For all you readers out there who have me in your RSS reader (yes, I’m assuming Goodbers has a substantial following), please accept my apologies. I finally got around to uploading old images. You see, the Goodbers blog originated way back in December 2003 as a plain, self-styled (and embarassingly so) HTML page. Two months later, Goodbers moved to Blurty. Then, following recommendations from the Shanghai web bloggers’ meetup group, Goodbers moved yet again in March 2005, setting up long-term residence with Blogger. Unfortunately, every image I uploaded from the original HTML page to Blogger registered as an update, so your RSS reader probably filled with a slew of random images of the 2003 Shanghai winter. Sorry about that, and thanks for sticking through the growing pains. Lucky for you, Bloggers is so much better than my previous two vehicles. But enough with logistics.
This last week was the National Holiday. Most people had the week off, starting October 1. John and I stayed home for the break. Decided to catch up on our zzz. I hit the LLS office a few times– got the nonprofit org set up with its two donated computers. Was a total bitch reformatting and reinstalling everything, but I finally got the protocol down. Three more units to go. Sure wish I had free ghosting software. You have no idea how long I researched partitioning programs and disk imaging applications: I probably wasted 10 hours online and didn’t learn much. In the end, just had to reformat and install from scratch. Sigh.
Volunteered at the Baoshan animal shelter last Friday. My buddies Tien and Danielle joined. The dogs and cats look great, but it’s so depressing. Why aren’t more people snatching up these cuties? Anyone interested? The animals are so sweet-natured. They just need a bit of training (housebreaking) and lots of TLC. Check out who’s available at the new Second Chance Animal Aid website.
I am continuing on my kitchen escapades. Unfortunately, our fluorescent bulb blew out a few days ago. Despite searching all over the city for a replacement, no luck. At the moment, John and I are “cooking by the campfire.” In other words, we hover around the stove with a flashlight (the sun goes down here around 5:30 pm). I swear our neighbors looking in must think we’re nuts.
Oh man, last night John and I went out to dinner for a friend’s b-day. Tairyo: all- you-can-eat Japanese teppenyaki and sushi. Dinner was good but I didn’t get full. The cook made too much meat and then no one had any room for shrimp and veggies. Ah well, I was somewhat distracted by John’s latest challenge: a drinking duel, sort of. I had many many cups of saki. But I’m proud to say, I stood my ground quite well. No hang over. Mind over body, I tell you. It’s a powerful thing.
After dinner, my friend made everyone head out to Bar Rouge. Yes, I succumbed to peer pressure and boy did I suffer consquences. Ugh. One of the most pretentious, disgusting places in town. What can I say: I just am not made for that scene. Young ladies in skimpy outfits gyrating against each other, against grandpas… I dunno. Very disturbing. I couldn’t take it: had to go outside for some air after 30 seconds inside. I know, politically, I’m very liberal. But I’m a total red-stater when it comes to shit like this. I mean, yes these people are having a good time so I should just relax and bug off. But sorry, some level of modesty would be nice. Anyway, I wished my friend a happy b-day and jetted outta there fairly quickly.
Went to bed and well ended up sleeping all day Sunday. Yes, the Bar Rouge experience was simply THAT traumatic. Just kidding. Actually, I think it was the bed. John and I went shopping at HOLA (equivalent to a Bed Bath & Beyond) on Saturday, and we splurged on a Temperpedic-type foam mattress topper. OMG, the best 900 kuai ever spent! Upgraded that piece-of-shit cardboard box of a mattress into an absolute island of luxury! That space foam stuff is like magic, man. Seriously, I’m getting tired again just thinking about it. I’ve only been up for 7 hours, but it’s time for bed again.