Voodoo Child... played on a Gayageum.

Not much happening.  but did want to share this here.
Awesome sauce.

Memories Made in the Coldest Winter aka Nemo: The Aftermath #NoFilter

So about a week ago, The Northeast was hit with a little snow.  Where most people did the smart thing and stayed warm at home, I was at a point where nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted to do.  Perhaps it was because I was sick and tired of people telling me what I could or couldnt do, or because I was sick of being that guy and wanted to be the guy who took initiative and take life by the balls, or maybe Drake's The Motto was just playing at a weird hour where I connected with it.  But really, I think it was that I was in a place where I felt like this was an opportunity for me to make the BEST with what was given, instead of being lazy.

Where Most people will remember it as Nemo (or just a day with a bit of snow), for me?  It was my YOLO day.

 The first thing I noticed was the solitude.  Also, I've told many people about enjoying watching movies in a completely empty theater, but this was that on a much larger scale!

Then after a bit of geeking around (comic book, board game, vinyl figure shopping).  I wondered what Manhattan looks like during a blizzard.  So, I went to the most famous office building in NYC.

Empire State Building fun fact!  On days like the particular day I went, they will tell you multiple times that there is zero visibility.  Thus, no line.  but they are still open.  

Although, Zero Visibility apparently doesnt mean what it used to.

After all of this, I met with some lovely folk to have dinner, and went our separate ways wishing each other safe travels.  

So already out of power on my phone, I get to the GWB to find that the bus I would normally take to get home had stopped running due to precautionary measures.  However, luckily there was one bus left that ran a different route, but still was going to cross the bridge.  So I took that and crossed the bridge.

Remember how earlier I mentioned solitude?  I've never seen Fort Lee like this before.  It felt like a ghost town (no pictures due to dead cell phone at this point).  So in the full force of the blizzard (as full as it was going to be in the New York Metropolitan Area any way), I treked home.  After I got home about an hour later, I found out that the trek was only really 1.5 miles of climbing through a foot and a half of snow, but I have to admit, this was exactly what I needed at this point in time.  Knowing that I had put myself in the situation I found myself in, and the best solution to my problem was just putting my head down and doing what needed to be done.  Learning that when push comes to shove, I can do what needs to be done?  I believe there are very few self realizations that can trump that.  

I was ecstatic enough, that once my phone charged, I went back out to take more pictures. 

Side note:  Another reality check for me was the fact that constantly through the day, I was reminded that there is ALWAYS some one who is hustling harder than me to do what they need to do.  All I felt after seeing those examples was that there is no substitute for hard work, and more so than motivation, discipline is key.

So cheers to taking advantage of opportunities coming your way, and to working harder than the guy next to you.  Because for me, that's how I'm going to make my own memories, regardless of what any body throws my way.

A change is gonna come.

A declaration. 

We dont live in a society where we can sit back, complain, and hope to get more out of it.  For that matter, self pity has no place in this world.  Life is too damn short for it, and there are too many people who are taking advantage of the opportunities that you are creating, afforded by your apathy.

Remember that every day is a privilege.  Dont take it for granted. 

If I am not happy with the world around me, I will recognize it as an opportunity for myself to make better, whether it is to make myself a better man, or if it is an opportunity to make the world around me better. 

I have been so afraid of failure that I haven't allowed myself to succeed.   If the circumstances aren't right, do what you can, move on.  You dont know what tomorrow brings, so there's no reason to beat yourself up over one missed opportunity.  All I can do is that when an opportunity presents itself, be ready to take it, rather than be caught with my pants down.

So what if I've failed?  Remember that there is nothing that better demonstrates your value than your ability to pick yourself back up and move on to be successful.  Nothing.

I am done wondering why shit happens to me.
Shit happens to everybody.  What use is there complaining, or wondering why things go wrong?  There are too many variables in the big picture of life for you to wonder why life is not going perfectly.

Aspire to Inspire.
This should be the fuel that feeds your fire.  If not to inspire anyone else, inspire yourself to be better.  Be the person you desire to be.  Success should soon follow.

Wake up

Once in a while, I'll have a day where the moment I wake up, the sun is shining warmly into my room, and I just know in ever fiber of my being:

Today is going to be a wonderful day.

Today is one of those days.
I also know it because the music starts playing in my head.  It isnt like I have to think about it, but the moment I open my eyes, and gain consciousness:

Bass Line starts bumpin, I look around for confirmation, then BAM:
When I wake up in the morning, love

I also know its going to be a good day when I hear the opening of Chuck Mangione's Feels so Good

There's a certain euphoric feeling whenever this happens.  And is certainly one of the main reasons I am so hesitant to attach myself to coffee in the mornings.  There is something so satisfying about a great night of sleep, where there really are no strings attached and you really feel ALIVE in the morning!

Some people look to their dreams to escape from the burdens of reality.  But is it feasible to say that I wake up to do just that, by putting things into the right perspective? 

And trust me, on those days,
aint nothing gonna break my stride.

*Every song here is one that is a trigger for knowing that a perfect day lies in wait for me.  Ironically, Ice Cube's It was a Good Day?  not so much.  Also, while on the topic, I must ask, What does it feel like to actually wake up feeling like P. Diddy only to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack? 

Productivity.

I'm going to make a more concerted effort to make more music while I have some free time.  If you want to do something together (jam session, karaoke, what have you), hollatcha boy.



I set myself 1 hour to try and put this together.  Thus, the brand new lyrics to Bill Withers' tune. 

Introducing Majnun and Eloisa: the window to the method to the madness that is me.

 DISCLAIMER:  This is a long post.  It is explicitly long because normally these associations take split seconds in my mind, but there would be no way to allow a reader to follow without being verbose.  To help, I have divided it up into sections, but I hope that it is interesting enough to hold your attention.

Those of you who know me have met Majnun and/or Eloisa before.  Those of you who frequent this blog have heard them sing together.  However, in a very Stinson-esque turn of events, it took me spending the better part of a decade with these two before I was able to learn their names.

Some background.
History, myth, literature have shown that often, extraordinary blades were given names.
Arthur had Excalibur,
Beowulf had Hrunting,
Charlemagne had Joyeuse,
Cao Cao had 倚天劍 and 青釭劍,
Ichigo had Zangetsu.

(My obsession/ knowledge of blades stems from two different interests in my life, 1.  My love of mythology, and 2. my years of Kendo.  Ironically enough, I never got to name my shinai, although there was one that I got really attached to through college where the weight was balanced further up, to really deliver a big oomph on impact... but I digress). 

Not saying that I am a great leader of men as those examples above, or that my guitars have accomplished feats of legend, but the idea of naming things has always intrigued me.  I must confess, I may not be the most creative in the aspect of coming up with novel names, but I do take pride in building an association with the object being named so that they live up to their namesake.  As you will see, these things become near obsession with me.

My first betta fish's name was Odysseus, as he was besting the challenges thrown his way by the sea (Senior year at Syracuse, it was a miracle he lived as long as he did).
My 2nd betta fish's name was Yorrick (as in Y: The Last Man), as he was the only male fish in a tank full of female livebearers
My Jeep is named Turtle, not only for looking like the amphibian, but in homage to Korean Admiral Yi Soon Shin who built the first ironclad naval ship in history called the Turtleship.
My Wii is named Wii-lliam.  because.

To note:  My mom's cousin once told me she had named the cactus in her bathroom Horatio, because in the bathroom, there are no secrets. She trusted Horatio with all of hers, the way Hamlet did with his.  As far as I'm concerned, she wins in naming inanimate objects in light of literary allusions.

Majnun
Majnun is the youngest of my guitars. 
I was introduced to the word Majnun not too long ago, when I was brushing up on some Eric Clapton riffs and decided I wanted to hear one of my favorite songs of all time.  The story behind Layla is a famous one.  Eric Clapton at the time was in love with George Harrison (of The Beatles)'s wife, Pattie Boyd.  The lyrics to this (and another Clapton Classic, Wonderful Tonight) were written for Pattie, expressing his feelings for her.  What I did not know when I first was obsessed with the song (2002 ish?), was why the name Layla. 

Recently, I was able to learn that the song was essentially a retelling of an Arabic story which was made popular by a Persian poet, Nizami Ganjavi, titled  لیلی و مجنون (Persian, literally translated to The Madman and Layla).  It tells the familiar story of star crossed lovers.  Quays, so in love with Layla, in his obsession would write poetry of her, to the effect of his tribe calling him possessed (Majnun).  When he asked for Layla's hand in Marriage, her father denied it, as Quays' obsession did not make him a desirable groom for his daughter.  Layla is then wed off to another, and Quays (Majnun) would wander the desert, still obsessed with his Layla.  Layla falls ill and dies(in some tellings, heart ache of never seeing her true love again).  Majnun is found dead years later, with his final words scribbled on an unknown woman's grave

I pass by these walls, the walls of Layla

And I kiss this wall and that wall
It’s not Love of the houses that has taken my heart
But of the One who dwells in those houses

Essentially it is a tale of unrequited love and true obsession that had driven a man to madness.  Knowing what is widely known of Eric Clapton's relationship with Pattie Boyd, it really is an apt metaphor for his mental state while writing the song.  It made me love the song even more.  The fact that by referencing a story from ages ago from worlds away (Pre-Internet, mind you) Clapton added another layer to telling his story, and telling the world of his state of mind, SLAYED me with sheer nerd joy. 

Majnun was the guitar that stayed with me through college, and despite being the youngest of my guitars, has probably gotten the most playing time.  Where I originally thought that it would be a she, I realized that for this loyal steed who survived 4 Syracuse winters and still howls with the fervor that he does, he must be a man possessed.  He is Majnun.

Eloisa
 Eloisa is my baby.  She is a 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Fender Stratocaster.  She was my gig guitar through High School, and she stayed at home while I was in college.

My association with the name Eloisa is from the film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  I have recently watched the movie again and must admit, I am still not a fan.  But the lines of Alexander Pope quoted in the film have had a profound effect on me.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd ...

 The lines are from the poem, Eloisa to Abelard.  It tells of Eloisa, a bright young student who falls in love with her teacher Abelard and marries him.  They keep their love secret for his job's sake, but are caught.  Eventually her family castrates Abelard and he is forced to live out his life in the monastery.  She is then forced to take a vow of silence.  In future correspondence, she finds that he can no longer reciprocate the love she still has for him, as he is now a eunuch who is freed of the contagion of carnal impurity.  In this realization she begs to forget, rather than begging for forgiveness.

In this case, playing Eloisa provides me with my spotless mind, even if only for a little while.  Also, I hope to be able to wield my Eloisa in the full range of emotion Eloisa goes through in the tale. 

TL;DR... and it is 3:44 AM.
Both guitars are named after characters who suffer unrequited love and obsession, and those are attributes I hope to emulate with my guitars' sounds (emotion, and let's face it, to make good music, you have to be a little bit obsessive).

Plus, I think it isnt a bad thing to play with a heavy heart.
Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by letting of a little water.
-Christopher Morley

New Year, New Posts... and Bears? Oh my.

Dear lost readers,
The writers at fobbytwinkie.blogspot.com have awoken from their year long slumber and are attempting shake off the cobwebs from their inactivity. 
Please get your bottoms ready for the same old drivel that you may have been accustomed to on and off since 2009 (aka, we'll be posting soon). 
Now while the principle writer continues on with his research for the semi- relaunch post of our humble corner of the interwebs, we have found archived sound clips of his rumblings while he spent the past 100 days in a cave eating nothing but garlic and mugwort*.  



We hope to see you soon once we've gotten back into the full swing of writing again. 

Which we promise, is just around the corner.

Sincerely,
FobbyTwinkie staff.
 
Footnotes:
*To note: this is a weak reference to the creation myth of the Nation of Korea. 
...Yes.  The bear was a woman (and if you were paying attention to the link above, the mother of the founder of the Motherland).  We will slide over this inconsequential discrepancy in the comparison to the author of this post, to keep the illusion of allusions in tact.  Thank you for understanding, as we work the kinks out of our collective sense of humor.