bird of passage
decoding myself
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Ageing Rocker
The other day my friend took my iPod and went browsing through. Then, he looked at me and asked "Who are these people? Other than The Beatles, Eric Clapton, BB King and some other fellows, I have no idea who you are listening to". The amused me looked at him and asked "You never heard of Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and The Who? What planet are you from?". From there on, I went berserk but at the same time struck to me. I’m probably one of those ageing rockers. I am not that old, heck; I was not even born during the era. I am supposedly a generation-Xer.
I have said before that I don't impose my music on others, but I still know the existence of others out there. I just don't appreciate them.
Then I traced back my decisions in life (in regard to music). When everyone went crazy for new modeling amplifier, I was scouring for a stage lead that does not do any fancy sound and it was made in 1984. Mind you, that time was year 2002. And when everyone awestruck with Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars, I was still salivating to Lucille.
I even custom ordered Paul McCartney’s Hohner’s bass from Epiphone while Hohner themselves stopped producing it in the 70s. My fellow rocker (ageing also) found the original Hohner manufactured in 1964 in a pawn shop, my heart just stopped. I seriously considered poisoning him so that I can take ownership of the bass guitar.
Relating to this year’s Super Bowl half-time show, I refer to my friend, TulisJe’s post
Exactly my thoughts.
I have said before that I don't impose my music on others, but I still know the existence of others out there. I just don't appreciate them.
Then I traced back my decisions in life (in regard to music). When everyone went crazy for new modeling amplifier, I was scouring for a stage lead that does not do any fancy sound and it was made in 1984. Mind you, that time was year 2002. And when everyone awestruck with Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars, I was still salivating to Lucille.
I even custom ordered Paul McCartney’s Hohner’s bass from Epiphone while Hohner themselves stopped producing it in the 70s. My fellow rocker (ageing also) found the original Hohner manufactured in 1964 in a pawn shop, my heart just stopped. I seriously considered poisoning him so that I can take ownership of the bass guitar. Relating to this year’s Super Bowl half-time show, I refer to my friend, TulisJe’s post
"Everyone's calling last night's Super Bowl Halftime show boring. I didn't find it boring at all. Man, I'd give anything to be able to sing along that "Na, na, na, nanana, hey Jude" part with Paul McCartney. And if he sang "Here, There and Everywhere" I would jump up for joy, it would so make my day. Maybe this is the biggest sign I'm way way past the MTV demographic. Shut up, MTV."
Exactly my thoughts.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
About
My friends call me BJ but I was born named as Ajmal Khan. It’s supposed to mean the beautiful king, something really to ponder. I am not related to Shah Rukh Khan or any other Khans you see in Bollywood films. I am also not a descendent of Gengkhis Khan or Kublai Khan. Heck, no one in my family even has the word Khan in their name.
I started bird of passage hoping it will serve as a métier of self reflection for me and something for me to look back later in life.
I am working towards getting to do whatever I want in life. I am a software consultant (con + insult). I never studied anything related to IT or computer science, hence testifying my gypping skills. Nevertheless, I get the pleasure telling people that they are screwed up. I hope retiring to education & research by the age of 35 and to have my very own restaurant.
I am obsessed with music but I don’t put it on all the time. I don’t believe in imposing my music to others. It’s like religion; you respect mine, I respect yours. I am, however, very selective as to what music I am so passionate about. Am I a musical snob, like those listen to classical music and think everyone else is a twat. No, I don’t think so; I just appreciate good music. I listen to Hendrix, Dylan, Morrison, Queen, Beatles, The Who, Zeppelin and the list goes on. But I do appreciate new music but not those mainstream artistes like Britney or Backstreet Boys. I am also an avid fan of Jazz. The likes of Chet Baker, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker always brings the mood on. I am also interested in Cuban Jazz where the likes of Ibrahim Ferrer and Tito Puente always bring in the swing.
On top of listening, I actually do play some music. Not at a professional level but enough to amuse myself. I can play the guitar, the bass and the trumpet. Nowadays, I am venturing into percussions. Due to the demanding nature of my work, now I am reduced into a mere audience. Apart from that I am heavily indulged into performing arts, mainly theater and music. Forget dance, it’s a form of art that I will never get it. It’s just not in me.
Cooking serves as life’s little pleasure for me. I love cooking a feast for my friends and they love it too. Usually I will never serve anything less than a five course meal! I am quite an eccentric cook. I fret anyone who requests for Chili Sauce or Ketchup. I don’t believe in condiments that are not meant for the food. Cooking for me is also a form of art. I don’t usually remake what others have done. I prefer to create my masterpiece and I hate it when people ask me to redo what I did before. How would Michelangelo feel if you ask him to recreate David? And never ask for recipe from me; not that I don’t want to share, I just don’t have one. I cook by instinct. I think I am blowing my own trumpet, but hey, sometimes narcissism is necessary.
I try to make time for some reading usually fiction that involves character conflicts. Nowadays I am really interested in Asian authors as their story is closer to me personally. I’m also a big fan of Nick Hornby who I think sounds like me. I do like other authors but I’m more focused on the work rather than the author itself. Nick Hornby is an exception.
I love to travel and experience the foreign culture first hand but lately work has been killing and did not manage to get out. I really need to reconsider my priorities. I hate traveling on those fix packages. I’m more of a free and easy traveler. No specific plan, just go where the wind brings me. Planning a backpacking trip to Cambodia, but yet to materialize.
Finally, I am also a sports freak, both as a spectator and participator. Up for any game except sepak takraw. I just could not handle that game. I am also a fanatic Liverpool fan. Other than that I don’t exactly support anyone or any other teams.
I started bird of passage hoping it will serve as a métier of self reflection for me and something for me to look back later in life.
I am working towards getting to do whatever I want in life. I am a software consultant (con + insult). I never studied anything related to IT or computer science, hence testifying my gypping skills. Nevertheless, I get the pleasure telling people that they are screwed up. I hope retiring to education & research by the age of 35 and to have my very own restaurant.
I am obsessed with music but I don’t put it on all the time. I don’t believe in imposing my music to others. It’s like religion; you respect mine, I respect yours. I am, however, very selective as to what music I am so passionate about. Am I a musical snob, like those listen to classical music and think everyone else is a twat. No, I don’t think so; I just appreciate good music. I listen to Hendrix, Dylan, Morrison, Queen, Beatles, The Who, Zeppelin and the list goes on. But I do appreciate new music but not those mainstream artistes like Britney or Backstreet Boys. I am also an avid fan of Jazz. The likes of Chet Baker, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker always brings the mood on. I am also interested in Cuban Jazz where the likes of Ibrahim Ferrer and Tito Puente always bring in the swing.
On top of listening, I actually do play some music. Not at a professional level but enough to amuse myself. I can play the guitar, the bass and the trumpet. Nowadays, I am venturing into percussions. Due to the demanding nature of my work, now I am reduced into a mere audience. Apart from that I am heavily indulged into performing arts, mainly theater and music. Forget dance, it’s a form of art that I will never get it. It’s just not in me.
Cooking serves as life’s little pleasure for me. I love cooking a feast for my friends and they love it too. Usually I will never serve anything less than a five course meal! I am quite an eccentric cook. I fret anyone who requests for Chili Sauce or Ketchup. I don’t believe in condiments that are not meant for the food. Cooking for me is also a form of art. I don’t usually remake what others have done. I prefer to create my masterpiece and I hate it when people ask me to redo what I did before. How would Michelangelo feel if you ask him to recreate David? And never ask for recipe from me; not that I don’t want to share, I just don’t have one. I cook by instinct. I think I am blowing my own trumpet, but hey, sometimes narcissism is necessary.
I try to make time for some reading usually fiction that involves character conflicts. Nowadays I am really interested in Asian authors as their story is closer to me personally. I’m also a big fan of Nick Hornby who I think sounds like me. I do like other authors but I’m more focused on the work rather than the author itself. Nick Hornby is an exception.
I love to travel and experience the foreign culture first hand but lately work has been killing and did not manage to get out. I really need to reconsider my priorities. I hate traveling on those fix packages. I’m more of a free and easy traveler. No specific plan, just go where the wind brings me. Planning a backpacking trip to Cambodia, but yet to materialize.
Finally, I am also a sports freak, both as a spectator and participator. Up for any game except sepak takraw. I just could not handle that game. I am also a fanatic Liverpool fan. Other than that I don’t exactly support anyone or any other teams.
Labels: self
