Homework: 5 questions for you

This is my first post in 10 days. I haven’t been on kind terms with time lately. I am currently following a competition so the past week has been dedicated to practice (I’ll write about that later). Anyway, here is a quick post and I hope you enjoy reading it!

I received some homework from my friend Amel a few days ago. It’s a few random questions to think about and publish on our own blogs. Thank you for the opportunity, Amel!

1. Kalau kamu jadi tokoh dalam sebuah novel, kamu mau jadi karakter kayak apa?

I want to be female character (duh) that is the typical heroine. She is smart, tough, and caring. She has a strong protective instinct for her family and friends. She also has a vulnerability that makes her human, like the ability to love and cry. Examples of this type are Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter, Storm from X-men, and Arya from Eragon. I’d like to be Saphira from Eragon too, but we’re a completely different species and genus, so they’d have to make a CG interpretation of me as a dragon. Elves are closer to my species and they’d only have to CG my eyes and ears a bit. (I’m such a geek sometimes, and proud of it, LOL).

2. Kamu paling ngerasa mahir masak apa? Boleh pula dibagi alasan dan resep ala kamunya. (Jawaban seperti air, nasi, telur goreng, dan mie instan ga masuk kriteria yaa)

Haha… This is hard. You’ve eliminated the majority of my dishes. I guess I’m pretty good at making pudding. When I’m lucky, I can also make pretty good fried rice. But I am sure I can make a killer sandwich and mini pizza!

3. Di antara semua barang yang pernah kamu beli apa yang paling bikin nyesel udah membelinya? Kenapa?

Hm… I usually think through the items I buy a hundred times before I do buy it. Just ask my close friends. However, the image that always comes to mind when I think of regret is a blue shirt I bought at a retail store in Mataram. It was really cute – on the hanger. To this day, I rarely buy any clothes without trying them on first. I am also very picky about price. I almost always try to bargain to half the price before the shopkeeper and I come to a conclusion. Then I always check other stores in the market (at least 3) that have the same item. Then I decide whether or not I could make the piece of clothing myself, after rethinking repeatedly whether or not I need it.

4. Kalau kamu diberi kesempatan jadi sutradara sebuah film yang diangkat dari buku, buku apa yang kamu filmkan? dan siapa main cast yang kamu pilih?

Oo… this is going to be a long answer. I love movies and I have read enough books to keep me hooked. Let’s see… I would like to remake the classic “Little Women”. My favorite character, Josephine March, would be played by… Natalie Portman (I’d like to play her myself!). The handsome Theodore Laurence would be played by Orlando Bloom.

Next, I would like to make a series from The Baby Sitter’s Club (my childhood favorite) books. My favorite character is Dawn Schafer and she would be best played by someone fresh like Blake Lively, Amanda Seyfried, Kirsten Dunst, and Evan Rachel Wood. My other favorites, Mary Anne Spier and Claudia Kishi would be played by Lily Collins (or Camilla Belle) and… Kristin Kreuk? (I can’t find anyone perfect for Claudia yet. Kristin is gorgeous like Claudia but I wanted to find someone taller). Oh! I know who can play her! Devon Aoki, the girl from 2 fast 2 furious! (just browsed through the google images too look ffor actresses after finishing this post). Stacey McGill would be best played by Rosie-Huntington Whiteley or Sara Paxton and Kristy Thomas would be played by Emma Stone.

5. Silahkan kamu memberi 5 pertanyaan kepada maksimal 5 orang terpilih!

I would like to give the following questions to my fellow blogger Mas Seagate, my wacky biological sister Kiky, my best friend Blue Spy, my lovely dorm-room sister Ainin, and my treasured junior and sister at College Talisa.

1. If you could inspire the world, how would you want to do it and why?

2. If you were a member of the high government, which job would you take (president, minister of what, etc.) and why?

3. If you were a mythical character, what would you like to be and why?

4. Which fairy tale or folklore do you like the best and why?

5. If you could send 5 questions to other bloggers, who would they be and why? (make 5 questions to other bloggers and encourage them to keep blogging)

Those are my questions, guys. Please let me know when you have answered them so I can check them out.

A Short Story for a Writing Competition: “Eternal Summer”

Below is a short story that I made about a week ago to participate in a writing competition at my Campus. Please have a read and tell me what you think about it. What is your interpretation of it? What do you think happens?

Eternal Summer

There are infinite ways to tell you how much I love you:

A slice of chocolate cake on a summer’s evening. A glass of warm milk before bed. A tight hug to wish you a wonderful day in the morning. A kiss on the cheek to say “goodnight” and “sweet dreams” before you sleep.

The first thing I need to see every morning after I wake up is you. I need to see your face glow under the early rays of sunshine streaming through the windows as you sleep peacefully, waiting for me to wake you up. I need to see your beautiful face, the only face which sends those butterflies to my heart, which makes everything I do for you more than worthwhile.

You are so beautiful.

I remember the first time I saw you. It was a bright sunny day. I was bored and restless after an uneventful day at campus, seeing the same people, listening to the monotonous voices of the lecturers trying to explain philosophy in the most uninteresting way. I had decided to be an “exile” again that day. I separated myself from all the individuals by sitting under a tree and immersing myself in a book. It was a literature about William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18”. I remember the verse I was reading very clearly:

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate;
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date…

I was thinking about the possibility of such a beauty. Of course, Shakespeare was abusing his metaphors, as usual, in depicting women and love. I doubted that I would ever encounter such things and was skeptic to the prospect of both things ever appealing to me.

That was until you came along. You changed everything.

As I was musing over Shakespeare’s words, unfocusedly gazing into the distance, I noticed you. I finally understood what Shakespeare meant.

You were walking with a group of girls, talking about something that must have been funny because you laughed, exposing your wonderful smile. I saw your blue eyes twinkle merrily. I witnessed your golden hair play with the wind and shine under the summer sun. You instantly became my summer. No, you are more beautiful than the season of summer. You are the summer – the improved and perfected version of summer.

After that day, I literally felt that I could not live without seeing you. I hungered for you like a man who has fasted for days on the Sahara desert. I craved for you much like a pregnant woman craves a specific type of food. I was head-over-heels in love for you. I experienced all the sensations: irregular heart contractions, increase of body heat, frequent perspiration, and “butterflies”.

One day, I said hello to you at the library. You were alone without the usual accompaniment of the other girls. You smiled and greeted me back. I asked if I could join you and you nodded. I sat next to you and started to engage you in a conversation. We had a nice talk. You were so friendly and sincere. As I sat next to you, I could grasp your wonderful scent. You smelt like fresh violets, which further enhanced your beauty. I was intoxicated.

From that moment, I decided that I had to have you. I needed you. I could never want anyone else as much as I wanted you.

I tried so hard to be your lover, but it was so difficult because everyone adored you. Every man seemed to be enchanted by you. It was inconvenient that they were all physically superior compared me. I wasn’t handsome like them. However, I was smarter than all of them put together and you realized that, didn’t you? You enjoyed our talks because you admired my intellect. I could satisfy your hunger for knowledge. You frequently asked me to help you with your assignments. Most of the time, I ended up doing it for you, but I didn’t mind. It wasn’t hard for me and it meant I could spend more time with you.

However, some men succeeded in distracting you. One of them was called Eric. He was the typical stud plus an exceptional athlete. He excelled at every sport. The university had even granted him a football scholarship. He dated you for a long time. Unfortunately, he broke his leg terribly one day so he couldn’t play sports anymore. He became so immersed in grief that he decided to end his relationship with you. Luckily, you got over him quickly.

Another one was called Adam. He was the lead vocalist in a band. He had a wonderful voice and you developed a crush on him. However, he too was unlucky. He got very sick from food poisoning and permanently lost his voice. Feeling so depressed for his loss, he turned to drugs. He became a junkie and you had to leave him for your own safety. I’m glad you did that.

Then there was Michael. Michael wasn’t too special, just an average college student with no special abilities. He didn’t excel in anything. But you loved him very, very, much. It puzzled me a lot. How could you love someone that wasn’t special? I was special, unlike him. Unfortunately for you, Michael disappeared mysteriously one day and nobody knew where he had gone. The authorities looked for him everywhere, but they couldn’t find him.

You were devastated. I saw your sorrow. I saw you tears. I saw your glow gradually fade away.

I tried to comfort you. I sympathized as well as I could. I told you I would always be there for you. I expected you to turn to me since I had dealt with our “obstacles”. They weren’t going to disturb us anymore. However, you didn’t respond to me like I thought you would. You were in so much pain. You thought that life was not worth living anymore because you had lost your true love.

I nearly lost you.

Another summer went by. To my satisfaction and gladness, I became your savior. I could not bear to see your beautiful face stained with grief and pain so I did every measure needed to save you. Finally, you stopped crying. Your face was no longer so sad. Most importantly, you have me and I have you. You are mine and I will always be yours.

***

You are so beautiful. There are infinite ways to tell you how much I love you.

Every day, I am with you in our cozy little house for two. I look after you like a devoted and faithful servant of a queen. I bathe you and clothe you. I brush your beautiful hair. I even learnt how to do your make-up for you. Everything I do for you is worth it, because I get to have you. We get to be together.

Today is the same as any other day. This morning I woke up and tended to you, as usual. Currently, we are having breakfast together. I had prepared pancakes with strawberry topping. You have always loved strawberries, especially on a warm summer’s day.

“How are the pancakes, sweetheart?”

You don’t answer.

“What’s wrong, dear? They are good, right? I tried my best when I made them.”

“…”

“Okay then. Just drink your milk.”

“…’’

“You are quiet, as usual. I wonder what has gotten into you.”

“…”

I sigh. You haven’t said a word to me since that day. Never mind. It doesn’t bother me too much. I didn’t really expect you to talk to me. The important thing is that I get to have you.

I pick up the copy of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” in my lap and open the second page. I start to read my favorite verses to you:

“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

I gaze at you in admiration. You are as still as ever, but perfect, as always. I sigh and smile. Shakespeare was always right about your beauty and my love. It is eternal.

I give you a warm hug and whisper in your ear.

“You are so beautiful and I love you. Nothing can ever stop me loving you.”

 

“Not even death.”

 

Jogja, 13^th April 2012

By: Walissa Tanaya Pramanasari

Music for My Soul

This is my first post in response to the writing challenge that was given to me by Ugik. He requested a post about Music.

I have less knowledge in music than I aspire to. I am weak in reading notes and memorizing all the keys. I don’t know much about the history of music. Plus, I wouldn’t consider myself as an acceptable musician (I sometimes claim to be a pianist. I wish.). So what would I write about?

The one thing I am sure I am good at when it comes to music is listening. I am an expert listener and I am sure many of you are too. You just don’t realize it as much as I do (boast).

You don’t need to do much to be a professional listener of music. Just keep quiet and listen to the cacophony of sounds that infiltrate your senses. Next, try to listen to something else that is very important. Stay quiet. Can’t you hear it?

It is your soul responding in its own tune, merging harmoniously with the music and creating an assortment of feelings and emotions to be experienced.

Sometimes, if you listen carefully enough, the music will grant you access to “see” things. Just close your eyes and you will see the image that the music is trying to convey to you. You could also say that your soul encodes the music into an image – a representation of the music that is understandable to you.

Here are some examples from my experiences:

• Beethoven – Fur Elise: This is one of the first pieces I learnt to play on the piano. It is one of my favorite classical pieces. When I listen to this song, I feel romantic and sentimental. I see an 18^th century ballroom with golden light and dancing people.
• Toshio Masuda – Sadness and Sorrow: I love the Naruto soundtracks. That is how I got to know this composer. When I listen to this song, I feel mildly sad and sorrowful (the tittle succeeds) and I picture myself next to a river on a cold autumn day and crimson leaves are falling down.
• James Blunt – Tears and Rain: I start thinking of things of the past and it puts me in an introspective mood. I see myself travelling in a sepia scene.
• One Republic – Stop and Stare: I love this song. It really connects with me and I sometimes thinking that it was made for people like me who were so confused in a point of their lives. It really came to me in time of need. So I feel huge gratitude when I listen to this song for understanding me and telling me that I am not alone. I see a city scene with high buildings. Behind me is a black and white that reaches far into the past. In front of me is also a road. It is in full light and I cannot really see where it leads to, but I am walking towards it anyway.
• Kokia – Shiroi Yuki: I really like this Japanese song. It makes me feel calm and cool. I picture snowflakes falling on the fields outside from a window of a cozy house.

I think that by now you will get the point of what I mean. The experience is unique to every person based on their real life experiences. Just couple it with a good imagination and you can enjoy so many different moods and go to so many places without exerting much energy. You don’t have to move. Just close your eyes and listen. That’s one of the many gifts that music brings to us.

However, there is a caution to be told. Don’t immerse yourself so much in the music that you forget everything else. Sometimes I find myself enjoying the indulgence of a sad and soppy tune so much that I become an “Emo”. Happiness has no more appeal. Careful there. Don’t let the music steal us from the reality. It’s okay to let the music “sympathize” with you sometimes. Listen to more of Toshiro Masuda’s tracks and it just might help you release that grief. But afterwards, remember to pick yourself up again with some happy music. The gloominess shouldn’t last forever. I like to turn on some old Britney Spears songs and just have fun. What’s your happy jam?

I have also discovered that Music can cater to my spiritual needs. I really like listening to Ahmed Bukhatir, Maher Zain, and Yusuf Islam. Their melody is heavenly. I always feel at peace when I listen to their music. I recommend them to my fellow Moslem brothers and sisters.

Music is a gift from God to be invented and kept by mankind. It has continued to develop and grow in our history, serving us so many purposes, limitless to the possibility of new creations and functions. One of the major benefits we can feel from it is that it feeds and enriches our soul. Let us cherish it and use it well.

My Food Corner: Chocolate Pudding

I know I am supposed to be writing a post from the writing challenge, but I haven’t found an exceptional time-slot between the exams. I want to do a good job on it. However, I do have time to make a short post about another adventure in the kitchen.

I present to you… Chocolate Pudding!

Everyone I know loves chocolate. Well, except for my sister. She doesn’t like many sweet foods. Bizarre kid.

Anyway, pudding is one of the few things I know how to make. I know I have written about making green pudding before so you may be thinking: what’s the deal? The big deal is that it’s CHOCOLATE (a chocoholic statement).

The method for making this chocolate pudding isn’t different from that of the green pudding I had made before. You just mix the chocolate flavored jelly powder with sugar and water (you can add milk, coconut milk, or melted chocolate), then heat it up until it boils. I like to use some bread strips on the base of the pudding because it gives the pudding a richer taste and also makes it looks interesting. So I just tear up some white bread and decorate the base of my jelly mold (in this case I used a regular mini lunchbox) with it. Then I pour the hot jelly mix on top of it. I let it cool a bit then I chuck it in the fridge. About an hour later, it is ready to be served.

Here is a picture of my chocolate pudding:

I didn’t cut it very well (laughs). Oh well. At least it tastes good.
For this pudding I used Nutrijell jelly powder mix and Sari Roti white crust-less bread.

This is not an ad . I am just really proud of these two Indonesian products. They taste great, have high quality, and are affordable. However, it is an affirmative statement towards supporting Indonesian products. I hope that both the producers and consumers will have a higher awareness towards the improvement of the domestic industry. Go Indonesia!