Sunday, January 29, 2006

Happy Lunar New Year 2006

Happy Chinese New Year! Oh wait, it's actually Happy Lunar New Year, as I know some countries in Asia (other than the Chinese) who celebrate. And I think that will be a more appropriate name, cause the calendar is actually based on the moon circulation.

Try to remember when the last time I celebrated. Then I must go back to the year, uhmm...what year when my grandma still alive and she still lived with my parents? 1988? 1987? All that I still remember, it was a fun day, went home from school, prayed and bowed to the "ancestors" at the altar (though I had no idea what was I doing, I only knew had to do it otherwise I won't get anything from my grandma), and lots of food. I didn't normally receive any "angpao" (or hongbao in mandarin = red envelope = money inside the envelope) from my parents, but sometimes my grandma gave me a little bit. The most angpao that I got actually when I was in college, and that's from my ex's grandma (she died also several years ago).

Ever since my grandma died (arrgggh...I am having another brain-cramped, but I think it was 1991), nobody in the family continued on doing the tradition. No wonder, cause my grandma was the last "ancient" person who carried all the tradition from her parents and grandparents (my greatgrand?). My family, though they are Chinese (I tracked them down, and I am the 4th generation from my dad's side, but from my mom? Only God knows) but they pretty much have blended with the Javanese culture and tradition. Even though my grandma still celebrated the Chinese New Year, but she didn't speak Chinese at all, instead, she spoke Javanese fluently. And as I and all my generation: siblings and cousins, were pretty much growing up in Jakarta, we didn't carry any strong culture. And of course, it was something strictly forbidden to celebrate anything with the essence of Chinese; they cut all the tradition so mostly people were doing it in silence. Stupid rule and stupid government (what an idiot actually). I believe Chinese people in Indonesia are the most "nonchinese" compare to those in other countries.

So Chinese New Year is pretty much has no meanings for me. But during the time like this, I miss my grandma the most....She lived only for a short periode in my life, but she gave me the largest part of the Chinese New Year tradition. She was also the first person who taught me about the Chinese calendar with the 12 animals sign.

And I still admire all the celebration that people are doing; or doing the calculation of each year base on the 5 elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth), and combine each element with each character of the animal. So for example, there are the year of Metal Dog, Water Dog, Wood Dog, Fire Dog, and Earth Dog. Year 2006 is Fire Dog (or the "hot" dog). It needs 12 years for each animal sign to rotate, and 60 years to complete the whole cycle. So the last year of Dog was 1994, and the last year of Fire Dog was...1946.

Year of Dog 2006 is after Monkey 2004 and Chicken 2005. Monkey and Chicken are in the Metal group. So the Dog is the ending year of the Metal cycle. If you are lucky in the past two years because Metal is your lucky element, then 2006 is the last year for your Metal luck. So if you have any unfinished businesses or deals in 2005, then try to finish them and get the profit before people change their mind.

Dog contains Earth, Metal and Fire according to Chinese Astrology. Basically, 2006 Male Fire Dog year is favorable to people whose lucky element is Fire. This is because that Dog contains Fire, which will help the Male Fire on the stem to burn. That means Fire Dog is kind of dry and hot, which good for people need Fire to balance their cold birth chart. But everybody has different birth chart. We still have to see the stem relationships and branch relationships between Fire Dog and the birth chart to determine the luck in 2006.

2007 is a year of Pig, which is in the Water group. We can say year 2006 is the turning point from Metal cycle to Water cycle. The turning point year always has some unexpected good or bad events that happen. So we need to watch our steps and pay attention to our safety and health in 2006. People whose lucky element is Water need to plan how to face the oncoming opportunities. We need to plant the tree during the tough period, then we can get more fruit in the lucky year. That means we need to sharpen our skills and absorb more knowledge first, then we can have a better career or money opportunity during the lucky years.

Happy Chinese New Year! Happy Lunar New Year! Xin nian kuai le! 新年快乐!



PS: base on the calculation, I am a Black Chicken, born in the year of Red/Fire Dragon. The first character in DAY represents each person, so I could be said as a Water Chicken, too. Hey...maybe that's the reason though I am a dragon, but, I like to eat chicken (KFC anybody?). Haha! Sorry, this should be serious, but can't help myself not to think as a funny thing. Chicken..hmm....I am definitely a morning person, and many times so afraid to make decision. Aha! Now I know why...

Source: Chinese Fortune

OK! I'm outta here!

Friday, January 27, 2006

No Title

The hours are passing by
And my thought keeps flying
Across, farther than what I can crave
Try to reach a mind that halts
Try to open the door that still not opens

If only my body could fly
Just like my mind free to soar
So I can see the one
That always makes me in my indeterminate state
Makes my heart so blurred

The pain that I felt
The pain that I see in the eyes that I adore

Life, so much confusion
So much love
And so much hatred
Like a paint on the canvas
With black and white

When you think you know everything
And you still find the new excitement
That could makes you smile
Or
Makes you restrict your heart
Only to stop it from bleeding

Where we are all going
To our destiny
Reach our dream, reach our heart

And hope, we are getting nearer
With forever joy

Thursday, January 26, 2006

What a fine day, the finest day

What a fine day...^_^ and the finest day after all...

I was jumping upside down again, today! Something very great happened to me, and it really makes me soooooooo happy. Of course, not exactly 100% perfect, but hey, life is all about getting to choose. And I believe I got the best option that could happen now. Not gonna be greedy and ask for more...:)

Anyway, it seems that I will be a career woman, instead of facing my textbooks now...hehee...that's fine though, can't ask something better than this. Probably, the best thing in the last 3 years? This is my long wish, and I got what I want. Patience is the key, and pray hard. This will be my start to my success!

Hmm....so I'll have another week of vacation, yippy! Hmm....thinking about going somewhere, but I'll still have my class on M-W, should I go on the weekend? But then I'll lose another chance of smiling....hmm....I know! I'll go shopping!!

H&M, I'm coming!!!!

Numb

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be

-LP-

Monday, January 23, 2006

Exercise

Phew...tired. Wait! Did I say that? No way, I can't say I am tired, not on the first day of my "vacation" ^_^


I walked from my home to 9th Ave to pick up my contact, so it's about 20 blocks from my place. Plus going back, that's counted as 40 blocks. Hmm....so it's about 3 miles round-trip. No reason why I did that, the weather was nice, sunny, and I really need to exercise. I've never done any regular exercise actually, well, I don’t really need it. Even without exercise, I could lose my weight. I guess my brain is working harder than my digestion. Haha! But seriously, I do need to exercise, to keep me stay healthy. I can even feel that I was much healthier when I was at school and did regular exercise. Or maybe I am aging...hehee...that maybe counts too.
So walking for few miles that consider as exercise, right?


Btw, while I was walking, I paid a really close look to the area. And I found some new excitements (though that area still in my neighborhood but I haven't paid any attention of what's in there). So I found:
-Rental for vacuum cleaner. Hmm...I didn't even know that there's such this thing. I don't think I need that, but let's just keep it in mind.
-Another post office, hmm...don't think I'll need this, because this one is farther than the one I normally go. But the last time, the office clerk was very rude!!! So I might need to change my post office.
-Printing service (I think around the 17th Ave), need to remember this, so next time I need to print high-quality-color-project, I don't have to go to Kinko's. This one is way way much closer.
-2 coffee shops. Hmmm.......


And I just cooked Pad Thai for my late lunch (Thai noodle). I bought the instant one (with seasoning, but you'll still need to add more stuff e.g. meat and vegetable) months agooooooo.........and finally just got a chance to try now. And it turned out that the sauce is not really good....I dunno, doesn't taste authentic. I finally had to add a lot more stuff to create the "taste". So this also will be my meal for the whole week.


Oh, and yes, the weather was very nice (it's even still sunny now). Too nice actually for winter. Global warming? Honestly, I don't mind at all....it was very nice that I could walk even without my jacket and just with a short-sleeve shirt. This city need more sun for sure. But, I do mind if this is happening in a place that' already hot, like, in my home country. Can't even imagine how hot that will be. And of course, from the name -global-, it is happening in everywhere across the world. So, never mind...I would rather stay with this cold weather as long as those places across the equator are not getting hotter.


Soon, today will be over. Can't wait till tomorrow, I have big thing to do....hope I'll do good.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Mimpi Yang Sempurna

PETERPAN - Mimpi Yang Sempurna

Intro : Em C G D (2x)

Em C G
Mungkinkah bila kubertanya
D Em
Pada bintang-bintang
C G
Dan bila ku mulai merasa
D Em
Bahasa kesunyian

Int : Em C G D

Em C G
Sadarkah aku yang berjalan
D Em
Dalam kehampaan
C G
Terdiam, terpana, terbata
D Em
Semua dalam keraguan

C G D Em C
Aku dan semua yang terluka
G D
Karena kita...

Reff I:
Em C G D Em
Aku kan menghilang.. dalam gelap malam
C G D
Lepas ku melayang..
Em C G D Em
Biarlah kubertanya... pada bintang-bintang
C G D
Tentang arti kita.. dalam mimpi yang sempurna

Int : Em C G D (2x) Em

C G D Em C
Aku dan semua yang terluka
G D
Karena kita...

Reff II:
Em C G D Em
Aku kan menghilang.. dalam gelap malam
C G D
Lepas ku melayang..
Em C G D Em
Biarlah kubertanya... pada bintang-bintang
C G D
Tentang arti kita..

Kembali ke : Reff I

Coda : Em

This is a nice song from Peterpan, and Ren, I remember you like this one, so now you can start singing ^_^

Friday, January 20, 2006

The final day

That was it.

I finally closed another book of my life. The final day I went to work. And...I am not really sad. I just feel that it is the thing I need to do. Getting out from there while I still have a chance to do so. Before everything is falling apart and makes me nuts.


It was a short of 2 years in my life, but it was a significant journey. I have learned a lot, and have gained a lot of experiences. The bitter sweet of my life. Vaguely I still remember when the first time I drove to the office, I just moved into this city, and I felt I was totally in the middle of nowhere. Or the days when everything seemed so new and thrilling, or even when everything seemed so strange and unfamiliar. ....

But those days were over now...I have another journey ready to be taken in front of me. I honestly don't know where is going to lead me to....But with all my guts I will take that chance.

Life. Full of changes. Full of journey.....some made you laugh, some made you cry. But all you have in your life, will bring it so colorful.
Your life is not only about monochromatic colors.

So, the good thing, I will have another extra week of freedom. And after that, if everything works as my plan, I will be back to school full time. That will be excited too. Can't wait....


Wish me the best of luck, as I wish the best for those I left behind.....

Friday, January 13, 2006

Friday the 13th

Yei! TGI Friday, and it's Friday the 13th....hohoo.....

It's an important day today, well, not because it's Friday the 13th, but, because today is January 13th, and it is my anniversary of being Columbus. Meanings? It's the date when I came here, 3 years ago. Gee....I've been living here for "only" 3 years....but somehow I feel longer than that. Now, 2 more years to go....I am counting myself.....

Can't remember anymore how many times I feel homesick, but, I still survive so far, and I know I will. Even though, I know there will be a lot more challenge in front of me. Today, should be my last day at work. But, after created my own agreement, it will be next week. What next after that? I still don't know. Be in school full time, so far that's the only plan that I have. Especially since my other back-up plans didn't seem to work. I always believe, everything happens for the reason. And I believe, He will not leave me alone and suffered. I have came up with all my best (I think , cause I am not able to judge myself), and, hopefully I will get His bless in whatever I'll do.

So...whatever will happen next, it seems still very dark. Maybe I am taking a very high risk, or, maybe, I am taking a very brave decision.

But I have my faith, or, I dare to put my faith in me, and in Him.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Tissues and Issues

Tissues and Issues. A brand new album from Charlotte Church.

I was really surprised when I heard and watched her videos. My my my...where's that little girl with the voice of angel? Obviously, she had gone, and grown up into...err...the Britney era? From what I saw, Ms Church has become a sexy girl, and another duplicate of Mrs Spears...

The changes? Of course I don't know...marketing strategy everybody? Admit it, that it will be difficult to keep exist as a soprano, with a limited market - especially she is not the little girl with the soprano voice anymore. To get into the music market is tough, and to keep exist in it, is even tougher. And sometimes, you just got to get into the tricky step. If you want to be popular, just keep to be in the top of tabloid, regardless of being good, or bad. Regardless of your voice, or about being sexy...

Or, of course, as most of the teenagers are saying this, this is another phase of growing up. Not being a little girl anymore, and when you just found out about sensualism. And yeah, she is 20, it's pretty much an adult for a British person.

The songs...err....not sure if I like them. Too much noise for me (some songs are even reminded me with Geri Halliwell). Maybe just 1 song "Even God" that's ok for my ears. The others that quite okay, "Show a Little Faith" and "Finding My Own Way".
And, ouwww...check this one..."Call My Name" ..........bootylicious...

Oh well, I still hope she will back to her classical figure again...her voice changed, sure, it is not as high and bright as before, it is deeper now. But she still sings darn wonderful, and she still gets those high notes...And, though with those crazy new songs, I still can hear her talent. And just hope, it is really just a phase of growing up, and once she gets even more mature, we can hear the voice of angel again.

Crossing my finger...

Sunday, January 08, 2006

2 more A's!!!!!!!

Yei!!!!!!!!!!!
Yippy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuhhhu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got 2 more A's....duh duh duh...so happy, specially I was not really expecting to get A for this class (it's my Fashion Forecasting). I missed one assignment (though I still turned it in, but it was late, so I thought I was missing my point).

The other one I knew already I got an A, but really, got 2 straight A's for these 2 classes making me so...relief!

OK, 4 A's, and that's all of my classes for last semester, that's really worthed for sacrificing my weekends and changed myself into nerd ^_^

Keep the good work for the next semester!! Keep working hard, aca aca fighting!!

Yei!!!!!!!!!!!
Yippy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuhhhu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Animal Planet

Just want to introduce the new-comer in my parents' house (or was the
new-comer):






Don't ask me what is this, cause I don't even know....My mom guessed it is 'Musang" (=civet). The color of the eyes was a bit strange because of the blitz effect (my mom said it's not really that yellow). This thing came to my parents' house about several months ago, and of course, made my mom panicked. It created a chaos and finally hid behind the stair (that was the perfect moment when my brother captured it with his camera). It is gone now, after several efforts from my mom and my brother....But I still can't keep wondering, how could a civet appeared in a such big-metropolitan city such as Jakarta? Is it possible that it belongs to someone? But, who would have a civet as a pet anyway???

The last thing I heard from my mom, that she got 3 new visitors now, they're kittens! And believe it or not, according to her, those kittens are the grandchildren of the cat that used to live in my parents house.

Confused?

Ok, here's the story: about several years ago (I think I was still there, so it was in the year of 2002), a cat came over to my parents' house. As we no longer had a dog, we decided to let a single cat to live inside our garage, and we gave it food sometimes. And, it turned out that one day, he (yep, it's a he!) brought his girlfriend along with him to stay in my parents' house. And of course, a wedding bell was ringing soon, and not long after that, they had their babies...Aha! A single cat had become too many cats, and soon the house was getting too messy because of them. Cats' behavior is totally different than dogs', they're not loyal, well, especially they came from the street. So, for the hygienic reason, my mom "made" them to stay outside the house, and only gave them food rarely. And, long story short, they were finally gone, until now..... Seems that one the kittens has become a mom (or dad) and her (or his? dunno yet...) children now decided to visit the place that used to be a home for their granddad.

I'll ask my brother to get some pics from the kittens so I can post them here. Or maybe I should submit the story to animal planet channel...It could be even more interested than Serengeti..^_^

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

2006 wish list

My wish list for 2006:
-Go back home! Err…not gonna be easy though, especially if I have to break my piggy bank…^_^
But I’m gonna do my best…
-Learn to play a new music instrumental: drum (?), or guitar (iren…c’mon, go back here from Kansas)
-Less moody, and try to be wiser…heh! Another tough thing to do….
-And, a peaceful mind, this is actually a necessity, so I can go through even though in the most difficult time….

Keep the good spirit, and fight!

Monday, January 02, 2006

My fav shows

Being at home for almost a week, with no plan at all, apparently had left me nothing much to do, except for doing 2 things. The first, catching up my blog - posted several thoughts already - some of them are just things that I wanted to write, and maybe some junks from my thoughts....

The latter: watching TV. Heh! That big-black-box with the glass screen is somewhat a good friend of mine now. It has been only a giant decoration in my room for months, but it seems that I am really watching TV now....:) And I am proclaiming 2 of my new fav shows now (other than CSI, thanks to my ex roommie): Food Channel, and What Not To Wear (ohh.....so nice of being a stylist). Food Channel, sure, I love food, and the most thing that caught my attention was because recently they had a show of making cocktails ^_^. Aha!

Well...it is my privilege now...and I really hope not gonna be for long. For sure, yes, having lots of time for doing whatever I want to do, that's great! At least now I am prepared to go back tomorrow, back to my last battle. Cheer up, it's only 10 more days, and sure I can do it! Aca aca fighting!

But, for my own sake, hopefully not gonna last for long. I am not used with having lots of times, and hopefully I could be back on track with the busy schedule, SOON!

Hmm.....maybe I am actually workaholic....


Ow! I still have to study for my GET though.....

Sunday, January 01, 2006

January 1st, 2006

I feel like the worst person ever now....only because of my ego, I hurt someone who cares so much for me. But, I still can't lie to my heart either....and can't push my feeling? When you are torn between two hearts, who should you choose? Again, it's all about making decision....

2006. And I feel so much worried already in the first day. Well, honestly, I've never been a fans of the new year. I hate to see the time keeps flying by....and now, another year had gone, again.

Grumpy, like my friend said to me last night. Maybe. My mood has been such a hell lately...so much things I have to take care of, and of course, so little time. I still dunno what to do....still dunno who should I choose, and still dunno how to make a good decision.....

Well, hopefully he's right, that I will be just fine. I won't say 2005 was a bad year, but I've gone through so many things last year, and it's so freaking tired. So I should welcome to 2006, and hopefully, it will be a good year now, and one thing for sure, if I can ask, I want a peaceful mind for myself, and, hopefully, I'll become a wiser person...

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