Of Guitars, Wrists and Freedom

I've never strung a guitar. Even though I've had one since I was 5, and two (1+1 of course) since I was 19. Neither have ever demanded new strings, so I've never bothered. The violin though - because I played it so often (but not enough for my violin teacher(s) to love me more than their other students) - needed changes every now and then. I feel like comparing this to a baby needing a diaper change - but that would be disrespectful to Gligz (my violin - I name things) and doesn't really fit as a comparison. I won't go into details about why it doesn't fit - you should be able to figure that out.

Anyway, so back to the guitar. The one that I acquired (it used to be my father's - I appropriated it once I discovered the beautifulness that is Asturias) when I was 19 was last strung before I was born - so around 25 years ago. It's a beautiful guitar with a very deep tone that reminds me of hazelnut chocolate spread (i.e. Nutella - the European type that's not as sweet as the stuff we get here). Unfortunately, or fortunately, one of the strings broke a couple days ago and, because I enjoy playing this particular guitar more than my other one and because dad's work is across the road from a guitar store, I asked dad to buy a set of strings.

Last night, I decided to restring the wooden beauty and figured that it would be as easy as stringing a violin. I was wrong. It was much more difficult and tedious. Anyway, it ended up taking me almost 2 hours to get all the strings off and the new ones on (mostly because I'm really picky about where the string is sitting on the peg and how it looks) and a lot of that time was spent in winding the pegs. Thinking that my wrist (which underwent surgery a couple years ago and hasn't actually fully recovered) would be fine, I didn't bother taping it up or being 'careful.' Now - I'm in dire pain, and my hand is swollen - but - the stringing turned out well. And because my wrist was due for a bout of pain (the last one was during exams in April), I don't really mind having to go through it. At least - my guitar looks pretty and shiny with its brand new, silver strings. I still need to tune it though - spent today drinking tea, getting my hair cut and realizing that I'm actually quoteable. Oh - and had a massive tete-a-tete (dammit - there aren't any diacritical marks) with BKscope about PhDs and whether or not to pursue a three-year PhD or a three-year joint MIA/MPA and MBA. Hmm. Questions...questions...questions.

Answers? None yet. Maybe within the next few months as I get settled into Said-land (Edward - not the past form of 'to say').

And to all the South Asians out there. Happy Independence Day(s). 'S' in brackets for those who celebrate both - like me.