Anti-Junk Club is Back Again!

Last weekend, I had couple of surprises regarding my body.
Surprises #1: I was at the fitting room and as I looked at myself in the mirror, too my horror I found my tummy full of flab.
Surprises #2: I weigh 58-59 kilograms now?!?

I admit, I’ve been slacking these past months with what I consume and this is what I get. Totally deserve it, I must say.

But enough sulking! It’s time to get back in shape and stay healthy.
My resolution is to return my weight to its normal state of 55 kilograms in a month (the more weight-loss the better).

So, I’m gonna start doing Anti-Junk Club again for the next two months (ended in 25 October 2009), with slightly new rules to accommodate my need.
#1: Oatmeal for breakfast
#2: No carbonated drinks or bottled tea, just water
#3: No junk food
#4: At minimum three working out session per week
#5: No Indomie and Oreos soft cake (been eating the latter like crazy for the past weeks)
#6: Eat (at minimum) one fruit every day

Wish me luck.

I am Indonesian

Taken in Brisbane, during a multi-cultural event. I was wearing Kebaya.

Wearing Balinese traditional dresses.

I’m taking my part in supporting #indonesiaunite. For those who still don’t know what #indonesiaunite is, please do yourself a big favor and Google it!

This is a little different than what you usually read about #indonesiaunite, cause being the self-absorbed Princess that I am. This post is actually about me. Me. And me ;)

So few weeks ago when I had lunch with the girls, they asked me, “hey what’s your Chinese name?”

It’s true that I have a Chinese heritage, but I don’t have a Chinese name. So I answered, “I don’t have one!”

Little did I know that the girls were actually having a bet with Amel. If I told them what my Chinese name was, Amel would tell us hers. Well… You should’ve warned me about that, girls! (Come to think again, I think Amel knew that I didn’t have a Chinese name, so it was win-win solution for her anyway. Sneaky girl!).

Regardless the bet, the girls were totally surprised that I don’t have a Chinese name.

“You seriously don’t have a Chinese name? Why??!??”

“I dunno… Because I’m an Indonesian? None of my brothers do. My parents didn’t find it necessary for us kids to have Chinese names.”

There is no doubt in my heart that I am Indonesian.

I’ve never called China my home, hell I’ve only been in China for less than 12 hours in my whole life. I was born here and will always call Indonesia home. When people ask, “where are you from?” I’ve always answered, “Indonesia!”

Sans the 2 ½ years I was away for college, I’ve always been living in Indonesia. I studied in Indonesian schools. I learned about Indonesian history and culture. I sang Indonesian folk, patriotic and children’s songs. Bahasa Indonesia is my first language.

I don’t speak Mandarin whatsoever. Only my Dad’s side of family does, and he never bothered to pass it on to the kids. Whenever we have family reunion, I will sit quietly in the corner. Lost in translation.

I may not speak it, but I understand Javanese more than I understand Mandarin, thanks to my Mom, who speaks Javanese 24/7.

My family doesn’t celebrate Chinese New Year. I didn’t even know what Chinese New Year or angpau were until it became legal and celebrated here in Indonesia. If I’m not mistaken, it was around my grade 9. My classmates were bragging about how much money they got, and I was sitting shyly and quietly on my desk because I didn’t get any. I remembered asking my Dad about it, “we’re Chinese, how come we don’t celebrate Chinese New Year?” “We’re Catholics, we don’t celebrate Chinese New Year,” was his reply. Which I didn’t get it at the time, but now that I’m older and wiser, I know that we don’t celebrate Chinese New Year because we don’t celebrate the culture. Chinese New Year was more than just fireworks, angpau, the Chinese lions & dragons, and family dinner. There are series of tradition behind it… More like a religion if I may say it. And my family is Catholics, so we don’t celebrate Chinese New Year.

Those of you who know me in daily basis know that I’m the Miss Carbo, more specifically Miss Steamed Rice. I eat steamed rice like any next-door kuli (laborer), and steamed rice is one of the essential food in our culture. One of things that I dread the most from global warming is if there will be no more rice in this entire world, just because the farmers can’t predict the weather and the crop fails to grow in time.

And don’t get me started on the scrumptious taste of Indonesia foods.

My skin may be fairer than most of fellow Indonesians (I can’t claim that my eyes were small, because they’re big) but it doesn’t lessen my love for this country.

I may complain and ramble a lot about Indonesia, but I don’t ever want to see it hurt, I want to see it flourishes, going further than glory.

I am Indonesian, proud to be Indonesian and will always be Indonesian.

I'm lucky and I'm grateful

How many times a day do I feel grateful for everything?
None of the time.

How many times a day do I complain and ramble about everything single thing?
All the time.

And all of these complain and rambles make me one ungrateful bitch, considering I’ve been blessed with so many wonderful things while there are millions of people out there who have been less fortunate than me.

So I’m gonna take a moment to remember all the things I’ve been lucky with.

I’m lucky to have an incredible God.
I’m lucky He has protected me and kept me out of harm’s way for as long as I’ve lived.
I’m lucky to have loving and caring parents.
I’m lucky that my parents had raised me the way they did.
I’m lucky to have two brothers.
I’m lucky to have so many wonderful friends.
I’m lucky to have a boyfriend.
I’m lucky I have a healthy body with fully working parts and no life-threatening diseases.
I’m lucky I’ve been loved.
I’m lucky I’ve always had it easy.
I’m lucky to have some talents.
I’m lucky to be an Indonesian.
I’m lucky to live in its capital, Jakarta.
I’m lucky to live in a rather peaceful country.
I’m lucky I got to finish my education.
I’m lucky I was able to get my Bachelor degree outside this country.
I’m lucky to experience living in another country.
I’m lucky to experience living in other five cities of this country.
I’m lucky to have a roof above my head when I go to sleep at night.
I’m lucky I’ve always had a full tummy and never gone to bed hungry.
I’m lucky to have a job with a paycheck every month.
I’m lucky to have a car at ready whenever I want to go out.
I’m lucky I’ve had the chance to travel and see other Indonesian cities and also neighboring countries.
I’m lucky to have beautiful clothes and shoes that boost up my confidence whenever I wear them.
I’m lucky to have gadgets that make my life easier.
I’m lucky I can remember some of the things that I’ve been blessed with in this life.

And I’m grateful for everything.

So why are you lucky?

Why do I think Facebook is getting cornier by day?

Just look at the messages that came into my inbox!

hai blh knln gak aku jomblo nieh baru putus???

aku knln bkn mau jadi pcr km

untuk tmn chating aja

blh gak???

WTF?!?

And don’t forget the people that have been adding me lately!
Notice the non-existence connection I have with them?


This is worse than Friendster back then.

My Take on What God is Not

Inspired by Everything That God Is Not post by Soul Pancake (special thanks to Rara who tweeted about it).



1. God is not something you can put into form.

2. God is not your own personal wishing tree.

3. God is not a shield you can use to justify your action.

4. God is not leaving you behind even if you’re constantly leaving God.

5. God is not the devil in your life that you often blame on every time you hit the rough patches.

What do you think that God is not?

One Vote for the Next Five Years

Today is a big day for this country.
Today, we give our vote for the next leader.
The next five years of this country.

For me it’s even more special, because it’s my first time ever to vote. I was eligible to vote five years ago, but I was at Australia at the time and I couldn’t be bothered (plus I didn’t really know what to choose). I didn’t vote for the legislature election two months ago because I was at Singapore at the time.

Lately, I’ve come to a realization of how important it is to vote (I give most of the credits to USA’s Presidential Election). Even one voice counts! One voice helps shaping the future of this country, and most importantly how it will affect me as a citizen.

So off me go to the election booth this morning, a short walk under the clear blue sky with my family.

DPT: 195, TPS:37 Kelapa Gading Barat, Jakarta

I was a little confused by the procedure at first, since it was my first. And it was a little bit overwhelming when I put the big tick on the ballot. But after I dipped my finger (the middle one) into the ink, it felt somewhat different.

The Ballot. I think they should have used blue marker, no?

The inky right middle finger

It felt great!

Like I was actually taking part of something bigger! I couldn’t really describe it with words… But… Okay… Most of you already know that I complain a lot! And now instead of just standing there and complain all day, I’m actually doing something. I’m responsible of something. And if in the end there will be any complains coming from me, at least I have the right to do so because I was there in the beginning.

And most of all I’m proud to take my responsibility as a citizen *giving myself a big pat on the back*.

Slow Down and Enjoy!

One of many interviews from Jennifer Garner that I remember the most was when she said that her eldest daughter, Violet, had taught her to slow down and appreciate things.

She then proceeded by saying this, “Once, when she was 6-months-old, I was nursing her and kind of in a hurry. I was impatient, and she was really taking her time, just staring at the ceiling. So I looked up, and the way the light was playing on the ceiling was so beautiful. I wouldn’t have noticed that on my own.”

Today, I read a note posted – and later an article and a youtube video - by one of my friends on Facebook about the same thing.



Normally, I wouldn’t read random notes – I don’t have time for it - but the title was “Violinist Plays at Metro Station”, so I was instantly intrigued… Because you know I’m currently into violin and all.

The notes was about this violinist who played in a Metro Station, Washington, D.C., at its rush hour. He played 6 classical pieces by Bach, one of the greatest music ever written in the history of human being, for 45 minutes. It was a very elaborate and difficult songs to play, not everybody could play it well.

But no one was really paying attention to him.

Few people stopped to watch and listen, but then they continued to walk away because they were running late. Children were the ones who really gave him their full attention but soon enough they were dragged away by their mothers.

Of more than a thousand passers-by that morning, there were only a handful of lucky people who stopped and heard the music.

Why lucky, you ask? That’s because little did these people knew, the violinist was actually Joshua Bell, a music prodigy. And the violin he played was a 300 years old Stradivari, worth $3.5 millions. Three nights before, Bell played in Boston Symphony’s Hall and the $100 seats were all sold out.

He did this little stunt as a favor to Washington Post in their study about human’s perception and priorities, especially those who’re living in a busy city like D.C.

My friend’s notes ended with some awakening questions: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

I would like to add few more as well: If children could appreciate anything, from little to big things, why couldn’t we? Weren’t we children at some point in our lives, when did we loose it? Does life really chase you down that you can’t even walk side by side with it?

But the question that concludes it all is: Do we miss out the best things in life, like one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, just because we couldn’t be bothered to stop or even just to slow down and appreciate it?

First Week at a Glance

So… Last week, my first week at my new job was hectic. Very.

I immediately had a brief on my first day. Went to a post-production of a video profile on Tuesday (it was a hands-me-down job, but I couldn’t say no, could I?), which made me go home at 12.30am. Met one of the clients and supervised the voice over production on Thursday. And worked on an interestingly stylish project with a prospect of radio play production (I’ve never produced a radio play before!).

Nothing I couldn’t handle. Really.

The hours were great. With the exception of the two days when I had to go to the post-production house, most of the time I was already home when the clock hit 7pm and got to have dinner with my family. And of course plenty of time to do other things, like practicing violin and DVD-ing.

The downside is… The very unhealthy environment, with an unhealthy brand. I (almost) constantly become a second-hand smoker now. I knew what I was getting into when I took the job, but I still need some time to adjust. This is a big learning process for me, because I have to learn a whole lot of matter that is a really unfamiliar territory for me. So wish me luck on that.

The people… Well I can’t really say much about that now, need some time to get to know them better.

One thing I surely miss from the old office is our maksor (makan sore – afternoon snack) routine! Over there we actually go out and hang out in the warungness, over here people ask the Office Girl to buy them foods, which for me is not the point of maksor! Maksor is about being together with your colleagues in much less formal environment gossiping about whatnot, the food is just an added value.

But overall I think I’m gonna be fine here.

Sunday, I’m a nervous wreck

Dang! I was fine when I woke up this morning. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was going to spend it on the park, practicing violin. So it was a happy morning.

Today’s sermon was also great, the Pastor was talking about fear and how we should just have faith, because God will always lead the way and cast our fears away. It totally calmed me down.

But as the hours come closer to tomorrow, the more nervous I become.

Plus I’m developing a mild symptom of flu. I have sore throat and I’ve been sneezing all evening, that’s never a good sign. I pumped myself with vitamin C and cough syrup, because I do not want to be sick on my first week at my new job. I have to be on top of my game! And of course, since I’m still on probation I don’t have the health benefit just yet, so if I have to go to the doctor then it has to come out of my own pocket.

I didn’t let myself take a nap today, even though I’m always exhausted after violinsing, in hope that I can sleep safe and sound tonight. But that’s usually not the case when I’m this nervous, I’ll probably get a nightmare about being late tomorrow or something.

Oh dear! I am totally a nervous wreck. I totally need all the luck in the world. Ugghh...

Anyway… I went to this little cute place called Kedai after violinsing. Originally, we wanted to visit the craft shop on the second floor, Bikin Barang, to my luck it was closed, so we decided to hang out in the cafe instead. It was a very nice and homey place to hang out, and the food was alright.


Sunday seems to be a perfect day to visit it, because I dunno the whole atmosphere feels like Sunday-y for me. Like you can just order a drink with small food and make yourself at home on the comfy couches or chairs, with your favorite books ready at hand while soft oldies music played on the speaker. Whether you wanna be alone or with friends, it’s just as nice. It's very relaxing, like you could just stay there all day without worrying about whatnot. The free Wifi wouldn’t hurt either.

I had Nasi Panggang, it’s rice (of course! What else would you expect from me, Little Miss Carbo?) baked with some herbs, beef bacon and cheese on top.


And Teh Poci for drinks. Yum!


Speaking of Little Miss Carbo, look what I got as farewell gifts from the girls:


A skein of fluffy-and-super-soft pink Snowball yarnsies from Amel.

Two inspiring books from Mbak Andri: Whatever You Think Think The Opposite by Paul Arden and EYD & Seputar Kebahasa-Indonesiaan by Ernawati Wandah, which I’m sure will be a great use in the future.

A children’s book entitled Twinkle Toes by Karen Katz from Nana, which is a nice addition to my children’s books collection and of course a great reference for the future project as well *wink*.

Aaaand… A ‘Little Miss Carbo’ mug filled with grains of rice! They are awesome like that.

Thank you girls! You’re all the best! Muaacchh...

The Last Words of a Chapter

You’ve thought about the end of chapter.
You’ve wished that it’d be over as soon as possible.
You cannot wait to start writing the first words of the next chapter.
You have those jittery feelings about what will the next chapter bring you.

But you’ve never anticipated this page, the final page of this chapter.
So what will you do, now that you’re here?

You start thinking about the journey you’ve travelled for the last 3 and so years.
How much you’ve grown, how much you’ve changed, how much you’ve evolved.
From a clueless fresh graduate to a somewhat experienced copywriter.
From a girl in her super-early twenties to a bit mature young woman.

You start thinking about the characters you’ve met along the way.
Friends. Foes. Strangers. Third parties.
Every love/hate relationship you’ve experienced with them.
Every single soul that has influenced you to become who you are now.

So what will you do, now that you’re here?
What words will you write in this page?

Goodbye seems to be the most appropriate word.
But somehow it’ not right to use it.
Cause goodbye sounds so… Final.
And maybe because this is not a goodbye, this is just a…

See you all around!

You Have to Let Go, If You Want to Grow

This is my last week in my current office. My last week of my first job ever.

I’m super-excited, scared and nervous at the same time for what’s next, a new challenge, a new chapter in my career and life. It’s exhilarating, really! But I’m also sad to let go.

You see, my team and I are currently in the birthing process of these two beautiful babies (projects).

Sure I bitch about that particular brand almost all the time, and that particular client is also one of the main reasons why I leave in the first place.


But yesterday when we had initial meeting with the prospective Directors and heard the demo of the jingle, there was this big pang in my heart. It hits me hard in the face, the fact that I won’t be here when we push those babies out and introduce it to the whole world like a proud mama.

If there’s one most rewarding thing of this job, that will be when we produce our ideas. All the hard work, blood and tears we’ve put into it finally come into life.

The other thing is when the commercial finally airs and people start talking about it or when your friends ask, “What’s you’ve been up to lately?” And you proudly say, “Oh! I just finished the commercial for…!”

That’s pure bliss!

And now I won’t be able to feel that bliss fully.

Sure I can totally claim that I did those commercials, but it’s just not the same. I will miss a big chunk of the whole process. All the fighting, the bitching, the drama… It may not the most appealing thing in the world, but it’s part of the journey, the beginning of our babies’ lives and I will miss it.

Honestly, it’s bringing me down a little.

But then again at some point you have to let go, if you want to grow. There will always something you have to let go in order to achieve something more, something better. Hopefully it will all lead you to a greater good.

So that’s what I’m doing right now, trying to let go.

Saturday

So I finally tear myself long enough from Baby-Gadget and Red-Gadget too actually make use of my time productively. Not that reading fan fiction isn’t productive, but whatever!

I finally finished knitting the little pink beret for Princess Anke, Mr. Dimples’ niece.

modeled by my Forever Friends bear

I finished it while accompanying Dad doing his routine check up this morning. It was my first time going to that particular hospital. Mom had other thing to do this morning, so I was on escorting duty.

The waiting was long, but the waiting room was super fancy, with fluffy couches and free WiFi, so I’m not complaining. Too bad I didn’t bring Baby-Gadget, but Red-Gadget never failed me.

I was in Neuroscience & Heart Centre of the hospital, by the way. Had it been Seattle Grace Hospital, I would’ve bumped into McDreamy xixixi…

So anyway, I also did some finishing touches for three scarves that I knitted weeks ago. Never got around (or simply too lazy) to do it, but I finally did it. They’re going to be on sale next week on my bazaar/farewell party/whatnot.


I’m going to watch 17 Again with Mr. Dimples soon (I was so surprised he actually wanted to watch it. When he asked me for a movie night out, I offered Star Trek but apparently he’s not really into the whole Star Trek thing so he picked 17 Again instead. I was like: Super-yay! I’d take Zac Efron anytime xixixi… Gosh! I’m such a teen!).

Have a great weekend everyone!

XOXO
- A

Old Habit Dies Hard

I've just spent the last 7 hours (and still going) reading Grey's Anatomy fan fiction.

It's fun and its fluff. Totally therapeutic! Certainly makes the waiting for the new season a lot easier.

So It Begins

A few days ago, a friend and I were talking about the very first batch of website back in the 90s. You know the minimalistly-ugly, created-on-notepad, with-simple-html-codes one?

And suddenly I remembered that I had a website/blog/fan fiction archive back when I was still in the university. It wasn’t made out of Notepad, I used Dreamweaver, GoLive and whatnot, so it was a decent one - design wise.

Then I started reading my posts, and I realized that I was such an active blogger back then! I updated my blog (almost) everyday, filled it with my daily whatnot.

I admit I was such a lame girl with a very lame blog.

My blog was mostly filled with my constant admiration of Michael Vartan (considering I was a huge Alias fans back then). But then it was also fun at the same time.

It was fun to ramble about nothingness.


It was fun to read it again after all of these years (the blog hasn’t been updated in 3 years, and it was still very much there. It’s like a time capsule!).

And I think it’s important for my sake that I express myself in any way. Because I’m a writer, I express myself better in writing than in oral communications. I’m not a big fan of talking you see.

So this morning, when I was driving to the office I thought of starting to be an active blogger again. Hopefully this time it won’t be as lame as it used to be (I say that now, but 5 years in the future, when I re-read the posts again, I’m pretty sure I will think that this is lame).

Welcome to my daily rambles and whatnot!

XOXO
-A, Queen of Rambles & Whatnot-