Aventures d’un métis

Well, its been another long stretch in between entries.  I just can’t find the motivation to write every night.  Too much going on during the day I guess…

Sunday I went to my friend’s sister’s graduation rehearsal.  Lots of family came as well and of course multiple cameras were recording the event.  I’m still amazed at this ritual here and how it differs from the West.  Afterward we went and saw the movie UP.  The old man reminds me of my step dad, hehe.  Grumpy on the outside but caring underneath.  It was a good movie.  Just the right amount of real-life experiences together with an imaginary world.  The best part was the name of the bird, Kevin, who shares the same name as my friend’s sister’s boyfriend.  I gave him that name after forgetting what his Thai name was on multiple occasions.

Monday was supposed to be spent back int he office but… MT happened as always.  Luckily there was only one location: Queen Sirikit Center.  The TAT was having an annual meeting of travel industry professionals so we garnered three stories in one fell swoop.  We finished just in time for me to go to my second engagement at a special effects studio.  I needed a casting of my face done so that prosthetics could be made for the upcoming TVC.  My cheeks just don’t have enough meat as Mr. Einstein did in his old age.  The whole process took less time than I had thought.  So, with a few hours remaining in my day I went back to the office.  Finally bought a ticket to San Fran.  The cheapest rate I could find was on Orbitz.  All the local agents were booked and/or offered the same rates!  In another month I’ll be Stateside!  Whoohoo!  Oh, I almost forgot.  I also got my SIM card an DSL line activated.  Now my office is completely independent.  Not to mention surfing at blazing speeds.

Tuesday was another MT day but again had a limited number of guests, only three.

1) Thai Airways [ Precautions to ensure health of passengers ]
2) Esplanade [ California WOW & Royal Thai Police team up ]
3) Globex Securities [ The benefits of gold futures investments ]

I finished about the same time as the day before.  So back to the office I went.  Arrived just as workers were finishing hanging the whiteboard.  I wish I could have painted the wall first but I couldn’t wait any longer.  I just need things finished.

Today was a full day in the office.  I got a few pressing jobs done, namely translation work, a letter to my great grandmother, and a course syllabus.  Stil have much to do though.  Preparations for my trip east, investment, a few odds and ends for the office, etc.  Just want to relax, read a couple chapters in my book, and go to sleep.

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The past week since my last entry has been a whirlwind trip.  I’m finding it hard to sit down each night and write about my day’s activities.  Each day seems to blend into the next with no end in sight.  Here’s a small taste of what the past seven days has covered…

Sunday through Tuesday was spent in Supan Buri.  I was taping two TV shows: Morning Talk and Farung Hua Jai Luk Toong.  The first took all of Sunday and Monday to complete.  The latter was done on Tuesday.  By the second day it already felt as if it had been a week.  Non-stop traveling and filming.  Add heat and humidity and it made for a very unpleasant experience.  Though it did have its moments.  I do enjoy learning about new places and meeting new people.  I even picked up a few ideas to expand my business into.  And to top it all off I ended the trip by jumping into a klong.  I made sure to keep my mouth shut even though our host said the water was clean.  One thing I’m learning with great apprehension is that roosters start screeching at 4am.  The past two trips have been made that much longer by this most unnatural alarm clock.  No wonder farmers go to bed so early!

Wednesday was spent back at the office.  I had to bring my new computer in to get he power supply replaced.  Defective.  Easy exchange though.

Thursday was surreal.  I was under the impression that I had been selected to portray someone in their later years and thus needed to have some special effects make-up put on.  After an early rise and arrival at the studio, I quickly learned that I was being made up as Albert Einstein!  Whatever junk they smeared on my face to create wrinkles and such burned something awful.  Didn’t think I could take much more.  Then after putting on a rather poorly made wig it was clear my face wasn’t padded enough.  I ended up waiting for three more hours while the staff discussed alternative methods and called a wig guy to come fix the white Afro I was wearing.  In the end most of my day was shot and I must return next week to try out some rubber prosthetics on my face.  Freaky.

Friday was at least more productive.  Finally have opened a company bank account!  Took long enough and I still need my investors to invest.  But at least everything is in order.  There was some confusion over the wording of my company’s athorized directors.  The legal jargon originally used made it fairly difficult to understand who could sign company checks.  And modifying the paperwork would take another couple weeks.  In the end we came up with an acceptable solution I think.  I hope.  Went to watch Transformers 2 after work.  Fun movie.  Can’t wait until it comes out on BluRay.

Today was another trip back to Fortune to get a VAT receipt for the business cards I bought a few weeks ago.  Seems the accountant needs the correct forms.  Also picked up a network drive, webcam, power strips, and phone line.  I pray this is the last major purchase for awhile.  My credit card company must be wondering why I’m dropping so much money!  The rest of my day has been spent home, working on work, tending to some neglected house chores, and making a quick stop over at Tops for much eed food supplies.

It started raining after a week of dry hot weather.  Should help cool things down a bit.  Next week is looking as busy as this past one.  Ugh.  But I bought my ticket to California and must make arrangements to view homes with the agent.  It still doesn’t seem real but will once the business really starts going.  Its just taken so muchto get to this point.  Much more time, energy, and money that I thought.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will all turn out right…

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It was a roller coaster day that has ended before I knew it began.  It started off with a late rise and subsequent encounter with commercial truck traffic.  I finally arrived within minutes of my employee.  With a limited time frame I set to work on installing the OS and applications we’ll be using in the office.  The process itself was quicker than I had expected.  Fast components are a godsend!  I didn’t get everything in before I had to leave though.

The trip to the studio was even worse than in the morning.  It took an hour to get there which was actually an hour later than the appointment.  Funny thing though, the worker wasn’t ready though!  So I ended up waiting another 40 minutes before sitting down in the chair.  Now up till now, I didn’t understand what exactly I had been cast for.  But after having my head wrapped in cling wrap and and the contours of my head and face being traced I finally got it.  A custom wig and facial prosthetics are being made for me so that I can mirror the main actor, only in later life.  I’ve been told throughout my life that I bear a similar resemblance to Willy McIntosh.  I’ve never met him nor know what he looks like.  But I guess I pass enough to portray him as an elderly man.  Go figure.  So in another few weeks I’ll get the fitting and see how I’ll in 50 years!

I grabbed some bubble milk tea afterward and some lunch.   Then I sped back to the office where I found my employee still working hard!  I had expected her to leave by midday since they turn off the air conditioning at noon.  But the windows were open and she was typing away!  Great!  I spent the remainder of the afternoon installing a second machine and trying to get them to connect to the print server.  No luck.  Can’t figure out why.  I did it before.  Something must be wrong with the order in which I installed the apps.  It will have to wait until Wednesday when I return though.  Ugh.

NOT looking forward to the next few days…

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Well, I finally laid down the BIG bucks and bought computers for the office.  I’m still waiting for the corporate bank account to be opened so I had to charge everything to my personal card.  But I’ll get reimbursed in a couple weeks.

I got three sets of custom computers.  I originally thought I’d go with a brand name, pre-configured box.  But after comparing prices and warranties the custom box was by far the better choice.  I even got a discount!  The beauty is everything is wireless.  Network, keyboard, mouse.  The only wires are the power cables and monitor.  Makes for a much cleaner working space!  Not to mention the HUGE 23″ LCD screens I got.  Since we’ll be staring at them for many hours I decided to splurge and get something that will make life easier and more comfortable.   Not to mention impress people who visit.  Even the computer cases are sleek.  And with spare RAM I have at home I will max out the boards and save money in the process.  I also picked up a ADSL wireless N router for when I service activated.  While I was drooling in the computer store I had my employee go buy soe more office supplies.  She’s learning the ropes of paperwork and needs as much organizational tools as possible.  Better her than me!  Hehe.

We also received the whiteboard, fax machine, and computer stands.  Still waiting on the cordless telephone, magnets, and markers I ordered.  And I need to paint the wall before hanging the white board.  Slowly everything is coming together.  I didn’t have the time or energy to install the OS and programs on the PCs.  Save that for tomorrow.

As always, at Central car dealerships were displaying their wares.  The lastest model of the Mazada 3 was there.  I really want one.  The price is more than reasoable as well.  If I can swing it by year’s end, I make the purchase.  But, given I’ll be spending much of my time in the US, is it worth buying?  Wants and needs.  Difficult decisions.

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