My office

This is my office building.  Right across the street is the Shanghai soccer stadium complex.  Right now we have about 50 people and split between the 11th floor and 15th floor.  While we are trying to get more space it is another "China deal."  Meaning that office spaces are individually owned and managed within a building.  We can't just say to the landlord of the building that we want more space and they find it when leases are up.  We have to work each landlord then work out a deal to get out of our space.  So I'm resigned to the fact we probably won't get more space for the near future.  I'm spending more time here than I would like of late.  Looking for this craziness to slow down a bit. 

Amusing photos

Time for the piggies to go to market and make me some bacon!

Work visa/residence permit - physical

I got my results of my physical back and I passed.  Three things came back in the "abnormal" range as they call it:

• Skin/Lymph Nodes - that didn't sound good, until I read the details.  

• Spine and Extremities - again doesn't sound good.

• My ultrasound was also abnormal (insert all the jokes here should you wish).

So in reading the details the Skin/Lymph Nodes and Spine/Extremities boils down to scars from surgery (I've had enough as we know).  The report literally reads:  "Scar of operation for fracture of knee.  Scar of operation for fracture of ankle.  Major scar of leg due to accident.  Scar of operation for ligament injury on shoulder joint.  And the list goes on and on....


The details on the ultrasound says "slightly fatty liver."  It goes on to say that suggestion is "take proper exercise, improve dietary habit."  I guess that means I should cut down on McDonalds and get back to the gym.

Work visa/residence permit

We had a nice short week work wise thanks to a holiday.  So it was only Wed-Sat (customer on Sat) but it felt like a heck of a lot more.  My life so far has truly been - work, work, work over here.  Not bad just a lot to learn and get through.
Wed this past week I went to get a Chinese physical for my work visa/residence permit.  Quite interesting.  Was truly an assembly line of rooms that I had to go through.  Started with a blood sample.  Not liking needles in general I figured I certainly wasn't going to look at one here in China.  Then an ear, nose and mouth check up, followed by EKG, surgical check, general health and ultrasound.  The EKG was the weirdest.  They hooked me up to all sorts of 1950's type wires, laid me down on a gurney, turned it on and I felt nothing.  Then it was over. 
All in all I think it turned out just fine.  Get my results this coming week I think.  Then I need to apply for the permanent resident permit and work visa.
This week should be non-stop work.  We have at least 10 customer appointments that I know of already through the weekend.  I'm sure it will be satisfying but at the same time exhausting. 

100th Post And Happy Mother's Day!

Well this is my 100th post, so I guess you want something special huh? 
Well HAPPY MOTHER'S day to all the mom's out there!  To my mom, you have done a great job in raising me and I couldn't be more thankful that there was not someone else available (inside joke that mom will understand).  Thanks for everything and I hope one day you will get a chance to come and visit!  Lov ya!

Chicago - April 2010

It was nice to be back in Chicago.  Woke up bright and early, caught the sunrise while running on the lakefront.  From there a busy day hitting the Chinese Consulate to get my work visa, hanging with my brother and picking up some stuff to bring back to Shanghai.  From there a relaxing weekend with mom in CT and then off to High Point for the furniture show.  When all was said and done it was nice to get back to China.