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Showing posts from October, 2010

toffee and national security

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at canadian customs on way back to yyz: officer: good afternoon, miss- monkey: good afternoon, here's my passport and forms. o: (glance forms) where do you live? m: here in toronto, downtown by eaton centre. o: (scribbling) and where are you coming from? m: a small village called chinley in the peak district. o: (looks baffled) and that's where exactly- m: about 45min drive from manchester, uk. o: (comprehension) aha okay. what were you doing? m: i was visiting my partner. o: (small-talkish) and how long has been there for? m: he was born and raised there. o: (raise eyebrow) oh? what does he do? m: he plays for bbc phil. o: (raise another eyebrow) and you? m: well, i live here, for now, if you let me in? o: (calmly) and what do you do? m: i work at utoronto, at music faculty- o: (baffled) so he lives there and you are here? m: yes, that would be correct- o: (pause) HOW DOES THAT WORK? m: well, it's working no?!? o: (surprised) why isnt he moving her

one degree removed

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it is a bright day today here in chinley.  thanks to the hailstone-rain of yesterday, all the water in the air seems to have drained downward, through the soggy spongy earth, leaving the sky blinding bright.  here at the green pasture basket, the bedroom has been recently painted to a pale yellow and it is quite a joy to see the sunlight peeking behind from the curtains.  especially when a sunny morning is not a guarantee but a luxury. it has been quite busy.  it seems amazing- it ought to be impossible really, as i am not legal to work here, period. however, like all blank calendars, it somehow filled itself right up to the rim.  it is difficult to note all things of amusement, but the most recent events were a birthday party and joe satriani concert @ manchester.  and they happened to fall on the same day (how does it always happen so?)  since it was a big-number birthday of a particular oboist friend, it entailed numerous things- especially concerning logistics and foo

going beyond chilean miners

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the world have been watching chilean miner rescue operation for weeks. and yes, it's a big relief that they are all out once again.  survival of thirty three roughneck miners in the depth of earth, only connection to the world as they know it by what can only be described as ephemeral means.  thousands praying, watching the rescue, forgetting their own suppers and tasks.  a human victory over seventy days of trial with no certainty for future. okay. i am being a bit sarcastic. but let me express my sincere relief on the completion of the rescue mission, if it was a bit tad dramatic (hence television worthy).  looks like all will be taken care by the government (at least for a bit), rejoining their families and the so-called-normal-life.  but it longer will be just normal life.  i am fully expecting at least several movie scripts and autobiographical book plans in transit ever since the case went global.  so why am i being so bitter on such joyous occasion? chile is not what i

two-two-twenty-two

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you came a bit after me two years and two months  and twenty-two days i thought it was a nice gap enough for me to drag you through the mud steal your candies and laugh when you look surprised a gap that i thought was permanent we are two years and two months  and then twenty-two days apart soon we will be two years  and four months apart as you chrysalised at an ambitious age of twenty-eight and i continue to slow crawl forward. this wouldve been a nice point for me to buy you duty free fags and send you bills such a nice feeling to have you through  the gritty bits of life as i was so certain you also had gritty days especially when you are always so kin on no tax fags if one stuck a cylindrical drill to take a core sample of me just like the fossils you will be there scattered and intermixed just shy of two years two months and twenty two days though the days grow apart  it would hurt as if one did stuck a drill but i cant take you out  as a sample would still l

critical quality

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the idea of excellency is a funny one.  ive been thinking about it for awhile, as i do have loads of time on my head.  five weeks of domestication along with slightly-improvised-odd-activities (still looking forward to do some stone works and such) leaves one with much things to think around/about/of.  while i was walking along the path near the hill (called cracken edge), i collected some wild blackberries and made jam.  fish junior no. 2 have turned into an 'adult' overnight (happy birthday!).  i brought some interesting spices and things and made some quasi-improvisatory things in the kitchen. went to hear some music, even to the beethoven 5th, which is almost hilarious when one knows me that i would rarely pay to go see a classical concert (it's too close to work!)  did some doodles on papers, which are recasted as somewhat useful visual products in a long-ish process (i ought to learn A professional visual editing software i think.  it always takes longer to just muck