Apparently, Thursday is the new Sunday

So I haven't been out as much as I thought I would this week, I mean around Brighton (grrr). I actually worked late hours two days because I made the mistake of telling the office back at DTC that I'd be checking my email regularly and that I had a phone number at my desk here. What it comes down to is, I haven't been able to do any STC work and I've been stupidly taking on more DTC work while I'm here.

I would have hoped I had more control over my time and that people would leave me alone a little bit more since I am not at DTC, but in fact, it has been the opposite today. Dean asked Janice to contact me and requested a few time consuming things, and with the distance/time difference, I did not get this request in time to finish it before 5:30pm here. I ended up staying quite late. It was quite frustrating but I didn't know how to say "too bad, no I can't do it".

I think a part of the problem is that I feel bad for doing a half-ass job on certain events and projects, but the other part of me argues "I had to do it, I just couldn't get it done before leaving for STC because it is just too much work!" The second part of the problem is that the department does not exist anymore so I don't have anyone else to direct questions and inquiries to. Andy and Simon over here at HM were in awe of what kind of stress I allow them to push on me - especially since the phone keeps ringing and ringing for me and it is always more work for me to do. I'm not answering the phone anymore, forget it.

Anyyyyway, separate from the bitter side of me.... I went out to lunch with the Harrington McDermott team on Tuesday afternoon(!!!!!!) They're such a great group of guys, I am so excited to be here working with them! They are what I imagined and more: super talented, witty people, strategic planners, and kick ass!

I had a long chat with James before lunch and during our walk to the restaurant about my possible future at HM and about how things are going in the US. He was very keen to the idea of having me work for HM from now on, separate from Ricardo (which was my hidden agenda to bring this up) but he said there are a lot of complications regarding visas, work permits, and how that affects taxes. But he did say there is a good possibility. One particular concern he had was that he felt Ricardo may have a really bad reaction to the situation if I take everything Ricardo has invested in me and go to HM, which I have a hard time wrapping my head around because I'll be really working for them no matter who signs my checks at the end of the day. More to come about this. I'm not leaving until we get a little closer to a decision (aka I'm not leaving until I've had a chance to convince them this is a good idea).

I went bowling with the IT group on Tuesday which was a ton of fun. It was so weird to finally put names to faces of people I've worked closely with in the last couple years! Here are some funny pictures:



I haven't had a bad meal so far, although I've been super super cautious. I look at the number of people already in the restaurant (if it's busier, I think the food is probably better) and the menu before I walk in. But part of it is that I've gone to restaurants that Claude and Tina have recommended, have just gone to the grocery store for ready-made sandwiches, or have eaten lunch at the canteen at STC.

Went out on Thursday night with Nicholas, Lauren, and two of Nicholas's friends and got t-r-a-s-h-e-d. We went out on the Brighton Pier to a bar for beer and then I had my first try of Pimms (yum!), back on the Seafront to a Chinese restaurant where we beer and sake with dinner, and then out to the Honey Club (it's on wikipedia... weird) on the seafront. I was so hungover the next morning, I passed out on the couch in the HM conference room for like an hour in the morning (embarassing! oops). More funny pictures to come - I have to get most of them from Lauren anyway.