Savoring Life

Having breakfast at Oakwood while looking at JW Mariott and Ritz Carlton. I can see the broken windows of Airlangga from where I sit.Wholewheat, chicken, omelet, mushroom. Not a good day huh?
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So I've been reading blogs about cooking (yeah, new obsession) and food. Ever since I talked with Ade Rai about health and wellness, I have been doing little steps to improve God's most precious gift to us, body mind and soul. I signed up for gym, which turned out to be fun, and eat better. It means I have to spend more money, but I feel a lot happier too. So I think it's all worth it.
 
A new thing I've discovered about myself is, I prefer going out for breakfast now. Here's why.
 
First, breakfast is the most important meal for the day. Carbs, white flour, poultry, you can have it for breakfast as there's more time to burn all those unnecessary materials in those non-purity food. Very few restaurants have good vegetarian menu. I'm not a vegetarian, but I now prefer to have as much vegetables as I can for lunch and dinner. The more colorful, the better. Green spinach and brocolli, orange carrots, yellow corn, pink yogurt. Yumminess!
 
Second, going out for breakfast or brunch isn't really hype in this city as most people -at least, most of my friends- prefer to go out for lunch or dinner - and clubbing. So it means better service, quieter environment at the restaurant. And well, I just don't enjoy going to a crowded place where everyone is dressed up and obviously there to be seen. And the fact that much lesser people going out in the morning makes a clear traffic is exclusive-given right for me the early bird! Double yay! I'm happy to be at home before dark, which is something I can't do during work days.
 
Third, lots of restaurants (Koi, Loewy, Social House) now offer splendid breakfast menu. And it usually is cheaper than lunch or dinner menu! My favorite place for breakfast, The Apartment (which I think has the best pancake in town), even serves a compliment coffee/tea for breakfast orders.
 
Fourth, it's just classy. I believe so.
 
So, see you there at 10 am?
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Currently, a lot of people are questioning (or commenting) about the Indonesia Unite movement on Twitter. That's normal. Indonesians are not exactly a nation with best remembering skill, and it's so easy for us to forget.
 
But there's hope that the new media might help to improve our citizenship. For many years, we rely on neighborhood units, NGOs and media to express our voices. We do peace rally to steal some attention, and sometimes, at very dark times, we created riots and fear. With Indonesia Unite movement on Twitter, every single tweet counts. It's a damn long way to go for Twitter to have influence, but at least we're starting, and we're doing something instead of sitting, mourning and being sceptical. To question is important, it helps us to keep alert with the goal, but to do something is what counts. We are all learning. As long as there are people like @ifahmi, @dondihananto, @absolutraia and @budip, there will be efforts to make people keep tweeting about something useful. Ayo Indonesia!
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I'm blessed for having a loving family, inspiring friends and a wonderful job. I cannot thank God enough for everything. Sometimes, when you're having too much fun, you'd wonder how everything will end, because nothing good lasts forever. But I just wanna say I'm grateful for who I am today and for being with the people around me.
 
Last night, I went ghost hunting for a story with Dalih, who brought Noska, Yudha and Marenta. We were frightened and laughed together. I arrived at home in the morning, and had an amazing, dreamless six hours of sleep. Talked with family over the phone for 12 minutes, telling what we're up to and how much we miss each other.
 
Then I had lunch with Dalih at my home. We watched Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl. Then we started writing. It felt so good to write together. Brainstorm was sweet, because we're trying to write a humorous piece. As we were writing, we were trying to remember every single interesting detail from last night. We spent 3 hours writing and the story is now (at least) 1500 words. I had to miss a chance of meeting my uni girlfriends. I left home at 6 and went to Jet's bridal shower. Omg so much fun. Ade is the DJ for tonite. The giant penis pinyata is awwwsome! Salute Zack. The go go boy scared me (hehe) but all in all, it was a great party. All girls and no men make girls wild and crazy!
 
Moving on to chez Ruby where we held a surprise birthday party for Fajar. It's a wonderful get together and it's definitely the right choice to go. We laughed at everything Glenn said. Great booze (Baileys!). Delicious triple chocolate cake. Fun scrabble. Loving people. I love you, life. You're a bitch sometimes, but these last 2 days, it's just like honey moon. Thank God. Thank you. Good night! Four hours of sleep (jeez!!!!!) before the trip to Pangrango. Sent from my BlackBerry®
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Rousseau asks, “What is the source of our happiness in such a state?” He answers that it is nothing external to us and nothing apart from our own existence. However frenetic our environment, such a feeling of existence can be achieved. He then goes on, amazingly, to conclude, “as long as this state lasts we are self-sufficient like God.” God-like, then. To which one might reply: Who? Me? Us? Like God? Dare we? But think about it: If anyone is happy, then one imagines that God is pretty happy, and to be happy is to be like God. But consider what this means, for it might not be as ludicrous, hybristic or heretical as one might imagine. To be like God is to be without time, or rather in time with no concern for time, free of the passions and troubles of the soul, experiencing something like calm in the face of things and of oneself. From: Happy Like God

This opinion piece by Simon Critchley is an interesting piece about happiness. For once, God is a chosen alternative. And this came from a philosopher! I thought they blame God all the time. Clearly, I was wrong. Just for the record, I have deadlines all the time. I might be grumpy about it, because sometimes things are just too hectic to handle. But deep in my heart, I love the job. Honestly, I could not even think of a better one. Other people might earn more. But the best part of the job, aside of writing, is that I get to put myself in countless shoes. One day, you have to deal with the heat in a fishermen village, feeling lost and yet astonished. Other time, you get to (learn to) fly a plane. As for today, I get head-shakes and facepalms from deaf-mute children because I'm a Muslim and I paint my nails. Red. They haven't learn biology yet, so the teacher got a hard time explaining "period". I try to think if I ever be happy without involving time in it. I can't. Feeling peaceful, perhaps. But happy? Everything I went through in life is great because of the people I spend time with. Or because I love what I do. It sucks when people don't pick up their phones, or it takes forever for an interview request to be approved. But happiness is when I see my writing on the paper/website, and people like it. Happiness is when I hang out with my family and friends. But in the end, happiness don't last. After the happy ending, you still have to pay the bills. Even if you're too rich to worry about bills, there's always something wrong. How about God?

Few interesting bits, if you're an appreciative person. But when you do it with an old friend after what you feel like ages ago, you will notice how much you've changed - or how much you have not. You, them, and the life surroundings. I had a nice, long brunch with one of my best friends in uni last weekend. We didn't do much, really. Just laying down in the jacuzzi, reading magazines and had few conversations to catch up. But that's when this certain kind of light started to work. So, in between the fluffy pancakes, french fries and camomile tea, I rediscovered the old, missing values I have forgotten for the past year. The joy and the bitter faces of life. The line to what I don't want to be is getting clearer, although at this point, I think I'm pretty content not to whine about things I don't have. Because really, if I had to make a list about things I'm thankful for, it would be an endless list. I want to be better, but who knows how further I will change, right? If there's one thing I've noticed about myself, it's about feeling redundant on being with the crowds. I hate malls with all my heart, thanks to work who force us to deal with all these slow elevators, crowded food court, even sale make me sick right now. I can tolerate malls on week days, where not so many people show up. Or brunch, for exactly the same reason. I think it's because I meet strangers all the time in doing my job, I kinda feel neurotic for being with them in my free time, too. Even in my online life, I erased a link to this blog from Twitter awhile ago, deleted some old "friends" (I feel they're more like strangers, we didn't even talk during school anyway) from Facebook and set my privacy so people can't add me. Either that, or I just need to find someone, really. Nevertheless, it's one of the best brunch I have in quite some time. Just the two of us in that cute weather - there was drizzle before the sun decided to shine again. I can still remember sitting at the corner of the jacuzzi, reading about Dita Von Teese's adventure in Saab's dresses when the rain stopped, and the sun light kissed me on the cheek. I could have real lips to do that, but they say, you can't rush perfection, and I kinda agree. Although I feel stupid, I listen to this tiny voice in my heart while desperately trying to believe that in the next ten years, I know I'm doing something right. Meanwhile, I'm sure the universe will keep me company. From what I heard, it loves people with dignity.

So, I’ve been thinking to continue the #priceless project that was on Twitter last year. New rules, though. I’m going to do something out of character, and blog about it. Since I can’t do it everyday, I’ll make it at least once a week. It’s going to be my discovery of new appreciations, or worst, it’s simply a waste of time. Either way, I think it’s fun! Before I considered to do this project, I’ve been thinking to sign up for a painting class. The main reason is because I’m so damn insensitive about colors. Blue is just blue for me, there’s no such thing as, I don’t know, cyrillian blue, and in my job, being details about everything actually helps. Alright. This week, I decided to go to the oldest gallery in Jakarta. Galeri Hadiprana is built in 1962, that’s as old as the first Beechcraft owned by Indonesia’s air police. I went to the third floor to ask few thing about painting class. Turned out, I couldn’t find a good time to do it. Bummer. So, I went around the gallery to check out some aaaawesome paintings, something unlikely for me to do. A Balinese painter, Made Gunawan, had me at The Elephant Parade, made in 2006. A giant elephant, with lots of fairies around him. There are three paintings, they all looked similar but not exactly the same. I stood in front of the huge paintings for maybe half an hour - trying to guess if it’s a serial painting, or if there’s a story, but I can’t figure it out. Anyway, I have to say, I enjoy the colors. It’s just beautiful. I love how he doesn’t get rid of the sketch lines. I couldn’t afford the painting. But a coworker apparently is a friend of Gunawan. So, let’s see if he can work some magic out. Haha. All in all, I had a good day. I’ll definitely add gallery visits into my weekend itinerary.

Is this the best it gets? Before I'm laid to rest.

I have dreamt about some people who are not here with me. Three days ago, I dreamt about my best friend. She was sitting on a table with her faceless boyfriend (it's probably because I haven't meet him before). But then, here comes this particular ex who wanted her back. And she's about to break up with her boyfriend. Wtf. I dreamt about my best friend's love life. I was just there, watching her, confuse between those two. Two days ago, I dreamt about my late grandmother. Only she was dying, and dead again in my dream. She was as thin as ever. And, she died just the way she did in the real life. In my hands, in my guidance to praise. Last night, it was the most unexpected dream. The funny thing is, I don't dream about them very often. Usually I dream about my work life (duh). Coworkers. Family. Daily life. Or I don't dream at all. So, dreaming about these precious three, three nights in a row? This is very strange. My guess is, I just need to be with some people who really know me. The stranger thing is, I just blogged about this.

Yesterday, our chief brought up this Facebook issue on our weekly meeting, and asked us to be careful about what we put online. Being on Twitter for almost a year, I was like, yaaaawn, tell me about it, chief! But few minutes ago, I just found out "why". And to tell the world about "that why" here on my blog would be as stupid as "that why". You can start guessing how cliche this blog post may sound (and you're right!). Everyone knows (those with internet, that is), Facebook is one of those phenomena on the internet that changes social interaction. By signing up, you're saying yes to an expose of your personal life by your means. People will remember your birthday, where you go to school and work, photos and probably how girlie you are (you know, those crappy quizzes). Tip: it's probably wise to get away from any camera in a big party if you didn't wish anyone to see how drunk you were. Anyway, I'm so proud that they don't end up banning Facebook at work. Call me anything you want but really, IT is not to blame. It's because you're doing it wrong. I mean, blaming IT is just like throwing a rock to a mirror because it's showing your ugly reflection. Technology is just a tool, for Google sake. It's not for you to check every minute so you forget your work. It's not for you to trash people you don't like. It's not for you to be someone else. And most importantly, it's not for you to judge people by what you see. I'm not acting holy here, if it's any consolation I do check Twitter whenever I can, but see? That's ME to blame. On another note: some people also criticize Facebook for giving people the chance to create a "fake life". I'd say, whatever. That's probably true, but so what? If you knew what you're seeing is fake, then thank goodness for your being original and leave those people alone. And don't give me those rants that "but they keep showing up on my feeds", hello!! Right click and show less about that person. Or simply remove them as a friend. Or block them so they can't find you again. Toleration is not your middle name, isn't it? True, you can do whatever you want with your account. But if there's one thing I learned from the internet, it's that it's there for everyone to see. Even a free country have jails and punishments. There's no such thing as an ultimate freedom because there are always other people. Both in analog or digital life. So if you wanted us to see how unwise you were with your life, be our guest.