It’s Friday afternoon, I just finished up some work, and tonight promises to be dizzying but very enjoyable (wings at Gillie’s, some Wii playing, beers with Chace and Mike, and then a traipse over to Volar to wish John a happy birthday). In that spirit of closing out the week, here are some thoughts swimming through my head on this early summer afternoon:

  • I dearly love my mom, but she should not have the power of e-mail at her fingertips. Now that she’s wiling her early retirement years with other bored couples in the suburbs of Las Vegas, I’ve been the recipient of countless e-mail forwards and attachments that she has found amusing and decided to send my way. I typically delete this type of crap when I get them from co-workers, but since she’s my mom I dare not upset the forces of filial piety, and find myself compelled to go through each animal blooper, dancing horse, or inspirational aphorism lest she somehow find out that I loathe these things and renounces me as a son. I hope she doesn’t read my blog. Oh wait, no one reads my blog.

  • I’ve completed seasons 3 of both “The Office” and “Lost.” Damn it, I knew I never should have started watching this crap. I’ve got a very addictive nature; once I find pleasure in something find myself obsessing over it. And indeed, these two shows are very, very pleasurable. One pleasant byproduct of having to watch TV shows in China is that it’s easy to enjoy them in an insulated environment. I was very pleased to have been enraptured by the season finale of “Lost” without having any clue as to what was coming next. No commercials for upcoming episodes, no bulletin-board discussions, no spoilers revealed. I must say that the second half of this season of “Lost” has really redeemed itself. And yes, I’m now officially a convert to the American version of “The Office,” as it has taken on an identity of its own. Check it out if you get a chance. Now it’s on to “Weeds.”

  • It’s a strange feeling to not want anything. I did a mental inventory when I was in Hong Kong, and realized that there was absolutely nothing material that I really desired. After many years, I’ve finally accepted the fact that no matter how many new clothes I’ll buy, I’m going to end up wearing the same 3 or 4 ratty T-shirts anyway. Recent trips to the triumverate of megapopular Shanghai mainstream retailers (H&M, Zara, Uniqlo) have resulted in me staring blankly at the same old striped polos, cargo shorts, and arty Japanese-designed T-shirts. On the electronics front, my Macbook Pro is still as sleek and enticing as ever, I still use my iPod nearly 3 hours each day, I’ve got three sets of headphones (buds, Sennhesier open-ears, and BOSE noise-canceling), I haven’t even figured out all the functions in my nifty Nokia smartphone, and despite owning over 30 games I still end up bowling on the few occasions I play my Wii. It’s a refreshing feeling, going out on the town and not really needing to buy anything. Tragically, this is not the case with Lydia, who can probably open up her own Zara by now with all the stuff she’s bought there in the past year and a half.

  • Can’t stop listening to Voxtrot the new Arcade Fire. Looks like my Christina Aguilera days are well behind me, just as she’s coming to Shanghai and showing off her goods.