In Seach of Tama

In Search of Tama
After work today I went to a random chinese take out place and ordered something to take home.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a Keroppi wall-hang that had pockets for letters, and a calendar. The second thing I noticed was that faded light-box fixture with pictures of your average chinese-american dishes covered in glue (to make them look shiny and tasty) that you see in every non-franchised chinese take out shop. The third thing I noticed was a glass case to my left next to the drink fridge. There was a small, plain glass case in the front of the small, plain, family-run take out shop filled with items you'd normally expect to find in a curio shop. Among other things there were statues of fake ivory dragons, cheap plastic buddahs, knock-off sunglasses, a plain grey box that said "Calvin Klein", a few statues of Bruce fucking Lee, and these weird paperweights filled with optic fibre strands woven together to look like hockey players, the astrological sign of the taurus, or a heart. Admist all of these treasures were a collection of maneki neko, sporadically strewn about the glass case with no attention to front end marketing in mind. Most were traditional cats, but there was one playing drums dressed like a japanese trucker with the words "ROCK STEADY!" written on the kick drum. The woman who took my order began to ring up my total of $9.50 for general tso's chicken, an order of white rice, egg drop soup, and vegetable lo mein, when I asked her if I could get something out of the case as well. She looked confused, surprised, and then very happy, and her husband cheerfully went with me to pick out a set.
I bought a set of three: white, blue, and red.
I like them.
They're going to go on my desk.




On the way home, I stopped off at Andy and Holly's to see our friend Jon.
Jon's an old friend of mine. I met him in high school when we worked at a nursing home together. Steve introduced us and the three of us had many adventures. One time we stole a bottle of chloroform from the supply closet, got drunk, and dared each other to soak a towel in it and huff it till we passed out, just like on TV. Another time we grabbed a random passed out kid at a party and hog-tied him with duct tape. Jon enlisted in the Army right after September 11th and has been traveling to Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Europe for the last 5 years. He also got married along the way. He lives in Upstate NY right now on a military base, about 20 mintutes from the Canadian border.
It was good catching up with an old friend. We had a few Sapporos and played a few rounds of Guitar Hero before calling it a night.
He didn't know Steve passed away.
We grow up.
Some stay 23 forever.


Ending on a fun note: Thanks to Play-Asia.com my GOLD DS has the ability TRAVEL BACK IN TIME!!!
Dec 27, 2005 19:11:16 HK CHEK LAP KOK EXPORT SCAN
Dec 27, 2005 19:10:16 HK CHEK LAP KOK ORIGIN SCAN
Dec 27, 2005 14:57:36 HK KWAI CHUNG PICKUP SCAN
Dec 27, 2005 14:53:00 US ANCHORAGE DEPARTURE SCAN
Dec 27, 2005 12:38:00 US ANCHORAGE ARRIVAL SCAN
Dec 27, 2005 11:30:54 US LOUISVILLE REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY. SHIPMENT RELEASE PENDING CLEARING AGENCY REVIEW;SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY, AWAITING FINAL RELEASE
Dec 27, 2005 01:51:33 HK BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

It hurts to see you flirt.

And that's the most emo thing I've ever written.

Ever.

Watched my cat die, it's been a month.

Last night I went to a party at my supervisor's place, which happens to be my old apartment building.
I haven't been in that building since 2001 or so.
A few hours into the partying, which was some mighty fine partying mind you: I remembered that you can climb up onto the roof. The view was excellent as it offered you a panoramic view of Philadelphia's skyline. You can see the Mushulu all the way to University Hospital.
Nat and I went up there for a smoke, with Dave shortly following.
I didn't say much. I probably was talking quite a bit, but nothing meaningful.
Drunk-speak.

After a few minutes I sat myself up on the deck railing and let a second cigarette burn itself to death in a jacket-cuffed hand.
Four years ago, 23, I sat on this railing and:
I thought about how great it was to have a girlfriend.
I thought about how much I hate my father.
I thought about how in the hell was I going to land that kickflip.
I thought about how I was going to justify not talking to my best friend.

I didn't think much about what I wanted from life.

Last night, 27, I sat on that railing and:
I don't think about her anymore, much. We talk every couple months or so and that's it.
My father and I have reconciled for the most part.
I landed that kickflip.
Stephen McClintock 1978-2002.

I realize how much I've been hiding from life.

Wow.

Penis Mario.