Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Battle with my fat aXe!

[Originally posted on my tumblr blog]

If one who plays the guitar is a guitarist, Then I am! Been studying western classical guitar for one and a half years along side the young kids, where a fifty percent are forced to achieve it as a career goal by their parents. Sometimes It is annoying. Yet its really fun out there getting a chance to express and be curious like a kid. As the title says, my battle is with a fat aXe, not a fat a**e which makes it a matter of attitude and an inability to quit. I’m highly fortunate that I’m blessed with the latter even though that isn’t the only stuff required.

The fat aXe mentioned here is neither a normal acoustic guitar which we see people playing chords while singing or an unplugged concert, nor an electric guitar that is used to rock! It is the classical guitar. Yes the name explains it well. A western classical instrument. I’m not a fan of a western classical music. I’m just a normal guy having a weakness on anything that’s good or things that attract me at the moment. I was really late to experience the rock culture and music. I got attracted to a band called Motherjane in early 2009 and one of their tracks “Broken” was the first self-acknowledged rock song that I heard and fell in love with.

The rock culture and music will not be a passing fancy when one realized its value. I’ll say that rock music is the one that relates more to the reality than any other genre of music. However I must say that I took some time to become compatible towards the aggression. Actually it is not a matter of compatibility. It is rather an ability to differentiate aggression from noise. It took a lot of time for me to come closer and appreciate some of the master pieces. Even-though rock flies high worldwide, its still in its childhood in my country, India. Bollywood stands like a deep rooted eucalyptus tree that can care less to give enough water for near by trees to grow. Its not just Bollywood actually. There are so many “woods” here that have little similarity with the original one that produces a handful of watchable movies. So basically it was after my teens that I could literally break the “woods” and embrace rock.

Tumblr_lcr53hgngn1qex5zr1

By this time, I joined a music school in Trivandrum in-order to study guitar. One specialty about this school is that they start with normal acoustic guitar with pick and slowly moves to classical guitar. At first my teacher thought I may not continue this for long and suggested me to buy an acoustic guitar, when I asked him about buying one. He expected it to cost less in-order to decrease my loss. But the fate was different. I bought a Yamaha F310 CS which cost about ten thousand rupees. This embarrassed him slightly and the only advice he could give me is to remember its price when I feel like quitting! After some days picking with plectrum, he introduced me to the fat axe! Yea, the classical guitar. I don’t need a pick anymore. Have to learn the finger picking style. At first it was a hard nut to crack, but eventually I managed to get things under control. Sore fingers became regular as I had soft fingers and the steel string of my acoustic guitar which I still play in finger style added to the pain.

I passed the grade 1 trinity exam with some difficulty. Now Grade 2 exam is also passed with ease. Now the problem is a growing frustration. I’m facing difficulties playing normal songs other than the pieces that I require to perform in grade exams. I get stuck somewhere in middle when I start to learn a popular song. So My confidence level is not very high as it will be difficult to prove myself if I declare I’m a good guitarist. I love rock and recently started shifting my interest to metal and other powerful genres of music. I equally love music that is sweet. But the wish to play the music I love is growing stronger in my heart and the inability to do that is the root cause of frustration. When I consulted, my teacher explained me with examples that continuing like this is the right path to achieve what I want. Yes, He might be right. A man with an experience of a lifetime can’t be wrong.

Why never to ask favours from graphics designers

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Shannon (the secretary) has lost her cat and has asked David (the graphic designer) to help with a lost poster. This is their email correspondence...


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

Image001

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks
Shan.


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From:David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news.
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.

Image002

 

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.

Image003

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

 

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Image004

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

 

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter. I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.

Image005


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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
Regards, David.

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

 

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Image006

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

 

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Image007

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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

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From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Image008


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From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.


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