Internet is fixed!
Home phone is fixed!
Here is a song my friend Steve wrote that I think is perfect for this occasion:
It used to seem to me
That my life ran on too fast
And I had to take it slowly
Just to make the good parts last
But when you're born to run
It's so hard to just slow down
So don't be surprised to see me
Back in that bright part of town
I'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
I'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in
And I'll drink and dance with one hand free
Let the world back into me
And on I'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again
You used to be the best
To make life be life to me
And I hope that you're still out there
And you're like you used to be
We'll have ourselves a time
And we'll dance 'til the morning sun
And we'll let the good times come in
And we won't stop 'til we're done
We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in
And we'll drink and dance with one hand free
And have the world so easily
And oh we'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in
And we'll drink and dance with one hand free
And have the world so easily
And oh we'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Life in SH-IT
That is short for Shanghai Information Technology....
Or lack there of....
The deal is this- I'm now having to sit and write this blog in the most uncomfortable position possible because the computer has to be plugged into the wall.
Why?
Because our wifi is still broken.
Why?
Because the person who came to fix it last night was the owner's property management agent, not someone who knows anything about IT.
As a result, 2 hours of my time was wasted on this idiot poking around with the wires going to and fro just to say "I don't know what the problem is, we will have to have a technician come out".
So, here is the cut and copy of the email I sent to our agent, his boss, the apartment owner, and his property management company:
Hi All,
As you are all well aware- the wifi at our apartment has not worked for 4 days, and the Internet did not work for 2 days.
The process to fix these issues is very different here in China than what am used to in the US. Because of this I have one question:
Why does it seem that my time has no value to any of you?
I hate to ask the question, but it seems necessary since I have now wasted many hours on this issue with no resolution in sight. Specifically, I had to be at home for 2 hours yesterday while the management agent was sent to fix our issue....though he had no IT knowledge.....and could not even begin to fix our issue. 2 hours yesterday, and now I'm waiting around today for a second person. I can only hope they have some minimal amount of knowledge or training.
Also, I would like to know who the second individual was that came with the management agent. That person simply stood around in my apartment the entire time and contributed absolutely nothing. I'm only concerned with this because I don't like to have people I'm not familiar with in my home for no apparent reason....and it would seem extremely unprofessional to me if it was just the agents friend or family member.
I appreciate any response,
Calee
Now, I hope that didn't end up being too rude- I do have to work with our agent quite often.....but I mean come on. Imagine I rented a house to you and agreed to take care of the Internet in the house -you call me when it isn't working and I say "ok, I'll send my niece Mia over to take a look at it"...."she seems to know a little bit about computers"......"wait for her to show up sometime after school between 3:30pm and 8pm".
Seriously.
Or lack there of....
The deal is this- I'm now having to sit and write this blog in the most uncomfortable position possible because the computer has to be plugged into the wall.
Why?
Because our wifi is still broken.
Why?
Because the person who came to fix it last night was the owner's property management agent, not someone who knows anything about IT.
As a result, 2 hours of my time was wasted on this idiot poking around with the wires going to and fro just to say "I don't know what the problem is, we will have to have a technician come out".
So, here is the cut and copy of the email I sent to our agent, his boss, the apartment owner, and his property management company:
Hi All,
As you are all well aware- the wifi at our apartment has not worked for 4 days, and the Internet did not work for 2 days.
The process to fix these issues is very different here in China than what am used to in the US. Because of this I have one question:
Why does it seem that my time has no value to any of you?
I hate to ask the question, but it seems necessary since I have now wasted many hours on this issue with no resolution in sight. Specifically, I had to be at home for 2 hours yesterday while the management agent was sent to fix our issue....though he had no IT knowledge.....and could not even begin to fix our issue. 2 hours yesterday, and now I'm waiting around today for a second person. I can only hope they have some minimal amount of knowledge or training.
Also, I would like to know who the second individual was that came with the management agent. That person simply stood around in my apartment the entire time and contributed absolutely nothing. I'm only concerned with this because I don't like to have people I'm not familiar with in my home for no apparent reason....and it would seem extremely unprofessional to me if it was just the agents friend or family member.
I appreciate any response,
Calee
Now, I hope that didn't end up being too rude- I do have to work with our agent quite often.....but I mean come on. Imagine I rented a house to you and agreed to take care of the Internet in the house -you call me when it isn't working and I say "ok, I'll send my niece Mia over to take a look at it"...."she seems to know a little bit about computers"......"wait for her to show up sometime after school between 3:30pm and 8pm".
Seriously.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Crash, Bang, Donkey
That was the title of a book Gino had in his bedroom. When I told him I'd read him a book before bed, I had no idea it would be such a sweet deal.
The blog is back- and hotter than ever! Bird flu, dead pigs in the river, custom made Indiana Jones whip....it's all here! Now, where to start.....
First, I'm back on the bike kick. After a failed attempt at a sidehack, a bought and sold mountain bike in Oregon, a bike with orange rims, and some other rad ideas, I've landed on a 2013 VISP fixed gear. Due to arrive fresh from taobao.com in 2 days it'll be sure to knock your socks off! 6061 aluminum frame and fork with a cro-mo steer tube- it comes in at just under $100- made in China. Gotta love cheap labor- cause this would have been an easy $500 frame stateside. Crash, bang, donkey.
Phase two will be the build process......does any of this sound familiar? I feel like this is the twelfth (when was the last time you saw that word spelled out) bike project I've had going here that never even left the ground. Well this one is no different! Freaking frame was supposed to be here Sunday.....its Monday and the new word is two days out. Crash, bang, donkey.
Dade is coming in a few weeks. Crash, bang, donkey to say the least.
Sarah will be going home for work in a few weeks. She'll have the usual suitcase full of crap I've been commissioned to buy and send home.....so for those of you with orders contact Sarah at sarah@caleeschinabusiness.com. If no jail time is involved, I expect all deliveries to be on time. Crash, bang, donkey.
Currently 68 and sunny in Shanghai- and I'm stuck in the house waiting for some crash, bang, donkey to come fix our wifi. Apparently if you're wireless router is down in China the process is as follows:
1. Wait for 2 days for no reason.
2. Stinky guy shows up to tell you it is broken.
3. I tell our agent we have a problem, he tells owners agent, owners agent tells guy who has already been here that we have a problem, guy who has been here tells owners agent it is broke, owners agent tells owner, owner tells his agent to come out here and see, owners agent contacts our agent to update, our agent tells us owners agent is coming out, I tell our agent he, owner, owner's agent, and fix it guy they are all lame.
I SWEAR, that has been the process so far. Lord only knows where it goes from here once the owner's agent comes today. Crash, bang, donkey.
Back to the whip. So I've been contemplating an Indiana Jones whip for some time now....for a number of reasons.....what if you were in the jungle? I live on the 7th floor, what if there was a fire? In the boat and, heaven forbid, someone fell out!? A whole bunch of reasons to say the least. So, I'm currently looking for someone here in SH to make me a bull whip. Not just any whip though- I'll only rock a 10 foot, 12 plait, kangaroo overlay. I'm serious- I'm going to rock that thing and it's gonna be crash, bang, donkey!
EDITOR'S NOTE- Homeboy just showed up to "fix" the wifi. The owner"s agent IS the IT guy.....except after 2 hours he said he couldn't fix it and that he'd tell the owner....and they'd send someone to fix it. What a bunch of ridiculousness! So here I am connected to the Internet through a cable. What is this 2008.....or should I say 2000 and late!?
The blog is back- and hotter than ever! Bird flu, dead pigs in the river, custom made Indiana Jones whip....it's all here! Now, where to start.....
First, I'm back on the bike kick. After a failed attempt at a sidehack, a bought and sold mountain bike in Oregon, a bike with orange rims, and some other rad ideas, I've landed on a 2013 VISP fixed gear. Due to arrive fresh from taobao.com in 2 days it'll be sure to knock your socks off! 6061 aluminum frame and fork with a cro-mo steer tube- it comes in at just under $100- made in China. Gotta love cheap labor- cause this would have been an easy $500 frame stateside. Crash, bang, donkey.
Phase two will be the build process......does any of this sound familiar? I feel like this is the twelfth (when was the last time you saw that word spelled out) bike project I've had going here that never even left the ground. Well this one is no different! Freaking frame was supposed to be here Sunday.....its Monday and the new word is two days out. Crash, bang, donkey.
Dade is coming in a few weeks. Crash, bang, donkey to say the least.
Sarah will be going home for work in a few weeks. She'll have the usual suitcase full of crap I've been commissioned to buy and send home.....so for those of you with orders contact Sarah at sarah@caleeschinabusiness.com. If no jail time is involved, I expect all deliveries to be on time. Crash, bang, donkey.
Currently 68 and sunny in Shanghai- and I'm stuck in the house waiting for some crash, bang, donkey to come fix our wifi. Apparently if you're wireless router is down in China the process is as follows:
1. Wait for 2 days for no reason.
2. Stinky guy shows up to tell you it is broken.
3. I tell our agent we have a problem, he tells owners agent, owners agent tells guy who has already been here that we have a problem, guy who has been here tells owners agent it is broke, owners agent tells owner, owner tells his agent to come out here and see, owners agent contacts our agent to update, our agent tells us owners agent is coming out, I tell our agent he, owner, owner's agent, and fix it guy they are all lame.
I SWEAR, that has been the process so far. Lord only knows where it goes from here once the owner's agent comes today. Crash, bang, donkey.
Back to the whip. So I've been contemplating an Indiana Jones whip for some time now....for a number of reasons.....what if you were in the jungle? I live on the 7th floor, what if there was a fire? In the boat and, heaven forbid, someone fell out!? A whole bunch of reasons to say the least. So, I'm currently looking for someone here in SH to make me a bull whip. Not just any whip though- I'll only rock a 10 foot, 12 plait, kangaroo overlay. I'm serious- I'm going to rock that thing and it's gonna be crash, bang, donkey!
EDITOR'S NOTE- Homeboy just showed up to "fix" the wifi. The owner"s agent IS the IT guy.....except after 2 hours he said he couldn't fix it and that he'd tell the owner....and they'd send someone to fix it. What a bunch of ridiculousness! So here I am connected to the Internet through a cable. What is this 2008.....or should I say 2000 and late!?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Travel Strategy
I'm changing my travel strategy.
Up to now (and including today) the formula has been this-
Check one suitcase
Carry on one bag
I've split my crap between the two bags with shirts going in the carry on. All other clothes, fishing gear, shoes, etc go in the William Joseph roller bag. It is 6000 cubic inches and the bottom compartment will fit 4 rods.
The problem is- because of its size, it's always very near the max weight.....as I pack the light stuff in the carry on....but the carry on still isn't light. Additionally, the carry on doesn't carry as well as I'd like- the shoulder strap is too long for someone my height- and the bag hits my knees as I walk. Last but not least- its difficult to access critical items from this bag while in the standing position with said shoulder strap over your shoulder.
The deal with this bag though is- its an $800 leather duffel bag made by Cole Haan. Granted, I got it for half off of half off of half off cause I'm crafty like that....but make no mistake- you walk through the airport with this bag and even Jeff McHale will stop and applaud. It's now been to the US, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines. CH carry on has clocked more miles than a rusty '62 Chevy truck but still looks like a Ferrari that's just been been washed and waxed.
And the chicks.....
Anyway, the new plan is this- check 2 bags. Carry on a simple backpack. Simplify. Less is more.
The only items carried on will be specific to the 17 or so hours of travel:
-passport
-phone with SIM cards
-pen
-iPad
-Gameboy
-socks
-hat
-misc chargers
-a mix of meds that maybe will help sleep
-snacks
-quintessential hoodie
And that's it. Ain't nobody got time for a bunch of shirts, and random useless other crap.
Funny side note- as I went to take a photo of the bag, I notices the shoulder strap is adjustable!!
Up to now (and including today) the formula has been this-
Check one suitcase
Carry on one bag
I've split my crap between the two bags with shirts going in the carry on. All other clothes, fishing gear, shoes, etc go in the William Joseph roller bag. It is 6000 cubic inches and the bottom compartment will fit 4 rods.
The problem is- because of its size, it's always very near the max weight.....as I pack the light stuff in the carry on....but the carry on still isn't light. Additionally, the carry on doesn't carry as well as I'd like- the shoulder strap is too long for someone my height- and the bag hits my knees as I walk. Last but not least- its difficult to access critical items from this bag while in the standing position with said shoulder strap over your shoulder.
The deal with this bag though is- its an $800 leather duffel bag made by Cole Haan. Granted, I got it for half off of half off of half off cause I'm crafty like that....but make no mistake- you walk through the airport with this bag and even Jeff McHale will stop and applaud. It's now been to the US, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines. CH carry on has clocked more miles than a rusty '62 Chevy truck but still looks like a Ferrari that's just been been washed and waxed.
And the chicks.....
Anyway, the new plan is this- check 2 bags. Carry on a simple backpack. Simplify. Less is more.
The only items carried on will be specific to the 17 or so hours of travel:
-passport
-phone with SIM cards
-pen
-iPad
-Gameboy
-socks
-hat
-misc chargers
-a mix of meds that maybe will help sleep
-snacks
-quintessential hoodie
And that's it. Ain't nobody got time for a bunch of shirts, and random useless other crap.
Funny side note- as I went to take a photo of the bag, I notices the shoulder strap is adjustable!!
Single Speed
I don't know what's up with me and bikes lately.
I bought a "29er" mountain bike....which is way sweet. I'm keeping it at kris' for now so I can use it when I'm home.
Today I walked down to Factory Five- a local "single speed" bike shop here in Shanghai. They have some cool bikes! All custom built- and for way cheaper that what you find in the US.
Generally, single speeds are cheaper cause you don't have all the extra parts...shifters, derailers, shocks, etc. it's bare bones- handlebar, maybe a brakes....that's about it.
A single speed is perfect for shanghai because this is the flattest city in the world. There isn't a hill for 2000 miles!
All that said, here is what my master plan is- I'm going to pick up a "free coaster". Don't tell Sarah- she'll be pissed.
Thanks,
Calee
I bought a "29er" mountain bike....which is way sweet. I'm keeping it at kris' for now so I can use it when I'm home.
Today I walked down to Factory Five- a local "single speed" bike shop here in Shanghai. They have some cool bikes! All custom built- and for way cheaper that what you find in the US.
Generally, single speeds are cheaper cause you don't have all the extra parts...shifters, derailers, shocks, etc. it's bare bones- handlebar, maybe a brakes....that's about it.
A single speed is perfect for shanghai because this is the flattest city in the world. There isn't a hill for 2000 miles!
All that said, here is what my master plan is- I'm going to pick up a "free coaster". Don't tell Sarah- she'll be pissed.
Thanks,
Calee
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Long flight
We got in to the North Island of New Zealand.
That was a long flight.
Some kid yelling and crying all night- his mom threatening death wouldn't even stop him. Poor kid.
In the lounge now waiting for our connection and am realizing I must be in a horrible mood.
Here is a special message to the lady on my left- YOU CAN'T SCRAPE COFFE OUT OF A CUP WITH A SPOON! JUST DRINK IT FOOL!
One more for the dude across the way:
Dear Sir,
In my 34 years, 4 months on this earth, I've never heard someone flip the pages of a newspaper as loudly as you are right now. How did you acquire such a skill? And how has someone not told you already that you suck?
Thank you,
Calee
Also, how did this little corner of the world get to be I dominated by white people?
Seriously- this lounge must have 200 people in it and not a one if them is talking.....it's classic English/British freak show. Why DO the crowds at soccer games always sing? That's dumb.
Finally, I downloaded a free app- Magic Jack. It lets you make free calls over wifi. Pretty cool- works decent!
That was a long flight.
Some kid yelling and crying all night- his mom threatening death wouldn't even stop him. Poor kid.
In the lounge now waiting for our connection and am realizing I must be in a horrible mood.
Here is a special message to the lady on my left- YOU CAN'T SCRAPE COFFE OUT OF A CUP WITH A SPOON! JUST DRINK IT FOOL!
One more for the dude across the way:
Dear Sir,
In my 34 years, 4 months on this earth, I've never heard someone flip the pages of a newspaper as loudly as you are right now. How did you acquire such a skill? And how has someone not told you already that you suck?
Thank you,
Calee
Also, how did this little corner of the world get to be I dominated by white people?
Seriously- this lounge must have 200 people in it and not a one if them is talking.....it's classic English/British freak show. Why DO the crowds at soccer games always sing? That's dumb.
Finally, I downloaded a free app- Magic Jack. It lets you make free calls over wifi. Pretty cool- works decent!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Look who's back!
We are back in china! This calls for a blog post.
The air here is gross.
Enough about CN.
Check it, I've never been a knife carrier....you know the guy, always has it clipped on the inside of his pocket. The dude who's quick to find any excuse to pull out his EDC (every day carry)....
Well that all changed recently. Why? I have no idea. All of a sudden I felt like I needed to carry around a dumb knife. I think it has something to do with traveling a lot- being in unfamiliar places often....I find that carrying familiar "things" makes me feel a little more comfortable.
Anyway- I had a knife Eric gave me, one that he's had for ever. I was gonna rock it but couldn't stomach the possibility of it being lost/broken/stolen/whatever....so I gave it back.
I landed on a simple Benchmade folding knife. It's one of their most popular, basic knives. It was on sale at the jeep dealership- not sure why they are selling knives....but maybe that's why it was 50% off!
All good....except that I decided to google it. Wanted to see what people are saying about it....see how much $$ I saved on it....check out the specs.....next thing I know I'm using google translate to send an email and complete an order form to some dude in Germany who makes custom grips specifically for this knife.
That's right. I have too much time on my hands. This is what you do when you live in China and don't have a job. Don't ask me.....but the handle I ordered IS pretty sweet- made of "micarta", a mix of fiberglass and carbon fiber.....
The air here is gross.
Enough about CN.
Check it, I've never been a knife carrier....you know the guy, always has it clipped on the inside of his pocket. The dude who's quick to find any excuse to pull out his EDC (every day carry)....
Well that all changed recently. Why? I have no idea. All of a sudden I felt like I needed to carry around a dumb knife. I think it has something to do with traveling a lot- being in unfamiliar places often....I find that carrying familiar "things" makes me feel a little more comfortable.
Anyway- I had a knife Eric gave me, one that he's had for ever. I was gonna rock it but couldn't stomach the possibility of it being lost/broken/stolen/whatever....so I gave it back.
I landed on a simple Benchmade folding knife. It's one of their most popular, basic knives. It was on sale at the jeep dealership- not sure why they are selling knives....but maybe that's why it was 50% off!
All good....except that I decided to google it. Wanted to see what people are saying about it....see how much $$ I saved on it....check out the specs.....next thing I know I'm using google translate to send an email and complete an order form to some dude in Germany who makes custom grips specifically for this knife.
That's right. I have too much time on my hands. This is what you do when you live in China and don't have a job. Don't ask me.....but the handle I ordered IS pretty sweet- made of "micarta", a mix of fiberglass and carbon fiber.....
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