Thoughts of the Day

I've got a hunch. And it is not a good one. Yet I am not so sure. I had a belief and then it was shattered by a phone call. Weird. Why do I write like this? Prithee, could it be that mine eyes hath cloud me so? Mine heart hath deceived the eyes? I doth know that I misseth thee...

That's what you get after reading David Eddings' too much. I like the term anakha, though. The one without destiny. It suits me very much.

English Depot

I'm writing this because I'm annoyed to see several common mistakes. Some Indonesians do that, not realizing the grave errors of the words they write or utter. Some believe that writing or talking in English is cool. So they like to mix things--a bit of Indonesian and English at the same time. There's nothing wrong with that, actually. As long as they check the spelling, grammar, and pronunciation.

Two common mistakes that I often see:

1. Loose and lose.
I notice that some people write this: He is a looser. It should be: He is a loser. Some also write: I don't want to loose you. In fact it has to be: I don't want to lose you.

Correct usages of the word loose: loose clothes, all hells will break loose, hang loose.

You don't believe me? Check any grammar books or even, dictionaries.

2. I agree
Some people write I'm agree instead of I agree. Something is definitely wrong with I'm agree. It has to be I'm agreeing (to something) or I'm in agreement. I'm not too sure about I'm agreeing, so you'd better check other sources who are more reliable. Suffice to say, if you want to say that you agree, just say or write, I agree.

One most common mistake Indonesian people make in pronunciation:

Happy birthday. Some pronounce it as "birzdei". Please kindly consult a dictionary with phonetic symbols to see how wrong the pronunciation is.

I'm sure there are many more. I have to admit that it saddens me...

I'm A Granny! (Again!)

My mother just called, telling me that Minerva has just given birth to four kittens. A black one, a Teppei-like one (one of my most prized cats in the past, but haven't seen him in years... I suspect that the father's actually Tepal--Teppei's bro), a yellow and white one, and a three-colored one. So there are seven kittens in my parents' right now, for Sylvester's kittens are about one month old. By the way, one of Sylvester's has three colors, and it's a he!

To Each Her Own

(On Legolas Greenleaf in The Return of the King)

Lia Cyntia, a fan of Legolas:
Too bad in this movie he doesn't have enough scenes...

Another friend, Sammy Halim, who detests Legolas:
There are too many scenes of him! Arrg!

It's funny how one's perspective about the same subject may vary according to one's emotion.

Norman Rockwell: Art for Common People

It is generally known that when you try to find something, you'll end up with another. Such is the case that happened to me yesterday. Instead of black and white pictures, I found a book about Norman Rockwell's. I have been a fan of him since Dino Turino Setiawan gave me a journal filled with Rockwell's reproduction paintings in 1993. Rockwell painted, drew, and sketched beautifully.

So when I found a book about him some years ago, I didn't hesitate to buy it, though it cost me a month of my allowance. I was happily turning the pages when an expensively-clad woman of forty-odd approached me. (We were queueing in the train station)

Woman: Sorry, I can't help noticing. It's about Norman Rockwell, isn't it? (pointing at the book)
Me: (slightly taken aback) Indeed it is.
Woman: You're majoring in Arts or Design?
Me: (shaking head) No, Ma'am.
Woman: So you like to draw or paint.
Me: I can do neither, Ma'am.
Woman: Then why the heck did you buy this book? (staring at me haughtily from head to toe, appraising look on her face) I'm sure you can hardly afford it. So why bother?
Me: (deeply insulted) I just like his paintings. Is that a crime, Ma'am?
Woman: You won't be able to appreciate his works properly if you're not an artist. I am one. I can paint nicely. Have you been to the States before? (cutting me before I was able to say anything) Oh, don't bother answering, I'm sure you haven't. Well, I have. I've been to Rockwell museum. It's splendid!

(A boy and a girl about my age went to her side. They looked alike so I guess they must be her children. I defined them in two works: spoiled brats.)

Boy: It's sure hot in here.
Girl: Yeah. I'm bored with this country, Ma. Can I go to the States again?
Boy: (adding) Yeah! That would be fun!
Woman: But dear, we're supposed to go to Singapore next month. We simply can't cancel the tickets just like that.
Girl: Can we go there this Christmas then? I've got a lot of things to shop. And here, well... you know Indonesian quality.
Woman: (smiling) Of course we can. We'd better be in the States for a month or two then.
Boy and Girl: Yay!
Me: (snickering)

So what? I'm not an artist. Does it mean that I am not permitted to enjoy masterpieces done by superb painters?
I sure hope people in the fields of Arts and Design are not this snobbish. It sure gives a bad name to their world. As if they're so high beneath us--the common people. How disgusting.