Grateful at Year's End

I woke up this morning and talked to myself. This is the last day of 2009. What will you do?
I did the review but I need to spend this last day properly, but how?

Then I closed my eyes, spending the next couple of minutes thinking, oh well... make this memorable and be more grateful, even though just for today, the last day.

I'm thankful for...

1. A nice morning blue sky and I couldn't take my eyes off it. It was too nice.
2. My dad drove me to my office though he was a little bit grumpy because of this and that.
3. An email from a good friend of mine whom I missed lately, Wonwoo. He ecstatically told me that he only got 3 months left before he finally finish his military service.
4. A late morning call from somebody, who has that kind of morning voice, surely brighten up my morning. (No, I didn't type the "K" word. That is just overrated, dear.. hahahaha)
5. Goofed around with co-workers when bosses were not around. Perfect office hours, hahahaha.. and oh, blessed by the junk food.
6. Went shopping by myself, for myself. It required a lot of concentration. Shopping alone helps me realize who I really am. Seriously. Don't get it? I'll post about it next.
7. Spent the night at home with my beloved family.

See.. I don't need a new year's party. That is never gonna be an important event in my life. It's about a change. From 31 to 1. From 2009 to 2010. From Thursday to Friday. And why would I need to be in the hippest party in town from night till dawn when all I need is a fine last day with my loved ones?

See ya in 2010, friends...

Have a great life!

:)

Review 2009

Kemarin, Dania mengingatkan (sekaligus mengajak) untuk membuat review tahun 2009, seperti yang pernah kami lakukan tahun lalu.

Setelah apa yang telah saya dapatkan di tahun ini, rasanya memang pantas kalau saya membuat review ini sebagai ungkapan rasa syukur sekaligus sebagai pemicu agar saya bisa menjadi seseorang yang lebih baik di tahun depan.

Lulus kuliah dan jadi sarjana S1 merupakan berkah yang luar biasa. Dapat pekerjaan tetap untuk pertama kalinya juga merupakan hal yang luar biasa. Keduanya merupakan hal besar yang terjadi di tahun 2009.

Apalagi? Hmm...

Berhasil menaklukan perasaan takut yang selama berbulan-bulan menghantui dan sampai akhirnya memiliki keberanian yang (bagi saya) tak terduga, untuk merasakan hal-hal spesifik juga merupakan pencapaian tersendiri yang patut saya syukuri.

Mencoba menghargai hidup dan belajar melihat segala sesuatu dari berbagai sudut pandang melalui hal-hal sederhana juga saya lakukan dengan 30-day Blog Challenge.

Tahun ini juga saya mulai berani bermimpi tentang masa depan dan mencoba menatanya sehingga masa depan bukan hanya sekadar mimpi. Meskipun butuh usaha, komitmen, dan ratusan blog entry untuk mewujudkannya, hehehehehe.

Terlalu banyak hal yang hebat telah terjadi pada saya di tahun ini, bukan berarti saya tidak mengalami kegagalan. Banyak. Terlalu banyak. Salah satunya adalah gagal menghadirkan Ponso. Semoga dia masih bisa lebih bersabar dan bertahan dengan segala kesusahannya, dan semoga saya punya kekuatan lebih untuk segera menolongnya. *sigh~

Jadi? Akan jadi apa tahun depan? Semoga saya dan kalian semua masih diberikan kesempatan untuk jadi lebih baik.

Selamat tahun baru!

^^

Julie and Julia

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Film ini dibuat berdasarkan dua kisah nyata dari dua orang yang saling terhubung melalui kecintaan mereka terhadap makanan. Julia Child (diperankan oleh Meryl Streep) adalah penulis buku masak klasik Mastering The Art of French Cooking sekaligus host acara masak di televisi. Sebelum dia sukses dan terkenal, Julia Child hanyalah seorang sekretaris di kantor pemerintah. Ia kemudian menikahi Paul Cushing Child.

Julie Powell (diperankan oleh Amy Adams) adalah perempuan biasa yang bekerja di Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, sebuah badan yang mengurusi segala sesuatu yang berhubungan dengan pasca serangan 9/11. Julie Powell sebenarnya adalah seorang penulis novel, tapi novelnya tak kunjung selesai selama delapan tahun sehingga ia tak mau disebut sebagai seorang penulis. Julie merasa selalu gagal dalam melakukan sesuatu, tak pernah menyelesaikan sesuatu karena ternyata ia mengidap ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

Pertemuan Julie dengan sekumpulan teman kuliahnya yang mempermalukannya membuat ia merasa harus melakukan sesuatu yang dapat mengubah hidupnya. Satu hal sederhana yang selalu bisa mengubah hari-hari kelabunya adalah masak. Atas dasar itulah, suami Julie, Eric Powell menyarankannya untuk menulis blog. Kemudian muncullah ide membuat project blog Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. Project ini juga berdasarkan obsesi Julie terhadap Julia, dan bagaimana ia ingin menaklukan resep-resep Julia.

Ini adalah film tentang perempuan dari sudut yang tidak biasa. Dua orang perempuan dari dua generasi yang berbeda digambarkan sebagai perempuan yang mencoba menemukan passion melalui makanan. Keduanya digambarkan sangat sangat mandiri tanpa mengurangi pentingnya peran pasangan masing-masing (baik Paul Child maupun Eric Powell) yang sangat mendukung dan tipikal suami idaman, hahahahahahahaha..

Akting Maryl Streep luar biasa. Dia berhasil menghadirkan sosok Julia Child sungguhan, dengan impersonafikasi bahasa tubuh yang brilian, hasil dari riset serius.

Jungkir balik Julie Powell ketika melakukan tantangan blog ini mengingatkan saya akan betapa sulitnya melakukan komitmen terhadap hal yang sederhana sekalipun. Pertemuan Julie Powell dengan teman-teman lamanya yang mereka namakan Ritual Cobb Salad Lunch juga persis sama dengan apa yang sedang saya rasakan. Julie Powell bertanya-tanya, "what does it mean if you don't like your friends?" adalah quote favorit saya, selain "Is there anything better than butter?"

Ah, saya harus berhenti mengetik atau selanjutnya ini akan jadi ungkapan keluh kesah, bukan review film, hehehe...

Bon appetit!

:P

We Changed

I would say a thousand mean words about them. They would probably say a thousand mean words about me and others. We all, somehow, love to say mean words about everything. But one thing I always knew, words don't always count when you get the certain feeling of your relationship.

It's about my relationship with them in my early teenhood. We grew up into different persons and I, personally, have lost the bond completely. It hurts, seriously. Knowing that some part of your life that you once loved before has changed. All the "hello" and sweet names are just, what? Bullshit. I'm trying to be honest here. Do they really care about me? Nope. Do I really care about them? Not really.

I love my life now. With a bunch of people who still know how to have fun without ever forget to respect life itself. Those who are willing to share dreams and don't give a damn about my past. They walk with me and will always be walking beside me. And those are my people.

So here's to you all, my so called dear sisters. Well, I changed, so did all of you. We have chosen our own way to live. We have chosen our own people. The stars and the planets are not aligned upon us anymore, but all of us are doing just fine.

Cheers ^^

Seeking plan E... uhmm... Where's plan E?

Peace of Mind

What is peace of mind? It is a state of inner calmness and tranquility, together with a sense of freedom, when thoughts and worries cease, and there is no stress, strain or fear. Such moments are not so rare. They may be experienced while being engaged in some kind of an absorbing or interesting activity, such as while watching an interesting movie or TV program, while being with someone you love, while reading a book or while lying on the sand at the beach.

Oh, yeah... I need that..

Now.

cepatlah berakhir semua ketidakmasukakalan ini...cepatlah... x'(

Ketika Bosan Melanda

Beginilah kalau yang lain sibuk, tapi aku benar-benar menganggur sejak jam 11 siang tadi.

Bosan melanda.

Gangguin Rossi, udah.. (dan masih berlangsung, hahaha)
Nengok ke belakang, Nina dan Dania ga ada.
Nengok ke kiri, Caesar sibuk dengan bilboard.
Nengok ke kanan, ga berani, hahahahahaha...

Aku bosan habis-habisan.
Hawa liburan tapi aku tak lagi berhak dapat liburan.
Tapi ga ada lagi yang bisa dikerjakan, paling tidak saat ini.

Kemarin, dari komputer Uchil terdengar lagu-lagu Nat King Cole, Bobby Caldwell, Sinatra... dan semuanya terasa sangat "Natal" Oh holidays~ *sigh.

Hari ini, playlist Uchil berisi diantaranya Katty Perry, RAN, dan The Beatles. Tapi kenapa semuanya tetap terdengar seperti "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" milik Nat King Cole? Kenapa yang ada di benakku hanya gambaran aku menikmati secangkir cokelat panas dengan marshmallow yang terapung nyaris meleleh di atasnya sambil terbengong-bengong tanpa memikirkan apapun di sofa yang paling nyaman. Huah~

Pulang yuuuuuk~

*dipelototin semua orang*

Ga ada apa-apa nih? Boleh pulang kan? Bolehlaaaah... dari pada di sini buang-buang listrik komputer :P Kan katanya harus Go Green?? Hakakakakakakakakakakkk...

i smell something fishy~

Maksudnya mau pakai semua warna, malah perang suku. Merah putih atau mati!!!

Jalan Kaki

Malam ini aku menempuh perjalanan kaki cukup jauh bersama Rossi, dari La Codefin Kemang sampai Pasar Cipete. Akhirnya, setelah sekian lama, hasrat jalan kaki jarak jauh terpenuhi juga.

Aku senang jalan kaki, jauh sekalipun tidak masalah. Masalahnya adalah situasi perjalanan yang seringkali tidak memungkinkan bagiku, juga bagi warga Jakarta lainnya. Fasilitas trotoar parah tak terawat. Lebarnya tidak memadai, konstruksinya hancur, penerangannya seadanya, belum lagi tambahan pot-pot terbengkalai yang bukannya menghijaukan, justru malah mengganggu pejalan kaki. Seringkali juga hak-hak pejalan kaki direnggut oleh pengendara motor, pedagang kaki lima, dan lain-lain.

Sesaat tadi (dan sampai tulisan ini diketik) aku merindukan betapa nyamannya berjalan di atas trotoar di tengah kota Seoul. Trotoarnya lebar, selebar jalan raya. Bersih, terawat, terang dan relatif aman. Aku tidak perlu terlalu mengkhawatirkan keamanan diri. Tidak seperti tadi, harus sering-sering menengok, mencari Rossi dan meyakinkan diri semuanya baik-baik saja. Dan mungkin kalau saja trotoarnya terang dan tidak rusak, insiden tersandung tidak perlu terjadi tadi, hahahahaha.

Seperti inilah gambaran trotoar di Seoul yang membuat aku tidak pernah mengeluh (bahkan sangat menikmati) kalau harus jalan kaki dari satu tempat ke tempat lain, demi menghemat uang transportasi.



Aku bilang Rossi tadi, "Aku mau jadi gubernur ah~"
Sebenarnya itu doa, semoga trotoar dan fasilitas umum lainnya segera ditindaklanjuti. Bukan cuma wacana Pilkada belaka. Soalnya... aku masih mau jalan kaki jauh.. tanpa khawatir akan tersandung, kecopetan, atau digodain mas-mas yang bukan mas Rossi, nyahahahahahahaha. *kabur*


Image: worldisround

Balada Hamster Ali

Jumat malam lalu, aku, mama, dan papa ke rumah ompung untuk rapat keluarga tentang rencana pernikahan abang. Ali, sepupuku, langsung menyambutku di depan pintu rumah ompung dan mengajakku main.

Kemudian Ali menggiringku ke kandang hamster. Ali menutup bibirnya dengan jari telunjuk, tanda jangan berisik. Kupikir karena kakaknya, Nadya, sedang belajar untuk ulangan besok.


Aku: iya, jangan berisik ya Al.. kakak Nadya kan lagi belajar.."
Ali: bukan! hamsternya lagi dihamilin.. jangan berisik!"
Aku: *shock*


Sambil bingung aku terus berjalan menuju kandang hamster. Mencoba mengintip apa yang sedang terjadi tapi gelap. Meskipun terdengar suara cicitan dari dalam kandang.


Ali: tuh kan, denger ga suaranya?
Aku: eh? ng.. iya... lagi apa Al? *ga yakin*
Ali: lagi dihamilin... eh.. lagi hamil..
Aku: *shock lagi*
Ali: anaknya kecil2 warnanya merah.. ntar liat deh..
Aku: haaaah? anaknya udah lahir?
Ali: iyaaa.. itu lagi nyusu!
Aku: owalaaaaah~ jadi lagi nyusuin! *lega*. Anaknya ada berapa, Al?
Ali: lima.. eh.. kalo ga lima, dua belas!
Aku: *heran* jauh amat selisihnya! hahahaha..


Alhamdulillah... ternyata hamsternya sedang menyusui anak2nya. Padahal aku sudah menyiapkan jawaban 'bijaksana' jikalau Ali bertanya hal-hal urusan itu, hahahahaha..

More, please...

It's 15.45 and I just woke up from the longest yet the most tiring sleep. Encouraged, fully spirited, and totaly awakened.

He's a living legend, he has a real big passion, knows what he's doing, and well-dedicated. Oh my... A great teacher sits behind me!

I don't need a master's degree, not now.

...

...

I just need more coffee break.

"we're underground" *smile*

Masa-masa bulan madu sudah berlalu. Sisanya pait dan aseemmmmmm.. hahahahahahaha~ *sigh

Mengukur Beluga

Ingat kan aku mau pelihara ini?
Hari ini aku liat replikanya!!! hahhahahahahahahaha...



Beginilah potongan percakapan antara aku dan Heidy

Nnisa: Wah, kayaknya muat nih di bath tub kamar mandi nyokap!

Heidy: Ng... kayaknya nggak deh, Nnis...

Nnisa: Aah.. *merajuk*


Ya saudahlah...
Paling nggak udah ada bayangan untuk bikin kolamnya suatu hari nanti...


:P

Hilarious Holiday Cards

Okay. Gloomy no more.

Laughter is the best cure.

Thanks for this site I happen to visit.




Happy holiday! (eh?)

Today's Breakfast

I wanted a peaceful morning but somehow, I had to face the madness and it was not really necessary.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

So for today's breakfast, I had a cup of coffee, great blogs, and great music (played at the highest volume and blasted into my eardrums) right on my own desk, at the office where no one has come, of course.

No breakfast at home today. Not when it didn't feel like a home.

"Haah? Kamu ngopi, nnis?" *kenapa sih?*

I'm expected to be an angel, as a matter of fact I'm NOT.

30-day Blog Challenge: DONE!

Yeay!

30-day blog challenge is finally done! It's been a fun challenge. 30 days full of excitement, failures, anger, sadness, and of course happiness!

I learned a lot from this challenge.

1. I learned to be pushed to do something. Doesn't matter if it makes me happy or not, I have to do it.

2. It's a commitment, anyway. It's a good way to learn how to commit.

3. Write. Write. Write. Writer's block is just a.. well... block! Hahahahaha.. The greater the block, the greater the challenge.

4. It's not easy to write in English, but at least I tried. Hahahaha... OH HOW I MISS WRITING IN BAHASA INDONESIA!

5. Maybe I shouldn't have to pick the "theme" for my version of this 30-day blog challenge in the first place.

6. Well, maybe I should change the "theme". Should it be hmm... "Nnisa's Attempts To Be Happy" or.. "Today's Turning Point" ?

7. I learned to see, to hear, to feel, to experience each and every single little thing that happened in the last 30 days. Inspiration is everywhere!

8. I learned to be more happy, optimistic and positive minded. It's part of my healing process too.



Here's a list of my blog to be easily tracked down

Day 1: Romanticizing Full Moon
Day 2: Tiny Window, Big Smile
Day 3: Escape to Friday Night Sanctuary
Day 4: Ugly Notebook No More
Day 5: Let's Meet Up
Day 6: Warm & Fuzzy
Day 7: The Sense of Belonging
Day 8: Something New, Something Worth A Try
Day 9: Escape From PMS
Day 10: Turn Happily
Day 11: Truth
Day 12: I Was Lost
Day 13: Daydreaming Simple Wedding
Day 14: Cross-Cultural Music
Day 15: Mellow Got Me
Day 16: Carb For Comfort
Day 17: Let's Doodle!
Day 18: Guling-guling Day *yeaaay!!*
Day 19: Wait and Hope
Day 20: Mistakes
Day 21: Morning Coffee
Day 22: Inspiring Blogs
Day 23: Forgotten Dream
Day 24: Skip (?)
Day 25: Time Out
Day 26: Family Portrait
Day 27:I'll Come Through
Day 28: Black (Cat) Tea
Day 29: Another Morning Coffee Talk
Day 30: Face The Fear

On this last blog of 30-day challenge, I promise I will keep doing this (writing, blogging, sharing, whatever it is...) because writing keeps me alive.




:)

Day 30: Face The Fear

I'm a girl who knows exactly how it feels to be frightened, anxious, nervous, scared, horrified, terrified... Whatever the term, you name it.

I know I am a coward.. yes I am.. Being brave is sometimes out of my grasp. Sometimes it's not something very fearful. Sometimes it's just something I never do, never hear, never see, never feel. It's just a new thing, and yeah it's a bit scary for me.

I have done so many 'scary' things and turned out to be just fine. But every time I have to face it for the first time, every time the anxiety comes.

I know, somehow, I will be just fine. It's the ugly feeling that kills me. I lose my faith bit by bit. And if I finally face the fear, I'd be grateful for being brave although the fear had to haunt me first.

It's only two days away and I'm preparing myself. I'm trying to ditch the fear, forget what those people has been said and done to me, and get myself ready to be surprised.

Come to me, fear. I'm a coward, but I'm so ready to face you.




:)

i'm craving for a luscious cup of coffee. why? aaaa.... xP

Day 29: Another Morning Coffee Talk

After the awkward conversation between me and one of my bosses about Multiply and how I felt threaten by the possibility of Multiply being blocked by the IT management, I ran to the canteen with Ditha for breakfast (coffee for me, for sure, hahaha). It's my second morning coffee talk, and like the first one, I needed it to clear my mind.

Not so long after we finally sat down, our other bos, (Creative Director to be exact)  joined. With a cup of black coffee and a piece of his ultimate favorite gemblong, he started our morning chit chat.

I forgot how he first started the talks, but all I remember was the encouragement he gave to us (Ditha, Aria, the visual merchandiser newbie, and me)

"Annisa." He called my name like he meant it. "Finish your first year here and get out!"

I listened carefully.

"Get out, find a better place." He munched his last bite of gemblong and started to light his smoke. "A person like you, young, free, open-minded yet creative, should be in a 'crazy' place."

I stunned.

"Don't waste your time here. See a greater world out there."

I nodded and smiled (and encouraged)

I am doing my best here even though it's not easy to do something good (in a creative side) because all I'm doing is very much not that creative. Here, I don't write. I type as they wish, as what has been typed before by the former copy writers, as the "GOD" wants.

I'd die anytime soon if I keep "typing".   I need to stay alive. In order to stay alive, I write on Multiply and on my "la-la paper" hahahahaha...



:)

Hey... menurut kalian... mengintip/mengutak-atik/melihat dengan sengaja tanpa permisi komputer orang di kantor, melanggar privasi ga? Cuma pengen tau aja... saya kan belum pengalaman... :P

Day 28: Black (Cat) Tea

I didn't forget to post Day 28. I had no idea, hahahahaha...

I slept early last night and I was hoping I could get an idea this morning. But it turned out to be nothing.

Until a couple of hours ago, Rossi asked me. "You haven't post Day 28, have you?"

Okay. I got to do this.

Hmm...

Hmm...

What about this?

A cup of hot tea from Rossi yesterday

It's not the hot steamy tea that cracked me up. It's the cute suspicious black cat.
Not funny for you? Quite funny and heartwarming for me...



:)


Image from here