Is this all there is?

I'm still unpacking the boxes and cleaning the place up but you're welcome to stop by. The address is:

http://thisismystory-deano2000.blogspot.com/

See you there. Oh, and I could always use a housewarming gift.

just wrote a great entry but deleted it. Frick.

Heading out to get my drink on now so I'll have to update later!

I may not stay here much longer.

It's been really getting me down.

I think it's time for something new.

Blogger?

I know I've threatened before, but now I think it's time to 'call it' with LiveJournal.

I've got to tell you that the layout sucks. I've been having probs with uploading pics for as long as I've been a paying member and its never changed. Now, I'm trying to revamp my blog, but I can't post my favourite links on the side or get rid of all those "tag" links. What a mess.

I'm out of here!

Wow. I actually got a comment today asking me to post more. I was about to call the whole thing off – kill it even. Maybe I should reconsider.

Blog stays, you go!

Okay, but this time I’ve got to do it right. Better graphics, more pictures to distract from my crappy writing, and maybe a few links to the things I think are cool on the net.

Who am I kidding? You all want to know about crazy sh*te. The crazy sh*te that happens to me and the people I know.

Okay, yesterday Jean and I were walking through Central. As we came in front of Marks and Spencer’s, one middle-aged woman was tackling another. They punched and wrestled until the fell to the ground. When we all saw what was in the lady in pink’s handbag we knew what the story was. Shoplifting.

I had never seen anything like this in HK before. I’ve seen it all over the rest of the world but never in HK. Of course one lady was the undercover security, but the other one was like a Tai-tai. Like, all dolled up in heels, LV bag, and Chanel Blouse.

As she picked herself up off the ground as try to appear dignified, but all it did was make me feel more sorry for her. Embarrassed really. Possibly it had something to do with the security lady leading her by her cuff back into M&S.

All is well with Jean and I. She found a new hobby. Writing. Yup, I guess I’ve worn off on her because she’s now writing a story about life on Koh Phangng, an island next to Koh Samui. Earlier she had been collecting stories about Thai girls in HK, but now she thinks that’s all been done before.

Work is going well. Actually, it sucked for about a week as I suffered massive writer’s block, shock, and self-doubt. (Oops, that doesn’t rhyme.) I think the cause of it all was Jean. Once she started writing she started hogging the limited creative air in my apartment. Now, she’ll go to bar 109 to write and I’ll go to Pacific Coffee. She doesn’t even drink but she goes to that bar because she digs the music and the view of the street. I go to P.C. because although a friend swears by it I can’t drink and write. But on coffee…I can tear it up.

So far so good on the cartoon. Should have the pilot tweaked to perfection by the end of this week. Actually, it’s an okay script. I think it’s got some cool ideas and some funny jokes. Actually, I wrote a great joke tonight. I actually laughed outloud at it. I never laugh outloud at anything I write.

Last night Henrik and I argued for over an hour about a joke. Long story short: I think I won.

Jean and I are playing badminton regularly, which means we’ve gone twice.

We had dim sum for the first time in 6 months today. What is wrong with me? Although I must say that I’m using my Chinese more now than when I first returned. It’s because Jean and I are eating more local food.

Weekend before last Jean and I pulled a “7am Bridge” day. At the end of the night there was a fat 400+ lb Scot that wanted to beat me up. I have no idea how that happened. Then while waiting for the bus a few days later I saw him on the street. I hid.

Saw studio 60 twice. Liked it more the second time. It might stay on the hard drive. But just like someone else commented: “show the ‘big three’ being funny”. I’m just not a fan of behind-the-comedy-scene shows that aren’t funny. Larry Sanders works, but some many others weren’t. I wonder what it would be like if David E. Kelly work Studio 60.

Which reminds me….I totally dig Boston Legal.

That’s all I can remember for now. I’ll post this now and then check the spelling later. Time for dinner.

Work is fine. I guess it's great, really. Getting paid to be creative. Write jokes, fun scenes, and silly characters. But it's not without its own unique form of stress.

For example, I'm exhausted from having to say "no" to so many of Henrik's ideas because either they're not very good, they don't match the series, or they don't solve the creative problems at hand. His mind is still in development mode and we are entering pre-production mode on a particular episode! It becomes distracting when he is continuously adding new ideas and characters, and I always end up the bad-cop trying to reel him back in to the tasks at hand.

He recently came up with a type of creature that will be in the background and add to the visual. Something that would be equivilant to a bird in our "world". These creatures will not be involved in the stories yet and they have no interaction with the characters, except to fly by or be visible in a scene. However, Henrik has been talking about them non-stop for four days! We even dropped off scripts for the first few episodes at the animation studio yesterday and all he talked about was these frickin creatures. Now the animation guys probably think they're a major character in the scripts!!

It's also tiring having to explain or convince him of so many things that I think experienced TV people would just know. For example,

He wants this to be big and deep, and with lots of layers, but he's adding so many elements that it begins to dilute the significance of the elements we do have. For example, we need a sport in our "world". Well, he wants two sports. Now our show is certainly not sports-oriented but because we're dealing with "school kids" having a sport they're all into would seem logical. We could write stories that involved the sport and how important it is in they're world. However, I feel that if we have two sports (AND a game-like activity) we risk losing the dramatic significance of it. The show will only address the sport in a couple of episodes...maybe every 6-7 (I'm guessing) and if I have to split that time between TWO sports then there's not much invested in either one because the audience hasn't seen it or heard the characters talk about it very often. It's like: Friends didn't have two coffee shops they hung out with, Dr. Huxtable didn't like jazz AND classic rock, Harry Potter didn't have two sports. I think we have to pick one sport and SELL it to the audience. Get them to invest emotion and understand into it, so that when we have the big "competition" episode there will be much more on the line. Do I make sense?

So instead of Henrik just seeing it, we argue...a lot. It's okay because we never take it personal and the best idea usually wins (that involves coming from both of us...and Patrick).

I guess this is the creative process. Man, I get worked up about it though.

Then I thought about it last night: Is it possible we could jump the shark before we even complete the first episode???? Haha, I mean we can bring in all these new angles, characters, and elements when we need them - later, after a few years when we run out of ideas. What if a sit-com started its run by introducing a long-lost cousin or adopted a cute kid right in the pilot? Other than "Webster" they tend to save those ideas for when they need that finally creative push that will take us the rest of the way to syndication, right?

I don't know. Okay, Jean's awake. Time to go workout. Yup, you heard me correctly.

It's been a while since I updated. Let's see, what new in the world:

Canada gave the US false information on muslim computer geek, which caused him to be detained at JKF airport and flown to Syria for about year of torture. Frick. Is this crap ever going to stop? It's really getting ridiculous. I'd like to post something about blowing away the whole Bush administration but someone would pick up on it, miss the joke, and ship me off to a secret CIA prison for torture.

Coup in Thailand. Aren't these suppose to be exciting. Hearing from Jean and her friends in the Thai shop downstairs, this one is not. Heads of foriegn state are frowning upon it, but come on, it was the only way to get that smuck out of power. I know, I know, the US has never been involved in a coup.

Enough US bashing. How about some praise for what they do best: TV, movies, and music!

Watched "Devil Wears Prada". Nice little film. Great date movie.
Been watching a lot of "Classic Albums" and "Behind the Music". Love those shows.

Okay, how about an update on me:

1) I bought a guitar, hence the sore fingers. I figure since Jean sings I should get back into playing. I haven't played since I picked up Kirby's guitar about a year ago.

2) We bought badminton rackets and are heading over to the sports centre to later this morning. It's not expensive and the facilities are great! We can workout there too.

3) We 'locked' two scripts, which means we will chose the pilot from one of them and I don't have to perform anymore re-writes on them. We also met with another animation company who is excited about the show. They're just a small outfit but they've done some big projects like the Pang brothers new film "Recycle".

4) Looks like my folks might come in December. Super cool. We'll do a side trip to Thailand so Jean can show them around.

5) I've been waking up early pretty regularly. It's nice to be up around 7:30 when the city is slightly quieter.

6) I've also been battling sickness. A day or two and I should be 100%.

Wow, my heads not as clear as I thought I would be. I'll update more later because I can't remember what else to say.

I'm going to have a coffee and watch Gn'R Behind the Music. (now this is on-demand TV)

Anybody have other recomendations for shows to watch. I think Prison Break is next.

Last night was like the bizzaro world.

First Role Reversal: On the way to dinner, Jean and I gave directions to a pleasant new arrival to HK. By his calm demeaner and politeness I could have sworn he was from Canada, but he was from American. LA in fact.

Jean and I ate dinner at that great vietnamese place in CWB. Total garlic fest. Luckily, we both down equal doses so we could handle each other. To those that we talked to throughout the night: we're sorry.

Then we hit a bar and played some pool. Jean has really improved her game. I guess the teacher becomes the student. She won the table from this arrogant business-kid and then beat me! There was a rowdy group of twenty-somethings trying to take over the table.

Second Role Reversal: This was this one guy that we particularly dislike. He looked like George Costanza and kept telling the same story to his friends over and over again. Something about living in a beachhouse in California, buying everyone drugs, having a pool table, and making $250,000 US a year. The guy would not shut up. And then he was trying to hit on Jean and trying to be my new best friend. This guy was a total loser. On one hand I felt sorry for him, because you knew he was just saying anything to get attention, to be loved. But he was a total twat. I could have sworn he was American, but he was from Canada. I was dumbfounded. Then he said, "Montreal" and it made total sense. English-speakers from Quebec tend to be asses.

Jean lost the table there and we darted out the door. Hit Klong for a drink. Place wasn't very busy and there were two 40-something guys (who probably looked good when they were in their 20s and 30s) trying un successfully to dance and hit on this Filipino girl with giant breasts. These guys looked like they were your typical California preppie turned yuppie, but getting greyer and less cooler in their khakis and polo shirt. You had to feel sorry for them. Will I turn out like that?

Next was Bar 109. Jean really liked that place. She was having such a good time that she is responible for our Third Role Reversal: Jean let loose and had 3/4 of a mojito. Dang they are great there. I've never liked them before but now. Frick. Anyway, Jean went to the edge and was good and hammered after nursing her single drink for almost two hours. We did have a great conversation though.

Henrik showed up around 1am. We ordered more drinks (none for Jean) and when those were finished we headed to LKF.

Henrik's buddy wanted to go to Bar George so we did that. We tried to have a mojito there but they were awful. Couldn't even finish them. Jean had a coke.

Soon after that we "called it" went home and...

I swear there was some sort of earthquake last night. Around ten o'clock our entire building shook for about five seconds. It was quick and short but Jean and I both felt it. (insert sex/lack of stamina joke here)

So Jean is here. Things are fine except that something feels different now. It's on my side, and I think it's caused by how paranoid she is that I'm going to break up with her. She's had two "Thai Girl Breakdowns - Lite" since she's been her, but has assured me that it's all out of her system now. It must be due to the fact that she has literally given up everything to be with me. She has very little money of her own, she has put-off a career, and now relies on me for everything. I don't think she likes that feeling. Were something to happen to us, she'd have to start from scratch again. Of course that's a huge responsibility for me too, but I try not to let it stress me out. Also, she is getting increasingly jealous of me. Who could blame her!

I do miss the days when I had minimal expenses and was able to pack away a chunk of savings each month. But now, I have a decent apartment, a few toys, and two of us living off of one income. I guess that's all part of growing up.

On the work front, things are moving along. I'm just about finished the fifth episode and then there's just one more to go...and that one has only two lines written so far. We're meeting today to see some of Patrick's concept drawings. It's very exciting.

Made Jean watch one of my top ten favourite films: Boogie Nights. She enjoyed it as did I for the 25th time. We also watched Garden State, which was pretty good. Only those in my age group who have moved away from home would appreciate this film though. Jean thought it was a bit boring (thankfully it only ran 90mins) but it somehow made her enjoy watching Zach Braff in Scrubs all the more. Oh yeah, started season 3 last night. That show just runs on a loop in my apartment. It's like warm coco, soul food, or a back scratch from nana (my grandmother, not Richard's gf)

I watched Crumb, the doc on comic artist R. Crumb this morning. What a fasinating family life. Trauma, trauma, trauma. I can't believe my mom freaks out about our family being "messy". As Douglas Coupland once titled a book, "All Families are Psychotic".

For every "Friends" episode Jean wants to watch I show her an episode of of Howard Stern's "On Demand". The show is essentially drunk porn stars being interviewed while they get-off on a this Sybian Machine. To my surprise, Jean thinks it's hilarious.

Jean's got me into Los Lonely Boys music now. It's that tex-mex bordertown santana-inspired music that's hip with all the chick that like to dance but aren't into salsa.

I haven't been out all week or even had wine or beer with dinner. We're going for vietnamese food tonight and I think I'm going to get really, really drunk. It's nice when you just feel it...like, in your bones. I like to prepare Jean for it "Look, I've been good for a week. So, I need you to hold on tight because I am going to get drunk - retarded drunk tonight. I mean off-my-face, down-syndrome drunk. Please sign this waiver that grants me sole power to 'call it' when I desire and ensures that there will be no 'I told you so's' when I regret everything tomorrow."

Okay, I'd better get back to writing. It's distracting enough with all the hot chicks walking in and out of this Pacific Coffee.

Wow!

I hate first drafts. They depress me. They're the worst. I finished the first draft of our 5th episode today and went over it with Henrik and Patrick. Luckily, the guys coem to have realize that all my first drafts suck, but, that after a couple of re-writes I will finally nail it. So today was one of those days. On one hand I'm disappointed because I wish it was just finished, but then on the other, I'm excited because I know what problems to fix, how to fix them, and I know the script will be much better.

Jean arrives tomorrow and I'm super pumped. I'm looking forward to getting into a nice routine and having someone wake up to next to me.

I fell off the wagon tonight and bought some sour cream n' onion pringles. The worst part was that the 7-11 lady wouldn't let me buy just one...she just kept yelling "Leurng-gall ho pang-a!" So I caved and bought two.

I had dinner with Burman last week and we were talking about my return to HK. "So," he started, "you're happy to be back. You always said HK was your home." "I don't know," I replied. "It feels different this time." I think that's because I've been bouncing between Thailand and Hong Kong for the last six months, I have a Thai gf, and I haven't been watching TVB. I realize that my Cantonese is getting worse now because there's very little use for it anymore. I used to be such a sino-phile with script, doc, and story ideas coming out my ying yang, but now, my head is in the 'clouds' and teh Chinese has been pushed out by a basic knowledge of Thai. I'm also obsessed with the Thai Royal Family. I'm dying to read "The King Never Smiles", an expose on the royal family that is so full of gossip (or truth) that it has been banned in the kingdom.

Miss HK came and went - I didn't flinch.
The last HK movie I saw was Perhaps Love.

What happened?

Hey, check this out:

http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide

It's the top box office grossing films worldwide. The top ten are understandable because we here them quoted all the time. What gets me is that as you move down the list, you see how many mediocre or forgettable movies made a heap of dough. All it takes is one hit and you're set for life!

Thoughts on List (and I won't comment on blockbusters that sucked)

#21 - the Da Vinci Code still managed to make $800,000,000!!
#29 - Ice Age was never something I ever wanted to see and I love 3D movies!
#46 - Twister made half a billion dollars? Way to go Helen Hunt!
#53 - Bruce Almighty. I laughed. Good concept, but by far one of J.C.'s weaker comedies.
#64 - Mr & Mrs. Smith? What the?
#77 - Signs??? Come on people, this is a list of the highest box office grossing movies of ALL TIME!! Really?

#83 - Gone With the Wind (1939) 390,500,000. Now that has to be a trillion dollars in todays terms!!
#86 - Ice Age. I don't believe it.
#90 - What Women Want. I could have sworn this went straight to video but apparently not. $370,000,000

#92 - Hitch!!!!!!!!!! Kill me now...

Man, as far as the top five goes, if you just had a percent of a percent cut of one of those pictures...you'd never have to work again. And other than Phantom Menace, I'd be proud to put any one of them on my resume!

I'm going to try to update more often so that I've got something to read when I'm old and fat.

Saw "United 93" yesterday. Not too bad. No stars, no real plot, just tension, tension, tension. A friend recommended it saying the last four minutes were incredible. He was right. I was literally out of breath as I exited the theatre. I was glad I watched it alone but I needed time to decompress afterwards. I really didn't feel like talking to anyone.

On the work front, Henrik got some weird responses from the animation companies. The one we wanted to use said that they were just too busy until the new year. The other one, which we didn't even want to use, quoted us $150,000 US for the 11 min pilot. What the dillio? The average budget for a 22 min animation show is less than $100,000!! And that includes the entire budget: writers, scripts, music, etc. What do we get for all that money? Happy endings? I can write those myself thank you.

We still have a planned meeting with the outrageous company on Monday. We'll have to re-iterate that they are only suppose to quote us on the ANIMATION and there's no way their company can even give us the quality we want for that kind of money. This is the company that did "Butt Ugly Martians". I don't know.

Henrik is a bit bummed and acting like the dream is over, but Patrick and I said, "No way. When the money stops then it's over!" We're meeting today to discuss hiring our own animation team and doing the work in-house. It would save us money in the long run but would prove a bit risky at first. But, are goal is this 11min pilot. We could hire 5 decent animators and a senior AD/animator for way, way, way less than this company is charging. The only downsize is we'd have to buy or lease the gear. It would still be cheaper though.

Weird. I have no idea what they hope to accomplish by quoting us this much. Another company in Shenzhen quoted us $25,000 US for the pilot. That's a decent price, but I'm leary of the quality of their work.

As I said, I will keep me posted.

I've been thinking about changing blog hosts. From LiveJournal to Blogger. Blogger seeems to have better design and access to links, friends, and previous posts. But, I'm pretty lazy so I'm not sure if I'll get around to it.

POP CULTURE OPINIONS

Been downloading a lot of Howard Stern...good to hear him again. The only problem is that due to Pavlov's Dog affect I crave a Tim's medium double double everytime I hear the show and there's no way to satisfy that urge.

The Farrelly Brothers are finished. Tried to watched "The Ringer" yesterday...was it a drama? Terrible acting, terrible script, terrible directing...could not get past the first 30 minutes. Garbage!

Reno 911 - Season Three. Crap. They jumped the shark following Season 1. Is there any good comedy out there?

Finished reading "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. It was okay. I think it just got a little repetitive...repetitive...repetitive. I'm now on John Irving's new one "Until I Find You". I'm a tad worried that it will go the way of "Son of the Circus" - long and boring.

I wish I had more to report but when you only leave your apartment to buy food there's very little that could happen to you.

Today I will go buy a home phone and check out "United 93".

Super excited because Jean arrives on Sunday. I'd better clean the apartment and get some food in the fridge.

For the first time in all my time in Asia I am running out of patience for HK people. Frick.

Henrik (Danish), Patrick (Chinese), and I (Johnny Canuk) were exited a Pacific Coffee this morning and Henrik was complaining that the Gas Company guy who keeps calling him doesn't speak any English. As he left he said to us, "They know I'm a foriegner, why would they send someone who doesn't speak English." Well some middle-aged dork using the free internet connection said, "This is the People's Republic of China, Sir. Not America. You should go back to your homeland." He lost credibilty immediately because any regular HK native would have just said "Hong Kong", so I knew he was a mainlander (or commie red) whose probably been here a while. Well, we all let in to him that we're in fact NOT Americans...we're Danish, Canadian, and Malaysian!! First time I've ever run into a HK fat head.

But then, the PCCW guy comes to my house. This time I'm topless and smoking - joke - he starts asking me abou t my rent, says I'm paying too much, then asks about the square footage, doubts what I tell him. Finally I lose it and say, "You come into my house, start asking all these questions and then doubt what I tell you - fix the phone and get out!"

But anyways...let me digress. Big meeting with Henrik and Patrick today to finalize three of the scripts and pick the one for the pilot episode. Patrick brought some great drawings and it's so incredible to watch the world and characters take shape.

It's been pretty frustrating writing sometimes. It's like you struggle and struggle and get to the point where you doubt any of it is good. (Like a PCCW technician) But then, when other people read it and they get it and even like it - it feels fantastic. Three of the scripts are partially-locked (I say that because I want to tweak the dialogue and punch up a few of the jokes. But we've moved on to storyboarding)

I've still got two scripts to finish and one to start. I want to get as much done as possible by Monday because Jean will be coming and it's harder to write with her sexy body around me...har!

I guess it's a dream gig...but it's not without it's own worries. Like, will I have a job after I write these three scripts? Henrik has said that he wants me on staff through the whole process but I can't see there being that much work for me. I guess I just give my opinions and help problem-solve. And it's me and him that's developing this thing. If the show gets picked up then I'll be the head writer/producer and freelance out most of the writing and only concentrate on a few scripts.

Right now there's just three of us on this thing and as Patrick said today, "I've never worked on an animation series where one guy was designing everything." I replied, "I've never worked on a show where one guy was writing everything!" (I guess I could have also said, "I've never worked on a show."

So, as my friends say, I've got to enjoy this time and not worry too much about the future. But with Jean coming and two of us living of one income I can't help worry sometimes. But I guess that's what we always do.

I'm getting excited.

After complaining endless that the nightlife in HK has become boring since I returned from Canada, last night marked a return to old times.

I spent the day writing my butt off so I wouldn't feel guilty about going out. I was just planning to have dinner and a few drinks but alas...it was not to be so simple.

Around 8 I headed over to Thai farmer to enjoy some decent Thai food then met up with a buddy at the Devil's Advocate for a couple Standard Charter $20 cocktails. We talked about our careers, our girlfriends, movies, and comedy. It seems the only thing we never discuss is music. That's probably because I think his taste in music is almost as shameful as his taste in women...joke!

After a couple rounds there I headed over to Klong where a friend of Em's was celebrating her birthday. They had invited me earlier in the week so I thought I should be polite and stop by. For the first time in a while Klong was busy. Everyone was there and everyone was pretty well lit. Beer, tequilla, and cake. Tonnes of hot women but of course they're all happily married and friend's of my ex. It was a blast.

From there we all hit Joe Banana's followed by Dusk till Dawn. I finally decided to call it around 4am. Okay...that was an alright night. I doubt there'll be one of those for awhile.

I just googled myself and found out that I was one of the FBI's most wanted back in 1965. It also seems that my full name was Donald Dean Rainey. I was finally arrested in Arizona. What crimes I committed, I don't know. 35 years later I was released, dropped the Donald, and move to Hong Kong to start over. I'm doing okay.

Talked with Jean and she's getting very frustrated with her job...or lack there of. It seems that there's just not enough work right now until the company becomes better established. The company, a design firm, is being set up by her friend who is still under contract with his uncle's company. Therefore the only time he can work with Jean is on the weekends. So, we've pretty much decided to "call it" and she'll be coming back to HK to stay with me for as long as she can. She's fine with that because taking care of me will keep her busier than she has been the last month. It's too bad it didn't work out because she was dying to do something - to get back to work. I told her to look for another job, but with our plan to have her in HK in the next few months anyways she thinks it's not polite to take a job that she's just going to end up quiting. I don't know.

So, looks like I'll be heading back to Bkk for a week to pack up her apartment and bring her back here. It's not really been a waste though because now she appreciates living in HK. She enjoys it much better here than Bkk because what you see is what you get and everything in business and daily life is pretty fair. Thailand's been frusstrating for her because of how hard it is to get things done without bribing people or people trying to take you for money.

Example: when I stayed with her in Bkk we would often go to the street market to buy our dinner. It's super cheap and the food is very tasty. Basically, it's grocery shopping for hot food that you're going to eat right away. Everytime we went to the market we would pick up some freshly steamed and butter corn on the cob. It's delicious. The first few times we went it cost 15 baht (60 cents CDN) for three cobs. However, once the vendor saw that Jean had a foreign boyfriend he decided to up the price to 25. Well, she lost it. She let into him right then and there by telling him that this was no way to run a business because we'd just stop buying from him. Well, he recanted and gave us the regular price. The attitude is that Jean and I have money so we can afford to pay more. You see this a lot and many of the vendors will even be so bold as to assume to girl will go along with it. I remember being in Phuket with Dear and she needed to buy a bathing suit. The prices at the shop (a tarp-covered stall on the roadside) were outrageous. When Dear enquired as to why everything was so expensive the vender simply said, "Come on, your boyfriend has money." But it's the principal of the thing. Needless to say, we didn't buy from that stall.

So that's the sort of attitude that's been frustrating Jean. She hasn't lived in Bangkok for years so she's having to experience it all over again. Everyone is money obsessed in Bkk. People have massive debt because they spend all their money trying to show that they have money. In a place where the average monthly income is roughly $450 CDN I have no idea whose buying all those brandname products. I can't even afford them!

Oh, Thailand. Land of contrasts, conflicts, and contradictions.

That is all.

	Jean's Family's House.
	Jean's neigbour's house.
	Teaching the cousins to be polite.
	Sample of Jean's family's fireworks.
	Vollyball...many obstacles!

	Main Street USA, HK, CH
	Jean and the fat man - or dopey.
	Thai babies start Muay Thai boxing very young.
	Jean helping her mom at their fireworks shop.
	More work to be done.
	Homemade thrills
	We need to take the ones in this box and put them in that box. Hard work!
	Jean's father getting ready to show me something. I did get nervous.
	Timing the flying object. Length of time in air 2:31
	There it goes over the rice paddies!
	Flying object they sent up.

Been writing in the mornings, meeting with Henrik in afternoon's, and writing again at night. The series is coming along nicely and it's getting more and more depth to it was we move forward.

I craved a kabab last night around 12am so I jumped in a cab, headed to LKF, downed a chicken one then hopped in another cab and came home. That's a $100 kabab!! Shouldn't do that too often.

On a sad note: looks like I won't be going up to Shanghai to see Kirb this weekend. I went to book my ticket, hotel, and visa and even with the cheapest package available it would cost me roughly a grand CDN. I just don't think I can justify that for only a couple of days there. I guess too many $100 kababs made this impossible!

Good News: My HK friend's wives think my Thai girlfriend is beautiful! If you know anything about HK girls that is an incredible compliment. Of course they didn't tell me...only the husbands. But, I've got the approval I was nervous about so now it looks as though I'm all set. Of course I'm dying to take Jean to meet my folks in Canada. I'm hoping we can pull off a trip in the coming months.

Okay, I am now going to try to post some photos...wish me luck!

I should be in bed by now but I'm going to take the time to update this thing. Remember, this is for me (when I'm an oldie) and the few friends who want to keep tabs on me from back home.

I've been back in HK since Wed. I've had a few great meetings with animation companies here and they've given me some great feedback on the sample script we sent them. The wheels are in motion and it feels great to be writing something that people really want to be a part of. Things will continue to get crazier I'm sure. Good news is that I got my buddy Patrick on board as an art director. He's very good and Henrik is already a huge fan of his.

Friday night I ventured out into HK with Henrik. Went to LKF for drinks and ran into Dougie. He seems to be doing well. Then went to see Jerry at a Chivas party his company was throwing at Mooch...HK girls, what can you do? Next, it was over to WC to meet Matt. Boy, the old WC ain't what it used to be. In fact, the nightlife here is getting pretty "same same but boring". Hit all the usual haunts but it was just plain boring. Maybe I'm getting boring.

Anyway, Saturday I stayed in to write and watch scrubs and a doc on Sid Barret from Pink Floyd. Meep.

Sunday came and I ventured out again. First the Bridge for a tuna melt and to read the paper. Then the usual haunts to see the usual friends. Boring. What can I say...now that I feel settled down with Jean it's tough when she's not around. I'm giving her two weeks at her new job and if she's not taking over the company I'm sending for her.

Weird weekend. Ex-gf update:

I ran into Em's cousin. Em is now in Germany with her new bf and will be staying there until January. Good for her.

Email from Jenny Tso in Seattle. She's 8 months prego. Good for her and her husband.

SMS from Dear. She says she's fine and she "not hate" me. Good for me, I guess.

Anything else. Not that I remember. I should try to update more often and of course post some pics. I have quite a few but it takes so long to upload them from my MAC to this site that I often refuse to even try.

Okay phone just dinged so looks like I've got my goodnight SMS from Beamer (Jean). Better go "send her back".

I'm sitting in an internet cafe right now soaked with sweat. I've been walking all over town to used bookstores trying ot stock up on books before I return to HK. So far no luck...one new book: John Irving's latest.

All is well. Been running into people I know like crazy here. Some of Em's friends, some of friends of friends. Everyone seems well and drama-free.

Looks like my days of lazy traveler/writer or over. Henrik is ready to swing into pre-production the moment I get back to HK. We meet that night to prepare for a meeting with the animation studio. Then we have to search for a proper art director. I'm hoping I can get my pal Patrick the gig...this is right up his alley.

Jean and I have been out quite a bit lately...well, after I got feeling better. Last night we went to Khao San Road. It's becoming pretty up-ity now. Cool old bars/hotels though...very rustic, although I still hate the clientele. We played pool at this bar and Jean owned her table for over an hour. She kicked ass!! Everything I taught her!

Picked up some good movies...well potentially good movies. I'll watch them and let you know:

Legend of Ricky Bobby
World Trade Center
and one other that I forget right now...

I'm not looking forward to leaving Jean behind. This time it's tough because I don't know when I'll be back or she'll come to HK. If it sucks too bad though she's going to quit her job and get over to HK.

Lots of interesting stories regarding the Jon Benot Ramsey case, although none of it makes sense to me at all. I was chatting with an American journalist last night (he's been here a while) and we were both saying that the first thing our parents both asked (or told) us was that Thailand is terrible for child sex. I'm sure there's something somewhere...but it ain't vietnam or cambodia...and they think Bangkok is like this crazy backward deprived place - but it's really becoming a world class city. So this journalist told me that all Inside Edition (the TV show) wanted was video of Patpong and Soi Cowboy to spice up the story...he said that the guy they caught was no doubt a freak but that he doubted the guy even left his computer or his apartment so what did girly bars have to do with it......but the guy certainly did something!!! Weird story.

Okay, going to meet kilorn for a beer and gossip.

I have a lot to update but I just don't think I have it in me. I've been sick as a dog with the flu since we got back from Jean's hometown and this is the first time I've ventured out of the house. I really needed some farang food. Which makes me ask: Why are their English versions of Thai words with "r"s in them. Thai people can't say "r" it's always an "L" so why would there be words with sounds that they don't say...irritates me.

That's why I'll save my update for later.

All is well though. Jean's nursed me back to health...just battling what remains of the flu...avian?

evian

As requested here are the results of my "experiment" two weeks ago:

1) Will I actually get out of bed at 5:30am?

I got out of bed at 6:15. The problem was that I was so anxious I couldn't get to sleep the night before until about 1:30am. I was slightly spent before I even started.

2) What kind of clothes will I wear to go out at 5:30am?

I chose jeans, a sporty t-shirt, and sneakers. Casual. No regrets.

3) Will I drink beer or coffee when I arrive at the Bridge?

The first Carlsberg was hard...they went down easier after that.
4) Will I spend less or more money this way?

I think I spent exactly the same because...(see next answer)

5) How far will I go before I "call it"

I "called it" at 10:30pm that night. Totally partying time: 13 hours and 30 minutes.

If I do it again I'll start a little later...like say 9-10am.