[.sick.leave.]

Body,
My playmate!
Neither the master
Nor the slave,
A buoyant heart
Shall bear you along,
While you cheer my way
With your lively flame.

But body,
My playmate,
You must not flinch
Nor fail me when
The moment comes
To do the impossible.

Dag Hammarskjold, June 8, 1961

One of the most disturbing things for me is getting sick while in the middle of many, interesting projects. It's been more than 2 weeks but the flu hasn't subsided, which is too much for me. Normally one weekend rest then all is well again. When finally my nose was kind of blocked and the fever came back, giving me a terrible headache I skipped work and just run to the hospital. Not fun. Not fun because now I have to rest, doing nothing, just rest. And much to my chagrin, it gives an opportunity for unnecessary thoughts and past memories to roam uncontrolably in my head. I certainly miss my creative days.

[.Mr.Mozart.has.a.blog.too.]

Oh wow, this is fantastic. Mr Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has a blog. I had fun reading it today. The blog was even already started in 2005. Why on earth never did I think of it?



All those witty answers to tricky questions...this one is my favorite somehow:

"Dear Wolfgang,
If you were alive today, what instrument do you think you would master and create music with?"

-----
That would not change. I will always use my brain!

Wolfgang

:-)

[.on.a.poem.that.i.keep.dear.]

Now I should admit I cannot guarantee the consistency of the content of this blog :-) In any case, I created this blog to be able to jot down whatever thought I have, whenever I want. Though initially the priority was set for my works on graphics - why don't we say that now possibility is unlimited?

I've been very tired lately (oh, not another excuse for delaying new graphics!). Lots of works? Yes. And some unexpected things in my personal life, too. But somehow, in my case, as quoted by a friend "problems always come in batallion" - so do help and encouragement. I noticed that for every thing that made me upset, came several surprises that made me jump for joy. One bad news made me cry the whole night, the next few days I got only great news that left me smiling and laughing - and fascinated. What arrangement by the universe. Perhaps I should thank mom for making me believe that every trouble is only a sign that something wonderful is on its way to us. It will take sometime to heal, but strength is regained.

I looked at the pinboard on my desk. A poem is attached there. One of my favorite passage from "Markings" - the diary of Dag Hammarskjöld. "Markings" - notably "the enduring spiritual classic", is one of my favorite readings, especially when I need a spiritual lift. I have a great admiration to this great man, the UN Secretary General 1953-1961. Even though it started with a curiosity as I found it difficult to pronounce his last name - and it was when in history class we learned about the UN and for a test we had to know the names of the Secretary Generals by heart. But even the smallest curiosity led me to learn more about Dag Hammarskjöld and my admiration grew. And a few years ago I started to read "Markings", and this is a book that I keep dear.


photo: UN/DPI Photo/imagebank.sweden.se


July 6, 1961

Tired
And lonely,
So tired
The heart aches.
Meltwater trickles
Down the rocks,
The fingers are numb,
The knees tremble.
It is now,
Now, that you must not give in.

On the path of the others
Are resting places,
Places in the sun
Where they can meet.
But this
Is your path,
And it is now,
Now, that you must not fail.

Weep
If you can,
Weep,
But do not complain.
The way chose you -
And you must be thankful.


Dag Hammarskjöld, 1905-1961

[.royal.images.]

Mom reminded me - on the phone - "tomorrow is the princess' wedding! I'm following the processions from the local tv station"

Yay! I almost forgot how the Sultan of Yogyakarta is still the number one person in the region, my hometown. And somehow my mom is fanatical. Our house is located not far from the Royal Palace, thus my mom just kept reporting how crowded the streets are.

I'm so proud of my mom, she's an enthusiastic guardian of our javanese tradition - something as a kid and teenager I was struggling to run away from. But now, living 600 km away from my hometown, the life and cultural aspects of javanese town Yogyakarta started to fascinate me. There were times I felt like a tourist when listening to mom talking about the beauty of traditionally handmade batik from Yogyakarta; which pattern to wear in what occasion, that special technique to fold the front side of the sheets when you wear it. And don't ask her about the philosophy behind the batik, because I doubt she would stop...

Anyay, back to the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta, I still have some more pictures from my last visit there last year. As a kid, I used to think that it was 'just a royal palace'. Now, however, as my interest in culture, history and design grow, it is something really unique and special. I begin to think whether you always should go and see something from the distance - to be able to look at that something from a fresh perspective. Then, when you come back, you can appreciate it more than ever before. I wonder...



























Link: The Royal Palace of Yogyakarta (Kraton Yogyakarta):
http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/places-of-interest/kraton/

my previous entry on the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta here

[.on.Zinio.and.the.most.beautiful.flower.]

Guess what, I'm featured on Zinio's latest email newsletter :-) As you might know I'm an avid magazine reader and I'm so glad I found Zinio - from whom I can subscribe various magazines in digital format (view my entry about it here). They also have a great collection of literary classics, digitized and you can read them online. For me it's really convenient!

Anyway I've been sick these past few days. I don't know why it's always like that when I finally take a rest after done with a big project at work. The newbies are on the way, I still need to check this and that (for example, I just found out that the font "Tropicana" I used to decorate the book of quotes is not 'acceptable' when I transfered the InDesign file into .pdf). But I thought of giving a small preview on the weekly planner, the cover and the first two pages. If you see only days and weeks, no dates, it is intentional. The other book will have only dates, no days or week. Let me know what you think when they are uploaded this coming week.







And euh, talking about my favorite quote (notice that on the weekly planner preview... and some other pages in this blog :-)) - "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all" - it is from this inspiring movie "Mulan", the words by the Emperor of China toward the end of the film - and somehow, while leafing one of my favorite magazines, Asian Geographic issue 3/2007, I saw this photography by Masako Imaoka "Portrait of Courage". And I was moved by this particular picture taken in Nahrin, Afghanistan in 2002. Don't you think, this perfectly illustrates the Emperor's words above? I cut and clipped the picture onto my inspiration board on my desk - along with the quote. They give me extra strength and courage :-)