October

I know, I know…I have not kept up with this blog for another long time…seems like life gets busy and I get distracted sometimes…October week was cool. Stayed in Beijing, and did a lot of skating in the autumn sunshine…around Hou Hai and thru the hutongs…I have been skating there for many years…always like to see another guy with wheels…Xiao Ren, and old friend who takes people on hutong tours…cool guy, speaks English. He told me about how the lakes are formed like a dragon..hou hai, bei hai, etc.

Then, a friend from California stopped by during the first week of October. Known him a long time. Good to catch up with old friends. We do need that in our lives. People who know us and have been with us for parts of our “life’s ride.” Glad to have old friends!

Tell you one thing I learned about writing my book. That I revealed a lot about my life and some people in it. Then I wondered, “How much do we know about people we think we know?” I think about some and how little I know about them. I may know them for 20 years or more and yet there is so much in people that we don’t know. Actually, it was not easy to write about some of the things but I felt I needed to. Adds a real dimension to the story. Well, the Chinese book will be out before the end of the year. They are working on the cover now. Tell you more about it as the time approaches.

Well, ok..tell you what’s going on. Finished my book. It’s an ebook called “Radio ChopstiX- An American DJ in China.” It’s in English and available on ebook sites outside of China. (Chinese version will be available in book form by the end of the year in China. I’ll let you know when that happens.) It’s kind of a strange feeling writing a book like this. Did I cover everything? Did I reveal too much about myself or not enough? It’s a memoir that tells about my life before China and in China. It’s a strange feeling to “open up.” Someone asked who the book is directed to? I didn’t think about it like that at all. I pictured a scene where I am having coffee with someone. They then ask what brought me to China? I’d have to say, “better keep the coffee coming, because it’s a story that I cannot tell quickly.” In the end, it’s the book I wanted to write because my life has been a little unusual for a guy from Detroit. But it’s a book about my past, and what brought me up to today. It’s not a book about my future. That “book” is yet to be written.  Truthfully, I hope that a movie or TV series will be made from the book. I think there’s enough in it to make a great movie. But it needs to be a producer who has the same vision as mine. In fact, I wrote a screenplay about the writer, San Mao, whom I knew for the years before her passing 20 years ago. This is a movie that will have to be made. Her fans deserve to know this story.

Weather has been cooling down a bit as autumn has just begun in Beijing. Love to rollerblade in this kind of weather. The next few months are the best for outdoor activities.You may see a foreigner skating in the streets (with a helmet on) and that could be me. Say hi, ok?

I am working on a unique marketing project next. Not for the book, but for something else that you will not believe! It may turn out to be something very cool. Just working on the mechanics and execution of it now..

Some people see me as a radio guy because that’s all they knew about me. Radio is something I do have an interest in. But if you read my book, you will see that there’s much more to this guy than just a voice on the air. I have much more to do for society that is not even radio related. My book is the start of the next phase…

Dreams don’t always come true, but some do…keep dreaming!

Was inline skating around Hou Hai over the weekend. Saw a few families hanging out with each other and I was inspired. Took this picture. Peking Duck not for dinner!

I’ve lived in the center of Beijing for 7 years, in the same red brick apartment. In that time, I’ve gone through many changes.(Read the book when it’s out this year!) I found this apartment from an agent who was recommended by a colleague. Love this place! When I moved in, it had been refurbished and cleaned up. The agent gave me a welcoming plant, which has been growing on my table for 7 years. As my life has been going through changes, the plant has survived. A new branch sprouted last year and it’s taller than the rest of the plant. And a few months ago another new branch started to grow. This living plant represents my life. After so many years in radio in China, my focus is now on new people in my life and new creations, which should be bigger than the radio I have done before. My new projects come from me, and it takes a lot of work to make them happen. But creatively, they are 100% satisfying to my passions. The book is one of them. The movie is another. And I am working on another. (BTW-I spoke to one radio station not in this area. I offered to turn them into an outstanding station. I love to fix stations that don’t sound very good. But I suspect they will remain the way they are.)

So, I look at the plant on my writing table every day. It inspires me. Especially the new branch that is very much alive!

I promised some people to update this blog more…

Ok..lets see…following  passions is still the goal..

For health..I skated last weekend for about 5 hours each day through Beijing..Loved skating in the sunshine around the lake and through the hutongs!

And as you know I have been working on my book. Revising the English version once more and then I will make it available online overseas…should be in a month or so. I will let you know.

And, I wrote the screenplay for a movie based on one of the chapters…I am learning more about making movies…

But I am enjoying it..my vision is clear. To get the story on the screen.

I can guarantee most of you will want to see it. Not just the writing. The subject matter itself.

Keep you updated. And you can contact me through this website if you wish.

I went to Capital Normal University last week and spoke to about 150 students. Very cool experience. We talked about many things. Unusual questions. I like those, rather than “do you like Beijing?” (I have lived here almost 15 years) After more than 2 hours there were still many questions from the students. Some personal. It was a totally enjoyable experience. Thanks for the invitation. It was supposed to start at 6:30..I arrived at 6. They asked if I wanted to rest before the beginning, but I looked in the room and found about 30 people who had also arrived early. I asked if they’d mind if we begin immediately. More personal and a chance for me to get comfortable. I’m usually early for many things. My watch is ten minutes fast. I wake up about 5:30 every day and earlier in the summer. I arrive early, not fashionably late as many do. I just like the early edge to life. Ahead of the crowd?

Skated a lot over the past weekend. I am fanatic about it. I usually start in Hou Hai  and then decide on a direction after that. Early morning by a lake is a great way to begin any skating day!

Progress on the book. Want to thank Wen for the translation, and a bit of editing as she pointed out some things I had missed in the English version.

I’m going through the book once more, and then make it into an ebook in English. Summer reading perhaps?

Time to catch up- Almost have all my things replaced that were stolen more than a month ago…It was a sometimes painful process, but necessary. Passport, credit cards, etc..

The book I wrote is being translated these days.

And since my last writing here, I wrote a movie screenplay. Chinese movie for co-production with foreigners.

I’ve been talking to movie producers. Very interesting. They know the movie could be very successful. I will be patient and only accept the producers who will do the story justice. I care that the movie is as truthful to the writing as possible.

I also give lectures these days about English speaking. Capital Normal University this week. I enjoy meeting students and faculty. And helping Chinese speak better English. I also teach English speaking privately.

And took some time to skate over the past weekend.  It’s still my favorite sport and exercise.

If you want to reach me, you can do so through this website. I will get the email. Lets stay in touch.

Here are a few pix from skating around Hou Hai over the weekend.

Well, I am back in Beijing, and recovering from the theft of my carrying bag last week in Hong Kong. It was in a crowded place, and the theft was professional. Many people have said “be more careful” as if I wasn’t! Actually, I have carried a bag for decades and it never happened before. But, I was careful and did something most of you don’t do. I had a photocopy of my passport, credit cards, Hong Kong ID card, etc. Much easier to deal with if you back up your information! Even all my phone contacts are backed up. In 2 different places! So, if you are not backing up your information, DO IT! It will make the theft of paper and plastic much easier for you in case it happens. You cannot really prevent theft. But you CAN back up all of your information…

Had a good time in spite of the theft. Saw old friends and went to Macau to see a family I have known for years…ate in some very traditional places rather than casino food! That was very cool…

Anyway, just want you to know I am back in Beijing and safe and comfortable in my apartment!

Oh yes, I saw Dylan’s concert. Most people there were glad to see a legend. For me and the guys I was with, the sound was terrible and couldn’t really even hear the difference in songs until he spoke, rather than sang, “Like a Rolling Stone” or “All Along the Watchtower.”

I have seen Dylan twice before. Much better concerts. But it seems people are so excited that this legend came to play in China. That, rather than the concert itself, seems to be getting most of the reviews. My concert review is exactly that. Nice that he came here. That was newsworthy in itself. But I was hoping to hear some songs that we were familiar with. And the band overpowered his voice most of the time. Still, some will read so much into the concert.

Well,
Never expected this…
Went to Lan Kwai Fong for a meeting my first day in HK…
Had my bag and coat over my chair…bag was on my side…
Someone lifted my bag and there it went!
I discovered it a few min later…but too late…
Lost:
passport with China visa
HK id
some cash
drivers license
a camera I bought about 5 months ago (to replace another camera!)
iPod
credit cards

the positive side:
Had phone in coat pocket

First time since carrying bags for years that this has happened…
Going through the damage control routine…
Ups and downs of life…

Went to Macau for a shorter trip than expected……

And talking to movie people in HK and Beijing about possibilities…
Take care and hold on to your stuff!

Back in Beijing Tuesday

(me on Blake’s Pier-Stanley Village)

Here’s the latest:

The Chinese version of my autobiography will be released about October or November…publishers are CRTVUP..very nice people to work with..

I think you will like the book a lot…

I will try to get an ebook version available in English in the next month or two…

There is a chapter about San Mao. In fact, today is San Mao’s birthday. There are many who are grateful for her inspiration to millions of Chinese.

You will be surprised by what is in this chapter…in fact, I am talking to some movie people about it…

The surprises in that chapter are based on the fact that I knew her for years, and last saw her a month before she died 20 years ago…

I will go to Hong Kong next week, and try to return for Bob Dylan’s concert April 6th…

I saw the Eagles a few weeks ago…very solid concert! Ran into a few CRI people there like Felix, Maddie and Jade…great to see them again..

Spring in Beijing, and it is really starting to feel like it…I will inline skate today to celebrate it!