Random and Rambling

Dear reader,


I'm supposed to be doing my typography assignment now, but I'm getting tired of it. So I decided to take a little detour from the Path of Being Responsible. The scenic route, if you will. This post will be extremely random and rambling--much like the scenery one finds along a rustic, country road--so I suggest you prepare yourself, dear reader.

You know, I was rifling the college library yesterday--dear Lord, was it only yesterday? And today I'm back in the library again. I really spend too much time at school...I have the whole week off, it's my midterm break now. I should be at home, working on my assignments. Note the s, dear reader. Plural. I have at least two assignments due. Actually, more like three. The typeface one for Design Studies, and two for Drawing and Illustration. I'll get them done. Eventually. Fret not, dear reader, I thrive on pressure and caffeine. Lots of caffeine.

Right. So anyway...where was I? Oh, yes. Rifling through the college library. I came across a book, 'Women Who Inspire' by Christina Thomas-Mamora. It's about, I quote, "the thoughts and aspirations of Sarawak women, expressing their passions and struggles, and sharing the fruits of their labour". Or at least that's what it says on the back. I haven't read it, but I probably will once I have more free time. The thing that struck my attention was the dedication:

To 

my mom Nora Linang, my sister Ann Thomas, my daughter Dewi Sorta 

and my friends Maria Corazon Cortez, Baizura Hj. Kamal and Novia Sim

Beauty lies within oneself

What an assortment of names, don't you think? Only in Sarawak. At a glance, I can see at least one name from a native tribe (Linang), possibly an Indonesian one (Dewi Sorta, her daughter. I think it's Indonesian because her husband's name is Toman Mamora, and her son's is Yohannes Wiranata...classic Indonesian-sounding names), a Filipino name (Cortez), a Malay one (Kamal) and a Chinese name (Sim).

Wait a gosh-darned minute, you admonish. Filipino? How would you know it's Filipino? an expression of scathing scepticism graces your features. It's equally likely to be Spanish, you insist, folding your arms in a you-think-you're-so-smart gesture.

Well, my smarty-pants reader, I was getting to that. The reason I'm mentioning this book in the first place is because it mentions Madam Maria Corazon Cortez: Filipino by descent, Sarawakian by choice. Also known as Aunty Cora. You see, I know her personally. She's one of the 'aunties' from church. I really shouldn't be so surprised; she's in publishing, and she's into Sarawak, so it's inevitable that at least one book concerning Sarawak will mention her. I hang out with her son, our families know each other, I say hi to her when we're in church. It's funny seeing her name in print. When it's a stranger, it's nothing but a name. Faceless, devoid of personality, just letters and words. But when you actually know the person, when you can put a face to the name, it's...an entirely different feeling altogether.

Anyway. Just thought I'd share that with you, dear reader. Moving on.

Oh! There's this picture I came across a while back, while surfing for God-knows-what. I forget my original intention for Google image trolling that day, or what weird and wacky trail of findings led me to unearth this particular photo, but I digress. It's a photo of Clara Bow. She was a silent movie star, back in the Roaring Twenties. She's got that 'Flapper Girl' look written all over her. I think I want to draw this one, for shading practice. We'll see.

After that, I couldn't help it. I had to go on a black and white photo hunting spree. I found another one of Miss Bow's photos:

I just love her lazy, sad-looking eyes, don't you? So irreverent, yet innocent at the same time. Another one, this time of (who else?) Audrey Hepburn:

I absolutely adore this movie. 'Funny Face', with Fred Astaire. Did you know she didn't originally plan on being an actress? She wanted to be a ballerina. I loved her in that dancing scene in the bar, with her black top and black slacks and flats. How she managed to still look so dignified and elegant while acting so silly is beyond me. And I'm very envious of her waist.

Ooh, how about this one? Guess who it is:

It's Grace Kelly, of course. The real life Princess. Have you ever noticed how Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman look alike? Here, I'll show you:

Hmm. You see? Definitely a bit of a likeness there. At a certain angle, I can't tell them apart.

Anyway. Lately I've been obsessing over this song by Train, 'Soul Sister'. I know, dear reader, how very hipster of me to like a song everyone else is currently fawning over. Whatever. I like what I like, regardless of trends. The lyrics are somewhere between witty and plain silly; between poetic and painfully literal, I can't decide. There should be more songs like this in the world: good music, great words. Enjoy.





That's a fantastic music video, in my opinion. I won't bother putting the lyrics in here, for obvious reasons. I wonder how much time it took to get everything animated and synced to the music and stuff. So anyway...all in all, a wicked cool song and music video from a wicked cool band.

I guess that just about wraps it up for today. I really should get back to work now. I'll see you when I see you, dear reader. Til then, I remain...





Yours,



Figgy...Just Figgy