A Major Deal

Amidst a sea of Bernie Sanders’ memes, Champ and Major also made global headlines when they ended a first-time, four-year hiatus with no dogs joining the incumbent President at the White House.

The spotlight shone brightly on Major, as he made a historical paw print as the first ever shelter dog to make it to the famous 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue address. 
I am one of those people who celebrated this, and as much as I want to write an essay on its importance, this short post will do for now. 

True, Major may be the luckiest one who made the journey from a shelter to being fostered and then moving to the fanciest of all home addresses. 
I am here to say that in the eyes of all rescued and adopted dogs, your house is a “White House” too. 

They will destroy your sofa, chew your furniture, eat your socks, hide your shoes (the left ones only, God knows why), and keep you awake with their antics. Sure, you have no security guard or a large enough lawn, and they probably take up all the space in your living room alone. But to them, just opening your house is a life altering moment they deserve. A family, a home, and maybe an IG account. 

Please. Seriously consider rescue or adoption, over buying. Changing one dog's life promotes better environment that is free of strays, diseases, muling, and of course abuse.

Also, the narrative will be magical from the dogs’ world of news headlines. It will be better, if not…the best. 

Now, how's this sound?

“Brownie the Mutt is now living with a family of five and adjusting well to excessive kisses from the toddler.” THE DOGS GAZETTE 

Photo taken from People

Forty One

 So, 41 happened. 

I turned 41 last week, 11th January. With no intention of making resolutions, I am posting this as a journal of gratitude and if I'm being honest, a nervous list of hopes and plans.

Two things:

1. Business (or, the lack thereof)

Some new strategies are to be implemented. The last 10 months was a topsy turvy one as we had to yield into a suffering demand. I have been reading articles from The Economists to feed my starving mind and cannot help but feeling mind boggled about it. It will not be an easy one, surprise surprise... But I need to gear myself up, physically by going back to training, emotionally by keep writing, and spiritually by drawing myself even closer to Jesus.

2. Relationship

I want the real thing, or nothing at all. Like I wrote here: THE relationship

Bagi nama Tuhan

Good, and bad, this 2020 is for You, Lord.

Thank you for not leaving my side. Not once, not ever. 

A Woman of God in the making

So here we are, on the egg-shell-like last day of 2020. The so called social media handles are flooded with both jokes and positivity about what is coming. Of course, all related to the one thing that has collapsed the world.

I won't even mention the word here. It, has got enough exposure. This last post in December will be a short one, about how I personally have been reminded of what God wants from me. If you're feeling a bit spiritual, you may want to listen to Pastor Rick Warren's sermon about dark days that we've clutched and how the light of Jesus can guide our nearly blinded eyes. Take a look at it The Light of Jesus for Your Dark Days. 

Dates are man made, we all know that. But maybe, it gives it the perfect excuse to ask for His guidance everyday, especially today. On the last day of 2020.

As for me, I am letting him to cultivate me to be this kind of woman...

Uang Natal Dalam Lemari

 “Juruselamat saja lahir di kandang domba.” Kata Lastri

Sambil menghitung setumpuk rupiah kertas yang dikeluarkannya dari amplop
Sepertinya baru gajian
Pikir Dewi

“Jadi, kita tidak boleh berpesta?” Dewi bertanya
Bibirnya nyaris manyun satu senti, melirik pada tumpukan rupiah tadi, yang kali ini sudah diselipkan Lastri di dalam lemari
Dibawah surat kabar yang dengan isi berita banjir ibukota
Laci ketiga dari atas, batin Dewi dalam hati

“Bukan begitu. Tapi ya, kali ini, irit-irit saja dulu.”
“Masa makan malam di restoran saja tidak bisa” Dewi merajuk
Ada sehelai gaun merah bata yang sudah licin yang dibayangkannya akan dikenakan malam ini
Gaun itu ada di lemari. Lemari yang sama dengan tempat Lastri menyimpan uang tadi.
“Lagi susah, uang kuliahmu saja masih harus kita cari Wi. Masa tahun depan gak lanjut?”
Lastri kini sibuk merias diri di depan cermin
Tergesa pergi.

“Kamu pinter. Jangan sampai gak kuliah!” Gincu merah kini dipoles Lastri di bibirnya sambil melangkah keluar kamar
“Kamu kok nggak kuliah, tapi bisa cari uang tuh!” Dewi bersikeras
“Aku gak sepintar kamu. Kamu nanti gak perlu kerja siang malam, bahkan saat hari raya seperti aku gini. Sudah aku pergi dulu. Dengar kotbah online saja ya malam ini!”

Dewi melambaikan tangan sampai dilihatnya pintu tertutup rapat. Tentu, ia akan mendengarkan ibadah secara online malam ini. Sebelum lalu salin pakaian, memesan kendaraan, pergi ke tempat makan yang sudah dia pesan dua hari sebelumnya. Tidak apa kalau harus sendiri.

Suara pesan masuk di telepon genggam memaksa Dewi menoleh. Ponsel Lastri tertinggal rupanya.

Pesan sempat terbaca
“Kamar 1202 ya manis.”
Dewi menghela napas. Tersenyum. Beranjak ke lemari.
Dia harus Natalan malam ini.
Pakai sebagian uang yang ada di lemari.

Oleh TBH

(Yang percaya, ada Natal bagi semua, terutama bagi yang seperti tak layak mendapatkannya)

Ilustrasi oleh Max Res

How has your diet changed the past... eeerrr year?

Years of training for marathons have blessed me with quite a good metabolism. But, like most things in 2020, diet and lifestyle are having some major unfavourable shifts. Eeks!

I am not bothered with a slight weight gain, I know that slowly I can shed if off. So many people are struggling for their lives now so adding that as a reason to be depressed seems ungrateful. One time, I heard my friend talking on the phone saying this to her sister "If we survived this pandemic with some extra weight, it means we are one of the lucky ones." 

ps: Here's a relatable illustration for us to smile about. But of course, try to hit the road, yoga mat, or tennis court every other day. 

It will keep our emotional state in balance.

by Grace Farris

What are your (not so secretly) random turn ons?

In an attempt to cheer the mood of this blog a little, let's talk about something fun!

We all have those strange little things we're attracted to that may dilate our pupil bigger than if your type of guy (in my case, Mark Ruffalo) is walking into the restaurant where you were eating. It could be in the way a guy talks softly to a waiter when placing his order, the way his eyes crooked when he smiles, or as simple as the way he rolls up his sleeves.

It could be anything, often overlooked, and it's pretty much random but you cannot help but feeling giddy just thinking about it!

Here are some of mine:

• Beard and glasses. Not too much tho, just enough to give that scruffy look. A simple framed glasses is a plus as it makes him look serious and boy am I so into serious guys. The challenging part of this one is that I only like it if the guy is tidy at the same time too, so... no washed out top or dirty jeans!
• Broad shoulders. My mind will instantly wander off to some romantic scene of us lazing on a sofa, watching a movie, as I slowly doze off on his shoulder... Sleepy girl here.
• If I caught him being gentle, talking softly to children and or elderly. Brownie points bagged baby...
• When we have the same pet peeves. This, obviously can only be recognised after some serious conversation but nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of saying "Oh my God, I hate (insert something) too!"
• Intelligence. Not limited to academic lane, but more like a passion that you can see in his everyday life.

What are yours?

Also, did you know that Figs are aphrodisiac?