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elfsThis morning, as I was walking to the bus stop on my way to work, I spotted something colorful in the bushes by the road and fished it out. It was a tarot card, The Page of Pentacles (the Mary Hanson-Roberts' colored edition of the Rider-Waite classical; how sad is it that I knew that?). The card shows signs of sun and weather damage; it's been out for at least a day or two.
The Page of Pentacles, when presented to you is often a messenger of material opportunity, the chance for great financial reward. When presented as you, the Page of Pentacles is often a moody, unsure character, representing the initial taking of responsibility for one's life and well-being.
It's probably only a coincidence that I use the Page of Pentacles as my signifier.
At the transfer station downtown in front of the museum, I sat next to this cute black guy who was doing his homework. I leaned over and said, "chotto means 'wait', not 'shut up'."
He looked at the page for a moment, then said, "Don't you think in this conversation he's saying 'shut up'?"
I read the rest of the sentence. "I suppose it could mean that, but it's not a proper translation. What would your sensei think?"
"Sensei would think you're right," he said.
It's been a day like that. This morning, one of my co-workers wore a t-shirt I've seen a thousand times before. It has a picture of a train and some Japanese under it. Today, I discovered I could read it. It says, "I am an idiot American." And I'm listening to a live recording of Morning Musume in concert and I'm actually understanding what they're saying to the audience between songs. Of course, it's contextual. When the singer shouts, "Minna wa, do desu ka!?", it's the same thing Ozzy shouts at the beginning of his concerts: "How are you all doing!?" Duh.
The Page of Pentacles, when presented to you is often a messenger of material opportunity, the chance for great financial reward. When presented as you, the Page of Pentacles is often a moody, unsure character, representing the initial taking of responsibility for one's life and well-being.
It's probably only a coincidence that I use the Page of Pentacles as my signifier.
At the transfer station downtown in front of the museum, I sat next to this cute black guy who was doing his homework. I leaned over and said, "chotto means 'wait', not 'shut up'."
He looked at the page for a moment, then said, "Don't you think in this conversation he's saying 'shut up'?"
I read the rest of the sentence. "I suppose it could mean that, but it's not a proper translation. What would your sensei think?"
"Sensei would think you're right," he said.
It's been a day like that. This morning, one of my co-workers wore a t-shirt I've seen a thousand times before. It has a picture of a train and some Japanese under it. Today, I discovered I could read it. It says, "I am an idiot American." And I'm listening to a live recording of Morning Musume in concert and I'm actually understanding what they're saying to the audience between songs. Of course, it's contextual. When the singer shouts, "Minna wa, do desu ka!?", it's the same thing Ozzy shouts at the beginning of his concerts: "How are you all doing!?" Duh.
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Date: 2005-06-16 05:54 pm (UTC)