Who are we??

[allen]

OK, it's my turn:

Chinese Name:  Lun Zhang
English Name: Allen Knopfler Chang
Nationality: Chinese
Born: in Hohhot, China in 1981
Workplace: Beijing, China, since 2005 as a school teacher
Year of being a die hard fan of Knopfler: 1991
MSN and Email address for Knopfler fan use: jipinallen@hotmail.com
Interests: enjoying the music of DIRE STRAITS, MARK KNOPFLER, NOTTING HILLBILLIES, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter, Gabriel, Steve Hacket, Bryan Adams, Chet Atkins, Enya, Rammstein...

Wishes
Allen

[jacki]

Jacki here.

I should be in bed, I have surgery tomorrow!!

Born in New England several lifetimes ago. Have lived in every New England state except Rhode Island, and I slept there. (Gayle inserts story here.) Lived several other places also, including Australia, Canada (briefly), Nebraska, and currently Iowa (howinhell did I get here?). If I had my druthers, I'd be living in Vermont, which I really feel is home.

All kinds of interests: music (MK, blues, classical, some New Age, Bruce Hornsby, Stevie Ray, Eric Johnson, etc), reading (historical fact and fiction, some fantasy), guitars, guitars, guitars (I would have a whole room full if I could afford them: currently parent to a Gretsch, a Mexican Fender Strat, two acoustics - a Washburn and a Hohner - and two junkers); writing when I get a chance; baking; gardening (lousy at it though; grow great weeds); biking when my legs work; walking (ditto); driving almost anywhere (seriously curtailed recently because of the oil barons); Australia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, England; movies; practicing my guitar (I have an outstanding teacher with the approach of Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid); and I love great restaurants and coffee shops

Been a fan of MK and his music since around 1978 though never had money/too far away to see him in any incarnation until 2006 - first concert, MK/EH at Radio City Music Hall in New York (love New York too!)

Favourite DS song: too many; Once Upon a Time In The West, Single Handed Sailor, Telegraph Road, Tunnel of Love, etc

Favourite solo song: also too many; Sailing to Philadelphia, Don't Crash the Ambulance, 5:15, Marbletown, Hillfarmer's, Heart Full of Holes

Just returned from a wonderful visit to Norwich, England, where I met Nigel, Ingrid, Fieneke, Jane, and Mark from the Forum; I was enthralled by Norwich!! It is SO OLD....I felt very small there, and very recent. The party was outstanding, and Nigel was a great host. (and very charming!)

I have worked for the City of Omaha for 16 years. I must be doing something right because the cops regularly come up at night to visit. (They are my kids, since I have none of my own!)

I don't feel like I have ever gotten past 22 years old, although my body tells me otherwise!

Was staunchly anti-computer until I found the forum, now I'm on it all the time (although I still consider myself computer illiterate)

I have been happy to be part of this group for 2 years now. Thanks for all your hard work, those of you who have sweated blood putting this site together!

I may add or change something in here after my return from my second epic hospital visit. See you in a couple of weeks!

[Pottel]

'Twas a great read jacki!!

you into Rammstein Allen? that confuses me somehow.. 

[superval99]

Best Wishes for the surgery, Jacki, I hope it all goes well for you!   

[shangri la 1]

Best Wishes for the surgery, Jacki, I hope it all goes well for you!   

Yes Jacki all the best for a speedy recovery. As I said in our chat the other day the operation has a very high rate of success these days.

[allen]

'Twas a great read jacki!!

you into Rammstein Allen? that confuses me somehow.. 

Hehe, Gerhard got a shock when I told him I love their songs esp. Du Hast!!!!!   Knut must know that song, one of the best Counter-Strike MTV songs!  Highly recommended, Maarten!   And best wishes for you. Jacki!

Wishes
Allen

[Pottel]

i kinda like Rammstein, dunno why.
also, why is gerhard not here yet??
we could use him...
i still miss your big harddrive on the hub Allen. . 

[allen]

Gerhard's kinda inactive for chatting and trading, he only downloads and uploads by his decent bandwidth.  I've got my big HD, but bandwidth is limited to 64kb/s of max uploads, so no chance to share all the stuff in the hub now.  We individuals still use ADSL connection here in Beijing, of which group upload speed is limited.

Wishes
Allen

[Pottel]

luckily the big chinese wall does not block our forum 

[gbobmi]

Good luck with your surgery, Jacki!

Hi, Allen! Nice to see you here!!!! 

[joanzimm]

Hi All:

I am Joan, living in the small but beautiful state of Delaware, U.S.A.  Nelly invited me to join this forum, so I hope it's okay!   Speaking of Nelly, I'd like to thank her for the avatar I'm using.  She sent me some fabulous photos to print and I cropped this one to use as my avatar.

I fell head over heels madly in love with MK's music in 2006.  I'll never forget it.  I was sitting in bed with my husband and my dog drinking my coffee and watching TV.  The Imus in the Morning show was on and he was promoting an upcoming appearance by MK and EH.  I wasn't really paying attention to it because I was still half asleep.  The next thing I heard was this amazing voice singing ........

..... "your bright shining sun would light up the way before me, you were the one made me feel I could fly"

I suddenly woke up and said to my husband, "who is that singing?".  And he said "Mark Knopfler".  And I said, "Who's Mark Knopfler?"
And he said, "You know, the guy from Dire Straits".  And I said, "He's still around?"

And the rest is history.

Besides obsessing on MK, I enjoy my family (two grown sons and a daughter-in-law), my two dogs, drawing, painting, bird-watching, gardening, hiking, etc. etc.

This forum looks great!  I already know many of you from the 'other' forum, and I'm looking forward to meeting some new friends and MK knutz.

[gbobmi]

Glad you're here, Joan!!!!!!!!!!!!

[allen]

Welcome Joan!  I like to read your story!  I used to be a die hard fan of Genesis.  Every week I went to the local music shop to dig out Genesis stuff if they had new arrivals, but most of time I got bad luck, no new stuff or had been sold out.  You know, buying original western music here is like buying bootlegs in the states, luck is the most important factor.  The boss of the shop finally recommended me a cassette tape of Money for Nothing to ease my pain.  I loved the cover art and paid it.  After listening to the first track, I was overwhelmed by the guitar solo and unstopped listened to the last song.  I, went to the shop the next morning to get all the DS/MK stuff they had.  With the money saved, I bought an acoustic.  That was back in 1991.  The photo below was taken that year.

http://www.junpak.com/~knopfler/fans/allen.htm

Wishes
Allen 

[shangri la 1]

welcome all!

Interesting story Allen. We have the lack of a Genesis record to thank for your wonderful contributions to the MK world. I think I like Genesis even more now, after hearing that..

[Pottel]

i don't