This is cool :: Stussy, Philadelphia

Stussy have opened a chapter in Philadelphia above the fab wee street boutique ubiq > a store I was fortunate to check out on trip no.1 to Philly ::

Definitely on the list for checking out if I ever go back there. Nice addition to Walnut Street.

Their collab tee for today's opening is sweet... with reference to the Liberty Bell.

Nice.

Tunes from Philly

Have you ever considered what life would be like without music? I watched Cloverfield in Philly and only realised at the end credits that there wasn't a soundtrack. A pal at work told me about it and I total forgot. Sometimes you need to go without to appreciate what you have... like when I walked alone on 6th Avenue... just enjoying the sounds of the city... Goldie on my iPod when I got back to the hotel sounded vibrant and new.

Anyway... I picked up some great tunes when I was stateside... so real gems, in my view.

First off, we have Peter, Bjorn and John with their 2006 album Writer's Block >> I picked it up for their song [Young Folks] which is so flipping Marmite its unbelievable - everyone I know either loves the song with its great beats and catchy whistling or hates it with a passion only reserved for fallen politicians. Its indie rock and very pop but in all the nice ways... singalong choruses... big guitars... funky beats... and I really like it. So much so... I annoyed my colleagues with the whistling riff and drove them to distraction and threats of physical violence. Not good... but secretly fun. Its a great album and one that will sit nicely in my collection.

Next up is the awesome Von by Sigur Ros >> this was a real find as I have never, to this day, seen it in Glasgow. It feels fresh and new even though it is over 10 years old. Its full of imaginative post-rock soundscapes... ambients sounds and jagged guitars over delicate vocals... the kind of thing we have grown accustomed to from Sigur Ros and just lap up. So much so that when Myrkur plays it feels odd... because its a more melodic, indie song rather than the post-rock we (certainly I) know Sigur Ros for. All in... its a fab album full of great potential.

Lastly... something completely different. I am a huge fan of the San Fransican record label Om >> I love their taste in house music and downtempo beats... as a complete escape from and antithesis of the more obscure and avant-garde electronica and post-rock that I love.

Samatha James has been getting some play with her debut album Rise. Its a collection of some of the most soulful and seductively chilled house music I have heard in a long, long time... with production credits going to Sebastian Arocha Morton aka ROCAsound. I heard of her via Aurgasm and really liked her voice. Reminded me of the first time I heard Bebel Gilberto. Well worth checking out... as indeed are the other two albums.

Heading home...

Apologies for not keeping up with the blog over the last few days... been busy with work and there has been a lot happening in the US:

• The awesome SUPERBOWL 42 > Eli Manning made me a fan with that awesome play... escaping the sack and firing the ball for one of the best catches I have ever seen.
• SUPER TUESDAY > Obama & Clinton winning states and keeping the race tight.
• Tornadoes > Watching the news and hearing of the devastation and loss of life - my prayers were/are with the mourning.

Work was good... we did what needed doing... and the recreation was sweet - food and drinks with my colleagues... finding some space on my own > coffee in Barnes & Noble... hunting in the Mall (the $5 shop RAWKS!!!)... 3am video iChats with my VIPs in Motherwell... gaining the confidence of driving in the US... on my own... without GPS.

I'm knackered and am suffering from the lack of humidity (itchy skin... bleeding nose etc) but glad to be going home. I have enjoyed being with my colleagues and have seen some amazing sights / picked up some cool stuff... and sorted out my head. I am glad to be going home to Olly, my VIPs, my friends and my space.

My only regret is not getting to hang with Johnny Laird's pals > Taff and Nicky (Sorry guys... but I never got a chance). I didn't get to see some of the places I wanted to see in Manhattan... but I saw plenty more to compensate.

Its been good. Thanks to everyone who sent mail, texts and facebook hollers. I'm on my way home... via the 30th Street Station (see pic) in Philly and Newark International Airport.

New York... New York..!

I had a great time in Manhattan on Saturday and Sunday... saw the sights... sampled the food... walked the streets... and got a real taster for this amazing city.

I'll post more on the experience when I get some time... I took 168 photos that are in a Flickr set [here] - check them out and let me know what you think. I need to name some of the pics too.

Philly - days 4 & 5

Thursday was a glorious day. Sunny but cold. The sunlight streaming in the windows was a wonderful encouragement as I went for breakfast. Been eating a big bowl of fruit every morning along with some oj, some skimmed milk and coffee. Sets me up for the day.

The workshops are pretty intense... with lots of liquids consumed to keep us (me) sharp. Loving my snapple... especially diet lemon ice tea. Fab. Drinking loads of water too... my skin feels dry and dehydrated.

After work... the whole team headed to a local Indian restaurant called The Himalyan >> its a fab wee family place. A couple of chaps from the vendor (Shripad and Shrinivas) are Indian... and this is a place they go to often. I had spoken to them earlier in the week about going for a Ruby Murry and they were delighted to take care of us all... ordering food and making the evening flow.

The food was good and the artwork fab... all in... a lovely meal with the team.

This morning could not have been more different from yesterday... it was pouring... so much so it reminded me of home. Today wasn't as intense... more of a day to resolve issues... answer questions... and tie things up.

After a lovely iChat with Olly... Dayna & Miriam... and my sis Janey... I joined my colleagues in the bar for some food. Felt like fish and chips... and wasn't disappointed.

Later on... I decided to head to the local cinema to see Cloverfield >> the latest cinematic sensation. It didn't disappoint... although the camera work did exacerbate a headache. Its an awesome film >> fantastic concept extremely well executed and brought to the screen. The footage is raw and very realistic... a bit too raw for some. JJAbrams has created something brilliant... an ideal film to prepare me for my trip to New York tomorrow. Well recommended! I'll leave you with this...

Friend's Wheel

I realise that not all my friends are on Facebook... but the Friend's Wheel app is a fab wee tool that shows all your friends and displays the interlinkages. Its a nice pic and is now on my wallpaper on my iBook... its helps when you feel like you are miles from everyone.

Check it out.

Philly - day 3

Today was another long but productive day in the office. There is a real benefit from these sessions being face to face > an understanding that comes from the interaction. There is a lot going on and its hard to keep track of everything... but I'm doing my best.

Today was a good food day... at lunch we had some fab tortillas with chicken fillings... and a tomato salad. Beautiful!

At night I ate with the team and had a NY Reuben sandwich... which was lovely! Meat... sauerkraut... cheese... fries... lovely. I am going to put on a ton of weight while I am here!

We stayed in tonight... did some work... ate... had a few drinks... I headed up to my room to watch the Republican Presidential Candidate Debate... which was interesting. I like the concept of the debate... and was interested in their responses to the questions. Mike Huckabee interested me the most and gave the best answers in my opinion... but, if I am honest, I am more interested in the Barak Obama / Billary Clinton debate tonight.

Philly - day 2

Work and play... that's pretty much what happened today. Another really productive session in the office... with less looking out the window. Its work but its good fun too > the vendor's team are a great bunch of folk and the atmosphere is light but serious.

After work... we all headed over to the King of Prussia Mall for food and a look/see. I was a total chump and forgot my phone > I hate not having a camera with me! Must be the way things are moving where before I would feel naked not having my phone to make connections... now I hate not having it because I can't record my journey.

I picked up a few bits and pieces for my girls in the 5 below store... along with the 76ers beanie (all $5 or less!!!) I also picked up the latest edition of Giant Robot which has some fantastic articles on less mainstream culture.

We met up in a seafood restaurant called Legal Sea Foods - I never realised until now that I was eating illegal seafood up until now. The space was lovely... beautifully designed. Kicking myself that I forgot my phone to show pics.

The food was good... not great... but good. I ate a shrimp and garlic linguine... and shared in a good banter with my colleagues.

Later on... after I got everyone home (I am the designated driver) I did some more work in my room (the bar was way too noisy and my battery is gubbed in my Thinkpad) and then crashed at 2230hrs (est).

I fell asleep dreaming of Olly... and the bairns... and it was great to see them at 0300hrs (est) this morning.

Philly - day 1

Spent the day in the office... Had the hardest topic to cover and it went really well. I love the vendor's office - the views are awesome. The view touches me every time I see - watching hawks soar on the thermals... watching geese fly in and out... watching a flock of small birds feed then fly off when the hawks get too close. Beautiful.

It was after 6pm when we all headed back to the Desmond. It was a productive day with real progress made.

We all headed over to a local bar/diner called Baxter's >> the food is great... and the ambience is honest and open.

I had a philly cheesesteak (when in Rome afterall...) and we all had a good natter. The group I am with are all great folk... real honest and focused individuals. Its a privilege to be in their company.

Afterwards... as we walked back to the Desmond... I noticed a shop for me :: Shortstop - its capitalism just great!

Philly - day 0

Flew from Glasgow Airport yesterday morning... to Newark, NJ. Absolutely beautiful flight... apart from some hands in the air turbulence at one point.

We were riding in economy... so the films were pretty bland. The Pink Panther remake is VERY FUNNY without any sound > with sound and its terrible.

Entertainment was provided by my colleagues... No Logo by Naomi Klein... some great tunes (I'll speak on them later) and Bust A Move on the DS.

Looking out the window was fab too... beautiful desolation below.

Arrived without any hassle... and then headed to the Newark International Railway Station to wait on our AMTRAK train into Philly.

No hassles on the train either... people we met were sweet although the food wasn't cheap > $1.75 for a bag of pretzels???

The 30th Street Station in Philly is awesome... harking back to a day when railways were the way to travel. Beautiful decor... blows Glasgow Central out the water.

We grabbed a car > needed an SUV instead of the wee car they offered us > and headed off into Philly (thanks to the GPS) and then onto Malvern.

Trip was sweet - nothing that taxing... just loads of road and a group of Brits trying to work out what stay left, go right means.

Got to the Hotel... dumped our stuff and headed out to explore. It was about 4ish EST.

Ended up in Golf Galaxy (where I snapped this handy device) and Circuit City where I picked up some tunes. We then popped over to the local wawa convenience store for pretzels and snapple > I was gutted when I heard the music wasn't some seventies acid funk boom chicka wah wah guitar sound.

Ended the day in the FOX and HOUNDS for a chicken cesar salad... and some ice cream. Crashed about 8pm est

Its good to be here... but I miss my kids and Olly like crazy. Caught up with them on iChat... which is good.

Check out my photos here >> I have my dad's Canon EOS 350D with me... along with my Sony Ericsson K800i > going to be snap happy!

Heading back to Philly...

I received confirmation today that I will be part of a working party heading out to Philadelphia on the 27th of Jan for 2 weeks. As I will be spending a weekend over there... the intention is to spend time in New York.

I'm stoked at the possibility and extremely grateful for the opportunity. I will miss Olly and the girls terribly... but this is something I can't pass up.

Homeward bound

It is so good to be home... to give my life a big hug and have a decent cup of tea!



Apart from the delay to the flight... everything else was pretty much perfect. The food was great - I had various things including halibut for my main and the loveliest vanilla ice cream I've had in a while.

Casino Royale wasn't the only great thing to see while we flew (although I did enjoy the film!)...



It was a privilege to witness the birth of a new day. Light defeating darkness. Beautiful!



It was also good to see the coast and some of the islands. Stunning.

Its good to get away... see new things... meet new people... and I am grateful for our partners in Malvern for their hospitality and for the folk from my work whose company was appreciated.

With all that considered, however, its still better to be home!

Delayed...

Our flight home is delayed by an hour or so... I say "is" but I mean "was" because by the time I uploaded the pics to flickr and started this post... we were called.

Newark Liberty is a fab airport to spend time in... especially if you are in the lounge. Free drinks and... more importantly... free wi-fi.

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Last day...

Finished the session with a final document. Been good to be here... but its better to be home.

Drove from Malvern to Newark Liberty airport... Presently sitting in Continental's Presidential Lounge after having a wee wander round the shops here and speaking to Olly via iChat.

Its great to chill with the team... but can't wait to see my loved ones.

Thanks to everyone who has followed the journey. Peace! Now... to Edinburgh!

Day 4...

Another heavy schedule but one that had the promise of success and delivered it. We got in at our usual early time of 0730hrs (EST) and stayed until after 1730hrs (EST). We finished and sent back to Glasgow... 9 of the 10 documents we were aiming to complete this week... which was a tremendous achievement for all involved (if I do say so myself).

Working together in the conference room has been very productive. There is a ton of clutter on the desk (mostly mine) but the team are working well together.

One cool distraction was watching Turkey Buzzards riding the thermals right outside the office. Beautiful sight to witness.

One of the reasons why we can do these intense sessions is we are well looked after by our partners. Great facilities and well fed. They brought in Philly Cheese Steaks today for lunch. Brilliant... although I don't want to think about the melted cheese! It can't be good.

After work... we went to the King of Prussia mall for some food and final last minute shopping. We were recommended to try the Cheesecake Factory... and were not disappointed.

The Cheesecake Factory was heaving last night. We waited about 20-30 mins for a booth... in their cool bar area. The decor of the place was interesting: reminded me of middle Eastern / Ancient Persian decor... with folk dressed as bakers (all in white) looking after you. Weird but nice.

I tried their Oreo Mudslide and couldn't finish it. To say it was rich and heavy would be to insult it... but it was... and it also was fantastic!

Afterwards, we split up and did some more browsing. Picked up a couple of sweet tees for Olly from UO that she should love. I also picked up a huge canvas backpack for the trip home for $5. I brought "old faithful" - my orange eastpak backpack that has traveled to Italy and other places - but it was too tight for 2 laptops and various books, mags, toys etc. I needed something bigger that I can get on the plane... and this army surplus bag does the trick.

We ended the day with a wee nightcap in the Fox and Hounds... where I managed to fall asleep. Party animal, me! btw neither pint is mine. I should have been on the red bull... but they didn't have any!

Been a good trip. Productive. I can't wait to see Olly and the we'ans.

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