Guy Brighton: October 2004 Archives

October 31, 2004

Prague

The Lady wants to go to Prague for NYE - I am a little hesitant. I told her about this.

Typical she said.

Her fine appreciation for the English male is fading.

And I think that includes me.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

A Warning To People I Know

At every party I talk to one or two people who mention my blog. It's great to be read but then again I worry what they may have inspired me to write.

I've been censored several times. The Lady suggested I be nice about everybody in /UKNYC/.

This is my reaction:

WARNING

THIS BLOG IS A WORK OF FICTION - OF COURSE, REAL LIFE INSPIRES ME BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S FICTION. IF YOU THINK YOU, YOUR BOYFRIEND, YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS IN THIS DIARY PLS STOP FOOLING YOURSELF. IT IS FICTION. EVERYTHING IS WRITTEN FOR EFFECT NOT FOR FACTUAL ACCURACY. THE BEST POLICY IS THAT IF YOU KNOW ME, THEN DON'T READ THIS BLOG. Thank You.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 8:55 AM

October 28, 2004

Thur 28 Oct : More Brits

We met Mike in the Old Town and the Lady recognised him immediately: shaggy hair and stubbly beard – couldn't tell us apart, she said. Mike had come to New York and invited us to Shots Magazine party at Amuse on 18th Street. He had flown into town because his commercial was being screened tonight.

Judging by the sound of the chatter during the screenings, the party was 15% full of interested parties and 85% full of hangers on. Nevertheless Mike's ad for XFM was loud and brash enough to stop 'em dead. Afterwards a Canadian director sidled up to us for a chat. Then came his mate. The Lady giggled again: two scruffy English lads with two Canadians who looked alike too: sort of Bauhaus 80s-arty hair -short back and sides with long front sweep.

Of course Mike couldn’t believe it when the party emptied out about 9.30 and there was still free booze. We dragged him down to lower east side to a great bar I have never been to where it was chocca with English. Daz Crawley was DJing for a Brit design agency called Webber which was opening a New York office. Webber was rather tipsy when I shook her hand. We all stood in the back yard, surrounded by English folk and a few continentals pretending it’s not freezing. Daz's 80s tunes and Pit Miner blasting away. Mike was happy: it was as if he was at home.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 27, 2004

Wed 27th Oct : Zagat's Guide To My Relationship

I wish there was one to explain what I am supposed to have done. Maybe that would stop me from being on my own when I look up at the red moon tonight.

When I return home the Lady is shouting at the contestants on the Bachelor, "Any girl who acts like a miserable nutter needs to be kicked out."

Hmmm.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 9:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wed 27 Oct (noon) : Georgio

Just saw Bill USA's boss Georgio walk into his Armani Exchange store on Broadway. He throws his hands up, shrugs and poses to the following paparazzi as if he’s saying about Bill's designs, ‘I mean, kids, what can you say, hey?’

Posted by Guy Brighton at 12:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

John Peel

Simon writes a simply magnificent post on him at PSFK: click here.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 9:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 26, 2004

Tues 26th Oct : Loreley

Tucked away in Congee Village for some Chinese then over to Daz Crawley's birthday. Loreley on Rivington. Beer garden. Bit cliquey crowd. Lady and I upset Mr. Mildrew - I reacted flippantly when he suggested we were the same age (37 - then I realised that it's nottoo far away) and the Lady danced on her new white shoes. Think he was more annoyed with the Lady.

I then upset Lady. It's 1am and I get hump when at the Lady wants another 15 minutes. Again. Couple of tossers at the bar laugh when I react poorly to her. Lady not happy that I made a scene infront of 2 unknowns. Again.

Quiet taxi ride home.

Life's not so Loreley.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 25, 2004

H1B Visa Situation

Some people use this site for the job tips, recruiter email addresses and so forth.

The news for all would be Guy Brightons is that the 65,000 H1B foreign worker visas for 2004/2005 have now run out. No new H1Bs will be available until October 1, 2005 - although you should apply for them from 1st October

Murphy.com says:

AILA is working diligently to encourage the USCIS make the number of H1Bs that have been or will be revoked during this fiscal year available to H1B employers and prospective H1B beneficiaries. A confirmation as to the availability of such additional H1Bs is expected sometime later this month or by November 2004.
Additionally, AILA is working towards H1B cap relief by pushing Congress to increase the number of H1Bs. At minimum, AILA is requesting that individuals who have earned at least a Master's degree, MD, or Ph.D. be exempt from the H1B numerical limitation.

Sorry.

Murphy.com

Posted by Guy Brighton at 9:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 24, 2004

Sun 24th Oct : Sunday Night Line

You stand in the line waiting under the bright neon light. It's 12.30 in the morning and there's a line in the grocer store. The line is all guys. We've all been sent out. The guy at the head of the queue is getting headache pills, the guy next to me has a large bottle of water, I have a pack of Tums, the guy behind me is fidgety - checking the condoms behind the counter, lucky bugger - and the final guy has his head held low. We all have been in his shoes but my, does it make us feel better about being sent out by our girlfriends at this dull hour. That man, in his anxious hands carries the box of tampons.

(And we all know they will be the wrong ones)

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 23, 2004

Sat 23rd Oct : Cards Night

I get home after about 5 hours of banter, laughter, guffaws, sarcasim with a few cards in between and she asks me what's happening in the guys' lives. I have absolutely no idea. Funny that.

She thinks I'm a bore. Funny that.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 22, 2004

Fri 22nd Oct : Lady's Night

After an early doors curry, a little night out to celebrate the Lady's friend Stacey's thirtieth birthday. Held in the bar Shag it was a decent affair with all the Lady's friends running amock. Well, they weren't. They were sitting or standing chit chatting. Apart from Stacey who was running amock but hey, she didn't want to disappoint anyone.

As the ladies were there, some of their boyfriends had been hauled along too: guys you see from time to time in the same crowd and you have to make some small talk. With one particular banker, Smith, it is very obvious that we have very little in common and we both know it. He makes a good effort and I respond but I know Smith thinks, 'how can anyone make a decent living with shaggy hair and a beard. Better chat to him to keep the girlfriend thinking that I am a sociable guy.' whilst I know Smith knows I think, 'What a stereotypical American jock only interested in money, he's just counting the minutes until he leaves to go see his true mates. Better chat to him to keep the girlfriend thinking that I am a sociable guy.'

This would be all OK but for the fact that (a) Smith used his his secret pass-phrase that lets his girlfriend know he's had enough last night (it's "The weather's turned much colder"- very original) and (b) Smith can't get my name right. Ever. Last night I was Miles when he came in, Gilles when I was chatting to him and Piers when he was leaving. Piers? Who the fk is Piers? I hope it's bloody snowing next time he shows up.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Fri 22nd Oct : And I'm Feelin'

Curry. That’s what I need about now. Got the first decent hangover of the season.

It feels mighty fine.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 2:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 21, 2004

Thurs 21st Oct : German Invasion

Amazing how you really only get slaughtered when people come to town. Out with a couple of folk I last worked with in the dot-com boom: A German and a New York girl. They worked in the NYC office, I worked in London, we managed to meet at least every week. Ahh, the memories.

As for the German, isn't it amazing how people who’ve been on a low carb diet like to rub it in: “Guy, you’ve changed’ pointing at my facial hair and making some sign with his hands which I can only imagine means 'rotund' in Deutsch. He didn’t seem to believe me when I told them that I knew I had changed: I had become far better looking over the last half decade. He had a friend in tow who luckily I hadn't met 5 years ago - so no comments from his corner. He was good at the bar though. Well done, fella.

As for the New Yorker, when she wasn't pestering me for trying to get her a date by talking about her on my blog she was interrogating the Germans about the Nazi atrocities. Her being Jewish and all.

Night started swiftly with the Belgian beer in Von. Then we went to an awesome sushi shack (Tomoe Sushi) where more Germans invade us after we wait 20 mins outside. Sake by the barrel. What a drink. Think food was ok too. Can't remember much except for this delicacy which looked like fried shrimp/prawn heads to me. I could have got that in Salt & Battery.

Anyway, over to a failed corp party with free booze and big motorbikes. You can tell how poorly attended the part must have been when we turn up at 11pm and dance in the basement the DJ said we were the first people he’d seen in all night. We jumped in 2 taxis up to the next bar.

Ended up in some hell hole of a posh bar called Friedericks near the park. Next to that famous hotel there. You know. I haven’t been that far north since… since last year. Almost had the bendz coming up so far. The do there was for something called the Open Club – a social networking site for the supposed elite I think. Place full of moneyed 40 year old guys all suited up paying for overpriced drinks for women 15 years younger than them whilst their wife and kids were up worrying about them at home. Anyway we got thrown out because the New Yorker constantly got her cigarettes confiscated when she lit them at the bar. I swore to the Lady that I will never be like those guys in there. She believed the bit about never having money.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Wed 19th Oct : Red Sox Week

Ended up down the local last night. A million pubs in New York and all I want to do is go down the Brass Monkey. Last night was the end of series Baseball match btwn Red Sox and Yankees. A bit like the FA Cup.

Pub was packed and they played the match over the speakers even by the window. Didn't help me enjoy the decent turkey burger. The barmaid obviously remembered me from the other week but didn’t give it away.

Luckily The Lady felt unwell and we got to go home. Watched the game and with the help of a long haired stubbled chap (not me) the Red Sox won and it was the biggest upset since Clay vs. Liston supposedly the TV said. Yank TV, you got to love it for bigging it up.

Not.

Would rather watch 5 days cricket than watch another hour of that.

Social life is beginning to defrost. Maybe a Belgian beer tonight with a German, a German beer with The Lady and her friends tomorrow (which isn’t real social life) and then LADS POKER NIGHT SATURDAY.

Ph_1130282 Can’t fkg wait. I tell The Lady last night and she asks why the girls aren’t invited. I then spend 15 minutes explaining why I need to hang with male company. She doesn;t still get it. I give up and point at the scruffy man swinging the bat on TV: Look - it's Guy!

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Two Plays To See In London

If you're passing by London I suggest you see the following plays.

The rather terrific Attempts On Her Life at the Diorama produced and directed by Biba Lille West. Written by Martin Crimp, the play is about, erm, "17 ATTEMPTS ON A STATE OF MIND - KEEPING CONTROL AND BREAKING DOWN, SEARCHING FOR MEANING AND LOSING THE PLOT, CONSUMING PASSION AND SPITTING HATRED, MESSIANIC VISIONS AND DEMONIC VOICES, LYING UNCONSCIOUS AND ANONYMOUS ON THE ROAD - AS YOU TAKE THE TRIP OF YOUR DREAMS ACROSS THE WORLD."
www.attemptsonherlife.com 'til 7th November.

also I received this from Toby Young today. As you do. All I did was say I enjoyed the book (and congratulate him about his film deal) and I get on his buddy email list....

"Sorry for the spam, but I wanted to let you know that the stage adaptation of my book [How To Loose Friends and Alienate Them] makes its West End debut on Monday--and in an act of sheer lunacy I'll be playing myself. I'll be appearing at 9pm at the Arts Theatre on Great Newport Street, Monday-Saturday, with a matinee at 5pm on Saturdays, until December 4th.

..... you can buy tickets online by clicking on http://www.artstheatre.com/.

Let me know if you're planning to see it and I'll buy you a drink in the bar afterwards. I'll be the guy in the corner crying my eyes out."

Good luck Biba. Good luck Toby.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 3:49 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Good Use Of The English Language

A little video guide: http://www.shooshtime.com/flash/showit.php?id=131

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 20, 2004

Wed 20th Oct : Blog Boffing

Spent most of the day writing this post for PSFK. Praising blogs is easy. Knocking them is a bit scary... I can hardly say that this is a masterpiece.

Oh yeah. Mental note: I only write it for myself and I am the only one who reads it.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 19, 2004

New Subservient Chicken

This time it's a fight out. And this time you have less controls. And in fact this time, it's more boring.
http://www.chickenfight.com/

Posted by Guy Brighton at 3:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tue 19th Oct : Addressing The List

Last night I took home 2 KidRobot 'little men speakers' I received for favors offered, uh-hum, and set them up in the living room/apt. The Lady convinced herself that they went well with her post-modern concrete minimalist look and said "Awww, they're so cute!' A verbal pat on the head, indeed!

When she surprised me by making me listen to a new (signed!) Duran Duran CD, the noise that comes out of these so-cool-it-hurts speakers was a but tinny. Either they are (a) crap or (b) I should plug them into a system that also has bass speakers. Nevertheless, when I unplugged the speakers and consigned them to sit unused by my PC until we move city, I made the decision that I should show some interest in the home and therefore address at least one point in the Lady's list.

I'm not too sure I should take any inspiration from Philippe Starck and maybe - although I am sure the Lady sympathizes - I won't take a leaf out of these guys' book for the windows.

Hmmm. It's so complicated. Where do I start? Maybe I should leave it up to the Lady after all and pop down the shop. In fact I now have an excuse to visit Myers of Cheswick - the British store. It appears that classic British packaging inspires New York designers. I'm trying to work out how that gives me an excuse to eat Myers' Pork Pies though.

(As long as I don't come home like this I think I'll get away with it!)

Posted by Guy Brighton at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 18, 2004

Sat 16th Oct : Philly

I'm dragged again to Philadelphia. At first I don't want to go. I feel out of touch with New York. I've hardly been here for 2 months. I want to spend the weekend seeing what's going on.

When I get there I settle into the charm of it all: the Lady's family, their hospitality. We go for a 4 mile walk together and the more beautiful flashes of color in the trees, the more we are brought together: reds, bronze, rust, chalky green, lemon and back again. Charming countryside.

We agree it's a magical day together.

So for a natural end to the perfect day I go and take her to Shaun Of The Dead in the evening. It turns out that I wasn't very close in my description the other night but the Lady can identfy with it easily: it's a film about a British lad who has trouble keeping his girlfriend in a city where everyone is crazy and the only place he thinks he'll find safety is in his local pub. All to a tasteful soundtrack.

They end up together in the end. Altho' there's a monster living at the end of the garden and they don't mind having Sunday Lunch down the pub.

That's a thought... I wonder if the Lady's forgotten her list by now...

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Erm

Is this really necessary.....

USB Drives Shaped Like Sushi: Gizmodo and Boing Boing

Posted by Guy Brighton at 10:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 16, 2004

NYC Guide Blog Updated

I've started updating my new York City guide. Check out the blog at http://newyorkguide.blogs.com

If you have any suggestions let me know.

PS. I get paid in a coupla weeks so expect a few more entries as I spend my money on beer and fine food.... if I am allowed out, that is.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 9:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 15, 2004

Fri 15th Oct : The Lists

The day's been good but now The Lady and I have to face each other with our lists. She asks who wants to go first. I suggest she does.

Here's an overview:

Aspects Of Guy's Behavior That Annoys The Lady

* Eats too fast

* Drinks too fast

* Drinks too much

* Has a hot temper

* Gets jealous

* Doesn't show feelings

* Never shows an interest in household things : bills, repairs, utilities, decorating

* Doesn't offer help, have always to ask

* Never offers to cook

* Goes out and doesn't call to say he's coming home late

* Gets drunk

* Friends are alcoholics

* Reacts defensively

* Shuts out other people's feelings, maybe he doesn't care

* Wasteful of his money

Aspects Of The Lady's Behavior That Annoys Guy

* Nags a bit

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 14, 2004

Thur 14th Oct : Blight

The Lady makes me a grand meal - starters, main course, pud the lot. We listen to a CD she has bought me (Gilles Peterson">Gilles Peterson in Brazil). We wash it down with a bottle I brought back from British Columbia. We chat a lot.

The night is only blighted by the fact that I get tired and suggest that I wash the dishes in the morning. she goes a little quiet as I clear the plates. She walks over to the dinner table and pints at the ring of red wine in the position where my glass sat. She walks over to the stereo and points at the plastic wrapper of the CD strewn across it. She strides over to the cork sitting on the floor by the sink.

She's not happy. She didn't expect me to come back and turn her world upside down.

'I'm so tired, baby,' doesn't muster any positivity from her.

She thinks. There's a great track now playing but I try to concentrate.

'OK. We need to change,' she says.
'OK. I see what you mean,' I lie.
'We can't go on like this any longer,' she says.
'No we can't,' I say only being able to base my judgement on the last four seconds of our relationship. You know how you forget some of the important things sometimes, eh?
'I want us to both write a list of what things about the other person annoys us.'
'OK. I frown,' I reply trying to remember the trip we took to Rio a few years back.
'Tomorrow.'

She starts her list watching 'The Station Agent'

I go into the bedroom and pass out.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 13, 2004

Wed 13th Oct : Continental Airlines Meals

I got back a little later than expected. The trip turned out to be fine. I saw some clients. I ate some great food. I bought some Washington wine. A good adventure.

What a pity that after all that good food and wine the trip had to end on a Continental flight. OK - I am getting used to the idea of paying for a glass of red wine (they don't go for the 'It's doctor's orders, you know?' anymore) but to get served this crap as the dinner on a $780 flight....

A microwaved bun with chicken cardboard sliver, salad in a pot, crap crisps. And don't expect breakfast is any better. This must have cost them about 75c in total. What's with these people who think cutting on the simple things will save their airlines? $5 for a pair of headphones too. Hmmm.. that's the way to encourage business chaps.

Anyone got any feelings about JetBlue flight to Seattle? Maybe next time....

Posted by Guy Brighton at 12:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 11, 2004

Sun 10th October : First Seattle Then Vancouver

I get up. It's very early still. I feel far away from everyone. I decide to go phone Davo to with him happy birthday. I search the streets of downtown Seattle to find that there's a ratio of 23 junkies to every 1 public telephone at 7am in the morning.

Back at the W I think I hurt the staff's feelings when I return the Seattle Times paper to the front desk and ask for a New York Times. The restaurant is open and I walk in. 'Michelle' looks at me as if I am one of those junkies down the street. OK, so I haven't showered yet. Can I sit anywhere? I ask. Her response makes me feel that I am in Europe again. I'm led to a table and I am indecisive about which seat I'm going to take just to piss her off a little.

The food is OK but in this mood I try to convince myself it is poor but I can’t forget the horror of the Continental Airlines platter from the previous morning. That microwaved mush must cost them about 24c to prepare.

The Lady calls me later and asks me why I'm blogging on this and PSFK. I feel like a jerk so I go see the Frank Gehry building. It takes a little time as I walk the wrong direction but when I get assisted in the right direction by a helpful taxi. Taxi drivers are either Eritrean, Ethiopian or Somalian. They are all wonderfully friendly and chatty versus the W Hotel management.

I must stop moaning about the W. My boss will find this blog one day and send me to a motel outside the city center.
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When I set eyes on the Frank Gehry building I am just taken aback. My eyes bulge as they try to take in all the joyous information; all the curves; the turns; the troughs, the hills, the rises, the swoons.

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Bilboa was amazing but Seattle's Music Museum is simply beautiful. Gehry must be the most important architect in the US today.

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Seattle8

Seattle5

It's two now and I feel that I have 'done Seattle'.

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Seattle10

I jump in the car and charge north to the border. The advice that it's only 2 hours was a little optimistic. Nevertheless I have passed through amazing landscapes filled with Dutch looking farm houses to reach the Canadian border. There I get a few questions about the burger costume at customs but they seem happy to have me. How refreshing versus JFK Immigration.

[More Photros To Come]

Vancouver. What a gorgeous city. Far more cosmopolitan than Seattle, in touch, buzzy, friendly. I drive around for an hour, pick up a bottle of red from British Columbia have some cheap sushi - they told me the seafood was great here, and it bloody was - then drive back.

A hundred more questions at the US border but as I drive home I am inspired to drive faster than the rest of the traffic by a radio station I find. No more prog-rock, no more middle class white kids screaming about the Armageddon of their privileged suburban lives. Now I am rocking to worldly house and tribal grooves. The oncoming traffics' bright lights and the grinding beats remind me of that time the sun came up in that club in Ibiza. In the dark everyone choreographed beautifully in an Eden connected on some soulful level. But as the sun climbed we were all exposed to be fakes: zombies, gaunt, aloof, ugly, controlled.

What a great thing to remember, eh? But a Zombie is how I felt when I got out of the car after 7 hours driving.

Worth every minute though.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 2:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 9, 2004

Sat 9th Oct : Costume Drama

I'm in Seattle. I flew in on the 7.30am from Newark this morning to help out a crisis with a new job. What sort of crisis? Well I didn't really know... you know what it's like on your first week: everyone talking about projects but they're not really sinking in. Anyway, the boss asked and what are you supposed to say. He just told me that the main guy they hired with a promotion for one of the new clients had quit. I'd find out all about it when I'm there. It will be a great favor.

I mean, they put me up in the W Hotel in Seattle. You can't complain about that can you? Well, in reality, you can't complain to the management here either - stuck up little chaps and women in 1998 stlye suits and dark shirts. The staff are lovely but the management suck. Is that W Hotel all over? I mean, you go to W Hotel and you expect a bit of theater but whilst the ground staff are courteous and make you think 'Come on mate, you don't have to be that nice to me, I only asked where the bar was no need to escort me'; the management are aloof and snobbish and probably wanting to escort me from the premisis. Aloof and snobbish in Seattle? Seattle! Maybe it was because my one and only credit card bounced when they tried to hold the $2000 dollars against it. Well that was my piece of theater: 'no, sorry - I don't have another card. Please, please help me.' Pityful eyes to the staff whilst trying to avoid the manager's sneer behind them.

It's not the last bit of theater of the day.

Anyway I have to go out to one of the stores belonging to our new client: the Seattle Burger Company. Big in the West, they tell me. Needs the business drumming up. Someone was supposed to be here today but they quit. I meet the team: they're a nice bunch of chubby girls who have obviously tried the product.

So how can I help? Co-ordinate the team? Keep the moral high? Make them smile?

No. Altho I do make them smile. And every other joker that day.... see what job I had to fly all this way to do...
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Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 8, 2004

Fri 8th Oct : Who Would Be Crazy Enough To Read This Blog?

Email just in from The Lady:

Guy. This blog thing is getting out of control. Here's the IM I just had with Kat!!!
Kats*IM*: definitely
Kats*IM*: so Guy got a job
Kats*IM*: you must be soo HAPPY
TheLadys*IM*: did you get the email?
Kats*IM*: i just read his blog and it is soo crazy how it is all about you
TheLadys*IM*: oh no
Kats*IM*: and about everything u do
Kats*IM*: together
TheLadys*IM*: its exaggerated though
TheLadys*IM*: i come across as a right crazy bitch
Kats*IM*: and he is crazy aobut you
Kats*IM*: drank cause you were with the ex
Kats*IM*: i mean crazy
TheLadys*IM*: puh-lease
Kats*IM*: so how happy are you that he has a job?
TheLadys*IM*: YES! i'm just proud of him.. he really worked his butt off for it
Kats*IM*: you guys are onto a new stage in your relationship
Kats*IM*: i am seeing a ring soon
TheLadys*IM*: hopefully
TheLadys*IM*: not hopefully about the ring just new stage
Kats*IM*: i cant believe he has been here for 2 and 1/2 years
TheLadys*IM*: it wasn't easy getting to this ponit
Kats*IM*: it is going to be very different now
TheLadys*IM*: no he hasn't
Kats*IM*: you can go to dinners etc
TheLadys*IM*: just 1 and a bit
Kats*IM*: that is what the log says
Kats*IM*: oh ok
TheLadys*IM*: it shouldn't
Kats*IM*: he exaggerates for effect
TheLadys*IM*: obviously -- i'm not that crazy
Kats*IM*: i just think the whole blog is soo funny
Kats*IM*: about everything
Kats*IM*: now i know where you went to dinner for his bday
Kats*IM*: and all about the persian parade
Kats*IM*: i didnt know you woke up at 6:30 am
Kats*IM*: to decorate float
TheLadys*IM*: yep!
Kats*IM*: this is like my new access to the crib notes of your life
TheLadys*IM*: that's crazy -- you're going back so far
TheLadys*IM*: stop it
Kats*IM*: we dont even have to talk i can just read the blog
Kats*IM*: ;-)
TheLadys*IM*: its funny --- we were in london and bumped into this couple we had met in new york or are now in hong kong and they knew all this stuff about going ons because they read his blog
Kats*IM*: your life is like an open book..like the truman show

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:56 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

October 7, 2004

Thur 7th Oct : Popcorn

I wake up on the sofa with a thin sheet over me and a cold draft blowing in from the open window. I think to myself that I should have had a spare bag of popcorn to eat before I got home. That way the lady wouldn't have kicked me out for (a) stinking of beer and/or (b) giving the feeble excuse that the film had an old fashioned interval and there was a bar there.

Guy Brighton's Nights Out Earlier in the week I had sent an email to gather the British lads for a night out. I suggested we go see Shaun Of The Dead. The days got juggled back and forth and we finally agreed to all meet up on Thursday. The Lady was pretty enthusiastic about the fact that I had discovered a social activity outside the pup.

By the time Thursday had got around of course the text messages passing back and forth were 'Are we still on for a couple of pints tonight?' Well... it had been a long week and all. Lots of hectic moments etcetera. In fact when we all met up at the local, Sean was the only person who asked if we were still going.

Of course, I had told the Lady that I was still going and thought a couple of pints wouldn't hurt. The problem with the Brass Monkey is (a) it's a good pub to meet some mates for a beer, (b) if you get a table, it's hard to get up from it, (c) the Anglo-Irish barmaids are very good at persuading groups of English males to stay for one more, (d) the management like sending us shots of Jaegermeister, (e) the Anglo-Irish barmaids like sending us shots of something-sweet-but-bitter-maybe-a-schnapps-I-dunno, (f) there are no decent nearby boozers to go to esp. at that time of night so there's very little reason to go anywhere else and (g) it's a pub that serves beer.

With all these constraints we had to spend the first 120 minutes guessing what the story of the film would be about to prepare me (and Sean) for the expected questioning when I (/we) got home. The barmaids weren't too helpful. Bill USA did ask the table of teachers beside us for suggestions but all he managed to do was get the number of a girl whose first line was, "How about I take two of you guys home right now." Of course we didn't know whether she was joking or not. Andrew blushed. Bill USA told her that she'd have to try harder than that. After consideration, I decided it was an unlikely twist in the film script.

Bill also managed to get the numbers of the barmaid at the Brass Monkey and Praast or whatever it's called. If he's that keen, I told him, maybe he should take a note out of this guy's book/catalog.

Of course it was only watching my phone glow 'The Lady' when we were in the Old Town at 1 in the morning (a bar that the Brass Monkey is likely to resemble in 112 years time) that I remembered what I was supposedly doing this night.

Just to let you know what I told her when I get home: The film Shaun Of The Dead is about a wake in a small Irish bar on the outskirts of Donegal where a group of American Teachers are staying in the rooms above the pub. The hangovers caused by the frequent availability of Zombie cocktails provided by the barman has earned him the nickname Shaun Of The Dead. Madness ensues including a manage e trois.

I'd believe it if The Lady told me that even if her lips were stained with red red wine. Why not her believe my malt flavored recital?

Mental note: Remember popcorn next time. If she lets me have a next time...

btw: this is how imdb describes Shaun Of The Dead: A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living

Hey! They stole my life!

Posted by Guy Brighton at 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 6, 2004

Wed 6th Oct : 1st Day

It's a bright sunny Wednesday morning as I get out of the subway at Houston and Broadway. As I pick up my coffee from Cafe Angelique off Broadway the radio is playing the Beatles: "You say good bye, I say hello - hello, hello..."

A little apt sign for the new job I start today at Jolly Roger Advertising Associates Ltd.

I am given three things on my first morning: (a) A huge stack of reading, (b) a name badge that I hope I won't have to wear as long as this guy does and (c) a new BlackBerry.

The BlackBerry, I am told, will be wonderful. Anybody can contacxt me any way (email, sms, phone, IM) any time, any where. I roll up my leg and feel the shackles get attached. Well, it's the first job in 3 years where I get salary!! I'll do anything for that regular pay check.

Except work for free again.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 2:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 5, 2004

Tues 5th October : Painful Freedom

I had it all prepared but I fluffed my lines. I knew I would. It was like leaving a girlfriend. I knew the order of the subjects I wanted to talk about but I went round in circles. I forced eye contact than dropped again. Ten months we had been together. Thick and very thin. Arguments and celebrations. Boredom and euphoria.

I hit the money subject first. American's understand the 'I'm in debt and my girlfriend needs half the mortgage'. Then I hit the 'I've been reviewing what the job role is since I got back' section. Then I lept for PSFK. 'Well I got noticed by my work on PSFK.' His eyes lit up. Then he smiled. 'I've been offered a great job.' He was happy for me. Was it not as bad as I dreaded? It was worse. I was leaving him. Leaving him with our tickets booked to LA for the meeting tomorrow. Leaving him with the workload. Leaving this ad agency we tried to found. Leaving him this moment. Leaving him now. No notice. Now.

Behind the smile he looked in shock.

We stood. We shook. I wished him luck and felt the pang. I suggested coffee next week and the smile returned a little.

I walked away feeling guilty. Feeling coniving.

But I was free.

And tomorrow really is another day.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tue 5th Oct : Still Waiting

I am still in the land of stress. He's coming in in 5 minutes to talk about the trip tomorrow. The one I won't be going on. I feel like a a right King Canut.

Motto of the minute: "Stem the tide!"

Posted by Guy Brighton at 2:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tues 5th October : Gripping

I'm sitting here waiting for him to come in. I have been thinking about this for the last 16 hours. Where is he? Why is he at home? I thought I would get in around 9. But he isn't in yet and he still expects me to go off to LA tomorrow with him. But tomorrow I.... tomorrow I will be in New York.

Where is he? All this last minute stress. So many hurdles now accomplished and just this last one. But it's important you see. I'm gripping the keyboard and tapping here and there. I am not working. I don't have any work I need doing. Not today. I'm sitting here waiting for him to come in. He's still on AIM so he's still at home. At home. Why's he at home? Maybe I can swing by with an excuse. Maybe he'll come in soon. It's all a rush. Where is he?

Posted by Guy Brighton at 1:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 4, 2004

Toby Young Got There First

And I was about to submit my life/blog as a script but Toby got there first ....

Hollywood Senses a Reborn Bridget in Toby the Loser

Harvey Weinstein plans to make Toby Young's Vanity Fair memoir, "How
to Lose Friends and Alienate People," into a movie starring Jake
Gyllenhaal as Young and Tracey Ullman as Tina Brown.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1291067,00.html

From Nichelle

Posted by Guy Brighton at 7:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Mon 4th Oct : Last Minute

I'm feeling a bit of shit. I need to tell the 'partner' about my departure from our little ad agency but he's not been around. I want to gfive him as much notice as possible but at the end of the day - the quicker I can start, the quicker I start getting paid.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 6:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

New Boys Blogs

Nick Denton and his Gawker Media have released three new blogs for me to Kinja: Jalopnik, a car site; Kotaku, for video games; and Screenhead, for other crap.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 5:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday 4th October : Tooth Model

The Lady joined me for a jog this morning. 'Do you always run past supermodels?' she asks as we run past a jogger with a dainty scarf on. Who? 'Helena Christensen'. I don't notice them, I lie to her. She lets me off with a giggle. Think she might chaperone me on future jaunts down the Hudson.

First day back at work and I get into trouble with work. Someone here googled 'tooth whitening' and my description of the CEO meeting the other day came up. I've been asked to take it down....