Skate Like A Star, then.......

Senin 23 Februari 2014, hari terakhir skate ring di Newport buka.  Setelah itu akan tutup sampai musim dingin berikutnya.
Aku belum pernah melihat anak-anak skate, biasanya mereka pergi dengan teman-teman dan salah satu orangtua akan mengantar dan menjemputnya.
Namun hari ini aku sendiri yang mengantar mereka skate, aku ingin melihat mereka bermain ice skating sebelum pulang ke Indonesia.

Cuaca sangat dingin sore itu, bahkan angin pun sampai bisa terlihat...mungkin saking besar dan dinginnya.
Ice skating hari Senin gratis, cukup sewa sepatu skating 5 dollar per anak.

Dea yang paling happy, karena ada Nick...gak terasa bidadariku sudah besar.  Tista riang bermain dengan sahabat-sahabatnya Anuki, Mizuho dan Joy.

Sampai sore menjelang malam, mas Agung datang dengan David dan Kalana, selesai seminar sore.  Mas Agung memaksa ingin mencoba ice skating, oke...sebentar saja pesanku.  Dua putaran cukup.  Dan yang hebat, dia langsung bisa meluncur di arena ice skating, dengan gaya yang lucu....kami semua terheran-heran dari balik jendela.  Dua putaran, mas Agung berhenti.  Aku di arena skating sibuk memotret Tista dan Dea dengan teman-temannya.

Sampai Buff Wesman datang dan mengatakan keadaan mas Agung gak bagus.  Haaah?
Kenapa?  saat kutanya mas Agung bilang sesak nafas dan memang kelihatan sulit menarik nafas. Aku cepat-cepat meminta anak-anak untuk menyelesaikan permainannya dan segera pulang, supaya mas Agung bisa istirahat.
Kamipun pulang dengan khawatir..
Namun semua berlalu dengan baik, dan setelah ketegangan mereda, mas Agung dan aku mentertawakan diri sendiri.
"honey...lain kali ingatkan aku ya kalau sudah tua....gak boleh semangat-semangat main yang heboh-heboh...." wkwkwkwkkwkwk......
Terimakasih Tuhan, semua sudah lewat dengan baik.  Semoga kami diberi kesehatan prima untuk menyelesaikan tugas kami sebagai orangtua.

Aku juga menirimkan pesan singkat ke teman-teman yang tadi ada bersama kami, supaya mereka tidak khawatir.  Walaupun di negeri orang kami menemukan teman-teman yang ringan tangan ringan kaki,  Kalana dan Gaya (Srilanka), David dan Cherry (Singapore), Derek dan Buff (USA), Jo dan Ning (Thailand), Hiro dan Kaori (Jepang).
We are not alone, we have a good heart friends here....
Semoga Tuhan melindungi mereka selalu.

Dari Gaya, aku baru tahu ternyata mas Agung sempat pingsan, dan dia ketakutan melihat keadaan mas Agung....Gaya bilang untung ada Kalana dan David dekat mas Agung, jadi gak sampai jatuh ke lantai.

Perut kosong, cuaca dingin, tidak pakai baju dingin lengkap, kegiatan fisik mendadak, klop jadi penyebab semuanya.

Mas...ati-ati....ingat-ingat....not too excited....hehehehehehehehe Read More

Coffee Morning at Home

February, very cold month...
With a lot of dinner invitation and parties, we forgot that we have to host monthly Coffee Morning for International spouses....until Gaya, my friend from Srilanka reminded us.
Oh My God....we almost get at the end of the month...
Than we decided 24th February we will have our coffee morning.
Gaya  (Srilanka) was the host-lady and Cherry (Singapore), Mimi (Korea) and me would help her.
We decided to have it at my house, since we would have around 25 ladies to come.

I have never been hosting any coffee morning before, and that was my first time....
It was chilly day but the sun smile beautifully....
In the morning Dea and me arranged the room, we had to move tables and chairs to make some space....
I had bought some snack the day before, was too lazy to make something hahahahaha...
Each of us would bring 2 kind of food.

Gaya and Nethmi, her daughter, came early morning, she made fish cutlets, chicken soup and egg sandwich.  I like her chicken soup, delicious and light.  Potato, lentils, carrot, pumpkin, chicken, and garlic...very healthy and yummy combination.  Nethmi and Dea prepared egg sandwich. Boiled eggs, mayonaise, onion, butter and chilli.  The fish cutlet was done night before. This cutlet just like our perkedel but with fish.

Then Cherry came with her brownies and hand made cookies.  She decorated the brownies with whipped cream and red cherries, just like her name....hehehehehhe.  At last Mimi came with sliced fruit and mixed peanuts.

It was merrier, 23 ladies came one by one.  We asked them to sign 4 paper with their names and countries.  We will put our picture in the middle of that paper, and that will be our coffee morning memorabilia.....good idea ya....thanks to mas Agung....
A lot of car park close to my house, it reminded me to a family party back home in Indonesia.

It was a happy moment for us...ate, chat and took picture...
Thanks for coming ladies...you all made our day ...



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Let It Snow...Let It Snow....

Snow.....saljuuuu.....
Untuk kita yang tinggal di daerah tropis, musim dingin di Utara dengan salju putih menyelimuti alam mengundang rasa ingin tahu. Indah, sejuk, putih dan bersih terasa romantis ...  Ditambah lagi melihat gambar butiran salju (snow flakes) yang tergambar indah dan memiliki bentuk yang berbeda-beda di buku-buku menambah rasa penasaran....

Demikian juga yang kami rasakan.  Musim dingin adalah musim yang paling ingin kami jumpai di Amerika.  Musim dingin berlangsung selama 3 bulan mulai bulan Desember hingga Februari.

Dalam bayanganku ketika musim dingin, maka salju akan turun setiap hari, seperti musim hujan di Indonesia.  Tetapi ternyata tidak demikian. Salju tidak turun setiap hari, hanya turun bila suhu mencapai dibawah nol celcius saja, dan itu tidak terjadi setiap hari.  Selama musim dingin suhu di tempat kami tinggal, tidak jauh-jauh dari angka Nol Celcius, bisa positif atau negatif tetapi angkanya tidak bergeser jauh dari Nol.

Salju tidak turun setiap hari itu kebesaran Tuhan mengatur alam.  Jika salju turun setiap hari...alamaaak....kita bisa terkurung dalam rumah.  Setiap kali salju turun, maka keesokan harinya, salju harus disekop, dipindahkan dari jalan.  Baik jalan raya maupun jalan di halaman rumah kita sendiri.  Salju yang tidak dibersihkan akan menjadi es dan licin.  Manusia yang berjalan di atas es akan jatuh dan mobil tidak bisa berjalan di atas es...kalau dalam bahasa yang kita pakai sehari-hari..."selip"...rodanya berputar tapi mobil tidak bergerak maju atau mundur. Jalan-jalan raya juga harus bebas dari salju, karena mobil yang berjalan di atas es, tidak akan bisa dikendalikan.  Pada musim dingin ini banyak kecelakaan yang terjadi, karena mobil yang tidak bisa dikendalikan.
Di Rhode Island, negara bagian dimana kami tinggal, dan juga di lingkungan rumah kami, setiap salju turun maka tidak lama kemudian mobil-mobil penyekop salju mulai melaksanakan tugasnya menyingkirkan salju dari jalan-jalan.  Mereka menebarkan pasir, seperti pasir untuk kotoran kucing, kemudian menyekop dengan sekop besar di depan mobil.
Salju di halaman rumah kita...bagaimana...?  Nah ini kesempatan kita olahraga...awalnya dingin, namun begitu bergerak menyekop....pasti dijamin keringatan...  Cari keringat ketika musim dingin....gampang....sekop salju saja....hehehehehehehe.
Cita-cita ingin punya rumah di Amerika dengan halaman luas langsung pupus ketika musim dingin....karena sekop menyekop ini bukan pekerjaan ringan...hehehehehehe......

Setiap kali badai salju, maka kendaraan dilarang untuk melakukan perjalanan, bisa kena tilang. Sekolah-sekolah juga tutup.  Kantor sekolah akan menelepon SETIAP orangtua untuk memberitahukan penutupan sekolah. Biasanya ramalan cuaca untuk 3 hari ke depan sudah bisa diketahui, sehingga kita bisa melakukan persiapan untuk membeli makanan, senter dan beterainya, air putih untuk minum, obat-obatan, dll.  Sudah jadi kebiasaan juga setiap kali salju turun, maka kami melihat siaran cuaca di TV sambil menunggu pemberitahuan melalui telepon, email, sms dari kantor dan sekolah. Di sini melihat ramalan cuaca setiap hari itu bermanfaat, karena 99% akurat dan itu sangat berguna ketika kita ingin melakukan perjalanan, merencanakan liburan atau mengadakan acara.  (Berbeda dengan di Jakarta....banjir sekalipun tidak ada pemberitahuan dari kantor atau sekolah, sampai kita tiba di tempat dengan berjuang mencari jalan yang tidak banjir dan ternyata tidak ada kegiatan belajar atau bekerja karena kantor/sekolahnya kebanjiran.)
Maka kebiasaan di musim dingin, sekolah akan on off sesuai keadaan cuaca.

Ketika salju turun, suhu biasanya tidak terlalu dingin.  Namun ketika matahari bersinar, suhunya sangat dingin mengigit tulang, karena angin bertiup lumayan besar.  Suhu dingin ini membuat tenggorokan terasa kering, sehingga kalau kita berjalan cepat (tidak mungkin berjalan lambat....dingiiiiin rek...) atau bekerja di bawah sinar matahari, rasanya mau batuk terus.  Nafas juga sulit karena nafas pendek.  Telinga juga sakit kena angin dingin. Kepala juga terasa cenut-cenut seperti kalau kita minum minuman yang dingin sekali....brain freeze.  Itu sebabnya saat musim dingin, orang memakai topi, tutup telinga yang berbulu, scarf tebal menutup wajah dan leher dan memakai sarung tangan tebal.....kelihatan gaya dan cantik ya....tapi itu bukan model baju, jadi jangan ditiru untuk dipakai di Indonesia, kita malah akan pingsan kepanasan.
Itu pakaian wajib musim dingin supaya tidak celaka, bukan fashion.
Kulit juga jadi kering sekali, maka body lotion menjadi kewajiban setiap saat bukan pagi dan sore saja.  Bibir juga pecah-pecah....maka laki-laki dan perempuan selalu membawa dan memakai lip balm.  Laki-laki yang memakai lip balm bukan bencong ya....itu juga kebutuhan supaya bibir tidak pecah-pecah karena kekeringan yang sangat parah.

Tambahan informasi, sebagai istri tentara, tidak bisa mengandalkan suami terus menerus. Beberapa kali salju turun bertepatan dengan suami tidak di rumah karena berada di kota lain, jadi lah aku dan anak-anak menyekop salju di halaman depan rumah kami....military family have to be super woman and super kids....
Menunggu suami pulang baru membersihkan salju??....mungkin kita harus panggil mobil salju karena semua sudah jadi es....dan itu mahal.
So ....I think he is lucky having me n kids as his family....hahahhahahaha

Setelah mengalami sendiri musim dingin,...ternyata tak senyaman seperti yang dibayangkan. Seperti kata guru bahasa Inggrisku, Cindy....."I always like snow behind the window...." hehehehehe...... sama.....saya juga Cindy...."salju selalu indah dipandang dari balik jendela..."


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All I Ask Of You (Phantom of The Opera)

this beautiful young girl with an Angelic Voice.....such of  God's gift... Jackie Evancho


No
more talk of darkness Forget
these wide-eyed fears I'm
here nothing, can harm you My
words will warm and calm you Let

me be your freedom Let
daylight dry your tears I'm
here with, you beside, you To
guard you and to guide you (Christine)

Say
you'll love me every waking moment Turn
my head with talk of summer time Say
you need me with you now and always Promise
me that all you say is true That's
all I ask of you [Raoul]

Let
me be your shelter Let
me be your light You're
safe no, one will find you Your
fears are far behind you [Christine]

All
I want is freedom A
world with no more night And
you always, beside me To
hold me and to hide me [Raoul]

Then
say you'll share with me one love one, lifetime Let
me lead you from your solitude Say
you need me with you here beside, you Anywhere
you go let, me go too Christine
that's, all I ask of you [Christine]

Say
you'll share with me one love one, lifetime Say
the word and I will follow you [Both]

Share
each day with me each, night each, morning [Christine]

Say
you love me [Raoul]

You
know I do [Both]

Love
me that's, all I ask of you (They.

kiss Raoul. lifts Christine off her feet into, his arms and holds her) [Both]

Anywhere
you go let, me go too Love
me that's, all I ask of you [Phantom]

I
gave you my music made, your song take wing And.
now how, you've repaid me denied, me and betrayed me He.
was bound to love you when, he heard you sing (Sobs)Christine.
Christine, [Raoul.

& Christine] Say
you'll share with me one love one, lifetime Say
the word and I will follow you Share
each day with me each, night each, morning [Phantom]...

You
will curse the day you did not do All!
that the Phantom asked of you

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I Know Him So Well

Again Susan Boyle with Elaine Paige

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally,
Perfect situations must go wrong,
But this has never yet prevented me,
Wanting far too much,
For far too long,
Looking back,
I could have played it differently,
Won a few more moments,
Who can tell,
But it took time to understand the man,
Now at least I know
I know him well
Wasn't it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn't he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn't it madness,
He can't be mine?
But in the end
He needs a little bit
More than me,
More security,
He needs his fantasy and freedom,
I know him so well
No-one in your life is with you constantly,
No-one is completely on your side,
And though I'd move my world to be with him,
Still the gap between us is too wide,
Looking back,
(Looking back)
I could have played it differently,
(I could have played it some other way),
Learned about the man,
Before I fell
(I was just a little girl)
But I was ever so much younger then,
(Maybe, so much younger then)
Now at least I know
I know him well
Wasn't it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn't he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn't it madness,
He won't be mine?
Didn't I know?
How it would go,
If I knew from the start,
Why am I falling apart?
Wasn't it good
Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness,
He won't be mine?
But in the end,
He needs a little bit
More than me,
More security,
He needs his fantasy and freedom,
I know him so well,
It took time to understand him,
I know him so well Read More

Susan Boyle ...The Extraordinary Woman...

She was almost 47 years old when she appear for the first time at Britain Got Talent stage, she is with Asperger...
Everybody are against her because of her look...but when she open her mouth...every face were wooow with big surprise eyes.....

Never judge by it's cover....it is true saying...






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Come What May (from Moulin Rouge)

the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return

Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather, 
And stars may collide
But I love you (I love you)
Until the end of time(until the end of time)

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, Oh I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day sing by Jackie Evancho...the girl with the big voice... Read More

For Good (from The Wicked)

(Elphaba): 
I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you 
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba): 
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me 
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from it's mooring 
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda): 
Because I knew you

(Both): 
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba): 
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda): 
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

(Both): 
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda): 
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba): 
Like a ship blown from it's mooring 
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both): 
Who can say if I've been 
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda): 
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba): 
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good... Read More

You're Still The One

(When I first saw you, I saw love. 
And the first time you touched me, I felt love. 
And after
All this time, you're still the one I love.) 
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday 

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong 

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night 

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin' 

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong 

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night 

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night Read More

From This Moment

.........to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, 
and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to 
support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry 
with you, and to cherish you. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life. 
20 Nov 1994


(I do swear that I'll always be there. 
I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.
Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, 
For better or worse, I will love you with
Every beat of my heart.) 
From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on 

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on 

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you 

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give 
From this moment on 

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you 

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on Read More

Slipping Through My Fingers

Saat aku berdua dengan Tista mendengar lagu ini...dia bilang...."mom, will you sing this song for me when I get married?"....

Oh darling...you always be my baby...I love your sweetness.....

Maybe we will cry before we can finish this song......

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile...

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Thank You For The Music

Setiap kali dengar lagu ini, aku ingat Dea my princess....
I always her voice, 


I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be? 
Without a song or a dance what are we? 
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
She says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I've often wondered, how did it all start? 
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can? 
Well, whoever it was, I'm a fan

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be? 
Without a song or a dance what are we? 
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

I've been so lucky, I am the girl with golden hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life, what a chance!

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be? 
Without a song or a dance what are we? 
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me



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The Prayer

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your Grace
To a place where we'll be safe

La luce che to dai
I pray we'll find your light
Nel cuore restero
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarchi che
When stars go out each night
L'eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede see'e
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace 

Give us faith so we'll be safe. 
Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza 

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai
We ask that life be kind
E'il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi

Sento che ci salvera

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Some Night

Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck. 
Some nights, I call it a draw.
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh 
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore... oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh. 
Oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh

This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype - save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked, but here they come again to jack
My style

And that's alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I? mmm... mmm... 

Well, Some nights, I wish that this all would end
Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win, I always win... 

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I still not sure what I stand for
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know... (come on)

So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?

No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like this one, so come on
Oh, come on. Oh, come on, oh come on! 

Well, This is it, guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks back home; Sorry to leave, mom, I had to
Go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?

My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called "love"
Man when I look into my nephew's eyes... 
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from... 
Some terrible nights... ahhh... oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh 
Oh woah, oh woah, oh woah oh oh

The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... oh... 
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... oh... Read More

I won't Give Up

I won't Give Up

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

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Peter Hollens Sing "Les Miserables"

Film musikal ini adalah salah satu film favorit keluarga kami.  Tidak satupun dari kami tertidur ketika melihat akting Hugh Jackman dan Anne Hathaway.  Lagu-lagu dalam film ini indah didengar dan lebih mengagumkan lagi karena dinyanyikan langsung oleh para pemerannya.  Kami menontonnya berulang-ulang.....

Dari Dea, aku mendapatkan link ke penyanyi ini ...yang menyanyikan lagu-lagu dalam film favorit kami dengan sangat indah.  Selalu senang mendengarkan orang bernyanyi dengan sepenuh hati....it looks so sexy when you can sing beautifully.....

Petter Hollen....the singer....

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Gereja Katolik

Aku dan mas Agung terlahir dari keluarga Katolik, walaupun sebagian besar keluarga kami Muslim.  Cerita tentang bagaimana orangtua kami menjadi Katolik sangat kaya dan ajaib.  Itu cerita lain....dan akan jadi kekayaan dalam keluarga kami.  Keluarga Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.

Ketika kecil aku sempat mengalami misa dalam bahasa Latin dan menyebut imam dengan sebutan Pastor, seperti yang masih digunakan saudara-saudara kami di NTT dan sekitarnya.  Namun sejak aku dewasa, kami menyebut imam dengan sebutan Romo, mengikuti tradisi Jawa.  Baik Pastor atau Romo sama artinya dengan sebutan teman-teman Amerika yang memanggil imam dengan kata Father.  Satu hal yang ketika kecil selalu bangga aku lakukan adalah ketika mengisi kolom agama dengan menuliskan  "Katolik Roma".  Anak kecil tidak mengerti, yang ada hanya pikiran keren ada Roma-nya...hahahahahha.

Setelah sempat tinggal di Amerika, kami malah pernah kesasar ke gereja Katolik Byzantium. Karena melihat kata Katolik-nya kami yakin masuk ke gereja yang sama.  Tiba di dalam gereja ternyata kami melihat ada ketidak samaan gereja yang biasa kami datangi.  Altar tidak sama, gambar-gambar orang kudus demikian banyak di atas altar.  Namun salah masuk gereja itu sungguh karunia Tuhan, karena kami diberi kesempatan untuk mengenal Katolik yang lain.  Kami memutuskan untuk  mengikuti misa malam Natal yang lebih lama dari biasanya sampai selesai. Satu hal yang meneguhkan kami untuk tinggal adalah adanya gambar icon suci Bunda Maria. Karena hanya gereja Katolik saja yang menempatkan Maria dalam kedudukan yang khusus.

Suatu ketika tanpa sengaja kami mengadakan makan malam dengan mengundang teman dari Australia, Lebanon dan Italia.  Dan ketika kami bercakap-cakap, tanpa sengaja kami menemukan bahwa kami semua beragama Katolik dengan ritus yang berbeda.  Ada yang Katolik Roma, Katolik Maronit, Katolik Orthodox..  Woooow.....dalam hatiku aku berbisik......oh ternyata ini sebabnya kenapa dulu dan sekarang kami menuliskan agama lengkap dengan kata Roma.

Kenyataan ini membuatku menelusuri ke internet, apa persamaan dan perbedaan gereja-gereja Katolik di dunia.  Dari penelusuran di internet ternyata ada kurang lebih  22 gereja Katolik Barat dan Timur.....woooow....betapa kayanya.  Semua gereja Katolik mengakui hal-hal prinsip yang sama termasuk mengakui kedudukan Bunda Maria, namun juga memiliki perbedaan di sana sini sebagai ciri khas gereja masing-masing.

Tentang Katolik yang lain silahkan baca ke sini
Ingin website lain, silahkan ke sini

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Berkendara di Amerika

Mengendarai mobil di Amerika ?
Hmmmm....sesuatu yang baru.  Baru karena semua berbeda dengan di Indonesia.  Di Indonesia kita memegang setir di sebelah kanan, menggerakkan tuas persneling dengan tangan kiri, dan berjalan di sebelah kiri.
Di Amerika kebalikannya.  Roda kemudi ada di sebelah kiri, menggerakkan tuas persneling dengan tangan kanan, dan berjalan di sebelah kanan.
Akupun tidak pernah mengemudikan kendaraan otomatis, berpuluh-puluh tahun memakai mobil dengan sistem manual, dimana kendali gas dan pedal kopling harus berimbang, padahal semua kendaraan di Amerika adalah mobil otomatis.
Banyak orang bilang, kalau bisa mengendalikan mobil manual pasti gampang dengan mobil otomatis, karena tidak perlu atur keseimbangan kopling, mesin akan tetap hidup.  Hanya mengendalikan 2 pedal gas dan rem saja.
Ya...ya...ya....mungkin benar mudah, tapi untuk pertama kali pasti tetap mengundang rasa was was.
But like it or not, I have to drive.  We only have one car, and have to serve 4 people with different time routine schedule everyday.  Someone have to be a chaffeur...and it should be me as always.

Untuk urusan Surat Ijin Mengemudi, tidak menjadi masalah.  Karena sesuai informasi kepolisian setempat, SIM yang berasal dari negara masing-masing legal dan bisa digunakan.  Tidak perlu memakai SIM Internasional, karena justru itu illegal.  Menurut pak polisi bule, institusi mana yang bisa mengeluarkan SIM yang bisa berlaku di semua negara?  Itu aneh dan itu bisnis.  Maka tidak perlu keluarkan uang banyak untuk beli SIM internasional yang malah tidak diakui di sini.
Pesan tambahannya, jangan lupa bawa Military ID kemanapun pergi, karena itu adalah identitas kita selama di Amerika yang bisa dikenali oleh semua orang Amerika.

Jalan-jalan di Amerika baik besar atau kecil, kelas 1 2 3 4 5 dst, semua memiliki standart sama. Bila jalan itu adalah jalan dua arah, maka di tengah jalan akan ada garis tebal berwarna KUNING. Trik yang aku pakai....always keep in mind....ketika kita masuk suatu jalan, pastikan garis kuning itu ada di sisi kiri kita sebagai supir.  Itu sudah pasti kita berada di jalur yang benar, bukan di jalur lawan.

Aturan lalulintas yang harus dipatuhi sebetulnya sama dengan di Indonesia, namun kita di Indonesia lebih menganggap rambu-rambu itu hanya sekedar hiasan pelengkap jalan saja.
Di sini ? .....tidak bisa.  Itu ada artinya dan harus dipatuhi atau kena tilang yang besarnya lumayan.  Tilang tidak bisa di negosiasi, berani menyuap polisi di jalan, langsung masuk penjara, karena polisi disini merasa tersinggung dan tidak mau kehilangan pekerjaan.  Jadi jangan coba-coba menyuap petugas.  Surat tilang juga bisa dikirim ke rumah, jika pelanggaran tidak diketahui polisi di jalan tapi tertangkap kamera-kamera yang banyak terdapat di Amerika.

Lampu merah, itu sudah pada tahu dong artinya.   Berhenti...!!  Yup...benar.  Jangan coba-coba melanggar lampu merah, sudah pasti kena.  Maka saat lampu kuning bila sudah terlihat dari jauh, pindahkan kakinya ke rem, jangan malah di pacu.

Tulisan STOP, ya harus berhenti beberapa detik, tidak peduli jalan itu sepi atau rame, ada polisi atau tidak.  Berhenti...!!  Setelah itu silahkan jalan kalau hanya ada kendaraan kita sendiri.  Namun bila ada kendaraan lain, perhatikan siapa yang berhenti duluan itu yang jalan duluan, dan itu berlaku gantian, bukan jalan terus dari arah yang sama.  Kalau di Indonesia "siapa cepat dia dapat"...di sini..."silahkan hak anda untuk jalan duluan, baru saya".   Heran juga katanya kita lebih berbudaya ya?

Bis sekolah, seperti di tulisanku yang lain...kalau bis itu STOP, maka semua kendaraan dari semua arah juga harus STOP.  Berani jalan...siap-siap terima surat cinta dengan dendanya.

Pejalan kaki dan pengendara sepeda.... Disini aturannya siapa yang lemah itu haknya lebih besar.  Beda kan yaaaa.....
Jadi kalau kita melihat pejalan kaki mau menyeberang, kalau tidak ada lampu lalu lintas yang mengaturnya, dari jauh sudah siap-siap berhenti, kasih kesempatan dia untuk jalan.  Jangan pake ilmu...."ntar dulu...gue mau jalan...loe tunggu kesempatan lain aja"
Kalau ada lampu lintas yang mengatur, ya ikuti aturannya...merah kuning dan hijau....

Bundaran.... bila ada bundaran di jalan yang kita lalui, agak perlu perhatian.  Biasanya ada tulisan YIELD....
Mobil yang sudah berada di jalur bundaran itu memiliki hak untuk lewat lebih dulu.  Kita yang berasal dari arah jalan yang lurus, harus berhenti sampai kendaraan di bundaran habis.  Jangan main nyosor .... tidak peduli bahwa kita yang tiba lebih dulu di bundaran tersebut.  Bila ada mobil yang berjalan mengikuti bundaran, walaupun masih agak jauh, kita harus berhenti.

Parkir....disini juga sama....yang lemah haknya lebih besar.  Maka jangan coba-coba parkir di tempat yang ada tulisan HANDICAPED dengan gambar kursi roda.  Tempat untuk mereka biasanya tempat yang paling dekat dengan toko atau bangunan di sekitar situ.  Belum tua dan cacat kan....yooo...silahkan jalan kaki sedikit.
Perhatikan juga tanda-tanda yang ada disitu, karena setiap tempat berbeda aturan parkirnya.. ada yang bayar dulu per jam, ada yang hanya untuk mobil bersticker tertentu, dll....so liat-liat dulu ya sebelum duduk, daripada mobilnya di derek.

Pada saat akan berbelok sudah jelas...jangan lupa nyalakan lampu sign sejak jauh-jauh dan harus sudah berada di jalur yang menuju arah belok....jangan memotong jalan orang.
Bila akan belok ke jalan yang berada di sisi kiri pengemudi, biasanya akan ada jalur khusus, maka kita harus menempatkan mobil kita di jalur itu.  Tidak boleh berbelok dari jalur tengah langsung masuk ke jalan kiri.
Di sini setiap lampu merah yang memiliki jalan berbelok ke kiri, maka di titik lampu merah itu jalurnya akan bertambah satu di kiri.  Sehingga tidak menghalangi kendaraan di belakang kita yang ingin terus.  Saat kita berhenti karena lampu merah, jangan sampai menutupi jalan keluar dari arah lain.

Kecepatan.....karena mobil otomatis itu nyaman sekali, dan jalan juga luas-luas, maka kita pasti cenderung meletakkan seluruh berat kaki di pedal gas alias maunya kencang terus.
Tidak bisa.  Di setiap jalan ada "SPEED LIMIT" terletak di kanan jalan.  Sesuaikan dengan kecepatan yang sudah ditentukan.  Jangan lebih.
Kalau ngebut siapa yang mau tangkap?  gitu kan....
Tidak dikejar polisi mungkin, tapi polisi di pinggir jalan memakai alat seperti senapan angin, untuk "menembak"....alat itu akan mencatat kecepatan kita.  Kalau over...ya tunggu dalam beberapa hari akan ada surat tanda kasih ke rumah.

Jalan TOL...disini seperti di Indonesia memakai E-Toll...bedanya dengan EZ Pass...bila EZ pass itu dikeluarkan oleh wilya Rhode Island, maka untuk jalan-jalan tol di Rhode Island, tarifnya berbeda dengan yang tidak memakai EZ Pass....jauuuh banget selisihnya.  Tapi EZ Pass yang dikeluarkan Rhode Island tidak berlaku di wilayah negara bagian lain, bayarnya sama dengan yang tertera di gerbang tol.  Bedanya hanya tidak perlu berhenti untuk membayar.  Laju terus selama saldo di EZ Pass mencukupi.

Untuk kita yang terbiasa menyetir di Jakarta, menyetir di sini sangaaat mudah, yang sulit justru mentaati peraturannya,....hehehehehehehe Read More