SSAB – December 1, 2023
New month! End of the year! Going anywhere??
Departures! First in a long time! Expat life, where will you lie?
December Drumming kicks off, check www.skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Workout in at lunch, 6km with lunges, pull ups, push ups and squats. Lots going on. Will lift heavy tomorrow at lunch.
Show notes up on stevensirski.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – December 4, 2023
December Drumming continues! Four tracks done and up on Bandcamp
skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
This is the third year I’m doing this.
Smog rolling in but still a run outside. Less grey matter I guess, but it was warmer as a result of the coal dust blanket. 6.54 in 35 min 11 sec.
Newsletter being written.
Gold popping! So too with the Bitcoin.
Nothing like a peaceful Sunday afternoon interrupted by… the threat of an exploding stove top.
Show notes at stevensirski.com
Bandcamp: skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – December 5, 2023
New stove top! 燃气灶 ránqìzào
Found the archived files for previous December Drummings and Jamuary’s. Turns out I did NOT start in 2020 but in 2021. Oops.
Workout done! Mace bell and steel club swings… forgot to use the kettlebells! After dinner walk with the clubs on the treadmill.
In praise of books – Carl Sagan
What an astonishing thing a book is.
It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles.
But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe someone dead for thousands of years.
Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you.
Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs.
Books break the shackles of time.
A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.
-Carl Sagan
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Bandcamp skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have s good one!
SSAB – December 6, 2023
December Drumming updated! Still creating, but it’s taken time to figure out how to post everything.
Work outs… both in! Couldn’t resist getting two in. Was feeling a bit anxious so decided to lift instead. Lunch time run 5km in 32.37, followed by ball slams. After work kbell work.
Clear morning, then smog rolled in. Smelled like BBQ… I wondering what they’re cooking these days??
Expats are shuffling! And a similar job to the one I have here has opened up in Canada, is it time to go? Honestly? I don’t think so.
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
ОЙ ХТО, ХТО, МИКОЛАЯ ЛЮБИТЬ.
українська народна пісня
Ой, хто, хто Миколая любить,
Ой, хто, хто Миколаю служить,
Тому святий Миколай, На всякий час помагай,
Миколає!
Ой, хто, хто к ньому прибігає, На поміч його призиває,
Той все з горя вийде ціло, Охоронить душу й тіло,
Миколай!
Ой, хто, хто спішить в Твої двори,
Сего Ти на землі і в морі
Все хорониш від напасти,
Не даєш му в гріхи впасти,
Миколає!
Миколай, молися за нами,
Благаєм Тебе зі сльозами.
Ми Тя будем вихваляти,
Імʼя Твоє величати,
На віки.
OH WHO, WHO, NIKOLAI LOVES.
Ukrainian folk song
Oh, who, who loves Nicholas
Oh, who, who serves Nicholas
Therefore, Saint Nicholas, help me at all times,
Nicholas!
Oh, who, who runs to him, Calls for his help,
He will always come out of grief whole, Protect soul and body,
Nicholas!
Oh, who, who will hurry to Your courts,
You are here on earth and in the sea
You bury everything from harm,
You don’t let him fall into sins,
Nicholas!
Nicholas, pray for us
I beg You with tears.
We will praise You,
glorify Your name,
For ages.
Show notes up on stevensirski.com
Bandcamp: skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – December 7, 2023
NAC – what is it and what does it do? Basically a strong antioxidant used to flush toxins from the body. Can help with pushing alcohol out of the system, doesn’t mean that the alcohol still won’t harm your brain or gut.
December Drumming continues, trying some things out.
Hearing some more about the “reality” of working in Canada… cost of living is higher while there isn’t as much work as there is here in China.
Several people have talked about the Chinese green card, so I asked a fellow expat here in China to give me the lowdown on it. The basics is that there is no annual visa renewal fun and also
And why is Korean on the same level as Mandarin Chinese on the FSI chart of language difficulties? Should we use this chart as a guide?
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – December 8, 2023
More about NAC
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nac-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10
Life speeds up over 40? Is it true?
Reading recommendations…Chinese books
The Wedding Party – Liu Xinwu
Strange Beasts of China – Yan Ge
China in Ten Words – Yue Hua
And of course books by Peter Hessler
SMOG causing breathing issues! Come to Beijing! Come to China! Visa free for Singapore and many other countries!
North Korea is a cyber threat? Amazing how such a small country can cause such a ruckus!
December Drumming continues, returning to beatboxing today.
Experimenting with longer form videos for language vlog, would be easier to create more content.
Gotta work on that pcast
And mastering assistant in Logic Pro for iPad? Let’s see what happens…
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Have a good weekend!
SSAB – December 11, 2023
感冒了Sick, like flu but not too serious, down throughout Sunday, Is it the new coov? JN.1 taking over from BA.62.whatever.
Newsletter written, will send out tomorrow. Not much of a newsletter, more of an extension of things that are innit?
December Drumming tracks are up! http://skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
We got snow! Doesn’t happen often!
Keeping motivated: why do you do the things you do?
New week, pitter patter let’s get at er!
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com and skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – December 12, 2023
Feeling far better!
Newsletter out! All about expats leaving.
Thinking, going forward, how else could I change up some things and make them better? Make my life easier? I did not know you could import CSVs into Canva! What else am I doing wrong?!
Oil down! Getting trounced! Tax loss selling and oftentimes one of best times to get in. Do your own research!
December Drumming continues… keeping it simple today.
Looks like Hong Kong is opening up for Mainlanders, should be easier to transit through now. And what about those airline points??
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – December 13, 2023
More snow! And cold!
Workouts in! 5.95km within 36 min 55 sec. Not much time for anything else at lunch so another after work workout with kbells n clubs.
Trying out Trello for organizing podcast workflow, probably something I should have done before. I used to do this on paper so I’m not sure how much this will affect things.
Watching Billions, a show about a billionaire hedge fund manager. These are fun to watch sometimes though I’ll admit, no, I don’t desire to be in that industry at all.
Aaaaand the sink is plugged. Haven’t dealt with that yet and not sure I will tonight.
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Music at skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – December 14, 2023
Still snowing! Is this a Beijing blizzard?? Getting a bit cold to be reviewing characters outside.
And the Powell pop! Oil, gold n everything bounces on the word that US interest rates will be cut in March!
-
- What is the Fed?
-
- What are interest rates?
-
- What is inflation?
Some books to read:
-
- William J. O’Neil’s How to Make Money in Stocks
-
- Gerald Loeb Battle for Investment Survival
-
- Story time: Reminiscences of a Stock Operator.
Sink unplugged, but who knows for how long.
Did NOT feel like making dinner, sooo… salad it is with pre-made chicken from the grocery store. Kale, celery, radishes, tomatoes, olives, cashews, goat cheese (cuz it was on sale), cranberries, bell peppers, broccoli! And for dressings: mustard, Japanese roast sesame sauce, apple cider vinegar. BIG!
Midday workout: all about the mace swings!
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – December 15, 2023
End of the week
Workouts in, lunchtime was a bit cold, need to roll out the back
December Drumming continues at skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Would you trust someone who’s trying to do a lot of different things, or would you pref someone be a specialist?
Nine, twelve, seventeen income streams , however many it is just how easily is it to generate them? And what is the reality of earning money through YouTube? Pay cheque, investments (how many?), products, affiliates, side hustle job (eg, consulting), and others.
Holiday season is upon us, could I do a holiday wrap up? Or keep going??
Show notes up on stevensirski.com
SSAB – December 18, 2023![]()
A week till Christmas and three days till Solstice!
Half way through the month already?
Still cold outside
Workouts in:
-6.65km in 38.02
-Sunday’s run was 8.98km in 57.17
-After work workout today: mostly 14kg kbells
-tomorrow should be mace swings
Article on running: can you get faster or at least maintain your speed as you get older? – https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20848096/age-matters-for-marathoning/
Wondering if I have to go to the tax office to update my passport or if I can do this online. I somehow thought this would have been communicated to the necessary channels but I really can’t think why I even thought that.
Trying to sign up to SkyRemit, a new money transfer service here in China.
Here’s an idea for a bar night: Drink in Chinese: how to learn Mandarin Chinese characters while at the pub. Draw a character, explain a little do a shot. I wonder how long that would last.
Show notes up on stevensirski.com
Creative Audio at: skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – December 19, 2023
Cold and snow! Longest it’s been like this since I arrived.
Babies being born, new China boom?
Newsletter in the works. Or is this just a blog by another name? Need to hedge this output.
Episode 43 has been tough to get around to cause of all these other projects.
How do I make my life easier in 2024? What tools can I use? What plan do I have? And yes, there is a plan behind this.
Reading the Power of Habit, all about building habits.
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
And don’t forget to check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com for the latest there.
SSAB – December 20, 2023
More cold! Schools closing!
“Cities including Jiangsu’s Nanjing, Changzhou and Zhenjiang, as well as Anhui’s Lu’an, Wuhu and Chuzhou all have suspended classes or implemented flexible school hours”
“A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan county in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Northwest China’s Gansu Province on Monday midnight”
Workouts in! 6.5km at lunch in 43.32. Avg 6min 30 sec pace.
-could NOT lift after, did mobility work instead
-after work kbells
Better get moving on December Drumming
Figuring out ways to make social media posting easier!
Episode 43 in the works!
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have s good one!
SSAB – December 21, 2023
Winter Solstice! Shortest day of the year! Did you do anything? I worked!
December Drumming tracks coming along, trying out a few things, but staying mostly digital.
Santa Claus Rally, what is it and why does it matter?
-Joined by First Five Days, January Barometer (aka January Effect)
-Careful about the percentages! If it moves 80% of the time, how much does it move? One percent? How much does that materially affect you?
Are China stonks worth it?
Foregoing Trello and instead looking into a free website called Notion which seems to be like a souped up version of Notes.
Just updated iOS, a Journaling app??
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to have a listen at skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – December 22, 2023
What was thaaat??!
Working on Episode 43, may have to release it next week.
They say work will lighten up next month, we’ll see about that. Keep in mind, Spring Festival begins February 9th.
Workouts in, cold! And barely moving! 5.74km in 41.52, barely got through any pull ups or anything else. Did get through the weights at the end of the day.
I tend to do full body workouts, but I have been thinking it might be easier and faster to start doing workout splits instead.
It’s Christmas weekend! A few people have taken off for a few weeks. I entertained the idea but, like my other trips, have been hesitant to go. May still make a trip down south next weekend.
So what is it with the voice, Steve??
“Hey everybody and welcome to another episode of Sirski Unplugged, where I, Steven Sirski, tell you, my listeners, just what it’s REALLY like to live as an expat. Join me for the next 25 minutes as I wank on about this, that, and the other thing right here, on this makes you 15 percent better podcast. Let’s dive in!”
“And with that, we’ll leave it there folks! Thanks for listening, I appreciate it! All the show notes and tracks are up and available on my website, stevensirski.com. Have a good one, Marry Christmas, get your runs in, and eat your broccoli with some mustard!”
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – Dec 25, 2023
It’s Christmas!
Have you ever seen the end of the NORAD Santa tracker? I finally did!
Trying out this web-based program called Repurpose, will help distribute content to multiple platforms. This is exactly what I was thinking of trying to build on my own. Looks very useful.
Taking a few days off at the end of the week so I can spend some time on a few projects and possibly get out of town for a bit.
Workouts in! 7.41km in 44.14? Not likely, but that’s what the watch shows. Rope work, is this why I gained weight after Canada? Because I stopped doing this?
So what did we do for Christmas?
Didn’t do too much food-wise as we were unsure when we’d be travelling. Plus, some work was still scheduled over the next few days. BUT, we did try to make cookies and… almost got them.
Saw a movie, 怒潮 nu chao, not a Christmas movie by any stretch, but it was free.
Don’t forget to call home!
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
SSAB – Dec 26, 2023
Boxing Day, how does it go? I still worked.
Spent much of the day rewriting the newsletter, reflecting on Christmas as an expat.
Christmas songs, was trying to do a few traditional Ukrainian songs for December Drumming but my keyboard skills are that good. Got a bunch of other tracks done but stuck on 23rd and 24th.
-“There are two distinct groups of Ukrainian Christmas music. Koljadky (Ukrainian Christmas Carols) are sung in church alongside traditional liturgical texts and hymns from Christmas Eve (January 6, according to the Julian Calendar) to Epiphany (January 19). Shchedrivky (New Year’s songs), being much older and having pagan roots, are rarely sung in a liturgical setting given their secular themes of bounty and prosperity.”
https://www.vesnivka.com/e-library/dobrij-vechir
Called home to see how things are going, people are moving around.
-Don’t talk about vaccinations cause… then your internet connection goes wonky!
Plans for the New Year? Not much! Geez, how do people even find out about things that are going on?!
Show notes n tracks are up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to have a listen at skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have a good one!
SSAB – Dec 27, 2023
Trying out a bit of a different set up for this recording as I didn’t bring my iPad or big microphone.
Daxing airport
First impressions – big, air is more damp, LOTS of people, especially at the interchange Tiyu Xilu.
The apartment we’re staying in is like the AirBnb version of apartments: private rental done through a company. Used Fliggy to find it.
Smoggy, just like Beijing, doesn’t smell as much like it though.
iPhone hack: if you need to move a lot of photos or videos, connect your phone to your computer and then use ImageCapture to move photos.
Finally got a little Automator program to rename photos so this is awesome to use for some things.
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
And yes, skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com continues
SSAB – Dec 28, 2023
Breakfast dian du de 点都德, a famous restaurant. Pretty good and we ate our fill for most of the day
Ming Ji (Ming Kee) Chang fen 明记 for dinner, another famous place
Snacks in between, included several pastry shops and a gelati shop
Walk around XiGuan district
Bruce Lee’s parent’s home… HE NEVER LIVED THERE!
-he had his sweat glands removed!
-conspiracy theories about his death but it may be that he simply was working too hard.
Beijing Pedestrian Road – no bikes! Oops! BUT, an ancient road built-in… or over?
Biked back to the apartment – how was the sleep? Should have an air filter, turns out there isn’t one here. Mostly quiet, though some noise until late. And COLD! Ha! Relatively speaking of course.
How is the sound today?
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com for all the creative audio you can wish for.
SSAB – Dec 29, 2023
End of December already! New Year’s weekend!
Slow day, smoggy day, T-shirt day!
Breakfast at TaoTaoJu, another famous name brand here. Had similar foods as yesterday but I think I’d give the edge to Dian Du De.
-Youtiao were similar, but we had leftovers so TaoTaoJu’s youtiao was okay to eat later on
-shrimp dumplings (XiaJiaoHuang) were better at DianDuDe
-HongMiChang were better at DianDuDe
-creamy spurt buns were better at TaoTaoJu than the DanTa at DianDuDe
The goal today was to go to Guangzhou Tower.
-600m tall
-third tallest in world
-tallest in China
-are there office buildings inside?
-four hours there cause we were waiting for the sun to set
-I don’t like heights
-Watched two guys at work on one of the pillars..
Dinner at FengYuanYeZhen ZhenPinYeZiJi for a type of Guangzhou hot pot
Walked around the World Mall. Lots of people, NYE weekend.
-How much do people actually understand of my Chinese?
That’ll do for Guangzhou! One more day that we’ll walk around.
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
Don’t forget to check out skrskimuzik.bandcamp.com
Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year!