30 Jan 2006
To be blunt
Hell yes, I'm rolling my eyes. It's not that I dislike James Blunt, it's just that I find the song irksome, and all of the tales about this posh upbringing (and his shagging his way around Sloane Square) make him seem as authentic as a white boy in dreadlocks.
23 Jan 2006
It's today
According to Cardiff University, today is the most depressing day of the year. Here's the formula:
Of course, tomorrow night is Burns' Night so you've a reason for hitting the whiskey now.
1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA
Where:
W: Weather
D: Debt
d: Money due in January pay
T: Time since Christmas
Q: Time since failed quit attempt
M: General motivational levels
NA: The need to take action
Of course, tomorrow night is Burns' Night so you've a reason for hitting the whiskey now.
16 Jan 2006
2005 in cities
Inspired by John, my 2005 in cities:
Paris, France*
Prague, Czech Rep.
Berlin, Germany
Geneva, Switzerland
Bath, England
Strasbourg, France
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Hmm. Didn't travel much, did I?
This year: Reykjavik, Stockholm, Salzburg, St. Petersburg (I hope)
Paris, France*
Prague, Czech Rep.
Berlin, Germany
Geneva, Switzerland
Bath, England
Strasbourg, France
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Hmm. Didn't travel much, did I?
This year: Reykjavik, Stockholm, Salzburg, St. Petersburg (I hope)
15 Jan 2006
On Tuesday 03 January my grandmother, Anne Jodozi, passed away at the age of 92.
We will all miss her physical presence, but my family are celebrating the life of a woman who saw many hardships in her life, but who never lost her boisterous sense of humour, compassion for others and dedication to family. A woman whose robust strength and heart were as expansive as the Dakota plains that were her home. A woman who is no doubt up in heaven watching over us all (especially any of us foolish enough to fly over the ocean, which bothered her a great deal.) My mum likes to think of her dancing through the stars with my grandpa, gossiping over coffee with my Aunt Velda.
She was the last of my grandparents to go. Two grandfathers passed away before my childhood memories formed. My other grandma was already quite elderly when I was young and inspired an air of reverence and distance. My grandma Anne, on the other hand, was full of life and boisterous play. I remember when she worked nights at a nursing home (to which she sometimes drove through snow and ice), then appeared in the morning ready to take us fishing, drive us all over the county or play cards (which we could do for hours, stopping only for food and the endless stream of company that 'visited' daily.)
She was both the matriarch of the family and a truly wonderful woman. It's from her that I learned to feel a pride in family and in my heritage. She told us stories about her childhood on the farm that made me feel I came from heroic people. And when I was older, we would share a small drink before dinner (one of the few with a preference for vodka) and she would tell stories my grandpa, so that just for a moment I felt I knew him.
Her life had its bitter hardships. Her mother died when she was a young child and she grew up taking care of a house full of men. 36 years ago my grandfather died. Then, in the 80s, cancer took my aunt, leaving behind three young children and a devastated family. My grandmother helped raised my cousins, never complaining about the responsibility and making each of them feel loved and cared for. But through it all she kept her spirit, her respect for life, and her compassion for others.
I remember her most laughing. She had a great, proud, ringing laugh. A laugh (and strength) my mother inherited from her.
I'll miss her greatly. I'm glad she's no longer suffering, but I'll miss her.
We will all miss her physical presence, but my family are celebrating the life of a woman who saw many hardships in her life, but who never lost her boisterous sense of humour, compassion for others and dedication to family. A woman whose robust strength and heart were as expansive as the Dakota plains that were her home. A woman who is no doubt up in heaven watching over us all (especially any of us foolish enough to fly over the ocean, which bothered her a great deal.) My mum likes to think of her dancing through the stars with my grandpa, gossiping over coffee with my Aunt Velda.
She was the last of my grandparents to go. Two grandfathers passed away before my childhood memories formed. My other grandma was already quite elderly when I was young and inspired an air of reverence and distance. My grandma Anne, on the other hand, was full of life and boisterous play. I remember when she worked nights at a nursing home (to which she sometimes drove through snow and ice), then appeared in the morning ready to take us fishing, drive us all over the county or play cards (which we could do for hours, stopping only for food and the endless stream of company that 'visited' daily.)
She was both the matriarch of the family and a truly wonderful woman. It's from her that I learned to feel a pride in family and in my heritage. She told us stories about her childhood on the farm that made me feel I came from heroic people. And when I was older, we would share a small drink before dinner (one of the few with a preference for vodka) and she would tell stories my grandpa, so that just for a moment I felt I knew him.
Her life had its bitter hardships. Her mother died when she was a young child and she grew up taking care of a house full of men. 36 years ago my grandfather died. Then, in the 80s, cancer took my aunt, leaving behind three young children and a devastated family. My grandmother helped raised my cousins, never complaining about the responsibility and making each of them feel loved and cared for. But through it all she kept her spirit, her respect for life, and her compassion for others.
I remember her most laughing. She had a great, proud, ringing laugh. A laugh (and strength) my mother inherited from her.
I'll miss her greatly. I'm glad she's no longer suffering, but I'll miss her.
25 Dec 2005
Merry Christmas
From California. Contrary to the picture, the sun hasn't been shining while I've been here - yesterday was the first day we had, and it ended oh so soon. But I took advantage of the weather to drive through Golden Gate Park and see the new De Young museum which recently opened. A Meuron-deHerzog building, it's a copper-clad moden building where there was once a neo-classic pillared (and dangerously unstable) museum. It's an interesting building, but with too many awkward corners inside and they've not yet figured out how to elegantly use the big open spaces.
It's a bittersweet holiday. Lovely to be home, visiting friends and family, shopping, relaxing, eating, eating, drinking, and eating. But my grandmother's been slowly dying and my mum flew back for the last week to see her. We're now waiting for her to slip away, hoping she's comfortable. We know my grandmother's ready, and my mum says that she's prepared as well - I can't imagine it's easy and I hope she's not being brave for our sakes. Last year we lost my uncle at Christmas so it's all a bit sad, really.
To help out, I'm doing all of the cooking. A standing rib roast, cioppino, mash, asparagus and cherry pie for dessert. Hopefully it will all come off well.
Not much more to do at the moment, but to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
5 Dec 2005
An old-fashioned wedding?
Today same sex unions became legal in the UK. Same sex couples now have the same legal rights as heterosexual married couples over next of kin, inheritance, tax benefits, etc. It's a joyous day - I just need to find a man ...
Lunched yesterday with Jana who, despite battling cancer, remains sharp, gossipy, insightful and great fun. I drank too much wine, however and feel sluggish and unwilling to get on with the work I have to do.
The freelancing continues. I'm working at Agency for a few days this week and meeting with headhunters and a couple of agencies. Hopefully will have more work lined up for January before I leave on hols!
Lunched yesterday with Jana who, despite battling cancer, remains sharp, gossipy, insightful and great fun. I drank too much wine, however and feel sluggish and unwilling to get on with the work I have to do.
The freelancing continues. I'm working at Agency for a few days this week and meeting with headhunters and a couple of agencies. Hopefully will have more work lined up for January before I leave on hols!
15 Nov 2005
Left hanging?
Sorry about that.
As most of you know, I was made redundant (laid off) from Agency.com last month. It wasn't a complete surprise as we'd had a duplicated creative structure for more than a year, but it's always a blow to one's pride to be told one isn't wanted anymore. Still, it's all very amicable. They were very fair and I'm likely to be doing some freelance work for them. In the meantime, I've been meeting with agencies and other people about freelancing. It's a bit scary, but something I think I should try. And it's an interesting experience to market oneself after marketing others for so long.
So if anyone needs a experience designer / strategist, let me know. Please. No really, please!
All in all, I'm actually upbeat about it. And I've had a good break from work for the first time in my life. People I speak to are very optimistic about me finding something else - it's a very buoyant marketplace. So hopefully I won't be hocking my possessions anytime soon.
As most of you know, I was made redundant (laid off) from Agency.com last month. It wasn't a complete surprise as we'd had a duplicated creative structure for more than a year, but it's always a blow to one's pride to be told one isn't wanted anymore. Still, it's all very amicable. They were very fair and I'm likely to be doing some freelance work for them. In the meantime, I've been meeting with agencies and other people about freelancing. It's a bit scary, but something I think I should try. And it's an interesting experience to market oneself after marketing others for so long.
So if anyone needs a experience designer / strategist, let me know. Please. No really, please!
All in all, I'm actually upbeat about it. And I've had a good break from work for the first time in my life. People I speak to are very optimistic about me finding something else - it's a very buoyant marketplace. So hopefully I won't be hocking my possessions anytime soon.
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