Guy Brighton:

Were You Out Last Night?

no. went home. tapped fingers. missus came home. silence. tapped fingers.

Posted by Piers Fawkes on February 1, 2007 at 09:05 AM | Tags/Topics: Diary, The Lady | Link | Comments (0) | Add GB To Your News Feed

Diary: In-Between Days

The painting with Balinese artist

Damn, the Lady is annoyed with me because I couldn't picture where the painting we're getting framed will sit. I was thinking south wall, she was thinking north. I'm wrong apparently.

For 7 years she's known I need a nudge to remember things and for 7 years she's been disappointed by my ability to not remember things because she's withheld that nudge. It's as if she's trying to change my mental behavior: "I'm going to try to make him remember better b y not giving any hints." She's got more chance with the Total Diet she's threatening me with. A slim chance, but a chance at that.

Oh, and she finds my gifts disappointing. At least I bought her some. The Lady has her eye on a bag I don't really care for on online auction. The auction doesn't end 'til Jan 1. Timely. Ok, ok. She gave me a a nice beach towel. Timely.

Saying that - had nice time in Philly. Now have to get out. Been here too long. Need to walk the streets of New York. Breathe in the air. And cough a little.

Posted by Guy Brighton on December 28, 2006 at 11:12 AM | Tags/Topics: Diary, The Lady | Link | Comments (0) | Add GB To Your News Feed

Diary: NY Times Publishes Vital Info 3 Months 14 Days Too Late

From the NY Times with the answers I would have given on September 2nd 2006

Relationship experts report that too many couples fail to ask each other critical questions before marrying. Here are a few key ones that couples should consider asking:

1) Have we discussed whether or not to have children, and if the answer is yes, who is going to be the primary care giver?

2) Do we have a clear idea of each other’s financial obligations and goals, and do our ideas about spending and saving mesh?

3) Have we discussed our expectations for how the household will be maintained, and are we in agreement on who will manage the chores?

4) Have we fully disclosed our health histories, both physical and mental?

5) Is my partner affectionate to the degree that I expect?

WHEN SHE'S HAPPY

6) Can we comfortably and openly discuss our sexual needs, preferences and fears?

7) Will there be a television in the bedroom?

8) Do we truly listen to each other and fairly consider one another’s ideas and complaints?

IS THERE ANY CHOICE?

9) Have we reached a clear understanding of each other’s spiritual beliefs and needs, and have we discussed when and how our children will be exposed to religious/moral education?

NO. AVOIDED DISCUSSION SUCCESSFULLY.

10) Do we like and respect each other’s friends?

NO. (Sorry for all those friends of hers reading this - but hey, the truth sometimes hurts).

11) Do we value and respect each other’s parents, and is either of us concerned about whether the parents will interfere with the relationship?

YES but YES

12) What does my family do that annoys you?

LIPS SEALED

13) Are there some things that you and I are NOT prepared to give up in the marriage?

ACTING LIKE I'M NOT MARRIED??

14) If one of us were to be offered a career opportunity in a location far from the other’s family, are we prepared to move?

I'LL GO ANYWHERE. SHE'LL GO ANYWHERE THAT SPEAKS SPANISH/ITALIAN & IS BY THE MED.

15) Do each of us feel fully confident in the other’s commitment to the marriage and believe that the bond can survive whatever challenges we may face?

YES.

Questions Couples Should Ask (Or Wish They Had) Before Marrying - New York Times

The Difference

Somehow reminded me of the relationship between me and the Lady

DJ Dasani

So even the waiters are looking now. The waiters who fifteen minutes earlier were singing happy birthday out of tune are now looking over at the Lady signing the words of a song she's trying to recollect. It's odd to see waiters in suits and ties. Cheap suits, big shoulders, twitching at the Lady's flat notes.

Even the big chubby guy in the corner with the dark bandana who's been speaking as if he's just left Don Hills at 3am to his banker friend has shut up.

"Do you know the one?" she asks. I don't but I say I do to stop the flat notes sailing from her lungs. "Ok... the next one:" she says looking down a list of 80s and 90s classics.

Only 86 more songs to go before I can suggest the Rolling Stones.

Around 9pm, we leave an empty Jack's Oyster bar to go to the Underbar at the W in Union Square. I've never been to the Underbar before and I wonder as I descend why I've never been before. When I ascend later, I realise why.

While I'm there I meet DJ Dasani - liquid joy for your ears. Or something like that. Not hard to miss. Among the shirts and slacks and the tight dresses and heals sits a kid in vans, jeans, white t and topped with a bright blond crop of curly but receding hair. He peers through a pair of those ovesize glasses that the cooll kids are wearing - but by the size of his eyes. It looks like he needs them for real.

DJ Dasani is our DJ for our wedding. He's very nice. Can't pronounce my name and thinks Iran is somewhere near Korea. We wave the Persian songs in front of him. Just put on this 12 in this order and the crowd will be happy. Then we go Western.

The Lady brings out the paper with 100 songs that a friend of hers gave her. My god, he used to be a wedding DJ too. Didn't everybody. DJ Dasani responds to each one with a thumbs up or a shake of the hand.

When the Lady gets to a song she doesn't know she asks him how it sounds. At this point he unzips his bag and pulls out a mini keyboard. Mini-mini keyboard. So small that we have to draw near to hear the sound as he plays the notes badly.

Do you know that one?

The Lady is confused.

Dasani launches into the chorus. Oh yeah. She says and then her eyes grow wide.

Oh no.

The Lady belts out the chorus alongside the beeps and tweaks.

Somewhere a tree falls but no-one hears it. Meanwhile, the vibrations of that fall are travelling up and down my spine as I try to contain myself.

I love her so. But maybe she needs a couple of dozen singing lessons. Maybe a dozen down.

DJ Dasani is off on that beep-beep-bop-bop-op bit that that comes after "Sometimes I..." in the Moby/Seal track.

She looks me in the eyes. She's enjoying this. Going through the music for her big day. I smile back with all the genuineness I can muster.

"Ok... the next one:" she says. Only 86 more songs to go before I get DJ Dasani to murder the Rolling Stones.

Posted by Guy Brighton on August 11, 2006 at 05:36 PM | Tags/Topics: Diary, The Lady | Link | Comments (0) | Add GB To Your News Feed

Where's Guy Been?

I got engaged.

Yep. So there's been nothing to write about for the 8.5 month period since I proposed and since this day.

I get married in 21 days.

I therefore have a lot to write about.

Posted by Guy Brighton on August 11, 2006 at 05:35 PM | Tags/Topics: Diary, The Lady | Link | Comments (0) | Add GB To Your News Feed

Thur 14th July : Must Have Been To London

So my throat hurts. Actually it feels like someones scratched it. I feel tired. How long does it take to recover from a trip to London?? And this one was a quiet one.

Left NYC about a week ago - it's amazing how you forget how long you've been here. The Continental gate at EWR soon brings you back with a bump. Lots of lazy English accents and mums that can;t wait to get back for a decent cup of tea.

I red-eyed and got in to London from Gatwick. For a moment, I got nostalgic memories of commuting - as my face stuck against the glass divider, crushed by the morning commuter crowd.

My latest visa - yeah. long story - got processed far too quickly for my liking: I didn't even have time to get all stirred up and nervous. I just got called in and stamped.

London is a bustle of joy. I sat with a friend off Carnaby Street and watches fellas with their girlfriends go from store to store. In NYC you think metrosexuality is dead - in London, it's alive and well with added spikey and mud flap hair.

Thursday was of course sad. Horrific. We've all been on those trains, through those tunnels at that time of the day before. It's important that we carry on - which is what we all did the next few days. I undrstand all the NYCers didn't take the subway that day - what a bunch of sissies.

I saw a few friends still but less beer because of what happened. People still seem to be spending their Saturdays doing the same mix of alcohol, food and recreationals. I missed the Lady whilst I was there. I particulary missed her cooking. BBQs aren't really BBQs when you just turn up and throw on the stiff you just bought at the shops. Where's the preperation, the theatre?

The Lady would have done it different. That's why I'm glad I'm home. Yum. Always goes down my throat to my tummy nicely.

Tue 28th June : Plans Made Up

So the Lady admitted she had her mind made up. She'd had enough. Well about a week ago and so had decided that it was all over. She didn't quite tell me this. She just didn't talk to me for a day or two. In fact three days. Until her parents hurried up to try to talk sense into us - the evening of her birthday. Somehow, we broke her down and she gave in and took me back. I promised never to throw a strop on a deserted street at night ever again. Nor smack her bottom....

She later admitted that she'd already planned getting over me: Match.com, maybe PersianMatch.com. It all sounded so easy. Chuck the boyf, get online, find a husband. Ah...