Planet Mars

Have any of you decided to buy that premium Xanga stuff?  I don't really think it made a difference to increase my whole Xanga experience.  For those of you who don't know, Xanga has hotkeys too so the little buttons on the top are not that much more convenient.  I guess they have to make money somehow, their burn rate must be horrendous.

Speaking of online companies charging, I think Microsoft has got me by the balls.  I have 4 Hotmail accounts, check them religiously, and use Hotmail to store pictures and documents.  If they were to ever start charging per account, I'd be forced to pay for at least two of my accounts.  I'd be at the mercy of their every whim.  MS has done a pretty good job though, I don't remember that last time email was ever down, or when I couldn't access certain emails.  I suppose my only annoyance is the spam that I get.  Emails titled Tight Teen Pu$$y and get an Online Diploma still manage to slip through the MS Hotmail Filters.

Mars came down to SH for a couple days with his family.  It was great seeing you man!  I took him to Pegasus, Rojam, Xin Tian Di and some other places around SH.  We had quite a bit to drink at Pegasus and I'm sorry to have taken your quiet life away from you for a couple days, but I hope you had fun.  Yes it is always great seeing familliar faces in SH.  Hopefully, most of you will have come down at least once while I'm here.  BTW, Mars, I talked to the bar manager of Rojam that evening after I went back to get my friends.  The girl we saw was a prostitute.  Send me our pic as soon as you can, I want to post it here!

Happy Birthday Lawrence!

Merry Christmas

I'm usually a very happy go lucky person, but I'm afraid this will be my first and hopefully only depressing post!  It's quite sad, I've never been this lonely Christmas Eve and Christmas.  As I grew older, the excitement of Christmas slowly started to dissipate.  I'm sure many of us remember that one time when Christmas just didn't feel like Christmas anymore.  After that day, Christmas was just like any other day, except people didn't really go to work.  Well, I didn't realize until here in Shanghai how much I took for granted.  Christmas alone sucks.

Last night was Christmas eve, and I wasn't alone alone.  I went out to a bar called Face Bar with Ivan and Nathan and met up with some friends and some of their friends.  Even with all the people around, I couldn't help but feel alone.  Miles and miles away from family and friends made me miss the Christmas carols, the warm turkey dinners and the hassles of family gatherings.  Christmas in SH isn't celebrated like it is at home, at least not yet.  I can see that the stores are trying to get into the Christmas spirit with all their decorations and all, but I know deep down inside, China's just trying to capitalize on the whole commercialization of Christmas.  My first sign was seen downtown when different groups of people walked around together with Santa hats on.  They bought it to try to get into the Christmas spirit but what is this spirit really?

For me, aside from the birth of Christ, Christmas means more than ever now, family and friends.  People are always so busy with their here's and there's, this's and that's, that when Christmas comes around and everyone is forced to stay home on their day off, it feels great being with family and friends.  That feeling of warmth that words just can't describe... I'm tempted to lunge and hug the guy beside me just to feel a little bit of that Christmas warmth.  But I know that it won't be the same as it would be at home.  Alas, I must hug myself.  One more lonely holiday to cross and then I should be homefree for the next year but New Years is going to suck.  Everyone's been asking me what I've planned for New Years here in SH.  Most likely going to a party with a bunch of drunk people I don't really know.  Yip dee doo.

I can never say I miss you guys enough for it to come close to how it really feels.  Merry Christmas everyone.

PS Happy belated Birthday, Mat.  Hopefully I'll see you in HK.

The World Is Yours

The world is seriously messed up.  Living in a state of blissful ignorance is the only alternative to waking up every morning and having to think what trigger happy military official is contemplating at the moment.  In every region of the world, reams and reams of problems exist and I fear things are going to get worse.  Perhaps this fear is fueled by my desire to uncover more information and the access to it via the Internet.  In China, even though Big Brother keeps a close watch on many of the major Internet sites (I can't get onto CNN.com and some other major news sites), many small ones slip through the Great Firewall of China.  For an interesting read, try http://www.debka.com.

I'm not a political studies major, but I do have interests in world politics and economics.  It just sickens me what goes on in the world, and makes me realize how blessed we are to be living where we are.  People have their problems, but they pale in comparison to what real problems are.  I guess you could argue that it is all relative, but that is a seriously fukked up argument.  Nukes are what scare me the most.  No time in history have more nations had access to nukes.  Nations that have unstable regimes with all the money they need to buy a couple nukes on the black market all of a sudden have bargaining power.  Some think that they won't use them, but I am seriously willing to bet you right now, that before the end of next year, someone is going to drop a nuke.  The U.S. knows this too, I think that's one of the reasons they pulled out of the ABM Treaty.  What do radical extremists have to lose anyway?  Many are so rooted in their religion that when you believe you are dying for a greater cause anything goes.

In Star Trek TNG's First Contact, I think it was said best when Picard talked about how First Contact changed human mentality and brought them together striving for the betterment of human kind.  Perhaps a utopian view, but how I hope that there will be day like that, sooner than later.  I'm only 23 (going on 24 hint hint), there is so much more world for me to see, so much more in life to experience, so many more people's lives to touch... I hope I'm not right about the nukes.

I think I'm going to forfeit my chess game, I'll have to shamefully admit that I have lost.  New year, new start...  That biatch!

Magical Glasses

Let's back track to kirb's Nov. 5th post.  Magic glasses definitely do exist, my co-chair for the ASES conference Wang Ya Qin is one such example.  She isn't an extreme hottie, but her glasses make her look so cute.  There's just something about her with them on.  Maybe it's the combination of the glasses with the slight gap in her teeth.  Whatever the case, I saw her without her glasses the other day and felt as if someone punched me in the stomach.  How could she change so quickly?

In retrospect, I have a feeling it has to do with your first encounter with a particular person.  If the first time you ever meet them is with their glasses on, I think you tend to think they look better with them on.  Used to seeing them wear it, they kind of look wierd with them off.  It's just like if you're used to not seeing someone with glasses and then, all of a sudden, see them with them on.  It comes as quite a shock, I know I've been disappointed a couple times.  But then there's always the adjustment period.  And of course there are exceptions when some people just look hot whatever they're wearing, if anything at all.

I had a couple of meetings with my ASES Committee already.  We are looking to fill a couple more positions, but I really think this thing is going to be the bomb.  I can sense my kids getting excited too.  I think that's one of the things I'm able to do, get people psyched up for stuff.  I feed off others' energy and am able to let others feed off mine.  YahoooooOO!!!

Happy Birthday Kimmy!  Michelle!

The Good Times...

I really miss the good old days... Thanks for posting this pic Ced, I know where I can go whenever I feel nostalgic.  Except... where's Kirby?  Jane must have had him on lockdown.

And who are those two desperate souls in the back?  The one with his hand outstretched and the other where we can barely see his teeth and have a good glimpse of his left nostril?

I bought a fake Tommy jacket the other day, a puffy one (sorry ced). Guess how much I paid at the Xiang Yang Markets for a down filled silver/greyish Tommy Hilfiger winter bomber jacket? A whole $30 Canadian. I'm sure I had more room to bargain, but in these situations, you walk into the store with a set price in mind, ready to pay. I was thinking they were going to at least ask for $70 Canadian or start bidding at about $300 RMB. The lady started at $180 RMB, equivalent to about $35 Canadian. I was wearing blue jeans that day, so it went extra well with my clothes. I'm thinking of buying one or two more, different coloured ones to go with my other pants (is this what girls go through?) Anyway, they have some cool The North Face ones too.

The MTV Party on the weekend was pretty cool, actually there were a lot of high school kids there. Apparently it was the New Years end party and kickoff of MTV Shanghai. We did see a famous Taiwanese singer though, some guy named Jay. I have been searching for his pic to show you, but can't find it. Anyways, he's popular in China. Dana also came out with his Chinese rap group and jumped around on stage. I think it shocked some of the locals to see a black guy on stage. I found out all this time that I've been spelling my friend's alias name incorrectly. Instead of Showtime, his name is Showtyme. Y instead of an I. Those crazy black guys.

Belated Birthday Shoutouts...

I'm used to calling people, emailing people, or sending people birthday cards for their birthday.  Ever since I got to Shanghai, I've gotten quite sloppy at it.  Kimmy, your letter is written up, I even have the friggin envelope.  I have been quite lazy about getting stamps and putting it in the mail.  I also have a letter for Jane, so Kirb, when you get a chance email me yours or her mailing address.  I have postcards for all you other guys too.  But again, my lazy ass hasn't been able to get stamps yet.  That is my goal for next week... to get all that shyte out of the way.  Please forgive me if you receive a late Christmas card!

So as we run through December, I'd like to wish Kevin, Kristina, Amy, Donald, Jaclyn and Jaime a happy (belated) birthday.  I know there are more, I'll write them as they come.

I was at Le Club again last night.  I was by myself though, it was quite hard coordinating the evening while staying with my mom.  Most of my friends went to Pegasus with whom I met up with after but I was obligated to go because Dana a.k.a. Showtime was rapping that night and I told him I'd show up.  I'm glad I went though, because Dana was superglad I came and invited me to an MTV end of year party for this Saturday.  You have to get tickets to go but it's been sold out for a while.  Showtime is rapping at the party so he can get me in.  I can bring one person so I invited Rebecca.  I still have to wait for her reply, I don't think she understands the text message I sent her (it was in English).  Or maybe she is ignoring me!!!!

BTW, the Fudan students agreed that I am the best person for organizing their conference.  They have apprehensions about me doing it by myself so I'm going to run it with another person as a co-chair.  The only thing is, I have to decide on who the co-chair is going to be.  Then I've got to figure out how to raise $400,000 RMB (close to $100,000 CDN).  What the fuk have I gotten myself into?

Patience Danielson...

For those of you planning to come to Shanghai, please bring your winter gear.  Yes, that means your gloves, your long pants, scarves and puffy jackets (sorry Ced).  Not only can it get quite cold (temperature currently hovers around 0C or 32F) but insulation isn't quite top notch here.  As I watch all the buildings being erected here, no where do I see any consideration for insulation.  Nothing but concrete slabs and bricks to make things look pretty.  That's the other thing with Shanghai (and I'm sure with most of China), there seems to be an obsession with outer appearances.  What they don't seem to worry about is what is on the inside.  It's quite hard to explain over this brief log, but all in all, whenever there is construction done, when there is food served, when there is something sold, things aren't always as they seem.  They work really hard on making sure the finish on the outside looks great, but if you were to ever look inside, 9 times out of 10 you'll find nothing but shyte.

They have a market here that I'm sure they're going to close down soon (due to copyright reasons).  At the Xiang Yang Markets, you can find fake anythings.  Just to name a few, you can get fake DVD's (Harry Potter is out), VCD's, brand name pens (Mont Blanc anyone?), wallets and purses (Versace? LV?), underwear (CK? BOSS?), watches (Omega? Swatch?), Shoes (Nike's, Timberlands, Reebok) and jackets (North Face, Tommy Hilfiger).  But as fake as they may be, they look so real, the average person could not tell.  I myself have a fake LV wallet.  I have had it for a while but no one seems to have wondered whether it was fake or not?  The fake puffy North Face jackets they have here are sweet, except that they aren't really down filled and sometimes aren't really waterproof but they look real... sheesh.  And the people here will tell you almost anything to close a sale.   "Yeah it looks really nice on you.  This is the cheapest price you'll find it at.  It brings out your eyes.  You look cool in that jacket.  It's cold outside, this is a good investment.  Frank you, come again!"

The sun is finally out, but it's too cold to take my mom anywhere.  I love her and all, but her old age makes taking her around to all the cool places in SH annoying.  I can't walk too fast.  We can't walk very far.  We can't stay up too late.  Well, it's not that bad, but everything I write on here is slightly exaggerated anyways.

My chess match with Rebecca doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  I messaged her for dinner last Monday night (she has a break on Tuesdays) but she messaged back with, "I promised my mom I'd be home early tonight." (she's 21? and works till 10pm).  The one ray of hope was, "How about we go on another day?"  But is that just one of those hooks that people say to keep em coming back?  I'm such an impatient chess player.  Paul can attest to that fact (from our many Chinese Chess matches at bubbletea).  I'm all over the place, sacrificing pieces when I don't need to, going after useless pieces and taking forever to checkmate.  Hmm... let's think of analogies here...

Bah, I think my interest is waning. 

Riding High With ATI

I was just checking my stocks and found out that ATI Technologies is trading at around $20.  Can someone please tell me why?  I was looking at the charts and over the past month it's gone up like 30%!  Mars, any insight on this?  Remember those ride high days when we watched ATI go from like $10 - $30?  And I was considering hanging a picture of K.Y. Ho on my wall?

Speaking of which, I was very happy to hear that some of my friends are coming to Shanghai this Christmas!  Mars, we definitely have to have dinner and then some together.  And Ruth, for sure I'll show you around, although I don't think you'll be too impressed with Fudan!  Who else is coming?  Let me know!  I have 10 days off from December 20th to the 30th, then after exams, I've got from January 25th - February 23rd off.  I'll be in HK for most of it, but might go to Japan.  Jay, where in Japan are you again?

Weather here has been shyte, grey skies or rain for the last 2 weeks, every friggin day.  When is Mr. Sun going to come out?

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on meeeeee....

Check... Your Move Simon

Might as well take advantage of this free trial...

Yesterday, I went with Chris and met up with Rebecca and her friend.... what a disaster!  Afternoon goes as follows:

Hi, Rebecca!  Sorry I'm late (Hmm... she doesn't look as cute as I remembered!  But she's still cute).  This is my friend Chris.  Oh, hi Sweet (another messed up Chinese name, poor Chris, he's going to have a shitty time being wingman with this one).  So where do you guys want to sit down?  Starbucks?  Sure.  (Okay, Chris, we better order first, otherwise they're going to expect us to pay for them).  I'll have a hot chocolate.  (Hmm... why is she just waiting by the cash?)  Are you going to get something?  Oh a cappucino?  Cool... Yeah sure, let's sit upstairs...

(After a while of meaningless conversation)

(Hmm... why is she not saying much?  Why is her friend saying everything?  Why is she smiling at me?)  Why are you smiling at me?  Oh nothing?  Oh, okay... hehe... so uhh... you take an English class eh?  How is it?  No my Chinese classes are quite easy.  Are you still gonna teach me Shanghainese?  What word is that?  Eh-wu?  Zang He Eh Wu?   Oh really?  Is that what it means?  Very interesting... soo.... ho hum... (Why is her friend doing all the talking?  More meaningless conversation... grrrr...)

So she totally played it cool.  Either she thinks I'm boring or she is a master at chess.  I was once told that I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I guess if you were to play chess, you wouldn't reveal your strategy out to your opponent.  I hate these damn games.  But there is a certain thrill to this whole thing.  And as much as I am against it, I'm very competitive, so my next move must be thought out carefully.  Any advice?  She's got me at check...

I partied all night last night with my class last night.  We went for Hot Pot and then Karaoked from 12am - 6am.  It was pretty nutty.  I failed at my first attempt at singing a Chinese song...  Must not give up!  Ivan was cool enough to come.  I played drinking games with most of them, mostly with Lily though.  Ivan says she was all over me, but I didn't quite notice.  You know for 35 yuan, we had hot pot and all you can drink beer?

My mind is totally random now because I'm a little drunk from coming back bar hopping with Ivan, Chris and Nick and two girls Nick met.  But the funny thing about one of the brand names of beer here, is that it's called REEB.  How fukken creative, eh?  REEB!!!  Okay, I'll shaddup.

Mama's Boy

I'll be one of the first to proudly admit that, yes, I am a mama's boy.  Being a parent must be so damn hard (props to Sass and Keith) but being a single parent must be a nightmare.  My mom raised Mat and I since I was 7 years old.  When you're older, you look back and realize just how much your parents sacrifice.  My little Chinese mom held two jobs, cooked, cleaned, handled the bills, dealt with legal matters, financed a home and a car and raised two Western thinking boys all by herself.  She had a social life of a rock, all that mattered to her was my brother and I.  God that must be so hard.  I look at my social life now, my priorities and ambitions giving all that up will be so hard.  I guess that just shows us what the power of love can do.  My mom put up with all of our shit, never stopped caring, never stopped giving.  If she gave up anywhere along the way, I nor my brother would not be the people we are today.

Do girls fear mama's boys?  I get mixed reactions when the subject is talked about.  I don't know why girls would have to worry at all though, if anything they should be thrilled.  Boy's like us know how to respect a woman.  How many guys do you know open the door for women?  Let them walk out of a room or elevator first?  Patiently wait for a date?  I am also told that we know how to treat women better, take care of them.  Although I believe this, I'm sure others will have something nasty to say.

Well, I'm posting this because my mom is finally going to come to SH to visit me.  I really miss her, and her 10 days here will bring yet another familliar face to my eyes.  I miss everyone back home so much (that's why I'm always on the net) and being able to see family like my mom, dad and friends like Paul really go a long way.  I'm thankful for this Internet technology, but a nice handshake or hug really warms your heart.  I feel like such a pansy for getting all sentimental but I have good reason to, I think.  1.  Christmas and New Years is fast approaching, and this will be the first year ever I've done so away from home.  2.  My birthday will be away from the people I want to spend it with most.

On a brighter note, my last teaching class ended.  It was a mixture of relief and sadness but I was touched when a couple of them approached me with a gift.  I told them I liked staying up late at night and they got me a puzzle for if I ever got bored in the middle of the night.  It was a picture of Vince Carter dunking.  So thoughtful.

I miss you guys.