ME and My Son

We were bored eating turkey for the past several days, so we decided to eat out. We tried this new restaurant downtown, since I was craving for 'red meat' (no bird please!!).

Before taking order, the Server were asking Abraham some questions such as 'How old are you' , 'What's your name?' and Abraham answered all the questions correctly. (sometimes Ab deliberately gives wrong answer..such as 'Gong Ging' or 'Goo Goo Gaa Gaa' for 'What's your name question etc).

Then the Server asked 'Should I take your order now?' (I was pretty sure her question this time was meant for the adults)

Before Me or My Hub answered, Abraham answered her first and firmly ' I want french fries!' .......

(The Server was pretty impressed by Abraham, since she has a 2-year-old too but she said Abraham is way well spoken than hers!)

8 things why you should NOT ask 'When are you gonna have another baby?'

1. It's really not of anyone's business!
2. OK, so it's basa basi, well, but it's BASI! try to be more creative in asking question to other people.
3. What if the couple you asked were having health problems, that they actually really wanted to have another baby, but they cant?? what do you think the question gonna make them feel??
4. What if the couple you asked were  having domestic problem, like one of them was abusive and the other was struggling how to take care her/himself and the kid?? what do you think the question gonna make them feel?
5. What if the couple you asked were having financial problem, that for everyday life they almost couldnt afford anything? that they might even have to get their kid being adopted? are you going to donate some money to them??
6. What if the current child the couple had was having challenge, that they had to concentrate in raising him/her?
7. Would you feel better if every couple you ask to have another baby, follow your 'advice' and DO have another kids but all the kids were abandoned? not being taking care of because the parents simple couldnt handle more than 1 kid?
8. What if the couple you asked were not good parents, that their only kid was never in a good care. Does having another kid will make them better parents???

Ask those questions to yourself before you ask other person the 'Q'

Days @ Work : when you do things wholeheartedly...good things will come to you..

Today I worked full shift and it was crazy! Customers over customers and there were only 2 of us in the department.
Then when the store almost close, I was just about to ring customer, my Co, called me 'Suri, come here'
I turned to her puzzled, wondering why she needed me, cause I didnt think I helped the customer ( I didnt see the customer, I just assumed he was gonna buy something).
'What's up?' I asked.
'Here. He wanted you to have this." she answered and pointed on something.
'Want me what??' I replied more puzzled. I looked where she pointed and there it was, a box of chocolate, still confused...I obliviously said 'No, it's not mine...
'No, no' said my Co, 'This is for you, from him!'
Then I looked up to see who the customer was, I did recognized him, he was the son of the customer I helped yesterday with suit..
Turned out that they left the cellphone at the store yesterday while shopping and now the Son came to pick up the cellphone and at the same time brought this box of chocolate for me!
I was speechless, all I could say was 'Hi. How r u?This is for me???'
He answered 'Yes, that's from My Dad, he thought you shoud have it cause you were so nice and really helpful yesterday.'
I felt my jaw dropped...it was really sweet of them to think about me and decided to give me a box of chocolate!
I was so happy and thank the Son (& The Dad) for the suprised lil gift!
So..that day, eventhough I felt my feet were gonna fell out of me cause I've been continously running here and there helping customer, having the box of chocolate in my handbag reminded me that some customers came home and felt really happy for my assistance!!
( Dear Mr. Wayne somewhere in Bozeman, thank you for the chocolate, you made my day wonderful!!)

Seri 'Hidup di Amrik' #53 : about marriage and babies...

There 2 things that REALLY REALLY suprised me about American, even until now.
For some reasons, in my mind I have always thought that American in general will get marry later and have less babies (than Indonesian for instance)
Maybe because the images of US that I am familiar of are big cities, career-oriented people, expensive living cost etc etc.
So, when I learnt that a lot of American actually got married when they are 23, I was 'shocked'
And my reaction is always .......puzzled...????
Most of the time I cant help myself looking at the person (especially if I know them) and wondering to myself...'R U sure? You're still young!! Get career! Have fun! Gee..you're brave!' etc etc etc..
Every single time, I heard someone is getting married in such young age, I am still 'astound' even until now...
That's my 1st astonishment...
The 2nd is about # of children in the family.
Again, my images about American is always 'modern family, 2 children, both working parents' (why? dont know!)
This perspective is even 'stronger', especially after living here, I learnt how tough it is where you have to take care everything yourself, unlike in Indonesia-where a family can afford to have 1 or more baby sitters and maids.
I feel I really cant have more than 1 child if I have to do everything myself..so very likely other women would feel the same way...
But I was wrong!
I've seen a lot of women with an 'army' (more than 2 kids!) doing groceries store without any man around! And it's not just one time! A lot of time! Not just that, these women also able to take all the kids to different kind of activities here and there...
Wuiiihhh!! 2 thumbs up for those women!
And these women are BULE!!!!

 

Seri 'Hidup di Amrik' #53 : about marriage and babies...

There 2 things that REALLY REALLY suprised me about American, even until now.

For some reasons, in my mind I have always thought that American in general will get marry later and have less babies (than Indonesian for instance)

Maybe because the images of US that I am familiar of are big cities, career-oriented people, expensive living cost etc etc.

So, when I learnt that a lot of American actually got married when they are 23, I was 'shocked'

And my reaction is always .......puzzled...????

Most of the time I cant help myself looking at the person (especially if I know them) and wondering to myself...'R U sure? You're still young!! Get career! Have fun! Gee..you're brave!' etc etc etc..

Every single time, I heard someone is getting married in such young age, I am still 'astound' even until now...

That's my 1st astonishment...

The 2nd is about # of children in the family.

Again, my images about American is always 'modern family, 2 children, both working parents' (why? dont know!)

This perspective is even 'stronger', especially after living here, I learnt how tough it is where you have to take care everything yourself, unlike in Indonesia-where a family can afford to have 1 or more baby sitters and maids.

I feel I really cant have more than 1 child if I have to do everything myself..so very likely other women would feel the same way...

But I was wrong!

I've seen a lot of women with an 'army' (more than 2 kids!) doing groceries store without any man around! And it's not just one time! A lot of time! Not just that, these women also able to take all the kids to different kind of activities here and there...

Wuiiihhh!! 2 thumbs up for those women!

And these women are BULE!!!!

 

  

 

The Gerber's Story

Sometime in 2006, after July, before October, I enrolled Abraham in Gerber Organic Contest online. The picture I chose was when he was about 6 months old. He was just crawling then.

Just before I left Indonesia, I received a notice stating that Abraham has won the contest, and that I should wait for further notice. When I was in Indonesia, I had my Hub to send me the paper works from Gerber to sign and return as part of the procedure before Gerber announced the Winner online.

On December 2006, just couple of weeks after We got back from Indonesia, Gerber's representative and their Photographer came to do photo shooting for Abraham. It was taken place in Holiday Inn Express in town.

In 2007, we finally can see the announcement online about the contest...

Gerber promised his picture would be in Organic Rice Box in Spring 2007. Spring passed, Summer passed, Fall was back, still no product found on the market. My patience evaporated. I tried calling Gerber, but nobody seemed to know what's going on. I even called Gerber's HQ in NY and left about 1000 messages, unanswered....

I was preparing a letter to be mailed to NY Post or any other newspaper about the case, when finally someone from Gerber called!! It was already 2008!

She finally found out the problem, promised us to get things straightened up.

March 2008, Gerber sent us some goodies and the copy of the pictures during the photo shooting...

Gerber said, they would still use Ab's pic and it should be in Gerber's Organic product, and it's expected to be out in the market on Fall 2008.

Then finally, today, November 11 2008, a UPS guy came carrying a huge box in front of our door. And here it is...........

 

It feels that We couldnt be any happier!!

It is a Gerber Organic Product- 6 pack of baby first food, assorted fruit and vegetables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hari-hari di Tempat Kerja : Setahun sudah Saya bekerja!!

Yap! 11 November ini Saya genap satu tahun bekerja di M. Diawali dari Pekerja Musiman, sekarang Saya termasuk Pekerja Inti (core) paruh waktu di bagian Pria.

Hasilnya?

Alhamdulillah...

Bisa nabung untuk Ab besar nanti, untuk biaya prasekolah Ab, dan untuk Saya sendiri.

Punya uang untuk beli pernak pernah untuk diri sendiri....

(bad sides : my closet is now full of black clothes!!, more shoes, more handbags!!)

Kepikiran tahun depan mau 'istirahat' dulu, karena ternyata pekerjaan ini cukup 'melelahkan' batin....

What do u think has happened?

This is our front door. This was the way My Hub looked at it when he came home from work today. Me and Ab were inside the house.

Do you see anything wrong on the pic?
Perhaps this pic would give you clearer view...


Hint :
(In the afternoon Me and Ab went out to do groceries shopping and played in the park for abit. Both Me and My Hub carry our own house key and car key.)

Seri 'Hidup di Amrik' #52 : Belilah barang tidak pada waktunya! ;-)

He..he..he..

Ini prinsip Saya banget. Terutama masalah pakaian...

Karena disini ada 4 musim (kecuali di negara-negara bagian ttt, ada juga yang tidak mengalami salju..), yang namanya pakaian, itu sifatnya musiman sekali. Sekali musim sudah lewat (atau mau habis), ya itu pakaian-pakaian harus cepat-cepat terjual jadi ya yang ada diberikan potongan besar-besaran alias 'clearance'.

Nah, Saya mah hobi dan sabar menunggu musim 'clearance' ini...bahkan Saya sekarang sudah 'hapal', kapan harus membeli pakaian musim tertentu..

Contoh...pakaian musim dingin , belilah saat President's Day, biasanya department store mengadakan acara 'President's Day Sale'....(sekitar Jan-Feb)

Pakaian musim panas, beli (mulai beli) pas Labor Day.....

Coba bayangkan saja, baju-baju musim panas anak-anak, Saya bisa beli seharga kurang dari $1 di dept.store, dari harga asli sekitar $10-$15 an...

He..he..he..pelit bin irit ya Saya???

 

Me & My Son : R U a boy, Mom?

That's what my Son asked me this morning.

And I answered : 'No, I am a girl.'

My Son :'But your hair look like a boy Mom!!!'

Me :

Minggu lalu gondrong, sekarang cepak... ;)

Ini foto diambil hari Sabtu lalu, 18 Oktober 2008.

Ini diambil hari ini, 5 menit yang lalu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me & My Son - Mr. Miley

Ab is into drawing faces (or should I say the emocotion). He calls it Mr. Miley (from Mr. Smiley).

Most of the times I am the one drawing them, sometimes he is. If I am the one who is drawing it, he will ask Me :'Mom, What's Mr. Miley doing?'

Then I will try to mimic what Mr. Miley is doing (whether he is smiling, winking, sticking his tongue, etc etc etc)

One of his favorite expression is ....as you can see below..

Me & My Son - Learning 'to read'

About a week ago I bought a complete set of magnetic letters of my Son's name (A-B-R-A-H-A-M). We put them in the refrigerator and ever since then, every morning we will spell the letter together and say 'ABRAHAM' out loud at the end.

Couple of days later I got some stuffs from my Parents, while still trying to sort things out, suddenly Ab said 'MOM! Look! This towel has my name on!!'

I looked and surely, there's a towel there with his name embroidered!

GOOD JOB, SON!

Me & My Son -Make up

Whenever I put on something on my face (even it's just my morning cream), then Abraham would ask 'Are you going to work Mom?'
(so he has made a connection between Me doing 'make up' means I would go to work).
This morning, I felt like wearing my lipstick on for no reason. As soon as Abraham saw it, he asked right away 'Are you going to work Mom?'
I said 'No'.
Then he asked again 'So , what's this Mom???' -while he pointing at my lips with the lipstick on!'
(lesson #1 : nope, cant fool a almost-3-year-old!, lesson#2 : you'd think they wont notice such things, you're wrong!)

Me & My Son - Making label

I just found our labeling machine. After putting some new batteries in it, I showed Ab how the machine works.
Then we started making 'sentences' and printed it out. Ab loved it! He liked pressing the A-B-C on the machine and waiting for the label to print.
I told him 'Let's make 'Ab loves Dad'.
So we did.
Then I asked him 'So, what do you want to make next?'
He answered 'Ab loves Mom!' (isnt that sweeeeeeeeeeett???!!!)

Tidak acuh, Tidak menghargai atau Pikun??

Di tempat kerja, ada 2 orang Asia Tenggara, yaitu Saya dan satu orang lagi dari Philipina. Saya duluan kerja dibanding si Mpok Pinoy.
Saya jauh lebih tinggi dibanding Mpok Pinoy.
Saya jauh lebih 'berat' dibanding Mpok Pinoy.
Saya kerja hanya di akhir pekan secara Mpok Pinoy kerja di hari biasa...
Saya sebagian besar kerja di bagian Pria, secara Mpok Pinoy kerja di bagian Wanita.
Rambut Saya jauh lebih pendek, gaya berpakaian Saya bedaaaaaaaaaa sama si Mpok Pinoy. Saya bukan spesialis seperti Mpok Pinoy.
Nama Saya di tempat kerja berawalan dengan huruf S, nama si Mpok berawalan L.
Saya dari INDONESIA, Mpok Pinoy dari PHILIPINA!
 Dan......ada name tag for you to read!!!
Herannya....................ada beberapa orang yang SELALU, SELALU saja salah sebut nama kita berdua. Nanti Saya dipanggil Mpok Pinoy dan sebaliknya. Pertama-tama maklum, lama-lama Saya jengkel juga!
I mean, the differences are so OBVIOUS!!
Dan masa sih tidak bisa membedakan? Wong cuma 2 yang kayak begini. Lain kalau misalnya di kota-kota besar ya, dimana imigran Asia bejubel, jadi kali agak susah membedakan.
Lha, di kota ku kan rata-rata wis bule semua! Kalau Saya yang saru ngebedain bule-bule itu (secara semua pirang, gede, dan mata biru), itu kali wajar.
Kayak-kayaknya bentar lagi Saya bakal 'meledak' deh kalau ada yang salah sebut lagi. Naga-naganya Saya bakal bilang 'Cant you tell the differences? I am so much tall than her!'
Enaknya diapain ya bo???? - apa rambut Saya dicat ungu aja gitu???
(ini salah satu lagi contoh gimana karakter manusia ignorant....asli nyebelin...)

Saya mau teman, bukan kenalan..

Ini kesimpulan Saya untuk MP Saya ini.

Yap, yap, Saya mau teman bukan sekedar kenalan. Artinya kontak Saya di MP bakalan cuma segini-gini saja. Ya tidak apa-apa.

Berteman, dalam arti Saya bisa percaya dengan pribadi ybs.

Berteman artinya Saya bisa belajar dari masing-masing pribadi dan pengalaman hidup teman-teman.

Setelah sempat kecolongan beberapa kali (meskipun insting sudah bilang 'jangan'), Saya seterusnya akan mengandalkan si Insting dalam memilih teman...(meskipun terdengar sinting ya???).

Jadi kalau Saya tolak undangan Anda, maaf, karena ya itu...Saya mau berteman, bukan sekedar kenalan...

He...he..he..

Ya sudah, sekian curhat Saya...malam-malam keranjingan nulis...tidur aaaaahhh!!

 

 

 

Dikritik bikin sebel?

Jujur, iyalah!

Mangkel, sebel, malu, keki, ujung-ujungnya 'ngeles' dweh!

Diperlukan hati yang SANGAT BESAR untuk menerima kritik dengan LAPANG DADA. Dan tidak semua manusia punya hati besar (termasuk Saya!)

Tapi......

Coba dipikir-pikir lagi..........

Lebih mudah untuk seseorang bilang 'Aduh cantiknya', 'bagus', 'keren' tentang kita / karya kita. Semua orang juga bisa bilang begitu.

Yang susah adalah bilang ke seseorang 'Duh, tulisan kamu ngaco', 'Fotomu koq jelek-jelek ya?', 'Kalungmu ngebosenin', 'karyamu kurang greget', 'Aku gak suka makananmu!' dan lain lain.

Hayo siapa yang berani bilang seperti itu ke orang lain?? JARANG kan?? ada yang berani ngacungin tangannya? (eh percuma juga, Saya tidak bisa lihat!! )

Kalau semua orang hanya berani bilang yang bagus-bagus ke kita, mana kita tahu kalau ternyata kita/karya kita payah?

Kalau semua orang hanya bilang yang bagus-bagus ke kita, mana kita tahu kalau makanan yang kita buat bikin orang mau muntah misalnya???!!

Kalau tidak ada berani orang yang bilang apa adanya, kapan kita memperbaiki kesalahan kita?

Bohong besar kalau Saya bilang Saya senang di kritik! Beberapa kali teman Saya mengkritik kalung buatan Saya, ya Saya kheki, sebel, malu. Dan langsung bikin 'sejuta alasan' untuk menutupi 'kemaluan' Saya....

Tapi dalam hati Saya berterima kasih ada orang yang berani bilang terus terang ke Saya..(selain itu sih, memang Saya pribadi kenal dengan orang ybs, jadi Saya tidak ada prasangka apa-apa, kalau orangnya kurang Saya kenal, teuteup mangkel dweh...ha.ha.ha.....)

Intinya.....

Kalau Anda dikritik....coba tidak usah 'ngeles', terima saja dulu....(ini berlaku juga buat Saya lhooo!!)

Atau kalau tidak tahan, mungkin bisa bikin 'disclaimer' : 'Kritik boleh, tapi di PM saja yaaaaaaaaaaa!!'

Atau bikin daftar teman-teman (yang kenal 'luar dalam' dengan kita) yang boleh mengkritik....

 

Pernah berantem di Internet?

he...he.he...he..

Saya? Pernahlah....(bukan bangga loh!, tapi jujur).  Beberapa kali malah! (ya ampun Day!!!)

Pertama kali sama orang benar-benar tidak dikenal, gara-gara tulisan dia yang menurut pengertian / asumsi Saya koq kurang adil /obyektif. Yang ada Saya dan dia balas-balasan PM beberapa kali, dia ngotot dengan pendapat dia, Saya ngotot minta dia terima pendapat Saya....

Terakhir Saya cuma bilang 'Udah ya, cukup disini, Saya capek.' Putus hubungan. (putus cinta kaliii???!!!)

Kedua, adalah......(ada dweh.....)

Saya perhatikan, lebih mudah salah paham di dunia maya dibanding dunia nyata. Kenapa? Kecuali kita kenal satu sama lain, lebih sering kita kan cuma 'membaca' luar dari seseorang.

Yang kita 'tahu' hanya foto dan tulisan mereka. Memang sih, kadang dari tulisan kita bisa sedikit meraba-raba karakter seseorang, tapi tetap saja berbeda dengan kenal langsung. Misalnya kalau kita baca tulisan seseorang dalam bahasa Inggris yang kacau balau tata bahasanya, kita bisa tahulah...oh ini orang tidak bisa bahasa Inggris tapi nekat.....

Selebihnya agak susah, karena tulisan kadang tidak 'berperasaan', tidak berintonasi, seperti kalau kita berbicara, jadi tidak jarang kita yang membaca tulisan seseorang bisa salah mengartikan maksud tulisannya...

Dan ini sering terjadi. Maksud hati X, dibaca A.

Saya sendiri sebetulnya tidak mau 'bertengkar' di internet, cuma kadang tidak terhindarkan....(ngeles ya?????)

Akhirnya ini kesimpulan Saya yang Saya tarik dari pengalaman pribadi ...

1. Ingat-ingat, yang kita lihat/tahu di internet adalah 'luar' dari seseorang....

2. Kecuali Anda tahu secara pribadi orang ybs, sebisa mungkin kasih tanggapan yang 'netral'.

3. Tulisan yang Anda baca mungkin bukan yang Anda mengerti... jadi kalau kira-kira pengertian Anda beda, mmm...tanya lewat PM dulu kali yaa...sebelum majang di publik...(meskipun ini bukan berarti mencegah pertengkaran lewat PM... )

4. Mm..apalagi ya..mmm....kalau tulisan seseorang tidak berkenan atau Anda punya pendapat lain....lewat PM saja deh..(lebih enak cela-celaannya...lho?????!!)

Sudah dulu yaaaa!!

DAMAI!

 

Hari-hari di tempat kerja : Sepatu

Sebetulnya Saya 'core' di bagian Pria di hari Jumat dan Minggu. Nah, karena waktu kerja Saya cuma sedikit, seringkali Saya ambil jadwal kerja yang tersedia di hari Sabtu. Kadang Saya di bagian Wanita, Junior, Asesoris, Pakaian Dalam, Linen, Sepatu maupun alat-alat RT. Boleh dibilang hampir semua departemen pernah Saya lakoni, kecuali kosmetik.

Yang paling belakangan Saya lakoni adalah bagian Sepatu. Karena buat Saya terus terang ini bagian yang paling bikin keder. Kenapa gitu?

Pertama Tahu sendiri bagaimana 'hubungan Wanita dengan Sepatu' (contoh: satu wanita bisa mencoba 5 pasang sepatu sekaligus!!)

Kedua : berbeda dengan bagian-bagian lainnya, dimana pembeli bisa 'melayani dirinya' sendiri dalam memilah milih (terutama masalah ukuran), di bagian sepatu, SA lah yang kudu mengambil ukuran bagi setiap pembeli.

Ketiga : bagian Sepatu punya sistem sendiri dalam mengatur sepatu-sepatu di tempat penyimpanan, jadi kalau SA tidak tahu letak sepatu yang harus dia cari, bisa berabe, terutama waktu sibuk. Dan tidak seperti baju  yang kelihatan, sepatu-sepatu semua tersimpan dalam kotak!

Keempat : diantara departemen2 lainnya, bagian Sepatu paling sering minta bantuan karena kewalahan....

Nah, karena faktor2 tersebut, baru September kemarin Saya memberanikan diri melakoni Sepatu. Memang hari yang Saya pilih itu harinya 'Sale' besar bulanan, cuma Saya diberitahu kalau sebelum Saya datang, sudah ada SA lain yang sudah lebih berpengalaman (yang akan membantu Saya)

Kenyataannya.....???

SA Senior yang diharapkan tidak datang, jadilah Saya terdampar sendirian di bagian yang Saya belum familiar....Yang ada mimpi buruk Saya jadi kenyataan!

KACAU!

1 jam pertama Saya sudah panggil bantuan...bantuan yang diharapkan tidak datang-datang karena semua Manager sedang ngopi!

Duh...asli panik rasanya. Telpon sana telpon sini, untunglah ada satu rekan yang berbaik hati mau memanggilkan seseorang (yang pernah bekerja di bagian sepatu sebelumnya) untuk membantu Saya...

Puih! lega rasanya....sekitar 3 jam-an kemudian , baru SA lain datang. Saat itu terus terang Saya sudah mulai 'comfy' dengan sistem persepatuan... :)

Hari itu, meskipun ada 3 SA yang bekerja di bagian sepatu, tetap saja, kita harus minta bantuan beberapa kali, karena kewalahan pembeli...

Pada akhir waktu kerja, rasanya badan mau copot semua!

Tapi intinya Saya senang akhirnya Saya 'menaklukan' bagian 'tersulit' (buat Saya).

Sekarang, kalau HR minta Saya untuk tukar bagian dari Anak2 ke Sepatu, Saya bisa tenangnya jawab : 'OK! Sapa takut??!!!