Thankful?

Today is the day of turkey massacre.
Happy thanksgiving people!
I'm sick, got the cold, sore throat, feel nausea. Yesterday we had a snow storm (ridiculous weather). Well, yesterday was not this cold, as we all know, the day of the snow is not as cold as the few days that will follow.

It's cold now. You can really walk around the block & right away get frost bitten.
I & my roommate have been blazing the apartment with maximum heat. (Okay if you check Chicago weather, you might not find it as cold as Siberia, but... we are tropical,... very tropical).
And, my boyfriend (who promised to come) didn't come. Bailed on the last minute.
And I am supposed to feel thankful?
And let us not have anonymous comments like, you should be thankful you little twit, etc etc, because, talk to the hand, I've been there, done that. Lecture is the last thing I need, and also, I've set my blog so that everybody who comments should show his/her identity. Hah!
Sigh.... I think I'm just tired, the medicine is kicking in, so I'm tired++ (read: plus plus), sleepy, nausea (I said that already?)... and sad.
Right now, the hot air of my hometown is really really missed, preferably combined with my mom chicken soup. She's the best (Hi mom! I miss you).
Well, now come to think about it, I am thankful, even if I'm half a world away, I keep in touch with her, we talk weekly (less or more), I spend quite a lot for that, but it is worth it & somewhat a necessity. She makes my problems lighter and dark days brighter.
I'm thankful for that. I still have 1 hour till this day ends, finally I can make peace and say my thanks. Honestly, when I started this post, I wasn't about being thankful. I was in a mission of being a biatch. And I better stop here before I get biatchy again.

Jakarta Has the Biggest Mosquitos

I was home sick these past few days, and as the result I googled anything that has something to do with my home: Jakarta Indonesia.
I've been having this love-hate relationship with my home town. It's no longer safe there, and I despise the goverment, corruption, etc, but I love it. Still. Hey, however, it is the land where I grew up. And, here, I dream about home a lot!
So, I just wanna share this one link about non-Indonesian living in my country and how a culture-shock Indonesia is for them. But, see, Indonesia does grow on you after a while.
There, we have the biggest mosquitos. And even bigger after they bite us and suck our blood. So, it's either spray lots of mosquito repellent (and get ourselves killed breathing it) or get bitten by them & get itchy & swollen. It's a lose lose situation. You have to be an Indonesian to really master the way out. And that is to train the speed of your movement until it almost reach the lightning speed, to clap your hands and get the mosquito squashed in your hands. And after a while, your hands will operate by themselves, just out of reflect, they will clap mosquitos while you sit out in the living room watching TV.
Another thing about Jakarta is that your neighbor might have a rooster or two. It doesn't apply to most people, but, lucky me, my neighbor has a few. So on the wee hours everyday, they'd wake you up. Screaming on the top of their lungs.
The McDonald's there sell rice and fried chicken. And the crazy traffic (believe me, LA & NY are nothing) will drive you nuts. I ate in some very questionable small kiosks built on the pedestrian passage with, I can assure you, very dirty utensil & e-coli-inhibited ice tea. But, they have the best food. I'm not sure if my digestive system can still handle them anymore, but the next time I go home, I'll surely go back there.
They are are another million things to talk about Jakarta. It's a never ending list.
I hate the terorists there, intoxicating the mind of the uneducated people. It's a shame. It really is a shame.
But I think, I'm going home next year, to visit the roosters and re-train my hand-clapping a bit.
Besides it's been a while since I take a ride in one of these.

Viva Los Padres

A few days ago, a lightning suddenly struck my head while I was complaining to my boyfriend on how tiring my new job was. Not the job, but more of the distance that I have to get through daily, back and forth.
All this time, I've always managed to arranged my schedule and also, my previous job was mainly part time. I still had time to go out and about and just 'enjoy' life.
But this job that I have right now is the real thing. My real real, full time job.
And I was toasted.
Then reality slapped me on the face, real hard: My dad has been doing this, you know,.. working... for oh, I don't know how long. Too long!
Don't you think that most of you attached more to your mom than dad?
Not in all cases but most of you might have more bonding with your mom simply because she's around more.
But weirdly enough, some fast flashes scenarios in my head showed how my dad (this time, not my mom) worked late, went out of town for some business, etc, etc.
But I always managed to get new dresses, new watch, new cellphone, big teddy bear, etc, etc,... who paid for that? And when I'm sick, he called my mom like a thousand times a day and brought me nice stuffs back to home.
Sigh... though it's only been a week, but now I can emphatize more to how hard it is being a dad and the burden to be a bread winner & how they have to divide their time between work, kids, wife, (and their mom maybe?). When do they have time to relax? Pursue a hobby? Coz not everybody is born rich. Not all dads have all the money in the world.
So I emailed my dad. And I thanked him. Officially thanked him for all the years he spent busting his a** to be the provider. And he emailed me back, touched by my gesture and thanked me back for acknowledging that.
Sigh...
Oprah said (or maybe Oprah quoted someone) : " All the children have a hole in their heart, the shape of their fathers."
It's a tough world for dads who live on a 24-hour-a-day world and I found a whole new profound respect for them. Though it might seem like they're never around. Look around you and think of how your tuition, car, gym shoes, or nose job were paid. From whose account was that?
See...?
Then all repeat after me: Viva Los Padres.

Never Never Land, Here I Come!

Yesterday was my last day at work.
That's also the reason why I haven't been around my blog & written down anything.
Too much things happening and I just hate to whine on my blog.
I got a new job, a job that's supposedly better for my career with hm,... better pay too.
And so, yesterday I felt lousy because I actually love my job there and I loooovvveee the people I worked with. I dont' know if any of you have a boss so great like mine, but she's awesome. I don't think there will be a nicer boss in my life. Except for her weird hysteria around bird. ;)
Anyhow, it was time for me to leave and my boss gave me a card full of best wishes from everyone. My coworker made me a funny poem. And my other boss thanked me. And told me what a wonderful woman I am.
It was one of the saddest day in my life.
But ces't la vie, and life goes on.
I walked out (after I hugged mostly everybody, especially my boss), almost running and I just can't help but feel like crying.
And I walked and walked and walked until I got home. By foot!
Forget the train!
I really walked.
I went pass Chicago river, Marina tower, House of Blues, Chicago Avenue... until I arrived at my apartment lobby.
And just a little note: I wore heels. Though they are not stilettos, you've got to give me credit for that.

I needed closure, I guess, to the nice atmosphere of downtown chicago and the thought that I might not be able to be around it for a long time just sadden me. Well, yes I'll still gonna live downtown, but I'll commute to never never land everyday.
Sigh... never never land, so so far away.
What a high price to pay for such career ambition.

Little Birdie Scared the Heck of My Boss

This morning as I arrived, my boss came rushing to me and told me that there was a bird flapping, flying around the room.
I looked around. Nothing.
I asked her: where?
She said: "Somewhere."
I asked, "What kind of bird?"
Boss said: pigeon.
I looked at her,.... "Awwww that's so cute!!!"
Boss looked at me: "I'm scared of bird."
Heh! Wrong comment. Hehehe...
"Well, when I find it, I'll try to catch it and remove it to the garden outside."

Then about 15 minutes later, my coworker came up to me. Telling me the other side of the story. She was smoking outside the building early this morning and all of a sudden a little bird fell on her hand. Right to the palm of her hand. This morning was quite nasty, it was cold. And my coworker didn't have the heart to leave little birdie outside. Little birdie was freaking cold. So... She brought little birdie inside. Put it in a small basket, with some tissues at the bottom. To warm it up.
Apparently, the bird got warm alright and decided to fly around. Visiting my boss' curly head. Poor birdie. Didn't know that it went to the wrong person. According to my coworker, my boss ran around & out of the room quicker than Lebron's rebound.
Sigh...
Anyway, About an hour or two later, birdie showed up again. My boss yelled "Bird!!!"
And we yelled " Awww... come here birdie..."
Boss went outside so quick. Asking us to do her a favor & catch birdie.
So there we were, with ladder going to the top door pane and catched it.
Omigoood.
Such cutie! And birdie was scared. It tried to wiggle its way out. And it got loose from my coworker's hand. And flew out from the door.
Don't know where it went.
:(
We worried that it won't get food & it'll starve to death. No food inside the building.
But...
On lunch time, my coworker saw it at the lobby. On the top of the indoor palm tree. Right above the cafetaria.
There will be plenty of food there.
Hopefully...
If not, maybe I'll bring some seeds to work.

To comment or not to comment. Dude, make up your mind.

Heiiyya...
Thursday!
One more day,... hope it'll be quick and painless.


BTW, Look at the amount of sunshine I had on my skin (on my back in this case). My my my... it'll be another 6 months until I can have it again.
What was I doing in that picture anyway? And half of my hair was on my face. I've got to tell you, I have lots lots of hair on my head.
Anyway, enough about that, today I got a surprise. A second person on this earth read my blog. And that person even posted a comment on my blog (which,... magically disappear by now). Is it the blog's fault, or is it just a mere action of deletion?
Hm?... has the person chickened out and retracted the comment? Can he/she do that?
I actually posted something afterwards but now it look lonely without the previous comment so I took it off.
BUT!
Don't forget, I have a copy of the comment sent to my email (he he he, cunning smile).
I might post it here.... just for the fun of it.
And of course, I will have a discussion, panel discussion, symposium, seminar and in depth analysis of who it might be, and why he/she make such post, etc etc, you know... the whole nine yards. Because he/she told me that he/she knows me from the previous life.
Yaaay! Something to do tomorrow. Or,... maybe the day after, or the one after that. Well, whenever I feel like it.
But I'm beat up now. I'm just gonna let it low tonight.
Sayonara....

Fall Pictures

I went Blair Witch Hunting to an arboretum in the suburbs last Saturday.
Hehehe
Okay, okay .. who am I kidding... I am such a sissy. I had nightmare right after I saw Blair witch Project. I would be the first one who ran back to open air on the first sign of spookiness.
So it's more of me constantly looking around in the woods, wishing that nothing spooky came across my way.
Anyway, I thought I should share the pics. so here they are.

Signature Tan Lines

Just now I received a picture of my friend's church wedding from back home. It was just a snapshot her (i believe) her brother made, coz the official/professional wedding pictures have yet been finalized.
She's wearing this bare shoulder kinda dress. Just gorgeous. She looks happy, the groom smiles. Her hair was pulled back up with the tulle hanging down from her hairdo.
I was thinking that there's something ... something.... I just couldn't explain.
Then my roommate pointed out that something....
Tan lines.
She got tan lines on her shoulder. And they're quite visible too. :)
Hahaha... gosh I miss that girl! She's crazy about the sun and getting tanned. And after a year ago that we went out together, she's still her. And she's still keeping her 'signature'.
Somewhat as if she is keeping some part of her true self in the girly-girly oh-so-holy-white dress and the updo hair.
She definitely is not an ordinary bride. She'll never be.
Girl, if you're reading this, I just wanna say: keep on showing your signature. Don't ever lose yourself.

Where did all the people go?

Today is holiday (well, 'kinda' holiday) because it's Columbus day. But when I went to work this morning the train was so packed. Even a tiny girl like me couldn't fit into the car. I got to wait for the second train to come.
However, when I entered the office building where I work, everything was so quiet.
I wonder where all the people at the train went.
Did they just pretend going to work and made a stop at the loop area & headed to michigan avenue or millenium park?
Scratch scratch....

Snoooorrtt

Well well well...
I finally catch the cold. This is so annoying because I've been surviving my boyfriend's flu, sore throat, etc, my roommate's flu, severe flu, etc. And I was invincible. They can all go sick but I was o.k.a.y. But this week, everybody was as healthy as ... hm,... Bruce Willis in Unbreakable and I am sick.
So, My dad's theory is that I catched the cold because I was in deep stress, and that was making my body's defense mechanism down and THUS!... I got defeated by the virus.
I am such a daddy's llittle girl because he is right (and let it be that he never ever finds this blog because he'll gloat gloat and gloat).
But, being sick has its own advantage for me. I got to lie in bed and think about stuffs. Planning plan A and B and C for my life. I like having back-up plans. Hm,... this is new for me. How come I never really give it a thought? I was the kind of person who is really focused on one plan at a time. Huge mistake.
Anyhow, I'm no longer stressed (although still having the virus residue). I'm hungry again which is a good sign.
I just bluetoothed Amelie ringtone to my cell.
This is going to be a fine day.

A tidbit about me

I am a true believer of prayer.
I am a lefty and don't think that the right hand is the good hand because it ain't so according to me.
I love animals in general, but anything with more than 4 legs or less than 2 legs (or no legs) is scary to me. Please obey the leg rule.
I'm not corny-romantic, but I am a high maintenance girl. I give credit to my boyfriend. I really do.
I always have dreams when I sleep, even when I'm tired, even when I'm only taking a nap, except when it's a 15 minutes nap or less. I've been having dreams in my sleep every single time since I was in the 5th or 6th grade. And so I sometimes wonder about some facts in my life, was that in my dreams or reality?
I respect honest people and I dislike the stupids who think they are too sexy for this world, because I think a pretty face is useless if one is vain or shallow.
I am a softie, a slow eater, a sissy for horror movie, a non-feminist, but I chased a man who grabbed my butt 3 blocks until he jumped over a high fence and got away. That was his lucky day, next time, I'll wear gym shoes.

Overdued Love

The past week, I've been mourning so much I can't find anything nice to write. And I definitely don't want to whine & whine on my blog. But, as a wise ass said one time: nothing last forever, including life, or in this case, health. And life goes on. I'm sure that's what Coki wants me to do.

I walked to the post office today and find that the ambiance started to feel autumn-y. I love the feeling. I love fall of all season and the weather was getting a bit nippy. Goody, I just bought myself a nice pashmina that would go well with the weather. People start wearing clothes again. Yeah, real clothes. Man, I'm gonna miss Chicago if I ever have to leave. I can't tell you guys anything just yet because I might jinx it. But... yeah... I might have to leave Chicago.

But, meanwhile, back on my story, it was just a lovely day. I passed by a small park on my way to the post office and I saw some couples were hanging out, many of them are grandmas & grandpas. I'm really into old grandmas & grandpas spending time / walking together holding hand. Don't they just give you the warmest feeling? For me, it gives me proves that true love does exist, and doesn't fade away, it might evolve, it won't fade. You see, someone scared me one time about a theory he got from his psychology professor that stated that love fades away in two years. That after that period of time, just the feeling of love is going to be substituted with something else, some enzym or hormon or chemical in our brain (which I forget what). It has seriously freaked me out.

I'm not into corny stuffs. Poetry or singing under my window is absolutely unnecessary. But there have got to be something, a sign or anything that shows me that Mr. Right is right after 2-year. Also that he cares and does love me and will love me after 2-year period of time.
And after that 2-year period of time, if people still want to get married, they are not geting married for insurance or to have a 'roomate' or because he/she is used to someone, or to have someone taking care of you & cook for you or buy you diamonds and roundtrip ticket to the whole continent of Europe for all I care.

Am I naive for wanting that?

Just like Carrie (sex and the City) said on her last episode "I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love. "

Yeah.... uh-huh, that’s more like it.

Goodbye Note to Coki

My sweet white furry love,
I'm sorry I wasn't there today to hold your cute little paws for the last time.
But at least, the last time I came, I said goodbye before I left, unlike the time before when I just sprinted out without a kiss goodbye.
Be happy, wherever you are.
I hope you have all-you-can-eat pedigree food.
and some soft pillows just the way you like it.
And noone touches your back, because I know you hate it.
I'm glad you're no longer ill.
I hope you love your new set of wings and find a way to visit me, who miss you already, once in a while.
Once in a dream.
Once in a blue moon.

Happy Friday!

Friday!
I love Friday!
The whole week I've been telling myself that I should: do the laundry, go the the gym downstairs, read my oracle bible, and install so many software I can't even keep track of them right now.
But instead, I sit here, blogging & eating whipped cream.
What a stepback.
I've got to tell you, the workout room is seriously just an elevator-button push away. But, nope. I'm not going there tonight.
Hey, it's Friday after all
Oh and by the way, I saw an ad of Britney Spears new perfume. Man,...she truly is a business woman, I wonder what she'll sell next.

Marvin Gaye VS. Suicide Bombing

No matter how far you are from home. Home is home.
And no matter how you love your new home, old home brings back irreplaceable memories. Don't you think? And I happen to have very fiiiine memories of my old home.
I just got the news a few days ago, It was on CNN.com. There was another suicide bomb in my hometown.
I mean, what the heck?!?!?!
I'm not writing this trying to finger-point anything, anybody or any kind of situation. I'm not a politic expert, religion expert. I'm not even a devoted newspaper reader. I read newspaper to see the entertainment columns, or to find recipes (and not ashamed of it, so don't start on that one).
But it was painful to see that happen. A friend forwarded pictures of the tragedy. And, let just say, I don't want to be graphical about it.
However, my whole family live there, my dad use that route often times. Even I used that route almost everyday on my way back home from campus, and later on, on my way back from some webmaster course that I took.

I'm not gonna be analytical about the whole situation, but here's my two cents:

A mother died instantly when she was waiting (with her five year-old daughter) to get into the Australian Embassy. The little girl survived, though. But she's on critical condition, and was fled to Singapore for further treatment. Now, tell me, where's the noble deed in bombing yourself when this is the result? And that's just one of the stories I heard so far.
The morning after, I called home just to make sure that my family was doing okay. It was so weird to hear my mom talking that day. She was so calm. We talked about many other stuffs and she only mentioned little of the bomb. I was heartbroken. Heartbroken because of the fact that my family has grown so much anticipation on this kind of terror that it no longer shakes them to the core. They are used to live in such terror & insecurity and just carry on with their life. How sad is that? Living here, in my own little world. Everything seems okay, I wish more than anything that I can share my peace of mind with them.

I love Marvin Gaye, some of his songs are mighty fine. There's this one song 'What's Going On'. I think we all should listen to it and really think about the message. " We don't need to escalate, War is not the answer, For only love will conquer hate".

Why Do Men Hate Celine Dion?

Yeah,... why?
First of all, my beau doesn't like her, when I asked him why he said that she gave him a headache. Her voice's too loud and I think he also said too high. The impression that I got from my beau was that the voice was piercing his ear lobes.
Also, in Glamour (September Edition), there's this monthly column written by a guy, (Jake, a man's opinion). Jake wrote that if it's up to men, Celine Dion would be arrested for crimes against humanity.
Hahaha.... funny... Uhm,... sorry...
Next, yesterday, I randomly surfed the blogger and found one guy that also said that he hates her.
Lastly, I remember this one movie, "How to lose a guy in 10 days". In the movie, the leading lady took him to a Celine Dion Concert in attempt to "lose the guy". The guy walked out from the concert looking like a retarded like he was beaten up and the IQ dropped 40 points.
For the record, the movie was a disappointment, however the question remains: Why do men hate Celine Dion?

It Rained in Ravinia

I'd been waiting for this day for over a month now . Been gushing talking & planning for it.
Why?
Well, I bought these tickets to see da man, Tony Bennett. I love his music. Well, actually I love his and any kind of music by someone in the same genre and about as old as he, dead or alive (hint: Frank Sinatra). But since Sinatra is no longer in the same cosmic as I am so Tony made it to numero uno.
OK, so my roomie thought that she wanted to stay home instead, got some other issues to handle so it left me and my beau. I've been eyeing the weather forecast for the last 10 days and got to conclusion that the weather wasn't going to get better. The weather hated Tony Bennett. It's raining, cloudy hazy, chilly, and windy (read my previous post), you name it.
So there we were in the middle of the big lawn... , a big sea of umbrellas. (Sigh) I remember thinking, 'all the things people do for Tony Bennett'. And it was hard to find a good spot. My beau asked me how we're going to sit in the soaked-up grass, so we rented some chairs. I felt bad for my beau, all of this was my ambition for another guy (Tony Bennett is another guy) and he went along with it, drove me there, put up with the weather and the soaked-up grass. Did I mention it was cold? Yep, it hadn't changed.
Now, I'm a tropical creature, okay. I don't perform well in cold weather. I'll catch a cold 10x faster than most people living here. To make it worse, it was still 2 hours till the show began.
So,... look... this is what my beau made me. A nice tent made of plastic, chairs and an umbrella rooftop (not shown here).
While people were soaking wet, I sat reading my magazine. Dry and wind-free, eating some fried chicken & freedom fries. Sharing a blanket with my beau.
Life is good.

The wind and my lovely skirt

I loved the weather today, no sun, no rain, no chilly temp, just the right ambience. I walked on the street so happily this morning and that's very rare, because my mood before 11 AM has always been hell.
Not all are happy though, the security guard in the building where I work complained that she didn't get enough tan this summer (showing her arms which are dark already). I told her she could get all wrinkly so fast from the sun exposure but she said that she's almost 50 and had no wrinkle at all (which is kinda true).
Well,... there goes my theory.
Hm,... I never thought that she's almost fifty. Interesting...
Anyway, talking about my happy mood this morning, I decided to wear my cute, black, wavy-at-the-bottom skirt that I bought a couple of months ago. I walked pass Sears tower on my way to work and huff.... the wind blew my skirt up and thus I flashed everybody there. A lady, two guys, a Sears tower security guard whom I hate because he always mumbles something (read:fishy stuffs) everytime I pass by. Hmpfff....
I think there are more people behind me, and I bet they also saw the wind getting groovy on my skirt.
One of the two guys smiled at me but I was busy fighting the wind that I didn't really care to smile back at him nor that I wanted to.
So then, my well-brushed hair was a mess and I was running late and people saw too much of my skin, and it's only 9 AM.
Good job....
My mood went straight back to hell.
This teach us all some lessons, people: When wearing skirt, make sure to wear nice panties, just in case. Also, this proved that this sure is a windy city (regardless the fact that they meant 'windy' politic).
Okay that's it for me.
Wow,... this is my first posting, and I talk about panties already.