Music Lesson Agony

Hi Me...

I'm having a agony right now and the problem I have is this. I want to change my music lesson and you know how long we have wanted to do this. The reason why we didn't change is because of the location , the timing ++ the human relationship, and most of all the FEES. But actually if I calculate my fee now, it's not really cheap and I don't really think this is an investment because well, you know how the school works. It's not really effective. And I am not getting my diploma because firstly I'm REALLY lazy.

So I'm REALLY considering changing. This time I have a teacher in mind. After calculating the fees that Christopher have given me about his teacher, I think the price is actually reasonable and perhaps even more worthwhile. The location-wise is also alright-Clarke Quay. The only problem is that the teacher is a guy. Soo.. yeah. But it's a music centre so should be fine.

So are you now already under another teacher? Maybe not him but somebody else?

6/10/2013
10:25pm

Maid

And so we hired a maid. From Myanmar.

Wasn't comfortable with that plan but what to do? Grandmother needs someone to look after

And I kind of don't like this maid. Too busybody. Likes to poke her nose in or gloat at others sufferings. For instance, I was talking with my dad or quarrel with my sister, she will intentionally stand at a close to us and then grinned widely. I don't even know if she understood us or not though I think she does, she just like to watch commotion and snicker.

Couldn't I have a little privacy here?

Seriously.

Like my aunts and my mother were discussing about traveling and they were browsing some brochure the other day, she just causally walked from towards us and stood behind watching them flipping. I was sitting beside my aunt and at an angle where I was facing her. So I just gave her a glance and well, she figured and retreat.

The other thing is she tries to run away from chores. Like putting the cups back without washing them. Avoiding helping my mom when she's cooking and took nap during afternoon (which is fine if she has nothing to do).

And boy she eats a lot! Twice my share. It's like taking four bowls of rice! Goodness! When she eats, she just gobbles and leave none of the rest. Hmmm.. I wonder if she's not having a good meal back home. Plus our culture both eats rice and our dishes are about the same, fish and vegetables. So there's nothing to be excited about. Plus she's such a glutton. When I bought subway back for mum and I because we were the only ones who were left without lunch, her eyes keep staring at our home. They lit up almost instantly!

I guess it's because its her home country is Myanmar... the other copy of North Korea.

Still.. her family background wasn't that poor.

Alright.. she also has her good points. And a good major point.

She took care of my grandmother. At least under our noses, she's caring and shows affection for her.

And really, that's what we need. Because that's exactly why we hired her.

Still... *sigh*

Guess I have to change my attitude.

24/9/13
10.01pm

My Fault

Hello Old Me,

It's 27/6 a day just before we are going to Sentosa and we are all so busy packing. And its just sooo upsetting. BUT hey! It's my fault. This whole thing is a mistake. So the cat's out of the bag. Stupid is going to bring her homework to Sentosa and Mum who's sick is going to stay in the hotel. That leaves the three of us. What's the point? She just justified by saying she never wanted to this at first. And it just makes me fucking mad! I'm mad at how late I know about this and I am more mad when SHE'S FUCKING RIGHT!

I'm imposing this on people. It's a mistake to organise this stupid trip just so we can spend a little more family time together. Because people don't share the same thoughts! I'm just being soo selfish and naive to assume its going to be just a normal outing, every things are going to be fine. And now I'm dreading it. I just really want to get this over and done with. 

Initially I was thinking of spending the day with my friends at the hotel, but I figure why didn't I spend the most special day of my life with my family which is the most important part of my life? And now just thinking the long face Stupid will pull just give make me DAMN REGRETFUL! 

Parents had a short talked with her after I was grumbling while trying to control my disappointment. And now she isn't bring any homework to the island. And it's going to be my fault again because she won't be able to finish her homework in time. So it all boils down to me. GREAT!

What a unforgettable 21st indeed! 

I just don't know how am I going to go through tomorrow. FUCk

Part Time Jobs

Hello Old Me,

It's been a while since I blog here.

I'm currently teaching/having six students.. two were taking a break and were the two I am going to let go. One is going off because she moved house and I couldn't accommodate. One has yet to commence.So all in all I was supposed to have three students-ultimately. And these three students total tuition fee is more more than when I was teaching 4 students. Mainly because the frequency has gone up and so has the rate I charged. And with all the increment, the income that I will be making has increased. Which also means that I have better chances of saving up. (Wheepy?)

But anyway, are you taking any part time jobs aside from your full time. Let's assume this future me has a job okay.. it's tooooo creepy to thing about it. ANYWAY, I'm sure we had it agreed that in the future, I would forsake one of my weekend to work part time in order to have some additional income. Because this additional income may means that I can be less harsh on spending.

It also means that I could have more opportunity to travel.

So I don't know, did you forget about it? Are you teaching piano or language or like primary school levels.

I don't know I'm just curious.

From Moi

Birthday Celebration

Dear dear very old me.

I'm in the midst of preparing for my 21st birthday. Or sort of preparing for it. I am still considering whether to celebrate it or give it a miss. I do very much love to give it a miss but it's a very significant day and it marks the day I reach adulthood. As we both know, we are a very lazy person, we do fulfill the task in one shot, but make a little progress each day. I had considered spending the day in Marina Bay Sands with my nuclear family. It would give the whole family an excuse to spend the night in the luxury hotel without feeling guilty of recklessly spending money.

《蝶恋花》

花褪残红青杏小，燕子飞时，绿水人家绕。

枝上柳绵吹又少，天涯何处无芳草！

墙里秋千墙外道，墙外行人，墙里佳人笑。

笑渐不闻声渐悄，多情却被无情恼。

《蝶恋花》——苏轼

欲相守，难相望

欲相守，难相望，人各天涯愁断肠。
爱易逝，恨亦长，灯火阑珊人彷徨。
春花开，秋叶落，繁华过后留残香。
望长空，叹明月，形单影只心惆怅。
酒意浓，心亦醉，罗衫轻袖舞飞扬。
思秋水，念伊人，咫尺天涯媲鸳鸯。
前世情，今生债，红尘轮回梦一场。

落花

落花不解伊人苦，谁又怜惜伊人情？空伤悲，独愁怅，怎解此心凄凉？风吹，心冷，思念长；凝眸,望川，人断肠！月下孤影，人心创伊人愁容是为谁？伊人断肠为哪般？同是断肠人，不知心伤几许？同是天涯路，不知通向何往？只记得，花开瞬间的美好?谁能知，花落一刻断肠音？

养气

1. 多读书养才气
2. 慎言行养清气；
3. 重情义养 人气
4. 能忍辱养志气；
5. 温处事养和气；
6. 讲责任养贤气；
7. 系苍生养底气；
8. 淡名利养正气；
9. 不媚俗养骨气；
10. 敢作为养浩气；
11. 会宽容养大气

Chinese Literature

Dear old me,

I have been feeling quite lost these few days. We have been having those feelings ever since we were young, as if some parts of us are being torn away. Depression? But I don't think so. I have been indulging in Chinese novels these days and I have realised that I REALLY REALLY DO LOVE CHINESE LIT! I really do! I love how they phrase their words, making it so elegant and soothing. Perhaps after I graduate I would like to pursue this interest. If can, I would like to study this full time, but I don't think that's possible because we would be too old for education and to write essay regarding olden poems and stuff isn't really our forte. But I'm really interested if you are still keen in those things? Maybe it have cool down? But it would really be a pity. We also love this kind of literature but it's just that we don't have the opportunity to have the time to sit to really understand it and appreciate it. Thus, I guess this account to the late realisation.

Plus, I really like elegant or should I say -风雅/文雅 stuffs.

I really don't think this has anything to do with ageing- I refuse to acknowledge that~
But I think it better suit my taste and image. Of course we both like other styles as well.. but well. What kind of stuff you like now? Then maybe, the contrast may tell if it has anything to do with age.

Oh well.. need to stuff
23/2/13 5:41pm

Dream Come true?

Hello Old Me,

I'm busy packing and tidying my stuffs right now. Need to do some spring cleaning before the new year. And while I was cleaning, I noticed that I have a lot of books and really have little space to keep them. This somewhat reminded me of our childhood dream. In one of our wishlist, our dream is to build a library of our own. One similar to the library shown in Walt Disney's animation Beauty and the Beast.

While looking for this image, I randomly saw other photos of library and to my astonishment- Such library really exist! Of course it will, just didn't know they were still well kept!

And of course, since I'm not of royal blood or of noble birth, what so ever. It would be impossible for me to own such a huge place nor do I think I would be of the capability to earn and own a big mansion to actually contain this much books!

So I would be contented if I could just have one room of books.

Something like this:

This is not bad either.

But instead of filling it will smart looking encyclopedic books, ours will be filled with ridiculously unrealistic romance novel, scientific novel , classics , plenty of magazine and one or two of those encyclopedia.

But I doubt we have to capability of earning much money and the financial ability to own a place. I even doubt you will be able to keep your job. Haix~

Well, worth dreaming right?

4/2/13

2:38pm

有趣玩儿

相传西周初年男女滥情，但是周公发现这样不行，于是规定：男女在结婚前不能随便发生性关系，除非到了结婚当天才行。后来人们管这个叫“周公之礼”。

“周公之礼”现在通俗指夫妻同房，做爱，发生性关系。“周公之礼”是汉语中关于性关系的一种委婉说法，有点戏谑的意味。

名字

古人名字当中的字：表字,人的别名(字和名常有意义上的联系。自称用名,表示谦虚;称人用字,表示尊敬)

自己称呼自己时，说自己的名字。称呼别人时，称呼对方的字，表示对对方尊敬。

唐寅和唐伯虎都是指同一个人，唐寅自己称呼自己时就说“唐寅”，别人称呼唐寅时就称“伯虎”，表示对他尊敬。

古人在出生后起名，到成年后，再起个名，这就是所谓的“字”。现在人们常说“名字”，名与字连起来说。古时候，名是名，字是字。有句话叫“直呼其名”。古时在社会上称呼别人的字，如果直接叫别人的名，是不礼貌的行为（当然，在家里父母长辈是可以“直呼其名”的）。古人的“字”可以起好几个。多的可达十几个。如清朝的毛奇龄，字有：大可、两生、齐于、初晴、僧开等等十二个之多。古人取“名”常用单字，一言。“字”却常常用两个字，二言。东汉之后，也有三言字的。如：明朝的傅山，字青主，又字公之佗。

中国古人的姓氏字号 

中国古人的姓名和现代一样，是人们在社会交往中用来代表个人的符号。姓，就是某一群人（氏族、家族）共用的名；名，就是个人独用的姓。 

中国古史传说中的人物的姓氏，如有熊氏、牛蟜氏、青云氏等，今天看来可能都是氏族的名称。上古时代氏族以自然物为氏族标志，因而这些名称大都和生物和自然现象有关。这些氏族名称以后就可能演化为姓（如熊、牛、云等）。古代称呼人还往往冠以地名（如傅说，“傅”是地名）、职业名（如巫咸，“巫”是从事占卜的人）、祖先的名号（如仲虺，是奚仲的后人）等，这类称呼固定下来也就是“姓”。如鲁、韩、宋等，是以地名为姓；东郭、西门、池、柳等，是以住地的方位、景物为姓；师、祝、史等，是以职业为姓；上官、司马、司徒等是以官职为姓；公孙、王孙最早是指其先人是公或王；穆、庄等姓是用其先人的谥号。从春秋战国时一些人的称呼中我们还能看到姓氏形成的一些痕迹，如展禽因住地有柳又称“柳下惠”，公输班因是鲁人又叫“鲁班”，公孙鞅又因是卫国人称“卫鞅”、因封为商君称“商鞅”等。此外，在中华各民族交通往来过程中也出现了一些姓氏如呼延、慕容、尉迟等。 

姓的形成有不同的历史过程，同样的姓未必就是一个起源。如“贺”，有的是原姓“贺兰”或“贺敦”简化为“贺”，有的是原姓“庆”，因避皇帝讳而改姓“贺”。姓也因政治的、地理的、民族的等等原因而变化。如五代时吴越的“刘”姓因避讳（“刘”与吴越王“钱鏐”的名同音）改姓“金”；明代“靖难”②之后，黄子澄的后人因避祸改姓“田”，而“靖难”有功的太监马三保却被赐姓为“郑”（就是以“三保太监下西洋”著称的郑和）；北魏孝文帝为推行“汉化”而改“拓跋”姓为“元”姓。又如“汉代诸县（今山东省境内）的“葛”姓迁到阳都（今河南省境内），为了和当地的葛姓区别就称为“诸葛”，而齐地的“田”姓外迁，以外迁的次第改姓“第一”、“第二”……（如东汉名臣“第五伦”）。可见，姓就是一种符号，并不象封建宗法制的维护者所宣传的那样神秘和神圣。 

名，是在社会上使用的个人的符号。夏商两代留下来的一些人名如孔甲、盘庚、武丁等和干支相联系，可能和生辰有关。春秋时有些人名如“黑臀”、“黑肱”等应是以生理特征命名的。郑庄公名“寤（牾）生”，则是他母亲难产的纪实。可见那时有些名字还是很朴素的。但那时有些人名所用的字也有特定的含意，这含意并因同时出现的“字”而更为清楚。“字”往往是“名”的解释和补充，是和“名”相表里的，所以又叫“表字”。屈原在《离骚》里自述：“名余曰正则兮，字余曰灵均”；“正则”就是“平”，“灵均”就是“原”。他名“平”字“原”，“名”和“字”有意义上的联系。古人“名”和“字”的关系有意义相同的，如：东汉创制地动仪的张衡字平子、“击鼓骂曹”的文学家祢衡字正平，他们名、字中的“衡”就是“平”；宋代诗人秦观字少游、陆游字务观，他们名、字中的“观”和“游”也是同义。又如唐代书法家褚遂良字登善、宋代文学家曾巩字子固，他们名、字中的“良”与“善”、“巩”与“固”也都是同义。“名”和“字”有意义相辅的，如：东汉“举案齐眉”的文学家梁鸿字伯鸾，“鸿”、“鸾”都是为人称道的两种飞禽；西晋文学家陆机字士衡，“机”、“衡”都是北斗中的两颗星。唐代诗人白居易字乐天，因“乐天”故能“居易”；宋代作家晁补之字无咎（“咎”是过错），因能“补”过才能“无咎”。“渔”（打鱼）、“樵”（砍柴）常为侣，宋代史学家、《通志》的编者郑樵字渔仲；“渔翁”又常戴“笠”，清代文学家李渔字笠翁。“名”和“字”有意义相反的，如：宋代理学家朱熹字元晦、元代书画家赵孟頫字子昂、清代作家管同字异之，他们“名”、“字”中的“熹”与“晦”、“頫（俯）”与“昂”、“同”与“异”都是反义。古人的“名”、“字”往往取自古书古典，如：汉末“建安七子”之一徐干字伟长，《孔丛子》有“非不伟其体干也”句；曹操字孟德，《荀子》有“夫是之谓德操”句。三国赵云字子龙，取自《周易》“云从龙，风从虎”；唐代文学家陆羽（著有《茶经》，后世尊为“茶神”）字鸿渐，也是取自《周易》“鸿渐于陆，其羽可用为仪”。元末戏曲家高明（著有《琵琶记》）字则诚，取自《礼记》“诚则明矣”；明代军事家于谦字廷益和清初文人钱谦益字受之，则都是用《尚书》中“谦受益”的典故。 

古人的“名”、“字”还常用来表示在家族中的行辈。先秦时，常在名、姓前加伯（孟）、仲、叔、季表兄弟长幼，如伯夷、叔齐，伯是兄，叔是弟；孔丘字仲尼，“仲”就是老二；孟姜女就是姜姓的长女。汉代以后逐渐在“名”或“字”中用同样的字或偏旁表同辈关系，如唐代抵抗安禄山的名将颜果卿和他的弟弟颜曜卿、颜春卿共用“卿”字，和他们同辈的堂兄弟颜真卿（以书法传世）也用“卿”字。宋代文学家苏轼、苏辙兄弟共用偏旁“车”表同辈。明神宗的儿子朱常洛（明光宗）、朱常瀛、朱常洵等，第二字共用“常”，第三字共用“氵”旁；吊死在景山上的明崇祯帝朱由检和他的哥哥朱由校（明熹宗）、堂兄弟朱由榔（南明永历帝）、朱由崧（南明弘光帝）等第二字共用“由”，第三字共用“木”旁。在这种情况下，姓名中的第一字是和父、祖共用的族名，第二字和第三字的一半是和弟兄等共用的辈名，具体到个人身上就只有半个字了。 

除了名、字，有些古人还有号。“号”是一种固定的别名，又称别号。封建社会的中上层人物（特别是文人）往往以住地和志趣等为自己取号（包括斋名、室名等）。如唐代李白的青莲居士、杜甫的少陵野老、宋代苏轼的东坡居士、明代唐寅的六如居士、清代郑燮的板桥、朱用纯的柏庐等，都是后人熟知的；有些别号的使用率（如苏东坡、郑板桥、朱柏庐等）甚至超过本名。别号是使用者本人起的，不象姓名要受家族、行辈的限制，因而可以更自由地抒发或标榜使用者的某种情操。别号中常见的“居士”、“山人”之类就是为了表示使用者鄙视利禄的志趣。宋代欧阳修晚年号“六一居士”，就是以一万卷书、一千卷古金石文、一张琴、一局棋、一壶酒加上他本人一老翁，共六个“一”取号。南宋爱国诗人陆游忧世愤俗，被权贵们讥为不守礼法，他就自号“放翁”，表示对他们的蔑视。明末画家朱耷在明亡后取号“八大山人”（“八大”连写似“哭”非哭似“笑”非笑，寓“哭笑不得”意），来抒发自己怀念故国的悲愤之情。当然，更多的官僚缙绅和封建文人所取的各种动听的别号只不过是附庸风雅、沽名钓誉的幌子。 

另外还有“绰号”，这大都是他人所取而得到公认的别号，是对人的刻画和形容。春秋百里奚沦落楚国，被秦穆公用五张羖（音古，指黑公羊）皮赎回相秦，人称“五羖大夫”，可算是古代的绰号。唐代奸相李义府外柔内奸，被人称为“笑中刀”（成语“笑里藏刀”的起源），又号为“人猫”；宋代王珪任宰相十多年除“取旨、领旨、传旨”外不干别的事，当时号为“三旨相公”，这几个贬义的绰号形象地勾勒了封建官僚的嘴脸。《水浒》里梁山上一百○八人个个都有绰号，大都准确地描摹了人物性格、特长或生理特点，这些绰号作为姓名的代称，更是人们所熟知的。 

除了上述的字、号之外，历史上常常用来代替个人姓名的还有： 

一、地名（包括出生地、住地和任职所在地等）。如东汉孔融称为孔北海、唐代韩愈称为韩昌黎、柳宗元称为柳河东或柳柳州、宋代苏辙称为苏栾城等。以地名称人在封建时代是表尊敬，叫做称“地望”。但清末有人做了一幅对联：“宰相合肥天下瘦，司农常熟世间荒。”上联指任北洋大臣（宰相）的李鸿章（合肥人）、下联指任户部尚书（司农）的翁同龢（常熟人），却利用“地望”的双关语义讽刺了封建大官僚的贪婪豪奢。 

二、官爵名（包括职衔、封号等）。如东汉发出“穷当益坚、老当益壮”豪言的马援称马伏波（曾任伏波将军），投笔从戎的班超称班定远（曾封定远侯），蔡邕称蔡中郎（曾任中郎将），三国嵇康称嵇中散（曾任中散大夫），唐代杜甫称杜工部、杜拾遗（曾任工部员外郎、左拾遗）等。 

三、弟子或后人所上的尊称。如宋周敦颐称濂川先生，北宋吕本中和南宋吕祖谦先后称东莱先生，明归有光称震川先生，王夫之称船山先生等。还有在死后由门人、后人上的尊号（“私溢”），如隋代王通的文中、晋代陶潜的靖节等。 

四、谥号，即死后由皇帝颁赐的荣称。如宋包拯称包孝肃、岳飞称岳武穆、明徐光启称徐文定、清纪昀称纪文达等。 

五、在姓氏前加形容词指称特定的同姓者。如大戴、小戴分指汉代学者戴德、戴圣叔侄（他们编纂的《礼记》也分别称为《大戴礼》、《小戴礼》），晋代作家阮籍、阮咸叔侄也分别称为大阮和小阮（“大阮”和“小阮”因而成了“叔”、“侄”的同义词），南朝谢灵运和堂弟谢惠连都是诗人，也被称为大、小谢。唐代诗人中老杜（亦作大杜）专指杜甫，小杜专指杜牧。老苏、大苏、小苏则指宋代苏洵、苏轼、苏辙父子。 

六、以几个姓并称特定的几个人。如“伊吕”指商伊尹、周吕尚；“马班”（或“班马”）指司马迁（《史记》作者）、班固（《汉书》作者）；唐诗人中“李杜”是李白、杜甫，“元白”是元稹、白居易；“韩柳”是韩愈、柳宗元。还有前面提到的大谢小谢合称“二谢”，加上南朝另一诗人谢眺又合称“三谢”；“二程”专指宋代学者程颢、程颐兄弟；苏洵、苏轼、苏辙又合称“三苏”。 

七、在唐代还常以行第连同姓名官职等称人。王维有诗题《送元二使西安》（“劝君更进一杯酒，西出阳关无故人”就是其中的名句）、唐诗中屡见《答王十二》、《问刘十九》、《同李十一醉忆元九》、《送裴十八图南》、《寄丘二十二员外》之类的题目，都是以行第称人的。如李白是李十二、韩愈是韩十八、柳宗元是柳八、元稹是元九等。行第还可连同名和官职并称，如裴图南称裴十八图南、杜甫称杜二拾遗、白居易称白二十二舍人等。宋代也还有此风习，如秦观称秦七、欧阳修称欧九、黄庭坚称黄九等。 

以上所说的封建社会的姓名字号之类，都是封建宗法制度和伦理道德等观念形态的组成部分。我们今天直接以姓名作为古人的代号就行了，已不再需要这些东西。但是，由于它们在历史上长期存在并被广泛使用过，又是我们不能完全回避得了的。如《正气歌》的作者文天详、字履善，又字宋瑞（祥、善、瑞三字同义），历代还常称他“文文山”（自号）、“文丞相”（官职）、“文信国”（封号）等，他的著作也分别题名为《文山集》、《文丞相集》、《文信国公集》、《文信公题杜诗》等。又如《四库全书》中以“王”为首字题名的著作有五十多种，其中绝大多数是以字号或其他代称题名的，如《王子安集》（唐王勃的字）、《王天游集》（明王达的号）、《王阳明集》（明王守仁的尊号）、《王文成公全书》（明王守仁的谥号）、《王荆公诗注》（宋王安石的封号）、《王右丞集》（唐王维的官职）等。还有很多姓王的人的文集，题目上根本无姓名，如《临川集》（宋王安石原籍临川）、《凤洲笔记》、《弇州山人题跋》（明王世贞，号凤洲，又号弇州山人）、《渔阳文录》（清王世祯，号渔洋山人）、《船山全集》（清王夫之，尊称船山先生）等。如果我们对古人姓名字号的知识毫无所知，根本无从识别。所以，为了阅读古籍以及研究古人思想、风格，还是需要我们对它有所了解的。 

①世界古代史学者称这种氏族标志（也是氏族崇拜对象）为“图腾”。 

②明代燕王朱棣以讨伐黄子澄等为名起兵攻破南京，推翻建文帝，自己当了皇帝（即明成祖），当时号“靖难”。 

=== 

古人字号摭谈 

文/阙维杭 


古代人在本名之外，大多另有字，这风气在春秋战国时代就很普遍了。《礼记·曲礼上》称：“男子二十，冠而字，……女子许嫁，笄而字。”贵族男子二十岁时(成年)行加冠之仪而取表字，女子出嫁(成年)之时可以盘发插笄(簪子)了，也要取字；故后来亦称女子许嫁为“字”，如：待字，字人，等等。看起来，这取字的规矩最初是囿于上层社会的圈子，但后来渐渐打破了界限，一般平民也多取字，相沿成习。 


那么，字与名是什么关系呢?《颜氏家训·风操》说：“古者，名以正体，字以表德。”广义的理解，字不妨是名的含义的诠释，也可以是名的内涵的发挥。例如诸葛亮字孔明，关羽字云长，鲍照字明远，陶潜字渊明，白居易字乐天等等，都是词义互见，相辅相成的。苏轼，字子瞻，假如我们知道“轼”字的古义是指车子前面供人凭倚的横木，“子”则系夫子自称，那么凭栏而望称之为“瞻”也就是顺理成词了。他的另一个表字“和仲”很少用，“仲”是二的意思，苏轼排行第二，加“和”字则含有吉祥意，了解这些字的本义再看表字，含义就明确了。金代文学家元好问，字裕之，人“好问”而学识“裕之”，这字取得实在妙；清代戏曲家李渔的字为“笠翁”，则又可谓以俗字见雅趣了。也有的干脆拆名为字，简便好记，如清代诗人舒位字立人，尤侗字同人。又有些人喜欢取许多字，一而再，再而三，不厌其烦，文人中多字的冠军，大概要算清初杭州肖山的毛奇龄(一名甡)，他一字两生，又字大可、齐於、于、初晴、晚晴、老晴、秋晴、春迟、春庄、僧弥、僧开等等，真是随心所欲，莫名其妙了。 


至于文人学士在名、字之外再取别号，也是不可少的雅事，而这号又往往比字取得更玄乎乃至无迹可寻，但大多数还是有规律可循的。不少人喜欢以曾经居住或逗留过的地名风物为号，如陶渊明《五柳先生传》云：“宅边有五柳树，因以为号焉。”李白五岁随父迁居绵州彰明县(今四川江油县)之青莲乡，后因自号“青莲居士”；苏轼贬谪黄州(今湖北黄冈县)后，“与田父野老相从溪山间，筑室于东坡，自号东坡居士。”苏轼取“东坡”为号还有仰慕白居易的意思，因白居易在忠州(今四川忠县)曾于东坡屋地栽花自娱，诗尝数言及“东坡”，苏慕而效之，遂以为号。苏轼的这个号在文坛与民间最为普及，他其他的别号多达三十余个，有以排行、籍贯称的，如：大苏(以别于其弟苏辙)、峨眉先生、眉山公；有以职官学名行世的，如：苏使君、苏贤良、西湖长；也有因人格、诗风自称或被人称，以及旨在揄扬胸臆的，如：坡仙、谪仙人、狂副使，不一而足。从他的这许多名号也可见出古人取号的广泛与无限制，多号也就习以为常了。不少的文人还因传闻轶事或佳句而得号，如晚唐温庭筠年轻时参加科试，“押官韵作赋，凡八叉手而八韵成”，时号“温八叉”，这很近于是一种绰号或谑称了。宋代词人张先因有三句写“影”的佳句，被誉称为“张三影”；元末袁凯因咏白燕诗出名，人呼“袁白燕”；清初王士禛作《漱玉词》有“郎似桐花，妾似桐花凤”之句，一时称善，遂号为“王桐花”。这些都是以诗名人的例子。以署邸、书斋名为号也是文人的一种惯例，清代诗人袁枚在江宁(今南京市)小仓山筑随园定居，因号“随园老人”；清代藏书家钱曾的藏书楼名叫“也是园”，他的号就称为“也是翁”。 


近代文人多号达数十个的有苏曼殊、姚民哀两位，有人作打油诗戏称他俩：“一人数十百名字，从此阎王捉不来。”提倡白话文以后，也有人开玩笑在报上把名号译成语体，如称丹翁为“通红老头子”，君博为“皇帝赌钱”，令人忍俊不禁。

Workaholic

Hello Dear old me,

Pretty occupied these days. Been receiving offers for a lots of assignments- tuition and even music. Just a few months ago, I would always receive rejection from the agency and now, they keep flooding my phone with text messages! I even rejected a music assignment for a beginner in Jurong East just earlier in the morning-3am to be exact whereby I woke up with anxiety and fear that I couldn't cope with FIVE students in midst of my studying. The parent doesn't even mind if I have no experience at all!  Speaking of which . five students is A LOT! Even though upon seeing the income I have the urge to take in more BUT BUT BUT I didn't! Most tutors like my friends or friends of my other friends have around 3-5 students. So I guess I'm somewhat at the extreme side.

But whatever, I hope there's more offers for me to take in new students in the near future. While we are on this topic, have you completed Diploma in Performance? And are you a workaholic now with students learning music from you? I do hope so. Because, only through teaching will we be able to recoup our investment. Or have you perhaps completed your Korean and taught some private students? That will be a good source of income too!

Even though , we sound like a hard money driven slave.. it's part and parcel of life. I mean, to enjoy better quality life we need to have a minimum sum of finance. And I'm not talking only about material possessions but also includes health. We have to get money from somewhere to pay for the insurance and the medical bill .

Just thinking of how occupied I will be in the future makes me a little sick but the numbers will somehow ease this feeling- just a little.

17/1/2013
6:12pm

原来还有着一面

众人所知，唐伯虎是个风流才子。
在网上搜寻了有关他的质料，巧合地发现了这个。

《1.唐伯虎与沈九娘

唐伯虎名寅，江苏吴县人，以诗、书、画三绝著称于明朝。只因他早年生活放荡，刻过一方“江南第一风流才子”的印章，加上明清的小说，戏剧，弹唱又编造他“三笑点秋香”的风流韵事，在后人的印象中，唐伯虎是个风流才子。


唐伯虎一生娶过两个妻子，前妻徐氏，出身官宦人家，好享受，慕荣华，热望唐伯虎功成名就，出人头地，一四九九年，唐伯虎乡试第一，中了解元，徐氏 喜出望外。谁知好景不长，第二年，唐伯虎进京会试，受到科场泄题案的无辜牵连，不幸琅铛入狱。徐氏得知，料定唐伯虎从此难以高升，就收拾细软，回娘家去 了。从此两人分道扬镳。


后来，唐伯虎在青楼中认识了官妓沈九娘。九娘很敬重这位才子，为了使唐伯虎有个绘画的良好环境，她把妆阁收拾得十分整齐，唐伯虎作画时，九娘总是 给他洗砚，调色，铺纸，唐伯虎有了这个好伴侣，画艺愈见精到。他画的美人，大都是从九娘身上体会到的风姿神采。九娘见唐伯虎不把她当作官妓看待，就益发敬 重他了。天长日久，两人产生了爱情，成了夫妇。过了两年，九娘生了个女儿，取名桃笙。


一五九○年，苏州水灾。唐伯虎的卖画生涯自然艰难了，有时连柴米钱也无着落。一家人的生活全靠九娘苦心撑持。九娘终因操劳过度病倒了，唐伯虎请来 医生，医生诊断后，告诉唐伯虎，九娘已经病入膏盲。唐伯虎尽力服侍九娘，无心于诗画。一五一二年冬至前，九娘紧紧握着唐伯虎的手，说道：“承你不弃，要我 作你妻子，我本想尽我心力理好家务，让你专心于诗画，成为大家。但我无福，无寿，又无能，我快死了，望你善自保重。”听了这番话，唐伯虎禁不住泪如雨下。


沈九娘死后，唐伯虎再也没有继娶妻室，晚年皈依佛法，号称六如居士。 》


原来他有这一面啊~

New Year Worries?

Hey,

It's 4 days after the new year. I'm a bit queasy.
As you know this year I would be 21, I can't help but feel old. I know 6 years later I would be much older .. but well from someone who have not gotten used to being a 20-yr, it's a new experience.

I am kind of worried. I am worried about you ( 6 years later). Because right now, I can't help but feel depressed how life would be if I stayed single forever. Images of how lonely and how empty I would feel and would pitiful I would look keeps flashing in my mind. We know that somewhere deep down we wanted to have a family, but we both know that there is a reason why we don't want to commit.

So are you coping well with the pressures from the society? If not, I suggest a transfer in workplace a good solution. I know running is not the solution, but at least it will smooths your stress level and perhaps, help us to look past all these worries. Maybe even reach enlightenment?

I hope that unlike me, you may already have seen past all these and found your true goal in life, proudly working hard towards it.

I even more hope that you have accomplished more than I have for I believe in our capability.

Cheers
4/1/203
1:23pm

Chinese quotes 1

人初生叫婴儿，不满周岁称襁褓。 
2至3岁称孩提。 
女孩7岁称髫年。男孩7岁称韶年。 
10岁以下称黄口。 
13岁至15岁称舞勺之年。 
15岁至20岁称舞象之年。 
女孩12岁称金钗之年。 
女孩13岁称豆蔻年华。 
女孩15岁称及笄之年。 
16岁称碧玉年华； 
20岁称桃李年华。 
24岁称花信年华；女子出嫁称票？梅之年。 
男子20岁称弱冠。 
30岁称而立之年。 
40岁称不惑之年。 
50岁称知命之年。 
60岁称花甲或耳顺之年。 
70岁称古稀之年。 
80岁称杖朝之年。 
80至90岁称合？之年，耄耄之年。 
100岁乐期颐。 
另外，还有称童年为总角或垂髫，称青少年为束发，女子待嫁称待年或待字，称老年为皓首或白首，称长寿老人为黄发

等等

襁褓：不满周岁。 
孩提：两至三岁。 
始龀、髫年：女孩七岁。 
始龀、龆年：男孩八岁。说明：根据生理状况，男孩八岁、女孩七岁换牙，脱去乳齿，长出恒牙，这时叫“龀”，“龆年”或

“髫年”。 
总角：幼年泛称。 
垂髻之年：指儿童。（古代小孩头发下垂，引申以指未成年的人。） 
黄口：十岁以下。 
幼学：十岁。（《礼记•曲礼上》：“人生十年曰幼，学。”因为古代文字无标点，人们就截取“幼学”二字作为十岁代称。） 
金钗之年：女孩十二岁。 
豆蔻年华：女子十三岁。 
志学：十五岁。（《论语》：子曰：“吾十有五而志于学……”） 
及笄：女子十五岁。（《礼记•内则》：“女子十有五年而笄。”） 
碧玉年华、破瓜之年：女子十六岁。（旧时文人拆“瓜”字为二八纪年，谓十六岁，多用于女子。） 
弱冠：二十岁。（《礼记•曲礼上》：“二十曰弱冠。”）

花信年华：女子二十四岁。 
而立：三十岁。 
不惑：四十岁。 
天命：五十岁。（《论语》：子曰：“吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所

欲，不逾矩。“）知非之年：五十岁。（《淮南子•原道训》：“伯玉年五十，而有四十九年非。”说春秋卫国有个伯玉，

不断反省自己，到五十岁时知道了以前四十九年中的错误，后世因而用“知非”代称五十岁。） 
耳顺、花甲之年：六十岁。（我国自古以来用天干地支互相错综相合纪年，可组成六十对干支，因而称作“六十干支”

或“六十花甲子”，所以六十岁又称作“花甲之年”。） 
古稀：七十岁。（杜甫《曲江二首》：“酒债寻常行处有，人生七十古来稀。”） 
耄耋：八十、九十岁。（《礼记•曲礼》：“八十九十曰耄。”人们根据这解释，把耄耋两字连用代称八、九十岁。） 
期颐：百岁之人。（《礼记•曲礼》：“百年曰期颐。”意思是人生以百年为期，所以称百岁为“期颐之年。”元人陈浩解释说：

“人寿以百年为期，故曰期；饮食起居动人无不待于养，故曰颐。”） 
男女统称：男称须眉、女称巾帼。 
夫妻五方去世称：丧偶。 
老师称：恩师、夫子。 
学生称：门生、受业。