“Bayi-Bayi” LAT

Akhirnya telur-telur LAT peliharaan saya menetas (baca Meet My Pets dan Jadi nenek). Lucu, anak-anak LAT itu kecil sekali. Mungkin hanya seukuran semut merah. Senangnya. Tidak pernah saya mengira akan mendapatkan anak-anak LAT secepat ini. What should we do with them? Any suggestion?

Carly Simon dan keluarga - The Oprah Winfrey Show

Minggu pagi, 29 Juli, Metro TV menyiarkan The Oprah Winfrey Show yang antara lain menampilkan Carly Simon beserta kedua anaknya Ben dan Sally Taylor. Sebetulnya saya tidak tahu banyak tentang mereka. Saya tertarik untuk menonton karena dari sekian banyak lagu kesayangan saya, dua di antaranya dinyanyikan oleh Carly Simon dan Ben Taylor. Lagu apa sajakah itu? Nobody Does It Better (baca Nobody Does It Better) dan I Will.
Indah sekali melihat dan mendengar ketiganya bernyanyi. Suaranya bagus. Bakat menyanyi orang tua rupanya diturunkan kepada anak-anaknya (setidaknya ini yang terjadi pada keluarga mereka).

Tertipu “Batu”

Beberapa waktu lalu, teman-teman seruangan di kantor menawarkan sesuatu yang tampak seperti batu-batu kecil kepada saya. Mereka mengatakan bahwa jika ditelan, batu- batu itu akan membantu proses pencernaan. Mengingat rekan-rekan saya itu jahilnya bukan alang kepalang, saya tidak percaya begitu saja. Semakin mereka meyakinkan saya, semakin saya tidak percaya.
Tidak sengaja, ujung “batu” itu terpotong oleh jari saya. Ternyata batu itu adalah coklat bersalut gula. Hmmm, saya tertipu rupanya.

Head Over Feet - Lagu jatuh cinta ...

Lagu ini cocok sekali untuk yang sedang jatuh cinta, cocok sekali untuk saya... Jatuh cintakah saya? Saya tidak tahu, tapi lirik lagunya amat sesuai dengan segala yang sedang saya rasakan ...

Head Over Feet
-Alanis Morissette-

I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it

You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was

You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault

Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service

You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long

I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now

You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault

Don't Wanna Lose You

Last week, my friend asked me wether I know a song by Gloria Estefan: Dont Wanna Lose You. He asked me to sing a part of the song just to remind him how the song goes. Reluctantly (I hate singing when others are listening and I can't remember the lyric), I did sang a small part of it.
Later, I found the lyric. It's beautiful.

Don't Wanna Lose You
-Gloria Estefan-

Sometimes, it's hard
To make things clear
Or know when to face the truth
And I know that the moment is here

I'll open my heart
And show you inside
My love has no pride
I feel with you I've got nothing to hide

So open your eyes
And see who I am
And not who you want for me to be
I am only myself, myself

I don't wanna lose you now
We're gonna get through somehow
Don't wanna lose you now
Or ever
Baby, I've finally found
The courage to stand my ground
But if you want me, I'll be around
Forever

We all make mistakes
We all lose our way
But we've stood the test of time
And I hope that's the way it will stay

It's all up to you
To tell me to go
'Cause it won't be me to walk away
When you're all that I know
And I know

That I don't wanna lose you now
We're gonna get through somehow
I don't wanna lose you now
Or ever, never
Baby, I've finally found
The courage to stand my ground
But if you want me, I'll be around
Forever, forever, yeah, yeah

Don't wanna lose you, lose you now
We're gonna get through somehow
Don't wanna lose you now
Don't wanna lose you, don't wanna lose you

What's so bad about feeling good?

What's so bad about feeling good? It's actually a title of a song by Wang Chung.
But, my bestfriend and I use the phrase a lot to make ourself comfortable with our feelings. Well, actually he is the one who use the phrase so many times to remind me that it really is OK to feel good.
I said sorry everytime I ask him to do me a favor, and he always said that it's fine, he really likes to help and I don't need to feel so sorry about it. What's so bad about feeling good?
Dear, you really make me feel like a princess.

And for you guys who'd like to know the lyric of the song. Here it goes ...


What's so bad about feeling good?

You're awake as dawn breaks, another day
And the grey clouds weep how you feel
But the way she touch you just bring you back to life
Don't let them bury your soul in concrete and steel

So what's so bad about feeling good?
What's so bad, what's so bad?
What's so bad about feeling good?
What's so bad, what's so bad?
Why hold back when you know you should
Break the chains of your life and start
Feeling good

As we're walking home there's a whispering
From the city lights to the stars
And the way she move her body next to me
In her hair I breathe the air of Venus and Mars

What's so bad about feeling good?
What's so bad, what's so bad?
Why hold back when you know you should
Break the chains of your life and start feeling good
What's so bad about feeling good?
Break the chains of your life and start feeling good

Dream on, dream on
If you're happy feeling sad
Dream on, dream on
'Bout the things you could have had
Then tell me what
Tell me what's so good about feeling bad?

Bagi yang akan menikah ...

Beberapa waktu lalu saya mendapat kiriman email dari Itha yang berisi tulisan seseorang bernama Idris Tawfiq. Isi tulisannya tentang apa yang harus disiapkan oleh pasangan yang hendak menikah. Menurut Pak Idris Tawfiq ada dua hal yang penting yang harus dilakukan: bersikap jujur tentang diri sendiri dan realistik akan apa yang diharapkan. Berikut ini kutipan tulisannya.

…
There are two very important things which we can apply to any aspect of our lives, but which are especially important when we are thinking about marriage: the need to be honest about who you are and the need to be realistic about what you expect.
…

Mengapa harus jujur?

…
The two of you, inshallah, are going to spend many happy years together, so prepare the ground well. Tell each other about your strengths and your weaknesses.
…

Mengapa harus realistik?

…
You are not going to marry Superman or Miss World. Inshallah, you will love each other very much, but don’t put your spouse on such a pedestal that they find it impossible to live up to. You are both very ordinary human beings, a man and woman made by Allah, and you will both have to work very hard accepting each other’s limitations. Be prepared to help each other. Be prepared to try hard to make the marriage work.
…
Laugh together when you make mistakes. Support each other in building your marriage. You will be man and wife. Your religion will be made complete by the other person in your life. Inshallah, you will be blessed with children who will love and respect you. So, prepare well.
…

dan, pada akhirnya …

…
It seems fairly obvious, but we should also say that in choosing a husband or wife you will also be choosing the mother or father for your children and the one who will look after your home or provide for you. This is where the advice of family and friends can help. Take your time and think very carefully. Above all, don’t rush. Ask Almighty Allah to bless you with a good wife or husband. Ask Him Who created all things to give you a happy and lasting marriage. Ask Him for the grace to make you a good and caring husband or wife, supporting the other in times of joy and sorrow. Think carefully about the life ahead of you and when the time comes, inshallah, you will be blessed with a long and happy marriage and with a spouse you will love and cherish all your life.

Tulisan ini dapat Anda baca secara lengkap antara lain di Faith of Life Network.

Surat Icha ...

Beberapa waktu lalu saya pernah bercerita tentang Icha, sobat kecil saya (baca Demam Beng Beng). Icha ini lucu sekali. Beberapa hari lalu, ia meninggalkan Beng Beng dan selembar surat di meja kerja saya. Isi suratnya sebagai berikut.

Tante Dewi (Tangga) nich aq kasih beng2 biar ga nangis lagi! Nanti klo nangis lagi kan orang2 pada bingung kok Tangga nangis?

Tangga = Tangte Anggra

Icha

(tapi klo ada hadiahnya buatq ya!)
aku nitip sampah ya soalnya takut ada monster!

Catatan:
Tangga adalah nama panggilan yang ia buat untuk saya. Tangga itu singkatan dari Tangte Anggra. Mengapa Tangte Anggra, bukan Tante Anggra? Ini berawal dari sebuah teka teki iseng yang dilontarkan oleh sahabat saya, Zu. Teka tekinya seperti ini: "Tang apa yang pintar?" Jawabannya: "Tangte Dewi". Nah, inilah awal munculnya istilah tangte.

Yang ia maksud dengan monster adalah rekan saya Pak Ato. Pak Ato senang sekali menggoda Icha. Karena berjenggot, Pak Ato dijulukinya monster embek. Ada-ada saja ...

Lunch time, alone

It's lunch time and I'm alone. Where is everyone? *sigh*
For the past few weeks, I've been having lunch with my bestfriend, but he's not here right now, he's far away at another island for the next 18 days!

Colin Osborne

Tanggal 15-16 Juli lalu, institusi tempat saya bekerja kedatangan tamu, Dr Colin Osborne, dari Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Dulu saya pernah men-download ebook yang judulnya Aspirin dari situs web-nya RSC. Nah, Pak Osborne ini adalah editor buku itu. Jabatan resminya di RSC adalah Education Manager. Foto di atas diambil Hari Minggu, 15 Juli, selepas makan siang. Paling kiri Putri, di sebelahnya Pak Osborne, Aritta, dan saya.

Happy birthday, Zu!

Happy birthday!
You’re 24, and like my buddy Chris Cornell says in his song, you’ve got everything to live for.
In this special day I want to let you know that I’m so glad there’s you in my life.
It’s true that you make my life more complicated, but that’s fine. I thank God for that.

Dingiiiiiin.................

Duh, Bandung dingin sekali...
Hari ini, pukul 7 saya sudah tiba di kantor. Masih sepi, rekan-rekan belum banyak yang datang ... Semakin terasa dingin ...

Cangkir kesayangan ...

Saat sedang pilek seperti sekarang ini, saya sering minum minuman hangat, terutama teh. Tehnya banyak, satu cangkir besar. Oya, cangkir yang saya gunakan adalah cangkir kesayangan. Setiap minuman terasa lebih enak jika diminum dari cangkir ini.
Kadang-kadang isinya bukan minuman, sup juga. Hmmm. Yummy ...

Jadi nenek ...

Tadi malam, saya melihat ada sesuatu yang berbeda pada lobster air tawar yang saya pelihara. Ada telurnya!
Beberapa minggu lalu, saya pernah memergoki sepasang lobster yang sedang mating. Waktu itu, saya tidak paham apa yang sebenarnya mereka lakukan. Saya pikir mereka sedang berkelahi karena lobster yang satu mencapit capit lobster lainnya. Saya aduk-aduk air akuarium dengan tujuan menyelamatkan lobster yang dicapit (I thought I was saving it). Baru belakangan saya membaca di majalah bahwa yang mereka lakukan itu adalah mating. Maaf, saya benar-benar tidak tahu.
Beberapa hari lalu, hal ini terjadi lagi. Kali ini saya tidak mengganggu mereka. Go ahead guys, do what you need to do.
Dan sekarang, rasanya saya akan menjadi "nenek" ...

"Jadi PNS itu enak, santai, gak banyak kerjaan" ... Betulkah?

Ucapan di atas sering dilontarkan oleh banyak orang. Sebetulnya tidak selalu demikian. Saya seorang pegawai negeri sipil. Santai? Tidak juga. Normal-normal saja.
Pekerjaan rutin tentu selalu ada. Pekerjaan ekstra hampir selalu ada.
Memang ada masanya saat kami dapat leluasa menghabiskan waktu untuk berolah raga di hari Jumat. Tapi, sekali lagi, semua normal-normal saja.
Institusi tempat saya bekerja adalah sebuah lembaga diklat. Saat diklat berlangsung, jam kerja sebagian dari kami berubah: 7 hari dalam seminggu. Selain itu, kami memang terbiasa mengerjakan pekerjaan kantor di hari libur, biasanya karena dikejar jadwal.
Contohnya kemarin, sejumlah rekan mendapat tugas mendadak untuk menyiapkan bahan seminar (presentasi dan makalah). Sejak sore kami ada di kantor sampai pukul 11 malam. Contoh lain, dulu kami pernah terpaksa harus menginap tanpa persiapan. Untung saya memang terbiasa menyimpan baju cadangan di kantor. No problem.
Jadi, siapa bilang jadi PNS itu selalu santai? Tidak benar.
Tapi saya sungguh mencintai suasana kerja di kantor. Rekan kerja saya semua baik dan pekerjaannya menyenangkan.