Here are some images I took in China. I visited Fu Tien, Shenzhen, and Guang Szhau. I met up with some Clevelanders who were there setting up machinery that was used to form metal. Neat stuff. I was also able to watch a run of our products being made. I was not able to snap pics there but I can assure you that it was quite an experience.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 24, 2004
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My Sunday afternoon was at Lantau Island where the large Buddha sits. Tehy server you a free vegetarian meal which was very nice. I walked along the sandy beaches on Lantau as well. Very nice and relaxing day alone.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 22, 2004
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"COPY WATCH! COPY BAG!" Says the Asian/Indian merchant as they get inside your personal bubble.

As one strolls down the Lady's Market at Mong Kok, you are bombarded by pretty much every Asian descent trying to get you to fork over some cash for a designer knock off watch or bag. If you are not careful, you may end up getting crap for little money.

Works well for me, as I could care less about a brand name, and more so about the look and quality. But I would not turn away a copy of a Cartier or Omega if the price was right! Ha!

I bought a no-name cotton bag. Black, and very functional. I paid $50 HK which was about $7 US. They wanted $100 HK, but I walked away, and she chased me out yelling "Ok, OK, OK my smart American Boyfriend!" I thought I may have propositioned her by mistake, but this is common dialogue amongst the Chinese merchants.

I was told that a famous Japanese Football player wore a watch I almost bought. So what I said, but this watch was cool. Only problem is that the band was blue leather. Not my choice. There may be more options later. Here are some images of me in the market. I am drinking a Mango + Coconut milk sago (bubble tapioca) drink. Man this thing hit the spot. I am going to get a recipe for this when I return, as i can not post more than this now! I get an hour at a time for the net!

snapped by danmerk.com on February 21, 2004
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More travels. THe images will get much better this weekend.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 19, 2004
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The name says it all. I rode the Star Ferry that connects Victoria bay with Kowloon. Love the boat riding. This is Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. Very humid and 65°.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 18, 2004
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Here are my traveling pics, all from the air. Some of these are the North Pole.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 17, 2004
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Spent most of the evening making food for the Nimbis show. Not many pics.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 13, 2004
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Part 2 : Afternoon

The rest of my day at work. Drinking tea, about 15 cups of either sow mei, jasmine, Chinese green, and yin ge teas. All from the Asian market on 30th. In Hong Kong I will be searching for compressed white tea.

I eat around 12pm. Mostly vegetarian. Actually all vegetarian. 11 years this march. I have had some fish and various seafood, but that has usually been at other's requests. For some reason *MY* diet has been persuaded because of someone else's needs. This is why I cook for myself. I would like to be vegan, but cheese and ice cream are my favorite.

This is ThoughtWorks. We are a product design firm. I am a designer. I design packages and some art used in our products. The Chinese design our products. I love my job because I can take a concept and make something believable out of it. I also shoot all our photography. This is a family owned and operated business, my family.

Lunch at 12pm. I usually wait for my lunch to heat up. I look outside my window. I stare at clouds. I do this almost every day.

I sit low in my chair. I like resting my elbows on the desk. Not so good ergo, but works for me.

More tea.

Back home. Our kitchen. I love to cook. I use my laptop to help me in cooking, so it is always nearby.

After dinner I help Monique study.

My hall, lights out. Ready for another routine.

This is Toporol XL. My nightly medicine for my heart. Diovan in am, Toporol in evening.

More moisture in my nose. Gross actually.

After bathing, I use the rock. Natural deodorant. I have not used any other kind of deodorant since high school.

Cinnamint toothpaste. Flavored with myrrh. No sugars, or extras.

I cleanse with pore cleaners. I have large pores on my nose.

Followed by a good facial moisturizer. Alpha hydroxies.

My nighttime view. I love the sight of the city.

Seeing this every night keeps me going. She is so wonderful to me. I am blessed.

One more day in the life. I doze off. Thinking what tomorrow will bring me.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 12, 2004
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Who am I?

After spending a few days thinking with my head so low in my lap, I thought
that I should spend some time thinking about who I am. Starting with me.
What I do. Where I live. How I live.

I get up late everyday.
Around 8:10am. Supposed to be at work at 9:00am. I usually shower, but on
occasions I have not bathed for a few days. I am told that I do not smell. I
hate smelling. Before I shower I usually sit on the porcelain god and get
rid of yesterday's extra, so I can wash properly in the shower.

I use saline nasal spray
usually. My sinuses are so dry that my nose bleeds almost every other day. I
have been hospitalized a few times for this. I have had surgery on my
sinuses 4 times in my life going way back to when I was born. I am afraid to
bleed.

I put Vaseline in my nose before bed and before work, this keeps my nasal passages moist.

I use a shaving brush and mug, this lifts my beard. I have been doing this since I learned how to shave. Costs less, and less throw away. Soaps come in a 2"x2" box, not plastic or cans. I use the same razor for at least 3 months.

I have high blood
pressure. I take 2 medications to keep my from having a heart attack. I have
had high blood pressure since I was a small child. I was finally treated 3
years ago. I take a Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide; known as Diovan HCT.
I take it in 80/125mg per day. What this does is the DIOVAN component
specifically blocks the negative effects of a hormone that causes our
arteries to tighten and narrow. This action, called vasoconstriction, can
cause high blood pressure. Second, DIOVAN HCT includes hydrochlorothiazide
(another blood pressure medication, called a diuretic) that causes water to
move out of the body (through urination) and, thereby, reduces plasma
(blood) volume. This slows the strength of my heart so
it does not beat so hard.

The other medication I take is Toporol XL. This is a beta blocker. The
performance of TOPROL-XL is its ability to maintain relatively consistent
plasma concentrations over 24 hours.
Taking medications scares me. I do not like pills, nor do I like drugs. I
know I drink, but for some reason alcohol is a predictable 'high', and drugs
can have inconsistent behaviors. However, you can die from them all.

I am still afraid to die.

I'd like to think I am a purist. I like to make things myself. I make my own mouth wash. Tea Tree
oil, Peppermint Oil, Peroxide, and filtered water. Thanks to my cousin
Chris.

I wear jeans almost every
day. I am in dire need of a make over. I have had the same jeans for 9
years. These are baggy on me, and do not fit correctly, but I wear them. I wear
a dress shirt and dress shoes. Every day. Sometimes I wear dress slacks, but
mostly jeans. Boring.

This is where I sleep. I
share a bed with my fiancee. We sleep well. I use a humidifier every night. I sleep on he left side of the bed. Sometimes I read before I go to bed, but lately I am so wound up, I don't. I think I have ADD. Actually I know I have ADD, but I repress that too.

I try and be neat. I am usually unorganized. Monique keeps me inline.

This is where I work. I have to wonderful cats. They keep me company. See that I am also unorganized here too.

This is my living space. Sometimes clean, but mostly unorganized.

More tomorrow.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 11, 2004
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Seems that 2 days being sober and setting action plans for my life are paying off. Lets see now if I can live up to it. I know I can. Motivate me world!

snapped by danmerk.com on February 10, 2004
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Here are some iamges from that evening. I got sloppy drunk that evening, and I am realizing that alcohol is becoming evil. Look how horrid these iamges become. Beginning to ruin my art. Not to mention I look like a blob of crap.

snapped by danmerk.com on February 06, 2004
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