Start Wearing Purple!

Oh and I almost forgot. A lot of friends at home have commented on this purple sweater I am wearing in Amsterdam:

Yes, I finally started wearing this bright purple sweater I found a year ago at a Salvation Army in Chautauqua, New York -- I mean, in a Top Shop on Oxford Street ...

And my friend Joe just sent me this song to inspire you too:

I am now listening to: "Start Wearing Purple" by Gogol Bordello

Some Serious Blogging

Word of the day: shag
I thought only Austin Powers said this but it’s a real live word in the English vernacular.

What I learned today: I am too sensitive to be a journalist! I don’t know how I got into this profession, but I have the hardest time writing co-workers off when I should or not being bothered by what my editor says or not worrying what a source thinks. Or maybe I am just too sensitive to be a person.

What I love about London: This eerie pub we went to off of Oxford Street called Ben Crouch’s Tavern, adorned in Frankenstein-like décor mingled with Christmas wreaths. Test tube shots for one pound!

Bloglob
The most suicidal thing a person can possibly do is blog about blogging (or write about writing or sing about singing or any of that look-in-the-mirror bullshit), but I can’t help but remember that my little night job of blogging is going to be up soon. Well so is my London adventure but never mind that.

I have to say it seems like it must be really easy to ramble on about your own life in one of these things, and it is. But the rest of it is really quite challenging. The biggest challenge is knowing how much and how little to say.

For instance, I am dying, absolutely freaking dying to tell stories about things in the office, but I can’t. And I can’t really give the office justice by not telling you the whole story. So this whole time I have not bothered to tell you about the humorous characters I encounter on a daily basis, from the drone of sales pitches, to the technical guys from Uzbekistan who sometimes try to convert me to Islam. And then of course there’s my editor, who always wears a suit and walks in and immediately gets the kettle started for tea. It’s impossible to paint the correct picture of this dingy old place, and so I don’t.

It’s funny to think that in all these blog entries, I’ve gone on and on and on about places in London and being in another country yada yada yada, but I have hardly given justice to the place where I’ve spent the most hours: work.

But anyway, I’m thinking this blog comprises three things: a. me b. London and c. journalism, but in truth the only thing I was allowed to say everything about was b. And I’m sure I’ve told you too much about a.

So listen, in honor of this self-indulgent blog about my daily trials and tribulations and sightings of old churches, here is an Onion link that made me chuckle: Entire Blogosphere Stunned By Blogger's Special Weekend Post

By the way, have I mentioned that this sardonic paper gets me through long afternoons in the office?

Oh, and by the way, the quote of the day goes to my American co-worker after I told him something an English person did:

"I think it's the U.K. man. You're either a genius or an idiot." -- Christopher

Soup Tastes Better When Someone Else Makes It

Summary: I am sick and my blog is now translated into German.

Word of the day: spot
This is what you call the ugly red thing on my cheek.

What I learned today: All of the things network managers are looking for in their sub-custodians. That’s about it.

What I love about London: Getting groceries from the local grocer across the street. Actually, to tell you the truth I miss Kroger and don't care for the Tesco superstore here. But the local grocer thing is kind of fun some days.

I Want My Mama
So I am sick and being in another country when you are sick sucks. I guess I don’t really know why; maybe it is more like being away from all of the people who usually take care of you when you are sick sucks. It reminds me of the soup Matt brought over the last time I was sick or the way my mom watched TV with me on Christmas Eve when I had the flu. This time around no one even bothered asking me how I felt. My flatmate was relieved when I told her I wasn't throwing up, because she doesn't want to catch that. Well, my boss seemed concerned. He asked if I wanted to go to a wine-tasting party hosted by one of our custodian bank clients and then added, “Well maybe not, because you are sick. I hope you feel better.” That meant a lot actually.

What, do I want a big freakin’ pity party? Yeah I do.

But anyway, is anyone weirded out that I found someone had translated one of my blog posts into German? I’m still pretty unclear what this is about: http://tourism-industry.blogspot.com/2007/10/ellie-fhrt-nach-london-auf-meinem-j-in.html

I am now listening to: All of the songs from my Top 10 Songs for the Tube published yesterday. Today was melancholy, definitely an “Across the Universe” day.

Special: Ellie’s Picks for Songs on the Tube

Word of the day: vouchers
Gift certificates are referred to as “vouchers,” as I learned today from my co-workers. Just like every day, my colleagues said something and I said, “What?” Followed by, “You don’t have that in America??” Followed by, “Oh, are they like gift certificates/elevators/pimples?” Culture gap closed.

What I learned today: How to edit video in Final Cut Pro! (Mom, that is a program on the computer with which you edit video.) I actually put the text in and made transitions and it really looks quite professional, I must say. I’ll show you when it’s done … Even if you don’t want to know about OTC derivative valuation.

What I love about London. Falafels from Café Rosse on Borough High Street, which was my lunch and dinner today.

Top 10 Tube Songs!
It’s cold.
And it’s Monday.
And I am watching Dawson’s Creek again because nothing else is on. And the American screenwriters ruined the only thing I have to look forward to every week: watching pixelated shows on Sidereel.

But the good news is, I was inspired today on the tube to compile a list of my top 10 songs to listen to on the underground. This list was whittled down from the 34 nominees I scribbled in my notebook after skipping through all 380 songs on my iPod. Yeah, so I wouldn’t call it the end-all list, as my iPod is disproportionately populated with Bob Dylan and Fiona Apple (I haven't had a chance to add all my music to it). But from this scanty selection are several songs that turn an icky tube ride into the opening credits of my own TV show -- you know, like those Mary Tyler Moore moments you have as you cross a busy street.

And the winners are:

“Black Like Me” by Spoon -- This inspired the whole list.

“Across the Universe” by Fiona Apple (remake of The Beatles, who would probably be even better for England if I had them on my iPod) -- This song feels like it was written on a subway.

“Carrion” by British Sea Power -- It helps that they mention “Rotherhithe,” which is the street I live off of.

“Conventional Wisdom” by Built to Spill -- Another upbeat, indie rock type of song -- those are good tube-song ingredients, provided they aren’t too shallow.

“Epic Song” by Futuristic Retro Champions -- So I take that "shallow" comment back because this song means nothing, but the combination of horns and synthesizers is fabulous! Maybe it makes me a little dizzy, but it reminds me of a great night in London, and so it works on the tube.

“Everybody’s Got Their Own Part to Play" by Shannon Wright -- Songs about the whole fact of a bunch of people also being individuals are good for those lonely but crowded tube rides.

“God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys – For a happy day. I think it reminds me of London because of the movie Love Actually.

“Better Version of Me” by Fiona Apple -- I know, another Fiona, but what do you expect? This is kind of my theme song.

“Queen Jane Approximately” by Bob Dylan -- OK so I had a rough time choosing among BD’s songs, which form the backbone for my tube soundtrack. But this is a good one -- not too explicitly about being a traveling spirit (like a rolling stone), but still enigmatically pleasing tube music.

“I Like It” by Dixie Chicks -- These girls are good for the highway, but they also work underground. (I would definitely not recommend “Wide Open Spaces” on the tube.)

FYI if I could squeeze in another song, it would surely be by Wilco, which always suit me just fine on any tube journey. But I guess the band's new album is more for car commercials under the blue sky -- not so much the underground.

My Weekend Pilgrimages

Word of the day: Happy Christmas
Isn’t it delightful that some people say this instead of “Merry Christmas?”

What I learned today: Shopping online is so much less stressful than shopping for real. Yes, this is coming from the girl who loves to shop (but just not for other people). I have planned it so Amazon will have all my presents waiting in Cincinnati when I arrive at Christmas. Go me!

What I love about London: All the ridiculous souvenirs I bought at one of the many tacky shops along Leicester Square this afternoon.

This Weekend in London…
Well, originally my friend Joe Washecheck (a Wisconsin native working in the BUNAC program for Boston University), and a couple other people were going to cook Thanksgiving dinner, but we discovered a much better option. As I have mentioned before, I live down the street from where The Mayflower sailed. So Joe and I visited The Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe (on my street) and had a fancy dinner (well, fancy for us). Back when the pilgrims sailed the ocean blue in 1620 in order to escape persecution and then persecute others in return, this same pub was still standing there. At the time it was called The Shippe. Kind of cool, eh?

Today I finally visited the National Gallery and saw all the Ninja Turtles' paintings. My favorite pieces were those by Degas, because if I could make my words imitate any artist, I would choose the blurred reality of Degas. I am also partial to him because I love ballet. My mother lined my little aspiring-ballerina room with his paintings growing up.

I also hopped over to the adjoining National Portrait Gallery to see the haunted faces of dead people in room after room. I love that stuff!

National Gallery at Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square

I am now watching: Fanny Hill -- getting educated on a little 18^th century erotica on the BBC. Definitely not the Jane Austen-type movies I’m used to seeing from this time period!

Sorted Out

Summary: I rode first class on the new high-speed train from St. Pancras International station to Paris yesterday.

Word of the day: sort
The English are always “sorting things out” the way we are always “figuring things out.”

What I learned today: So I was really upset about losing my glasses, but it turns out my contacts finally stopped bothering me ever since I started wearing them all the time. They are actually extended wear contacts and this whole time I hadn’t been wearing them long enough for my eyes to get used to them. Wow what a boring story, I’m sorry.

What I love about London: I got on the wrong bus today (a usual occurrence) and discovered that the Surrey Quays tube station and part of town was literally only one bus stop past the Canada Water station I usually go to. So this whole area of dodgy shops and fun East End culture is right around the corner practically. And here I thought I was in the middle of nowhere. When you take the bus you discover how close together areas of town actually are. Usually Londoners are like groundhogs popping up from tunnels all over London.

First Class to Paris
Yesterday I spent most of my day on the train to and from Paris in order to FINALLY interview once and for all the big, important elusive executive. I concentrated the whole train ride on making sure I absorbed every free piece of bread, glass of wine and cup of coffee they gave me, because I don’t get to be first class very often. And on the way back I almost exchanged my ticket for later that evening so I could enjoy the business lounge for longer. It was like another world, as I walked in and saw a wall lined with newspapers and a bar full of wine and liquor for free. I sipped (guzzled) a glass of wine and read The Financial Times. I looked so legit. And then I realized ... Who am I? Don’t I also go to indie rock shows and wear bright purple sweaters with big bracelets? I feel like I am two different people sometimes.

That’s all I got for today.

I am now watching: The second to last episode of Grey’s Anatomy until the screenwriter’s decide to recommence writing my trashy shows. I'll finally get back to American TV and there won't be anything to watch! It must be hard to stay creative with Grey's anyway. They are having to introduce new characters in order to come up with new sexual combinations.

Thoughts from a Lonely Traveler...

Summary: I am in a funk this week.

Word of the day: smart
English people always use this to mean “sharp” when describing someone dressed up, i.e. “You look smart.”

What I learned today: How to edit video with Final Cut Pro!

What I love about London: Finally, it rained for a while today and I got to use my umbrella. I have barely used it at all and people acted like I better have an umbrella sewn to my body before I left. I guess it’s just been kind of dry in rainy ol' England.

So what am I still doing here?
Well yesterday I was writing a piece for our winter issue about upgrades to a new trading platform and I found myself typing the following paragraph instead … I guess I’ve really been in a funk about being over here, and kind of ready for it to be over now that I lost my glasses. But tomorrow I will probably get all upset that I am leaving this amazing city and will probably end up working for a paper in Nebraska or something. And then other days I wish I could be transported home immediately. Today is one of the latter.

Why do we travel, really? It makes us more likely to be poor, more likely to lose things, more likely to fight with our significant other, more prone to diseases in other countries … And yet, I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want the horrible experience of losing your make-up in England and having to buy it back for twice as much. It is with these ridiculous challenges working abroad brings that makes every lonely traveler rise to the occasion. We swear that some day this experience will make us more confident people, will benefit our pocketbook (not sure how -- does worldliness pay?) and strengthen our relationship after facing the test of time zones. And yet perhaps these endless steeples and strangers we encounter won't make a heap of difference, but at least it's fun for most of the time. I mean, really, why not travel? What have I got to lose aside from my passport, cell phone, iPod, travel card, credit cards, wallet, glasses, boyfriend, sanity, life savings, make-up, etcetera?

I am now reading: Naked Option by Joe Kolman. I saw my co-worker reading this and thought he had brought some erotic book to the office, but actually it’s an account of life on the trade floor he was reviewing for the magazine. Finally, an interesting read about the business I cover!

The One Where Ellie Leaves Her Glasses at Heathrow

Me in Amsterdam

Summary: I went to Amsterdam and it was sweet, but I lost my glasses.

Word of the day: coffee shop
I’m taking a break from my usual British/U.S. dictionary to mention a phrase on so many buildings in Amsterdam. The funny thing is, I really thought they were coffee shops at first, but you can smell that the weed as you walk by, and so I caught on quickly.

What I learned this weekend: Heathrow Airport ate my glasses. I am embarrassed to tell you (but I’m going to tell you) that what I learned deep down at my core is that what all of those countless employers and teachers and principals and vice principals always told me about being late is true. I learned from this experience that one should be on time for his or her flight, because then he or she will be less likely to freak out and leave his or her whole make-up bag (including his or her glasses) at check-in. And he or she will never get these items back if he or she forgets them.

What I love about London: Being only a cheap plane ride (trying to discount missing glasses!!!) away from Holland. I’m pretty sure the stoically carefree people of Holland changed me forever.

Seeing Red
Well my first visit to Amsterdam was this weekend, and because I waited for a day without Amsterdam to write this, I feel like some of it has worn off. But I managed to scribble some thoughts down last night in the airport.

As you know, I lost my glasses. [whines on about losing glasses for five minutes]

It’s hard to say what I really loved about Amsterdam, because it is so a place you just GO. You do not DO in Amsterdam (despite what you might think about all the doing people are doing), but you just BE. For instance, on Friday, after meeting up with my friend Katie Jones, who is working as a flight attendant and got a cheap flight from Ohio, we soaked up some local color at a bar near the dodgy east part of Amsterdam. Turns out we needed a big key to get into the bathroom, because they lock it to keep the Dutch men from peeing all over the walls. At first I thought this was a joke, but then I discovered all of the pee deflectors in corners and public urinals all over the city.

On Saturday, Jessica got in town and we simply explored. I would definitely recommend a walking tour in any city, and Amsterdam is delightfully walkable as long as you watch out for the bikes ringing their bells to alert you before they smash your limbs. But when you aren’t walking, you can always sit in Amsterdam. There are plenty of cafes and coffee shops to just relax.

On Sunday we did a little museum-hopping with a new best friend from Australia we met in the hostel. First we hit up the Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank wrote her diary in hiding. And then on a completely different note, we went to the Sex Museum, where you would hardly believe the erotic art over the centuries.

On Monday we did some last-minute Amsterdam tourism, hitting those random Monday spots like vintage shops and Cannabis College, where one can thumb through hemp-constructed clothing and books on the medicinal benefits of marijuana. Did you know that marijuana is both antibacterial and antifungal? Must be why the Dutch have such amazing skin. What is funny is that Americans view it as such a fungus. Actually (and maybe we better discuss this over a beer sometime), I see a lot of class discrimination in the American criminalization of drugs. And why in the world is alcohol a more acceptable undertaking than weed?

Oh whatever, this trip simply added to my plate of things to ponder and ways of life to dissect. And now I have that strange clarity that losing one’s glasses will bring. And I consumed a lot of fries drenched in mayonnaise and all kinds of cakes. Amsterdam is any easy city to enjoy yourself in.

I am now reading: Blink by Malcom Gladwell. Well actually I already started and finished it in the airport and on the plane, but I definitely think it's worth mentioning this clever analysis of our gut instincts.

Anti-Clockwise Around the World

Word of the day: anti-clockwise
Yesterday I saw a sign in the underground station that said the “anti-clockwise” route on the Circle line was delayed. I’ll stick with counterclockwise, thank you much.

What I learned today: ... to be careful about setting up one's out of office auto reply … I accidentally backlogged it to every e-mail in my inbox, thanks to Apple's Mail application. So my poor colleague Christopher (who e-mails me several times a day) said it almost blew up his blackberry. And I'm sure various financial bigwigs in London are hating me right now.

What I love about London: So the same interview that fell through last week fell through today. So now I will be spending Thanksgiving interviewing the CEO of BNP Paribas in Paris. But with the new train station from St. Pancras, it will only be two hours to get there. London to Paris? Like Cincinnati to Columbus.

Subject: Out of Office Reply Subject: Out of Office Reply Subject: Out of Office Reply
Well in other news the iPhone hit Europe and so I had to hear about that all over again. (Good read: Why you should avoid the iPhone) I read in The London Paper that 26 women have let National insurance foot the surgery bill to make them virgins again. And the Spice Girls are working hard for their reunion tour, but Mel C is a little reluctant.

A week to remember in London.

The Apple store on Regent Street

I won’t be blogging this weekend because I will be taking an e-mail-free, phone-free, real, live holiday for four days in Amsterdam. So in case ANYONE out there didn’t get my e-mail today:

I am out of the office with no e-mail access until Tuesday the 20th
November. If your request is urgent, please call the London office at
+44 020.7939.9934. I will reply to your request as soon as I can.

Best regards,

Ellie Behling
Global Custodian

I am now watching: The Project Runway participants taking on Paris seasons ago.

More of My Favorite Photos...

A view of Canary Wharf from my flat:


What is McDonald's trying to prove here?:


Oh Big Ben -- what a ham:


The Thames from London Bridge:


An old bus-turned-cafe in the East End:

Some of My Favorite Photos...

The Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background:

Miss Ellie's Cookies & Things in South Kensington:


"CHEAP AS F*** SALE" on Brick Lane:


London -- a hodgepodge of old and new:


The Roman Baths:

Finally! London in Photos

Word of the day: CV
This is what they call a resume. Probably a good thing to know if one is applying for a job in London. Although in my case my resume was never even attached but my now-boss saw a link to the old blog I had for The Post and hired me. See? Blogs do matter.

What I learned today: You can put all of your chat applications into
one application. So now I use jabber to access AOL and at work.
This minimizes a couple of applications I usually have floating around
all over the screen. How exciting is my life?

What I love about London: That it's gray outside. So you might think
I'm a sunny person, but I'm not. Or maybe I am but I prefer not to be
outshined by the sun.

So Now I Can Stop Trying to Catch Your Attention With My Wit
...Because I finally have pictures again!

I am super tired right now because I insisted on uploading all of my
pictures to facebook last night as soon as I got my camera cord in the mail. Of course that doesn't help you old geysers (age 26 and over) who read my blog and want to see pictures. Actually, you will luck out because I will wade through and select only my favorite
photos. OK I was going to do that right now, but the picture upload isn't working. I'll post more later tonight or tomorrow.

I am now watching: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow -- there is no end to British TV randomness.

Home, Home on the Range

Word of the day: Oh bloody hell, I can’t think of one mate!

What I learned today: There was an industrial explosion in East London today (visible from my flat), and I didn’t even know about it until my friend at the AP in Jerusalem e-mailed me to see if I was alright. Guess I only know about stock market explosions these days! Reuters reported that the explosion made the pound lower to ONLY the worth of $2.0674 instead of it’s usual $2.0692 … So does this mean that if I start enough explosions in London, the pound could be worth $2? Woohoo!

What I love about London: How whenever I clutch my bag on the tube so no sticky fingers can get in, I think of the song "Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two" from Oliver.

Too Much Office Space
Life in the electronic office can be challenging. Mostly because four of my superiors will e-mail me from different countries at the same time and ask me to do something and it’s hard to prioritize. But, you know, I juggle tasks -- that’s what I do. I write it on a Post-it that I deem the appropriate size (I have all different shapes and sizes) and then attack that Post-it until I check every item off! Or I put it in my planner and won’t sleep at night until its highlighted (yes, I HIGHLIGHT things as I do them, which is super backward and I realize this.)

What did I accomplish today, you ask? Well I didn't highlight nearly enough in my nine hours staring at the large screen of my Mac. I captured footage in real-time to the computer and then watched it export at the rate of a snail and then sent it to my colleague in America to edit it. I suppose I also learned all about MiFID’s best execution standards (new regulation stuff related to a story I am doing) and wrote a couple news stories and sent a dozen e-mails, but that’s all very boring, so I won’t bother boring you.

I will just eat my hummus and watch Desperate Housewives.

I bet tomorrow will be much the same, but it’s OK. Today I got a package from the parents with candy corn, a camera cord and a bright purple sweater I am wearing proudly. So life is good!

I am now listening to: The ridiculous collection of pop “I miss home/you” music I downloaded while I was bored. Any suggestions to add to my list? (I WAS collecting that sort of “Wide Open Spaces," adventure-themed music, but I have moved on to this kind of sappiness.)

“Hey There Delilah” by Plain White Tees
“Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down
“Landin’ in London” by 3 Doors Down
“You’re Like Comin’ Home” by Emerson Drive
“Home” by Chris Daughtry
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by Harry Connick Jr.
“The Promise” by Tracy Chapman
“No Place That Far” by Sara Evans

Aren’t I ridiculous? My favorite thing about life experience is finding the songs to go with it, I ain't gonna lie.

Now John Denver is on -- you know the song. Although it was much more appropriate two months ago.

F A S H I O N

Word of the day: vest
Regular old tank tops are referred to as vests and vest vests are referred to as waistcoats.

What I learned this weekend:

Today (the 11^th day of the 11^th month) was Remembrance Day (BBC background) to commemorate the millions who died in WWI and WWII. All week people have been wearing paper poppies on their lapels to commemorate this. Apparently some younger generations are also tying in the Iraq war with this remembrance. My analysis definitely says that the British are completely capable of being patriotic and protesting at the same time. There is definitely a vibe of "support our troops and not the war."

Also, fireworks are a regular occurrence in November, as yesterday I saw another display for the Lord Mayor's Show (some London hoopla about something that has been going on for a zillion years). I didn't wake up in time to see the traditional parade portion, but I was out my dark at 5 p.m. to see a fancy display of 'works over the Thames.

What I love about London: FASHION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oxford Education
So I FINALLY hit up the famous shopping on Oxford Street. It was perfect timing, as the street was lit up and the big department store windows were decorated for Christmas. It had a magical feel to it, despite being the busiest place I’ve encountered in this usually uncondensed city.

I found 5-pound tank top (vest) with tons of cities on it (my way of finding a fashionable souvenir) in the three glorious floors of H&M. We also witnessed the cheap chaos of Primark. (Like, seriously, this place is cheaper than Steve & Barry's, even with the exchange rate at times!) And of course, I was introduced to the most awesome store that one could never get set foot in in America: Top Shop. It was a little pricey for my current situation, but I felt in awe of its rooms and rooms of fashion's latest sequins and baubles. I would be fine with dying and being buried there immediately.

Big cities keep getting better and better. I mean, can London throw anything else at me to make it even better? I dare it too.

I am now watching: The X Factor, the British version of American Idol; it seems to be even more lackluster than the American show. Sharon Osborne is a judge, as well as snippy Simon Cowell -- but he is definitely not himself without Paula around.

Music and Muscle Aches

Word of the day: bloke
man

What I learned today: Walking around in high heels all day from meeting to meeting is not ideal.

What I love about London: Taking a train, a subway, a bus and a boat all in one day.

Good News vs. Bad News

Good news: I made it through filming three interviews today all over London. And I think the footage is OK, despite some interesting sun glares, crooked cameras and scripted answers…

Bad news: I think I am permanently paralyzed from wearing high heels.

Good news: I only have one more interview left for the DVD.

Bad news: I still have one more interview left for the DVD. Yesterday I learned the oxymoron of corporate communication when I went all the way to the other side of town to have my interview canceled.

Good news: I am finally in the warmth of my bed ready to watch my dose of Thursday American shows.

Bad news: I don’t have any wine. Or even any tea.

Good news: I am going to Amsterdam next weekend!!!!

Bad news: How on earth am I going to finish up the DVD stuff, write an article and redo our surveys handbook in the next two weeks? Oh well, I guess there is never a good time for a holiday. (Oh my, I just said “holiday” instead of “vacation.” Yet I’m kind of over the novelty of me saying English words.)

Good news: I found new London music. Jessica and I found a cheap rock show in London at this hole-in-the-wall hipster bar in a slightly dodgy area of Hoxton called The Macbeth. Actually, random tidbit: I read today that this is the pub where Amy Winehouse’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, assaulted a guy. Fielder-Civil was in the news today after being arrested for allegedly trying to pay the guy off to get him to not press charges.

The Macbeth could be a bar in Athens, Ohio, just with more skinny jeans and European haircuts. When the song “Big Pimpin’” came on after a wave of indie songs, Jessica pegged it as “classic ironic hipsterism.” We clearly adored this type of atmosphere, because we are both wannabe hipsters at heart.

The bands were definitely of the strange variety you expect from these sort of things -- both riveting and underwhelming at times. But that’s why I love local shows so much -- they are one of kind and can’t really be recreated. While the songs you liked at a bar might ring in your head for days and days, often it won’t ever sound the same on an album (although it will certainly sound better on an album). It’s about being somewhere with some no-name band that suddenly matters for that moment. Plus it was pretty cool to realize all of their London references wouldn’t be understood in Ohio. That’s the beauty of local music.

I am now listening to: Orphans & Vandals, with London-inspired “epic” songs as Jessica describes them. I also enjoy the fun horns of Scottish band Future Retro Champions.

From the Trading Floor

Word of the day: row
British people use this word more to mean “quarrel,” and I really like it. Saying “I got in a row with Matt last night over something stupid,” sounds much better than “I got in a fight with Matt last night over something stupid.”

What I love about London: clicking my heels around as another businesswoman in one of the top financial districts in the world, tucked away among cathedrals and monuments.

Floored
Well, I should be sleeping because I am interviewing one of the most important financial guys in the world tomorrow, but I am having trouble sleeping because I am interviewing one of the most important financial guys in the world tomorrow.

Yes, the intern and her trusty camera and list of questions will be interviewing the head of a huge custodian bank. I hope I don’t have one of my Bridget Jones moments. Or the lens cap is on.

Today I did two interviews and really have gotten the hang of operating the camera as I interview, although the multi-tasking situation is not ideal. The questions were scripted by my editors ages ago though, so it doesn’t require the usual interaction of interviews I normally do.

In order to get b-roll (the footage you see in filmed interviews that isn’t just a talking head) today, I went to the trade floor of an inter-dealer money broker. Oh my god -- it was pandemonium -- full of a lot of guys in suits that seemed like they were trying to safely land the Apollo or something. Shouting out “I’ve got a swap!” and rolling up their sleeves and getting on little black phones -- it was just like the movies. It reminded me a little bit of the excitement of how daily newsrooms are portrayed. Although I don’t think the idea of a crazy newsroom actually reflects reality the way the idea of a crazy trade room apparently does.

I tried to get out of there after I did a couple pans of the room, because I heard them mumbling about the camera and staring at me like I was from outer space. (I didn’t see any other females in the room.) The communications director warned me that they might push or curse in order to do their job “which is to make money,” so I tried to stay the heck out of their way.

I would love to have been a wallflower for the rest of the day. As I looked at their computers scrunched together like urban housing, I wondered what these people running the markets were like and how they shut this off at the end of the day and go home and be normal. I wondered if they are like the people in London I see every day who look like they work too hard at making it the center of finance in the world. I wondered what they were even doing.

I am now listening to: (Oh my gosh, you are all going to be shocked that I am listening to Christmas music at all -- and this early!) I can’t tell you which one, but my hint is that it’s a famous Christmas song by a pop diva that was featured in a movie that took place in London. Yep, that's the one.

My New Fame in the Securities Services

Word of the day: cheers
Can’t believe I didn’t use this yet, as it is the most London of all London phrases. Sure, we say cheers before a drink or sometimes at the end of e-mails, but here it replaces everything. For instance, today as I left the grocery store the grocer said “cheers.” Or when I was chatting with someone on a boat ride, as I left he said “cheers.” Or when someone agrees with you, they will probably say, “yeah, cheers.”

It basically means nothing and everything, as my colleague Christopher points out. I absolutely adore it.

What I learned today: Working from home can be fantastic. Writing news while your laundry is going is much better than writing news while your co-worker makes an ad sales pitch in a loud, monotone voice. I’d get depressed if I worked at home every day though. And I’d probably never get out of my PJs.

What I love about London: Sitting at my kitchen table and looking out over the Thames and the skyline of Canary Wharf.

My Name on the Big Screen
Well not the big screen, but maybe on the screens of big people. Basically, as I mentioned, I am playing a large role helping the aforementioned Christopher, Global Custodian’s multimedia editor, with our first-ever DVD on the securities industry. And I get to be in the credits (posted below).

Just to brag about GC for a second, it is actually really at the forefront of multimedia in Europe, thanks to Christopher. It was definitely the first trade pub in our field to do multimedia. We do podcasts every week as well as vodcasts every once in a while. My first vodcast will be posted later this month.

But anyway, I’m kind of nervous to be filming for the first time, as well as interviewing some of the most powerful financial people in the world in my $40 suit. But you know, whatever.

I did feel really excited when Christopher showed me the credits. It was funny how much we picked them apart. You don’t even think about how long it can take to design credits until you do it. But anyway, I enjoyed Christopher’s finished product and the hilarious upbeat piano music. We discussed setting the DVD to reggae or techno, you know, livening up the securities services, but maybe next time.

And that’s why I get to work from home so much, because I’m running around doing interviews and don’t have time to pop into the office. So on one hand it’s a lot busier and requires me to wash my hair and iron clothes more (boo). But it’s also really nice to get the heck out of that fourth-floor office with a broken lift every once in a while.

We’ll see how I feel about having three interviews on Friday ... and what next week will be like when I realize all the work I have to catch up on in back at the GC homestead.

Cheers!

I am now watching: The millionth and probably final version of our DVD credits that Christopher is uploading on YouTube. Oh what an exciting life I lead!

Foreign Correspondence

Word of the day: bin
Clearly it’s a trash bin, not a trash can. The British might be onto something.

What I learned today: What is “Ohio” to the big financial executives? Well, I was interviewing one of them for the documentary we are doing about the current state of the securities industry. He asked me where I was from in America, and I told him Ohio. The first city he thought of? Bowling Green. 'Tis a shame. He also thought there were mostly hick towns there. I definitely couldn’t argue with that, of course.

Wait ... Am I the country-bumpkin-turned-city-girl to these people? How funny. I am from suburban Cincinnati ... Wait that doesn't prove much, does it? I did used to frequent shows for a band that sings a song "I Wrecked My Tractor."

What I love about London: Now that it is fall and the tourists are gone, London is finally London, bedecked in scarves and colorful leaves and gray skies.

Whatever Happened to a Good Old E-mail?
Being abroad definitely makes me more in touch with people. I feel like half of my night is e-mailing. Look, it’s midnight and I’m finally blogging. I have been chatting online and checking my e-mail pretty much non-stop since I walked in, even still talking to my colleague Christopher in NYC (the time change makes work hours ambiguous).

The truth is, I think I was supposed to be alive in the 19^th century, because I would be good at being Emily Dickinson, writing letters and short poetry all day. I’d get a little sick of myself, but my job would be writing poetry to become famous as soon as I died -- how cool would that be?

My correspondence skills, I must say, are very unusual -- but I think important! One should not underestimate the power of a nice long e-mail to an old friend, circa 2001.

Then again, half my day at work is e-mailing, so how can I stand to e-mail at the end of the day? One day at work I figured I sent 75 e-mails. My boss gets 600 e-mails a day, so I doubt he is sending gchats to his old chums from university after work. That could be me someday!!

But on the other hand, it’s important not to let the drudge of work keep one from letting her fingers flow over the keyboard to type a proper electronic correspondence to friends and family. Or else the art of Internet communication will slip away entirely. Before you know it, our kids won’t even be able to write a good, old-fashioned e-mail anymore!!!

That’s why I will send them abroad. Bring back the Grand Tour.

I am now reading: This Onion article really sums off the office life for me:
Study Finds Working At Work Improves Productivity
My daily dose of the Onion really gets me through the work day!

Exclusive: Ellie Behling Sightings in London

Word of the day: wanker
I feel awkward saying what it means, but I know that this is what my flatmate calls her boss.

A few things I learned this weekend:

• Public transportation seems great, but it really takes way longer and is just as expensive as gasoline. But I am just mad that I spent about $60 this week running around London that I wouldn’t have spent if I didn’t lose my unlimited monthly travel card. It should come back to me whenever the Royal Mail feels like bringing it here!!! Well I guess it didn't stop me from cavorting about the city this weekend.
  
• Americans did not invent fireworks when they gained freedom from the British! In fact, I saw plenty of fireworks for Guy Fawkes Day this weekend. Apparently Guy Fawkes was a guy who tried to blow up Parliament in the 17th century … and the British celebrate this. But then again we also kind of celebrate a made-up event of Columbus making the amazing discovery of America.
• Speaking of discovering America, I found out some history about my part of the woods in London -- which is the Surrey Quays district of the Docklands. Yes, there is something here besides the one shopping center (woo!) and a few pubs. Apparently the Mayflower docked and sailed from this area! Maybe I will have a drink to that when I'm stranded here at Thanksgiving.
  

What I love about London: The amazing graffiti, such as the famous Banksy.

Weekend Update

And now if I were famous and the tabloids had been hounding me all weekend (which is exactly what they do in London), they could write several stories, such as:

E.llie Behling was sighted in London’s hip East End today talking to bassist Nick McCarthy from rock band Franz Ferdinand. Behling was wandering around famous record store Rough Trade when her friend Jessica Lee spotted McCarthy, and the three chatted. McCarthy was carrying a pile of albums and said he was “stocking up.” Behling left the store empty-handed, but was sipping a latte.

Behling then wandered to Brick Lane, where she bought a cheap necklace from a vendor, and then was later spotted eating pie at The Old Truman Brewery.

Later that afternoon she was back north in Camden Town for the third time this week. Behling is a bit of a Camden Market regular, and had on a new houndstooth-patterned hat when passersby saw her head for home. A person next to her on the tube says they heard Bob Dylan’s “Brand New Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat” playing on her iPod.

Or other stories could be:

Ellie Behling was spotted in a devil costume at Camden Town’s Koko club with several other masquerading individuals on Friday night. The old opera house was a much more grandiose venue than the rock shows we usually find her attending in dingy bars of Ohio. She allegedly darted out early, probably to catch the last tube back to her home in Southeast London.

***

Ellie Behling was seen wandering the majestic rooms of South Kensington’s Victoria & Albert museum alone on Saturday. She spent a long time in the fashion display and reading the captions on the medieval tombs, and also lingered by a display of iron key designs from hundreds of years. The starlet was heard telling someone on her mobile that it was “the coolest museum in London yet.”

***

The amazing choreography of fireworks celebrating Guy Fawkes Day boomed in Battersea Park Saturday night, and onlookers included Ellie Behling, observing the British holiday for the first time as she sipped mulled wine. She and a pack of girls then crossed the glowing Albert Bridge before heading home.

***

It’s suspected that Ellie Behling must have had a night in after a long weekend in London, probably doing something completely self-promotional and lame like writing in her blog and watching Ghost while admiring her new hat in the mirror.

I am now watching: Yes, Ghost. And before that it was Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (oh British TV).

[Edit: I deleted a photo from this page.]

Miss America? I Don't Always

Summary: Once again I laugh/cry over the U.S. for its precious puritanism.

Word of the day: snogging
In case you don’t know this one, it’s kissing.

What I learned today: America is intolerant of atheism. Sure, I always knew this, but I didn't realize how much it stands out on a global level for these sorts of things. When I first got here, one of my co-workers showed me an article about active atheist Philip Pullman visiting the U.S. The article described the U.S. as a place that criminalizes atheists. This was shocking to two English co-workers. A lot of the English (although I wouldn’t exactly call them people with a reputation for religious tolerance), just accept it as another belief like Islam or Judaism. On the other hand, some Americans don’t accept other religions period, do they?

To continue that thought…

There’s a new movie coming out called The Golden Compass. My flatmate loved the book and is excited about it. I was going to try to read it before the movie, as it looks like a thrilling fantasy, and it has a ferret in it. Then I received the following e-mail yesterday.

Now I wouldn’t bother reading this whole e-mail, because I didn’t. And I don’t mean to pick on the person who sent it, because she is like a sister to me. But it is just so American I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Subject: FW: Movie Boycott (The Golden Compass)> I sent this out earlier, and my son added this additional information from Snopes. Just click the link. Thanks to Greg and Carolyn. If you forward, please blind copy and remove addresses.> Carol> I checked this out at www..snopes.com. This email/story is completely true. There is a lot of information to be gleaned from http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp and I encourage all to read the information provided on this link.> Gregory T. Lloyd, DVM> If you have children or grandchildren, here’s a heads-up!> Carol> Well. ain't this a nice 'howdy do'![http://by103w.bay103.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?hm__tg=http://65.54.174.249/att/GetAttachment.aspx&hm__qs=file%3df97f5cbc-4cd9-4fc9-86ce-4d77b33b5df2.gif%26ct%3daW1hZ2UvZ2lm%26name%3daW1hZ2UwMDEuZ2lm%26inline%3d1%26rfc%3d0%26empty%3dFalse%26imgsrc%3dcid%253aimage001.gif%254001C817E9.FF79F2A0&oneredir=1&ip=10.1..106.200&d=d1237&mf=0]> ________________________________> Subject: Movie Boycott (The Golden Compass)> Just an FYI for those of us with children or those of us who know people with children should be aware of.> This Christmas there will be a movie released starring Nicole Kidman called 'The Golden Compass'. This is based on a the first book of a triology by a British author named Phillip Pullman. It is children's fantasy in the likes of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. It is being released by New Line and Scholastic Entertainment (the same as Scholastic books in our schools). Phillip Pullman is hoping that the movie will spark interest in reading of the books.> The evil force in the books and movie is 'The Magisterium' with priest, cardinals, popes, conclaves etc. Phillip Pullman is a 'devout' atheist who wants to slowly and unasumingly enter the minds and hearts of our children and poison them. In the books, especially the third book, there are mentions of horrific deaths and the killing of God. This is suppose to be a mercy killing since by this time God is old and decrepit.> Dr. William Donohue was on EWTN last night talking about this. For more information please go to www.catholicleague.org. Please let other people that you know understand that this is anti-catholic/anti-christian/anit-God movie and that Phillip Pullman is trying to get young children to become atheists--maybe without their parents knowledge--by reading the books. I'm sure the movie is a milder version than the book--they usually always are.> Let's do our best to get the word out to boycot this movie! INSTEAD, let's go see 'Bella' and let that movie make as much money as possible!!> =======================> FOLLOW UP ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2007> =======================> Well, and as these things go.....I was flipping channels this morning and on the Today Show was an excerpt from the movie 'The Golden Compass'. Apparently it is Al Roker's book of the month for children! They are also going to have a sweepstakes for someone to win a trip to England for the premier of the film and will have Philip Pullman on the Today Show-- next month I believe! See how fast the devil moves!! Let's keep on getting the word out! We've got to be as dedicated to the preservation of Truth as the devil is in destroying it!!

I am now dressing up as: The devil! I actually wore my devil Halloween costume on the tube after a few too many two-for-one beers as well. It seems only appropriate, as I was the Bible character Eve last year. We know it's her fault sin exists at all.