I, Bridget, hereby wish to clarify the reason of being absence here in my blog.

Due to the heavy loadworks in the office, I have no strength whatsoever to even think not to mention write/type my activity or what ever on my mind in this blog.

Again, for not having the strength, not because I am so awfully dedicated to my job, or trying to earn extra for the coming holidays....

pleaaaazeee, gals... You are all make me so embarassed...

Hopefully, I will be here soon..., after I have finally find a way to escape from my-not-so-committed-job, and that will be around December...

See u then...!

Oh, dear...
time to stop writing for a while...
At least until the middle of December...
Lots, lots, of works in my office, do not think I will have the time to write...

Will be seeing you around 08 December 2006

Today, I will only copied the tips from Samuel Mulia to enjoy your life (well, probably) :
Try to enjoy the small things around you. Like wake up very early in the morning, just sit around, listen to the singing of the birds, and probably watch the sun come out from her bed, replacing the moon. Usually, we did not enlist these activities, as the part of enjoying the life, because we consider a trip to Egypt is the one to enjoy your life.
Work effectively and not hard, then you will be able to have time to enjoy your life. Your desk job is to be a security. Do not try to expand it to become a driver. One or two times, you might help others. Just one time, and not every time.
As the leader of the company, you cannot judge your employee lazy because of them being not flexible to every kind of jobs. I once try to be flexible, but end up being used. (where did I find this situation before?). My salary is still for one job, instead of two. Remember, if you get sick, the company will not accompany you in the hospital.
Do not push yourself too much. If you are an idiot, do not try to run a company. You will be dead in one week. (or get cheated for several months)

In my own experience, I have this kind of condition. Several years ago, I took responsibility of my supervisor when he was on leave or not in the office. I felt that it was my job, to ensure everything went on fine when he was not around. In the end, I fed up. He used my eagerness to learn to transfer all his jobs to me. Did I get appreciated? Nope. Who is the stupid one? Of course it is me. If you want to learn about new job, make sure the new job did not become your responsibility. Unless, you are sure that you will get promoted to do so. If not, learn it quietly. It is not wrong to learn something new. What is wrong that your eagerness to learn something can be used by other for their own advantages.
When the secretary in my dept was kicked out for using the money of our company, did my boss already get a replacement? Nope. She used my colleague to replace the secretary. She refused the proposal to have my colleague replace the secretary permanently. She only want to use her until she get a new one. Why? Because she knew, my colleague often replace the secretary if the secretary was on leave. Reason number two, she will cut expenses by using a staff doing the work of a secretary. FYI, salary of the secretary is much bigger than the staff. Reason number three, my boss knew perfectly too well that my colleague need that job to support her family and she will not dare to question too much, why from the previous two months until now, she has to do double job with salary for one job.

Novi informed that she got 2 free tickets from BCA Credit card to watch James Bond movie : Casino Royale. How can I say no? So, I rushed to Djakarta Theater (it got the new look); waiting for Novi. She arrived rather late, so we were seated in front of the screen. I almost break my neck when I was trying to get a better look at the movie. But after a few minutes, we realized that there were empty seats behind our back. Then, we decided to try our luck, and move to the back seat, located three seat from the screen. Which was not so bad, and it turn out nobody sit there. Probably those seats were prepared for staffs from BCA who did not come. Thanks God, we were safely sit there until the movie is over.

What do I think about the movie? Not so bad, although I think it was a bit boring in the middle when James Bond got mushy with the girl. I even wondered, is this action movie going to be a romantic movie or something? But it is not. The funny thing was, I amongst those people who wonder why they choose Daniel Craig to be James Bond?

He is blond. I hate blond guys, well, except Brad Pitt, probably. Usually they have actors with darker hair, like Pierce Brosnan for example. If I was not wrong, Daniel Craig acted with Angelina Jolie in this movie: Tomb Raider.

And I have never seen his other movies since. Or perhaps, there were his movies, but I have not noticed. Anyway, I was a bit surprise to hear that he is now the new James Bond. But after seeing the movie, I have to say; well he is not so bad. His acting is good. I suppose because he is try to be different with the previous Bonds. Who are womanizer and always have hi-tech equipment to help do the job. This one is a bit cold with woman, I think. Arrogant as well, and almost make mistakes because of that. And his body is not that great; like having no 6-pack stomach. But, he surely has a nice ass^_^ Overall, I like the movie and looking forward to see the next Bond movie in the future.

After watching the movie, we went to Plaza Indonesia. We wish to go Sushi Tei but as usual, the place is always full. So, we went to Pizza Hut, which crowded as well, but still there is one seat for us. We did not chat very long, because Novi have to go to the gym and I have to go home preparing to go to the Wedding Party.

First of all, I thought we were going to 2 wedding parties. But, suddenly my Dad decided he would not go to his, so we only went to one party. My friend got married today and threw the party at Gedung BEPEMBRI at Kelapa Gading. Bad idea to leave the house at 19.00. Kelapa Gading was heavily crowded on Saturday night. We spent 1 hour before managed to escape from the traffic jam. And when we arrived, all the parking lot near the building were full, so my Dad and I left the car and let our driver try to find the parking spot alone. As soon as I arrived, there was this photo session with the couple. I went up to greet both parents, took our picture together, say hello to the couple, grab a bite to eat, and not even reaching 20 minutes before me and my father decided to leave the party and go home. So much to spend 2 hours to get my hair done. The room was too crowded with hungry people. We could not eat the food in peace, and before I get nuts, I choose to walk out. This was included to the list of not a very best wedding party that I have attended. Thanks God I did not bring Ugi with me. She could bored to death. And we both could kill each other over boredom.

Hurrraaaaah! I am on leave till Monday. I know there are going to be a lot of works to do, but what the heck. I am so tired not to have time for my own since damn May with all those dividends, meetings, annoying stupid clients, and whatsoever....
Mangga Dua here I come...! Mel asked me to accompany her to look for a dress for party. And, of course I go. We need to talk about something else anyway.
My point is, I would rather to be anywhere than the office.

I think I have grown to a very grumpy old woman. Why? Every little tiny bit can upset me the whole day long. But, I noticed that is not just me. My colleagues are just the same.

Here is one of the stories.

Me and Delia were on the queue in front of ATM BCA. There were 3 guys in front of us. And then suddenly, a young woman; around 26 years old perhaps, approached 1 guy who standing in front of us. This woman probably is too lazy to stand up in the-not-so-long queue, started to beg; or should I say FLIRTED the guy (maybe they are in the same office) and asking him to take more cash for her. In turn, she will paid him back by transfer through the non-cash ATM. I did not know what was the guy saying to her. Then she decided to go behind us, so I suppose she was just playing around. And then, the next 3 minutes, she was back with that guy and started the flirting thing, all over again.
Well, I do not mind actually. I often did that too, if I was too lazy to see the long queue. But, usually I approached someone that I knew quietly. Whispered to her/him to take more cash and do whatever I can to not let anyone else know what I am doing. I know how I annoying that. Sometimes, there is an emergency. So I can understand. It was the FLIRTING thing that so annoying. She used all her body language, the stupid smile, the Garfield-eyes, the annoying voice. Everything. And then suddenly, Delia snapped at her and told her to go on the line. I was a bit surprised by her outburst. And amazed she has the nerve. The girl looked at her in surprise. Her friend stop talking to her and look to the other way. And the girl finally gave in and went the queue. I suppose she must have think that we were 2 old hags who were jealous at her. Ha,ha,ha. When I asked Delia why did she do that, her answer is the same with what I have thinking. It is the flirting thing and not realizing that everyone else is watching. And for heaven sake, if you want to flirt, go the mall or somewhere else; we have so many nowadays, have we?
That was the grumpy story number one.

The second one is from myself.
I can never understand what is the purpose of shake hand and greeting if we do not make eye contact to each other. I considered that impolite.
I saw that too many times in the church. We always shake hand, saying HAPPY SUNDAY to each other. But while the hands meet up, their eyes are darting to here and there. Sometimes I think, next time I will shake their hands hard and force them to see me. But, usually I did the same thing like they did. We shake hands. But I started to look to the other way. Or ignore them completely until my parents nudged me. Am I being bitchy? I suppose I am… Growing old is a bit funny, sometimes… My point is, why do people bother approaching someone that they hardly know, give out their hand to shake, but not approaching their soul by let the eyes meet up?

Now, you must admit that I am being grumpy, huh?

Why bad guys able to use psychology better than us? Why do I get that kind of conclusion?

Well, a colleague of mine just telling me about his bad experience when he was in Jakarta a few months ago. He is originally from another city, which is Bandung. So he rarely visits Jakarta. And then one day, out of the blue he came to Glodok. And guess what, I can imagine he must have that naïve look of a person who never came to this town. He just looks confused. And then 3 big, mean, guys approached him and manage to corner him about something that he did not do. They say he has hit their friend and he must apologize. They insisted he must come with them and go to this –NOT EXIST- person. So, they brought him to out of nowhere; there are so many areas like that between Jakarta and Bekasi. And they bit the crap out of him and wiped out all his money. I did not listen to the rest of the story like how in the heck he managed to survive and going back home with no money. And how he finally pulled up all his courage to go back and live in this miserable city.

All I can think of, these mean people really know how to spot people. Which one is already rotten in this city (like me, he,he,he) or which one is from another city and have no idea should he go this way or that way. Maybe this is why people in the big city hardly smile and always look alert. They did not want to give any sign of weaknesses and to be used by those bad people who scattered all over the town.

However, we neglect to use the knowledge of psychology for our own safety. Like to spot a person who lives from con other people, or body language of your lover who have been unfaithful, a thief breaking in to your house pretending he or she wish to sell something. Wondering why we are unable to do this. Why only bad person who have this ability? Is this because deep in our heart we still hope that this person is not as bad as it turn out to be? Or we just doing the self-denial that everyone can be predator and can be an easy prey to the others?

Well, today article is really what I have been feeling lately. Usually I have never give a damn about what other people wearing. Honestly, it is not my business no matter how bizarre their outfit look to me. However, recently since I found friends who like to give bad remarks on other people outfit, it is like I found a soul mate.

Do you remember my story about a colleague of mine, who likes to folded her scarf to look like a gigantic flower around her neck? Well, that sort of thing. Why should I even bother to talk behind her back with other colleague and all of us laugh out loud on her appearance? It is her body, it is her scarf, she can do whatever she wants with it.

Since we started to having friends or acquaintances, it seems very important to us that what ever we think, speak, wear is acceptable by other people. When I was in high school, girls usually get their hair to be curly, not really curly, by you know, with wave and all that. And if we were not, they would come up and say, why your hair like that? Straight with no style at all. Or, why you are not wearing this shoe, or that bag, and lots of thing. When Demi Moore became famous because of her role in “GHOST”, many women adapted her hairstyle. Not care, if the style fit their face or not. We choose to follow what other people choose for us because we need to be safe in our own group rather to hear their rejection. And to think, that we are not in some kind of competition, so why we have to bother to think what other people might think on our outfit?

Several tips from Samuel Mulia:
Try not to comment on something unless that people ask for your comment. If they do, then answer it honestly.
If you choose to give comment, try to take a look at yourself in the mirror. Do you have all good quality that give you the right to give other bad remarks? If your heart is sincere, then the comments that come out from your mouth will be sincere as well.
Maintain your self-confidence whenever you heard a bad remarks given on you. Wear what ever you think is right for you.
It is better to be given a negative comment, but that is you. Rather than you are not given any bad remarks, but you are not you. Confuse? Maybe he meant, just be yourself.

You know what, I totally forgot that today is the day to honor our heroes who has sacrifice their life to free my country from the Colonizer. I am bit worried with this sad fact. As I am sure my younger generations has completely ignore everything connected with history of this country. Nobody bother to visit museum. Well, I can imagine why. The museums in Indonesia are not well protected. Perhaps the Government just forgot there are several museums that needs to be taking care of. Or they are busy in using the money for something else more interesting like build more malls.

According to my father, in the past while people still struggle to get the colonizer away from this country; there was no such thinking like: Oh, this person is coming from that Ethnic Tribe. This one is not. She has this religion. He has that religion. Everyone just consider themselves, I am an Indonesian without any prejudice whatsoever. And it went the same thing with Chinese descendants here.

My mom said, that when I was a toddler, I have brighter skin. (Perhaps is her way to warn me that I look more darker years after years, he,he,he) Whenever my parents took me for a walk, many people will come to us and asked my parents, whether I was adopted or not. Ha,ha,ha. My Dad was so furious to that question. People thought I was a Chinese descendant who got adopted by a native Indonesian couple. My Father, in his younger days, also has brighter and smooth skin. I believe that, as I have seen his photos. He is from ethic group in North Sulawesi. While my mother is from ethnic group in North Sumatra. They met when my father was sailing to North Sumatra. Whenever he came by to pick up my mom at her working place, people would come to my mother and informed her that there is a Chinese guy waiting for her in the lobby. Ha, ha, ha. And it is all because he was soooo white. Of course he has darker skin now, because of his work. My mother also has brighter skin and lovely structure bones. It is a wonder, why can I inherit the beauty from them both?

Anyway, the most stupid & sad story that I heard about Indonesian not liking Chinese descendant is this one. A colleague of mine was accompanying her friend to buy dolls and accessories. The bargain was a bit long, because each parties was persistent with their own price. And then suddenly the buyer said to the seller, that she should be given cheaper price, as she was not a Chinese descendant. The store went quiet. My colleague suspected suddenly that the seller is a Chinese. The seller has a darker skin, so just by one quick look, you would have not thought that she is a Chinese. Since the seller is not answering, the buyer has a bad feeling that she has said something wrong. So, quietly she asked whether the seller is Chinese. And the answer is YES. My colleague went outside and laughs out loud. And to my amazement, her friend still continues the buying and she finally got the things that she wanted. If that were me, I probably will apologize and run from the store as fast as I could.

Well, anyway, IMHO; I think you should learn your parent’s descendants. Even though you live in Korea or America, you can not say that you are a Korean or American, right? You probably said that you are ABI, American born Indonesia or something like that. The same goes in here. Just said that your parents from this and there, but you have not seen their hometown and you have been living in Jakarta for your life. It is your identity. Let us not forget it. But do not use it for bad purposes and become racist about it.

I suppose, that is what the heroes and patriots fighting for; right? The unique union from one independent country.

Should we tell or should we not?

A few months ago, a secretary in my office was fired from her job. She was accused of using without permission money from our office (or in her term: borrowing with unclear repayment schedule) for her own personal needs.

I have known her about 4 years or so before I finally heard bad rumor about her. She loves to borrow money from all her colleagues. But when it comes the time to pay, she would pretend as if nothing ever happened. Only people who lend her money knew about her bad habits. Or perhaps, almost everyone knew but me. Anyway, one day she came to me to ask for a loan. As a secretary she knew that my pocket was a bit full at that time, as I have just received money for my car loan. She said that she needs the money for her relative in hospital. It was about 5mio Rupiahs. I refused totally point blank. I almost gave away, but I want to use what was left from the loan for my holiday.
I was stunned when I told my colleagues about this and they told me I was lucky not giving the money to her. She has been known for borrowing money all over the place. Sometimes, her husband even called her colleagues to persuade them for lending the money.(WHAT? )
This event occurred in the year 2003.

In the next following years, she keep on and on with her bad habits. Since we are all already been there for God knows how long, she is unable to persuade us to lend her some money. So, she started with the NKOTB (if any of you do not know what is this, it means: New Kids On The Block, dear). We were like, should we tell them earlier about her bad habits? But what would they think of us? They probably just think of us as old useless hag who likes to talk bad things about other behind their back. Of course, knowing that they lend her the money, we were wishing we have told them earlier.

I am now in the same situation again. I would like to inform about something to my acquaintances about a person. But I am not sure, whether this is the right thing to do. I do not wish this person con my friends for his own benefit. However, I am questioning my own motive for let this information out. Do I do that because I sincerely want to help my friend for avoiding to be cheated? Or because for my own intention to get event.

I remembered this dialogue in this movie: French Kiss. Meg Ryan, the cast in the movie; said (more or less) : If you treat the French Waitress nicely, they will treat you like shit. But if you treat them like shit, they will treat you nicely.

I used to think that this is some kind of tips on how to deal with the French Waitress only. WRONG. You can use the above tip, conditionally.

The meaning of the above dialogue is, if you treat the waitress nicely, they willl assume that you are not a rich person and you being nice is only a lame tactic to get cheaper prize. This will also means that you can not afford to give them big tip. So, screw with this nice person. That is why, they treat you like shit.
However, if you treat them like shit, they will assume that you either just being stuck up or have tonz of fortunes in your bank accounts to allow your rude behaviour. This is means, if they are capable to please you, you will award them with big tips. And if not, you are still holding something for their life. You can either ask the manager to fired them, if they are not please you. Or you can make sure they will not get a decent work anywhere in this world. This is why, they treat you nicely.

My opinion, it depends on the place. Sometimes, when we treat the waitress nicely, they will response by giving all the help that you needed. Sometimes, they just simply rude and ignore you completely. It is all depends with you as well. You want to be nice only to the right people. Or, you keep being nice, knowing that they are in the lower standard below you for unable to act decent towards other human being.

I have trying to make a list of all restaurants that I like to visit because of the food taste so good. Then, I got this infor about this blog:

jenzcorner

You should visit this blog. Honestly. Especially, if you like culinary.

The following pictures were shown just for those who were around 14 up to 16 y.o. in the 1989. And please try to remember, did you honestly think that these people still deadly gorgeous right now and then.

P.S. Pls note that the long rebonding kind of type hair is irrelevant at that time.

Being picky, by Samuel Mulia.

Samuel Mulia wondered, that even he, himself, has been working in a Fashion industry for years. Compare to other industry, only people who work in Fashion industry behave that they are the best. They have the right to judge, which one is good. Which one is not. Which one is a catastrophy. Yes, I do feel that way too. Even people who understand a bit about fashion, can not even keep their mouth shut to give bad remarks on other people. Even I got infected. There was this person in my office who always wear scarf around her neck. There is nothing wrong with it, but she make the scarf look like a giant flower around her neck. And to think that her neck is not that long, even I was surprised to see her with that thing on her neck. And she became a laughing stock for me and my friend ( who is very fashionable) for weeks. Sighed.

1. We should open the window widely. Not the window in your house, but in your heart. You are afraid of being sweat, so you prefer to stay inside somewhere cooler. You are afraid to have darker skin, so you avoid the sun. You close your heart to everything. Until it become rusty and to open it you will need to ask other people to help you.

2. By avoiding the sun, you felt good. YOu are not getting sunburn. But you did not realize that you have wasted so many chances, like seeing the sun going down before the night taking over.

3. To open your heart, will give you lots of experiences and helping you not to be an arrogant person.

4. Being rusty will got you if you always think that something famous or trendy is the best. Samuel Mulia admit that several shoes with famous brands already made his feet feel uncomfortable. Perhaps for me, like seeing women adore high heels shoes. Your leg will look so slim, but only you who knows that the shoes already killing your feet. But, for being admitted that you are capable in buying something that so famous and elegant, you choose to ignore that. Yikes...