周庄 / Zhōuzhuāng
It's a week until Erin, Ben, William and I are all together for the first time.
This past two weeks, my cousin Danny died. I barely knew him, I only just talked to him for the first time at my grandpas funeral in february. But he's dead, now. My aunt pam has lost her only son. The funeral was sunday. Our family dies in July. It's just the way of things, for us.
I've been obsessed with China. A bit. Please with it, more like. Taoism, Fujian, pederasty, silk, jade, rice, oyster sauce, erhu music, pu erh tea, and buddhist rosaries keep me in the zone. I hope to christ (or kuan yin?) I do well in Mandarin.
I haven't made a real update in probably over a month, but it's not like anybody ever reads this thing or whatever. I keep in touch through other means. Recent events of note? Uhh...I work at the Valley Inn, although this is my last saturday there this saturday. I quit the tutoring center on Thursday, etc. Here--this would be better. A mystical bird enchanted (I don't know how this happened) itinterary:
Great Feathered Itinerary of August
Great emerald bird of the present, Tuesday the 1st: Last wing night at the Valley Inn.
Warrior bird blackened by fire, Wednesday the 2nd: Death Cab for Cutie in State College, six years past their prime, three years too late, and twenty bucks more expensive. But it will be marvelous.
Golden phoenix untainted and pure, Thursday the 3rd: Last day in the tutoring center. That night, farewell dinner at Ling Ling buffet, eh.
Crimson lovebird of the goddess, Friday the 4th: Meningitis Vaccination in the morning, work at the Valley in the Evening.
White wise hawk of the mountain, Saturday the 5th: Last night at the Valley Inn
Purple phoenix of the eclipse, Sunday the 6th: Pick up Erin & William in Harrisburg, go to Kim's Oriental Foods, drive home, shoot the shit.
Sleeping grey bird of ease, Monday the 7th: Prepare for backpacking, do by not doing, maybe drink tea on the Arch Street Bridge at sunset.
Earthen bird of the west, Tuesday the 8th: Pick up Ben in Rochester at 4:00, return to Vilhelmsport.
Azure black bird of the river, Wednesday the 9th: Prepare for camping, drive to trailhead, hike a mile in, and camp. Drink, eat, be merry, do other various clandestine things.
Orange burning bird of the south, Thursday the 10th: Asskicking day. Ten miles + nearly straight uphill and then nearly straight down. Hot, hot, hot. MAsochism!
Silver peacock of charity, Friday the 11th: Hike out via private property, illegally. Drive back home, miserably tired. Clean up camping shit, shower, take painkillers, drink tea, maybe go back to the arch street bridge for sunset.
Rainbow bird of the East, Saturday the 12th: Do nothing, or go to Philadelphia. (I vote do nothing now, but we may get bored)
Turqouise bird of the sunstreaked desert, Sunday the 13th: Farwell to Ben, Rochester. Hotel with Erin and William that night.
Pink rose bird of the twilight moon, Monday the 14th: Adios to Erin and William; Cory drives back to Williamsport, probably cries his eyes out or something ;D
Void bird, Tuesday the 15th: Knit with Bev McCaulley, Camille, and Becky Weber at 10:00.
I will spend the next two weeks in idleness and absent-minded preparation for Penn State. I will turn 20, like leaves turn red or something, and argue overing buying myself a birthday present of four celadon gaiwan cups...I dunno.
Love you all; feeling meloncholic now. I suppose because things are changing. The earth is changing, heaven is changing, I'm changing. Who knows what this visit will do for me? I need to buy a wok.