[elements of life]

2008-09-03T21:54:00.002+07:00

Ah...ternyata batuk itu melelahkan.
Gue udah 2 minggu batuk and somehow bukannya sembuh, malah tambah parah. Mulai dari sakit tenggorokan jadi batuk berdahak, sekarang jadi batuk kering and suara makin ilang. Tadinya sok gak mau ke dokter, karna palingan dikasih antibiotik, typical dokter sini, dikit2 antibiotik. But I think I have no choice now, besok mau ke dokter and pasrah deh mau dikasih obat apa. Udah kangen tidur enak!

And yang lebih nyebelin lagi, gue belom nonton Wall-E, Death Race, and Babylon A.D., gara2 batuk ini!!! Ya iya lah, gue bisa ditimpukin popcorn 'ma orang2 satu bioskop gara2 berisik, batuk gak stop2 =(

Buckcherry - Sorry

2008-08-13T23:17:00.002+07:00

I know that you meant it when you said you're sorry. I would fly a thousand miles just to hold you for a minute. Only if you would let me...

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-13T22:59:00.001+07:00

* * *

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh, John Hannah.

It's not as bad as Indiana Jones, but it's so boring...I fell asleep in the middle of the movie.

The Dark Knight

2008-08-05T00:13:00.004+07:00

* * * * *

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman.

I finally got the chance to watch this movie. And this is the BEST Batmovie ever, especially after the huge disappointment of Batman Begins. Compared to the previous Batman movies, this one is more...real. More mature.

2008-07-24T14:27:00.002+07:00

Hancock

2008-07-06T00:50:00.003+07:00

* * * *

Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan and Charlize Theron.

It's not an ordinary superhero movie. I like it because it's funny too. Will Smith and Charlize Theron are HOT!

2008-06-20T17:00:00.002+07:00

I finally managed to really stop smoking this time.
It's been a week and the temptation is killing me! Why? Because everybody in this freaking city smokes.

I'm getting frustrated and moody, and that increases my appetite. And because I've worked so hard to lose weight, now I have to hit the gym 3 to 4 times a week just so I don't gain those weight back.

Oh, the sacrifices...

The World's Best Places to Live (2008)

2008-06-13T09:46:00.003+07:00

1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Vienna, Austria (tie)
2. Geneva, Switzerland (tie)
4. Vancouver, Canada
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Munich, Germany (tie)
7. Frankfurt, Germany (tie)
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Sydney, Australia

Source: BusinessWeek

Ah jadi tambah kangen Sydney =(

Affirmation

2008-06-07T22:10:00.004+07:00

By: Savage Garden

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

2008-05-28T21:55:00.002+07:00

It was 100 F/38 C in Jakarta today!
Blah...

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-05-27T22:13:00.006+07:00

*

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent.

I'm a big Indiana Jones fan since I was a little girl. That's probably the only western movie I was allowed to watch because my dad is a fan too. So I had a high expectation for this movie, but this movie sucks! I'm disappointed. Big time! =(

2008-05-16T00:48:00.003+07:00

Yahoo! Music made a list of The Ten Cheesiest Singers of All-Time.
I don't really care about no. 2 through 10, you can check out the list here. But they put Michael Buble as no. 1!
Come on...

2008-05-16T00:27:00.003+07:00

This is my favorite Indonesian Idol finalist.
I love love love his voice!

2008-05-14T11:00:00.004+07:00

It feels really good after losing 25 lbs =)
(make it 30 lbs instead, woohoo...)

2008-04-02T00:26:00.002+07:00

Jadi orang sabar is one of the hardest things I have to do

Time Flies

2008-03-24T23:14:00.003+07:00

Last Sunday, gue pergi ke 50th Anniversary receptionnya a friend of my family. Yang laki umur 78, yang perempuan umur 72. Mereka masih sehat, masih kuat berdiri for about an hour di pelaminan. Gue kagum ngeliatnya. Udah jarang liat orang yang umurnya bisa lebih dari 75 tahun, lebih jarang lagi ngeliat rumah tangga orang bisa sampe 50 tahun.

Komentar pertama sepupu gue waktu terima undangan, "Aduh, andaikan gue married sekarang, 50 tahun lagi berarti gue udah umur 80! Jangankan ngerayain 50th anniversary, masih hidup dan sehat aja udah syukur deh." Gimana nih wanita2 karir yang menomor duakan pernikahan?

Gue pengen one day gue juga bisa bikin pesta gitu for my parents. They just celebrated their 30th anniversary last December. Gak berasa juga, gue mendadak berasa tambah tua aja, hehehehe.

Gue setuju 'ma komentar sepupu gue, kita gak pernah tau umur orang, semua tergantung yang di atas. Gue sekarang jadi lebih care 'ma bonyok gue. Kayaknya 1 tahun terakhir ini, somehow gue makin hari makin dewasa. It just happened. Mulai nyadar kalo bonyok gue udah gak muda lagi. Untungnya mereka termasuk yang agak2 health conscious. Masih rajin minum vitamin, rajin ngecheck darah ke lab, and merhatiin makanan. Jadi gue gak usah terlalu cerewetin mereka =) Biarpun tetep berasa bedanya dulu 'ma sekarang. Bokap yang biasanya tidur malem, sekarang jam 10-11 udah tidur. Sore2 pulang kerja juga take a nap for an hour or two. Nyokap masih bisa lebih malem tidurnya, padahal dia gak pernah tidur siang.

Bokap gue tuh anak ke 8 dari 9. Nyokap, kalo gak salah, anak ke 7 dari 10. Jadi their older brothers and sisters kebanyakan bisa dibilang termasuk udah tua2. Beberapa dari mereka udah sakit2an, and secara gak sadar bonyok gue juga pasti udah mulai2 kuatir. Mungkin gara2 itu, gue juga jadi sadar kalo time is so precious because like I said, kita gak pernah tau umur orang.

Both of them are gonna be 55 next year. I pray that they're still around and healthy for at least 30 more years. Biar masih bisa liat cucu2nya growing up, and hopefully liat cicit2nya juga. Amin...

2008-03-17T15:39:00.002+07:00

He said she's the one
He said he thinks about her every single day
He said he loves her so much

But...

He also said he's afraid he'll disappoint her
He also said he can't make her happy anymore
He told her to stop loving him

Doesn't he know that...

She loves him endlessly
No one could make her happy, but him
She would wait for him until the end of time

And...

Some people said he's the luckiest man alive to have her
Some people said she's not worth the sacrifices he has done for her

I only know one thing...

Inside her heart, she's crying
"You're killing me, dear...
Slowly but painful
More painful than a million needles
But if this is the only way to make you happy
Then I'd take a million more needles just to see you smile"

2008-03-07T10:15:00.003+07:00

Mulai hari ini, gue akan mengurangi konsumsi rokok gue!
That's a promise to myself. Targetnya sih by June, gue udah bisa stop completely.

Dulu udah sempet stop, but it only lasted for a year. Last year, waktu gue dapet berita kalo tante gue kena lung cancer, padahal dia gak pernah ngerokok, gue udah pengen berenti, tapi masih susah banget. Sekarang, dia bukan cuma kena lung cancer, but breast cancer too, and karna kesehatannya amat sangat tidak memadai, dia gak mungkin di operasi. She's only 60-something years old.

Makanya sekarang gue udah niat banget deh mau stop smoking. Apalagi 2 bulan belakangan ini gue stress berat. Jadi ngerokoknya udah kayak kereta api. Badan sih boleh kurusan, tapi gue mulai sering sesak nafas. Not a good sign. Nangis siang malem + rokok emang resep manjur kalo mau kurusan, hahahahahaha...

Marlboro di sini juga gak enak (Sorry Om Angky). Perasaan lembek banget gitu rokoknya, cepet abis, filternya cepet basah, etc.

Well, wish me luck =)

2008-02-19T20:44:00.003+07:00

My dad sent me that story today and I do believe that we should tell the people we care about how much we love them...every single day. We should never take anyone for granted because we usually don't know what we've got until it's gone. Although some people are so stubborn and it's so damn hard for them just to say, "I love you," or even just to hear it from other people.

Elo boleh bilang gue picisan, hari gini masih percaya cinta gitu lho. Tapi gue gak kebayang ada orang yang bisa hidup tanpa cinta. Tuh orang pasti jadi orang yang paling kesepian di dunia. Temen boleh banyak, tapi hatinya kosong. Karir boleh sukses, tapi rasanya pasti hambar. Kalo gue disuruh hidup tanpa cinta, gue mendingan mati aja deh.

So start saying these 3 little words to the people you love, "I LOVE YOU"

2008-02-14T09:15:00.001+07:00

2008-02-11T14:19:00.001+07:00

Life is something to be cherised in every form

and...

Love is the most important thing in my life
When I think about love, I think about you

2008-02-02T11:26:00.000+07:00

My 28th Birthday Cake

Theme: Sushi Lover

By: Natalia at Rolling Pin Cake

Ungu - Tercipta Untukku

2008-01-16T22:22:00.000+07:00

2008-01-15T13:31:00.000+07:00

Rosenmarkt
Santiara Salinger - Zürich

Saya masuk barisan orang-orang yang tidak terlalu peduli dengan kondisi aktual mantan presiden kedua negara saya, Bapak Suharto. Selain saya juga tidak kenal dia secara pribadi lebih dari sebagai pemimpin negara selama 32 tahun. Saya bisa saja melewatkan semua tentang dia. Apa urusannya bagi saya? Politik yang langsung mempengaruhi hidup saya saat ini adalah politik Swiss dan EU. Apapun yang terjadi dengan dia tidak ada pengaruhnya bagi saya. Kenapa saya harus perduli kalau pipa-pipa dan kabel keluar masuk lubang-lubang dan pori-pori tubuh tuanya?

Tapi saya tidak tahan untuk tidak menulis ini. Saya berhutang padanya. Satu-satunya kesempatan bagi saya melihat Suharto sebagai flesh and blood adalah waktu saya remaja. Karena SMP saya benar-benar di pusatnya Jakarta, tidak jauh dari Monas dan Istana Negara, sekolah saya sering dilibatkan dalam even-even untuk menyanyikan lagu-lagu nasional. Selama itu saya tidak pernah melihat Suharto dari dekat sekali. Satu-satunya yang lumayan adalah waktu sekolah kami memeriahkan Pembukaan PPI (Pameran Produksi Indonesia). Kami dibariskan di muka yang kemudian dilewati Presiden. Teman-teman sekelas sempat bersalaman dengannya. Saya tidak. Saya malah tegang karena berusaha menangkap matanya. Tidak berhasil. Yang masuk dalam kotak memori saya adalah bahwa Suharto memiliki senyum yang khas. Senyum yang manis dan lunak. Seperti yang muncul di televisi dan kertas-kertas. Tapi yang saya tangkap hari itu berkata lain. Senyum itu kaku. Tidak dingin, seperti senyum Vladimir Putin, tapi kaku. Dibalik kelembutannya, Suharto adalah orang yang keras. Sebagai anak-anak pun saya sudah dididik orang tua untuk menghormatinya. Ia presiden negara saya.

Rasa hormat itupun lambat laun menipis. Mungkin karena bukan berasal dari kekaguman, tapi kepatuhan. Berangkat dewasa saya sadar bahwa Suharto bukan presiden, tapi raja. Tinggal tunjuk ini itu. Dan kroni-kroninya sangat memuakkan. Kerajaan kemunafikan. Suharto tidak sekeras yang saya pikir. Ia sangat lembek terhadap mereka. Betapa jauh jarak mereka dengan rakyat. Berani-beraninya mengucapkan sumpah di DPR dan mengaku peduli rakyat sementara tindakannya tidak jauh dari menutup mata dan hati, main gencet sana-sini. Dan Suharto diam saja. Saya merasa seperti anak gelap. Tidak melihat harapan, saya meninggalkan Indonesia. Siapa bilang Suharto bapak bangsa?

Beberapa hari belakangan ini ketika Suharto dikabarkan sakit keras (come on...he's almost 87, isn't he?...) orang berduyun-duyun memberi maaf. Heran saya, wong Suharto-nya sendiri tidak pernah minta maaf. Apalagi meneladani kroni-nya untuk menyesal dan dengan segala kerendahan hati meminta maaf. Sukur dibarengi dengan tindakan nyata membuka pintu air, eh pintu rekening, di bank-bank Swiss, Inggris, dan entah di mana lagi... God knows...

Kabarnya Suharto juga akan dibebaskan dari jeratan hukum. Well, it's geting too much now. Bukankah dewi keadilan itu menutup matanya sementara tangannya kukuh dan tegar menggenggam timbangan di udara. Bukankah semua orang sama kedudukannya di depan hukum? Memberi maaf meskipun tidak diminta adalah sikap yang manis. Tidak ada salahnya. Tapi hukum demi keadilan dan konsistensi sikap ya harus jalan terus. Kalau plin plan begini mau bagaimana kita mendidik anak-anak? Bagaimana menjelaskan pada mereka bahwa di bumi Indonesia semua warga negara adalah sama di mata hukum? Bagaimana menghapus kabut di mata mereka dan memperlihatkan jalan ke masa depan yang lebih terang dan pasti? Masih punya mukakah kita sebagai orang tua, pendidik, pengajar, suri tauladan?

Saya sedih tapi saya ga bisa apa-apa. Apalah saya ini. Cari makan pun saya numpang di rumah orang. Kadang-kadang ketika memasuki gedung UBS, Credit Suisse, pikiran saya melayang ke Indonesia. Uang negara saya ada di sini. Terkunci di tresor-tresor bawah tanah. Malang melintang di jaringan komputer-komputer raksaksa. Memang dalam prakteknya mereka diputar untuk bisnis dan social development di seluruh dunia. Ironis, justru rakyat Indonesia yang berhak dan sangat membutuhkan sama sekali tidak punya akses.

Tahun lalu ada lowongan di UBS untuk mereka yang menguasai bahasa Indonesia atau Melayu. Mengingat semakin banyaknya customers kaya dari Brunei, Malaysia dan Indonesia. Dan banyak dari mereka yang tidak berbahasa lain selain bahasa emaknya. Post ini tidak terlalu sulit karena mengandalkan kemampuan berbahasa Indonesia/Melayu, Jerman dan Inggris. Selain juga pengetahuan perbankan dan komputer. Tentu ada training. Don't worry. Won't be so hard. Berminat?

Just go ahead. Saya tidak ikutan berkompetisi. Dulu, kerja di bank tidak menarik bagi saya. Hihi... padahal cuma takut ga kuat iman aja kalau harus melihat mas Frank, bang Euro, kang Dollar bergepok-gepok seperti ga ada yang punya. Setiap hari lagi. Sekarang tantangannya bukan itu, karena di usia ini saya sudah paham misteri dan arti uang. Saya cuma tidak yakin kalau ga akan mules-mules menahan eneg ketika harus berhubungan dengan customers yang ternyata koruptor, pengeruk kekayaan alam negara, dsb...I have seen riches and son of bitches more than I can recall!

Bangsa Indonesia itu bangsa yang ramah, sopan, pemaaf, tidak enakan, sedikit-sedikit merasa sungkan. Sayangnya, seringkali tidak pada tempatnya. Salahkan pada feodalisme, norma masyarakat, pandangan turun temurun, apa saja. Yang pasti kemunafikan dan mental pengecut berperan besar di sini. Orang cari aman dan gampang. Yang normal-normal sajalah.

Hidup ini singkat. Or is it just a dream? Rasanya kita juga cuma numpang lewat di dunia ini. Tidak ada yang kita bawa setelah meninggalkan persinggahan ini dan melanjutkan perjalanan lebih jauh. Sebaliknya, kita meninggalkan bekas dan bercak. Perbuatan-perbuatan kita. Terutama yang masuk dalam rekaman memori orang lain.

Setiap akhir musim panas atau menjelang musim gugur di Zürich ada sebuah pasar kaget. Namanya Rosenmarkt karena diadakan di kawasan Rosengarten di Altstadt (kota tua). Di sini kita bisa membeli atau melihat-lihat produk yang unik dari negara-negara sedang berkembang (dari dulu berkembang terus, kapan ya berbuahnya?): Amerika Latin, Asia, Afrika dan Eropa Timur berupa hasil kerajinan tangan, perhiasan perak dan batu-batuan, juga aneka makanan yang agak aneh rupanya meskipun rasanya enak juga. Semacam pasar Gipsy-lah.

Saya tidak pernah pergi lagi ke sana setelah bertahun-tahun, sampai last summer. Karena cape dan haus menyusuri dan keluar masuk toko di Bahnhofstrasse saya dan kakak memutuskan untuk mencari bar, ngaso dikit. Di Altstadt ada banyak bar dan cafe. Kali ini kami pilih yang menghadap Rosenmarkt, asyik juga buat hiburan. Selain orang jualan, ada juga yang ngamen dengan piano butut. Sebenarnya gak banyak orang di sana, apalagi yang beli kebanyakan anak-anak muda atau mereka yang kebetulan mempunyai keterikatan dengan negara-negara asal produk yang dijual tersebut, misalnya turis dan backpackers yang pernah ke sana. Sayangnya, hujan kemudian turun dan cukup deras.

Ketika hujan reda kami meninggalkan Rosenmarkt. Hari sudah menjelang malam, tapi beberapa stand masih buka. Kasihan, tidak banyak yang bisa mereka jual. Temaram dan dingin sangat kontras dengan Bahnhofstrasse. Tiba-tiba mata saya tertumbuk pada sebuah stand kecil yang masih penuh timbunan berbagai produk ringan dari Amerika Selatan. Yang jaga kelihatannya orang Guatemala. Kelihatan cape dan agak sedih, meskipun tetap melempar senyum kepada kami. Yang menarik perhatian adalah selembar kain yang membentang sekenanya di salah satu sudut stand. Kain warna krem dari linen kasar. Di atasnya adalah tulisan tinta yang indah dan rapi sekali:

In the end what really matter is
how well did you
live,
how well did you
love,
how well did you learn to let go...

(S.G.)

Saya tahu siapa S.G. yang dimaksud. Jalan tercepat untuk pulang adalah menyeberang jembatan sungai Limmat yang menghubungkan Altstadt dengan Bahnhofstrasse. Setelah itu boleh pilih mau naik bis, tram atau kereta. Sewa sepeda juga bisa, kalau hari cerah. Sekali lagi melewati Bahnhofstrasse yang masih agak rame meskipun toko-toko sudah tutup. Kami berpapasan dengan turis-turis Asia dan mungkin juga ada yang dari Indonesia yang habis memborong barang branded. Beberapa orang masih asyik memandangi etalase toko.

Bank-bank yang megah tampak anggun meskipun terkesan angkuh dan dingin. Hotel St Gotthard dan Sweizerhof menyala indah, hangat: dinner is coming! Beberapa limousine mondar-mandir dari dan menuju Baur Au Lac, hotel terbesar dan terfancy di downtown Zürich yang terletak pas di depan danau, tempat tamu-tamu negara dan prominents of the world menginap.

Daun-daun maple di sepanjang Bahnhofstrasse mulai menguning. Beberapa hari lagi pasti akan berguguran. Summer is over. Alangkah singkatnya. Melanjutkan perjalanan, di dalam tram, barisan kalimat-kalimat sederhana di Rosenmarkt tidak mau menguap dari pikiran.

Kembali ke Suharto. Saya tahu ia tidak sekali dua kali ke Swiss. Saya yakin ia tidak pernah blusukan ke Rosenmarkt. Maybe later, in his next life. Jika saja ia beruntung untuk dilahirkan lagi ke dunia ini. Dengan badan yang baru. But, I doubt it.

Di luar semua teori dan dogma, saya tidak tahu apa yang akan terjadi setelah kematian. Dalam sebuah blog orang Amerika pernah ada topik tentang NDE (Near Death Experience). Hampir seribu orang yang pernah melewati batas hidup, mendekati kematian dan kemudian kembali ke alam hidup menceritakan pengalaman mereka. Ternyata kebanyakan dari mereka melihat hal-hal yang berlainan. Argumen berdasarkan ajaran agama, ilmu pengetahuan dan intuisi bertubi-tubi saling menjatuhkan. Ada beberapa argumen yang menurut saya sangat kuat dan bisa jadi mendekati kenyataan sebenarnya. Sejak remaja, saya selalu tertarik dengan science terutama ilmu kedokteran. Saya lebih banyak melihat dari sisi ini.

Meskipun demikian, saya tetap tidak bisa memecahkan misteri kematian. Banyak orang berbicara tentang kehidupan setelah kematian dan kehidupan sebelum kelahiran. Bagi saya ini adalah topik yang menarik tapi tidak penting. Seperti kata seorang penulis besar dari Amerika: It doesn't matter how you die. It is how you live.

Dalam hidupnya, Suharto telah berjasa besar, besar sekali bagi kita semua. Ia mengajari kita kesabaran yang luar biasa lewat penderitaan yang panjang dan nyaris tak tertahankan. Korupsi, perusakan hutan, monopoli kekayaan alam, pencemaran lingkungan, kegagalan KB, kacau balaunya penerapan hukum, bobroknya mutu pendidikan, pelanggaran HAM yang gila-gilaan...

Seperti kayu yang setelah mengalami tekanan ratusan tahun berubah menjadi berlian, begitu Suharto menempa kita. Hingga kini, di manapun saya berada, sebagai anak Indonesia yang pernah merasakan tekanan, horor dan keputus-asaan di negara sendiri, saya merasa beruntung karena mampu bertahan, sehat dan tidak menjadi gila. Setelah semua yang saya lihat dan alami di Indonesia selama pemerintahan Suharto, saya bisa hidup di mana saja dalam kondisi apapun juga. Saya tidak yakin, jika saya lahir dan besar di Swiss atau di negara maju yang lain, saya akan tumbuh sekuat ini.

Terima kasih, Pak Harto. Satu-satunya kesalahan anda adalah tidak mengajarkan ini semua pada anak-anak kandung anda dan orang-orang yang memuja dan mengelilingi anda. Kasihan mereka.

Merci Zeverina. A little love (every day) from Zürich to one and all.

Taken from Kompas Cyber Media Community

Semut Rebutan Cari Makan

2008-01-03T21:04:00.000+07:00

2007-12-25T15:03:00.000+07:00

Wishing All of You

a Very Merry Christmas!!!

2007-11-25T18:28:00.000+07:00

2 bulan terakhir ini, kegiatan gue kebanyakan baca buku and nonton tv. Gue kan harus up-to-date dong biar nyambung kalo diajak ngomong orang. Kalo soal gossip seleb sih jangan ditanya deh, kadang2 ampe bosen dengernya, abis semua infotaintment ngebahasnya gossip yang sama sih! Ada lagi yang lumayan sering gue ikutin, soal kriminalitas.

Ternyata banyak banget kasus menyangkut anak and babysitter or pembokat. Ada yang diculik 'ma babysitternya. Ada yang ternyata kalo kita gak di rumah, si anak diajak ke jalan raya buat ngemis. Macem2 deh kasusnya.

Temen baik gue waktu itu sempet hamil and keguguran gara2 dia stress mikirin ginian. Dia mikirin siapa yang bisa jagain anaknya nanti. Dia tinggal di Serpong, rumahnya gak gede. Kalo dia minta maminya tinggal di rumah dia buat jagain si anak, siapa yang ngurus papinya? Sama juga 'ma mertuanya, karna kebetulan ortu and mertuanya sama2 gak punya pembokat. Gak mungkin juga tiap pagi dia titipin anaknya di rumah maminya. Belom ada anak aja, tiap pagi dia musti berangkat dari rumah jam 6 pagi, apalagi kalo musti mampir ke rumah maminya dulu. Kalo dia pake babysitter, dianya gak tenang, parno gitu. Andaikan anaknya kenapa2, perjalanan dari kantor ke rumah dia aja kurang lebih 1 jam (gak pake macet). And kalo dia berenti kerja, yah bisa2 gak cukup kalo ngandalin suaminya aja.

Dilema kan? Gue ampe pusing. Gak heran kalo akhirnya dia keguguran, lahir batinnya belom siap sih.

Temen gue yang satu lagi udah punya baby. Biarpun dia punya babysitter, dia gak pernah ninggalin babynya sendirian 'ma babysitternya. Kalo dia pergi, kadang babynya diajak. Kalo gak bisa diajak, dia make sure di rumah itu ada mertuanya or iparnya. Kalo rumahnya bener2 gak ada orang, dia titipin si baby and babysitternya di rumah sodaranya. Pokoknya babysitternya gak boleh ditinggal sendirian. Jadi itung2 tuh babysitter cuma buat bantu2in dia aja, ambil ini, ambil itu, bikin ini, bikin itu.

Waktu gue komen ke nyokap gue kenapa sih kok jadi musim kejahatan kayak gitu. Nyokap bilangnya, "Makanya jangan kebanyakan nonton gituan. Jadi stress kan?"
Lah tapi kalo kita gak tonton, kita jadi gak tau dong kalo kejahatan kayak gitu tuh ada. Bukannya kita jadi bisa hati2? Jaman sekarang yang namanya nyari babysitter or pembokat yang baik, jujur, and bisa dipercaya tuh udah susah. Karna orang banyak yang menghalalkan segala cara for easy money. Karna banyak orang susah di Indo, seperti laporan World Bank, 49% penduduk Indonesia itu miskin!

Ah...gue jadi pusing beneran!

I Miss You So

2007-11-08T18:25:00.000+07:00

By: Diana Krall

Those happy hours I spent with you
That lovely afterglow
Most of all, I miss you so

Your sweet caresses, each rendezvous
Your voice so soft and low
Most of all, I miss you so

You once filled my heart with
No regrets, no fears
Now you'll find my heart
Filled to the top with tears

I'll always love you and want you, too
How much you'll never know
Most of all, I miss you so

2007-10-26T23:09:00.000+07:00

Udah sebulan di Jakarta, gue udah ketemu beberapa temen gue. Most of them udah jadi mommy, and maklum deh ya namanya punya anak pasti seneng dong, apalagi kalo anak pertama. Jadilah tiap ketemu pasti pada pamer foto anak, ada yang disimpen di dompet, hp, or sekalian bawa digicam-nya.
Berhubung gue belom punya anak, yah gue pamer foto siapa lagi kalo bukan anjing gue tersayang, Speedy. Gak mau kalah ya? Hahahaha, gak kok. Bukan mereka doang yang excited punya anak, gue juga excited punya anjing yang setelah bertaon2 gak pernah jodoh punya anjing Shih Tzu, ehhh tau2 ketemunya malah di Jakarta.

Liat aja mukanya Speedy tuh, dia ampe udah bete jadi objek penderita, difoto mulu 'ma gue!

2007-10-13T00:19:00.000+07:00

Duh...Gue mau marah deh rasanya kalo buka Internet di Jakarta. Untung jaman sekarang udah ada DSL and Cable, biarpun belom secepet di Amrik sono, tapi lumayan banget deh! Mau pasang DSL aja musti request dulu ke Telkom, masuk waiting list, 2 weeks later baru deh di-install. T'rus sekali buka email, Inbox gue isinya udah beratus2 gitu, ampe maleeeeesssss ngeliatnya. Sekarang baru bisa deh ngebrowse2 and baca2 blog orang tanpa marah2 nungguin loadingnya.

Anyway, barusan gue mampir ke blognya Melanie and one of her recent postings tuh bener banget! Baca deh:

Harta, Tahta, dan Wanita

Kata Mama-ku, cuma ada tiga hal di dunia laki-laki:
Harta,
Tahta, dan
Wanita.

Kata Mama-ku, lelaki itu nggak mungkin bisa lepas dari yang namanya
Wanita.
Apalagi kalau lelaki itu punya banyak
Harta.
Tapi dibanding kedua itu, yang paling penting untuk lelaki terkadang hanya
Tahta.

Kata Mama-ku, kalau punya harta, bisa beli wanita
dan kalau punya tahta, pasti bisa dapat semua
tapi biarpun punya harta, tahta, dan wanita
nggak menjamin bisa dapat Cinta
karna Cinta itu nggak bisa dibeli sama harta atau tahta
Tapi itu kata Mama-ku
bukan kata Aku.

Kata Aku,
harta, tahta, dan wanita nggak masalah.
Buat Aku,
yang paling menakjubkan dari seorang lelaki adalah dimana dia sudah punya harta dan tahta tapi cukup sadar diri untuk bisa setia dengan satu wanita.
Karna menurut Aku,
kalau punya banyak wanita sih semua juga bisa,
asalkan kamu punya harta dan tahta.
Tapi untuk bisa setia dan cinta satu wanita yang sama,
yang bisa terima kamu apa adanya,
dari sejak kamu belum jadi apa-apa sampai kamu punya tabungan ratusan juta,
nggak semua lelaki punya harta yang bertahta bisa.

Karna selain harta, tahta, dan wanita
lelaki juga punya adik kecil di dalam celana
yang terkadang ngerek minta diajak bercanda
ya kalau memang punya banyak harta, nggak susah ajak adik kecil berdansa dengan siapa saja.

Tapi sekali lagi,
buat Aku,
punya harta dan tahta jelas lelaki hebat,
tapi kalau sudah di atas sana lalu seru main kanan kiri,
ya nggak heran kalau semua perempuan pasti bilang,
"DASAR LELAKI."

What City Should You Live In?

2007-09-16T10:49:00.000+07:00


	You should live in Rome. You avoid conflict and take life a little slower than most. Rome's sun, culture, food, and siestas are a perfect match for your easy-going attitude.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

An Egyptian Cobra to Guard a Pair of Shoes?

2007-09-11T12:31:00.000+07:00

Yupe, that's what London's Harrods did for the launching of a 62,000 pound (120,000 dollar) pair of ruby- sapphire- and diamond-encrusted Rene Caovilla sandals.

I bet it's effective. Nice picture too!

Source: Yahoo! News

My First Shot

2007-08-18T11:44:00.001+07:00

Taken at my backyard

Phew...

2007-08-14T15:39:00.000+07:00

This past two months flew by so fast. It started when Cippi's family came here for his graduation last June. It was so hard to resist the temptation to ditch work and just go sightseeing or shopping with them, I ended up having 4 days off within 2 weeks, hehehehe. His mom cooked every single day! Gosh, I think I packed up a few pounds during her 1 month visit.

Then two days after they left, my dad came. It was about 2 weeks before I have to move out from my apartment and I only had a week to pack up my stuff and ship them to Jakarta. Boy, I'm so glad he came; he was a great help! He basically did all of the packing, thanks Dad =) I was so busy at work too because I had to train my co-worker to take over my assignments. July 31st was my last day at work, it was sad, I almost cried because everybody has been so nice to me. They threw a farewell lunch for me, we had cakes on our 3 pm break, I got flowers and a balloon too. I miss them!!!

So now I have a month left before I'm going home for good. Cippi and I try to spend as much time together as possible. We just moved into our friend's house at the beginning of August, and I've been cleaning up this place since I got here. Yes, I'm a clean freak! I even dusted my room's window screen! But this is a nice place, very quiet neighborhood, and great roommates.

Ahhhh...I'm excited to go home, but it's hard to leave L.A too =(

What Gas Stations Won't Tell You

2007-07-25T00:34:00.000+07:00

1. "Good luck finding the best deal."

2. "I hate high gas prices too."
They earn the least when prices are highest.

3. "My gas isn't better for your car; it's just more expensive."
One gallon of gas is as good as the next. True, additives help to clean your engine, but what the companies don't tell you is that all gas does so. Since 1994 the government has required that detergents be added to all gasoline to help prevent fuel injectors from clogging. What's more, your local Chevron station may sell gas refined by Shell or Exxon Mobil. Suppliers share pipelines, so they all use the same fuel. And the difference between the most expensive brand-name gas and the lowliest gallon of no-brand fuel? Often just a quart of detergent added to an 8,000-gallon tanker truck.

4. "If you're smart, you'll put that debit card away..."

5. "...and don't even consider applying for our gas card."

6. "Looking for the cheapest gas in town? Try the Internet."
Try GasPriceWatch.com and Gaswatch.info, they help people track pump prices. But the most comprehensive of the bunch is GasBuddy.com, which includes a network of 174 local sites, complete with maps and message boards, that tally gas price by zip code.

7. "It's a gallon when I say it's a gallon."
It's hard to know if you're getting all the gas you paid for at the pump. But in some places there's a very good chance you're not. The state or county weights-and-measures department usually checks pumps for accuracy, but in some areas it can be years between inspections. Arizona, for example, has only 18 staff members to check the state's 2,300 stations. That means stations there can expect a visit once every three to four years.

8. "I might gouge you on a soda, but my coffee's a bargain."
You'll pay more for a 20-ounce soda at a gas station than you would for a 2-liter bottle in a supermarket; the average price for a liter of water at pumpside marts in 2005 was $1.24, a markup of 55% over wholesale; and energy drinks cost 50% over wholesale. But there are bargains to be had: Some high-volume goods, such as cigarettes and beer, are often competitively priced at gas stations. And a cup of coffee goes for a fraction of what you'd pay at Starbucks.

9. "If you're having car trouble, you're in the wrong place."

10. "You don't even need gas to run your car."
Cars run on gasoline — but not all cars need gasoline to run. In fact, 6 million cars on the road today (mostly from U.S. manufacturers and built since 1998) are "flexible fuel" vehicles that can run on E85, a new fuel that is 85% ethanol and only 15% gas. Though E85 is currently available only at 710 stations, it's expected to show up at 2,000 stations by the end of the year.

Source: SmartMoney

2007-07-23T22:46:00.000+07:00

I used to have an organizer to put down all of my appointments and to do list. Then Meta introduced me to Google Calendar, and I've been using it since then. I found it to be so convenient and fun. But lately, I've been so busy and I didn't have time to go online while I'm at home, so I missed some events just because I forgot all about them! Oh...it made me so mad!

I guess Google Calendar or any other online calendar is not that convenient. I probably should start using Outlook instead. I assume it doesn't need any Internet connection just to open and check the calendar, does it?

2007-07-16T06:05:00.000+07:00

I just got the news that my best friend is 2 months pregnant...

...and I'm NOT happy about it.

I'm such a bad person =(

2007-06-09T14:15:00.000+07:00

I'm addicted to Google Calendar.

2007-06-03T09:32:00.000+07:00

I can't believe that I'm watching the Pokemon Master 33 Hours Marathon because there's nothing good on TV!

Happy National Doughnut Day!

2007-06-02T02:47:00.000+07:00

The Serious Eats Doughnut Honor Roll:

Bouchon Bakery
Yountville, CA
Phone: 707-944-1565
Favorites: On weekends only, all three Bouchon Bakeries produce extraordinary jelly doughnuts with house-made jam and equally addictive pastry cream'filled doughnuts topped with a serious dab of chocolate (sometimes these are called Boston cream doughnuts). Yes, they're $3.50, but they're worth every penny.

Earl's
Chatsworth, CA
Phone: 818-341-2869
Favorite: Chocolate-covered doughnuts

Donut Man
Glendora, CA
Phone: 626-335-9111
Favorites: Strawberry doughnuts, French crullers, glazed doughnuts, peach doughnuts

Fritelli's Doughnuts and Coffee
Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310-276-1408
Favorites: Allison Winston gives designer doughnuts a good name. For anywhere between one and two bucks, you get doughnuts that are ethereally light, greaseless, and made with high-quality ingredients. The key-lime doughnut is refreshingly tart, and the blueberry buttermilk long John was light and actually tasted like blueberries

Primo's Westdale Doughnuts
Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310-478-6930
Favorites: Tart-sweet buttermilk bar, crumb doughnuts

Randy's
Inglewood, CA
Phone: 310-645-4707
Favorite: Apple fritters

Stan's
Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310-208-8660
Favorite: Peanut butter and fresh banana with chocolate chips

Bob's Coffee and Doughnuts
Los Angeles (Farmers Market)
Phone: 323-933-8929
Favorite: Plain cake doughnuts
Notes: Bob's was also recommended by La Brea Bakery co-founder and serious doughnut fan and doughnut maker Nancy Silverton.

Click here for the complete list

My Friendster Horoscope

2007-05-30T10:58:00.002+07:00

May 29, 2007

The Bottom Line
We all need solitude sometimes. Wait for a suddenly distant friend to contact you.

In Detail
Don't be worried if someone you've been enjoying a lot of time with is suddenly hard to get a hold of. This is nothing personal, and there's no reason to sit this person down and share your feelings of insecurity, or to start being aggressively 'charming.' This person is still interested in you but also has other things to take care of. We all need solitude sometimes. Wait for him or her to contact you.

I've been trying to ask one of my girlfriends to hang out for weeks! After several attempts, I decided to try it for the last time. I asked her out to dinner on Sunday night, and as I suspected, she turned me down again. Something always came up, and it makes me feel that she simply doesn't want to hang out with me. I'm still extremely upset and I haven't replied any of her text messages since Sunday afternoon. I feel like everything she's been telling me about how sad she is that I'm going leaving the US for good is bullshit! And please...I can tell when something really comes up!

2007-05-29T13:05:00.000+07:00

Went swimming yesterday and my body is so sore!
Arrrgghh...I don't feel like going to work tomorrow =(

2007-05-24T10:33:00.000+07:00

This is so me!

2007-05-24T05:30:00.000+07:00

Cippi and I finally decided to go home for good. I'm leaving probably in September, and Cippi's gonna stay here until the end of his OPT.

Of course, my mom's excited and that scares me, hehehe.

Well, I'm kinda excited to go home too. I can finally have a puppy. Not that I can't buy it here, but kasian aja kalo di sini puppynya sendirian di rumah. Kan gak mungkin dong gue bawa2 ke kantor.

I admit that I miss Jakarta. Like it or not, that's my hometown, I grew up there and all of my family is still there. But I hate the weather and the heat! Biasanya gue demen musim ujan, soalnya lumayan ademan dikit udaranya, tapi sekarang malah takut banjir kalo ujan mulu. Serba salah!

Macetnya Jakarta juga gak tahan, tapi kalo dipikir2 lagi di mana2 yah pasti macet sih kalo office hours. Di sini juga males banget kalo udah macet.

Duh sekarang gue bingung gimana bawa pulang barang gue yang seabrek2 itu ya. Yang jelas baju, tas and sepatu gue harus kebawa semua! Yang laen gak penting. Hehehehe

2007-05-05T10:25:00.000+07:00

So the heiress was sentenced to 45 days in jail. I feel sorry for her and I don't think she could last a day in there, but I agree that she needs to be punished. She's so spoiled!

2007-05-04T11:51:00.000+07:00

I'm having the worst seasonal nasal allergies ever!

Gosh...idung gue kayak udah mau copot rasanya. Ditambah lagi kulit ngelupas2, bikin bete. I tried Benadryl tablets and it didn't work. So I went to Target today and bought Claritin D tablets, nasal spray, and Visine for itchy eyes due to allergies. Gak jelas juga gue alergi 'ma apa, tapi kayaknya paling parah kalo lagi di kantor and outdoor. Begitu gue di rumah, no more runny nose, biarpun masih bersin2 dikit.

But still...it's so annoying. Suara gue jadi sengau2 gini, udah seminggu. Taon2 lalu sih alergi gue gak separah ini and it lasts until winter. Gak kebayang deh kalo begitu juga this year!

Aaaarrrrggggghhhhh...

P.S: My mom's on her way to the airport, she'll be here tomorrow at 10 pm (LA time). I do miss her, but I can't stand her sometimes, and why oh why she has to come here like 4 times a year???

Eating Cookies to Lose Weight

2007-05-04T11:21:00.000+07:00

By Lori Corbin

Apr. 29, 2007 - Sweat it off. Drink it down. We'll try anything to lose weight.

"I tried grapefruits, I tried hard boiled eggs. I tried starving," said Diane Delano.

Diane Delano's latest diet tool? Cookies.

"I went down I don't know, five six sizes. Lost the weight and now everybody wants to date me," Delano says. Delano lost 45 pounds on the cookie diet, a very low calorie, medically supervised weight loss program. In the program you eat six cookies a day and one meal. The meal should include six ounces of protein, two non-starch vegetables and a salad.

Consuming just 800 calories a day - a fraction of the 2,000 calories typically eaten. Choose soup, shakes or a variety of cookies to eat during the day. Three hundred and forty nine dollars starts you off with cookies, supplements and a physical.

"Not only do we do an electrocardiogram, but we do a complete blood count including thyroid function, a lipid panel. If they adhere to the diet they're going to lose 10 to 15 pounds a month," Dr. Bill Weil said.

That's a concern to diabetes specialist Ruth Pupo who says fat doesn't metabolize that quickly, so weight loss is more likely fluid. "They mentioned to me one patient that had lost 18 pounds in one week," Pupo said. Yet it's those results that sell cookies.

"People want something that's easy, quick, fast and effective. They don't want to count portions or actually take the time to look and see about what their eating," Pupo said.

There's many enticing diets out on the market, as a consumer it's tough to cut through the clutter of claims, so before you buy, ask a few questions. Does the program establish physical activity? Is it affordable? And is there a maintenance program following the big weight loss? And finally, does it really help you change those bad habits?

"I did not find any conclusive data on maintenance of the weight that had been lost," Pupo said.
Smart for life centers which runs the cookie diet have countless success stories, but admit long term data isn't available. They do feel however, their clients learn the smart way to slim down.

For more information on the cookie diet:

Smart for Life - Weight Management Centers. 15030 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks. 818-285-1790.

Isn't that interesting? It's kinda hard to believe, although ice cream diet sounds good =)

Inside My Bag

2007-05-01T09:21:00.000+07:00

Inspired by Meta =)

Bag: Balenciaga

Contents (from top to bottom):

Michael Kors wallet
Isaac Mizrahi for Target sunglasses
The latest edition of US Weekly
A pocket tissue
LV Epi leather cards holder
Eucerin hand lotion (the best lotion ever!)
Vitamins case
Dentyne Ice gum
A hair brush
Nokia N73
Tide To Go (it turns out to be very useful)
Chapstick lip balm
Clean & Clear blotting paper
A set of keys
Badge for work

Want to see others'? Go to Fashionese Daily or Inside My Bag

Manna Korean BBQ Restaurant

2007-04-30T07:59:00.000+07:00

So far, this is the best Korean BBQ in town. It's yummy and the price is very affordable. The place is like a big tent, so it's not indoor, but I can't really say it's outdoor either. And if the people on the next tables don't mind, you can smoke there =)

Manna Korean Restaurant. 3377 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019. 323-733-8516

2007-04-27T01:11:00.000+07:00

The gas price is ridiculous! Look at those charts, the price per gallon is now $1 higher than it was 3 months ago, that's huge! I used to spend no more than $25 for a full tank, and yesterday I paid $34 for 10.5 gallons.

If that's not bad enough, people started to break into other people's cars or gas tanks to steal their gas. One of my job responsibilities is handling vehicle incidents, mostly for company and press vehicles, and so far I have 3 vehicles that got broken into by the "Gas Bandit."

Lower the gas price, damn it!

Happy Birthday, Hon!

2007-04-24T09:39:00.000+07:00

Yesterday was Cippi's birthday and he took a day off from work. We got up early in the morning, which doesn't happen very often especially on the weekends, and left the house around 10 am.

First stop, The Griddle Cafe on Sunset and Fairfax. It was featured on the Food Network and it's famous for its breakfast menu, so we decided to try it. We got there a little before 11 am and spent about 15 mins to find parking; this is one of the reasons why I hate to go to downtown LA. We had to wait for 30 mins for a table, the place was packed! There are like 40 people waiting outside the cafe, and surprisingly, we didn't see anyone smoking! We had to go way around the corner to smoke.

We couldn't be happier when we finally got a table. I ordered Boysenberry Rain pancakes and Cippi got the Hunger Pangs, it's ham with 2 eggs and the Griddle Potatoes. The pancakes were huge! Three stacks of pancakes, 9 inches in diameter, filled with boysenberry, sprinkled with powdered sugar and boysenberry icing. I think the pancakes are not that good, probably because it's boysenberry. I love the Griddle Potatoes though, it's so good. We can't even go through 1/3 of the pancakes, so we took it to go. I'm planning to go back there again, and this time I'm going to order eggs and the potatoes instead.

After the hefty breakfast, our next stop was the Camarillo Premium Outlets. I promised Cippi that I would take him shopping as his birthday present. You know, we've been together for 6 years now, and it's getting harder for me to get him a present. We used to exchange gifts on our anniversary, Valentine's Day, and Christmas. Now we don't really care about Christmas and Valentine's Day. Of course, I always have things that I want, so it's easier for him to find me a present, hehehehehe. So anyway, I decided to let him pick whatever he wants for his birthday, and we had so much fun shopping yesterday even though it was raining =)

Our last stop was the place that I've been dying to go, a garlic restaurant called The Stinking Rose. I heart garlic! I put garlic in most of my cooking. We ordered their famous appetizer, Bagna Calda, foccacia bread with garlic dipping sauce.

For the main course, I got the Garlic Encrusted Baby Back Ribs and Cippi got the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib. They were great! I love the food and the atmosphere. The ladies' room is unusual, there's a lounge in there and look what they have in there.

That little sign says, "Garlic Fertility God. If this chair is comfortable, you're pregnant." I found that hilarious, I didn't try to sit on it though, hehehehe.

It was a fun day yesterday. We love food and we like to experience something new and exciting. I probably watch too much Food Network, but one day after I retire, I would like to travel and try different kind of food every day, that would be nice =)

The Griddle Cafe. 7916 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90046. 323-874-0377

The Stinking Rose. 55 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90211. 310-652-7673

2007-04-19T03:16:00.000+07:00

Hari Minggu kemaren, entah kenapa tiba2 air toilet di salah satu kamar mandi di apartment gue meluap. Alhasil tuh kamar mandi kebanjiran and semua keset2nya basah kuyup. So pas Cippi sibuk2 ngebenerin tuh toilet, gue pergi ke laundry room di kompleks apartment gue buat nyuci keset2 itu. By the time I got there to pick up my laundry, everything's gone! I checked every single washer and dryer, and I couldn't find my bathmats! Mau marah gak sih?!?!?!

I went back to that laundry room 3 times that day just to see if they took it by mistake and returned it. But nope...my laundry's still missing. Cippi reported it to the management the next day, and their response was "Why didn't you tell us right after it happened?"
Well, what were they gonna do anyway if we reported it the day it happened? It's impossible to find the person who did this.

I'm still annoyed with this. Gue doain yang nyolong keset2 gue tuh telapak kakinya gatel2!

Okay, now let's talk about my GMAT test. There's only one word to describe it:
Susaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Iya lah, kalo gampang namanya bukan GMAT kali ya. Gue lega sih akhirnya gue udah test, biarpun rasanya udah latihan soal2 segitu banyak, kok tetep aja kewalahan pas testnya. They give you 75 mins for 37 math problems, that's about 2 mins each, and it's impossible for me to solve the harder problems in 2 freaking mins!

Geez...

I can only hope for the best. Tapi kayaknya sih biarpun gue punya a few more days to study, it won't make any difference because it's not like I can't solve the problems, I just need more time to do them.

Oh well, my week could only get better...

Love It!

2007-04-14T01:39:00.000+07:00

It's made from skim milk and has the same calories per serving as the Slow & Churned ones, but it's loaded with cookie dough, which I love!

Burn Baby, Burn!

2007-03-29T03:21:00.000+07:00

Here's how you can easily burn 100-calories:

Everyday activities:
• Washing Dishes - 28 minutes
• Gardening - 20 minutes
• Light House Cleaning - 18 minutes
• Playing tag with kids - 22 minutes
• Exploring the Zoo for 30 minutes
• Window Shopping for 30 minutes

Planned Exercise:
• Walking 3.5 mph pace - 20 minutes
• Jumping Rope - 8 minutes
• Elliptical Machine - 9 minutes

Running:
• 5 mph pace - 10 minutes
• 6 mph pace - 8 minutes

Well, it doesn't look that easy I guess =)

2007-03-29T00:09:00.000+07:00

Bao Xishun, 56, a 2.36-metre (7-ft, 9-inch) herdsman listed by Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, married a 29-year-old saleswoman, the Beijing News said. Both come from Chifeng in Inner Mongolia.

"After sending out marriage advertisements across the world and going through a long selection process, the efforts have finally paid off," the newspaper said.

After a career in the army, where he was recruited for a basketball team, he returned to Inner Mongolia. He now herds livestock and hires himself out for publicity stunts.

In December, Bao saved the lives of two dolphins by reaching deep into their stomachs with his 1.06-metre (42-inch) long arm to pull out pieces of plastic, according to Chinese media.

Source: Yahoo! News

I wonder how he commutes. I can't think of any car that could fit him, and I'm sure his legs are way too long for him to ride a bike.

2007-03-25T13:17:00.001+07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

12 U.S. Cities that Hardly Sound Inviting

2007-03-15T03:27:00.000+07:00

Hell, Michigan
Hell for Certain, Kentucky
Satan's Kingdom, Vermont
Notrees, Texas
Nothing, Arizona
Dead Horse, Arkansas
Idiotville, Oregon
Hazard, Nebraska
Big Ugly, West Virginia
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Panic, Pennsylvania
Smelley, Alabama

Source: Real Simple Travel

My Life's a Bitch!

2007-03-13T00:14:00.000+07:00

I'm pissed!

My laptop crashed yesterday. I no longer have the service plan, so I'm pretty much screwed. This laptop's been giving me a hard time. It's only 3.5 years old, but I've sent it to Best Buy for repair about 5 times; I still had the service plan back then. This time is the motherboard and as we all know, any repair for laptop computers is expensive, so the Geek Squad guy told me to buy a new laptop instead.

Yeah, it's easy for him to say that. I don't have the budget for a new laptop right now, especially since I just spent quite a lot for my car. I could wait and buy it later before I go back to school, but I'll be honest with you, I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT A LAPTOP!

Got a deal from Best Buy for a Toshiba Satellite notebook. I hope it's more reliable than the one that I have right now.

Uuuuhhh...I'm so mad

2007-03-11T11:22:00.000+07:00

9.15 - 10.00 - Getting ready

10.00 - 10.15 - Went to the bank

10.30 - 1.00 - Getting the new struts for my car installed. They told me it's only gonna take 1 to 1.5 hours, but it took them the whole 2.5 hours to do it! I spent my time by reading some magazines that I brought from home and playing with Clayton's daughter, Skylar (I love that name by the way). Clayton is the store owner and he's super nice. They have 3 dogs, Porsche, Razor, and I don't remember the other one's name. Porsche is this big Rottweiler and I was kinda scared at first, but she's so friendly, she doesn't bark at all. I was surprised.

1.30 - 3.00 - Went to Sears for an alignment. There's an H&R Block on the 3rd floor, so I got my taxes done too. Phew...about time! I had a Spinach & Feta Cheese Pretzel and a grande Iced Caramel Machiatto for lunch. Not so healthy, huh?

3.30 - 3.45 - Went to Target to get some stuff.

4.00 - 5.00 - Went to Gina's work to get my car washed. It only took 15 mins for the car wash, then I chatted with Gina because we haven't seen each other for like a month! She asked me to go to the beach next Sunday with her, her boyfriend, and Julia. I've been wanting to see this guy since like months. She talks about him all the time, how they fight, break up, and get back together again once a month! *sigh*

I finally decided that I need to stop being a couch potato on the weekends. I've been trying to be productive for the last few weeks, so I'm pretty happy about it. I also managed to spent an hour yesterday to start studying for my GMAT, not bad. Better spend more time on it though =)

1,000-Calorie Entrees

2007-03-10T00:53:00.000+07:00

Just when you think they're healthy...

Bob Evans Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
(1,108 calories, 63g fat, 2,741mg sodium, 63g carbs, 7g fiber, 43g sugars, 40g protein)

Hardee's Southwest Chicken Salad
(1,100 calories, 83g fat, 1,910mg sodium, 59g carbs, 4g fiber, 6g sugars, 29g protein)

Bob Evans Chili & Cheese Taco Salad
(1,381 calories, 72g fat, 3,263mg sodium, 182g carbs, 23g fiber, 30g sugars, 42g protein)

Chili's Mesquite Chicken Salad with Dressing
(1,050 calories, 69g fat, 3,110 sodium, 56g carbs, 11g fiber, 58g protein)

McDonald's Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips (10 piece)
(1,270 calories, 66g fat, 3,100mg sodium, 92g carbs, 0g fiber, 77g protein)

P.F. Chang's Orange Peel Chicken
(1,151 calories, 47g fat, 127g carbs, 61g protein)

Macaroni Grill Honey Balsamic Chicken
(1,220 calories, 67g fat, 2,750mg sodium, 94g carbs, 10g fiber, 57g protein)

Chili's Monterey Chicken
(1,170 calories, 71g fat, 3,530mg sodium, 70g carbs, 8g fiber, 72g protein)

P.F. Chang's Beef with Broccoli (dinner portion)
(1,120 calories, 65g fat, 38g carbs, 93g protein)

Ruby Tuesday Fresh Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
(2,061 calories, 128g fat, 109g net carbs, 13g fiber)

Macaroni Grill Grilled Salmon (Teriyaki)
(1,290 calories, 81g fat, 6,600mg sodium, 79g carbs, 5g fiber, 57g protein)

Macaroni Grill Grilled Pork Chops
(1,800 calories, 107g fat, 4,950mg sodium, 92g carbs, 8g fiber, 115g protein)

P.F. Chang's Lo Mein Combo (lunch portion)
(1,740 calories, 122g fat, 98g carbs, 55g protein)

Burger King TRIPLE WHOPPER Sandwich
(1,130 calories, 74g fat, 1,160mg sodium, 51g carbs, 3g fiber, 11g sugars, 67g protein)

Source: Hungry Girl

No wonder more and more Americans suffer from high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
I guess we have to actually cook our own meal to be healthy.

My Today's Friendster Horoscope

2007-03-09T03:42:00.000+07:00

The Bottom Line
Not everyone is as lucky as you are. Doing something for others is important today.

In Detail
You've worked hard to get where you are, and you should feel proud. But today, as you're contemplating which fancy coffee drink to order or which new gadget to buy, don't be surprised if guilt creeps into your mind. Not everyone is as lucky as you are, and you know that. It's time to get involved in a charity or volunteer effort that will make you feel more socially useful. Even if you just drop off some canned goods at your local food bank, doing something for others is important.

2007-03-08T04:17:00.000+07:00

Banyak yang bilang kalo kita gak boleh mikirin hidup buat hari ini aja, tapi musti mikirin hari depan juga. A month ago, I'd probably agree with that.

Hari2 belakangan ini gue rasanya tambah stress. Tidur gak pernah nyenyak, mimpi gak pernah bagus, mimpinya kalo gak aneh yah serem. Biasanya gue tidur between 5 to 7 hours, sejak gue mulai stress jam tidur gue nambah jadi 7 hours every night, tapi yah gitu bangun2 tetep ngantuk and badan pegel2. Sekarang tiap pagi gue minum Starbuck's Caramel Machiatto with 4 shots because I have 2 big projects and I don't want to fall asleep at work.

Gue stress mikirin my parents, Cippi, work, my plan on taking the MBA program this Fall, and basically everything that's happening (or not happening) in my life right now. I'm supposed to take my GMAT test next month and ampe sekarang gue belom belajar sama sekali! I'm too stressed out to do that.

Otak gue capek! For now, I don't really care what's gonna happen tomorrow. And to my friends, I'm sorry for being less considerate about everything lately.

Home Sweet Home

2007-03-05T08:10:00.000+07:00

I've been wanting to clean up my living room for some time now, and today I decided to do it. It's clean and I feel so good about it.

Ahhhh...I think I'm gonna stay home today =)

Sumatran Rhino Arrives in Indonesia

2007-02-22T00:20:00.000+07:00

By CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press Writer

JAKARTA, Indonesia - The first Sumatran rhino born in captivity in more than 100 years arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday with a single task — to breed and help save the endangered species from extinction.

Andalas was born in 2001 in the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the first time a calf was bred and born in captivity since 1889, when a live birth was recorded at the Calcutta Zoo in India.

The 5-year-old rhino, Andalas, was flown from a zoo in the United States to Jakarta's international airport. After a checkup he was to travel another 12 hours by truck and ferry to a rhino sanctuary on Sumatra island, where females Rosa and Ratu await.

"He is young and still full of energy," said Arman Malonongan, Indonesia's director general of forest and wildlife conservation. "Let's just hope he falls in love there."

Source: Yahoo! News

Isn't he cute? I'm sure Rosa and Ratu are going to fight over him! Hahahaha...

2007-02-21T05:49:00.000+07:00

I loooooove pancakes...We're going there tonight!

2007-02-20T04:24:00.000+07:00

Dulu gue sering mimpiin salah satu mantan gue padahal kita udah lost contact for at least 5 years. Anehnya lagi, mimpinya bukan cuma sekali dua kali, tapi bisa seminggu 3 kali, and it lasted for about 2 years.

Then last year when I was browsing on Friendster, I bumped into his last girlfriend that I know of. It turned out that they just got married a month before. After that, mimpi2 itu berenti. Ampe sekarang gue juga gak ngerti arti mimpi2 itu apa, even though at one point sempet bikin gue kuatir jangan2 something happened to him.

Now, I've been dreaming about his wife since last week, he didn't even appear in those dreams. Gak ngerti kenapa bisa mimpiin dia, for the whole week pula.

Are they getting a divorce? [I definitely hope they're not!]
Is she pregnant? [Hopefully, so that those dreams will only last up to 9 months]

I think I'm weird...

2007-02-20T02:26:00.000+07:00

JERUSALEM, SENIN - Inilah jadinya bila hasrat sudah tak tertahan dan tiada tempat pelampiasan.

Polisi Israel, hari Minggu (18/2) diberitakan menghadapi kemacetan di salah satu ruas jalan jalur cepat negara itu. Mereka meneyelidiki apa yang menyebabkan lalu lintas terhenti, dan menemukan pasangan pria dan wanita tengah melakukan hubungan seks di mobilnya.

Menurut juru bicara kepolisian, pengemudi yang berjenis kelamin perempuan dan penumpang prianya menyalurkan birahinya di jalan raya tanpa menepikan mobilnya. "Mobil goyang" itulah yang menyebabkan kemacetan karena pengendara lain terpaksa banting setir guna menghindarinya.

Polisi akhirnya menilang mereka karena telah memacetkan lalu lintas dan tidak ada tuntutan pelanggaran susila atas kasus mobil cinta ini.

Source: KCM

Jaman makin gila!

Music and Lyrics

2007-02-19T11:07:00.001+07:00

* * * * *

Starring: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Johnston, Jason Antoon, Billy Griffith.

I love this movie! Certainly love Hugh and Drew. They're so adorable, I'd like to see them as a real couple. This is a romantic comedy movie and it's very funny. I cracked myself up throughout the movie.

2007-02-16T00:43:00.000+07:00

So...

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and honestly, it felt just like any other day for me.
It doesn't seem to be a big deal for us anymore. We didn't go out to dinner or exchange gifts this year.

I think people need to stop making it a big deal, so that those big companies don't make any more money!

Anniversaries are more special to me because it means something to me. But Valentine's Day? What's so special about it if everybody all over the world celebrate it too? We don't exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Earth Day or Easter Sunday.

Besides, you could express your love and appreciation to your love ones every single day.
Do that!

White Tiger Triplets

2007-02-10T00:00:00.000+07:00

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Three white tiger cubs just weeks old debuted Thursday at the Buenos Aires Zoo in Argentina, romping in pen before delighted children and their parents.
...
"This is their first big day out," zoo spokeswoman Ana Maria Pirra told The Associated Press, adding the cubs were in good health.
...
She said none of the cubs has yet been named, and that children — who watched with delight as the cubs cavorted playfully Thursday — deposited name suggestions in a box at the zoo, along with their contact information. The cubs' names will be chosen in a drawing in three months, she said.

"Each of the winners will be a godfather or godmother to a cub," Pirra said.

Click here for full story.

I want to be a godmother to one of them!

For Once in My Life

2007-02-09T12:01:00.000+07:00

For once in my life, I've got someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I'll be strong

For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Could make my dreams come true

For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it hurt me before
For one, I have something I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore

For once, I can say, this is mine, you can't take it
As long as I know I have love, I can make it
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

Being 27

2007-02-05T11:31:00.000+07:00

I just celebrated my 27th birthday not too long ago. Unlike last year, I didn't make any plan to celebrate it at all. I just wanted to spend time with my love ones, and I did.

On Saturday last week, Meta and I went shopping at South Coast and had dinner at Claim Jumper. We haven't spent time together lately, so it was nice. Then on Monday, my co-workers, Rick and Sharon, took me to Brooklyn Pizza for lunch. It was a nice surprise. Despite of the age differences, they're about my parents' age, I'm pretty close with them, and I think they're the nicest people at my office.

Then I went out with Cippi, Gina, and Julia to TGI Friday's for dinner. I love their food. Gina and Julia brought a birthday cake too, I almost cried. That's so thoughtful of them. They know how I feel about turning 27, and they want to make the best of it.

I know that I probably worry too much. I just feel that I haven't really accomplished anything. Looking at pictures of my friends with their family, especially their babies, devastate me sometimes. Yes, most of my friends are married and have a family. And no, I'm not jealous. It's just that I always have plans. I used to plan to get married at 23, but then I screwed up when I was in Sydney, so I changed it to 25.

My best friend told me that I've accomplished so much more than I thought. I finally finished with school, although it took me 8 years just to get a Bachelor's Degree, but I did it. I can finally financially independent, and I have a job that I'm proud of. I also have parents and a fiancee that love me so much, and nothing can beat that.
I know that she's right, and I'm trying to embrace my life every single day.

I still want to be married and have a baby before I'm 30.

Gloomy

2007-02-03T11:24:00.000+07:00

Yes, that's how I describe the weather lately. I think this is the coldest winter ever since I came here.

Baru dapet berita juga dari bonyok, katanya Jakarta banjir. Di jalanan, airnya udah sedada, and di rumah udah sampe ke depan garasi. Untungnya rumah gue lumayan tinggi, emang sengaja dibikin gitu buat mengantisipasi banjir. Tapi tetep aja bikin bonyok gue stress karna gak bisa ke mana2, and kuatir kalo masih ujan terus, airnya tambah naek.

Gak kebayang deh yang rumahnya udah kemasukan air or even udah tenggelam. Gimana nasibnya mereka ya? Mudah2an gak ujan lagi and airnya cepet surut.

Central Florida just got hit by tornadoes, 19 people are killed.

Not all of us believe that we, humans, caused the global warming.
113 nations agree that global warming was very likely caused by human activity. They also said that the Earth will survive the global warming, but we might not.

It's depressing when I think about it.

U.S. drivers eat, shave, email -- oh, and drive

2007-01-23T04:52:00.000+07:00

CINCINNATI, Jan 22 (Reuters Life!)

Talk on the phone while you're driving? Fix your makeup? Check e-mail? You're not alone.

A survey released on Monday shows 81 percent of Americans do more than drive when they're behind the wheel.

More than eight of 10 people surveyed by Nationwide Mutual Insurance said they adjust the radio or music while they drive, while 73 percent talk on the phone, 68 percent eat, 19 percent send text messages and 5 percent checked their e-mail.

Personal hygiene was also a big driver distraction, with 19 percent fixing their hair, 12 percent putting on makeup and 2 percent shaving while at the controls of a car.

"Clearly Americans have much to do and little time to do it, so to cope with that we've become multi-taskers," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of Safety at Nationwide.
"The problem with that is driving requires focus, and multi-tasking while driving puts you and your fellow drivers at risk."

Drivers in the survey also admitted to changing seats with passengers, watching a movie, painting their toenails, nursing a baby and putting in contact lenses while driving.

Younger drivers multi-task the most, the survey found, with 35 percent of 18-to-27 year olds saying they always multi-task in the car, compared to 21 percent of baby boomers.

Windsor said the consequences for young drivers are severe, with car accidents being the number one cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 27.

"The bottom line is if it can be done in the kitchen, bathroom, office or bedroom, it should not be done in the car," Windsor said.

While some U.S. jurisdictions require hands-free devices for cellphone use in cars, most of the activities listed in the survey are not illegal unless they are determined to be the cause of an accident.

The survey of 1,200 drivers between the ages of 18 and 60 found that while 83 percent believe they are safe drivers, 38 percent admitted they have driven a certain distance without any recollection of doing so.

Sandra Guile, spokeswoman for AAA in Cincinnati, said the automobile club's driving instructors have seen it all, and work hard to try to correct the bad habits.

"Imagine if you're going 55 miles an hour down the road and you spill something on your suit and you have a meeting that day -- you're going to be more worried about grabbing a napkin than watching the road," said Guile. "But it just takes a split second to look away and there's an accident."

Cincinnati professor Penny Braboy said that while she never eats or makes phone calls while driving, she does answer the phone if it rings -- and she admits to other distractions.

"I have put on lipstick in the car," Braboy, 55, said with a laugh. "And I might try to look for something in my purse, which I know is dangerous."

But she said her distractions have never caused an accident.

"I try to be careful," said she, getting into her sport utility vehicle, Starbucks coffee in hand.

Source: Yahoo! News

Oh my gosh, I can so totally relate to this article.

I was driving to work one morning, and I took the Carbon Canyon Road as usual. This is a two-lanes road, just like the road to Puncak. It's been a long time since the last time I went to Puncak, so it's probably a bit different now.

But anyway, you have to be extra careful when you drive on this kind of road. So on that particular morning, I was driving behind a Volkswagen Golf. The driver was female, and I didn't pay any attention to her at first.

Then I saw her looking at the rear view mirror and putting on some mascara! She didn't do it for just one time, she kept doing it for the last 5 minutes of our "journey" at the canyon. And when she's looking at the mirror and putting on her mascara, it's not just for one second, but more like 3 to 4 seconds.

I was scared that she's going to hit something or crash down the canyon. To this day, I'm still amazed on how could she managed to do that, and I'm glad nothing's happened.

We both got to Brea safe and sound...

World of WarCraft: The Burning Crusade

2007-01-18T00:55:00.000+07:00

People said that there's no bigger PC game than the World of WarCraft (WoW). It's also the game that's responsible for uncountable lost jobs, broken marriages, and failed classes. This online game has about 8 million subscribers worldwide, and my dearest fiance is one of them.

He spends a tremendous amount of time playing that game. He's addicted to it just like his addiction to cigarettes. Although he manages to balance it up with his school and work, it still pisses me off sometimes.

I watched him playing once, and I have to admit that I would be addicted to it too. I love playing video games and WoW would be one of my favorite games, but PC game is not my thing. I prefer playing games in Sony Playstation or Nintendo Gamecube.

Anyway, Cippi was so excited when he heard that the expansion pack of WoW is coming out in Jan 16th, 2007 at 12.01 AM. He reserved a copy, finally picked it up yesterday afternoon, and he played all night long last night.

So what's the big deal about WoW anyway?

I just don't get it. First of all, there's no end to this game. Seriously, you won't see the "The End" sign and the credit rolls. Something always comes up and there you go again, battling in some kind of dungeon.

Second, it's just going to piss off the people around you who don't play the game and who don't get the reason why you should play it all day and night long! I'm one of them!

Geez, I'm running out of words. Those people at Blizzard shouldn't create this game in the first place!

2007-01-10T00:54:00.000+07:00

Through the bars of his cage, an African lion named Jupiter stretches his giant paws around the neck of Ana Julia Torres and plants a kiss on her puckered lips.

It could be a kiss of gratitude: Since Jupiter was rescued six years ago from a life of abuse and malnutrition in a traveling circus, Torres has fed and nursed him back to health at her Villa Lorena shelter for injured and mistreated animals.

...

Jupiter is among 800 recovering creatures at Villa Lorena — from burned peacocks and limbless flamencos to blind monkeys and mutilated elephants.

Torres said many of the animals were rejected as infants by their parents in the wild or found abandoned on the streets of Cali, a city of 2 million.

Others were rescued from cruel treatment by owners. One mountain lion kept illegally as a pet had its two front legs cut off by its owner after it clawed a family member's face.

Torres said that of all the animals she has cared for, she is proudest of having rescued Yeyo, a now-deceased spider monkey who had suffered violent, drunken beatings at the hands of an alcoholic owner.

Torres said she opposes exhibiting animals in circuses and has therefore kept her shelter closed to the public.

"We want the animals to live in peace," Torres said. "All their life they were shown at circuses and shows — this is a paradise where they can finally rest."

Source: Yahoo! News

Stop animal cruelty, people!!!

I Wish All of You a...

2006-12-24T14:43:00.000+07:00

Santa Baby

2006-12-17T06:34:00.000+07:00

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue,
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed,
Think of all the fellows that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want a yatch and really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need, the deed
To a platinum mine,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex and checks,
Sign your x on the line
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring,
I don't mean on the phone,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry......tonight

The 2006 Fantasy Bra

2006-12-13T15:09:00.000+07:00

My Winter Must Haves

2006-12-11T15:19:00.000+07:00

These are the best over the counter products ever.

My skin is very dry all year long, and it gets worse in winter time. My biggest problem area is my hand. The skin around my knuckles is the worst, it gets irritated so bad, it's painful. I've tried so many hand cream and body lotion, and none of them worked.

Since I don't want to spend money to go to the dermatologist, I went to see a pharmacist at Target instead. Let me tell you, that's the second best opinion you can have. She told me that Eucerin and Aquaphor are the best over the counter brands out there. So I bought them, and they're amazing!

I could see and feel the difference after the first time I used the Aquaphor Healing Ointment. I don't feel the pain anymore, and it heals my irritated skin so fast. Now, I started to use it for my feet. After wearing heels basically everyday, they need some pampering too.

Olay Complete Body Wash
for Extra Dry Skin - with Shea Butter

Olay Moisturinse In Shower Body Lotion
Deep Moisturization for Extra Dry Skin

Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Creme

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Mission: Impossible III

2006-12-10T12:09:00.000+07:00

* * *

Starring: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan

Honestly, it's better than I expected, but I'm not crazy about it. It has lots of action sequences and the story isn't bad at first.

Then it became one of those gotta-save-my-family type of story, and everything went downhill from there.

Richard Nixon Library

2006-12-04T03:22:00.000+07:00

This is my favorite exhibition, it's called the World Leaders' Room.

It features priceless gifts presented to President and Mrs. Nixon by heads of state and government from all over the world, and ten life-size statues of world leaders who met President Nixon's criterion for great leadership: "Did they make a difference?"

The ten life-size statues are:
- Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-lai, China
- Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev, USSR
- Anwar el-Sadat, Egypt
- Golda Meir, Israel
- Winston Churchill, Great Britain
- Konrad Adenauer, West Germany
- Shigeru Yoshida, Japan
- Charles deGaulle, France

The quote on the wall says:

"They are leaders who have made a difference. Not because they wished it, but because they willed it." -RN

2006-12-02T11:40:00.000+07:00

Commemorating the World's AIDS Day

For all Los Angeles residents, you could get involve in The Project Angel Food Program. Its mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious illness.

The Project Angel Food Program delivers free and nutritious meals prepared with love. Their meals, prepared by professional chefs and volunteer assistants, are nutritious, attractive and always made with the freshest ingredients. They also provide free nutritional counseling with their registered dietitians.

One way to contribute to The Project Angel Food Program is by shopping!
Yes, shopping. The event called Divine Design, and it's the West Coast's premier shopping event.
Top designers donate items such as men’s, women’s and children’s fashion as well as furniture, toys, cosmetics, accessories and spa products all at 50%-90% off retail.

100% of proceeds from the sale directly benefit The Project Angel Food Program. It takes place November 30 – December 4, 2006 at 9900 Wilshire Blvd. (at Santa Monica Blvd.), Beverly Hills, CA.

You do need to buy tickets to get into this event, it's $25 and it will be also donated to The Project Angel Food Program.
I'm planning to go on Sunday, Dec 3rd, and I'm so excited about it! Click here to buy the tickets.

for Life, for Love, for as long as it takes

Casino Royale

2006-11-25T03:31:00.000+07:00

* * *

Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Wright

This is probably my least favorite of all Bond movies. Pesonally, to be a 007, you have to be super charming, super handsome, and super flirty. I don't see that in Daniel Craig.
Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan are still the best 007 ever.

Anyway, this movie's kind of boring at the beginning. The scene when Bond's chasing a guy in Africa, it's just too long.
Another thing I hate about this movie, I have no idea who's the bad guy until the end of the movie! Too many villains pop in and out during the movie, and apparently, they're not the main villains!

I Love This Song!

2006-11-24T03:05:00.000+07:00

2006-11-24T03:00:00.000+07:00

Happy Turkey Day!

2006-11-22T14:55:00.000+07:00

As usual, I don't come home straight from work on Fridays. The traffic is always horrible, it doesn't matter which shortcut I take. So last Friday, I went to Nordstrom Rack before I go groceries shopping. I was actually looking for a dress for my office Holiday Party, and I couldn't find any! There's no dress at all, I can't believe it. Well, I probably should go to the regular Nordstrom store, but I thought I could save up some money by going to the outlet.

So anyway, I ended up buying a pair of boots and a pair of shoes. Hehehehehe...

They're really nice and I love them!

Ahhhhh shopping makes me feel really good =)

Make a Wish

2006-11-18T01:41:00.000+07:00

The annual Leonid meteor shower could produce a strong outburst this weekend for residents of the North America and Western Europe.

A brief surge of activity is expected begin around 11:45 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 18. In Europe, that corresponds to early Sunday morning, Nov. 19 at 4:45 GMT. The outburst could last up to two hours.

At the peak, people in these favorable locations could see up to 150 shooting stars per hour, or more than two per minute.

"We expect an outburst of more than 100 Leonids per hour," said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.

...

The Leonids are so-named because they appear to emanate from Leo. The meteors can race across the sky in any direction, but trace each one back and it'll point to Leo.

Unfortunately for viewer's on the U.S. West Coast, the peak occurs before Leo rises. Outside of the expected peak, the best time to watch for Leonids is in the pre-dawn hours, when the constellation Leo is high in the sky.

Source: Yahoo!

Walk Away

2006-11-17T15:05:00.000+07:00

I saw you with your new girl just yesterday
And I feel that I must confess
Even though it kills me to have to say
I'll admit that I was impressed

...

In the back of my mind I can't help but question
Does she rub your feet
When you've had a long day
And scratch your scalp
When you take out your braids
Does she know you like to play PS2
'Til 6 in the morning like I do

I can't explain this feeling
I think about it everyday
And even though we've moved on
It gets so hard to walk away

...

I'm gonna remember you
You're gonna remember me

Which Pie Sounds Good?

2006-11-16T10:12:00.000+07:00

Creams & Merigues
- Lemon Meringue
- Chocolate Meringue
- Banana Cream
- Coconut Cream
- Chocolate Cream

Double-Crusted Pies
- Apple
- Apricot
- Blueberry
- Boysenberry
- Peach
- Rhubarb

Specialties
- Banberry
- Candy Bar w/Snickers
- Chocolate Silk
- Apple Crisp
- Dutch Apple
- Marionberry
- Mince
- Old World Cherry Crisp
- Pecan

Filled
- Coconut Custard
- Egg Custard
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Maple Crunch

I need to order some pies for Thanksgiving, and everything sounds good!
Help?

2006-11-12T15:11:00.000+07:00

You Are "Wow"!

What Japanese Smiley Are You?

You Are Cyclops

Dedicated and responsible, you will always remain loyal to your cause.
You are a commanding leader - after all, you can kill someone just by looking at them.

Power: force beams from your eyes

Which of the X-Men Are You?

You Should Drive a Bentley Azure

You're all flash, and you love to show off to anyone who will watch.
And you're such a high roller, this is just one car of many for you...

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

It would be nice to own one, one day...

2006-11-05T13:09:00.000+07:00

Every story has an end.

But in life,
Every end has a beginning.

10 Ways to Lower the Cost of Driving

2006-11-02T04:14:00.000+07:00

1. NO LOITERING
Think of it this way: while idling, your car is getting zero miles per gallon (mpg). Don't let the engine run at idle for any longer than necessary. After starting the car in the morning, begin driving right away; don't let it sit and "warm up" for several minutes. An engine actually warms up faster while driving. With most gasoline engines, it's more efficient to turn off the engine rather than idle for 30 seconds or longer. Think about going into a fast-food restaurant rather than waiting in a long line for the drive-through window.

2. EASY DOES IT
Driving smoothly and steadily makes the best use of your fuel. If you can, avoid hard acceleration or braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. According to the EPA, the most fuel-efficient speeds are between about 25 and 60 mph. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking not only save fuel, but extend the life of the engine, transmission, and brakes.

3. DON'T BE A DRAG
At highway speeds, over 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to the drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car's fuel economy by 5 percent. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes gas. In addition, if you have air conditioning, don't ride with your windows open on the highway; this also disturbs the outside airflow and creates extra drag.

4. STAY WARM
An engine runs most inefficiently when it's cold. It not only uses more fuel during this period, but also creates the dirtiest emissions and suffers the most wear. Avoid lots of short, separate trips--and unnecessary cold starts--by combining as many errands as possible into one trip.

5. GETTING REGULAR
If your car specifies regular fuel, don't buy premium in the mistaken belief that your engine will run better. Using premium fuel in those circumstances is like buying bigger sneakers in the hope they'll help you run faster. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Furthermore, many cars that recommend premium fuel also run well on regular. You can check with your dealership as to whether your engine is designed to handle either grade. If so, try a tankful or two of regular. If you see no difference in mileage or engine performance, stick with it.

6. BUY BARGAIN FUEL AND OIL
Off-brand gasoline is most often identical to what is sold at franchised gas stations. Shop for the cheapest. Following your car's recommended oil-change intervals is sufficient, which for most cars driven under normal conditions is 7,500 miles. While oil companies and lube shops may recommend changing oil every 3,000 miles, this can be an unnecessary expense. You can change the oil yourself-typically for $10 or so for oil and a filter. But since a commercial oil change routinely costs $20 or so, you have to weigh whether the savings is worth the time and effort, plus the hassle of safely disposing of your used oil.

7. STAY TUNED
The EPA mileage that's posted on new-car window stickers is based on a well-tuned and properly maintained vehicle. Running a car in subpar condition can lower that figure dramatically. A poorly tuned engine can cut gas mileage by 10 to 20 percent. Modern electronically controlled engines don't need the frequent and extensive tune-ups of older cars, but they still need regular maintenance and suffer component failures. A clogged air filter alone can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption. Be sure to follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, and act promptly if you sense any unusual sounds, smells, or vibration.

8. ROUTINE ISN'T ALWAYS THE SAME
Before you have routine maintenance performed on your vehicle, call around for the best price. Even different dealerships of the same brand can charge varying amounts for the same service interval. Routine maintenance can also be done by independent shops, which are generally less expensive than dealerships. Just keep good records in case you later have a warranty claim. Check in your owner's manual to make sure that the price includes all necessary service, but doesn't add in unnecessary extras. If you're handy, you can also do simple maintenance yourself; just keep all receipts as proof of what parts or fluids were used and when.

9. WATCH THE TIRES
Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which not only wastes fuel but wears the tires faster. According to the EPA, one tire that's underinflated by only two psi will result in a 1 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires can also build up excess heat, which can lead to tire failure. Check tire pressures monthly when the tires are cold. The recommended tire pressures are found on a label inside the car--usually in a doorjamb or inside the glove-box lid.

10. SHOP FOR INSURANCE
Some insurers charge twice as much as others for the same customer and car. Using the Internet or the Yellow Pages, shop around for the best insurance-rate quotes you can find. You should carry ample liability insurance, but you don't need to splurge much on collision and comprehensive if your car is getting on in years. Once collision and comprehensive premiums reach 10 percent of the car's book value, consider dropping them. Also raise your deductibles to the highest limit you are comfortable with: say $500 or $1,000. Recheck the insurance market for competitive rates every year or two.

Source: Consumer Reports

Good Times

2006-10-30T13:11:00.000+07:00

We miss you guys already!

2006-10-14T04:30:00.000+07:00

It was just minutes before lunch hour when a bunch of people walked by my desk. They caught my attention right away because some of the guys look really cool with their tattoos, cool shirts and jeans.

I know for sure that they don't work here because they're wearing visitor badges and I've never seen anybody that cool working here. Most people who work here are either over 35, married, have kids, have grandkids, over 50, or have been working here for 20 years and up. So yeah, no wonder that that bunch caught my attention.

Anyway, I was really curious, so I checked out the visitor sign-in sheets and they turned out to be a band called Kutless.
Yeah, never heard of that band before. I googled them, and I found out that they're a Christian Rock Band. I checked out their website, it's pretty cool. But the photos, I don't know how old those photos are, but they definitely look better in person. In fact, they look very different.

They've been here since this morning, and I think they'll be here for the whole day.
Hey, that's fine by me. It's "refreshing" and I wish this kind of things happen more often =)

2006-10-12T06:48:00.000+07:00

2006-10-11T23:53:00.000+07:00

SANTA MONICA, October 11, 2006 - The Santa Monica City Council gave initial approval Tuesday night to a proposal to ban smoking at all outdoor restaurants, service areas, the Third Street Promenade and Farmers Markets.

The City Council voted 6-0 in favor of the proposed ordinance. A second vote will be needed for the ordinance to become law.

"All available evidence indicated, from other cities and other countries, that smoking regulations almost across the board tend to, if anything, increase business and popularity of a location," said Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky.

"We're not aware of any evidence ... indicating that restricting smoking is bad for business," Radinsky said.

The proposed ordinance would ban smoking on restaurant patios, bus stops, around automated teller machines and movie theater lines, and also mandate a 20-foot smoke-free zone around non-governmental buildings.

The City Council voted 5-1 July 25 to direct the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance that would extend the city's smoking ban, which already prohibits smoking in public parks, beaches, public waiting areas and the Pier.

Source: ABC7

"We're not aware of any evidence ... indicating that restricting smoking is bad for business," Radinsky said.

There are two reasons why people choose to sit on restaurant/cafe patios, especially in a place like Santa Monica.

One, because they just simply want to enjoy the sun, the breezy air, and the view.
Two, because they want to enjoy all of the above while they're smoking!

I understand if they want to ban smoking in those other places like ATMs and movie theater lines because I don't like it either, and I'm not denying that smoking is bad for your and those second hand smokers' health.
But isn't that the reason why they provide patios or any kind of outside sitting? So that we, you and I, the smokers, won't bother those who do not smoke?

They're wrong if they think it would not affect the businesses in any way because I know for sure that those smokers will go hang out in other places, where smoking is allowed.
Besides, I know more people who smoke than who don't. Not to mention, the celebrities, as if smoking is a must.

[Bersyukurlah kamu yang udah gak tinggal di sana lagi]

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

2006-10-09T05:51:00.000+07:00

* *

Starring: Lucas Black, Shad 'Bow Wow' Gregory Moss, Nathalie Kelley, Sung Kang, Brian Tee

Just like any sequel of other movies, the first one is always the best one.
I thought Too Fast and Too Furious was bad enough, but this one is the worst! And if they think by putting Vin Diesel at the end of the movie will help, they're wrong!

Jet Li's Fearless

2006-10-09T05:50:00.000+07:00

*

Starring: Jet Li, Betty Sun, Dong Yong, Shido Nakamura, Collin Chou.

One word: BLAH!

2006-09-27T00:58:00.000+07:00

Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhh!!!

My parents are going to SYDNEY for Lebaran holiday.
I'm the one who's missing that place so much, not them!
Huhuhuhuhuhu...

I'm soooooooooooooo going to make them buying me stuff!!!