Opposites Attract

Most people would say that they became close friends because they have a lot in common. On the contrary, my buddy and I became close friends because we are so different. It's so different that it's not strange for us to hear others say: "Wow, how can you guys even be friends???" :D Oh, perhaps I have to say that we even say this almost every year: "Wow, another year of friendship!!! How could we??? Scaaaaarrrryyyyy......" (FYI, it's not me who said scary though I did say the first phrase in awe).

OK, so at first we did find something in common, which is called ENERGY. LoL And to this day we still find it hard to tell people how we met without having to spill some embarassing but memorable memories that still put a smile on my face. To make it short (and less humiliating) now we simply said: "Through friends." though not without exchanging glances & some giggles which lead the other person asks: "Why you guys laughing?" And then in the end we still have to explain the complete stories.

I have many girlfriends but only a few that I could call close friends. Maybe because most times I find them annoying. Like whenever we're going then we have to eat the same food, going to exactly the same spot, and wearing matching stuff and all... and I have to tell them everything that's going on in my life and so I have to listen to them telling me whatever's going on on their lives. I'm one that could never stand a clingy relationship. So those stuff quite annoying for me.

But not with her. We don't spend every single weekend or holiday together. We could go to the same mall together but get into different stores and meet up again later. We won't fight over boys since we have a completely different type. And she's still trying hard to make over my wardrobe though she has given up on asking me clubbing He3x But when we are talking seriously, then we are REALLY talking. We're not trying to guess what's on each other's mind. We ask and try to find out openly. If we don't agree on something, then we'll find another way instead of pushing our ideas into each other. That's the good thing. Let me try to make some comparison between myself and herself here:

She's a fashionista. I'm good with shirt, jeans & sneaker.
She likes Russel Watson. I prefer Andrea Bocelli.
She likes good looking guys. I like guys who look good to me.
She always wears high heels. If I could go to work with sandal, I'll do that.
She's into Snoopy. I want to have Stitch as a pet.
She grows her hair long. And keeps telling me not to cut my hair short again.
She sings David Tao. I sing Jay Chou. At least we sing Lee Hom in duet.
She watched & read Twilight. I'm still trying to finish Bleach & Naruto.
I call her stepmother. She calls me... errr... Tre?

The list could go on and on and on... But we have survived 2 holiday trips together and she's the only one who could make my father walked from the living room to the kitchen while I was cooking just to ask: "Oh, I just realize that G**E hasn't been here for quite a while. Where has she been?" And I was gapping like a fish out of water: "HAAA??? You asked me about G**E??" ROFL And my father didn't even remember my ex boyfriend's name!! Yikes!!

She's not my only close friend like I'm not her only close friend either. And she's just as special as my other close friends, but maybe the most unique. Please note here that I'm using the words CLOSE FRIENDS instead of BEST FRIENDS. Your friends aren't always the BEST, but they are definitely CLOSE to your heart.

To this special and unique close friend: "I'm looking forward to another arguments and disagreements and snickering and bantering between the two of us as those that create a special bond between us. And yes.... it's scaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy...... hahahahahahaha"

To my other close friends: "Wait for your turn on this blog. And no, you can not say NO. Yes... good girls..."

KISS!! *CHUU*

time flies

2 more days and 2008 is gone... here comes 2009!!

Looking back, 2008 is not an easy year for me and somehow I believe that there will be more challenge and hardship in 2009. Things are getting tougher and harder nearing the end of the year, I've heard some stuff which is definitely going to affect my career or personal life next year.. Some changes in my financial plan already sent my plans swirling down the drain. But God also showed some miracles and proved to me once again, that HE is a GOD with an unlimited power.

Am I afraid entering 2009? Yes, I do. But that doesn't mean that I should stop believing in HIM. In fact, it's a sign that I should believe and rely on him evenmore. After all, HE is a GOD that promised to be with us through EVERYTHING in EVERYTIME. I don't wanna set my hopes too high, but instead I want to tell HIM every single wish that I have, my expectations, my anxiety, my fear, whatever I'm feeling. In the end, MAY HIS WILL BE DONE over me. Come what may...

Thank you 2008... Welcome 2009...

Blackberry?? Blueberry??

I just turned down another offer to be provided with a Blackberry. The last time I was nominated was like half a year ago by the IT Dept since I was supporting them for Jakarta Office. And in case someone got locked out again like a while ago, and they can't contact my phone, at least they want to be able to send me an email . I flatly rejected the idea.

And yesterday my boss asked me again: "Would you prefer to use a Blackberry? I can get you one by tomorrow." And I quickly retorted: "Ah, no thanks Pak!! I'm not that important and I still want to enjoy my weekend!" (^_^) Having a BB in my office means you're available 24/7.Means: you have no life but work.

I don't think I need one, so why should I accept the offer? Yes, lately you'll see more people use a BB and it's like it has become a trend, a way of life. You're cool if you have one even though you're not using it to its max capability and you don't even have to check your mail every now and then... the most common feature that people use is to check their FB account ha3x

So, thanks, but no thanks. Sorry sorry strawberry, but I prefer Blueberry... cheesecake, that is!! *lame joke*

books

I'm running out of space to keep my books!!! (T_T) My last database roughly shows these numbers:

1. Indonesian translated comics -- 2.959

2. English translated comics -- 131

3. Indonesian translated Asterix and such -- 72

4. English translated fictions & non-fictions -- 82

5. Indonesian translated fictions & non-fictions -- 72

6. Illustration, Fanbook & Chara Book -- 18

7. Others (including art, craft, architecture, imaging, dictionaries, foreign language lesson, cooking & children books) -- roughly 150

And those numbers weren't accurate except for the Indonesian & English translated comics. Since lately I'm too lazy to update the list for the others though I kept buying them *sigh* Now Ireally don't know where to keep what I have at home, and and like 20 % of them are still at my friend's library... haven't got time to take them all home.

When I say I'm running out of space, I really mean it. You open my living room dressers, you'll find boxes of books. You open my wardrobe, 50% of the space also filled with books. You check my parent's bedroom, you'll also find some boxes of books. Kitchen is the only place that's still clear from my books... (^_^)

I think I've mentioned somewhere that I'm the kind of person who'll feel guilty entering a bookstore without buying a book at all. So now if I'm not looking for a certain book I won't be going into any bookstore. Otherwise, I'll buy books just for the sake of buying something inside the store. And it's usually I won't read the books until a few weeks later if not the next year. Yeah, it's such a bad habit, I know.

And I can not sleep without reading. I could toss around for 2 hours without being able to close my eyes and sleep. Even when I'm extremely tired after doing so many activities during the day or when I got home at 5am in the morning and almost fall asleep in the car... the moment I hit the bed, I have to read though I'll pass out after ready not more than 5 lines... but I MUST read. That's why when I'm travelling I always brought a couple of books with me. When one book bored me, I can read the others. And I have a reading lamp clipped to my bedside, the switch is only 15 cm away, I could always reach out and turn it off whenever I feel like I'm "almost" fall asleep.

Then again, I rarely get bored if I have to spend a day or two at home. I'll never run out of stuff to read. Be it my own books or my parents. Yes... the whole family loves reading. Other than some daily newspapers, my dad subscribes to National Geographics and a few days ago he kind of gave me a hint to subscribe on Intisari ha3x And I never read my books just once! If those are books that I really really like, I could even read them thrice or more!

I have a dream... when I have my own house, I'll definitely have my own library. I'll make it as comfortable as possible not just for myself but also for every visitors who likes to read. The racks will be from the floor up to the ceiling, ladders provided to reach the top shelves. Well, it doesn't hurt to dream anyway...

Have a blessed weekend!!!

Busy or Lazy

Q: "Hey, wanna hang out sometime next week?"

A: "Ah, sorry, I'm busy."

Q: "Hey, can you help me out with something tomorrow?"

A: "Sorry, I'm busy. Might be working overtime until late."

Q: "Can you serve at next week's service?"

A: "I can't, sorry. I'm busy and I'm afraid I'd be coming late."

I guess we're all quite familiar with at least one of the 3 conversations above. And I have to shamely admit that I'm so familiar with the answers. I said that too. And in fact, I'm not that busy... I'm just lazy.

It's hard to differentiate being busy & lazy. But in my case, being busy is when you have lots to do, you try hard to finish everything on time (if not in time) but eventually it takes longer than expected. And after you finish one thing another thing comes up. While being lazy means that I have lots to do, I know I can finish them on time (again, if not in time) but I took my time in doing them since I don't really wanna do it if I may choose. And as a result, I'm being busy for something I'm too lazy to finish.

I've always wanted to continue one of my foreign language course. Between Chinese and Japanese, I finally chose to continue my Japanese lesson last July. It took me almost a year to finally decided to call the teacher and start the course. Because I was busy? No, I was just lazy. I've been busy with work from Monday to Friday. I have Saturday off. But I thought since I'd been busy the past 5 days, why not use the day off to relax... or in other words, to be lazy. A few months after my mom passed away, suddenly my day off got more boring. Then I just realized that I have wasted too much time being lazy while I can use it for learn something new, to achieve another goal in life. Thus, I started my Japanese course again... and really, I didn't get busier by it n my day off.

The other day was a friend's birthday. I didn't get her birthday present until her birthday has passed for almost 2 weeks. I thought I was too busy to go the mall and find something for her, but then I realized again I was just too lazy to spend an extra 2 hours to drive from my office to the Mall, browsed the department stores and drive back home. Instead, I went straight home after work and spent 2 hours in front of my TV watching another dorama series that my friend just sent me.

I learned to overcome my laziness little by little... by getting up early every morning... learn something new each day... sleep early too at night... and finish my work in time.

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

(Proverbs 10:4)

I learned not to get my self busy with wordly affairs... but spend more time with God, with family and friends... and do more things for other people...

The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

(Proverbs 10:22)