Chris Cornell

It is a weird how the death of someone you've never met can affect you at all. But it does. I read last night that Chris Cornell had been found dead in a hotel in Detroit just a couple hours after playing a show. This morning it was confirmed as a suicide. Hanged himself in a hotel bathroom. 

My aunt pointed out that for her, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix were ones that hit her hard, because their music is such a part of her life. Their death is a part of our own history dying as well. The Seattle sound was such a part of my youth, yet as of now almost all the major Seattle icons have died, all before 60 and some before 30. Obviously the most famous and iconic was Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994, but that was predated by Andrew Wood who died of an overdose in 1990. Since then Layne Staley and Scott Weiland have both passed on as well. However, with both of them it was drugs and, while very sad, wasn't exactly a surprise. Scott Weiland's death in particular hit me, but again, not shocking.

Cornell, besides being the most versatile musician of the lot, was also the one that had beaten drugs and booze, was still a prolific songwriter and was very healthy, physically at least. He was still making decent music, and unlike so many other classic rock musicians who release new material at age 50, his was still really good.  I think it was such a surprise and shock because it was so senseless.

Sad news.

What's in a Name?

Much like Korea, in China there is a custom to have an "English name" which is used when talking with any non-Chinese. It is a custom I have never really understood. If people want a name great, but when someone gives you their real name you should use it. Some foreigners then ask or wait for an English name, which bothers me.  Either way, I just call people what they want to be called.

You get the same odd names, like "Explosion" or "Echo" as a name, and in those cases I just use their Chinese names.

What I find odd in China is the sheer number of, well, very old fashioned names. The young woman working at Starbucks. Very cute, friendly, and modern. Her name in Mavis. I get lots of Eunice's, Bonnie's, Horatio's etc. I would love to know where they get these names....

The Last Few Weeks

Working six days a week, I don't usually have much to write about on here anymore.

I am saving and sending every penny I make to Yen to pay for our wedding in August. So with the exception of dinner Saturday nights (which runs me about $20 for dinner and drinks anyway) I do very little.

However, last Friday night I was called and asked to come to a meeting between the Dean of the university and New Brunswick vice-premier Stephen Horsman the next morning.......... so yeah I did that.

I've also managed to hit the gym regularly and get through midterms. My first year is almost done, and so far I am very happy I decided to take a full time uni job.

This week Yen is in Manila to pick up stuff for August, and visit Rose and Diya, who are both in Manila from Daegu. I wish I could have made it. Diya is two now, and very mobile. The last time I saw her was over a year ago, and she was just starting to walk. She will be in Tacloban this fall, and while I would love to visit in August, I think it will have to wait until the winter break next year.

The weather here is back to its downright tropical feel. Sitting outside by the pond on a warm night with a couple Chinese "beers" is becoming not only possible, but a nice thing to do. I expect 30 plus and humid until November.

I have gotten in to a bad habit of starting 15 different blogs, but never finishing them. I have a lot of grading to do this weekend, but I'll try to get 1-2 done as well. Chris Cornell will have to be one.