Thursday, August 30, 2012

Work Hard, Play Later

I was taught to study hard, get a college education, work till retirement before enjoying myself. The more I think about it, the more flawed the logic becomes. There are stuff that you just can't do when you are down with weak bones, riddled with illnesses when you're old---that's especially when it comes to my genes. See, no one in my family lives pass 80---except my great grandmother. Plus the fact that I am a smoker greatly reduces my life on this world.

My father passed away at 60 of pancreatic cancer. Diabetes, heart diseases and cancer runs in the family. I don't expect myself to live pass 70. That leaves me with at most 37 years. On the short side, I might just have another 27 years.

That is why I want to do the things I enjoy, spend a little money traveling while I still can. That's one reason why I picked up playing the harmonica and guitar. Also, I wish to document life around me on the camera---streets, people, my family.

I try and live like today is the last I'll ever see. That's the way life should be lived.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Mississippi John Hurt

This has got nothing to do with photography. I've been a mainly Blues listenin' Asian for the most part---but not limited to just Blues music. Started on Harmonica and Guitar again; after years of only making music in the bathroom. Got started on the old-time bluesmen like: Charley Patton, Son House, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee; Little Walter, etc.

One bluesman's voice gave me the goosebumps: Mississippi John Hurt.

 

If You can't view/listen to the grooveshark player embedded above, follow this link to Grooveshark.
"Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine. Singing in a loud whisper, to a melodious finger-picked accompaniment,[5] he began to play local dances and parties while working as a sharecropper. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1928, but these were commercial failures, and Hurt drifted out of the recording scene, where he continued his work as a farmer. After a man discovered a copy of one of his recordings, "Avalon Blues", which gave the location of his hometown, there became increased interest in his whereabouts. Tom Hoskins, a blues enthusiast, would be the first to locate Hurt in 1963."
--wikipedia
 By the time he was rediscovered, he was 71 years old. He died 3 years later. Such a pity, but his whisper-like, soulful voice and guitar playing really inspires me to pick the guitar up again---though I'd never be an accomplished musician, it's something I enjoy tremendously.

Mississippi John Hurt

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Galaxy Nexus: Black and White of Wife

Took a picture of my wife in bed. Did not have time to bust out the 'serious' camera. I like it though.

Wife in bed