[The Life of Shaun #43] The Gherkin on Friday

It's a small pic, but it really was a lovely view... this is from Friday when I was walking home as I was crossing the Blackfriars Bridge looking east towards The City and especially the Gherkin (the pickle-shaped building), my favorite (tall) building in London.

Cheers,
Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #42] Back in the Big Smoke

Hey all,

Just letting you know I got back to London safely, albeit 8+ hours later than planned.

In Miami, after boarding, we were informed there was a hydraulic leak that was being looked at.  After nearly an hour we were told the plane was being put out of service and we had to deboard the plane and go to a new gate for a new aircraft.  This, of course, was enough of a delay to miss the connection to London in New York.  They put us up in a hotel, in theory, but when we got to the hotel they sent us to there were actually no rooms available.  Nice, eh?  While waiting for a shuttle to go back to the terminal they found one room with two beds and I shared it with another stranded passenger on his way from Miami to Budapest.  Got the first flight this morning and here I am.

Lovely to be back, but I am tired.  At least I didn't have to fight staying awake my first day back!

Cheers,
Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #40] Island hopping

I wish I would have written something before I left New York; all my happy, emotional, good thoughts about my visit there have been coated with a layer of Miami now.  My sisters took me to a cocktail party last night for the opening of their friend's newest real estate office and a guy with botox gave me his card.  Ew!

 

I had such a great time in Manhattan (and its environs, don't worry Schnookums & Petr!).  Seeing everyone again, being there, Black Party.  Nothing felt weird about being back.  Before I left London I was a little scared I might get back to New York and feel like 'Oh my god, why'd I ever leave?!', but that didn't happen.  In the same breath, though, I didn't feel like I'd never be back, either -- it's not like when I left SF and I was just done with it.  Just a nice, content feeling; I didn't feel homeless, I didn't feel invisible.

 

The saddest point I had was last Monday morning.  The day before I had champagne brunch with a few friends, followed by champagne social at my old apartment, closed with a champagne evening with Darrin.  Monday morning I became very keenly aware of all the lives & friendships I've actively disjointed myself from and it felt really lonely.  But as I went on with my day and the familiarity of New York came over me that feeling subsided and I was OK.

 

After we took off from LaGuardia I could see Manhattan off the right side of the plane (there is absolutely nothing like the Manhattan skyline) and I honestly thought I really truly love that little island.  Now I am down South on this plastic island for a few days, then back to my new home on a new island this Saturday; and I am good with that.  But I'll be back again soon.

 

Cheers,

Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #39] Bienvenido a Miami!

Well, I made it to Miami/SoBe, you may all pity me now.  ;)

 

Anyway, off to cocktails - just wanted to let everyone know I arrived.

 

Cheers,

Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #38] Beer, vodka and champagne, oh my!

First a notice -- I will be going to Phoenix this Wednesday for $2 pints, so all of you whom I won't see at other events I hope to see you then!!

The time-change thing is definitely affecting me. Friday "night" I got to bed about 7:00 and woke up at 11:00. Last night I was in bed just before 5:00 and could not sleep in past 8:30 to save my life. This is very odd because if there's one thing I love it's vodka, but not too far down the list from that is sleep. It has, however, resulted in the not-unwelcome fact that, other than the trip from JFK to Terry's, I haven't really been sober in NYC.

Mommie Dearest came up yesterday from Philly to say hello and make Mommie Dearest iced teas (similar to Long Island iced teas, but so, so good); what was that I said about not being sober again?

And on that note, just a couple hours away from going to one of my favorite spots on earth: $11-all-you-can-drink brunch at Intermezzo. Then tonight I have a champagne date with the beautiful Darrin; I can safely say I am enjoying mt trip.

Got Hot Spot pizza... it's hard to ask more from life than a good slice of New York pizza.

"Having a wonderful time! Wish you were here!",
Shaun



--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #37] New York City

Hey all,

Just letting you know I arrived safely in New York City... got here a few hours ago! I got to Heathrow early and got an earlier flight and got in three hours early.

Always lovely to come to NYC & descend into Sutphin Blvd subway stop! And NYC was sure to give me a little taste of what I remember... an E train came right away, but it just honked its horn and drove right on through the station. :)

But fab to be here.

Xo,
Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #36] Contact info, "The Falling Man" and New York

OK, first business; my contact numbers for my visit:

in New York --> 917-###-####

in Miami --> 786-###-####

Well, that's it for business.

Tonight on More Four (the famous Penis Week channel from many eMails ago) had a rather striking show on called "The Falling Man". And it was literally about the falling man - you all know who I am talking about, from September 11th. It was a tactful look into the jumpers of 9/11 and why they were pretty much air-brushed out of the picture of that day. In its trauma America wanted to remember the firefighters and other rescue workers, to rally around the good; but in doing so we somehow ignore and don't honor what happened there. I won't go on, but it was certainly an emotional pull back towards the city I am leaving for tomorrow.

And that's that. I am packed, save for my toiletries; I have my passport, Citibank card and credit cards; reservations and plans are made; Hot Spot Pizza and Taco Bell await me.

It's a very unfamiliar feeling I have sitting here thinking about going there. New York is the first place that ever felt like home to me. I loved living in San Francisco and, to the astonishment of most, Fairbanks. But New York is where I learned what it feels like to get to go back home after being away. So what do I feel now, going there, going "home", when it's not home anymore? I just don't know because I've never done this before.

All that said, I couldn't be more excited, I am so ready for this trip. I can't believe I get to say "See you soon!" to so many of you, but I do! So I'll say it one more time:

See you soon!

Shaun
--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #35] Re: Reality TV

OK, it got worse. Showed the patients having diarrhea, showed the nurses cleaning it up, and then gave a model demonstration showing how the withdrawal effects the intestines and produces said diarrhea.

It's definitely time to turn it off and go to bed.

Night!

Shaun

[The Life of Shaun #34] Reality TV

So I've always thought American TV was sinking low with some of their reality TV.  Remember "Married by America"?

Well, our Anglo TV has outdone American.  The newest reality hit: "Going Cold Turkey".  It's the live-on-TV display of three people quitting their heroine addiction cold turkey.  They're pretty much locked in rooms with nurses & cameras.  It comes complete with interviews with family members watching on screens in the studio as well as full scenes of emotional breakdowns, shivers and vomiting.  And this is episode two.

Wow.  Penis week back a few weeks ago seems so tame now.

Shaun

--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Life of Shaun" group.
To post to this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to The-Life-of-Shaun-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/The-Life-of-Shaun
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[The Life of Shaun #33] Like sands through the hourglass...

No, I am not going to wish you all a happy VD day... just a musing. I just had a lovely dinner with my flatmate and her boyfriend, wine, prosecco, wine, wine, you know, a normal Tuesday night... ;) But as I was doing dishes I realized where I was ten years ago.

With a comfortable margin, I had left Vegas.
I was very recently finally able to throw away my fake ID (I was Mike Odynski from St. George, Utah).
I was in San Francisco - at 54 Saturn Street!
I had never been to New York.
I had a car and liked having one.
I was about to get my first real boyfriend.
I was at my third college; and still had four more ahead of me before I got a diploma.
I lived on $800/month.
And, of course, I didn't realize how good I had it.

To many of you it might be a little silly and trite, but I can't believe it's been ten years since then... come next year it's ten years since I *LEFT* SF. This is crazy to me because, in most respects, my life didn't start until I got to SF, so now it's this mile stone that gets more & more distant. And now I sit here in my flat in London remembering then and it seems so, so long ago.

But on the other side - almost everyone I had around me that was important when I left SF is still important to me now, with many more amazing people met since. So I guess in some ways it really wasn't all that long ago.

But man, ten years. Shit.

OK, *FINE*, happy VD day.

Xo,
Shaun
--
Shaun Coley
scoley@gmail.com
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/shaunism
London, UK