Post# 4: A bastion of safety with 7-11's

Welcome once again into the breach.....This is Day# 12 in HK.....!

Sunday nite....preparing for bed.....Wearing my Doctor Dentons.....

PS: Before continuing your perusal, please vote for your movie to right ===> and than return left <==== to continue your read...

Back? good....

Who would have thought you would be reading a few malformed sentences coming from HK about 7-11's? I for one would not believe it.....But, friends, 'tis the truth....Deal with it.

7-11's are more plentiful in Hong Kong than blueberries in Maine.....They are everywhere. Ubiquitous of urban landscape.....Glowing green numbers piercing through HK's fog......

Is this a good thing?

For now, tragically, yes.

Why? Because they are a one-stop shop for the basics in life. Now these aren't your Western style stores....Think bodega meets a newsstand. Many don't have doors; you just wander in and out.

On Saturday, I stopped in three times.

1. 8:15......Diet Coke, tuna fish sandwich (I have been eating sandwiches for breakfast lately)
2. 15:15....Post workout meal....Diet Coke, tuna fish sandwich....(are you seeing a pattern?)
3. 19:30....6 Heineken's for a small to-do on my roof deck...(For those keeping score, no tuna fish)

Other purchases: TP, Aspirin, South China Morning Post, more Diet Coke, a couple lollipops, water, washing detergent, blank cdroms and more diet coke.

Now don't despair....In the 12 days I have been here I have dined on Thai, French, Chinese, Sushi and lots of Cashew Nuts. But, 7-11's have provided this hungry writer a base to work from.

Here's to the Queen of England, Celtics winning game#3, my parents, Boden and Sage, and of course........HK 7-11's....

Stay Well.......

Post#3: Chicken Feet

Lunch Time 16th May Location: Dim Sum joint call Maxim

Welcome Back Dear Readers,

When I came to Hong Kong I said to the team that I will eat anything except animal Ears, Hoofs, Noses, Tongues, Claws, etc. The promise is about to be broken....Read on....

We had a team lunch today. Actually all of STP (straight through processing) in Hong Kong attended which equals about three big round tables. Speaking of big round tables, they are so far one of my favourite things. When you go out to dinner in the States, the table setup is usually some sort of rectangle (if you don't know what a rectangle is :) :) :) here is a definition for ya: "A four-sided plane figure with four right angles"). With a rectangle you only get to see a few people in your area.

Now....

With a circle the whole table is available and thus you have access to everyone to do what whatever you want eg laugh, scream or take advantage of the special spacious space under the table (that scenario is for another Blog and will not be discussed here. Sorry).

Round table means lots of food spinning round and round like the old carousel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Today was Dim Sum. Lot's of it. They keep bringing it out until there was not a shred of room in our systems (Dietary not Computer).

Half way through the meal a dish came that was obviously a bit different than the rest. A bowl of chicken feet appeared. Little finger claws were popping over the top of the bowl. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed a foot with my hand and picked off the meat (what little there was). It did not taste like foot. It was more like a really thin drum stick with almost no meat. Kinda tasty in a hesitant sort of way.....Washed down and away with a slug of Coke Light (as it's called out here).

Next week: Cow ears or was it Horse Hoofs....You'll have to wait.

See Ya....

Post#2: The Sleepiest Sandwich ever....

Wed nite. First night in the new flat. 10:45PM HK time (aka 22:45)

Hello again Supportive Readers,

Moved into the flat earlier in the day. Nothing but my suitcase and my rental furniture. You know what? That's all I need.....But alas the ship arrives in about 45 days with a lifetime of stuff. Ughhh.....

I digress. Or undress. Take your pick.

Back to 22:45.....I just arrived back in the flat with a foot long Subway......Yes they have a Subway in HK......Instead of the Turkey sandwich it's a foot long of Chicken Claws and Pig Knuckles.....An oh yeah, a bit of mayo....

I finished about three quarters of it and a feeling came over me that I had never experienced before. Total and complete sandman a'calling. It was obvious in that moment that if I didn't drop the sandwich and drop into bed than I knew as true as a Brady pass that I would fall out of my chair and enter a deep sleep. So I *did* drop the sandwich and I *did* run into bed....I did run.....It was weird.....Fell asleep dreaming of trains and rental furniture....

And that, friends, is the story of the Sleepiest Sandwich ever...........

Until the next time.......

Post#1: The Beginning.....

Hi Dear Readers,

Monday May 12th 6:30PM New York time (06:30AM HK time)

36,000 feet up above the Canadian hinterlands. I always wanted to drive the Alcan aka the Alaskan Canadian Highway from Maine, my home state, to Homer Alaska and work in a cannery for a summer. It almost happened. The day before I was set to go my budddy got a job doing light design on a play in Syracuse. That's his dream and how could I say no.

I left work on Friday 7:20PM with little regret as I completed several years of wonderful work with wonderful people. The next chapter of my work life was inevitable. My team took to me out to lunch which was the same location we had lunch when I was promoted except with far less Tequila and thus a smaller bill.....Thanks Matt!

Why didn't I leave for HK on Friday? Excellent question. Saturday was a family Bar Mitzvah (my entire Mother's side of the family was in attendance (Note: I am wearing the Tommy Bahama shirt my aunt Cynthia gave me at the event.....I love Tommy B) and Sunday was Mother's day.....I wouldn't be on this flight or be in complete control of my typing fingers if I missed Mother's day......

The beginning of the Journey to HK took place on my favourite form of transportation. The train. I totally dig the train. Classic stations around the world, classic trips like the Orient Express, the London-Paris route or the Autotrain to Disney World. I have a book on the great Train Stations sitting right next to a book on the life of Frank Sinatra. Only two books on my coffee table (I don't drink coffee though I do like coffee ice cream. Go figure). Arriving in NYC brought me to the Hyatt at Grand Central Station as I had to be close to the trains I love.

A ride to JFK got on me to this moment. This seat. 11G. Note to Cathy Pacific riders: They have invented their own drink call the Cloud Nine. It is (to quote)...”A refreshing combination of Vodka, Cointreau and Sprite with a refreshing taste of lemon flavour.....”. Yes, they used “refreshing” twice in the same sentence. Give them a break. They fly planes not teach English class. PS: The Cloud Nine was tasty...

I'm off to take a nap.....dreaming of the Alaskan Canadian Highway and smelly fish...

And that, Faithful Readers, is that............