11pm, I feel the gentle cool breeze through my window. I sip on a glass of French Pinot, whilst contemplating on what I must do this year. Too many options, yet none of them appear to fit correctly. The timing is just not right. Maybe, I just don’t understand what lies ahead of me. Or could it simply be that I am too distracted by attempting to do all at once? Probably.
(the wine is good)
I generally have a very realistic approach to most situations. However, I always ponder at the worst case scenarios prior to entering into anything, which in a way prepares me for everything, well almost.
I need a break, a good holiday. I have one planned for June. I have already bought my tickets, so I guess it is a concrete plan. London. Maybe, Paris for a few days as well. A perfect testing field for my new camera (though I just need to make sure that I know how to use it perfectly before). Relocating to London did cross my mind a couple of times. However, since my career is in Finance, now is not quite appropriate.
Now that I am not pursuing any part-time study at the moment, I find myself spending time on things I felt I have neglected for quite some time. Photography is definitely on top of the list. Apart from that I find myself spending a lot of time watching movies & reading.
I did finally manage to get through a few books over the last couple of months:
· Sophie’s World – It was great in the beginning. The story overall was enjoyable but the history of philosophy was a bit too much for my liking.
· An Equal Music – One of the better books I have read so far. Not recognised as one Vikram Seth’s best pieces but definitely a very memorable one to all those who have read.
· Golden Gate – If I am right, Vikram Seth won an award for this. Not sure. He is extremely talented & creative. (Thank you, Erica, for this recommendation). I still prefer An Equal Music.
Currently reading Great Expectations, I remember reading the abridged version as a child & loving it. Now that I find myself reading a lot more books, I have decided catch up on loads of them.
Similarly, with the movies I have been watching heaps of classics: North by Northwest, Cool Hand Luke, Hustler & Casablanca to name a few of the most recent ones.
March 25, 2009
March 02, 2009
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March 01, 2009
Sunshine of Your Love
Lazy saturday afternoon, a good night of drinking the night before. At a friend's place, recovering & re-collecting. Exchanging stories (more like memories from the previous night). Making plans for the rest of the weekend. As we sit on the couch, her neighbour plays a song. The tune is strangely familiar. Very soulful. She cries out "sunshine of your love". Explained it was a cover of the orginial by Cream. Still a bit oblivuos what she was talking about, I get home & look for the song on my laptop. I realise which song she referred to. I always preferred the version by Jimi Hendrix. I do appreciate the original but I never associated the song to Cream. So begins my search for this soul/jazz cover. I keep playing the song over & over in my head. I kept thinking it was version made in this decade, very naive of me. Eventually, I found myself surfing youtube.com (note: I never do) looking for that song. I find various covers & notably stumble across the two that I have been looking for. One by Ella Fitzgerald & the other by Spanky Wilson.
Ella's version- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiea8g6SqvQ
Spanky Wilson's verison - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ-Nf7j2riU
The quality is bit low. However, I think it Spanky Wilson's version has a bit more soul. Funkier.
After spending a bit more time on google, I find myself listening to a higher quality version
http://forum.odeo.com/episodes/9491883-Sunshine-of-Your-Love-Spanky-Wilson-1968
Now I need to find this on album in a store. I do recommend this version over the others.
Ella's version- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiea8g6SqvQ
Spanky Wilson's verison - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ-Nf7j2riU
The quality is bit low. However, I think it Spanky Wilson's version has a bit more soul. Funkier.
After spending a bit more time on google, I find myself listening to a higher quality version
http://forum.odeo.com/episodes/9491883-Sunshine-of-Your-Love-Spanky-Wilson-1968
Now I need to find this on album in a store. I do recommend this version over the others.
Another Day, Another Song
Written 01/01/09
Sitting at home – listening to the new album “Chinese Democracy” by Guns N Roses. Fucking great album! Worth the wait? Probably not. But highly recommended. Personal favourite on the album is “This I Love” – track #13. (Yes, I bought the album)
It seems like forever since I added anything –
1st of Jan ’09, we are always optimistic on this day – making a list “new year resolution” – chances are I’ll never make one – even when I do, I think I’ve forgotten what it is by the end of the week. I think the major flaw is trying to do something that we don’t want to really do... smokers say they will quit smoking, yeah right! Why does anyone have to wait for this particular day? A benchmark? Or simply a date that is easy to remember for the day that their life changed or an attempt. How tough is it to make a decision at the spur of the moment? If you honestly want to do something, you don’t need to wait for that particular day or time unless you are procrastinating. I often take breaks (not quit) drinking alcohol. The last one was in April or May 2008 (can’t remember – clearly not that important) – was nearly down on my 2nd drink one evening, decided it was time to take a break. Stopped right then for 2 months. My flatmate’s suggestion was to quit the next day, or after the weekend - enjoy the last few drinks – didn’t quite see the point. Why quit at all? Every drink would eventually always be the drink before my last one. I don’t take a break cause I excessively drink or anything of that sort – I often like to test my limits (in the opposite sense – not drink to excess, not to drink at all). Don’t ask why.
I (finally) picked up a digital SLR last week – Canon 450D Single Lens Kit. I will take my photography hobby to a more acceptable level. Hopefully, over the next couple of months I will be able to share some of this. The second half of last year, I concentrated most of my non-work hours on studying, it is very difficult considering I’m working full time and this course is very demanding. The material is sent home and I need to allocate time on my own to study, no assignments, lectures or anything of that sort. Only one exam day. The result of which is due at the end this month – not exciting at all. Considering the free time now, I have decided to make better use of that time. (Hopefully I stick to it and no, this not my new year’s resolution)
Got a fair bit of reading to catch up on:
· Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder (was given to me as a gift by a friend of mine when I had gone home for Diwali - Oct ’08. The pink cover and the title, does raise eyebrows on my train ride to work. But I do recommend this book –philosophical – so if that’s not an area of your interest – don’t bother.)
· Golden Gate by Vikram Seth (came highly recommended by the same friend who got me Sophie’s World – this one is a novel in verse – when I read it, will add another piece on it)
· Lord of the Rings (seems like forever since I am reading this one – I borrowed this book from the library first – 6 years ago – read like the first 50 pages & couldn’t get through – too descriptive. Now, after watching the movies at least thrice – I am enjoying the book.The reason for my delay this time is, I got like a special collector’s edition or something – all 3 books in 1 – so it quite heavy and large to carry everyday & read on the train. I have managed to finish the first book, in the second. Taking a break. Will get back to it, hopefully soon)
· Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (gotta finish the ones above before I get to this – I just have to make sure that I finish it before the movie is released)
· Back issues of UNCUT (rock magazine)
To add my reading, I picked up a fair few movies (including boxed set collector’s edition) – many classics and all time favourites. To make it on the top of my list on that would be “The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration” which is simply put the director’s cut of the trilogy. Includes heaps of extras including 4 short films on The Godfather.
I can probably go on & on.... but I must stop for tonight, need to make it on time to work tomorrow!
Sitting at home – listening to the new album “Chinese Democracy” by Guns N Roses. Fucking great album! Worth the wait? Probably not. But highly recommended. Personal favourite on the album is “This I Love” – track #13. (Yes, I bought the album)
It seems like forever since I added anything –
1st of Jan ’09, we are always optimistic on this day – making a list “new year resolution” – chances are I’ll never make one – even when I do, I think I’ve forgotten what it is by the end of the week. I think the major flaw is trying to do something that we don’t want to really do... smokers say they will quit smoking, yeah right! Why does anyone have to wait for this particular day? A benchmark? Or simply a date that is easy to remember for the day that their life changed or an attempt. How tough is it to make a decision at the spur of the moment? If you honestly want to do something, you don’t need to wait for that particular day or time unless you are procrastinating. I often take breaks (not quit) drinking alcohol. The last one was in April or May 2008 (can’t remember – clearly not that important) – was nearly down on my 2nd drink one evening, decided it was time to take a break. Stopped right then for 2 months. My flatmate’s suggestion was to quit the next day, or after the weekend - enjoy the last few drinks – didn’t quite see the point. Why quit at all? Every drink would eventually always be the drink before my last one. I don’t take a break cause I excessively drink or anything of that sort – I often like to test my limits (in the opposite sense – not drink to excess, not to drink at all). Don’t ask why.
I (finally) picked up a digital SLR last week – Canon 450D Single Lens Kit. I will take my photography hobby to a more acceptable level. Hopefully, over the next couple of months I will be able to share some of this. The second half of last year, I concentrated most of my non-work hours on studying, it is very difficult considering I’m working full time and this course is very demanding. The material is sent home and I need to allocate time on my own to study, no assignments, lectures or anything of that sort. Only one exam day. The result of which is due at the end this month – not exciting at all. Considering the free time now, I have decided to make better use of that time. (Hopefully I stick to it and no, this not my new year’s resolution)
Got a fair bit of reading to catch up on:
· Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder (was given to me as a gift by a friend of mine when I had gone home for Diwali - Oct ’08. The pink cover and the title, does raise eyebrows on my train ride to work. But I do recommend this book –philosophical – so if that’s not an area of your interest – don’t bother.)
· Golden Gate by Vikram Seth (came highly recommended by the same friend who got me Sophie’s World – this one is a novel in verse – when I read it, will add another piece on it)
· Lord of the Rings (seems like forever since I am reading this one – I borrowed this book from the library first – 6 years ago – read like the first 50 pages & couldn’t get through – too descriptive. Now, after watching the movies at least thrice – I am enjoying the book.The reason for my delay this time is, I got like a special collector’s edition or something – all 3 books in 1 – so it quite heavy and large to carry everyday & read on the train. I have managed to finish the first book, in the second. Taking a break. Will get back to it, hopefully soon)
· Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (gotta finish the ones above before I get to this – I just have to make sure that I finish it before the movie is released)
· Back issues of UNCUT (rock magazine)
To add my reading, I picked up a fair few movies (including boxed set collector’s edition) – many classics and all time favourites. To make it on the top of my list on that would be “The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration” which is simply put the director’s cut of the trilogy. Includes heaps of extras including 4 short films on The Godfather.
I can probably go on & on.... but I must stop for tonight, need to make it on time to work tomorrow!
Chinese Democracy
The smoke machines begin to run, the purple lights scan the crowd – the guitarist strums his guitar. We scream our lungs out. The guitar is strummed again. We eagerly wait. “Do you know where the f**k you are?” Axle Rose cries out. Saturday night June 16 2007, where else would I want to be but at Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne) to watch the Guns N Roses.
I stood in awe while I watched them perform “welcome to the jungle”. The concert had begun. Two & a half hours of absolut bliss. They continued to play “it’s so easy”, “mr brownstone” “live and let die”.
Axle Rose claimed by many who weren’t there – “too fat”, “has lost his voice” & “is crap without Slash”. Well, all I can say is you should have been there. Axl was like a 20 year old running up and down. His voice was in great shape. I had longed to watch them live, probably ever since I heard the double cd live album. So this was a dream come true – I had gold tickets!!!
They performed all the songs you would want to hear. The backdrop visuals were, simply put, brilliant! None of the animation crap – they used pictures, video clips, photographs. For “rocket queen” they had the cover titles of vintage pornographic movies, very tastefully done. Also “rocket queen” wasn’t performed on any of the earlier shows, even for the June 15 Melbourne show. Sebastian Bach came back during the GNR performance to sing with Axl Rose on “my michelle”. Songs like “novemeber rain” “knockin’ on heavens doors” & “sweet child of mine” blew the crowd away. Axl encouraged everyone to sing along with him on KOHD. Ron (guitarist) performed “don’t cry” alone on the stage while the crowd sang the whole song (the rest of the band was probably doing lines). But the song that tore the arena apart was the encore “paradise city”; probably one of the best bits of the concert. At the end Axl goes “aussie aussie aussie” & the crowd went “oi oi oi” three times. After which he thew the mic into the crowd – it landed just ten feet from me – but I would have been dead meat had I made an attempt. It seemed like I was in rugby game involved in a All Blacks tackle.
Rose tattoo & Sebastian Bach were the TWO separate opening acts for them. The concert began at 8pm with Rose Tattoo followed by Sebastian Bach (ex-frontman of Skid Row). He did sing the skid row hits “18 & Life” & also “I Remember You” didn’t really watch the whole thing, as I kept running to the bar (not allowed to carry alcohol to the concert area – seats or floor). We were expect GNR to come on by 11. They came only at 11:30 and they wrapped up around 2:00 am.
Here’s the song set for the Melbourne June 16 2007 concert.
“Welcome To The Jungle”
I stood in awe while I watched them perform “welcome to the jungle”. The concert had begun. Two & a half hours of absolut bliss. They continued to play “it’s so easy”, “mr brownstone” “live and let die”.
Axle Rose claimed by many who weren’t there – “too fat”, “has lost his voice” & “is crap without Slash”. Well, all I can say is you should have been there. Axl was like a 20 year old running up and down. His voice was in great shape. I had longed to watch them live, probably ever since I heard the double cd live album. So this was a dream come true – I had gold tickets!!!
They performed all the songs you would want to hear. The backdrop visuals were, simply put, brilliant! None of the animation crap – they used pictures, video clips, photographs. For “rocket queen” they had the cover titles of vintage pornographic movies, very tastefully done. Also “rocket queen” wasn’t performed on any of the earlier shows, even for the June 15 Melbourne show. Sebastian Bach came back during the GNR performance to sing with Axl Rose on “my michelle”. Songs like “novemeber rain” “knockin’ on heavens doors” & “sweet child of mine” blew the crowd away. Axl encouraged everyone to sing along with him on KOHD. Ron (guitarist) performed “don’t cry” alone on the stage while the crowd sang the whole song (the rest of the band was probably doing lines). But the song that tore the arena apart was the encore “paradise city”; probably one of the best bits of the concert. At the end Axl goes “aussie aussie aussie” & the crowd went “oi oi oi” three times. After which he thew the mic into the crowd – it landed just ten feet from me – but I would have been dead meat had I made an attempt. It seemed like I was in rugby game involved in a All Blacks tackle.
Rose tattoo & Sebastian Bach were the TWO separate opening acts for them. The concert began at 8pm with Rose Tattoo followed by Sebastian Bach (ex-frontman of Skid Row). He did sing the skid row hits “18 & Life” & also “I Remember You” didn’t really watch the whole thing, as I kept running to the bar (not allowed to carry alcohol to the concert area – seats or floor). We were expect GNR to come on by 11. They came only at 11:30 and they wrapped up around 2:00 am.
Here’s the song set for the Melbourne June 16 2007 concert.
“Welcome To The Jungle”
“It's So Easy”
“Mr. Brownstone”
“Live And Let Die”
Robin Finck Guitar Solo & Jam (with Dizzy Reed & Frank Ferrer)
“Sweet Child O’ Mine”“Better”
“Knockin' On Heaven's Door”
Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (“Angie”)
“The Blues”Band Introductions/JamRichard Fortus & Robin Finck Guitar Solo
“Out To Get Me”
“Rocket Queen”
Piano Moving Jam“November Rain”
“I.R.S.”
“You Could Be Mine”
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal Guitar Solo (“Back In Black”, “Don't Cry”)
“My Michelle” (with Sebastian Bach)
“Liquor & Whores” (with Bubbles)
“Patience”
“Nightrain”
Encore
“Madagascar”
“Paradise City”
Desert
Desert
Lost in the desert again
In the purple haze
Stepping on snakes
Glad to be out of the rain
Looking for the oasis
Looking for the shadow
Why don't you step into my mind
And lets see what you find...
In the purple haze
Stepping on snakes
Glad to be out of the rain
Looking for the oasis
Looking for the shadow
Why don't you step into my mind
And lets see what you find...
*written on 10th March 2008
The beginning is the End is the Beginning
Ok!
Decided to move away from msn live space... actually not too sure what its called these days..
(http://blackwyvere.spaces.live.com/)
Probably copy across a few from there to make the transition easy.
Decided to move away from msn live space... actually not too sure what its called these days..
(http://blackwyvere.spaces.live.com/)
Probably copy across a few from there to make the transition easy.
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