although it isn't working - bank manager cocked up the pin number input). Got my first paycheck on friday.Still sorting out the paperwork for the apartment (need to get the 'company' to act as a guarantor for the lease - might be tricky).

Things are settling down, and I'm ok. I am still totally shattered at the end of everyday - my fellow international transferee reckons it because everything is so new, so even the mundane tasks are a totally new experience and therefore tiring. Talking of mundane things tonight is laundery night, better get on it.

Why madam its a...

Purile? Of course. Don't worry there are many more amusing 'candy bars' here.

This is 'my' butterfinger, there are many like but this one is mine.

The weekend's almost over

         So you know what I did on Saturday, well Sunday has been a lot more chilled, I finally assembled my bike and went for tour around Central Park which was good, they close it to traffic on Sundays, so everyone is running, walking, blading and cycling on the roads, which would be ok if they stuck to their side, oh no. Its a free for all, you definatly have to have your wits about you which is hard when there are so many girls in skimpy clothes.

This photo is from 9th Avenue, the road which I had planned to cycle ten blocks back to my apt. It was closed and several thousand people were having a street party - not an un-common site, but this was easily the biggest I had seen, loads of food stalls, bric-a-brac, tat and various stalls from the shops along the avenue

I also spent the early afternoon in SOHO looking in some of the cooler shops in manhattan, I induldged in some retail therapy and bought an Airport. SOHO in the sun was great too - I almost gave myself whiplash, the longer I stay here the more I love this city.

Hungover

Last night I went to a bar on the lower east side to meet Shereen who I used to work with in London. It was fun but I need to get a grip on drinking cocktails all night, I know the high altitude training (my cocktails in London) is seriously helping but I need to step it up :)

Anyway my head hurts and my eyes aren't really focusing and...

Some Photos

click on this thumnail to see some photos of the area.

Home sweet home (maybe)

Today I have seen most of the East Village, maybe three times over. I met my real estate broker at 10.30 and by 2pm I had seen over 11 properties and decided to go for property number 12.

I saw some very small studios that you couldn't swing a cat in, I saw a rather nice ground floor apt. that had a glass brick wall onto the street, which on second thoughts might of freaked me out. I walked over 5 miles in the blazing sun (I got sunburnt again) I sweated like a peadophile watching the telly tubbies. But I have to say it was rather enjoyable, we managed to see a lot of places in a very short space of time.

My broker Nat showed me round like a well appointed tour guide (in fact he told me that he did that too as a side job), every place was easy to get entry to, I have been told that most people look for property on Sunday (makes a change from London eh JS?).

Well in case you wondered where I have picked? Its a 1 bedroom well decorated airy apartment. Its on the first floor of a 4 storey walk up just off Avenue 1 on 5th Street. The area is called the East Village (click on the map - I have highlighted the apt and work - approx 20min comute) and its pretty cool, probably the most up and coming area in NYC, loads of bars and restaurants within 50m of the front door.

I will try and upload some photos of the area - I didn't take any photos inside because I walked in had a 60 sec look around and said I wanted it so we rushed back to paperwork.

At last

I have internet access in my apartment... Phew I now don't have to go to work (or starbucks) any more just to use collect mail and surf.

During these last few weeks I have realised that I am truely addicted to being connected, by not having access to a computer, cell phone* or a internet connection I felt uneasy, like something was missing.

This has made me define my life objectives of selling out and becoming a sheep farmer in rural England because they don't have proper access to broadband... unless wireless technology actually improves mmmmmmm....

* american spelling

OneShow

I went to an industry awards show last night called the OneShow. Its the first one I have ever been to so I can't compare it to any British shows.

It was a lot of fun, not only did I have to go up and collect an award for on behalf of the London office but they had some suberb entertainment in the form of an act like Razel (Human Beat box), this guy (pictured) was absolutly amazing.

I get Internet access turned on in my apartment today so expect some more posts soon.

Keep you hands of my:

Damn its hot today

Living the Life part 2

I'm doing something I never thought I would do, using a laundrette (well its the laundry room - maybe a bit too classy to be a laundrette but its public washing never the less). I brought my powerbook down here to hopefully use Starbucks www access across the street but their wifi access doesn't seem to reach the second floor balcony that I'm sitting on, but luckily there seems to be loads of wifi networks that aren't protected by a password.

As you can probably tell from my weekend entries I had a pretty good weekend, but that fun stopped today at work. Back in London I originaly thought that out of the social life or work life, work life was going to be the easier one to fit to. Today I proved to be very much mistaken. It is going to a challenge but one that I am looking forward to meeting. (Awsome - I sound American already!)

Graeme will be happy I bought my first box of doughnuts today I even have a 'Mound' in my pocket - lol I love American candy names they are so amusing, I'll post a picture of my mound tomorrow.

Next weekend looks promising, I emailed an old work friend who is over here last week but she only got back to me today inviting me to a party on Saturday night - let teh fun begin...

Nigel... at last

a semi decent film. I've just come back from seeing Van Helsing - I'm not saying its the best film ever made (far from it!) but its ok and a lot of fun. And Nigel's bits are pretty fricking cool - not something you can say every day.

Village Person

During the day I spent some time trying to recover from my hangover (thank you gatorade!) I went shopping downtown looking for a suit for Sarah and Nick's wedding (I have found one now I just need to find it in my size).

In the evening I met up with Meera (a friend of a friend) and went for drinks in Greenwich Village. I purposely avoided the English looking pubs and found some pretty good American bars with my favorite being called 'The Fat Black Pussycat', Meera introduced me to an American beer called Sierra Nevada which is a) not piss weak and b) tasty therefore destroying my previously formed opinion on American beer.

Living the life

Here I am sitting in Starbucks writing my blog I don't think I could get any sadder if I tried... (yeah I know I opening myself up for this one).

As you can see from the entry below I had a very heavy night out on Friday night (I blame the killer Martinis). I got invited out for cocktails with some of my friends from work and we started (and finished) in a little bar/restaurant a block from work.

They had this happy hour that seemed to go on all night and we punished it and then it punished me the next morning. I remember telling some Americans that all their beer was piss weak and tasted em... well like piss and so to prove it I was drinking Duvel. Next up were Martinis and a cocktail called 'Key Lime Pie" and to finish I had this Manhattan that came in a high ball glass - no kidding it was fricking huge. Oh well I suppose it was karma, after all those huge cocktails I have mixed in the past.

At one point in the evening I called New York 'home' so I guess I feel like I'm fitting in, in fact I would say I am loving it.

Oooowwww

Hungover, make it stop hurting...

ten things part 1

five things that I am enjoying about New York this week:

1. Macy's 1 day SALE
2. Pam's Real Thia on 49th and 9th
3. walking past women walking their cats
3. having a cleaning lady for my appartment :)
5. reading about Nigel in the press

five things that I am not enjoying this week:
1. filling in more forms (20 plus this week alone)
2. the price of good tea bags - $8
3. the 2 hour que for my social security number/card (I was there from 8am)
4. no US credit card
5. waking up at 5-6am when I don't have to

Boy Sumner

Nigel just emailed me, he is doing loads of press and PR for Van Helsing:

"When we worked on it we said, 'How is it going to be perceived?' Up until then, Yoda was this little, senile, old green guy," Sumner says. "We thought it was going to be a miss, but it came on the screen and the audience was hollering. ... We were astounded. The audience loved it."

Have a read of the article, Nigel's quotes are at the end of the story.

The Office

There are posters of Ricky Gervais on nearly every street corner advertising 'The Office' which is being shown on american TV at the moment. Its nice to be reminded of home everytime I walk to work (approx 50m journey).

I am getting used to the office layout, although I still keep on getting lost. Evryone who comes into my office tells me I have to do something with the decor, and believ me I need to, it's a sterile cube that is quite nasty. Well you can see that for yourself.

my swanky pad

click here for some images

work has started

While everyone back at home is enjoying their bank holiday I awoke bright and early and 'went to work' - bummer

Yesterday was the first day at work, I had to sit through hours of inductions (most of which told me about stuff I already knew). I have been given a dark scruffy office next to another international new joiner from Brazil, we have affectionally dubbed the 'immigrants' - I will upload some images when I bring in my camera.

The apartment I am staying is pretty cool (I have uploaded some images) its right next door to work so I don't really have a comute as yet - check out me with the US lingo.

Thanks for all the comments I'll email round my temp phone number later in teh week in case anyone want to drop me a line and of course there is always MSN messenger.

I now have work to do and oh yes some more forms to fill out ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh