a day in the life of piano monkey

i just came back from un-monkey-like pub visit on a sunday evening.  it was a nice pint- well, two half pints. yes. i know. logically makes no sense, but as a wee drinker, that's how i must roll- halfer at a time.  we went to the pub to celebrate amazing bassoon kiddie's recital- an event that i have been looking forward for a long time. i always think of a moose calf whenever i see him.  he's quiet. not in a great hurry.  but not because he doesnt have things to say/think. i think it's the opposite, really.  he's busy thinking and processing, like the way a little moose calf chews on prairie grass. and just like a calf that have lived through a winter, he's not easily fazed or swayed. and most of all, such a great smile! when he approached to me to work with him, i was glad. smile was enough of a sign. november is always full of mayhem and vagabonds, unexpected near-disasters and comically in comprehensive situations.  we worked through novem...

so this conversation continues on. it's quite amazing, no? when i returned from work at wee hour, i found another email from susan (but now with a last name 'LI', a vast improvement? it's at least 100% improvement, going from no last name to full last name) / alicia jame (this is still a bit of mystery). Dear (monkey's name in a different font altogether)  Thank you for your email. We have read your email  ' seriously ,thank you very much for the suggestion.' (another font) We will refund you $120 for the mistake and you can own the jacket. Sorry to cause you so much trouble and we will do our best to help you. Best Regards, Susan Li and i thought: this is still nutty and yet amazing. how many variants of 'cancellation/refund' can i write? anyways, i did my very best not to be rude. or condescending. or bursting out laughing in helplessness. i mean, what am i supposed to do? to susan li, (i still have not seen any official company information...

http://www.canada-goose.com/counterfeiting/ monkey to fake internet merchant 1, as 4 nov 2011 order has been bank processed in complete silence. the website, of course is now moved/disabled. so in wonder i wrote on 15 nov: hello, i have put in an order for a jacket, but i have not heard from you nor received any sort of reply (i have emailed you previously regarding this order). would you please update what is the current status of this order (no. 54) and whether it is actually being processed or if there's any problems, sincerely, dr c followed by a weird unexpected msg from merchant to monkey, from 'alicia jame' on 17 nov: Dear (monkey), Thank you for your order. We will sent the goods within 3 days when we receive your order,so pls be patient,any problem pls feel free contact with us,thank you! Best Regards, Susan so a curious correspondence started to roll on its own, 18 nov: hello susan, (i have to say i have never seen a business reply without ...

jacob's ladder, marc chagall tis the yuletide (though it feels ridiculously early at the moment) in the western hemisphere (and part of east as well, i assume).  the streets are covered with desires that is supposedly burning me at the very moment: gifts! services! for you! others! why not buy when you can! when i was a little kiddie, i asked my father if i could have something specific for christmas (i dont remember what it is anymore), just like all the little kiddies who are aware of father christmas/santa.  boy, the conversation was a bit more complicated than i have anticipated: monkey: daddy, i want ___ for christmas, can i? dad: you want what for what? (looking really confused) m: (now sheepish) - no no, never mind. d: wait, i just want to understand. tell me once again. m: (quietly) i wish for ___ for christmas... d: okay (pause) how did you come to that conclusion? m: huh? d: what is christmas? m: jesus' birthday? d: okay, so then how is it that you want...

it is an unusually warm autumn this year.  it's mid november and the park is now covered in the golden glorious blankets of life- celebrating the last bits of the summer, to remember and to cherish the last bits of the sun, of another year, 2011. it is hard to believe that it's already 11/12 gone. perhaps it's because i am no longer chased by school deadlines. or being away from television, being haunted by the spirit of 'buying' (they conveniently want to call it giving, haha).  or is it because it's too warm and too beautiful to think that the season of downward grace, inward to centre of the cold yet alive earth is already here? i remember heading home two wknds ago, passing through eaton centre, seeing the great tree built. in the same manner a tower is built.  it is a bizarre thing to look at- a mimicry of nature yet- so industrial and so appropriate for the artificiality of the winter. may be that's what it is. it's the displaced weather.  or...

though christmas is still a bit away, the stores are starting the sensory assault. in the states, at least they wait till the thanksgiving is over i suppose- but here in canada, right after halloween, it's almost expected to see all things red, green, gold and expensive. sigh.  though i do enjoy the window displays, especially of holt renfrew bloor and hudson's bay on queen.  so as minnow is in town, we decided to casually walk by.   though the soundtrack was horrendous (the tracks mustve been damaged, it was skipping and continue to be stuck on- but how would shop employees know that? they are inside! ha. the irony), the little animated figures werent as scary as i find them sometimes (i have things about dolls and human figurines. i dont like them all that much. fluffies are different matter altogether though).  even bits of canadian history i studied for citizenship  test came back to my mind, with wooly warm feeling as i saw the familiar scenes of (victoria...

the boys are together again, wee and tee.  looking over the forest of big tall concrete buildings, they wonder and talk about the grace of the big cities- when you are sitting tall in the quite morning, even the most grungy city street can exude composure and beauty.  especially when it is shared generously.   wee and tee- how are they together? did tee come for a visit in an air mail envelop perhaps? aha, no.  he decided to carry on a big trip, like a big boy.  and just like wee would have done, tee came with a small travelling companion.  minnow was there to encourage tee through the tedium of the air travel- and buy the tickets, go through the airport and the joys of security check, etc.  oh what a man would do for the happiness of a fluffy. this is a very short visit, just merely a week long.  there are many things we would like to fit in. and then there is a full week of work as well- practice, learning, rehearsing, working, etc.  it's...