Is it correct to say "I could of..." ?
I see people using it and I get a little...not frustrated, but annoyed when I see it. Is it a mistake or am I just wrong?
Isn't it "I could have..." ?
Doop dee deep doop.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Entry of 4 Days
Hello!
On Saturday, I started working on my pepper dragon. It took hours, but the base is pretty much complete. When I have art class I'll start colouring it. And this is a statue.
It took too long to make. Too long.
After lunch, we got in the car, and started driving to Beypazarı. The company my parents work in was having a dinner there.
On the road we listened to Radyo ODTU because it was working until we got too far away from Ankara. Since the sun sets earlier now, it was dark, but the sky wasn't its usual black. No, it was a different colour that blended with the snowy hills, and it looked like there was no horizon.
While we entered the city, I saw a statue of a carrot. Amused, I pointed it out, and my mother told me of how there were food statues everywhere around Turkey.
The restaurant we were to have dinner in was already filled with acquaintances and friends when we arrived. We sat down and everybody was chatting with whoever was sitting nearby. Soon two men appeared in this corner, with microphones and musical instruments. I though Oh, not again! Bad live music.... But it wasn't like that. At first it was a little awkward. They played a few songs, and then another man came. He was the owner of the restaurant, and he told us his father—age 85—would sing for us, and then dance. Before that, he gave a long speech about citizens of Beypazarı, their habits, traits. It was interesting. He said the people of Beypazarı liked saving and were thrifty. He told us some jokes, then they danced and sung, and it was fun. We ate delicious food. Before the main dishes, they called a few women from our group to a place in the back. Then together they acted out a 'Kına Gecesi". One of the men—I think his name was Mustafa?—told us the story of his life. He said he was in a car crash, and he woke up one month later in a hospital. His left eyes was blind, his right eye couldn't look to the right. His arm was 6 cm shorter than the other, and so was the leg. But somehow he made us all laugh. All of us. And then he said "I'm happy!". Thank you for making me more optimistic, and letting us have a wonderful night. May the stars watch over you.
The next day, we were still in Beypazarı. We had a wonderful "köy kahvaltısı", and then went outside with other people to shop and look around. We saw a sing that read "Yaşayan Müze" which means "The Museum That Lives", basically. Curious, we walked to the museum. No one was at the entrance, so we just went inside. We climbed some stairs, and this man greeted us. We bought our tickets from him, and we faced a door. In front of us was standing a girl, dressed like a cliche Turkish village woman. She spoke in a cliche accent, and then switched to her actual accent, and introduced us to the museum. This wasn't a usual museum with artifacts, here their purpose was to show visitors the Turkish culture and things done in Beypazarı with demonstrations.
We were led inside. First we went to a room where two women were doing "kurşun dökmek". I'm not sure what it is in English, but they boil lead and pour it into water over your head so the 'nazar' goes away. Nazar means "look". If someone looks at you intensely—it can be a bad or loving look—you get nazar. She did the process for us, and said I had a lot of nazar!
In the next room, we did ebru (you put paint on water and then put the paper on it...) and then designed out own t-shirts/handkerchiefs/etc.
We travelled to the upper floor. A man made me and my mom perform a Hacivat and Karagöz skit (shadow puppetry!), then taught us some old Turkish board games.
The next room was a normal room, with wooden floors and old pillows. In the corner another girl sat. She told us an old tale about Keloğlan (who is a popular Turkish character...who is bald and a kid). She was just amazing. She wasn't even talking to us in her normal voice. She was a wonderful storyteller.
Well, we exited the museum and walked to the "Gümüş Çarşısı" (Silver Market) to buy jewelry. I got myself a bracelet out of amethyst, because it's a pretty stone and it's the only one I believe in.
That's pretty much it about Beypazarı. We went home after lunch.
Monday was uneventful, I just spent my afternoon preparing my friend's birthday present. I hope he liked it. Aaaaand a happy birthday to him!
Tuesday. Today. Hm, it was surprisingly exciting—Tuesday's are always slow and boring. Sometime in the morning, Ezgi came to me and said "I need to buy that cupcake!". We agreed to go to Starbucks again. In Spanish class, out teacher was absent, so we went up to the German classroom. We watched a movie until the teacher got bored and realized we weren't actually watching. She told us to quietly do other things like homework. My friend Denizhan asked to use my Nintendo DS for some reason, and I let him. So he had his own and I had mine, and they were connected over Wi-Fi, and then the teacher said "Okay kids put away everything and I'll give you assignments". We hadn't saved, so while doing our assignments we were secretly pressing some buttons with our DS' in our bags. It was kind of funny.
Anyway, after school we went to the bus. Some eight graders had turned on the radio, so we were listening to random pop songs and fake-dancing along the whole way. We got near Starbucks, and I shouted over to the bus driver to ask him to drop us off here. He apparently did not hear us. So there was just confusion and a lot of screaming, but we finally got off and had to walk a little longer. Oh well. Ezgi got her cupcake.
There's this man at Starbucks. Ezgi once stepped on his foot, and ever since then, whenever we come, he jokes about something and we chat. It's really cool.
Then I came home, finished my homework before even looking at the computer, and I've been free since then. I wrote a bit more, and I'm finishing this blog entry now. I'll write a lot more today (hopefully). Even if I don't, I'm planning to discuss the story and the characters with my friends/advisors.
Um, Mr. Dale, a little note to you: When I saw the length of that comment you wrote on Cem's blog, I felt rather upset and envious, because I value your feedback so much. So when I post my first chapter, I'd be more than overjoyed if you told me your feedback not just on grammar and naming, but on the plot and the characters as well.
The post seems so long, I'll edit it later. I really want to post some drawings...Um, here's Ellyn and Edmund, drawn after my Art Final:
I should scan this.
Chubby Pigeon Out.
On Saturday, I started working on my pepper dragon. It took hours, but the base is pretty much complete. When I have art class I'll start colouring it. And this is a statue.
It took too long to make. Too long.
After lunch, we got in the car, and started driving to Beypazarı. The company my parents work in was having a dinner there.
On the road we listened to Radyo ODTU because it was working until we got too far away from Ankara. Since the sun sets earlier now, it was dark, but the sky wasn't its usual black. No, it was a different colour that blended with the snowy hills, and it looked like there was no horizon.
While we entered the city, I saw a statue of a carrot. Amused, I pointed it out, and my mother told me of how there were food statues everywhere around Turkey.
The restaurant we were to have dinner in was already filled with acquaintances and friends when we arrived. We sat down and everybody was chatting with whoever was sitting nearby. Soon two men appeared in this corner, with microphones and musical instruments. I though Oh, not again! Bad live music.... But it wasn't like that. At first it was a little awkward. They played a few songs, and then another man came. He was the owner of the restaurant, and he told us his father—age 85—would sing for us, and then dance. Before that, he gave a long speech about citizens of Beypazarı, their habits, traits. It was interesting. He said the people of Beypazarı liked saving and were thrifty. He told us some jokes, then they danced and sung, and it was fun. We ate delicious food. Before the main dishes, they called a few women from our group to a place in the back. Then together they acted out a 'Kına Gecesi". One of the men—I think his name was Mustafa?—told us the story of his life. He said he was in a car crash, and he woke up one month later in a hospital. His left eyes was blind, his right eye couldn't look to the right. His arm was 6 cm shorter than the other, and so was the leg. But somehow he made us all laugh. All of us. And then he said "I'm happy!". Thank you for making me more optimistic, and letting us have a wonderful night. May the stars watch over you.
The next day, we were still in Beypazarı. We had a wonderful "köy kahvaltısı", and then went outside with other people to shop and look around. We saw a sing that read "Yaşayan Müze" which means "The Museum That Lives", basically. Curious, we walked to the museum. No one was at the entrance, so we just went inside. We climbed some stairs, and this man greeted us. We bought our tickets from him, and we faced a door. In front of us was standing a girl, dressed like a cliche Turkish village woman. She spoke in a cliche accent, and then switched to her actual accent, and introduced us to the museum. This wasn't a usual museum with artifacts, here their purpose was to show visitors the Turkish culture and things done in Beypazarı with demonstrations.
We were led inside. First we went to a room where two women were doing "kurşun dökmek". I'm not sure what it is in English, but they boil lead and pour it into water over your head so the 'nazar' goes away. Nazar means "look". If someone looks at you intensely—it can be a bad or loving look—you get nazar. She did the process for us, and said I had a lot of nazar!
In the next room, we did ebru (you put paint on water and then put the paper on it...) and then designed out own t-shirts/handkerchiefs/etc.
We travelled to the upper floor. A man made me and my mom perform a Hacivat and Karagöz skit (shadow puppetry!), then taught us some old Turkish board games.
The next room was a normal room, with wooden floors and old pillows. In the corner another girl sat. She told us an old tale about Keloğlan (who is a popular Turkish character...who is bald and a kid). She was just amazing. She wasn't even talking to us in her normal voice. She was a wonderful storyteller.
Well, we exited the museum and walked to the "Gümüş Çarşısı" (Silver Market) to buy jewelry. I got myself a bracelet out of amethyst, because it's a pretty stone and it's the only one I believe in.
That's pretty much it about Beypazarı. We went home after lunch.
Monday was uneventful, I just spent my afternoon preparing my friend's birthday present. I hope he liked it. Aaaaand a happy birthday to him!
Tuesday. Today. Hm, it was surprisingly exciting—Tuesday's are always slow and boring. Sometime in the morning, Ezgi came to me and said "I need to buy that cupcake!". We agreed to go to Starbucks again. In Spanish class, out teacher was absent, so we went up to the German classroom. We watched a movie until the teacher got bored and realized we weren't actually watching. She told us to quietly do other things like homework. My friend Denizhan asked to use my Nintendo DS for some reason, and I let him. So he had his own and I had mine, and they were connected over Wi-Fi, and then the teacher said "Okay kids put away everything and I'll give you assignments". We hadn't saved, so while doing our assignments we were secretly pressing some buttons with our DS' in our bags. It was kind of funny.
Anyway, after school we went to the bus. Some eight graders had turned on the radio, so we were listening to random pop songs and fake-dancing along the whole way. We got near Starbucks, and I shouted over to the bus driver to ask him to drop us off here. He apparently did not hear us. So there was just confusion and a lot of screaming, but we finally got off and had to walk a little longer. Oh well. Ezgi got her cupcake.
There's this man at Starbucks. Ezgi once stepped on his foot, and ever since then, whenever we come, he jokes about something and we chat. It's really cool.
Then I came home, finished my homework before even looking at the computer, and I've been free since then. I wrote a bit more, and I'm finishing this blog entry now. I'll write a lot more today (hopefully). Even if I don't, I'm planning to discuss the story and the characters with my friends/advisors.
Um, Mr. Dale, a little note to you: When I saw the length of that comment you wrote on Cem's blog, I felt rather upset and envious, because I value your feedback so much. So when I post my first chapter, I'd be more than overjoyed if you told me your feedback not just on grammar and naming, but on the plot and the characters as well.
The post seems so long, I'll edit it later. I really want to post some drawings...Um, here's Ellyn and Edmund, drawn after my Art Final:
I should scan this.
Chubby Pigeon Out.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Birthday Muffins
Well, good evening.
This morning I was sleepier than usual, and was mentally complaining about how it wasn't a snow day. In biology class, as we did tests for proteins, sugar, fats, etc. in the lab, we all watched it snow, wishing to be home that moment. To our luck, we discovered that the busses were going to take us home at 11:00.
We had to sit through 50 minutes of Physics, and it passed rather quickly.
So we went home, and my plan was to write for hours, but I got distracted.
Anyway, today is the birthday of one of the characters in our Percy Jackson inspired story. His name was Maxwell Goodwin, and he was a demigod son of Hephaestus. His genetics gave him powers like control over fire and a natural talent for building things like gadgets, machines, and similar tech. He never did anything in the forges though. I realized I've never drawn him properly, so I'm doing that now. A happy birthday to him.
Before I began this post, I opened the file for that story and skimmed through it. Sometimes I feel like I wrote better then than I do now. Perhaps it's because I wrote more, I had more time to write. Now, to be honest, I don't like my writing. I don't feel satisfied.
Maybe I'm just thinking like this right now because I'm gloomy.
Hmph. I have a head ache.
Now, back to writing. Or drawing. Or reading BNW. Depends on my mood.
This morning I was sleepier than usual, and was mentally complaining about how it wasn't a snow day. In biology class, as we did tests for proteins, sugar, fats, etc. in the lab, we all watched it snow, wishing to be home that moment. To our luck, we discovered that the busses were going to take us home at 11:00.
We had to sit through 50 minutes of Physics, and it passed rather quickly.
So we went home, and my plan was to write for hours, but I got distracted.
Anyway, today is the birthday of one of the characters in our Percy Jackson inspired story. His name was Maxwell Goodwin, and he was a demigod son of Hephaestus. His genetics gave him powers like control over fire and a natural talent for building things like gadgets, machines, and similar tech. He never did anything in the forges though. I realized I've never drawn him properly, so I'm doing that now. A happy birthday to him.
Before I began this post, I opened the file for that story and skimmed through it. Sometimes I feel like I wrote better then than I do now. Perhaps it's because I wrote more, I had more time to write. Now, to be honest, I don't like my writing. I don't feel satisfied.
Maybe I'm just thinking like this right now because I'm gloomy.
Hmph. I have a head ache.
Now, back to writing. Or drawing. Or reading BNW. Depends on my mood.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
I'm Writing...
It's amazing how a piece of paper can get you as excited as it got me.
Before going home I went to Starbucks with Ezgi again, and we talked about what we would do about this certain piece of paper (and other gossip too). While in line, we saw a cupcake with pink frosting, and it was new. I believe Ezgi will talk about this later so I won't say much.
I was writing my novel/novella/we'll-see-how-long-it-will-be book, and I decided to come here and blog about the characters.
I had written a lot, but decided they should be revealed within the context, and deleted it.
Only thing I'll say is:
Kael is a curious teen without limits.
Oran is a know-it-all.
Adrian is awesome.
Most of the main characters haven't been introduced yet.
I wrote more, but I'll post it when the first chapter is done. And that might take a while.
Yesterday I bought the new Coldplay album, and uploaded it onto my computer and my iPod, so if you see me walking around humming with my earphones on, that's because I'll be listening to it.
Hmm hmm hmm... I don't know what else to say. It's my friends birthday next Tuesday, and I knew what I was going to give to him, but I'm not so sure now...
Now back to writing.
Before going home I went to Starbucks with Ezgi again, and we talked about what we would do about this certain piece of paper (and other gossip too). While in line, we saw a cupcake with pink frosting, and it was new. I believe Ezgi will talk about this later so I won't say much.
I was writing my novel/novella/we'll-see-how-long-it-will-be book, and I decided to come here and blog about the characters.
I had written a lot, but decided they should be revealed within the context, and deleted it.
Only thing I'll say is:
Kael is a curious teen without limits.
Oran is a know-it-all.
Adrian is awesome.
Most of the main characters haven't been introduced yet.
I wrote more, but I'll post it when the first chapter is done. And that might take a while.
Yesterday I bought the new Coldplay album, and uploaded it onto my computer and my iPod, so if you see me walking around humming with my earphones on, that's because I'll be listening to it.
Hmm hmm hmm... I don't know what else to say. It's my friends birthday next Tuesday, and I knew what I was going to give to him, but I'm not so sure now...
Now back to writing.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Homework
On Tuesday we were handed a photocopy of a magazine article from December 1900. It's title was "What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years", and it was written by John Elfreth Watkins. Our assignment is to compare the predictions in this article with the book Brave New World. I haven't read that far yet.
The first similarity I noticed was about the wild animals. The article says "There will be no wild animals except in menageries." In the novel, so far no animals have been mentioned, and it's as if they don't exist at all.
Then there's the item about cars taking the place of horses and air-ships. It seems like in the book, air-ships have taken the place of both cars and horses.
One paragraph talked about how university would be free and how education would be different. That happened in Brave New World, but in a different way than John Watkins had guessed. I was about to say "I won't say more because SPOILER!" but only 2-3 people read my blog and no one comments—It really frustrates me too—so I'll just explain it. Education in the novel occurs mostly at sleep or at babyhood. They make them listen to tapes, or electrocute them to make them dislike something. While in our world students sit in classrooms with teachers.
I would write more but I've had a boring day and I'm sleepy.
The first similarity I noticed was about the wild animals. The article says "There will be no wild animals except in menageries." In the novel, so far no animals have been mentioned, and it's as if they don't exist at all.
Then there's the item about cars taking the place of horses and air-ships. It seems like in the book, air-ships have taken the place of both cars and horses.
One paragraph talked about how university would be free and how education would be different. That happened in Brave New World, but in a different way than John Watkins had guessed. I was about to say "I won't say more because SPOILER!" but only 2-3 people read my blog and no one comments—It really frustrates me too—so I'll just explain it. Education in the novel occurs mostly at sleep or at babyhood. They make them listen to tapes, or electrocute them to make them dislike something. While in our world students sit in classrooms with teachers.
I would write more but I've had a boring day and I'm sleepy.
Snow
SNOW SNOW SNOW!!
Yesterday night my mother and the radio told me it was snowing...a lot! I didn't get very hopeful.
Though in the morning, for some reason I woke up rather early. I was rolling around, trying to sleep, when I heard the phone ring. Why would anyone call at this time? My mother picked it up. Then she opened my door, and a blinding light filled my room. She was asking me a phone number, and I have no idea why I was able to tell her while being half asleep and wincing from the sudden light.
Anyway, so it's a snow day. The only down side of this is that I'm missing English class and I can't trade Pokemon with my friends. And I don't know what I'm going to do for lunch.
Oh well, time to go do other stuff.
Yesterday night my mother and the radio told me it was snowing...a lot! I didn't get very hopeful.
Though in the morning, for some reason I woke up rather early. I was rolling around, trying to sleep, when I heard the phone ring. Why would anyone call at this time? My mother picked it up. Then she opened my door, and a blinding light filled my room. She was asking me a phone number, and I have no idea why I was able to tell her while being half asleep and wincing from the sudden light.
Anyway, so it's a snow day. The only down side of this is that I'm missing English class and I can't trade Pokemon with my friends. And I don't know what I'm going to do for lunch.
Oh well, time to go do other stuff.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Year of the Dragon
As some people might know, today is the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
2012 is a Year of the Dragon, and it happens every 12 years, like the rest of the animal years.
The animals making up this Chinese calender are (in order) Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. I myself was born on the Year of the Ox—so were most of my classmates.
Dragons are more than large lizards with wings which breathe fire. Many civilizations believed in dragons. They were wise, cunning, mighty, powerful creatures. They were guards, rulers of seas. A story from the 13th century says when a snake reached the age of 100, God threw it into the sea, and it grew fins, becoming a dragon. In tales (mythological or not) if one killed a dragon, s/he was considered mighty.
I think this belief began when Turks roamed Middle Asia, and still continues (but in a lower degree, if that makes any sense).
What of the zodiac? In front of me I have an issue of National Geographic Kids from February 2005 (I only kept it because of the Chinese Zodiac pages...). In this issue, it says that people with this zodiac would do anything to help their friends, and that their friends came to them for advice. They are also very outgoing and extroverted.
Another source says Dragon's are free, and everything they do is 'on a grand scale'. It gives traits, like: innovative, self-assured, brave, passionate, conceited, quick-tempered, and scrutinizing. Apparently they get along with Rats and Monkeys, and are enemies with Dogs.
What to expect of this year? I expect significant, big things, something to suit the might of the Dragon. Events to change all of humanity, events to bring us knowledge, to enlighten us.
Then there’s the probability of this significant event turning out to be the apocalypse, but always hope for the best!
I wish you a happy Year of the Dragon. :)
For more, visit this website.
I think I might draw something to go with it.
Mr. Dale, if you think it's okay, comment, so I'll post it on the class blog.
Edit: my sketch of a Chinese Dragon :)
2012 is a Year of the Dragon, and it happens every 12 years, like the rest of the animal years.
The animals making up this Chinese calender are (in order) Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. I myself was born on the Year of the Ox—so were most of my classmates.
Dragons are more than large lizards with wings which breathe fire. Many civilizations believed in dragons. They were wise, cunning, mighty, powerful creatures. They were guards, rulers of seas. A story from the 13th century says when a snake reached the age of 100, God threw it into the sea, and it grew fins, becoming a dragon. In tales (mythological or not) if one killed a dragon, s/he was considered mighty.
I think this belief began when Turks roamed Middle Asia, and still continues (but in a lower degree, if that makes any sense).
What of the zodiac? In front of me I have an issue of National Geographic Kids from February 2005 (I only kept it because of the Chinese Zodiac pages...). In this issue, it says that people with this zodiac would do anything to help their friends, and that their friends came to them for advice. They are also very outgoing and extroverted.
Another source says Dragon's are free, and everything they do is 'on a grand scale'. It gives traits, like: innovative, self-assured, brave, passionate, conceited, quick-tempered, and scrutinizing. Apparently they get along with Rats and Monkeys, and are enemies with Dogs.
What to expect of this year? I expect significant, big things, something to suit the might of the Dragon. Events to change all of humanity, events to bring us knowledge, to enlighten us.
Then there’s the probability of this significant event turning out to be the apocalypse, but always hope for the best!
I wish you a happy Year of the Dragon. :)
For more, visit this website.
I think I might draw something to go with it.
Mr. Dale, if you think it's okay, comment, so I'll post it on the class blog.
Edit: my sketch of a Chinese Dragon :)
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