Not A Typical 2nd Day Either

Day 2 of a lesser agenda in HK started off with the typical Conrad Hilton Executive Lounge breakfast where I sat one table behind this bozo. He was doing some sort of interview and I heard him at least 4 times say “this is off the record” so I am guessing the interview will be about 3 sentences long. He is going to run in 2008 and for the most part that is fine with me. I long for the days of the Conservative Republicans as opposed to the Christian Republicans.

After applying for my 1 year visa (Mine recently expired) I took a ride to Causeway Bay to do some shopping. My cohort was able to pick up all types of electronic goodies including the new Nintendo DS Lite which I again highly recommend. In the same building I was able to discover an entire floor of stores catering to kids clothes and much more so to young funky girls (0-5 years) which is about as perfect for me and my daughter(s) as possible. I picked up some things for both which I am sure they will remember until they day they die. On a less sarcastic note I will be able to get good shit here for years and continue to look like the superhero-dad which I am.

Again, in the same building (Nice building I would say) I stumbled into a good jazz section at the HMV (Asians LOVE jazz, and I mean all Asians) and I walked out of there with the new Roy Hargrove album, Nothing Serious and also a classic Charlie Parker album, Charlie Parker With Strings: The Master Takes. More to come on these later this week as both are brilliant and deserve their own write-ups but the new Hargrove is a stroke of genius to put it mildly.

After that went and had a great lunch which I am sure my cohort will write about in detail (that is his area of expertise). This helped completely erase a bad lunch and dinner from yesterday as well. After that wandered into a great paper store to pick up some goodies for my wife which I am sure will earn me her eternal love and worship. And finally capped this 2 day shopping bonanza (and first one may I add) in HK with picking up a slick pair of brown and orange Puma’s which are frickin awesome to say the least.

About as close to 2 perfect days in HK as I could imagine and hopefully tonight will continue this trend. Then it is back to normal with a long day at the factory tomorrow and then I get to come back for some balls-out work in about 3 weeks. Glamorous indeed.

Not A Typical Day

Normally when I am in HK my days consist of the following routine–

6am–Wake and get ready to leave for the factory in China
8am–Leave for the factory
9-10am–Travel to the factory
10am-1pm–Discussions/Work
1-3pm–Lunch
3-6pm–Discussions/Work
6-8pm–Dinner
8-9pm–Leave for Hotel
9-12pm–Work via email (US is just getting started)
12-2am–Sleep
2-4am–Work via email
4-6am–Sleep

This schedule repeats itself 2-4 days depending on the type of trip it is. And although I love going to HK/China and I love accomplishing all the things we do this can be a very physically tiring and mentally draining exercise. It is also worth mentioning that we take 2-4 modes of transportation (Subway, Train, Ferry & Vans) and also fill out approximately 8-10 forms between leaving HK, entering into China, leaving China and then entering back into HK each and every day.

That being said this current trip is a bit different as today (an for most of tomorrow) we had a nice relaxing one so far (only 6pm as of now). This started with a leisurely breakfast which included some nice miso cod as well as some of the crispiest bacon I have had in a while. After that I went to mass at St. Joseph’s which featured a great sermon from a resident priest based on the Catholic faith being dependent on our ability to love everyone and how that is how we can be better people (No hellfire or pseudo-hatred messages which gets old real quick). This priest has been in HK for 41 years and I cannot imagine the shit he has seen in that time over on this side of the globe.

This afternoon after a wholly unsatisfying lunch (Shitty Service, Good Food) went and caught a movie; Impossible Waves. This noir style movie was quite enjoyable although I am still working out a few plot things in my head. It featured Tadanobu Asano (also in Zatoichi) who was quite mesmerizing to me and also Hye-jeong Kang (also in Oldboy) and she is pretty damn amazing and not too harsh on my eyes as well.

So far about as nice of a day in HK as I have ever had and hopefully this will continue into dinner and then into Suntori Time tonight.

Notebook Fever

I absolutely embrace technology and who knows where I would be without email but I also love things that which are also a little arcane. On that note I have a deep appreciation for all writing instruments and mediums although my penmanship leaves a lot to be desired. Beside a slightly perverted attraction to fountain pens I have always liked the Moleskine line of notebooks and own probably about 25 of them at any given time so I can have the exact one I need on a moments notice (travel, meetings, etc.).

That being said I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of one in particular; Moleskine Pocket Reporter . I am not really sure what makes a notebook better than another but this one is definitely better. I think part of it is it just seems to suit a slightly askew writing style such as mine (I write righty but it looks lefty) better than a more typical notebook due to the cover opening style. And although most of their books have the expandable accordion pocket in the back I seem to use this one a lot more. It also is pretty nice to feel a little like Hemingway when using this one as well.

You Suck

Dear China Eastern Airlines,

First off, your seats are maybe big enough to fit a single 10-year old Chinese boy or girl at best. Second, if you are going to serve beverages make your fucking cups bigger so I do not need to get 3 shots of sprite to slightly, and I mean slightly, quench my thirst. Third, if your trays are going to be the size of a napkin than at least have the courtesy to make them stay in place so I do not need to hold my food plate to keep it from sliding onto the floor.

And finally, turn on and up the fucking air conditioner. It is bad enough I have to fit into your plane like a stuffed sausage and risk dehydration and on top of that I have to sweat my balls off and pray for the hatch to blow open to get some relief. Never more than 70 F (21.1 C for you bastards), ever.

Best Regards,

Good Luck

Although I am sure you have about 5 years worth of appeals left congratulations to you (Convicted on 6 of 6 + 2 separate personal counts) and Skilling (Convicted on 19 of 28 counts). In the meantime you can come up with some “creative” ways to describe being ass-raped to your family and friends, hopefully.

Careful Whom You Idolize

This is what 45 million people wait for? Sorry that I am judging this without watching a single episode(I have heard his bad Joe Cocker/Michael McDonald though) but this is an American Idol? This is the next superstar?

Maybe, based on the sorry state of the music industry in general. This might be exactly the type of mediocrity people will settle for now days. I guess if K-Fed can sell why not a 45 year old white Karaoke singer.

Buckle This

No one wants to brag about a mall find, right? Exclude me from that category as a few weeks ago while letting my daughter run free inside on a rainy day I found a kiosk which only sells belt buckles. As a longtime fan of the large and gaudy buckle I was taken back and happily surprised with thier selection and price. It took awhile but my first trip ended up with me purchasing a nice Canadian Flag (I love that Maple Leaf, eh) along with a Chicago Cubs logo (Too embarrassed right now to post).

I am eyeing a few more over the next few weeks including a nice Darth Vader but right now I am about 99% set on picking up the Virgin Mary as it is too good to pass up. Who would not want the Holy Mother watching over your mid-section? I cannot name anyone.

1000 W. Columbus Ave. (Springfield, MA) Bound

The photo is a little dated as it is from 4/26 but it is the first head shot of my daughter Olivia Ann (2nd Girl For Those Of You Keeping Score) at around 22 weeks. Today marks the 26th week and I am ecstatic to say that she is kicking up a storm now.

The kicks do not indicate a preferred sport though. Right now I am thinking that my daughters will be the starting SG and PG for the Chicago Sky in around 21-23 years. Rhea at 20 months is already showing a nice soft touch around the rock and an unselfishness which might make her an ideal 1-G. On the other hand she does like having the glory and attention so maybe she will be a 2-G. Either way get season tickets now as they are going to be the next big thing. Trust me.

Lite is Better

On the right the original Nintendo DS. On the left the new Nintendo DS Lite courtesy of some savvy shopping in Akihabara this past week in Japan (Special thanks to some DA persistence). This thing not only rocks with being smaller and easier on the hands but the screen brightness has improved so much it makes me put down the PSP 30% of the time…maybe this could get up to 50% if it was not for the Executioner, Winky, Bad Intentions (especially) and Fight Night, Round 3 on the PSP.

Take That!

Nice to see the bears reclaim their throne and show those showy monkey bastards a thing or two. (Story)