Short and sweet. I am making this post at the highest peak in Hong Kong. I am at a coffee shop at the peak. I am going to post some images of this when I get back. Can't say anymore, the tour guide is kicking me off thei computer with 4 different character sets. UGH!!!!

written on September 27, 2003
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THings are ok here on Friday evenings. I love the city at night. Great place, many people, and lots of LIsterine Breath Strips. The company was here shooting vidoes for a commercial and were passing out samples in Lang Quai Fung. It is like a typical American bar district where the streets are like inclines of San Fran, and the bars are open to the streets. Only one problem, it is where the westerners hang. Very very little CHinese. I wanted to leave as soon as we go there. NOT much fun for this art-boy. AND the most places had Kenny Loggins playing. UGH.

On the issues of shopping. I have spent a few hours here actually doing stuff for myself, therefore, most requests for buying things were not met. I am very sorry. (Third Wheel, Notehku). There are indeed places of interest to get in expensive merch, but the stuff we are looking for in the west is hard to actually find. (LV bags + nice mens billfolds...)

I am meeting with an importer today-- Sat morning. Then I am off for a bus tour that will take me all over HK. I am going by myself, so should be nice again. I am in the search for WUDE, so I hope I get more moves in today.

See u all on Sunday, er wait Sunday is DLBs day.

written on September 26, 2003
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Having a great time here working very hard. Really. I could not get online yesterday as I was working from 8:00am - 12:45 AM last night. UGH!

Having many new opportunities here and looking forward to many more to come. (January I think) Today I woke and we took the morning off to hit some shopping. I paid a visit to the local optician where my father went. GReat place and thurough exam there. Yep got glasses. $800 HK ($90 USD).

I also made it to see Jenny. She is a woman that sells handbags. She has a shop in Central HK. Great woman, and very very secret. She took us up the street to her "warehouse". The room was the size of a closet, and FILLED with latest and greatest bags.

I am off to another design studio now and will be working the rest of the day on some great products. Dinner at the hotel's CHinese restaurant and then off to a night club after dinner. Though tomorrow I am taking a lonely half day trip around the city tomorrow to visit the Man Mo temple (In SHenmue II). There I will try to learn more great moves.

written on September 26, 2003
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Worked all day today. Really worked. I met with Inspired, in Tsm Tsha Tsui E in Kowloon, HK. What a day. Had Dim Sum, and then later ate Indian food. This city is amazing. I walked for at least 3 hours straight, after dinner. I was by myself and completely lost. I noticed I had no idea where I was when NOTHING was in English. There was a blanket of signs covering the entire airspace, walls, and roofs of the streets. I was kinda freaked when I followed some stairs up to a park area and I was right in the game of Shenmue II. Poeple were selling food and wares on every centimeter of space. I passed a Buddhist temple that was kinda frightning. There where men and women in ripped clothes lying in a dark alley praying, and also begging for food. I grabbed a cab, and it cost $45 HKD ($5 USD). Tis alot considering that I took the same rider earlier and it was a 15 min trip.

More later, and hopefully images!

written on September 24, 2003
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Thanks to all that are leaving comments. I am reading them but keeping the responses to a minimum. (Mercer I am eating Broccoli ;), and thinking about Sven X).

I miss the DLB. I am thinking about her all the time. Kinda lonely on airplanes. I Flew into TaiPEi this morning. I had meetings all day there, then flew back to Hong Kong. Tomorrow (it is 12:00am Tues now) I am in Kowloon at the design studio I work with. THose that are playing SHenmue II or played, know that that city is in the game. Not to mention, on Sat evening, I am visiting the Man Mo Temple, which is where Ryo learns some great moves and moves books for his night stays. Play the game, and u will see the places I am at.

Gotta go to bed. Enjoy your lunch, I will be sleeping. Talk to you all tomorrow.

Oh and one more thing. I love Hong Kong. This city is so amazing. Food, people, and culture is great. Pics when I get back. I promise.

written on September 23, 2003
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I made the trip. I am on Cleveland time still and have not slept in 24 hours. But our hotel is amazing, and this city is so compact. SO many high rise apartments, and these are taller than most skyscrapers in the US.

I have limited internet access, so I will try and post as much as I can. More later this week. It is 7:45am your time Monday, IT is 7:45pm HK time. I have to stay up until 12am. UGH. I am dissy. Good night, er day.

written on September 22, 2003
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It is 8:01 am, Sunday morning. I am leaving for China in a few hours. I am kinda nervous, but excited as you can guess. This will be my first trip to the far east. 18+ hour direct flight. UGH. At least I brought plenty of video games...

I will be posting images as I can, since I really do not have an ISP that is global. I think the hotel has a business center. Please do not use my SMS since my phone will be off.

Love you all, and please check daily, as I will be posting antics and iamges as much as possible...

More later.

written on September 21, 2003
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For some un-Godly reason, I have the Pointer Sisters "JUMP" song stuck in my head. I have no idea how it got there, but I am almost ready to start pulling my greymatter out through my nose!

Oh this is one of my first designed products. Here is the sketch, and then the actual photo. (I took the image too!)

And the Final Product due in stores around Christmas.

Not like i am a sports fan, but I think this was a nice gift item...

written on September 18, 2003
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I have added the function of contacting me through SMS (Short Message Service) on my cellular phone. Click the link on the right side of the screen, and fill out the form. I will recieve a txt message from you. Since I am in a plan that is unlimited, no worries on using this service. Enjoy.

written on September 15, 2003
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This weekend was a blur again as it is every year at the Octoberfest. I had a great time on Friday evening hanging out with the parents at our place. Both sets showed up and we had some dinner. Later I was able to get closer to GiGi and feed her some soy pudding. She then warmed up to me and we all watched RugRats and picked our noses together.

I have updated the Photo Journal. Go there, u have 2 days of pics to view.

I can not wait until the Hong Kong trip. I am working on a new site trying to get this up and running to accomodate this trip. DanMerk.com goes east. Watch for live updates, but remember, I am 12 hours ahead of you... ;)

written on September 15, 2003
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Yep both have passed, really sad. Not much more to say today.

Last evening I spent with my pal Tom at his place making music. Sounded great. We are going to get together once a week to work on some more stuff. Here is a shot from last night.

Call me this weekend if you want to do the Octoberfest at Deuche Zentrale. We are heading out there around 7pm.

written on September 12, 2003
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Be sure to check out the Photo Journal and the Silliness Section. Once there u can see how my sister reacts to me, and what I did today at lunch. Sorry for the lapse in time on the PJ, but I am busy getting ready for Hong Kong.

Special Edition from HK will be in a few weeks, I will be sure to get the site up and running soon, so I can post while in HK. I can not wait, danmerk.com antics in HK. They have beer there right? Oh well, I am sure I will be able to tie one on. ;) More to come...

Oh I forgot, congrats to my other sister for moving back to Cleveland, and finding a temp job at Luna in Akron. There she is finishing up her degree, and serving up tasty meals part time. Love ya NIK! ;)

written on September 11, 2003
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Another bowl of food. Again eating out of a bowl is so nice. Today I am eating AFC Baked Tofu and a tomato. I al washing it all down with a cup of soup. YUM.

Lately I have been so exhausted. I can only stay up until 11pm at the latest before I fall into a trance. I have never experienced this before where I get totally pooped before 1am. I wonder if this is my blood pressure reacting to me kicking the tobacco habit. Since the pressure is way down, and I may be experiencing some adjustments.

This Friday will mark 7 weeks without a hogleg. Not bad for a guy that has been using for 10 years. (Gross habit!)

written on September 10, 2003
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I found this. American

written on September 10, 2003
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Nothing like sitting down to a great meal during a hectic day at the studio served up in nothing better than a great big bowl! You read right, a bowl. For some reason I have been fascinated how food tastes served in those half sphere shaped wonders. Soups, salads, fruit, veggies, and even bean curd.

Today's meal will defiantly be served up in next months' new section which will be recipes specifically designed from the danmerk.com archives. I had 3 ingredients, 1 avocado, 1 tomato, and one block of AFC Baked Bean Curd purchased from the local Asian market here in Cleveland. (I swear by this stuff, this is a must for you non tofu eaters, will change your life; like when I was introduced to Logan Berry Punch at IKEA)

To share the same experience, take a large bowl, place the sliced avocado inside. Cut up the tomato, then place alongside the avocado. Then take the AFC goodness, and slice in strips (for dipping) on the top. Then I top with simply Kosher Salt, and ground pepper. Then I usually add a dollop of Cleveland's own Stadium mustard.(zero calories, zero carbs, zero everything but tons of flavor!)

By the time I return to my desk, this bowl has grown a stronger marriage than most Americans in just 5 min. I usually eat with my favorite spoon here at the mother ship, but today I used my fingers. I am grinning from ear to ear baby!

This week will be aggressively working on the new site. DLB will have her won section, along with others that are interested in being apart of this new world we are working on. I can not wait. The concept is great, and I am very excited that I have a special someone to work with me on this. Thanks DLB!!!

written on September 09, 2003
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written on September 04, 2003
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written on September 04, 2003
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Pictured above is GIGI. She is great, but is scared to death of me. More images to come.

Meanwhile, had a great Monday with all the loved ones. Thanks for kicking off the new place. DLB and I appreciate all kind gestures. We loved have all of you over!

Busy this week working on a new site. This one is broken now. For some reason, the comments are not showing up, and the version I updated to has problems with the "rebuild" function. Oh well... The new site will be better. I hope.

written on September 02, 2003
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