theLaconic

Don't worry, I'm still alive

Well its like this: I've been a little busy. We had 4 large projects on the go at work which has meant some early starts and late finishes but that doesn't take up too much of my time. Going out nearly every night does.

Last Saturday I went to a famous British people fancy dress party. Hang on. I'm not saying that there were any real famous people there but that we were dressed as famous british people.

I went as Dr Livingstone mainly because it was an easy costume to put together and I considered it quite an intelligent response to the brief. It also allowed me to go into several shops and ask if they stocked pith helmets, which I then had to explain what they were. Most amusing.

Marie-Claire and her husband but on a great British spread for the event and I freely admit that Tone's cottage pie was easily one of the nicest meals I have had since arriving on this foreign soil - argghhh I'm still in character.

It was a very funny night and I am now looking forward to Halloween after seeing the effort that the Americans had put into their costumes I now expect great things for Saturday and Sunday night.

Here are some more photos from Catherine's camera.

On Tuesday night Brian phoned me up to ask me if I wanted to go and see Gomez as Catherine was ill and couldn't go, of course I said yes, I am in New York after all. I forgotten how much I liked their music and seeing them live in such a great little venue as Irving plaza was a real treat. It was the last night of a 6 week tour so there was a real party atmosphere which really helped.

Since last weekend I have:

Got my cousin Rowena who was in NY on a school trip in trouble because she was past her 10pm curfew. I also managed to give her my 4 hour New York tour which I think she enjoyed.

Watched four games of baseball and two games of football (american). The Yankees are playing the Boston Red Sox in the American League Divisional playoffs. And enjoyed it...

Helped Neil with some apartment hunting advice and even seen a property (which was okay but Neil couldn't move on it).

Help celebrate my friend Amy's 29th birthday in the fish bar.

Entertained two Canadians - Julita and her Friend Lydia stayed over on Friday and Saturday night.

Been to a Memorial service for my friend's father.

Found some new restaurants and found even more bars.

Lost my banking card so am now skint and penniless until my new card turns up (ok I can borrow money from people at work etc.)

Oh and worked my arse off.

Monday

I get Monday off - Columbus Day. :)

Super Saturday

Well yesterday was quite fun. I met up with Neil in the morning to watch the England game in a 'Soccer' pub just a few blocks from my apartment. I decided that I would wait to eat breakfast until after the game, this was a mistake.

I have no talent for drinking before 10am in the morning and I'm quite happy about that too.

It was funny, a American bar with approx. 300 brits, 2 welshmen and a few yanks drinking and watching the football, I could of quite easily been in London.

So to recap, I will always attempt to eat a hearty breakfast before a morning football game because I just not the done thing to order a orange juice(as I had planned) and let your country down.

The real highlight of the day was the evening's entertainment. The Beastie Boys playing at Madison Square Garden. One word:

Electric.

I have never been to a gig that had such a great atmosphere, (it helped that the Yankies had just won an important baseball game just before the BB came on), the Garden was full (approx 18,000), they were playing their home town; New York and their latest Album is an open love letter to New York.

They came on at 9pm and blasted through some of their back catalogue whilst liberally sprinkling some new material from 'To The 5 Boroughs'. After about 45 minutes they left the stage in the capable hands of their DJ - Mix Master Mike only to return a few minutes later as 6 piece wedding band playing some more of their chilled out numbers.

There were a few other special moments but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to see the tour (I presume that some of the folks from London have tickets).

The last track was dedicated to Bush - Sabotage, how apt.

Audio Scrobbler

This is a great free service that plug ins to the most popular mp3 players and provides free collabritive filtering.

What does it do? I hear you say.

Well children, it documents what music you are listening to and then suggests other artists that you might like based on your listening pattern, kind of just like Amazon. Although you need to have listened to at least 100 tracks for this feature to kick in.

I think this is pretty cool especially as I feel completely detached from the UK music scene and no one has recommended any new music, hint hint.

Here is my user page, as you can see I've been good, not too many plays of britney :)

Oh Canada

I think I managed four hangovers in total, which are to be savored when they were bought with someone else's money (especially when it is using the corporate cheque book).

The conference finished with a dinner in a grand ball room on wednesday night at which I was presented with a Ice Hockey Jersey of The Montreal Canadians for my help with the conference. I am now wondering if I should grow a mullet and get a couple of my teeth knocked out for that complete hockey look...

Montreal was a blast, and that is not because of all the partying - drinking, strippers (I think they liked to be called erotic dancers), corporate smoozing, drinking and learning stuff (yes I think some of it has even stuck). Yes that is all good, but the city itself was quite interesting being very French, especially the old town and so different from New York.

It is good to get a bit of perspective. It is always nice to get away from your usual habitat but it is even nicer to come home.

Which is something that almost didn't happen. Montreal airport has an American immigration check before you board your plane (so all of the American flights can fly to non international terminals - it does make sense). Which is great unless you are pulled because the automatic passport reader throws a wobbly and won't read your passport. I was lead to a room (it had windows so I wasn't that worried...) where I had to wait over an hour to have someone ask me some basic questions about who I was, what I did, where I lived etc. The immigration officer then explained it was just a random inspection, mmmm not quite so sure I know dodgy technology when I see it.

I was then allowed to pass through to the departure lounge but my flight had since left 15 minutes ago. I managed to get on a stand by flight and was only one and half hours later than I had planned to get home. At least I have now an immigration story.