Heroes of the Month

As you may know, Indonesia Ex-President (or some may want to call him Ex-Dictator) is passed away. Yet, he remains powerful.

Look at the media! Every media is about him. For these last 4 weeks, every page I have been reading has something about him: his past, his education, his funeral, the one who digged his grave, and even about his household caretaker. The funny thing I read about him this morning was national and international media is writing two different things about him. National media writes about Soeharto as a good leader, 'Bapak Pembangunan', National Heroes, and other positive issues. Yet, international media writes negative news about him.

Washington Post menurunkan tulisan dengan judul In Indonesia’s Ex-Dictator Soeharto. Sementara itu, ada pula judul-judul yang dibuat; Buried, Soldier, Savior, Strongman, Crook (Newsweek), Suharto, Tyran of Indonesia, Dies Without Facing Justice (The Independent), President Soeharto, 86; Indonsian Ruler Left Mixed Legacy of Prosperity and Untold Deaths (LA Times), Suharto, Former President of Indonesia and Brutal Rules, Dies (Timesonline), dan lain-lain. Yang jelas, gambaran judul beberapa media asing itu terkesan negatif dan memojokkan mantan presiden ke-2 RI tersebut (Jawa Pos - Opini).

Ndoro Kakung also proved that people are still curious about him. This morning (30/01), Yahoo! was full with many people searching about 'Soeharto'.

Are you curious about him? about his past, his conspiracy (Jawa Post also wrote that the US even supported Soeharto violating human rights around the 80's and 90's)? Are you curious about how he could be so rich?

Ask God. I think God can explain (singing Splender's song).

Love Letter for my dearest sister

Dear Sister,

Sis,... I just discovered that he has another girlfriend!! Check his friendster!!!! Will she be his next victim? Will she?? Will she??

Poor him, because I think you are much prettier than she is! Hehehe,... But, I really thank God that you are no longer with him. I really praise Him that He has prepared someone else for you - someone normal, kind and loving.

I honestly am really glad that you have found your soulmate, which has been our best friend since our first year. It is very funny how God has prepared someone for you. He could have told you that in the beginning, thus you didn't need to suffer.

Yet, I reckon God always works all things together for good, right? I believe that every situation you have been through has been allowed by God, to teach you, to polish you.

I am really glad that your time is coming. It is so fast!

Do you remember that we had plan to hold our wedding parties all together in the same place, at the same time? I didn't expect that you would break that vow :P

I will pray for you two.

Honestly, I had to wipe my tears when I typed this post. Sis, I am really happy for you.

A big hug and kisses from me. See you soon.

Love,

Nie

Miss them

I really missed some people lately

I miss Ardy, Nita, and Danz (Golda, thanks for coming over to Surabaya)
I miss Crew Family (hope to see you soon)
I miss OMF crew in the Netherlands (hope to see you soon, too)
I miss CMH crew (one day I will come and visit you! promise)

Sigh...
At least some of them are coming over this coming March
Yipeeee .....

Stefy, Why do you love me?

Lady: Why do u like me? Why do u love me?
Man : I can't tell the reason... But I really like u...
Lady: U can't even tell me the reason... How can u say u like me? How can u say u love me?
Man : I really don't know the reason, but I can prove that I love u.
Lady: Proof ? No! I want u to tell me the reason. My friend's boyfriend can tell her why he loves her, but not u!
Man : OK...OK !!! Erm...because u are beautiful, because your voice is sweet, because u are caring, because u are loving, because u are thoughtful, because of your smile, because of your every movements...

Unfortunately, a few days later, the Lady met with an accident and became
comma. The Guy then placed a letter by her side, and here is the content :

Dearest,

Because of your sweet voice that I love u...Now can u talk? No! Therefore I cannot love u.

Because of your care and concern then I like u... Now that u cannot show them, therefore I cannot love u.

Because of your smile, because of your every movements that I love u...
Now can u smile? Now can u move? No, therefore I cannot love u...

If love needs a reason, like now, there is no reason for me to love u anymore. Do loves need a reason?

NO! Therefore, I still love u... And love doesn't need a reason...

"When loving someone... never regret what u do... only regret what you didn't do"
If God brings you to it...He will bring you through it..

Source: Touching & Inspiring Stories

Husband Mart is now open

A store that sells husbands has just opened in the city where a woman may go to choose a husband from among many men. The store is comprised of 6 floors, and the men increase in positive attributes as the shopper ascends the flights.

There is,however, a catch. As you open the door to any floor you may choose a man from that floor, but if you go up a floor, you cannot go back down except to exit the building.

So a woman goes to the shopping center to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men have jobs.
The woman reads the sign and says to herself, "Well, that's better than my last boyfriend,but I wonder what's further up?" So up she goes.
The second floor sign reads :

Floor 2 - These men have jobs and love kids.
The woman remarks to herself, "That's great, but I wonder what's further up?" And up she goes again. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love kids and are extremely good looking.
"Hmmm, better" she says. "But I wonder what's upstairs?" The fourth floor sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking and help with the housework.
"Wow!" exclaims the woman, "very tempting. But, there must be more, further up!" And again she heads up another flight. The fifth floor sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak.
"Oh, mercy me! But just think... what must be awaiting me further on?" So up to the sixth floor she goes. The sixth floor sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 3,456,789,012 to this floor.
There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at Husband Mart and have a nice day!

Source: Touching & Inspiring Stories

Bye, bye, Mr. Ledger

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on Tuesday afternoon, the New York City police said.

The police said Mr. Ledger, 28, was discovered facedown in bed in an apartment at 421 Broome Street in SoHo. Police officials said that a bottle of prescription sleeping pills were found on a nearby night table, but that they did not know whether they played a role in Mr. Ledger’s death.

Mr. Ledger, the star of “Brokeback Mountain” and other films, was discovered by a housekeeper and a masseuse, the police said. The housekeeper had been in the apartment for some time before Mr. Ledger’s body was discovered, and she let the masseuse in when she at the apartment for a 3:31 p.m. appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. They said they did not know when Mr. Ledger scheduled the appointment.

When Mr. Ledger did not respond to a knock on the bedroom door, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities and moved Mr. Ledger to the floor, the police said.

Source: NY Times

Nia: With money you can buy a precious, expensive bed; yet with money you can't buy a good sleep, nor happiness.

Belated New Year Resolution

It is actually very late to wish "Happy New Year" to everybody. I have decided to postpone this posting because I wanted to wait for a special moment to publish this post. This time is very special, because we have just passed a normal New Year; and we are about to celebrate Chinese New Year (this is my year, mouse!!).

This post is about my NEW YEAR RESOLUTION. Very cliche, huh? This is also the special time because I have been thinking and praying about my New Year Resolution. I don't want to create one that sounds very classic, that I could never fulfill. However, I want to have one that is very personal and plausible.

I want to realize all (or, let's be realistic, most) of it by the end of 2008.

Yet, New Year Resolution is very important. Thus, this post is, too, very important, because you can help to keep me on track - remind me when I get lost. Okay?

1. Finance

• Save 25% of my salary every month
  
• Always give the tenth every month
• Treat max. 2 people every month
• Minimize eating out

2. Health

• Keep eating healthy food
• Exercise more! - Join local gym
• Minimize eating out

3. Career

• Have a better time management
• Don't be late for work
• REST!
  
• Avoid stress and pressure - stay positive
  
• Don't judge book by its cover
  

4. Beauty

• Sleep on-time (before 11)
• Don't put any make up on the weekend (unless there is a party/event)
• Don't go to that skin doctor unless it is very urgent (and don't accept his treatment before asking as many questions as possible)

5. Character

• Don't worry, be happy
• Don't get angry (easily)
• Open Up, Nia!
• FORGIVE + FORGET!!
• Courageous

6. GOD

• Join (at least) one ministry at church
• NEVER skip quite time
• Read 3 - 5 Spiritual/Christian books (from cover to cover)
• Pray for some people that I have listed
  
• Pray for Stefy more often
  

7. Others

• Read useful (motivation/leadership) books ( min. 3 books - from cover to cover)
• Back to school(finger cross!!)
• Write 2 -3 fictions
• Speak fluent Dutch (better grammar)

Here they are! 7 promises I made in the beginning of 2008. I really long to fulfill all my promises by the end of 2008.

God, please help me! I will be lost without you.

Where is my TOFU and TEMPEH?

I love Tofu and Tempeh. Soy milk is also a great company for my breakfast.

"Something has been missing on many Jakarta dining tables in the past two days: everyone's favorite tofu and tempeh dishes."

I was shocked to death when I read the Jakarta Post a couple of days ago, because it must have been wrong. Tofu and tempeh are a must in Indonesian culinary.

Tofu, tempeh and other products made from soybenas are no longer cheap, because "It was around Rp 3,300 (30 U.S. cents) per kilogram last January, but now it's Rp 7,400," Asep, who is head of the Tangerang Tofu and Tempeh Communication Forum. It is +/- 60% more expansive!!

He also said soybeans were imported from the U.S. and the price had been on the rise since January last year.

I thought our country produce the best soybeans, the best tofu and tempeh's.

I am really concern about this issue, not only because I love soybeans, but it influences many people's lives. For instance a life of a man who committed suicide because he, who was a snack seller (read: penjual gorengan) in Jakarta, discovered that the price of his ingredients has increased very high. He couldn't buy nor sell anything.

Where will we go?

Where will this country go?

Sigh,..

To forgive, yet not to forget

Dear Mr. Ex-President,

In response to the current issue whether we forgive or not to forgive you, I will say that I may forgive you.

Lately, I have been thinking of how you have faced too many difficulties. Seeing your family perishing, one of your child after another was accused of doing criminals, and your favorite daughter-in-law was about to be divorced, have not been easy for you.

I started to feel very sorry for you.

It must have been very difficult for you. Maybe you have felt guilty. Maybe those sufferings were some of many reasons that have caused your illness. Maybe you have wished you could have done differently. Maybe you prayed to God to have another chance to re-do your life. Maybe, and just maybe.

Yes, I really feel sorry for you.

In your old age, I reckon you have felt sorry, somehow. I believe, you are (or have been) a good person, somehow (yet, this world had destroyed your good side). Thus, I think, I will forgive you and erase what you have done in the past, although I had ever suffered from the discrimination issue that you had planted in the past. I will forgive you, thus you may rest in peace in the palace, Astana Giribangun, next to your lovely wife.

But, don't expect me to forget, because I will tell the story about you to my children and grandchildren and (maybe) great grandchildren. I will teach them about love, not love of money and power, like what you had, but love to God and family. I will tell them that greed and hatred will bring them a great suffering. I will tell them not to be like you.

Ah, Sir, despite the awful things you have done in the past, I want to to thank you for a few good things that you did or brought to this country, which I may not know or realize.

Whether you cling to life or death, I pray for the best.

Best regard,

Nie'

After one sack of crisp

People have various ways to express anger. One will scream, another will bottle up. One will cry, another will act as nothing is wrong. One will act crazily, another will find solitude.

I never express my anger. I rather bottle it up and flush it away with one sack of crisp or other snack. This one sack of magical crisp cures my anger. At least for the next 3 - 5 minutes (or more, depend on the size of the sack), I will forget about my disappointment, anger, or other disturbing things.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I finish my last bite of crisp, the feeling comes up again. This time is usually worse.

Gosh, I am run out of crisp now. Let me get another sack of crisp, we'll see what it can do.


Mode VERY UPSET: ON