Logical Insanity

Random Questions, Certain Answers

2012-01-11T04:55:00.004-08:00

1. Do you need him/her to be good looking?
Good looking would be a plus. But he does not have to be necessarily good-looking. Dress-well is OK for me J

2. Smart?
HAVE TO!

3. Preferred age?
Older is preferred.

4. Preferred height?
Tall

5. How about sense of humor?
Smart sense of humor. I don’t really like slapstick guy :P

6. How about piercings?
Nope.

7. Accepts you for who you are?
Well, hello? HE HAS TO!

8. Pink hair?
Not in a zillion years!

9. Mushy or no?
NO. I’d like to be the mushy one in the relationship.

10. Thin or fat?
Well-built (it is not in the otion isn’t it? lol)

11. Black, Brown or White (skin color)?
I’m talking about white-ish with a little hint of sun-exposed, indicating that he enjoys outdoor activity.

12. Long hair or short hair?
Short.

13. Plastic or metal?
Metal.

14. Smells good?
The answer is always YESS, OF COURSE.

15. Smoker?
Not a big problem, but preferred non-smoker. All of my exes were non-smoker.

16. Drinker?
Surely knows how to drink but not a drunker

17. Girl/Boy-next-door type?
Um, as long as he still manage his manliness :P

18. Muscular?
It’s not a must but it’s good to know that he’s been working off his muscles *drool*

19. Plays piano?
Yess, please.

20. Plays bass and/or acoustic guitar?
Yess, please.

21. Plays violin?
Too girly

22. Sings very good?
I want to be the singer, he can be my co-singer, haha

23. Vain?
To be thrown to the sea, yes.

24. With glasses?
Actually, I like man with glasses.

25. With braces?
Not a preference.

26. Shy type?
Kinda sexy at first, but eventually he needs to take the lead cause I am into dominant male :P

27. Rebel or good boy/girl?
Good boy with a principle.

28. Active or passive?
Absolutely active.

29. Tight or bomb?
Tight

30. Singer or dancer?
Singer.

31. Stunner?
Not a problem at all.

32. Hiphop?
He can be into hiphop music, but not the style, no..

33. Earrings?
N.O.P.E.

34. Mr/Ms. count-my-ex-girlfriends-until-you-drop?
Dump!

35. Dimples?
Current bf has dimples. It’s cute J

36. Bookworm?
Love.

37. Mr/Ms. love letter?
Sounds cute

38. Playful?
He has to!

39. Flirt?
To me only. To every girl, SLAP! and then DUMP!

40. Poem writer?
umm.. I love to be written a poem for. But it’s not a requirement.

41. Serious?
Always. I never want to be in a relationship that is not serious.

42. Campus crush?
Several. It’s cute when you marry a campus sweetheart.

43. Painter?
As long as he is not too artsy.

44. Religious?
Religious is a plus. But not a fanatic.

45. Someone who likes to tease people?
As long as it does not go overboard.

46. Computer games geek? Or internet freak?
Current bf is total freak of these two!

47. Speaks 20 languages?
HOT

48. Loyal or faithful?
Faithful

49. good kisser?
Ha! Yeah!

50. loves children??
Fundamental requirement.

Random Questions, Certain Answers

2012-01-11T04:55:00.001-08:00

1. Do you need him/her to be good looking?
Good looking would be a plus. But he does not have to be necessarily good-looking. Well-dressed man is OK for me :P

2. Smart?
HAVE TO!

3. Preferred age?
Older is preferred.

4. Preferred height?
Tall

5. How about sense of humor?
Smart sense of humor. I don’t really like slapstick guy :P

6. How about piercings?
Nope.

7. Accepts you for who you are?
Well, hello? HE HAS TO!

8. Pink hair?
Not in a zillion years!

9. Mushy or no?
NO. I’d like to be the mushy one in the relationship.

10. Thin or fat?
Well-built (it is not in the otion isn’t it? lol)

11. Black, Brown or White (skin color)?
I’m talking about white-ish with a little hint of sun-exposed, indicating that he enjoys outdoor activity.

12. Long hair or short hair?
Short.

13. Plastic or metal?
Metal.

14. Smells good?
The answer is always YESS, OF COURSE.

15. Smoker?
Not a big problem, but preferred non-smoker. All of my exes were non-smoker.

16. Drinker?
Surely knows how to drink but not a drunker

17. Girl/Boy-next-door type?
Um, as long as he manages his manliness :P

18. Muscular?
It’s not a must but it’s good to know that he’s been working off his muscles *drool*

19. Plays piano?
Yes, please.

20. Plays bass and/or acoustic guitar?
Yss, please.

21. Plays violin?
Too girly

22. Sings very good?
I want to be the singer, he can be my singing partner [or audience], haha

23. Vain?
To be thrown to the sea, yes.

24. With glasses?
Actually, I like man with glasses.

25. With braces?
Not a preference.

26. Shy type?
Kinda sexy at first, but eventually he needs to take the lead cause I am into dominant male :P

27. Rebel or good boy/girl?
Good boy with a principle.

28. Active or passive?
Absolutely active.

29. Tight or bomb?
Tight

30. Singer or dancer?
Singer.

31. Stunner?
Not a problem at all.

32. Hiphop?
He can be into hiphop music, but not the style, no..

33. Earrings?
N.O.P.E.

34. Mr/Ms. count-my-ex-girlfriends-until-you-drop?
Dump!

35. Dimples?
Current bf has dimples. It’s cute :)

36. Bookworm?
Love.

37. Mr/Ms. love letter?
Sounds cute

38. Playful?
He has to!

39. Flirt?
To me only. To every girl, SLAP! and then DUMP!

40. Poem writer?
umm.. I love to be written a poem for. But it’s not a requirement.

41. Serious?
Always. I never want to be in a relationship that is not serious.

42. Campus crush?
Several. It’s cute when you marry a campus sweetheart.

43. Painter?
As long as he is not too artsy.

44. Religious?
Religious is a plus. But not a fanatic.

45. Someone who likes to tease people?
As long as it does not go overboard.

46. Computer games geek? Or internet freak?
Current bf is total freak of these two.

47. Speaks 20 languages?
HOT

48. Loyal or faithful?
Faithful

49. good kisser?
Ha! Yeah!

50. loves children??
Fundamental requirement.

Europe, Europe

2012-01-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

A memorabilia of my trip to Europe, 18 November - 31 November 2011

welcoming the new member of the family!

2011-11-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

1. Etienne Aigner corolla wallet in new teal. I love this thing! It has so many card slots and actually very roomy. Plus, the color is gorgeous! :*

2. Etienne Aigner Jodie Satchel in black. Now I have to admit that this is not really my favorite. but the quality of the leather is good. I bought this for my mother and I really do hope she likes it.

I bought those two under one package from Bag'Us. They really do have great authentic branded bags collections! And they're cheaper too! I bought these 2 for only Rp.990.000 per package! Talking a bout a best deal! :))

What's Inside My Bag

2011-11-04T07:35:00.003-07:00

So, these are the cosmetics that have been dwelling inside my pouch :)

1. Maybelline Volum Express Waterproof Mascara in very black;

2. Soap and Glory Hand Food (bought it in Sephora and I love it)!;

3. Organic Farm Pure and Natural BB Cream (a gift from my friend from Korea);

4. Beautystyle lipstick matte in candy;

5. Bourjois blush #33 lilas d'or;

6. VOV Color Song blusher #2 (bought them in Hong Kong when discount! Only for HK$5);

7. The Body Shop Born Lippy lip balm in orange;

8. Viva cosmetic eye brow pencil in brown. Gotta love this! This is legendary!;

9. Stila Shimmering Lip Roller in marmalade. My friend bought this from the US for a gift. It smells good too :);

10. Sephora Express Nails' Doctor;

11. Unbranded blush brush;

12. The Face Shop Face ‘n It radiance two way cake powder #nb 23;

13. Catena magic bb eye serum roll on (also bought in Hong Kong for a best buy price :P);

14. Oriflame cuticle remover gel;

15. Etude House eye shadow #02 (peach pink);

16. The Body Shop comb;

17. Clean & Clear oil control film blotting paper.

What My Birth Chart Says About Me

2011-10-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Rising Sign is in 00 Degrees Cancer
Very sensitive by nature, you prefer to be in your own familiar surroundings. Cautious and conservative, you make changes in your life only very slowly, if at all. You do not open up easily to strangers. Friendships are made for life, however -- once given, your trust is forever. Your mother, your home as a child and your early family life in general are very important to you. You are also very sentimental. When you feel self- confident, you are gentle, giving and protective of the needs of others. But when you feel insecure or threatened, you become overly sensitive to criticism, shy, withdrawn and moody. You have a strong need for security -- in the sense that you are being loved, nourished and protected.

Sun is in 07 Degrees Cancer
Very emotional and sensitive, you have an intuitive understanding of the "vibes" around you. You tend to be quite generous, giving, loving and caring, but only when your own needs for emotional support, love and security have been met. If they are not met, you tend to withdraw into yourself and become very insecure and selfish. Your home and family (especially your mother or the person who played that role for you early on) represent security for you and thus assume a larger-than-life importance. Very sentimental, you have vivid and long- enduring memories of the past. No matter how well adjusted you are, you will always need a secret quiet place of your own in order to feel at peace. Feeding others can give you great pleasure you would enjoy being part of a large family.

Moon is in 19 Degrees Scorpio
Your feelings are very intense, never superficial. You tend to be either very angry or very sad or completely and totally happy. Your moods are deep, extreme and not always completely understood by yourself or by those with whom you have to deal. Emotionally, you tend to prefer to live at the cutting edge of life, pushing your reactions to the ultimate extremes, even if the results are dangerous or upsetting. You are easily jealous and very suspicious -- you require a great deal of emotional reassurance. A good detective, you are very curious about deep and mysterious things, especially human nature and motivations. Be careful not to be ruthless, tactless or too overly frank or you will meet with much resistance from others.

Mercury is in 28 Degrees Cancer
Your emotions tend to rule your thought processes. You have difficulty seeing life objectively. You have an excellent memory, especially about things to which you have formed an emotional bond. You prefer ideas and thoughts that are known and familiar, and therefore tend to dislike fads or radical ideas. The beliefs and traditions of your family and culture are very important to you. Your thinking becomes quite unclear when you are emotionally shaken -- try not to make major decisions when you are upset. Let things calm down first.

Venus is in 22 Degrees Taurus
You are known to be a warm and affectionate person, and you tend to form long- lasting attachments. The reverse of this is that you can also be quite possessive once you have made a commitment. The beauty, luxury and comfort of your surroundings are important to you and you will devote much time and energy to making your home just right. Beware of your tendency toward self-indulgence, especially with respect to eating incorrectly. You also need outside stimuli to get you in gear When things come too easily for you, you can be lazy and indolent.

Mars is in 12 Degrees Cancer
Your moods are very important to your overall well-being. You are confident and self-assertive when you are feeling upbeat, and you are retiring, irritable and grumpy when you get depressed about anything. Very sensitive, you wear your heart on your sleeve. You are easily angered whenever you think someone has slighted you. It is best for you to show your anger immediately and let it all out, rather than to try to hold it in or to hold grudges for a long time. You're extremely loyal and defensive of your family, neighborhood, community and culture.

Jupiter is in 16 Degrees Aquarius
Your personal growth occurs when you have the freedom to do things in new and interesting ways -- this brings out your natural inventiveness. You are an individualist, but you are also attracted to mass movements that emphasize social betterment and you will devote much time and energy to their efforts. Very fair- minded and objective, you have extraordinary skills at organization and administration.

Saturn is in 22 Degrees Scorpio
You tend to release emotional energies only very reluctantly. This is partly due to your fear of what horrible calamity might occur should they be released -- your emotions are terribly complicated and intense. Try not to repress these energies entirely, however, or you will succumb to negative and destructive forms of compulsive behavior. Give yourself the freedom to look awkward or silly once in a while. The relief you feel will be quite therapeutic and the embarrassment (whether it is real or imagined) will pass quickly.

Uranus is in 15 Degrees Sagittarius
You, and most of your peers, have the tendency to think that all ideas, customs and traditions from the past are outmoded and irrelevant. You are attracted to radically new ideas, philosophies and religions that will, hopefully, cause sweeping changes throughout the world.

Neptune is in 02 Degrees Capricorn
You, and your entire generation, will idealize work, practicality and the ability to attain reasonable goals. But, because you will also stress the need to be selfless and giving, you may find it difficult to attain your goals unless you have lowered your expectations on all fronts.

Pluto is in 01 Degrees Scorpio
For your entire generation, this is a period of intense research and discovery in areas that were heretofore considered mysterious, remote or taboo. The root causes for many complex occurrences will be unearthed due to the intensity and thoroughness of the search.

N. Node is in 17 Degrees Taurus
It's not in your nature to seek out many casual acquaintances in your daily round of activities. You feel much more comfortable with a small, close-knit group of people -- those with whom you can relax and work toward known and clearly defined goals. Your loyalty to a person or group, once given, is forever -- you'll expend all of your quite considerable energy in seeing that the group stays together and prospers. You choose your partners and relationships so carefully that you're bound to gain certain advantages from them, including those of a material nature. Be careful though not to let mere self-service be your motivation in establishing your connections -- make sure that there's an even give-and-take!

New Hollywood Power Couple

2011-10-24T18:16:00.002-07:00

1. Ryan Gosling - Eva Mendes

2. Ryan Reynolds - Blake Lively

Look-alike!

2011-10-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

OK, Now that I am totally bored, I came across one thing. Been watching The Vampire Diaries lately, and just realized that Nina Dobrev and Victoria Beckham are alike! :D

Nina Dobrev & Victoria Beckham

Welcoming New Members Of The Family

2011-08-07T05:47:00.001-07:00

1. Coach Signature Stripe Frame Caryall in purple

Actually, I bought this bag when I was in Hongkong (January 2011), so technically this is not that new :P However, since I haven't got the chance to debut this purple sweetheart in my blog, I post her now. I bought this on sale, originally priced HK$ 4,220, discounted for 30% to be HK$ 2,954. Although it looks not too big, it actually is pretty roomy. Good investment! :)

2. Kate Spade Classic Noel Aimee Black

Now this bag is the newest addition. Just arrived on 1 Aug 2011. Got this from an online shop Banananina for IDR 1,650,000. I have been a fan of Noel series of Kate Spade, so when I saw this on sale, I immediately contacted the seller. Let's just call her Aimee, shall we? And now, Aimee has been my favorite hang out bag :)

3. Bourjois Blush #33 Lilas D'Or

I just bought this blusher today. Previously I wore VOV color song blusher. I loved it but I thought I should have had another color that is more vibrant, because my VOV blusher is pale pink. Got this on discount at IDR 115,000.

Current wishlist

Am pretty excited with those new additions! Really! But you know, a woman could never have enough accessories :P So, aside from those additions, I am also dying for these items (even though it's so last season :P). Yess, these items:

4. Prada BR4581 Jacquard Logo in corda-brandy

5. Gucci Abbey Canvas Convertible Tote dark brown

6. Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Neverfull GM

7. Kate Spade Classic Noel Neda wallet [I lust the brown one :P]

8. Gucci Mayfair Canvas Continental Wallet mauve

P.S. most of the photographs were taken from Banananina. Have a look on their items! :)

Daily What-to-Wear

2011-08-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

I have always been a supporter of blazers and cardigans. I have lots of them (mostly in black), but lately I have been feeling like I've ran out of wardrobe to make a clean impressive look. Lol.

I turn to virtual style site for insporations. So, if you are looking for inspirations too, these are several of my creations in Looklet if you like :P

chic

foxxy

pretty

19:27 pm. Sad.

2011-07-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

Right after I wrote my previous post about love, I feel gloomy.

The reason behind? I lost another friend today. Well, he is not dead or anything, he is just resigned from his position in my office.

This is another test for me.

So let me tell you about my friend. His name is Josie. He is still young, probably 2 years younger than me. A hardworker, determined and good-hearted. Although he is just joined our firm approximately 2 months, but I consider him as one of my special friends.

Because his birthday is only a day earlier than mine.

Silly, you think? Well, it is. But for me, having someone who shares similarities with you and knows how you feel is important.

But today is that person's last day.

Means that tomorrow I am not going to see him again in the office. And we can not have the same discussion again. Starting tomorrow, everything is going to be different.

It hammered me down pretty bad, having lost approximately 15 close friends already in this office. I tried to assure myself that people come and go, but apparently I can not change my heart. I does not get easier with time. I still feel uneasy letting someone who matters to me come and go in this office.

But after all, it's his life and he deserves better than what he got here. So, just like a mother who must let go of his son to explore the world, I am gonna think that I let Josie (as my junior) go out and explore the world.

I wish him nothing but the best, and hope that our paths will cross again some time.

How To Style Your Apartment

2011-05-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

2011-03-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted." - John Lennon

Sexy is..

2011-03-16T20:35:00.001-07:00

When you kiss your loved one the moment you wake up in the morning

When a guy cooks for you

When you get a kiss on the cheek by your loved one

When a guy eats breakfast in his bath robe

When you are having the first dance on your wedding day

Random

2011-03-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

"In life, you need to fail. To succeed, you need to learn from your failure."

"When someone gives you love, love him/her back. When someone does not, give him/her love."

"Heart is like a flower. Let it open and let it grow. Beautifully."

Welcoming 2011

2011-01-11T00:45:00.000-08:00

On 8 - 10 January 2011, my office had an outing. Eight of us were going to Hong Kong to celebrate the new year and reminisce the work we have put in the previous year.

It was fun, although the walking made my feet soar and ache to the bones :(

We depart from Jakarta at 00.05 am in the morning, using Cathay Pacific Airlines. Because the flight was very early in the morning, we go straight from the office at 9 pm to Soekarno Hatta International Airport. We got to the airport on around 10.15 pm and waited on Keris Lounge until the boarding time.

After waiting for over an hour, finally there was an announcement that the passenger may come on board the aircraft. By the time they let us in, I was already very sleepy. I planned to sleep right away after finding my seat, unfortunately the man seating in a row beside me was making a scene by standing up and walking on the aisle while the "fasten you seat-belt" sign was still on. The flight attendant reprimanded him in English and the Chinese man seemed to not understand any word she said.

I tried to close my eyes but their voices were too loud. The flight attendant finally called her Chinese-speaking colleague and this Chinese-speaking flight attendant reprimanded the man to remain seated until the "fasten your seat-belt" sign was off.

After several minutes of quarreling, the man finally soften up and did what he's been told. Thank God!

I was trying to get to sleep after that, but my friend told me that Life As We Know It (the movie, you know) was showing on inflight entertainment channel. I ended up watching it for half an hour until I fell asleep.

I woke up on 4.30 am when the captain announced that we were approaching Hongkong. We finally get there on 5.15 am Jakarta time (6.15 am Hongkong time).

We took a coaching bus that linked us to the hotel. After that, I and my roommate, Juni, started to explore Wan Chai district before meeting our friends (who stayed in other hotel) in Wan Chai MTR station.

First day, we went to Sham Shui Po, Tsim Sha Tsui, Prince Edward, Madame Tussaud, and Victoria Peak. On the second day, we went to Ngong Ping, Disneyland and Ladies Market (Mongkok). And on the last day, we went to Avenue of Stars and Central (H&M) to do some more sightseeing and shopping. We went back to the hotel by taxi and caught in a congestion. It was 12.50 and the coaching bus was supposed to pick us up on 13.10. So little time! Fortunately, we made it! We headed out to the airport on time and safely!

All in all, we had a blast! :)

And those laughter, those shopping sprees, those sight seeings, those photo sessions were all fun and (of course) memorable. There are things I would want to do, and things I wish I'd buy, should I go back to Hong Kong sometimes. Well, me and my friends already had a plan to go there. Who knows, maybe next year? :P

So, after all these blabbing, I suddenly feel the importance of sharing our fun times with you guys, so come check these pics! Haha!

Trying Out As A Fashion Stylist

2010-12-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

Today I made an account on www.looklet.com to channel my passion about being a fashion stylist.

Turned out that I enjoyed it so much!

Do check out my page when you have time, and don't forget to give me hearts :)

This is one of my debut on Looklet. Hope you like it because had fun creating the style!

Follow this link for more style! :P

The Island of Gods: Where Tranquility Meets the Hype of A Metro City

2010-12-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've traveled to Bali with my Mom. The last time I went to that beautiful island was two years ago. Bali still looked awesomely pretty to me. And the locals, ah, they were still the same astonishing people, with warm smiles and good manners.

So, when we're in Bali, I stayed at Aston Kuta for two days. the moment I arrived, the front desk greeted to me and helped me with my suitcases while she was taking me to my hotel room after checking-in. I could not find the same hospitality when I am visiting other country, say, Singapore. It is definitely one of Bali's quality, if not Indonesia's.

Aston Kuta, the hotel where I stayed in

But it does not stop right there. Somehow the front desk woman upgraded our room to premium room, with two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, two televisions, and our own mini pantry. Awesomeness!

The hotel's living room

Visiting Bali is like a reminiscence for me of the old days. And it was definitely a mini escape from the boring routine, the pressure and stress from work, and the crazy life in the megacity (Jakarta, that is). It was also a treat for my Mom to be able to spend quality time with her. But I was not visiting Bali only for the fun and partying.
Well, we did checked out the new-most-talked-about place in Bali called the Rock Bar. The Rock Bar is a bar that sits on the rock (like, literally!) with a state of the art DJ booth (which also sits on the rock), and simple but cozy bar overlooking the blue ocean. The Rock Bar is located in Ayana Resort (formerly, the Ritz-Carlton) and pretty much is the "it" place where bule and Jakarta's socialites gathered during their Bali sweet vacation.

The Rock Bar, decked out with its dashing view

I also visited other tourists' hot spots such as Tanah Lot, Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park, and Bedugul. Too bad it was raining cats and dogs in Bedugul so me and my Mom were not having many chances to take pictures of the gorgeous lake Beratan. Garuda Wisnu Kencana was also mesmerizing. The gigantic sculptures made by Nyoman Nuarta were all so huge and debonair. I was like soooo tiny compared to those statues.

Tanah Lot

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

Dreamland beach, where I could live there in a dream

Last but not least, I visited the breathtaking temple of Tanah Lot in Uluwatu. The view was just magnificent. The cliff, the green trees, the ocean. God, You are the greatest creator of all. Apart from the broken steps that are made from part stone part cement, Uluwatu temple is definitely the place where I would like to go back, just to take a glance at the panoramic beauty from the cliff.

Magnificent top-of-the-cliff view from Uluwatu temple

So, all the way from Jakarta to the magnificent Tanah Lot, the dense night bar at Ayana, the rainy Bedugul, and moving to massive cultural park of GWK, and last to the heart of Hindu-Bali, the Uluwatu temple, I could not describe Bali in one phrase except for what I have wrote on the title above.

A place where tranquility meets the hype of a big city.

Memories of Bali

2010-09-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

Bali.

It all started with a drama in the office. my boss hired 4 men who'd began joining the office on 1 August 2010. The existing lawyers and staffs were of course excited, thinking that these 4 new crews would at least help reducing our workload.

However, that thought was completely wrong.

These 4 new crews resigned immediately after they joined the office. now, don't tell me why these 4 men resigned, I'm not gonna talk about my office now. I'd save it for another post because it is going to be a long talk and you'd probably be bored by the length of the paragraph ;P

Anyways, after losing 4 men in one month, my boss was (at first enraged but) trying to be nice to the existing lawyers. and so, the offer came.

My boss, having lost a battle to keep his employee from resigning, sent me a blackberry message one night, offering a vacation to Bali.

I, of course, am thrilled.

Soon after the offer came, my mind flies to Bali, to its beauty, to its hospitality, to its harmony, and to my own memories of Bali.

Two years ago.

The last time I visited Bali was in 2008, vacationing while attending Joint Office Associate Meeting held by my previous employer. Because my previous employer was the most prstigious law firm in Indonesia (which was also a member firm of one of the most prominent law firm in the world), the Joint Office Meeting was supposed to be attended by many lawyers from offices in Asia-Pacific region.

Good thing, Malaysia and Singapore office were joining us in the hype of the meeting (and trainings, and seminars). Unfortunately, due to travel warning, Australia and Philippines office were not able to join us. But still, there were loads of lawyers staying in one hotel (being the Hyatt Nusa Dua Resort), and there were a lot of fun (despite the boring session of trainings and seminars :P)

The fun thing is, I had the opportunities to meet colleagues from Malaysia and Singapore office (even chatted with Ashok Lalwani, the International Partner (Principal) of Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow, Singapore), and we bet about the rain. I (at that time unaware of his position in the firm) suggested him to go visit Bandung.

If I recall those things now, my face is turning to red. What a silly thing, suggesting a principal who has traveled around the world, to go visit Bandung? But he seemed pleased at that moment, so I guess I was doing just okay :P

Aside from doing a silly chat with a Principal, I did a lot of eating and shopping too! Haha. This was my favorite part. Too bad i didn't get to snap photos of the foods, but I did snap photos of us in the restaurant, though :D

After taking a meal in Made's Warung in Kuta, we went for a walk down the street, hunting for goodies to be purchased for souvenirs (oleh-oleh). I bought myself and my sister wooden bangles for just Rp5,000 each, and T-shirts (for just Rp15,000 each), kacang bali (balinese peanuts); and other snacks.

It felt great, to go on a vacation with friends like that. and to be able to stay in a 5-star hotel for free :D

Too bad, due to the tight schedule, I was not able to visit Tanah Lot, Ubud, Tabanan, Dreamland, or even Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

If I go back to Bali again this October, would loooooovveeee to visit those places.

Peace out!

S.

Welcoming:

2010-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

1. Vienna Black;
2. Veronica Violet; and
3. Valentina Violet.

To my shoe closet.

I love them all! Yeaay! :)

Quote Of The Day

2010-07-06T07:18:00.000-07:00

Live. Laugh. Love.

Quote of The Day

2010-02-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

What Is Happiness If You Don't Have Anybody To Share It With

Celebrity Look Alike

2010-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Some celebrities share a mutual similarity in facial structure. Some of them are already couples, some of them not. But with a look-alike faces like these, who knows? :P

Here they are:

1. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens

Resemblance: Met in the set of High School Musical, and ended up in romance until now. No wonder, they're so look-alike! Both share thick dark eyebrow, stary eyes, similar cheek bonesm and dark locks.

P.S. No matter how hot Zac Efron looks like, he's never my type. He's even prettier than his gf, I even call him Zac Gay-fron. Sorry.

2. Matthew Morrison and Blake Lively

Resemblance: The Glee star and the Gossip Girl darling turns out to be lookalike! Both share similar eyes, similar smile, strong jaw bones, and relatively blonde locks.

I can only imagine, if Blake was not with Penn, and she met Matthew in some random red carpet occassion, would they fall in love into each other? lol.

3. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Resemblance: This quarterback and his brazillian hottest supermodel are like pool of genetically superfine human beings. Both share similar nose line, deep eyes, full lips and jaw bones.

I hope their son Benjamin will grow up superhot like their parents. And by the way, Gisele is one my favorite supermodel ;)

4. David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel

Resemblance: These Bones pair are look-alike! Oh, well.. If only they're singles. Both co-stars share thin lips, eyebrow lines close to eyes, brunette locks, high cheek bones, and similar mystifying eyes. Did I just say mystifying? I must've watched Bones too much :P

P.S. I wish they're real life lover. I really do.

5. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Resemblance: This TomKat couple must be meant to be. Both share very similar eyebrow lines, deep eyes, dark locks, and similar jaw bones.

They said Tom is an odd guy (and I happen to be VERY agree), but looks like sweet Katie is the right woman for him :)

6. Joe Jonas and Camilla Belle

Resemblance: If only they weren't used to be a couple, people would've thought they're siblings! Both share similar eyebrow line and thickness, black locks, deep dark eyes, and straight nose line. Too bad they have split!

7. Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis

Resemblance: Oh my, they're like twins! Both share similar pointy nose, similar lips, cheek bones and jaw line. To add the similarity, both are media-shy persons.

Johnny is one of my favorit male actors in the world, and I think Vanessa is Mrs. soulmate to this one of my favorite male actors in the world. LOL.

8. Michael Vartan and Jennifer Aniston

Resemblance: Apart from the different nose type, both share similar thick lips, relatively blonde locks and similar jaw bones.

If only Michael shows up more in the screens and in the red carpets, maybe by chance he will meet Jen and pair up with her. I think it's time for Jen to meet Mr. Right, and it could be Michael :)

My TV Muse

2010-01-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

1. Lee "Apollo" Adama - Battlestar Galactica (portrayed by Jamie Bamber)

Previous Position: Captain, Commander, Commanding Officer of Battlestar Pegasus, Caprica's Delegate of the Quorum of Twelve Delegate
Current Position: Vice President of the Twelve Colonies

2. Lt. Col. John Sheppard - Stargate: Atlantis (portrayed by Joe Flanigan)

Previous Position: Major in the United States Air Force
Current Position: Lieutenant Colonel, Second-in-Command in Atlantis Expedition

3. FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth - Bones (portrayed by David Boreanaz)

Previous Position: Sniper with the United States Army Ranger
Current Position: Special Agent with the FBI, Official FBI Liason with the Jeffersonian

4. NYPD Det. CSI Danny Messer - CSI: NY (portrayed by Carmine Giovinazzo)

Previous/Current Position: CSI, Detective 3rd Grade with the NYPD

5. NYPD Det. Don Flack - CSI: NY (portrayed by Eddie Cahill)

Previous/Current Position: Homicide Detective, Detective 1st Grade with the NYPD

6. CSI Nick Stokes - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (portrayed by George Eads)

Previous Position: CSI Level 3, member of CSI Team with the Las Vegas Crime Lab
Current Position: Assistant Supervisor for CSI

7. Sylar - Heroes (portrayed by Zachary Quinto)

Previous/Current Position: Watchmaker, villain of Heroes

8. FBI Special Agent Danny Taylor - Without A Trace (portrayed by Enrique Murciano)

Previous/Current Position: FBI Special Agent at the Missing Persons Unit

9. CIA Agent Michael Vaughn - Alias (portrayed by Michael Vartan)

Previous/Current Position: CIA Field Agent, APO Field Agent

10. Logan Cale - Dark Angel (portrayed by Michael Weatherly)

Previous/Current Position: cyber journalist under alter ego code name Eyes Only

Finding Mr. Right

2009-11-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

Finding Mr. Right is like finding a needle in haystacks. Seriously. Everytime we met a man we thought he was Mr. Right. But then he walked away and broke our heart. And after we passed the broken heart stage, we knew that he was not Mr. Right - simply Mr. Right Now.

Or, you just simply knew he was not the one. I felt it recently with my last ex boyfriend. I just knew that at some sort of point, I was not going to spend my lifetime with him. And then we broke up. And then I continue my journey to find Mr. Right.

And then (as usual) the road is long and winding. Ha!

And it makes it harder since I am a dreamer.

I am a 24 year old cancerian, a mood swinger, and possess the quiet yet witty trait that a girl can possibly carry herself. Being a single (hopefully would not be spinster) woman, I urge the quest to find my own Mr. Right soon *giggle.

Since I am a dreamer (a silly one, I suppose), the qualification of a guy that I want may slightly be overwhelming. Well, overwhelming could be an underestimation since what I want from a man to be my Mr. Right is basically...everything. A-ha!

OK, I admit I dream about these guys in the movies too much. But I mean it. I love the fine character of these guys and would love that whoever man that will be lucky enough to get me, possesses these qualified characters.

Because, oh yess! These fictional guys that I dream of are almost perfect in their own way.

And who are they?

Let's take a look :)

1. Andrew Paxton - The Proposal (played by Ryan Reynolds)

Why I love him:

Andrew Paxton possesses this hardworking, energetic, witty, heartless yet warm personality that makes him attractive (aside from those jaw dropping abs and incredibly astonishing physique of Ryan Reynolds, lol). His wit when it comes to dealing with Margaret Tate (his "Satan's Mistress" boss who'd later become his love interest) was just too cruel but funny. Margaret, on the other hand, is a cold blooded woman herself, who develop to be a cheered up woman when she later sort of fall for his own PA, who's none other than Andrew himself. This unexpected feeling that grows in their hearts draws Margaret and Andrew closer. And at this stage we can see how Andrew transform from a heartless bloke into a warm-loving knight for Margaret.

So, it is the combination of his manliness and warm-loving quality who (without any doubt) took my heart away :)

2. Nicholas Deveraux - Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (played by Chris Pine)

Why I love him:

Nicholas Deveraux is an aristocrat himself. His strong educational and social background made him a respectable well mannered young man in nature. However, his hobby of reading has not make him a boring guy indeed, for he has another hobby - dating the girls. The latter has made him quite a prince charming himself and caused him labeled a ladies man by the society. His arrogance, fierceness, combined with smart, easy going, yet romantic character are the reason why the girls loved him, why Mia Thermopolis loved him, and why I loved him too :)

3. Jack Taylor - One Fine Day (played by George Clooney)

Why I love him:

Jack Taylor is a laid back journalist who does not care much about what the world thinks about him. His down to earth, easy going, and charming personality has made him likeable. He possess this childishness that is very refreshing. He's very funny and confident with his job, whilst at the same time is very insecure when it comes to women and love. His insecurity makes him just another guy who needs to be loved just as he is. And to boost the chart of his persona, he loves his daughter Maggie, and Maggie seems to love him back a lot. Apart from the lack-of-responsibility accusation that has been thrown upon him, I would love to have Mr. Taylor as the father of my children (does it sound too creepy?) Ha! Anyways, Jack Taylor stole my heart... :)

4. Tony Stark - Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.)

Why I love him:

If any man on this earth is to be labeled as the bad boy, it is Tony Stark him self. Tony is an extremely rich man who aced MIT when he was a teenager, who masters math, physic and chemistry, whose exquisite top of the cliff house is all computerized, and who turns pieces of junks in a cave into a super robotic suit he used to escape from being a war prisoner. Aside from the money and the look, Tony Stark is charming because he is flamboyant and persistent. Even though he is snob (and always surrounded by New York's creme de la creme, if I may add) he actually is a kind person who aims his life for greater good, and a possible platonic love with his PA, Pepper Potts. His 'run first before you walk' personality combined with his inner golden heart kind of melts my heart. I fall easy for man with brain - and heart, you know? :)

5. Mark Darcy - Bridget Jones' Diary (played by Colin Firth)

Why I love him:

Mark Darcy is an extremely brilliant yet frigid humanitarian lawyer. His character in Bidget Jones' Diary is basically based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. And like the original Darcy, he is an awkward man, sometimes can be a bit rude, smart, and polished. At the first pages of the novel (as well as of the film), Mark Darcy was nothing but awkward and a rude person who always refer Bridget as to "used to walk naked on my paddling pool". It's quite charming actually, the way the build their relationship. But as time goes by, when Mark finally admits to Bridget that he likes Bridget the way she is, we can see the dawning part of him. And when he kisses Bridget in the finale of the movie, we can see that Mark is not that awkward, in fact, he's a heck of a good kisser ;)

6. Neil Jones - He's Just Not That Into You (played by Ben Affleck)

Why I love him:

Neil Jones in He's Just Not That Into You possess this down to earth and warm trait that makes you want to lay in his arm forever. Although he is pictured as a commitment phobic at the beginning of the movie, but it ends up with him proposing to Jennifer Aniston's character in a very simple yet very sweet way. Neil Jones is a regular guy who do men's thing, spend the time with men friends, but will always come back to his lady when the sun sets. He is not hesitant to help you with the dishes and is very down to earth. His "I am just a regular guy" personality makes him the most unregular guy to fall in love with :)

7. Officer Jack Traven - Speed (played by Keanu Reeves)

Why I love him:

Jack Traven. Hm.. Where Should I begin? If I reviewed regular guy character above, well, Jack Traven is everything but regular. First of all, he made a heroic act at saving the hostages trapped in an elevator. Second of all, he made a brave move by shooting the terrorist that took his friend, Harry, as a hostage - and got a medal for that. Jack Traven is a bold, full-of-stunt cop who is also very polite. He stops the bad guy from exploding a bus full of passengers, and he saved a women who later became his love interest, Annie (played by Sandra Bullock). And the best thing is he is so sweet to Annie. He is a tough and a mush at the same time, and you would want to depend yourself to this kind of guy, as well as to take care of him at the same time :)

8. Jack Callaghan - While You Were Sleeping (played by Bill Pullman)

Why I love him:

Jack Callaghan, similar to Neil Jones, is a regular guy who wears jeans and a flanel shirt in his regular day. He is humble but determined, honest and easy going. Jack Callaghan runs his father business but has a desire to open his own. He drives a truck and not a convertible, he sells second-hand furniture instead of owning a billion dollar apartment filled with minimalist furniture. Jack Callaghan is not a knight with shining armor. He is not a lawyer with million dollar crib, but that is what interesting about him. He makes money his own way, he runs his father business although he does not like it (simply because nobody else is running it), and he still visits his parents for thanksgiving. Simply put, he is the type of guy you would want to hug you every night before you go to bed (with him beside you, off course) ;-)

Letters For The Soul

2009-11-22T20:15:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you are lonely?
What do you do when you're sad?
What do you do when you're happy?
What do you do when you feel bad?

I read.

Letters. From A to Z, are healers. In their plain form they are mere letters, without meanings. But when you put them together, arrange them in order, they have thousands of meanings.

Letters then became words, and words became sentences, sentences became paragraphs, and paragraphs transform into poems, lyrics, proses, and when they became abundantly prolonged and descriptive they became books.

Books are my healer. I've read a lot of books. It's a legacy that I will pass on to my children, and grandchildren, and when my grandchildren pass it on to their grandchildren they will know that books are the greatest treasure of all.

Those sentences have millions of meanings. And those meanings heal thousands of broken hearts, inspired thousands of fallen souls, and feed thousands of hungered minds.

An old proverb say don't judge the book by its cover. And have we proven in countless time that the proverb is true. A book, regardless its torn, dusty cover, may have a tremendous power inside. The way it tells its story, the way it makes its reader hurl of crying and laughter, and left him/her a slice of heaven when he/she goes to bed, and enlighten him/her with new idea(s) the next day, has nothing to do with its cover.

A book, well-written, I believe, have a power to move thousand people with its words.

So, people, start reading.
Start dreaming.

And start writing. Now.

Happiness.

2009-11-19T19:05:00.000-08:00

It started out as a feeling
which then grew into a hope..

I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye..

Happiness. Is what I feel when I hear this song. The Call by Regina Spektor. It's a light music, breezy, and soft. A feel-good song to pick up my mood. I've been through a lot lately.

To be honest, few weeks back I was at a point when I couldn't even get up, when I wouldn't even want to get up. But God is so generous, He blessed me with a wonderful family and supportive friends. Now, happiness is what I want to pursue. Not that I don't feel happy right now. I do. It's just that this happiness I'm talking about is a lifetime journey of finding.

You can find your happiness through simple things in life. Joking around with your brother, share a story with your sister, give your mom and dad a hug and a kiss per day, talk to your bestfriends, having all-girls night out once in a while, having a blast with the boys on the weekend, exercising in the morning, or simply write down your thoughts on a paper - or in a blog :p

But the ultimate key thing to happiness is actually this: Give thanks to God. Everyday.

I've been trying to do those things now. I guess I could say my life now is more low key and simpler. Way back then I was a dream catcher, an ambitious young associates at the biggest (and the best, so they say) law firm in the country. I fried myself back there. And now I'm washing away the ashes, reincarnating as a new soul, trying to fill myself with passion and goodwill.

It's not easy, to stay on positive state like that everyday. But I'm keeping my faith, I'm praying. And these little things really help me going. These are some of my favorite things on earth. When I have time, I would sit in front of my computer, looking at these. These simply feed my soul.

These are what make me happy. and I want to share these with you :)

1. A peaceful corner in a peaceful house

Ok, I'm a bit of dorky person. I'm a bookworm. And I love reading in a breezy Saturday or whenever I have spare time. And it's hard to find a quiet place with amazing view pictured above. So, what happened? I googled it, haha. Seriously, I googled the places I want to be in a hope I can afford those places someday. And yess, I would be happy if I have a stress-free green corner of my own to spend my time reading and sipping my latte, just like the picture above. Well someday, I hope :)

2. Mr. Knightley

George Knightley, or better known as Mr. Knightley, is the lead male character in my favorite Jane Austen's romance, Emma. In the 1994 big screen film of Emma (starred by Gwyneth Paltrow), the character of Mr. Knightley was portrayed by Jeremy Northam.

Most of people might prefer Fitzwilliam Darcy than Mr. Knightley. I love Darcy. I want a man just like Darcy. But this Mr. Knightley guy, with his smart and down to earth persona, really blown my heart away. I love the way Jane Austen pictured him as a mature man, steady, smart, and golden hearted, more like a patron for Emma. I would like to feel love and security in the same time when I marry my man someday. So, imagining Mr. Knightley is more like a prayer to me :)

3. Chubby baby(ies)

*psst..the above baby picture is actually me when I was 3. Tee hee! :D

So, yes. I love babies. I am a woman and I would like to have my own little angels someday. But it's not just it. Babies are somehow seem so clean, so pure. When they smile they seem so happy. It's like heaven.

4. My recent vacation

Posing with Merlion and the Esplanade as background.

Recently I went for a vacation to Singapore with one of my colleagues. It was a pleasant journey. None of us knew anything about Singapore. From our arrival in Changi until our departure in the same airport, we are strangers in Singapore. Thank God we had a little help from my cousin, Rio. It was an adventurous, independent, non-stress journey. I love the feeling..

*P.S. You can check out my journey in my previous post called "Vacation" down there :P

5. Cherry Blossoms

I don't know how to explain why I love cherry blossom. Most women will fall for roses. Well, I love roses. But it's cherry blossom that steal my heart if I seek comfort in just looking at it. There's something so serene about this flower. It just looks...peaceful.

6. Simple expression of love

*photo courtesy of Sloan Photography

The picture speaks for itself..

7. My pink baby

Meet my pink mp3 player. Too bad I don't have a name for it yet :)

I bought this Samsung mp3 player a few months back. I broke the left earphone a couple weeks ago, and I fixed it myself. It has now stored more than 100 songs, all of which are my favourites. This baby has accompanied me during my ups and downs, my happy and my sad, and has been a healer ever since.

8. A "homy" house

Well, I don't exactly dream about the above house -- or living room, to be precise. I dream about the "home". The house that is homy, peaceful, warm and welcome. I want my house to be a place of my own and also the place where my buddies can come over without feeling that they're coming to a stranger's place. That house will be the place where I spend my time loving my family, raising my kids, and watch them grow up. Right now, my family is my home. But someday, I would love to have my own home :)

So, what are your favorite things? Write them down now, dream about them, and make them real. Happy living, dear fellows. Let's make our dream come true. Together.

Love,
S.

Quote of The Day

2009-11-09T04:09:00.001-08:00

It takes rejections to be accepted, it takes falling down to get back on, it takes losses to make a champion.

For Your Consideration..

2009-11-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

Nowadays women has grown stronger. Men recognize their strength, and women are proud of their strength. However, women are still the same delicate creature of God. Some overcome their delicacy by maximizing their inner power, some seek for outer source (i.e. men). So, that leaves us to two types of women: Dependent and Independent Women.

Both types might have similar outside package, but inside, they’re truly different. Let me tell you about these differences:

A. Working

Dependent: Choose ‘secure’ job as the path of their career. Doing administration in the office, doing secretarial tasks, everything that comes from 8 am to 5 pm. In a bottom line, all jobs that do not inquire much risks.

Independent: Choose ‘rather challenging’ jobs as the path of their career. Tell them to go to court, they’ll ace it. Tell them to do research, they’ll kick it. They’re not afraid of going home 5 am in the morning alone by taxi. They’ve been to Borneo’s jungle doing site visits. So if you’re really into these women, don’t try telling them to “go home at 7, ok?” The woman might say yes, but in her heart she knew that the type of guy who told them that is a pincher.

B. The Way They Talk

Dependent: They tend to talk calmly to guys, they love to SMILE to guys, rarely disagree with guys, they say yes almost every time. Easy for guys to handle.

Independent: They have debate ALMOST EVERY MINUTE with guys, at work, at relationship, even with their boss or their own father. She loves to LAUGH with guys, she’s quite handful. When she disagrees to a boyfriend she would rather restrain from arguing. But if the guy pulled off her limit, she would be a fearless debater. It requires tough mature guys who’d wise enough to say: “you’re right, darling.” If she knows she was wrong, she would apologize in the next minute. But if you confront her, she would happily accept your war – and proudly win it.

C. When A Guy Offers A Ride

Dependent: When a guy offers them a ride home, she would be gladly to accept. Some of them may play it a little hard at start, but in their heart they’re still exciting. It wouldn’t be hard for guys to work the trick out.

Independent: When a guy offers them a ride home, they would first assess him. If he’s a good enough catch, she would be pumped to accept. But first, she would play hard to get or pretend that she’s been offered hundreds of ride by guys that she would play the ice queen to the guy. Be polite and be a gentleman to her, she would be a wily temptress. She may leave you with a hug or a kiss in a cheek before leaving.

D. Balancing the Daily Life

Dependent: They tend to cheer the guy first. When they see a guy’s note in facebook they may say: “wow good note. It’s so funny.” It’s understandable since she may not be familiar with the jokes because she never read the book, or she has read the book but still say something to show her admiration to the guy.

Independent: They don’t cheer they guy if they know the guy was doing plagiarism. They would not say: “wow, good note. It’s so funny.” When they know that the jokes written by the guy in facebook was not original and has been printed hundreds of time in jokes books sold at Gramedia across the nation. For her, it would be a waste of time to adore a douchebag. End of story.

E. The Way They Walk

Dependent: Clinging her hand to the guy or playing shy, tend to walk beside or behind the guy. It wouldn’t be hard for the guy to walk beside her. She may never leave your side as well.

Independent: Rushing daily life has made them a runner. They walk quickly, efficiently, and often ahead of guys. Please bear in mind that these women are regular high heels sprinter, so don’t be mad if they walk ahead of you in high heels. When they cross the street, they won’t be waiting for you. They cross hundreds of streets ALONE every day. Instead, initiate to run to them and walk beside them, balance your step with them, open the door for them, they will adore you as a gentleman.

F. Daily Life

Dependent: They tend to be more ‘womenlike’. Most of them are believers and easy to be manipulated.

Independent: They tend to be more ‘sophisticated.’ Most of them have instinct and eagle eye and was not easy to be manipulated. When she smells something’s not right, she has the reasonable doubt to go after your things to find out. You may think that it was against your privacy. You may think she hijacked your facebook. But in the first place, why would you gave her the password? Why would you say that you can cheat on her and she wouldn’t know? She knows it, brother. She has brain in her HEAD, not in her penis. Ring a bell?

G. Recovering A Broken Heart

Dependent: Tend to share the whole story with drama to a guy friend. Say “I just need a guy to help me get through everything.”

Independent: cried at the first night. Women, however heartless the may be, had and always will have a heart. And when someone breaks their heart, they will cry. But in the next day, they will get up and go outside. Meeting new friends, take a vacation, go to work, and get back on their feet. She doesn’t need a guy friend to take care of her. However, she still need guys to protect her. After all, she’s a she, remember?

So, dependent and independent women are different. But they are all women, they’re ALIKE. One basic rule: Women love to be adored. So, treat them nice. Don’t bullshit them with how many girls hop on you or sending you seductive text messages. No, man, it’s a recipe for disaster. If a guy has no feeling for anybody he would be ignorant even 100 girls were chasing after him. It’s something you don’t have to share with girls, especially to those independent women who have been there and done that.

So boys, do grow up. Being liked by the whole office is just a regular thing. Having girls waving at you is a regular thing. But when you can prove that you’re 100% loyal to your girlfriend and 100% loyal to your job, that would win a good woman. Because for women, if you still can’t stand on your own feet and still having your boss giving you shitballs everyday, you have WORKS to do. Don’t waste your time calling another girl, don’t waste your time walk around in the office building a connection with girls. GET YOUR ASS TO WORK!

Winning a woman’s heart is simple. Don’t just give her flowers or poem, give her your heart, and she will be yours.

They may be two types of women in the world. But when it comes to the hard part, all women are tough cookies.

Love,

p.s. oh, if you ask me which type I am? I’ll say: “I’m in between.”

Java Soulnation 30-31 October 2009

2009-11-01T04:59:00.001-08:00

Yeaay!! Me and some friends went on International Java Soulnation Festival last Friday, and it was AWESOME!! Here's a picture we took at a photo booth that shows our filthy - yet expressive - face ;p

*tag: Alma Ardiatmadja, Me, Theresia Yulia Adriani.

And after I saw the performance of remarkable duo "The Ting Tings", I'm surely rooting for:

And I loooooveee JULES DE MARTINO!! ;p

Story behind My JavaSoulnation Trip:

I bought the tickets for 3 persons a month ago when they're still in early bird. I bought them for myself, and my friends Lia adn Erma. I went to the festival with them, too. It was nice to be hanging around with the old friends. We met Preti, Dimas, Uchie, Bram and their couple of friends there. So, we all gathered together in The Ting Ting's show. That was awesome. I tell you now, Jules De Martino and Katie White are fabulous! I fell in love with their music, with the beat. And oh, I think I fell in love with Jules... :P

After The Ting Ting's show, we spread out on our own directions. Lia, Preti, and I were out and we met my friends, Dinda Alvita (who's a model. Cool, huh?), Alma, and Chippie. we hang out briefly before we headed out looking for something to eat. Alma ended up tagging along with us. We watched several small performances in smaller stage from Indonesian musician before we went back to the main stage where Tortured Soul has already began their performance. And again, Tortured Soul's great! I had soar feet because I spent watching two performances dancing. and not stopping. Ouch!

Finally, Preti told me that she'd go home at 12.30. And I thought I was running late too because I drove alone. So, I went back home at 12.30 with Preti and her friends. It was a nice concert. Good music, good dance, good bonding with old friends, and some giggles with new friends.

I wish I could go to concerts like that again someday with my friends.
Have a blast, a new experience, and make new friends.

So, Java Soulnation, thanks for bringing back together the nation :)

Vacation!

2009-10-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

On 8-10 October, I and my office colleague, Lia, went on vacation to Singapore. And these are the shots of our journey :)

I'm Rooting For...

2009-09-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

Christian Louboutin Bow-Kiss Lock

BCBG Stunning Pump

I Wish You Well

2009-09-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

We met at one fine afternoon
You sat there with your ice chocolate
I remembered you as a humble guy
who dreams high that frail won't take
And the rest was lead to fate

And then we met in one fine night
You sat there with thousands of thoughts
And I knew that I'll never get to you
You've shut the door I can not reach
Another mourn I cannot keep

I write this note to let you know
That I thank Him for every minutes we spent together
And every minutes we spent apart
Also for letting me know
that I have to let it go

I wanna scream I wanna be there for you
But a tango always take two
I love you too much to understand you
So I must be strong for my own due

And after all that we've been through
I wish you happiness
I wish you health
I wish you wealth
I wish you love

and I wish you life

From the side of my broken wings
S. 26-09-09

Selamat Idul Fitri 1430 H

2009-09-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Telah sebulan kita menahan nafsu dan amarah,
Menghindari godaan demi menjalankan ibadah puasa
Sebulan kita menyucikan diri dan membasuh diri dari dosa
Sekaranglah saatnya
Kita kembali ke fitrah

Happy holiday, peeps! :)

picture taken from:
http://sbelen.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/greeting_card_idul_fitriwwwantondedeinfo.gif

T.A.J.U.R.

2009-07-31T22:52:00.001-07:00

So...
The Surachmans finally went to Tajur.
And these are what happenned ;)

What I wear:
Orange Tee: Promod
Shorts: Arnessio
Unbranded necklace with blue stone pendant: Mom's
Unbranded silver bangles: Mom's
Unbranded baby blue jeans tote: bought in Mangga Dua ;p

Mom and Dad (btw, I love Mom's Shirt, deliciously colorful!)

My kid brother Reggy

My little sister Sandrina (captured her when she hasn't comb her hair, haha!)

XOXO - Gossip Girl

2009-07-27T21:06:00.001-07:00

Wew, one of my favorit TV series is back!

For those of you who have watched Gossip Girl and love it just as much as I do: enjoy!

For those of you who have watched Gossip Girl and do not like it: you must have severe brain damage.

For those of you who have not watched Gossip girl: what planet are you living in? seriously, go grab the DVDs!

Entertainment Weekly cover: Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick

Entertainment Weekly cover: Blake Lively and Pen Badgley

So, what are you waiting for?

xoxo,

Gossip Girl Lover

Celestine

2009-07-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

Barren field it was, a blue moon arose
Compliment was gone, urged for a dose
There stood a girl with naked feet
Knowing no fear, and heartless deed

The wolfs were crying, deserting sky
Fear not be, thy souls to die
She stood there watching
Not for them, nor thee, nor anyone but I

So flew to the sky
Chased for the moon
But where did she go, where would she land?
She conquered the wind, but defeated
by a virtue of glorious avenge

Celestine
Come lay down on the green field
Where grass and flowers are your eternal friends
Come resting in the deep brown soil
Where destiny merges with the lure of sand

Wipe away, Celestine
Wipe away your crystal tears
Breath in the morning and smell the breeze
See the light of shades, touch the ray of light
Warm your soul, contentment insight
May your heart be repaired
And all that are impaired
Be replaced…

She is now standing on the field
Of solemn melodies
Filled with memories
Of the pass that the future encompassed

“Smile for those you dear”, she says
Like I have cast darkness behind
And those who were weaken, brought stronger
By the vigor that immortal find

Dearest Celestine
Come rest with me
Peacefully
Peacefully

-S. 28.12.2008-

Alert: Jakarta Hotels Bombing

2009-07-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 7.40 am, Jakarta time, a bomb ripped off JW Marriott Hotel, one of Jakarta's most prestigious hotel. Following few minutes after, another bomb blasted on The Ritz-Carlton Hotel located in front of the JW Marriott. The two hotels are situated at Jakarta's prestigious business district, Mega Kuningan. The blasts killed 9 people and injured more than 50 others.

My deepest condolences for the victims and people who are suffered from this horror. I surely condemn this vicious, intolerable action of bombing - which, in any sense, contributes only fear and mourn to mankind, especially us Indonesian, and bring nothing - i repeat- nothing but pain!

I do hope that God will endow to those bombers an enlightmen that there are other ways to fight for what we believe, e.g. by being BETTER, SMARTER, and MORE DIGNIFIED people than being brainless, savage bombers that in many ways degrading Indonesia's image to the world.

God be with us.

Saving Kimberly Thomas - Part 2

2009-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

_____________________________________________________
To: Kimberly Thomas <kim.thomas@thenyweekly.com>
From: Jim Cassidy <james.cassidy@IBM.com>
Subject: Where r u?
_____________________________________________________

Kim,
Aku menunggumu di lobi gedung apartemenmu selama dua jam sebelum akhirnya pengawas gedungmu memaksaku pulang. Aku lalu menunggumu lagi di le cirque, kalau-kalau kau memutuskan untuk pergi sendirian dan menungguku di sana, tapi ternyata aku tidak juga menemukanmu.

Jadi, kau kemana saja? Temanmu bilang kau sedang ada di Namibia untuk meliput anak-anak dyslexia. Kurasa memang kau sedang di Namibia ya? Kapan kau akan pulang. Tolong kabari aku begitu kau punya kesempatan atau aku bisa gila memikirkanmu. Please, please, please.

Aku begitu merindukanmu.

All my heart,
Jim
_______________________________________________________

Hari ini aku menemani Grannie makan di Oak Room dan merasa bosan setengah mati. Aku adalah anggota keluarga terakhir yang tinggal satu kota dengan Grannie dan keturunan -- yang menurut Grannie juga – banyak melakukan kesalahan bodoh. Grannie berpendapat ayahku melakukan dua kesalahan bodoh, yang pertama menolak mewarisi dan mengurus perusahaan penerbangan terbesar di Amerika milik kakekku, dan yang kedua, pindah jauh-jauh dari Grannie ke Texas.

Kurasa karena itulah Grannie tidak mau berhenti menyiksaku dengan segala aturan-aturannya dan campur tangannya dalam hidupku – sebagai balasan karena dia tidak bisa mengendalikan Dad. Bukannya aku mau bolang nenekku adalah seorang nenek sihir jelak dan jahat, dia malah tidak terlihat seperti itu sama sekali. Di usianya yang ke-66 tahun, dia terlihat awet muda karena face-lift, botox, dan diet vegetarian yang rutin dijalaninya. Selain itu, Grannie juga mampu tampil seanggun dan selembut Lady Di di depan umum. Kau benar-benar tidak akan menyangka kalau dia adalah tipe nenek yang cuma punya kosakata untuk mengkritik cucu satu-satunya di otaknya.

Nyatanya Grannie sedang melakukannya saat ini. Padaku. Saat kami sedang makan siang bersama.

“Aku serius, Kimberly,” Grannie memulai, “kau boleh-boleh saja memilih lelaki semaumu dalam hidupmu, asal kau mau berjanji padaku tidak akan memilih yang seperti Sam lagi. Tidakkah kau sudah merasa cukup berpetualang dengan sampah-sampah yang mengaku pemusik seperti mereka? Aku bisa mengenalkanmu pada setiap bujangan berkualitas di New York dengan mudah dan kau malah memilih berakhir di pelaminan dalam keadaan mabuk bersama pria paling brengsek yang berasal dari daerah yang paling dikutuk Tuhan di kota ini?”

Aku mendengus dan menjejalkan sesendok pasta ke dalam mulutku, “memangngnya aku bisa memilih pada siapa aku jatuh cinta?”

Grannie meletakkan sendoknya dan menatapku galak, “ada dua hal yang ingin kutegaskan padamu, Kimberly Thomas.” Dia mulai memanggilku dengan nama lengkap, Ouch! “Pertama, sudah berapa kali aku bilang bahwa berbicara sambil mengunyah itu tidak sopan? Kau harus menghentikan kebiasaan buruk itu atau aku akan memanggil Mason Harris untuk memberimu kursus kepribadian. Kedua, kenapa kau tidak pernah menyadari bahwa kau punya martabat untuk dijaga, sehingga kau tidak boleh sembarangan memilih laki-laki yang akan kau cintai.”

Ya Tuhan, Grannie hidup di jaman apa sih? Belum pernah dengar kisah Romeo dan Juliet? Cinderella, atau Beauty and the Beast?

“Grannie, seingatku kita kemari untuk membicarakan pembatalan perkawinanku.”

“Aku ingat kenapa kita ada di sini.” Tukas Grannie, “tidak perlu mengingatkanku alasan kenapa kita datang kemari. Satu hal lagi, mengalihkan topik pembicaraan pada saat orang lain, terutama yang lebih tua darimu, sedang berbicara adalah tidak sopan. Seandainya aku bosmu, aku pasti sudah memecat pegawai sepertimu.”

Oh ya, kadang-kadang aku mau sekali dipecat jadi cucunya.

“Jadi,” Grannie bertanya lagi, “bagaimana urusan dengan pengacaramu? Kalian sudah menyelesaikans segalanya?”

“Eh, pengacaraku?” serangan gerilya saat aku tidak siap. Sial, aku benci sekali saat-saat seperti ini. Cepat Kimberly, pikirkan sebuah jawaban. “Tentu saja aku sudah bertemu dengannya, Grannie. Kami sudah membicarakan semuanya. Bahkan tadi aku bertemu dengannya tanpa sengaja dalam perjalanan ke sini.”

Alis Grannie terangkat sebelah. “Oh ya, dimana?”

“Di depan Washington street. Pria tua bijaksana itu sedang bersama istrinya, mungkin mereka mau makan siang bersama.” Aku tersenyum meyakinkan.

“Kimberly.” Grannie menatapku dengan tatapan anehnya. Dahinya berkerut hebat dan ia menatapku seolah aku baru saja menipunya dengan kejam. “Seingatku, saat terakhir bertemu dengannya dua minggu yang lalu, Jonathan Reese, pengacaramu yang kau sebut tua itu, masih berusia 30 tahun – kalau menurutmu itu terlalu tua – dan ia belum beristri.”

[to be continued]

Saving Kimberly Thomas

2009-07-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

_____________________________________________________________
The New York Weekly
Internal Memo

Kimberly Thomas,

Demi Tuhan, di mana artikel ‘relax dengan aromaterapi’ yang aku minta seminggu yang lalu? Aku mengharapkan artikel yang membuat pembaca kita santai dan bahagia, bukannya cemas dengan ‘Lima Cara Bunuh Diri yang Efekif!’
Aku ingin artikel aromaterapi itu di mejaku.
Atau kau akan menghabiskan sisa karirmu mengetik dengan mesin tik manual.

Siler
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
To: Kim Thomas<Kimberly.thomas@thenyweekly.com>
From: Jim Cassidy<james.cassidy@IBM.com>
Subject: Have a dinner with me

_________________________________________________________________

Dear Kim,

Aku tahu kau memiliki banyak pekerjaan untuk diselesaikan, tapi bila kau tidak keberatan, maukah kau makan malam denganku? Aku akan sangat senang jika kau menjawab ya. Tolong jawab ya. Please.

Aku sudah pesan tempat di le cirque jam 8. Jangan bilang tidak.

Kujemput jam 7.30?

Love,
Jim
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
To: Sally Hughes<sally.hughes@thenyweekly.com>
From: Kim Thomas<Kimberly.thomas@thenyweekly.com>
Subject: Kalau ada telepon..
___________________________________________________________________

..untukku, bilang aku tidak ada di sini.
Aku sedang di Belize, Srilangka, Timbuktu..
Terserah kau.

Kau memang malaikatku, Sal.

Hugs,
KT
___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
PARKER HAYES
Attorneys at Law
156 East 45th street, 22nd Floor
New York 10030, United States of America

Incoming fax to: Kimberly Thomas

Ms. Thomas yang terhormat,

Dengan ini saya beritahukan bahwa saya sudah berbicara dengan pengacara Mr. Henderson, Dalton Smith dari firma hukum Sanders, Biggelow dan Sommers. Dengan adanya pertemuan tanggal 3 Juli 2009 yang dihadiri oleh saya, Mr. Smith, dan Mr. Henderson – tanpa kehadiran anda yang saat ini sedang berada di Namibia untuk meliput anak-anak penderita dyslexia – saya menyatakan bahwa kesepakatan damai gagal dicapai dan itu berarti kita akan maju ke pengadilan untuk menuntut pembatalan pernikahan antara anda dan Mr. Henderson.

Saya menulis surat ini untuk menyampaikan hal tersebut pada anda – lewat facsimile – karena saya mencoba menelepon anda puluhan kali hari ini, namun tidak ada jawaban. Saya harap anda mau datang ke kantor saya untuk mendiskuiskan masalah ini. Tolong hubungi saya segera di kantor saya pada jam kerja supaya kita bisa membuat janji sekembalinya anda dari Namibia.

Salam,
Jonathan Reese
Senior Associate
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
To: Kim Thomas<Kimberly.thomas@thenyweekly.com>
From: Sally Hughes<sally.hughes@thenyweekly.com>
Subject: Kalau ada telepon..
___________________________________________________________________

…untukmu, aku bilang kau ke Namibia untuk meliput anak-anak penderita dyslexia. Maksudku penyakit yang membuat perut-perut anak-anak itu membuncit, kau tahu kan? Tadi Jim si penggemar beratmu telepon, tampaknya dia tidak percaya kau ada di Namibia. Kenapa sih dia harus jadi manusia yang sangat menyebalkan?

Hugs,
Sal.

p.s. pengacaramu tadi telepon, suaranya seksi juga. Berapa umurnya? Tampan tidak? :)
____________________________________________________________________

Oke. Santai saja. Tarik napas dalam-dalam. Keluarkan pelan-pelan.
Relax.

Masalah-masalah ini pasti akan segera berakhir. Ini Cuma serentetan hal biasa yang terjadi dalam hidup. Memangnya berapa kali Siler ngomel-ngomel sejak dia diangkat jadi managing editor di The New York Weekly? Ratusan. Dan berapa kali dia melupakan masalah yang menyebabkan dia ngomel itu? Setiap saat.

Jadi, semuanya pasti beres. Aku akan menyenangkan hati Siler dengan menyelesaikan artikel aromaterapi konyol itu dan hidupku tidak akan berakhir dengan mengetik di mesin tik manual sepanjang karirku. Jadi tidak ada yang perlu dikhawatirkan. Karena sebenarnya inilah yang terjadi:

1. Siler ngomel-ngomel karena dia memang sedang senewen. Kau bisa tahu kalau Siler memanggil seseorang dengan nama lengkapnya, berarti dia sedang marah. Carla dari kolom ‘you have to read this!’ bilang kalau Bethany, sekretaris baru Mr. Clawsky (bos besar kami) yan katanya punya affair dengan Siler, meninggalkannya begitu saja. Dan sekarang sekretaris itu harus bertanggung jawab karena Siler menjelma menjadi Kaisar Nero tanpa belas kasihan.

2. Pria bernama Jim Cassidy yang sudah tiga minggu menerorku dengan ajakan kencan memang jenius komputer berkacamata tebal yang perlu diberi kursus khusus mengenai sinyal-sinya penolakan dari wanita. Jadi jangan heran.

3. Pengacara dari Parker Hayes, Jonathan Reese, adalah seorang pengacara bergaji per jam dan itu sudah menjelaskan kenapa ia bersikap sangat mengganggu dan sangat memberi penekanan pada katidakhadiranku dalam setiap pertemuan yang kami sepakati. Dia akan tutup mulut begitu menerima gajinya. Tapi ngomong-ngomong, aku tidak mengerti kenapa sahabat-sahabatku menilai suara angkuhnya sebagai ‘seksi.’

Oke. Aku akan menyelesaikan artikel aromaterapi itu sekarang dan mengembalikan kedamaian dunia pada kantor The New York Weekly dengan membuat Siler tutup mulut. Lindsay dari kolom psikologi sejak tadi celingak-celinguk ke arah mejaku, kurasa Siler menyuruh wanita itu jadi mata dan telinganya.

Oke, siaga satu.

Kurasa aku harus jadi anak baik untuk sementara ini, walaupun aku tetap akan membuka BanersandNoble.com. Well, Miss Lindsay kami memang menggunakan kacamata setebal dasar botol, jadi kurasa dia tak akan tahu kalau aku main-main sedikit.

Oh, itu Lindsay mengintip lagi ke arahku.

Kurasa aku akan mulai mengetik artikel itu sekarang.

[to be continued]

Chat and Date with old Mates

2009-07-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hm..yeah, the title above is intentionally made rhyming, peeps :p

But it is best describing the all-friends gathering occured on July 7th, pm, Jakarta time. That was a laid back hang out that I and my old mates from DNC were having, sort of an after hour wine and dine, which happened to take place in Sushi Tei - Plaza Indonesia and Social House - Grand Indonesia.

That was fun indeed, although I got home at 2 am in the morning, my bf was kind of mad at me (lol, sorry Yang ;p), and my mom and dad were like freakishly worried about me driving all alone late at night! :)

The next morning, Mom insisted on Daddy, me and my brother, Reggy to go visit Jakarta Fair. We got there at 1.30 in the midday and it was darn HOT! The sun was like burning and we got trouble looking for parking space. Haha, finally we made it. Earlier that day (July 8th, y'all!), I made my self clear as a good citizen by participating in the GE and voted. Lanjutkan for 1 Putaran, hehe.. What an interesting week! :)

p.s. 'nways, that was the day of my debut with a pair of sneakers. Ha! Haha!

Alex, Guna, Me, and Christian @ Social House

Marion, Christian, Alex and Me @ Sushi Tei

Christian, Alex, Me and Guna
what I wear:
unbranded black tank top; Forever 21 black blazer; The Executive stretch editor pants; Calvin Klein patent marron pumps; Unbranded silver and pearly necklace (bought in Bandung); Marloca brown leather tote.

My debut green Converse sneakers & the picture my purple tinted little finger

JIExpo (Jakarta Fair)

The Prayer

2009-07-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

I pray to God to build me with His fortress and blesses me with His knowledge;

I pray to God to protect my family, and to always put them away from harm;

I pray to God to shield me from those harm and ill intentions;

I pray to God to give me courage to stand up, strength to face His test, and calm mind to help me find solutions during my downturn;

I pray to God to protect me from indicent intentions;

I pray to God to grant me and my family a succesfull, wealthy, healthy, long and valuable life;

I pray to god to endow me and my family brains to be smart and heart to help others;

I pray to God to bless upon me a straight mind and pure heart to walk straight on His path;

I pray to God to forgive all sins of mine as well as my family's;

I pray to god to always surround me with good work, friendly neighborhood, and true friends, strong candidacy, and precious opportunities in every aspects;

I pray to God to always bless me and my boyfriend with His graciousness, holyness, and wisdom for us to carry on healthy and mature relationship;

I pray to God to always bestow His blessing upon us;

I pray to God to always love us and lead us to His path;

I pray to God for love and peace, less tears, less anger, and no war;

I pray to God to deliver to us, a beautiful, amazing, and pure --- a better world.

Amin.

Birthdaaay!

2009-07-04T03:42:00.001-07:00

OMG, I'm now 24? And getting chubbier? shoot! :p

Just want to say thanks to all my office colleagues for the surprise birthday cake and mini birthday celebration on June 29th, morning, jakarta time :) And to all my friends for all the birthday wishes. Hope God will make all of those wishes come true, Amin. Love you all!

-SmoOch-

Love and the Office [4] L for Mr. F?

2009-06-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

“Sombong lo, Drey. Mentang-mentang baru jadian. Liat aja ntar kalo udah 6 bulan, lo berantem mulu sama cowo lo, paling lo larinya ke gw lagi.” begitu kata Tian waktu menanggapi jawaban Audrey saat Audrey menolak ajakannya untuk jalan bareng.

Audrey dan Tian sudah bersahabat selama 2 tahun lebih. Mereka bertemu di kantor lama Audrey, sebuah firma hukum yang cukup ternama di Jakarta. Pertama kali bertemu, Audrey jatuh hati pada Tian yang secara fisik memang ok: tinggi, tampan, dan rapi. Pada pertemuan kedua, Audrey merasa Tian adalah orang yang kelewat percaya diri dan songong. Namun setelah sekian lama mereka bertukar pikiran, ternyata mereka malah menjadi teman baik.

Audrey tentu saja sebal dengan reaksi Tian saat itu, seperti menyumpahi agar terjadi masalah dalam hubungan Audrey dan Mr. F setelah 6 bulan pacaran. Sekarang hubungan Audrey dan Mr. F sudah berjalan 5 bulan. Dan sejauh ini semua masih baik-baik saja. Tentu mereka pernah berselisih pendapat, bahkan di dua minggu pertama pacaran saja mereka sudah bertengkar. Tapi Audrey menganggapnya wajar, namanya juga orang pacaran.

Mr. F adalah bekerja di salah satu bank terbesar di Indonesia. Pekerjaannya banyak menuntut dia untuk keluar kantor dan bertemu dengan orang-orang baru. Godaannya pun banyak. Dan Audrey juga banyak mendapat laporan bahwa banyak wanita yang (mungkin) jatuh hati pada Mr. F. Sebenarnya, Mr. F bukan orang yang cakep-cakep banget, pikir Audrey dalam hati. Tapi Audrey sadar, ada kualitas tersendiri dalam diri Mr. F yang membuatnya mudah diterima dan mudah disukai. Mungkin faktor bahwa Mr. F memiliki dua saudara wanita, dan kenyataan bahwa dia adalah cowok yang baik hati, membuat cewek-cewek (sepertinya) nyaman berada di dekatnya.

Audrey terkadang sebal melihat kelaukan wanita-wanita kota besar yang suka kecentilan. Tapi ketika "godaan-godaan" itu datang, ia terus menerus mengingatkan dirinya untuk sabar.

Sebaliknya, Audrey tidak pernah bersikap manja pada laki-laki, apalagi rekan laki-lakinya. Ia adalah tipe wanita yang akan mengangkat sendiri kardus atau binder-binder berat, akan menyetir sendiri, tidak keberatan menjemput atau mengantar cowok, dan tidak keberatan untuk membayar sendiri bill makanannya. Ia tidak ingin tergantung pada laki-laki. Karena itulah, ia sebenarnya sering sebal dengan sms-sms wanita di tempat kerja Mr. F yang terkesan manja dan kecentilan.

Wanita-wanita itu juga yang sering membuat Audrey 'memata-matai' facebook Mr. F. Haha. Memang terdengar konyol, tapi terkurung dalam kantor selama 12 jam memang membuat Audrey hanya bisa 'mengawasi' pacarnya lewat Facebook. Well, selama ini apa yang dilakukan wanita-wanita itu masih dalam tahap yang bisa ia terima. Tapi kesabaran pun ada batasnya bukan. Jika mereka sudah kelewatan, game on, beyotch!

Audrey sering mempertanyakan kesetiaan Mr. F dan kelakuan wanita-wanita itu, namun sekarang ia mulai mempertanyakan dirinya sendiri. Kenapa? Mengingat kejadian-kejadian terakhir dengan Brandon B., cukup alasan bagi Audrey untuk berpikir dan um, tidak bisa tidur.

Jika Audrey menepati janjinya, makan malam dengan Brandon B. akan terjadi dalam, hmm, dua hari lagi.

Mr. F tidak tahu tentang hal ini. Audrey memilih untuk tidak mengatakannya pada Mr. F. Namun tetap saja hal ini mengganggu pikirannya. Audrey memandangi foto Mr. F dalam ponselnya, lalu tersenyum. Ia yakin tidak punya perasaan apa-apa pada Brandon B. Ia masih tidak suka dengan gaya Brandon B. yang sok rapi, sok manis, dan sok charming. Tapi tetap saja..

Ia dan Mr. F sudah berteman sejak SMP. Mereka sama-sama pergi ke SMP yang sama dan sama-sama bergaul dengan orang-orang yang sama. Namun anehnya mereka tidak pernah dekat. Saat SMA pun, Mr. F dan Audrey bergaul dengan orang-orang yang sama, malah bisa dibilang satu geng, namun tetap saja mereka tidak dekat. Mr. F pernah mengunjungi rumah Audrey, mungkin sekitar 3 kali, dengan geng-nya. Namun Audrey tidak pernah mengingat cowok itu. Apalagi sahabatnya, Resti, sama sekali tidak menyukai Mr. F.

Mr. F pun sama, dulu ia malah pernah berkonsultasi pada Audrey tentang seorang cewek, yang ternyata rumahnya dekat dengan rumah dengan Audrey.Dan setelahnya ternyata Mr. F jadian dengan cewek itu. Well, saat itu, Audrey sama sekali tidak peduli, ia sama sekali tidak punya perasaan apapun pada Mr. F. Ia bahkan tidak ingat bahwa mamanya pernah memiliki 'insight' bahwa Mr. F akan menjadi seseorang yang penting bagi Audrey.

Menurut kesaksian mamanya, dulu saat Mr.F berkunjung ke rumah Audrey, mamanya pernah bertanya, “Mbak, kamu nggak pacaran sama Mr. F aja?”

Dan Audrey menjawab kilat, “Nggak ah, jadi cowo kaya banci, bolak-balik nyari tissu, sok bersih.”

Yah, nampaknya Audrey kualat, karena 5 tahun setelah itu, ia dan Mr. F akhirnya berpacaran.

God, I miss my bf, Audrey tersenyum dalam hati. Dan jika Brandon B. atau siapapun masuk ke dalam kehidupannya, ia akan berjuang untuk mempertahankan apa yang sudah ia bangun bersama Mr. F. Setidaknya itulah niatnya.

Nampaknya Mr. F panjang umur karena sejenak kemudian ponsel Audrey berdering. Mr. F mengirimkan sms. “Sayang, aku jemputnya nanti abis maghrib yah. Lagi main sama keponakanku. Hugs.”

Audrey tersenyum. laki-laki yang bertanggung jawab dan menyukai anak-anak. Itulah salah satu kualitas yang Audrey sukai dari diri kekasihnya. Dengan cepat, jari-jarinya memencet tombol-tombol di ponselnya. Audrey membalas, “OK, yang. Salam buat ponakan kamu. Love u.”

Untuk ukuran orangpacaran, gaya mereka memang serba singkat. Sms tidak pernah panjang lebar. Paling hanya 2 sampai 3 kalimat. Namun Audrey senang dengan simplisitas Mr. F. Ia bukan tipe laki-laki yang ribet, tidak banyak mengeluh, dan terlihat santai. Sama sekali berbeda dengan bayangan Audrey waktu SMA. Saat SMA dulu, kesan dan pesan Audrey terhadap Mr. F adalah sok manis, sok charming, dan sok rapi. Oh tunggu dulu, sok manis, sok charming, sepertinya pikiran itu sering lewat dalam kepalanya belakangan ini. Terdengar familiar bukan? sok charming -- kesan Audrey terhadap cowok annoying di kantor -- Brandon B!

Hm..quite interesting.

Jam sudah menunjukkan pukul 17.10. Audrey mandi dan mulai bersiap-siap untuk bermalam mingguan dengan Mr. F. To be honest, hubungannya dengan Mr. F lumyana unik, mereka jarang merencanakan pertemuan mereka. Jika malam minggu tiba, mereka tidak pernah merencanakan akan kemana. Terkadang sampai di perjalanan pun mereka belum tahu akan pergi kemana. Haha. Memang ribet sih, namun gaya easy going itu yang membuat mereka menikmati malam minggu mereka. Tidak perlu mikir. Belum pernah ia mendengar Mr. F mengajaknya untuk, um, dinner misalnya. Tidak pernah ada ajakan untuk itu. Sangat berbeda dengan yang dilakukan Brandon B.

Hmpf, kenapa ada nama itu lagi di kepalaku sih?!

Brandon B. mengajaknya makan di Lai Ching four Seasons Hotel, a fine restaurant serving Cantonese cuisine. A nice plan, she presume. Audrey bertanya-tanya apakah suatu hari ia akan merasakan fine dining bersama kekasihnya, well mereka pernah makan di So-Ho Grand Indonesia, tapi Audrey can tell by the look in Mr. F's eyes that he didn't really into that kind of lifestyle.

Ia dan pacarnya itu lebih sering makan di BSD Serpong, makan nasi gila Jalan Sabang, nongkrong di warung roti bakar Eddy, atau keliling seputaran kota, makan bubur ayam di pinggir jalan, nasi uduk pecel ayam, atau cuma beli pecel lele di komplek rumah Audrey, lalu makan bersama di rumah Audrey. Kadang Mr. F datang ke rumah Audrey dengan sepeda motor, atau mobil VW lawasnya. Tapi justru kesederhanaan itulah yang membuat Audrey menikmati saat-saat bersama Mr. F.

Suatu hari Audrey pernah membaca suatu quote, dan she could not agree more on what it says: You might want someone to ride a limo with you, but in the end you want to be with someone who is willing to ride a bus with you when the limo breaks down.

Setengah jam kemudian Audrey mulai berpakaian. Mamanya masuk kamar dan melihat Audrey mulai rapi-rapi.“Mau jalan kemana Mbak?”

“Tahu nih ma, aku sama Mr. F kan gak pernah rencana. Mungkin nonton, atau cuma makan di sekitar sini, tadi dia bilang mau cari pizza.”

Mamanya mengangguk dan melihat Audrey memakai celana pendek baru berwarna hitam - warna klasik yang sangat disukai Aurey.

“Celana pendekmu baru ya? Pas banget Mbak, bagus dipake kamu."

Audrey tersenyum, “Iya ma, beli di Plaza Semanggi, cuma 65 ribu. Bagus kan?”

Mamanya mendekat dan tersenyum, “Buat mama aja deh Mbak.

Audrey mengerling, lalu menggeleng jahil, “Huu, mama nih ga bisa liat baju baru deh. Gak boleh ah.”

Audrey dan mamanya sangat dekat. Mereka sudah seperti kakak-adik. Dan mereka berdua punya hobi yang sama, ngubek-ngubek Mangga Dua atau Tanah Abang nyari baju yang chic, trendy, tapi murah. Bahkan Audrey hobi banget beli flat sandals dan tas-tas modis yang serba 50 ribu di Mangga Dua, atau berburu batik dan kaus-kaus grosiran di Tanah Abang bersama sang mama. Memang, Audrey juga menyukai sepatu Calvin Klein atau Salvatore Ferragamo, tas Coach, atau dompet Massimo Dutti, tapi deep down inside, she's still the same old Mangga Dua girl.

Hari itu Audrey bergaya kasual dengan celana pendek hitam, kemeja casual abu-abu bergaris hitam, kalung rantai abu-abu tua, tas jinjing cokelat muda, dan sandal berhias manik-manik dan kerang, oleh-oleh Mbak Wita dari Bali.

Audrey menguncir rambut panjangnya ke atas, dan membuka dua baris teratas kancing kemejanya, cukup untuk memberi kesan chic. A woman has the right to expose some skin (but not too much) to have that sexy outlook, isn't it?

Mr. F datang menjemput pukul 19.05 malam. Dan mama segera menemuinya. Audrey tersenyum melihat pacarnya datang. dengan percaya diri, Mr. F masuk dan menemui mama-papa Audrey. “Malam Om, Tante.” Mr. F menyalami mama dan papa Audrey.

Audrey mengoleskan pelembab ke kulitnya sebelum berangkat, lalu berpamitan pada mama dan papanya. “Ma, Pa, aku pergi dulu ya.”

Sang papa mengikuti mereka hingga ke teras, “Hati-hati ya.”

Audrey dan Mr. F mengangguk sambil sekali lagi melempar senyum. Mr. F menggandengnya saat ia keluar pagar.

Di dalam mobil, Mr. F tersenyum pada Audrey. Saat itu mobil baru berjalan beberapa meter, masih di sekitar komplek rumah Audrey. Mr. F menatapnya dan meraih tangan Audrey, lalu menciumnya. Audrey tersenyum dan menyandarkan kepalanya di bahu Mr. F. Saat itu semua terasa benar sampai Audrey tidak rela menukar semua moment itu dengan apapun di dunia ini.

Tiba-tiba Mr. F berbisik, “Love you.”

Dan Audrey menatapnya, “Love you too.”

Jalanan terlihat padat di malam minggu yang cerah itu, tapi suasana di dalam mobil terasa tenang. Suara bising dan polusi suara dari kendaraan tidak terdengar, dan yang bisa Audrey rasakan hanya kenyamanan berada di samping kekasihnya.

Kebersamaan itu, Audrey sangat menyukai kenyamanan saat berada di sebelah Mr. F.

Mr. F memacu mobilnya dengan kecepatan 70 kilometer per jam. Audrey tidak tahu mengapa, namun malam itu tangan Mr. F tidak lepas menggenggam tangannya.

Audrey menoleh pada Mr. F dan memergoki pacarnya sedang menatapnya -- sambil tersenyum. "kenapa yang, kok senyum-senyum?"

"Nggak," jawab Mr. F kalem.

Audrey menikmati perhatian itu, hanya saja ia sedikit heran dengan perhatian intensif yang diberikan oleh Mr. F. Sampai akhirnya saat mobil berhenti di lampu merah persimpangan jalan, Mr. F akhirnya memberi tahu mengapa ia sangat memperhatikan Audrey malam itu.

“Audrey, you put these simple outfits yet look awesomely beautiful tonight. I would never trade this with anything in this world. I'm the lucky bastard.”

And then he kissed her. He kissed her passionately in the car during the red light.

Audrey tersenyum dalam hati. Forget about Brandon B. forget about that dinner. Jika ini yang namanya malam minggu, ia ingin malam itu jangan sampai berlalu.

Dan um, she has a feeling that this going to be a great night...

Sampai layar ponselnya berkedip-kedip tidak sabar. Sampai Brandon B. meneleponnya.

[to be continued]

The Love Surreal

2009-06-27T03:31:00.000-07:00

Trapped in silence, caught in stills
Words are shattered, my heart spills
Time is stopping, the hour’s gone
Agony’s faded, compassions won

My soul's trembled, my mind’s high
My inside wanting, my eye’s a sight
Like a choir’s chanting, I flow so right
To a place I don’t understand
So deep inside…

Deeper and deeper I have fallen
On your mystic eyes and self-solemn
Not a word you say doesn’t mean to me
Not a merry with you I don’t wish to be

This heart won’t lie, but face pretends
Don’t get fooled by my weak defense
Behind this self is another one
Who loves tenderly yet so profound

So rain me with your love
Tame me with your wisdom
Wrap me with your kindness
For I will forever rest in your tenderness

-S. 2007-
Also posted on my friendster blog

Quote of the Day

2009-06-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Most people are other people.
Their thoughts are someone else's
opinions.
Their lives a mimicry.
Their passions a quotation.

-Oscar Wilde-

My Favorite Hollywood Baby

2009-06-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Meet Olive Cohen, daughter of Shopaholic's Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron "Borat" Cohen. Olive is cheeky chubby and so cuuuutee :)

Oh, and she has a super cute and uber cool mommy, too :)

Go for Opportunities

2009-06-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

I had a very interesting experience yesterday. No, it was not a meeting with Mr. President, it was not going outer space or inventing some new appliances that will be useful for mankind. It was a simple experience that most of you probably run through your daily life. I was assigned to attend this whole day meeting at my client's office in Kemang. It was a whole-day meeting and was very exhausted. When I first assigned to go there, I was hesitant. Why? Let me tell you why.

· I have to get up early because I have to be at the office early in the morning (the scheduled meeting is at 9 am).
· I have to set up for soft copies, documents, drivers, etc.
· I have to bring a huge binder of documents, annual report, prospectus, plus laptop, and those are Goddamn HEAVY!
· We have gone through the same meeting 3 times, and still found another issue at the end.
· I still have LOADS of things to do in the office and all of those works are pending due to this freakin’ project.
· Other relevant reasons.

So, when I heard that my boss told me to go to client’s office, I was a little (or very?) hesitant. But duty is duty isn’t it? And it has to be done. We finally met with the client’s Directors and went through the issues one by one. We were initially scheduled to lodge the documents to BKPM yesterday but due to several things, we could not lodge it yesterday. So, it is delayed until the next day.

I don’t know whether the delay was basically due to our account, or was basically set up by God so that I would meet this guy and hear something from him that would be remembered by me for the rest of my life.

The guy named Dean. He was Malaysian born Indian, but considered Perth as ‘home’. I understand from his fine character that he is a straight forward guy. He is a little blabber, but I don't have any problem with that. I think he is helpful, although when I first met him he was kind of ‘annoyed’ by Indonesian authorities, and as Indonesian, I was a little upset since he was continually complain about how the authorities work like sh*ts. But then again, I have problem dealing with bureaucrats. Who doesn’t? And I think Dean has got some point there.

Anyways, here is the core thing, Dean told me and my colleague something that made me re-evaluate my life as a person, and reconsidered if I have ever regret the path of life I have chosen. Dean said he had a legal background, which is interesting for me because I always thought that he is a financial guy. He graduated with LL.B and LL.M degree. He was studying at Perth, Australia, majoring at mining law. According to Dean’s, he was going to chase for business law, but at Perth, it was all about mining. Mining was pretty much booming back at the days when he was taking his master degree. So, he took mining law just for the sake of staying in Perth. It was the most visible way for him at that moment to have working visa so that he would be able to stay in Perth, simply because he did not want to go back to Malaysia (I don’t know why).

During his study, he had a chance to work at ‘C’ company, a company established and existing under the law of Australia, having core business practice in mining and its supporting activities, which was later became our client. So, Dean finally worked there. Dean recalled, ‘C’ company paid him crap wages. But it also did him another compensation, it got him working visa which was very useful for him to stay in Australia. Dean told me that he didn’t want to be a lawyer. Well of course, at first, he wanted to go to law firms and become a lawyer. But he had this opinion about people having law backgrounds and he said “People who study law are arrogant and think they know it all, and I was never that kind of person. So, I thought, I didn’t want to spend my life working with people like that.”

He also shared a story when he met Richard, who is now his boss. Richard gave him a lot of opportunities: opportunity to learn about commercial finance, opportunity to work in Indonesia, and opportunity to have the privilege of being expatriate in Indonesia. Dean claimed, his life is better because he is happy with what he is doing, instead of being a lawyer. It got me thinking right away, am I happy with what I do?

Well, if I’m being asked that question, my answer will be yes. I do love what I’m doing. I love law. What I don’t like is, perhaps the same with what dean told me, working with people who are ignorant, who think they know everything while they actually don’t. I don’t get these people working in law firms. I used to daydream of being like them, working in nice suits, nice shoes, nice hair, nice bags, but now it all seem to be the last thing on my list because I have lost the joy of dreaming for those things. I can afford those things now, but all I want is a simple normal life where I can meet my family at least 2 hours a day, where I can talk to my boyfriend at least 2 hours a day without feeling like falling asleep during conversation. Those things are priceless compare to my salary.

I am now working for money. And that’s what I got. I have lost my passion. I have lost my appetite to reach certain level of career. If Dean can outspokenly claim: "I am happier now because I took the risk of doing something that other people are afraid to do", I cannot claim the same. I took the path where every people most likely want to do. One thing I learn from Dean is, he is courageous enough to take the risk and seek for the opportunity instead of money. And from this point of view, I think he is right.

You chase for that opportunity and money will come uneasy at first, but will come easy at last. You chase after money and you will get the money, but it will not get you anywhere. You will stuck for that particular amount of money with a little raise each year but you will not be able to jump three steps up or five steps up on the career ladder, instead you will climb the ladder step by step, (perhaps) without significant lapse. Well, I’m not saying that working after money is a wrong thing to do. I am putting this as simple as saying: if you seek for money, you will get the money. But if you seek for opportunity, you will get a jump in your career, and then money will come as a bonus.

But then again, it is yours to decide.

So, happy deciding peeps :)

Quote Of The Day

2009-06-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

Figuring out who you are, finding your passion and fulfilling your own dreams. That's a goal worthy of your life.

-Maria Shriver-

Emma Watson For Burberry

2009-06-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

Now that Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Movie is coming, I have something to warm up our festivity for Mr.Potter. No,it's not a picture of Daniel Radcliffe, it's not Harry Potter movie poster, but it is something related to Harry Potter. It's Emma Watson's picture for Burberry campaign. I am always a fan of Emma, her beauty is inevitable, classic, and elegant. But I never thought that she would look great for fashion campaign. However, these picture have proven that Ms. Watson is a promising model. Do check her out.

And here she is behind the scene.

*And now I'm craving for that light brown Burberry trench coat :p

Love and The Office [3] - Table For Two

2009-06-20T01:39:00.000-07:00

Jakarta. Morning.

From: Locke, David <David.Locke@mmp.com>
To: Satyadharma, Audrey <Audrey.Satyadharma@mmp.com>
Cc: Awuy, Christine <Christine.Awuy@mmp.com>
Subject: pls see me first thing in the morning

______________________________________________________

Audrey membaca email itu, dan melihat jam pengiriman, 07:23 am. Oh shoot! Kenapa si bos selalu datang pagi-pagi sekali dan pulang larut malam.

Audrey melihat jam tangannya, sekarang pukul 08.28 am. Hampir sejam yang lalu si bos kirim email. Pls see me. Pasti ada sesuatu yang urgent, atau Audrey berbuat kesalahan dan ia akan kena semprot hari ini.

“Did you check all the documents when we lodge this to BKPM?” adalah kalimat pertama si bule freak itu waktu pertama kali melihat Audrey di ruangannya. Audrey bahkan belum sempat duduk.

She knows she will hate this guy for the rest of her life.

“Yes, Pak.”

Mr. freak masih menatapnya dengan tampang aku-bisa-langsung-menelanmu-dasar-associate-bau-kencur, “Then why are there changes and revisions in the documents that the Company lodged to BKPM yesterday?”

“Sorry, what changes, Pak?”

“Currency.”

Audrey menelan ludah. Dia tahu that it's not going to be easy. “Well, I based my drafting on the Company's statement. And they say they will go with Rupiah.”

“Then why is it in Dollar now.”

“I think it's in rupiah, Pak.”

“You think?” dingin.

Oh, heck! Wrong answer, Audrey!
“I have not seen the changes they made.”

“They changed it to USD.”

Long pause. Dan singa laut seberat 2 ton di depannya memandangnya dengan tatapan lapar, namun tenang, siap untuk melahapnya kapan saja.

Audrey menjelaskan kembali bahwa dokumen yang dia buat didasarkan pada informasi yang dia dapat dari perusahaan, not just some random figure atau semacamnya, dan dia jengkel karena si singa laut impor dari Australia itu tiba-tiba datang dan menyalahkannya. Coba saja dia bikin sendiri dokumennya, pasti juga akan tetap direvisi oleh klien-nya! Audrey memaki dalam hati.

“I made the documents based on what the company have provided to us, Pak. That's all I know.”

Tampang si singa laut tidak percaya. Setelah beberapa lama memberikan Audrey tatapan sedingin temperatur di kutub utara, dia akhirnya berkata datar, “you can go now, leave it to me.”

Dan Audrey pun pergi. Satu-satunya yang ada di kepalanya saat itu adalah resignation letter. Si singa laut itu adalah seorang partner dan dia bahkan tidak memeriksa pekerjaan yang telah dilakukan Audrey. Jika dia tanya Audrey apakah pekerjaannya sudah komplit, tentu saja menurut Audrey sudah. Dan sekarang ketika ada kesalahan, Audrey yang kena marah. Buat apa dia terima gaji dan bonus paling besar jika yang dia lakukan hanya mendasarkan pekerjaannya pada associate yang masih hijau seperti Audrey dan marah-marah ketika Audrey melakukan kesalahan?

Audrey hampir tidak bisa menahan rasa kesalnya, dan tiba-tiba. “Whoaa!” Seseorang berteriak di hadapannya, dan Audrey kontan berhenti.

Ternyata Brandon B.

Lagi.

Sebuah pertemuan yang tidak diduga sekaligus fakta yang tidak membuat pagi Audrey lebih cerah. “Are you OK, Audrey?”

Fake smile, “Yeah, sure. Bye.” Audrey berjalan secepat kilat meninggalkan Brandon B.

Yang ia tahu adalah bahwa ia hanya ingin kembali ke ruangannya dan melampiaskan kemarahannya. Mendengarkan musik yang slow, jazzy, dan melupakan wajah si belut air raksasa yang hobinya mengintimidasi. Namun yang Audrey tidak tahu adalah, Brandon B., another bule sok charming, mengikutinya ke ruangan dan --- tanpa diundang --- masuk ke ruangannya.

“Hey.”

Audrey menoleh, “Oh, hey.” Dia tahu ini saatnya untuk mengontrol emosi.

“Having a lot of work?” Brandon B. mencoba ramah.

“Like always.” Another fake smile. Duh, ngapain lagi nih orang pake ikut-ikut kemari?!

Brandon B. kemudian tersenyum, “Audrey, about Project Jupiter, there are several new documents on the dataroom. I just met with Chris and he wants us to distribute them. Can we have a chat to distribute which one is who's responsibility?”

Oh My F-ing Goat! Dia lihat muke gw lagi ditekuk begini dan berani-beraninya dateng kemari pagi-pagi, senyum sok imut, dan ngasih kerjaan?! Audrey hampir meledak gara-gara emosi, namun ia harus tetap profesional. Pekerjaan adalah pekerjaan.

Brandon B. mendekat. Dan Audrey teringat mimpinya akan Brandon B. malam itu dan secepatnya ia ingin berteriak, “Stop!” Ya Tuhan, Brandon B. tidak boleh melihatku dalam keadaan kusut, dan tahu bahwa aku memimpikannya. Act normal Audrey, put yourself together.

Audrey menghela napas, mencoba mengembalikan dirinya sesuai jalur, lalu mencoba memberikan senyum manisnya. “Brandon, I'm so sorry. I have to finish an urgent job for David. Um, let's just do it this way. I'll have a discussion with you right after I finish this one up, is that ok with you?”

“Yeah, cool.” Brandon menjawab santai. “We can discuss this during lunch.”

“OK.” Audrey pun tersenyum --- tapi tungu! --- did he say “during lunch?”

Brandon B. kembali tersenyum -- dan menjawab dengan manis, “Yes, Audrey. During lunch. We will sit down together and talk about Project Jupiter while having a lunch.”

Together? “W-with you?”

“Of course.” Brandon tersenyum lebar. “You and I, having lunch together. Fancy Chinese food at King's Palace? It would be across the street, and it wouldn't take a long time for us to get there.” Ia meyakinkan Audrey.

Audrey mencoba menyadarkan pikirannya. I and Brandon have lunch together? Ini tidak bisa dibiarkan! “But Brandon, I---”

Terlambat. Brandon memotong cepat, “I will have Christine reserve a table for us.”

Lalu dengan cepat Brandon berjalan keluar ruangan Audrey, meninggalkannya dengan sebuah senyuman sebelum bule keras kepala itu menutup pintu. Well, mungkin ada beberapa orang yang memang tidak menerima 'no' and 'but' for an answer.

Jakarta. Lunchtime.

Suasana King's Palace tidak begitu ramai hari itu. Audrey beberapa kali datang ke sana untuk lunch dengan teman-temannya, dan tempat itu memang tidak pernah terlalu penuh. Pelayan menawarkan makanan kepada mereka dengan ramah ketika mereka datang. Audrey masih belum percaya ia duduk di sana dengan si bule keras kepala. Dengan keadaan habis dimarahi oleh kecebong raksasa tadi pagi. Ah sudahlah, kecebong itu bisa pergi ke surga kecebong kalau dia mau! Audrey lebih memilih untuk fokus pada makan siangnya dan mencoba – sedapat mungkin – menghindari tatapan Brandon B.

Entah mengapa ia selalu merasa tidak nyaman ketika berada di dekat orang yang satu itu.

“So, are you on a diet?” tanya Brandon B. sewaktu pelayan baru saja meninggalkan mereka.

“No, I'm not. What makes you come up with that silly thought?” sanggah Audrey cepat.

Brandon tersenyum dan melirik Audrey. “Well, I ordered like tons of foods: rice, duck, oyster, chicken, and all you have is just a plate of seafood fried rice.”

“Hey, don't forget that seafood fried rice is also full with carbs and fats.”

Brandon pun tertawa. “Yeah, I'll try to remember that.”

Audrey ikut tersenyum. Paling tidak sekarang ia dan Brandon B. tidak dalam keadaan bersitegang, dan hal itu lebih baik dibanding mendiskusikan pekerjaan di kantor, saat yang Audrey inginkan hanya meninggalkan kantornya cepat-cepat dan pulang ke rumah, bertemu orang-orang yang ia sayangi dan peduli padanya. Bukan berada di kantor dan mengingat wajah kecebong raksasa gila kerja.

Brandon berkomentar mengenai corak wallpaper King's Palace dan bercerita sedikit mengenai pengalamannya berkunjung ke Bijing musim panas tiga tahun yang lalu. Audrey sesekali tersenyum mendengar pengalaman Brandon. Sebenarnya, tanpa disadari, Audrey dan Brandon telah mencapai titik diskusi paling lama sepanjang sejarah mereka bertetangga dan menjadi rekan kerja satu kantor. Ternyata salah satu hobi Brandon B. adalah travelling, dan umm, dia juga menyebut kalau dia sangat suka batik! Saat Brandon selesai bercerita, Audrey menyarankan Brandon untuk secepat mungkin mengunjungi Jogjakarta, karena Brandon bilang ia suka batik. Untuk seorang gadis yang tradisionil seperti Audrey, ia senang mendengar Brandon akhirnya punya sisi yang sama dengan dirinya, menyukai batik.

Sesaat kemudian pelayan datang menghidangkan makanan. Brandon dan Audrey mulai terserap ke dalam kenikmatan makanan yang dihidangkan, dan melupakan apapun itu yang mengganggu pikiran mereka. Brandon melahap roasted duck-nya dengan khidmat.

“Hm, Audrey you have to try this one.”

“But I don't eat duck.”

“Why?”

“I'm not a big fan of duck.”

“You're not? Oh, come on. I love good ducks. And this one is definitely one of them.”

Audrey melirik dan melihat tatapan meyakinkan dari Brandon B. Akhirnya ia setuju untuk mencomot sepotong kecil bebek panggang itu dari piring Brandon B., lalu memasukkannya ke dalam mulut dan merasakannya. Setelah beberapa saat, “Hm, this is good.”

Brandon B. pun tersenyum penuh kemenangan. “It is, isn't it?”

Tanpa terasa, satu jam berlalu dan mereka melahap makanan yang dihidangkan. Brandon sedang menunggu pesanan mango puddingnya datang saat Audrey tiba-tiba teringat sesuatu. “Brandon, you said you wanted to discuss about Project Jupiter. It's almost an hour and we're running out of time.”

“Oh, yes.” Raut wajah Brandon B. tampak sedikit berubah, “You know Audrey, you're actually a very interesting girl, you know that?”

Audrey tidak tahu harus menjawab apa. Apa hubungannya project Jupiter dengan kepribadian aku?

Brandon B. melanjutkan. “I have a great lunch, thanks to your entertaining character.”

Enternatining character? Ngomong apalagi sih nih bule? Is he having a brain disorder or something? Audrey mencoba meluruskan keadaan, “Brandon, Project Jupiter---”

“I lied.” Jawaban Brandon B. tiba-tiba memutus kalimat Audrey. Jawaban yang langsung membuat Audrey tersadar bahwa ada yang disembunyikan Brandon darinya. He lied? Apa maksudnya?

“Audrey,” Brandon B. melanjutkan, ”I said I wanted to discuss about Project Jupiter so that I can get you here for lunch with me.”

Oh, hm --- WHAT?!

“Audrey, I want to get to know you better,” Brandon kembali melanjutkan. Kali ini mata biru lautnya tampak serius. “But it seems that you're always putting a huge wall between us every time we...”

Oh, ini sangat bagus. Aku terjebak di sini bersama Brandon B., si bule ambisius, yang tidak pernah bicara padaku, yang bahkan tidak kusukai, yang memakai jas di ruangan, dan sudah menciumku dengan 'panas' dalam mimpi (Oh damm, kenapa aku harus menyebut bagian itu?!). Dan sekarang Brandon B. bilang dia ingin mengenalku lebih jauh, dan aku tidak bisa menjawab apapun kecuali bengong, ditambah fakta bahwa kami baru saja makan siang bareng, dan aku mau diajak makan siang olehnya, dan bahkan sebenarnya (walaupun enggan kuakui sampai kapanpun) aku menikmati makan siang dengannya, dan segala hal di atas membuat kepalaku pusing secara tiba-tiba.

Brandon B. menatap Audrey dengan wajah penuh harap. “If it's ok with you, I'd like to have a dinner with you, just on a casual basis and it will--”

Oh, bugger! Setelah berbohong untuk mengajakku lunch bareng, Brandon B. juga mengajakku dinner? Oh yeah, sekarang perutku sudah pasti juga ikut bergejolak.

“So, Audrey,” quick pause. “What do you think?” Brandon B. menatap Audrey untuk menunggu jawabannya.

Audrey benar-benar tidak tahu harus bereaksi apa. Jeda beberapa detik sebelum akhirnya Audrey bisa bersuara. “Brandon, you're a good guy and I---” Namun tiba-tiba ponsel Audrey berbunyi. Audrey meraih HP-nya dan melihat caller ID berkedip-kedip di layar.

Incoming call - Mr. F.

Benar-benar hari yang aneh! Seorang pria lain baru saja mengajaknya makan malam bersama dan pacarnya tiba-tiba menelepon. Audrey ragu-ragu untuk mengangkat telepon tersebut. Di hadapannya Brandon masih menunggu jawaban darinya. Audrey bisa saja menolak, namun mereka sekantor, dan bekerja dalam satu project, apa jadinya kalau terlalu banyak penolakan dan prasangka aneh berkelibat dalam kepala mereka sementara mereka harus bertemu tiap hari dan bekerja bersama-sama.

Akhirnya, “Ok, Brandon. Fine by me.”

Lalu Audrey pun mengangkat telepon dari Mr. F dengan nada yang dibuat setenang mungkin.
“Halo yang.” Entah mengapa ada rasa bersalah saat Audrey mendengar suara pacarnya di seberang sana, suara yang hangat dan sangat ia kenal, “Sayang, udah makan?”

Di hadapannya, Brandon B. tersenyum manis.

(to be continued)

Confession of A (Definitely Not) Workaholic ;P

2009-06-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

To sum up the festivity of my working life, here goes my simple story. I am currently with Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners. Previously I worked at DNC Law Firm whereby I spent more than a year and carved a lot of great memories with them. I thought it would be funny to share some of those still images of my office life. I spent 12 - 17 hours a day at the office, oftenly I also work (whether at the office or at home) during weekends. But no, I'm not a workaholic (although I admit that I' a bit of a shopaholic), but I definitely (or should I say actually) don't enjoy any time spent at the office (or at home) for working, especially on the weekend! Like any normal living woman on this holy mother earth, I'd prefer having a new Balenciaga tote or Steve Madden gladi pumps, but yeah, what can I say? My job is possessive.. So, here's a glimpse of a life of a (don't want to be) workaholic :p

Members of Finance & Project Practice Group
Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners (HHP)
(the law firm where I currently working in)

Associates and Supporting Staff
DNC Advocates At Work
(the law firm where I previously working in)

Posing after my birthday celebration with colleagues from DNC last year @ EX

Posing in front of Pure Lounge when I had JOKM trip with fellow HHP-ers

My room when I am in the state of sanity (pretty neat)

My room when I am in the state of insanity (pretty reckless ;p)

Note:
Phew! Thank God it's Saturday! Happy relaxing, happy shopping, and happy lazying peeps! :)

Pink!

2009-06-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

My Secret Obsession of Pink!

Kate Spade Pru Leather Tote

Kate Spade Coral Pink Handbag

Kate Spade Perrin Shoulder Bag

Marc Jacobs Pink Shoulder Bag

I Always Escape...

2009-06-16T04:19:00.001-07:00

Have you ever you get up early in the morning and first thing that flashed in your head is your job?
Have you ever have a day when all people seems to dramatically trying to catch your tail?
Have you ever have a moment when your desk is full of documents until you can not tell them apart?
Have you ever have those blank moments because people keep telling you to do stuffs while you still have pile of shits waiting on your table and tangled on your *ss?
Have you ever experienced all of the above?

I bet you have. Probably some of you experience it zillions of times.

And today I experience mine (bearing in mind that everyday I experience this same creepy thing).

These are the To-Do lists that I stick on top of my computer screen:

Gold - Follow up to Ari (calls and emails)
Gold - Draft BKPM Model III/A
CBM - Research to DirGen Migas
Bharata - DD (due today!!! Alex is waiting!)
Venus - Lach came with good news -> VENUS is dead (with a probability that it will come back to life. Crap!)
Document Register - (today! Rizal and Alex are waiting!!)
SUN - Update Pak Indra

Seven freakin tasks and I don't even know where to f-ing start! And up until now, I'm still trying to give my best effort (yeah, rite!) to sort things out and finish them.

But when the going gets rough, you know what I do?
...
I escape.

-from the corner of my lazy mind-

Quote of the Day

2009-06-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Having loads of money on your pocket will surely make you happy, but not having anyone to share your happiness with is an irony.

S. 16.06.09