48 square metres more

So much happened today! Er, yesterday. Um, today. Oh crap, officially it happened yesterday because it's already waaaay past midnight. But this is basically the end of one honkin' loooong day, so let's just call it today, shall we?

The important thing is that I go to Thailand tomorrow. Er, today. Fuck it -- this is what happened over the past 16 hours or so.

• In the entrance tent of my lounge, I hung 48 square metres of red stretchy silk fabric that I inherited from our Artistic team, and it looks incredible
• I moved the bright red silk organza that I had hung in that same entrance tent yesterday to a couple of different places around the lounge, just to experiment and check out the effects of varying lighting
• I worked 15 hours, thereby logging enough hours that I can reduce by one the number of vacation days I'm taking during my trip to Thailand (instead of 7 vacation days, I'll only be subtracting 6 from my allotment because of my extra long day today)
• I invited a few of my favourite circus freaks to a quiet gathering of drinks for my birthday when I get back from Thailand
• I confirmed with Luscious Lorna that I'd like to be signed up for St. Anthony's Triathlon at the end of April
• I got an e-mail from Tuna, a volleyball friend from Vancouver who I completely, totally unexpectedly ran into last Friday night at a bar here in Hong Kong
• I ate 18 leftover chocolates in the lounge

A great day all-around. But the last item on the list may have been the best of them all. I'm not kidding when I say I ate 18 of the little suckers. They were good!

Off to Thailand tomorrow. But first, sleep. I worked 'til 3AM, and it's shortly past 4AM now. I'm still wired (must be the chocolate), but I'll try to go to sleep so I'm daisy fresh for my flight to Bangkok tomorrow. Totally wishful thinking.

Hung

I hung some of the bright red silk organza along one wall of our entrance tent. I only hung it along one wall for now, just because I don't want to cut it to fit other walls just yet. I need to figure out exactly where else I'm going to hang it and how I need to cut it, but for now -- even though it's only hung temporarily along one small wall -- it looks absolutely fabulous. I want to play with it a bit today, moving it around to other walls and stuff, but there are about a billion other things to do before the end of the day.

After all, I am going to Thailand on holidays for 9 whole days tomorrow : )

56 square metres

I was disappointed by the shoe shops in Shenzhen. There were plenty of 'em, that's for sure, but I just didn't see what I was lookin' for. But that's the gamble you take with shopping -- sometimes you're delighted with the treasures you find, while other times you realize that some people will buy any crap as long as it's cheap you shouldn't lower your standards.

But on a much brighter note -- literally -- I visited a big fabric market and a whole bunch of curtain shops, looking for that "just right" fabric to transform the lounge into something even more brilliant. And I found it!

I took home 56 square metres of bright red silk organza fabric in one big piece, 2.8 metres by 20 metres. That's one honkin' big bolt of fabric, my friends! But it shimmers and shines and will look simply stunning in the lounge. I can't wait to drape it all over the walls of the tent to make it look less "tent" and more "lounge."

Unfortunately, I also found out that velvet doesn't come in wide fabric bolts, but is instead limited to pieces only 1.5 metres wide, while I need something a bit more substantial. As a result, I stupidly didn't buy any, realizing that I wouldn't have time to get the bolts sewn together before we leave here. But I should have just bought a whole bunch of it and kept it until I could get it sewn together in San Diego. Damn!

Are any of my readers going for a shop in Shenzhen any time soon? I'd love to give you my velvet fabric shopping list. Lots of red and black, please!!

Bring on a shoe shop or two

I'm so freakin' cosmopolitan. It's a day off and I'm heading to China for a day trip. Yup, another day off, another country, another stamp in the passport. Despite the fact that I just hit China last week, it's nice to obtain yet another stamp to prove just how shallow well-traveled I am.

There's this mega-mall in a city called Shenzhen, just across the border from the New Territories. And I'm headin' there for a wee look-see. Using this as my bible, I'm planning on hitting the fabric market for a look at some plush, bright, tactile fabrics for my lounge. I see velvet, organza, and all other sorts of shi-shi fabrics draped over the walls, tables, and everywhere.

See, I've got some budget left over for this fiscal year. And if I don't spend it, I'm gonna lose it. And you know the cheapskate within me absolutely cannot let that happen! Plus, sprucing up the ol' lounge with a new coat of lipstick is something I've been planning on doing for a loooong time now. I inherited the ol' gal from someone else when I started this job. But it's definitely time to put my own stamp of ownership and vision on her. time to give 'er the ol' Jeff treatment!

Bring on Shenzhen. Bring on the fabric market! Bring on a shoe shop or two : )

Spectacular

Speechless.

Absolutely speechless.

Totally. Without. Words.

I just stumbled upon Episode #24 of Lost on Pearl Channel. Heck, I didn't even know Pearl was broadcasting Lost. But instead of having to wait until tomorrow on AXN, I was transported to the Island tonight. Talk about a completely unexpected and stunning way to spend Sunday evening.

Yes, of course I recently cheated and found out in advance what happened. What can I say? I'm not a bad man. I'm just a lame-ass weak.

Still, I found myself -- very literally -- holding my breath at certain points as I stressed about what would happen to our hapless band of survivors. For my money, knowing the plot but still waiting with baited breath cuz you can't wait to see what happens next? Now that is some bad-ass TV!

Spectacular. And now I can sleep peacefully.

4 feet across

I'm sitting in my hotel room watching the American Music Awards telecast on TV. Mariah Scarey has just opened the show and I'm confused.

Is she more curvaceous than "normal"?

Or is the wide screen aspect of my plasma TV that's making her butt and boobs measure about 4 feet across?

Regardless, someone tell the gal to cover up and stop dressing like a porn star.

Not good, but Great

Just got home from Beijing. I'm exhausted, but it was really great. More details later, but the highlight was, of course, climbing the Great Wall. How the hell did they build that thing without heavy machinery?!

Peace, everyone.

It sounds wicked!

I cracked under the pressure. I couldn't stand it any more and I just cracked. I'd been holding it in since August, and I finally succumbed.

After missing the ending in Australia and Singapore, I will finally be able to see the final episode in Hong Kong. But, despite the fact that it's only a couple of weeks away, I caved in.

Yup, I read the synopsis of the final episode of Lost, Season #1. And it sounds wicked!

The turnip supply chain:not exactly rocket science!

Let's say there's this issue that I'm having at work. Now, instead of telling you what the issue really is, I'm going to pretend that I'm having an issue getting turnips for my guests. I hate turnips -- always have. So for the sake of this post, let's pretend that I'm talkin' turnips and how to get 'em for my guests.

Now, organizing turnips for my guests through an outside supplier is a pretty big part of my job. It's pretty basic: someone has the turnips, and I arrange to make them available for my guests. The means by which I acquire those turnips changes somewhat from city to city, but gettin' turnips for my guests is an ever-present component of the service I provide.

And let's say that, in Hong Kong, I need to organize those turnips through someone named Steve. I've been working with Steve for a few weeks now, trying to smooth out the challenges we've had, trying to make it easy for everyone. Basically, I just need to make sure that the supply chain (from Steve to my guests, via me) is working. Unfortunately, Steve seems a bit thick and is causing me a series of migraine headaches a bit of grief.

Now, you'd think that.....

• ...turnips aren't that hard to get right cuz there's no lack of turnips at Steve's disposal *; that supplying turnips ain't exactly rocket science.
• ...someone like Steve, who wants to encourage guests to come back and buy more turnips from him in future, would want to make it inviting and easy for guests to acquire them in the first place.
• ...Steve would want to implement methods that would make supplying turnips to my guests more administratively streamlined for both his team and mine.
• ...having Steve change the turnip rules every few days might lead to some really pissed off guests confusion.
• ...it might be a priority for Steve to fix the mistakes printed on the information card given to every guest who buys his turnips.
• ...yelling talking on the phone to Steve each and every day would convince him that this issue really does matter. A lot.

You'd think, wouldn't you?

Unbelievably, getting turnips for my guests from this outside supplier is the biggest, most nightmarish part of my job. Crazy, huh?

Then again, if working with inept turnip suppliers is the biggest problem I have, then I have it pretty damn good.

* note: whether there really are plenty of turnips in Hong Kong is irrelevant, cuz it's an analogy! stay with me here, people!! the real product/service I'm talking about is in no short supply

A little closer to home

Yesterday I picked up my passport with my new Chinese visa in it, because it's only a few days until I head to Beijing. But first, tonight I get to watch the show from The Garage. And I get to deal with an extremely high maintenance group on Friday. And I've got tons of planning to do to get ready for our next city of San Diego. Will I get it all done?!

Yesterday we had a marathon off-site management meeting to do year-end performance reviews for our entire department of Supervisors. Some reviews were easier to do than others, of course, but it was very useful to have input from the other managers. In fact, it helped each of us deal with some issues that we each would have struggled with if we were going through the process solo.

If one of us had a negative opinion of someone's performance in a particular area, the others might have a different experience, and we would talk it out. If one of us had a really great view of someone's results, someone else may have had a less-than-terrific view, and it would spur some great conversations. It was a really good way of coming to concensus and ensuring we evaluate all of our team members according to the same scale. And we're great at keeping each other in line! A really good thing done.

And you know what? I get a real kick out of watching Hong Kong TV and seeing three consecutive shows that are filmed in Vancouver: Tru Calling, Cold Squad, and Smallville. Makes me feel a little closer to home.

After two wicked days off, it's back to work today.

But not before saying.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUFFIN!!

And happy birthday to the adorable Mike Douglas, too. But I don't think Mikey reads my blog : (

Two new traveling companions

Today I gained two new traveling companions. (1) I booked my trip to Beijing with Laid Back Guy for Nov 20-23; and (2) I bought a brand spankin' new digital camera with my sole requirement being that it has to easily fit into my pants pocket so I can take it everywhere.

Only problem? I can't download any of the pictures I take with my new baby, because my laptop which is currently dying a slow death doesn't have a working CD-ROM and I can't load the required software. And our network at the office is pretty much locked down to prevent stupid people from introducing viruses to the environment by clicking on spam that advertises penile enlargements protect us.

All the more reason to get a laptop sooner rather than later, I suppose. Glenn, that iBook is lookin' awfully good at this point! I'm just not sure about moving away from Windows to Mac OS....but I'm trying to get used to the idea.

Another friend suggested I play with an Apple before buying one. Good advice, Ho-T! I'll play on my friend Nebraska's before committing to purchase.

Any better?

Does it get any better than this?!

• A gut-bustingly funny e-mail from Gonads, followed by her first comment on my blog!
• A great phone conversation with Mom and Dad last night!
• A solution-in-progress to a problem that's been challenging me at work!
• An officially tendered resignation (not mine!), and an opportunity to look at how to fill the position using different resources!
• Brunch yesterday morning at the very cool Hong Kong Football Club with Laid Back Guy, One World Gal, their kids, and Belfast Girl!
• Confirmed and paid-for flights to Thailand (Dec. 1-9) and Vancouver (Dec. 18)!
• A new roommate lined up for San Diego!
• A chance on Thursday to watch the show from The Garage!
• An awesome conversation with Luscious, and the exhilaration of hearing that she's starting to consider how episodes in her life could translate into compelling blog entries ("Paint the picture! Just make me feel like I was there!")
• And today and tomorrow: two glorious days off!

Does it get any better than this?! Well, to be absolutely honest, sometimes it does. But for the purposes of this post, let's just say it's all good.

It's a beautiful day. Gotta get at it!

"Eyebrows -- there should be two!"

I'm a Friday night loser. I'm watching Miss Congeniality on TV for the billionth time. There's just nothing on TV here worth watching (Lost on Mondays being the exception, of course).

But the reality is that, even if there was something else decent on, I'd probably still be watching this damned movie. For some reason, it makes me chuckle out loud repeatedly, and I always tend to watch it when it's being broadcast.

And, of course, one of the best lines in the whole movie is Sindee's favourite:

Victor (Michael Caine's character), looking at Sandy B. during her Miss United States Pageant Boot Camp makeover: "Eyebrows -- there should be two!"

"I'm thinking of going to Beijing with you"

I had a glorious day off today. Laid Back Guy and I were joined by Belfast Girl, a visitor from (duh) Northern Ireland, and we made our way up the Peak Tram before taking a whole bunch o' pictures and hiking down the other side. Despite the fact that you have to take a cab from Cyberport through Central and to the base of the Peak Tram, you can simply walk down a nice paved path on the West side all the way back to Cyberport.

It only took an hour to walk all the way home from the Peak. And then it was time for a brief dip in the pool. And then it was nap time : ) And then it was time to call Number One and catch up with what's going on in Sydney. And then it was over to Laid Back Guy's and One World Gal's home for a beautiful dinner. And then it was time for some freely flowing wine and conversation.

I happened to mention to Laid Back Guy that I was planning on going to Beijing during our Double Dark on Nov. 20-21, cuz I'd like to get another stamp in my passport see the Great Wall. Well, how cool was it a few minutes later when he casually mentioned to me, "I'm thinking of going to Beijing with you."

The plans are in the works, and Beijing awaits. Oh, that's in addition, of course, to my plans to go to Phuket during the first week of December. I'm lovin' my travel agenda these days!

Then vs. now

Three years ago today, I was with some amazing friends as we attended the closing ceremonies of the Gay Games in Sydney. The ceremonies themselves were an absolute yawn a bit dull, but the company was outstanding.

And now, three years later to the day...

• I'm a circus freak, touring Asia-Pacific and living in Hong Kong until December 18
• I'm missing Vancouver terribly
• I'm in the process of booking a holiday in early December to Bangkok and Phuket
• I'm looking forward to the Out Games in July 2006
• I'm suffering from a minor rash inside my left elbow
• I'm craving a normal schedule in my life
• I'm desperate for a stereo so I can play the small collection of CD's that I have with me on tour
• I'm richer for having met some amazing people over the past 3 years
• I'm single
• I'm hooked on Lost, but am still waiting to see the final 2 episodes of the first season (and can't even think about what's already happened in Season #2)
• and I'm really looking forward to touring the US next year

It's absolutely crazy how things have changed. But one thing remains: I still have this stupid uncanny ability to remember fairly meaningless dates.

Pet Peeve #384

Pet Peeve #384: going to a bar that still utilizes plenty of black lighting to help create an ambiance reminiscent of the 1980's. No matter how clean your simple black t-shirt is, the now-visible lint remnants look like you've accidentally left a shredded kleenex in the washing machine.

I swear, I walked around that place 17 times trying to find a wee tiny corner of the bar that didn't have that tragic black lighting raining down. I couldn't find any refuge, so after 20 minutes of feeling extremely self-conscious I left.

Not. Impressed.

Only one

Only one more day. And then it's Monday and a chance for a normal life. Well, normal is always a bit of a stretch for a circus freak.

But a day off is a day off!

Fun personalitieslurking in each many of them

I had coffee this morning with Laid Back Guy, One World Gal, and their daughter. And it reminded me just how cool they are. They've made firm plans to take me here, there, and everywhere while I'm here, and I'm stoked to have people to show me the sights. In fact, Laid Back Guy and I are getting together Monday to drink ourselves silly maybe go for a hike, or something. And of course, I'll get them in to see the show.

Since Premiere, we've had 3 more shows to get the temp staff trained and on-track. They seem pretty into it and on the ball, so I think they'll be good. They really didn't show much gumption at either our orientation day or training day, but I've certainly seen considerable evidence that there are fun personalities lurking in each many of them. Despite the occasional language issue, I think these guys and gals will help make Hong Kong a successful run for us.

What else, what else, what else. One more day before -- brace yourself for it -- A DAY OFF!! And I'm in desperate need of it!!

5:10 am

5:10 am, and I just left the Premiere Party.

And it was fairly ordinary, to be honest.

There are plenty of circus freaks still going strong. There are also plenty who should have left 2 hours ago and will, tomorrow, most certainly regret their failure to recognize that fact. For me, it was just time to go -- I made it to 5:00 am, and that's a pretty fair accomplishment for me.

At least this Premiere Party I'm not drunk and won't be hung over tomorrow. Thank heaven for small miracles.

Ready to rock

Training's over and we're ready for Premiere tomorrow night. The finishing touches still have to be put on the catering buffet and other peripherals -- there always seems to be finishing touches to be put on something -- but we're ready to rock.

That's all. It's all good. As we used to say back in my life working as part of a group that did a lot of really bad project management, it's on track, on target, and on budget.

Oh ya, we got the black velvet drapes back today. They look 100% better after being cleaned, but I now realize just how much we need new ones. Stains and rips galore. Oi.

Anyone know a reputable black velvet drape supplier in the San Diego area?

Laid Back Guy

I really like where we are in Hong Kong. Our hotel is a 3-minute walk from the site, but there's a building in my line of site and all I can see of work is the very tops of the 4 flags on each corner of the Big Top. That's good -- I don't really want to see the work site from my hotel room 7 days a week!

The site is right on the water, and reminds me a lot of being in Vancouver. There are tons of ships literally an arm's length away in view. With all the mountains in the background -- or pseudo-mountainous landscape, at least -- and the water in the foreground, it looks a lot like the view from my old apartment overlooking English Bay towards Vancouver Island.

And I like that feeling of home.

But unlike home...

• Hong Kong, a city with a population of 6.8 million, was ceded to Great Britain by China in 1841, and returned to Chinese rule in 1997
• The city is now administered by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
• Hong Kong is the city with the most Rolls Royce's per capita in the world.
• Its rich, multiethnic history has made it one of the world's most thriving cultural and financial centres
• Hong Kong has the largest fleet of double-decker trams in the world.
• Hong Kong residents have the highest rate of dining out, consuming 8.7 meals per month at restaurants
• The city has been selected to host the 2006 Asian Games (the Asian equivalent of the Olympics)
• The average maximum daily temperature in November: 24.9°C (76.8°F)
• The average minimum daily temperature in November: 16.4°C (61.5°F)
• Laid Back Guy lives here

Laid Back Guy is my old friend (I can't believe I met him way back in 1992) who I met in Whistler waaaay back when he and New York City Boy worked in the Ticket Office. Why do I refer to him here as Laid Back Guy? Cuz nothing phases this guy. Nothing. He's seriously the most chilled fella I've ever met. He's recently moved to Hong Kong with his wife, One World Gal, and I was going to e-mail him as soon as I got home tonight, but we were obviously on the same wavelength, and he beat me to it!

And it turns out he and One World Gal live very close to here. And he's not working right now and has some help to look after the kids. And he can leave the kids with the help and get away pretty easily for a coffee and catch up. And he likes to drink -- or at least he used to when he and Sandy and New York City Boy and Meggsy and Will and Megan lived in Snowgoose -- so maybe we can go for something stronger than a coffee.

I haven't seen him since my birthday two years ago. Jeepers, that was a week after I moved to Sydney, and that's just far too long ago. Can't wait to catch up.

Easier every time

Set up seems to be getting easier every time. We were a day behind schedule because our tent didn't get set up as early as we had thought. As a result, our carpet was laid a day late and I was worried that we'd be burning the midnight oil getting ready for our training day.

As it turns out, it's all good. In fact, Nurse Girl said to me today, "I feel like we're forgetting something. Until we get the black velvet drapes back, there's really nothing left to do..." And it was true -- we were pretty much done. A few small details to finish up, for sure. But the big stuff is in the bag.

Tomorrow: finish up those final details, train our staff, continue working with the caterers as they finish their set up.

Thursday: Premiere night, followed by the Premiere Party.

And some amazing news today!! Even though the web doesn't yet mention it, our Ottawa site has been revealed. And, despite my total-shot-in-the-dark guess of a site out West near the Corel Centre and my parents' place, it's in a much more geographically desirable locale. I can't say where it is exactly, but rest assured it's central and it'll be good. Less than 7 months til we have our Ottawa Premiere!