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Took a 2 weeks leave from work and went back to Jakarta.

My sister Emi was undeniably pragnent (7 months) , the lethargic
and sleepy period has passed and she's well into the eating (esp ice cream) & shopping mode. (and so here I am)

She had already done her search for maternity clothes but said there aren't much choices. She's right though. hm.......$$$

The other day, mom & dad vowed it's the grand parent's duty to take care of the baby, which is such a relief for Emi who's still not in touch with the growing reality. Emi & I agree it was afterall a good thing that the baby thing was delayed.

Cutover!

Project is over!! Celebration!! This is why I like short term jobs and projects.
But really, because this project deemed to be impossible by so many, (and had been in discussion by the management for 7years), it feels damn good that it's actually, successfully over!
The 1year I was with Citigroup, has to be one of the best experience in my life. From dipping into a world I never imagined knowing to meeting people I normally won't associate with.
I remember my eye couldn't stop twiching for a month when I first joined the company.
On the first week, I had to translate a meeting on "Mainframe migration by encrypted data transmission and batch execution on UAT environment from TIS to APPC via NDM." on a conference call, where the members of the board, both in Japan and Singapore were expecting to understand what the hell it means.
I never worked so hard for a company before. It might be the last... I guess I was able to pull it off because I had a good boss and colleagues.
- At Scruffy Murphy's East Coast.

Come Dine With Me?

I have to confess my addiction. It's my obsession with curry at its peak.

I have curry every morning if I could, and I'm rarely satisfied with any other food that I rather have plain o nothing.

And I know, I have a 'unique' taste in cooking. A fine line between unique and weird.

This time though, I have to admit, I'm crossing the line...

Variations of Curry:

Curry with Pear & Tomato with Crouton

Curry with Cucmber & extra Yoghurt on Brown Rice

Curry with Cucmber, Squid & Squid ink (accidental) on Brown Rice

What Is LOVE?

This has been and more strongly so now, an ultimate question of my life! (call me however you like. I admit I'm a hopeless lover who's bad at it).

Let's see what's the definition of LOVE. 1 describes feelings, almost dreamy idealism. 2 describes the science, more physical.

love (lŭv) n.
1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
2. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.

And this site from Australian program was one of the best readings I had this year. (just shows how much I read)
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1210487.htm

So when the good old trusty instinct, the cusmic energy and all the good advice from the people who actually cares, fails, these scientific explanation is a comforting rationalization to what the drama is all about.

Precious Illusions

you'll rescue me right? In the exact same way they never did
I'll be happy right? When your healing powers kick in
You'll complete me right? Then my life can finally begin
I'll be worthy right? Only when you realize the gem i am?

but this won't work now the way it once did
and i won't keep it up even though i would love to
once i know who i'm not then i'll know who i am
but i know i won't keep on playing the victim

These precious illusions in my head did not let me down when i was defenseless
And parting with them is like parting with invisible best friends
this ring will me yet as will you knight in shining armor
this pill will help me yet as will these boys gone through like water

but this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz i want to decide between survival and bliss
and though i know who i'm not i still don't know who i am
but i know i won't keep on playing the victim

these precious illusions in my head did not let me down when i was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend
i've spent so long firmly looking outside me
i've spent so much time living in survival mode

- Alanis Morrisette

Life in my own hands....

Yes, I am finally realizing my dream to start my own label.

It's been almost 6 years since I left University. I have always majored in Fashion since high school.

Along the way, many factors in life have distracted me from the basic purpose of why we, fashion students even study fashion..... It's never about working for a famous fashion company nor to get a certificate.

It's only because we want to create what we want.

So I have decided. After working for citigroup, I will leave the corporate world for good!(hopefully)

And despite of a premonition of going partnership with a buddy, teaming up with my 'girlfriend', an ex-flatmate and a long time schoolmate, seemed like a natural idea. Especially when timing is just right that she was also feeling tired of working for others, when she could do her own.

So we decided to take "MaNic", Inez's T-shirt company label to a new level.

Wish us luck for our new venture!

Obaachan

幼なじみの久美ちゃん。おばあちゃんが８８歳になった！！のをお祝いに、３世代揃って（久美ちゃん、お母さん、おばあちゃん）とで、グアムに行ったときの写真を送ってくれました。それにしても、おばあちゃんは本当に若い！これからもずっとずっと元気でいて欲しい！

Kumi-chan is my oldest and closest neighbor and family friend. Obaachan turned 88years old this year so they celebrated her birthday in Guam. (But Obaachan's first travel to overseas was Jakarta last year!)

True to the statistic on the average life expectancy of Japanese women which is 86years old, Obaachan is still going strong and healthy! And I hope she will stay healthy for more years to come!

Post Card from Tokyo

さ～く～ら～♪
さ～く～ら～♪
Chiori-san, (my ex first flatmate) from Tokyo.

Despite of the full bloom sakura, this week, it snowed in Tokyo! That is just too unusual. We really have to do something about the global warming man!!

Ayurvedic Food

After a night of guilty indulgence in high toxin intake, I awoke with an obsessive need to compensate with some healthy food.

So I tried Brown Rice and challenged Bitter Ggourd and egg in Turmeric rich curry flavour stir fry accompanied with fresh Tomato in Vinegar and sprinkly of Seaweed.

"Bitter gourd contains vitamin A, B1, B2, and C. It also contains minerals like calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper and potassium. From the ayurvedic perspective, bitter gourd is excellent for balancing Kapha. It helps purify blood tissue, enhances digestion, and stimulates the liver. "

"Brown rice helps control blood pressure and also reduces wide fluctuations in blood sugar. The high fiber content of brown rice has a good effect on controlling cholestrol and cholestrol control is of prime importance in keeping away heart disease."

"Turmeric is highly valuable for the influence it exerts on the digestive system and the liver. In both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is considered a digestive bitter and a carminative. It can be incorporated into foods, including rice and bean dishes, to improve digestion and reduce gas and bloating. It is a cholagogue, stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging excretion of bile via the gallbladder. This improves the body's ability to digest fats. "

Having said that, how about the taste?

YUCKs!!