It's A Trap!!!

Could this layout color scheme be any uglier? I may give it a go, but for now, this putrid abomination will be the default.

Finally finished Shantaram after spending 5 weeks with it. Sad to see it end, but happy to embark on another journey.

I have the neck of a sixty-year old. Disappointing at this age.

Blame It On The Bangles

To my anonymous poster: I used the ideas you gave me and wrote a reinterpretation of the lyrics to "Manic Monday" and how they pertained to an unhappy young woman who longed to go to Italy and, well, I should have stopped after I said "Manic Monday." Seriously, The Bangles? Of course, they were favorites of mine back when I was a little-league-skipping-stay-at-home-and-practice-pro-wrestling-moves-on-pillows eight-year old kid. I had a boombox. I liked Susanna Hoffs. I walked like an Egyptian in (of all places) McAdoo. But because of this task that I so monumentally failed on, a better idea has occurred to me. And it has nothing to do with "Hazy Shade of Winter."

Big playoff game tomorrow at 11:00. If we lose, the rubber match is at 1:00. The regular season was very fun and relaxing. Playoff time is more stressful and serious. Last week we managed to play loose and have fun. Pretty easy game. Tomorrow will be a greater challenge.

I'm really hoping Eddie Chambers can beat Dr. K this week but I really don't see how he will be able to do so. Klitschko is just too imposing of a specimen and Chambers, although quick and talented, won't be able to penetrate the big man's guard. My gut choice is Klitschko by UD, but it should be an interesting fight anyway.

Monday Mars

What a crazy week. First round of the playoffs,the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, sleeping on the couch, and agonizing through Herta Muller's The Passport have kept me away from the computer. Subsequently, I have also started to read Zhu Wen's I Love Dollars and am still working on Shantaram.

My recap of the softball playoffs at http://www.hongkongsoftball.com

To my anonymous commenter, I am working on your story. I'll put it up soon. Giving your ideas a bit of a twist.

Watch Logorama. Eat a Mars bar. Cut your nails.

Should You Choose To Accept It

A little ingenuity, and a quick translation, and now...italics! I was worried that I would be stuck writing everything in the same font.

Here's the deal. Anybody who has somehow ventured onto this page can help me out. I am looking for a few assignments. Simply give me a topic, setting, character, theme, anything, and I will write a short short story of less than 500 words about it. Hopefully I can compile a nice portfolio of tiny pieces. Now get to work internet wanderers!

Hong Kong Hodgepodge

I love being able to find streams of boxing matches and watching them on Saturday and Sunday morning live. Tomorrow, Devon Alexander vs. Juan Urango in a 140lb title unification match. Should be an exciting affair. I'm leaning towards Alexander the Great to outbox and outhustle Urango and win by UD.

The cold weather is supposed to come back to Hong Kong next week. Afterwards, when the temperature rises and the humidity causes the walls and bathroom floor of our apartment to sweat, I may be talked into buying a dehumidifier.

Still reading Shantaram. Also reading Men and Cartoons by Jonathan Lethem as my short-story supplement. Wondering why I can't get the italics to work on this computer. I'm not a fan of this particular gadget.

Softball playoffs next week. We have the first game, at 10AM. Should be a really good time at King's park. Playoff softball in the best league in Asia!

This is drab.I need an assignment of some sort. Somebody give me one.