I would like to write something like:
“Nestled up in my cozy little apartment with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and the quiet for company, a Friday, gently as the rain outside, makes its quiet passing.”
Instead, for the sake of true realism, of which I find I’m becoming much less a fan of these days, and for the sake of hilarity, which I increasingly appreciate, I shall write:
“Shivering in my soggy little apartment with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and the sound of the upstairs neighbors moving furniture, which they do approximately three times a week beginning around 10pm generally followed by violent arguing at midnight commencing around 2 or 3am when they engage in equally rigorous fucking, a Friday night is prolonged by waiting for two international phone calls that may or may not happen around the time the neighbors climax.”
Not that I’m feeling sorry for myself or anything.
It was a long week. I was not feeling physically at my best, had to argue with my landlord’s churlish son about agreements we had already reached involving my new rental contract, and 85 percent of the people involved with making the entertainment guide didn’t come to work this week. Oh yeah, and it rained every day. Rain itself isn’t a bad thing, but apparently Shanghai apartments that are less than 200USD per month are more porous than others. My sheets have been wet all week, which tends to instigate in me horrendous dreams, as in last night’s world war against legions of kittens.
Thank god for booze and music.
It wasn’t all bad though.
I was surprised at how much I was able to accomplish with the guide with such limited resources — thank you, interns and editorial assistant — and it was rather a pleasant change of pace to be solo in command. I am an admiral personality, after all.
I found out I might have the opportunity to interview the president of Kazakhstan on Dec. 20, which would just be fascinating and, of course, impresses the heck out of all the old folks back in Nebraska. My youngest brother Steven received news about music scholarships after his all-State choir performance, of which I’m incredibly proud — if he really wants it, the kid WILL be a rock star someday. And I had a couple nice dinners with friends who remind me, through mere conversation, how much I love reading and looking at the world with a wider lens. I find that although my time in Shanghai has been an incredibly social and invigorating one, it has also been somewhat myopic. I crave intellectual stimulation — especially since Adam has gone, and I don’t have my little devil’s advocate by my side. Of course, you can always find someone to argue with, but it seems to come from a more personally contentious root, and I’m worn from encountering this sort of pettiness and ego.
Fortunately, Adam comes to town for two weeks in mid-December, and he’ll be here for the summer as well.
Next week, I move into the new apartment, which is warmer and more centrally located — so no more long rainy commutes, ugly neighbors, wet sheets…and evil kittens.
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