I can’t convey the humidity in Shanghai right now. It’s like the atmosphere has a blood clot.
Shanghai gyms just can’t get it right. In my old, overpriced and low-budget gym, the trainers smoked incessantly and hounded me to practice their English (the equivalent of a golden retriever humping my leg while I’m trying to work out). While I appreciate the great equipment in my current gym, I’m experiencing a different breed of problems with the staff. They suck. The woman at the desk who takes my card refuses to smile at me. I tried warmheartedly asking her if she had problems in her life, and I just got the classic Chinese poker face for a response. But more than anything, I’m pissed about this text message I received yesterday:
“Hey, Ian, How r u? We share the same Gym consultant in Limeijian, My name is Judy. We r having a volleyball game near Weininglu subway station tomorrow afternoon 13:00 - 15:00, We have a Japanese girl who is skillful to help icebreaker like me. Please let me know if I shoule expect ur coming or not. Thank you very much!”
What the fuck. I don’t have a “gym consultant” besides the irritating guy who I purchased my one-month membership from. He also texts me inappropriately, asking if I’m going to continue my membership. This means that someone at my gym thought “oh, there’s a strapping young lad, but I’m too timid to go up and talk to him, so I’ll ask the desk for his phone number.” So my gym just gives out my phone number to anyone who seeks it. While I would like to meet the skillful Japanese girl, I’m going to have a scathing talk with the desk folk, including the trollop who never smiles.
I get really excited when I hear that “beep BEEP” indicating that I’ve received a text. “Oooooo a message, who ever could it be?” I wonder. At least once a day, it’s some bullshit like this.
Going back to 1981 on the music tip today. I don’t even know where I get some of these albums, and I usually Wikpedia the artists for my rock and roll credibility lesson of the day. Apparently after a decade or so of mental illness and drug problems, the lead singer of Television Personalities may currently ghost write for The Arctic Monkeys. Though filled with British pop-culture references I don’t understand, it’s great Sunday music.
Television Personalities - Geoffrey Ingram
Television Personalities - The Glittering Prizes
Television Personalities - Parties in Chelsea
