happy halloween

A dinner party chez nous with the Lover kids [who also love myspace]. Animal masks are whipped out and pumpkins are ready to be carved... and I have to head back in the city for the show at Snitch. Boo.

tonight

Misshapes!

Misshapes. Leaving home without a jacket and regretting it the minute I stepped out from the subway. Fly-posting Don Hills with Littlans and Horrors posters the minute I got in there. Noticing how much Don Hills has changed and smartened up. The Hammerhead shark wandering round. Ben Littlan bringing me up a large vodka-cranberry from their supply in the basement VIP room. Just heading down there myself a couple minutes later, running into Jackie who's holding a glass of straight vodka for me - which goes straight in the pint glass Ben has given me. Waiting upstairs for the IS and talking to some adorable [young] LA hipsters. And talking about Cory Kennedy, of all things. And them buying me a drink. Spending most of the evening downstairs in the basement, but the order of things is a little hazy as I haven't really been drinking for the past six or so months and suddenly there's free alcohol just *there*. Talking with Jenny Penny who was wearing the most awesome Jackie-O-on-assassination-day costume. Someone trying to introduce me and Hot Scott and him saying "Whataya doing, she's an old Misshapes regular!" Lame, but it totally made my evening and made me feel like I was actually back in NY. Talking to Rhys "Spider" Horror - a sweetheart. Not a fan of the NME tour.

People digging Littl'ans set. Ronnie being as crazy as ever. Running into Quinn and giving her a smiley face necklace that Dan and I had created earlier and a glowstick. Raverrrr. Heading back to the basement. Talking to Karen and being introduced to Brian Battjer. Knocking a beer bottle to the floor. Oops. Wishing Geordon a happy belated. The Horrors set totally tripping people out. The strobe lighting tripping *me* out.

Eventually deciding to peace out. Heading to the pub round the corner to use their bathrooms as Don Hill's' were blocked up - as ever. Grabbing a cab with Quinn to 1st. Some dude on 1st hollering "Yeah girl, red pants. Work it!" at me. Getting the L. Waiting for the G. Freezing my ass off getting home. Falling into bed.

Snakes On A...

So the Cobra boys were back in town, for one night only. They're currently on the MTV $2 Bill Tour, with 30 Seconds To Mars [haha], Head Automatica & Men, Women & Children [who had their gear stolen in Detroit - check their myspace page for how to help 'em out] and are touring, like, all autumn. Boo Cobra and MTV.

A pass was procured for me so I could go see Alex and Ry, my old homies [fact: Alex Suarez is the first NY kid I ever spoke to, at Trash @ Rififi in May 2005. He's one of the raddest people around]. I met Sarah H from work [have I mentioned before that I work a couple blocks from where Lauren & Sarah work? And how awesome that is?] and we headed over to W'burg, where Lauren and Alex were "napping". Once everyone was ready we headed into the city and up to Roseland, miraculously meeting up with Ryland and Kristen on the L.

We caught the very end of MW&C's set, went up to the reserved staged seating area [I heart passes] and met up with Joe-Nightmare of You and Gurj, and half watched Pink Spiders [loud. stripes]. Then Cobra Starship came on. For like the first song I sat there with a stupid grin on my face - after being used to watching Alex & Ryland play a couple of feet from me in places like Cake Shop or the Delancey [in their other band, Ivy League, who I've mentioned more than a few times on here] it was so awesome seeing them up there on a huge stage. Gabe was jumping around like all good frontmen, Ry and Alex were totally rocking out. For their last song they did Snakes On A Plane, and Gabe got some girl to come up on stage and do the rap, which was pretty funny - although not as funny as Lauren jumping up and turning to us when she saw the girl, saying "Ohmigod that girl mystalks me!"

After their set we kinda wandered around, headed up to the green room, back downstairs. Lauren and Alex and Sarah disappeared to the tour bus for a bit. I chatted to some intern from Warners, Head Automatica came on and played a horrendously loud set, accompanied by loud frat-boy yelling from the guys at the table next to us - who Gurj summed up best by yelling "Spring Break! Yeaaahhhh!". Ugh. After H.A.'s set I went and joined them in the tourbus, dashing through the pouring rain [the weather was terrible - I had like three comedians making some "must be like home" "guess you get this all the time" "so this is London weather" riffs that night].

Alex Sarti dragged most of the band out to do a meet-and-greet signing thingy so we all cotched on the bus with its overly-effective aircon, nibbling at the band's apple-cranberry pie [Sorry guys. Hadn't eaten all day] and admiring the rubber snakes adorning the bus. Walked back through Roseland towards the end of the 30STM set, to see Jared Leto jumping around on stage, wearing all black, shouting "Father Kill Me!" - hi-LAR-ious - to the merch area, where we were crushed by hordes of teenage girls and Suarez handed me a CD.

Back on the bus, still pissing with rain, trying to decide for far too long what to do. Lower East Side was most frequently mentioned, but the weather and general tiredness seemed to prevent anyone from even moving. Eventually about midnight we headed round the corner to a 24-hr diner - where we were almost kicked out straight away: "Table for 15 I think - oh FUCK!" In the middle of asking for a table, Sarti spied the World Series results. The poor Mets fan wasn't impressed. We got seated in the back, in the corner, and were given our food pretty fast...

In the end, no one ended up doing anything. Bus call was 5am and the Cobra boys went back to the bus to try and sleep, and everyone else was tired and cold and soaking and just headed en masse to the subway, and home.

And *that*, children, is what they call rock 'n roll...

V Magazine interviews Littl'ans

Check it out here

And also, if you're in NYC, Littl'ans play tomorrow night at Misshapes:

Oh My

I'd forgotten how beautiful New York City boys could be.

There was one opposite me on the JMZ this evening. Black peacoat, black beanie, cheekbones you could break a heart with.

Had to distract myself from staring at him by watching the old Chinese man opposite me try and open a pack of sesame crackers while still wearing gloves.

Autumn in New York

An early morning trip to the Union Square Farmer's Market.

band practice and Private Men...

Lunch with D & CC in the city, and a quick chat with Ryland - who quotes my own voice on Rob Hitt's voicemail back at me - then over to rehearsal space on West 30th, as I have the leads and pedals that the band need. I run into Ryan in the elevator, we head up and pick up the guitars then go to their rehearsal room where we find Rachel, and soon Andrew joins us. Ben comes, complete with Garth Brooks-esque hat, and they start on a song while waiting for Alex. They sound good. I can't stay too long, although I want to see Alex, but I have to leave in the end before he's arrived, so I take off, am briefly distracted by H&M, then it's back to Brooklyn, and another quick visit to the Carroll Gdns AA. I hang out there for a while, talking Halloween with the girlies - who are going as the Golden Girls and have two hilarious wigs with them, bought that morning at Ricky's.

I meet them later at 8, after the store has closed and we head back to the Burg, where Lauren and Sarah change, I down a cup of tea, then we head into the city. Walking down Third I see Ronnie and friend limping into some restaurant so I follow them in to say hello, then we carry on down to our pre-game rendezvous at Cooper 35. They have a four dollar drinks menu, various cocktails etc. I get a mojito and when it turns up, it's pretty much just rum and a bit of sugar. Incredibly strong. A few sips in the IS calls me and we chat, making plans to hang on Saturday at the big party.

We walk up to PMC at Black & White. Jonny's back for a week from touring with... Motley Crue? Shit, now I can't remember. It's so good to see everyone. Rob walks in with a big "Welcome home!" and there's Omri, and as I'm in the middle of getting my phone's predictive text messaging to recognise 'MCR' [MAP? MAR? NAP? OAR?], I'm tapped on the shoulder and turn to see Sarah, brandishing a bag with a Union Jack print on side "in your honour!" [lol] and Gurj, fresh from the MCR concert a block away. Big hugs and happiness. Around midnight I suddenly start flagging - still a wee bit jetlagged - so me, D and Brett take off, walk down 3rd a few blocks until we cave and grab a cab back, and I'm tired and tipsy but happy that today I've managed to see or speak to almost everyone I wanted to in NY and there's only a special few left to see and I can't wait.

Yeah! New York

An uneventful flight, quick passage through immigration and customs, and a cab ride down to Carroll Gardens, where even the shitty BQE made me smile and feel almost nostalgic. After shedding baggage, we walk around, to the bank and to the downtown Target for supplies [of which candycorn and Spiderman gloves are an important part] and fresh air and a stretching of the legs.

We come back and I sit down and check some emails while D. gives me a fashion parade - he's off to a fancy gala at the Whitney that evening, dontcha know [and let's not forget the pre-drinks at the Carlyle...] - then I feel like I could easily fall asleep so wander up to Smith St and down to the American Apparel where Lauren and Sarah H work. I LOVE living so close to where they work. When I go in they're both downstairs so someone goes to get them while I stare spacily out the window until I'm grabbed in a hug by Lauren... and suddenly it's like I only saw them both yesterday, not six months ago. We chatter until they have to get back to work, then I head back to get chinese takeout and half watch The Avengers on BBC America. I try to nap on the sofa as I'm meant to be heading to the Litt'lans/Kooks party at Double Happiness that night, but I can't quite doze off. Mr Fancy Pants leaves for his partay, and I turn the tv on, feeling crappy - overtired and headcoldy - and eventually come the decision that I can't quite face going out that night, so bail on and suddenly feel happier. The air mattress is inflated, there's candycorn to nibble at and Disney movies on tv. I do some work and go to bed at 10, an inauspicious first day back...

let's get these teens hearts beating, faster faster

Sick as a dog. Well, in a drama queen kind of way. I just have a really heavy cold, and at the worst time possible. NY friends in town, packing to be done, clippings folders to sort, flights to take... gigs to attend. Spent the afternoon sleeping, then dosed up on lemsip with caffeine and headed over to Brixton with my sister.

I've never actually been to Brixton Academy before, took us a couple extra minutes to find it, and we thought we were running late but we managed to find it in the middle of The Sounds set. Got ourselves a drink, my sister got IDd at the bar which pleased her no end, fought our way to a suitable position, surrounded by shorter emo kids.

We both immediately got a crush on Brendan Urie - adorable - and they put on a dazzling show. I would say more, but I was a bit lightheaded from dosing up and general head cold-ness. Lots of dancing and singing - which, you know, helped my throat a lot, of course, but far too caught up in it all to notice at the time. Oh, and the batteries I bought for my camera on the way to Brixton - two lasted four minutes, the other two lasted about three minutes. Fabulous.

hott

love autumn like this

yay!

Saturday night, two of my favourite New Yorkers, Dan and Christy Claire arrived in town. I went to meet them at Heathrow, then escorted them over to Islington, where Dan's cousins have a palace of a duplex apartment. After some apartment exploration, I eventually managed to drag them out and down to the pub where Leith, James and Tommah were secretly waiting for them. But man, talk about taking her time getting ready... CC is almost as bad as my sister.

Sunday was our usual East London Sunday Brunch - this time at Hackney City Farm, where lots of small children were running around in Halloween costumes. After full english breakfasts, for those that eat meat, and other variations for those that don't, we headed over to Columbia Road market, then down to Brick Lane and Cheshire St as a visit to Beyond Retro was requested. My energy levels were starting to flag so we escaped the market masses and went to the Redchurch for refreshment. Wine, Pimms, beer, americanos, Orangina...

Later I accompanied the troupe over to Curtain Road and left them in another pub [for the record, Dan and CC got a little too overexcited at the American Apparel store they discovered on Curtain Rd] to trek back over to home sweet west London...

a way to cure jetlag

So a catch-up post soon, but for now:

Two fifths of Littl'ans just landed. So, being the kind and caring managers etc that we are, what do we do? We send them out to DJ.

Ronnie Littl'an and Andrew Littl'an DJing. They only just landed. Buy 'em a drink, say Welcome to NY.

Double Happiness. Mott St. Tonight. Do it.

me either

I just learned to point and shoot.

sunday stroll

Random wanderings around the southbank today with Tommah, in from LA, and JD, in from, er, Hackney. A beautiful London October day, helped along by the two half pints of cider had at irregular intervals, and Tom trying to convince me to go visit LA. "We'll take you to Disneyworld!" Man, I wish I could afford it.

oh baby

So I bunked off work early as there was NOTHING to do and no one else in the office, for trips to Primark and High St Ken. Only my sister was still in bed as I was getting into Hammersmith [FYI - it was about 3:15pm] so instead I met up with M & Tayo [godson. cutest baby ever.] for Starbucks. When my sister eventually turned up, we walked M & T back to Shepherds Bush then headed up to the cinema to go see Talladega Nights. So good. So funny. So nice going to a 6:30pm showing and having only four other people in the audience.

"Dear 8 pounds 6 ounces baby Jesus, new born, not even spoken a word yet."

I never thought I'd say this, but I love Will Ferrell.

Shake 'n bake, homes.

Why Doctors are rubbish and Green Wing is nearer to the truth than ER ever was

At the beginning of September, I was put on some meds.

Well, actually that's a lie. In mid-August I was put on meds, I just didn't start taking them till September, mainly because I was unsure of them and my smug-face doctor brushed off questions with a crumpled computer printout about them.

So anyway, the meds-taking commences, one a day in the morning, yadda yadda yadda.

Then the side effects start kicking in.

It starts off with a bit of dry mouth, nothing a stick of gum and/or glass of water can't cure.

Then comes the reduced appetite, and that doesn't really bother me too much either.

But then they go into overdrive and the nausea and headaches are coming at me full tilt, and I'm so bone-weary and tired I'm falling asleep in front of my computer screen [lucky for me my desk is in a corner so I have my back to everyone. How do they know if my eyes are closed?] - yet insomniac at night. I'm wondering why anyone would prescribe something that can make you feel this ill and robotic.

Then there's the joint aches - which feel like bad growing pains, if you can remember what they feel like - and my legs are so painful I can't even sleep.

I get to breaking point and I call the Doctor. First time I call the offices are shut. Shut? It's the middle of a working day. I find out I have to call back specifically between 12 - 12:30, when the Doctors aren't with patients. So finally I'm put through to another Dr in the office, that I haven't met before. I describe what's going on and tell him the meds are making my life a misery.

"Hmm. Yes, well nausea and headaches are a side effect - they should cut down after about six weeks."

Six weeks?!

"But what about the aching joints? They're so bad now I can't sleep"

Long pause.

"Well. Joint aches. Hmm, I've never heard of that-"

"It's in the pamphlet that came with the medication. I read it over. I did make sure I hadn't just pulled a muscle or something. It's been going on for over a week."

"Riiight. Well... Um...."

Dude, hurry up and be a professional, you're just wasting money on my cell phone while you umm and ahh. There are computer clicking noises on the other end. I imagine the doctor checking his gmail or myspace or something, killing time in that half hour between end of surgery and beginning of lunch.

"Well, I guess what I could do is put you on a different medication. Let's see-"

Pause, filled with slight rustling-of-papers noise - as if he's looking it up in a medical dictionary or thesaurus or just flipping over a page in a book to see what medication it randomly lands on.

"Right. There's -----pam... No, maybe ----tine... Hmm I think maybe we'll try [insert generic medication name that ends in 'pam' or 'tin']. Come by the surgery and pick up a prescription."

That's it? You don't want me to come in to talk it over? See what's going wrong?

"No, you can just come and pick it up from reception. Oh - and I suppose you should make an appointment to see Dr D--- in - hmm, about four or five weeks?"

His parents must be proud they fronted all that money for med school to turn out a doctor this good...