Xmas Turkey on Silent Night

Monday, 17 Dec 07, 1.22pm at home

Hi my little diary,
I'm at home, doctor said that I have to rest for 2-3weeks, no walking. I can't go to work too. But the good news is, I don't need to wear a cast! Doctor said that the fracture isn't so bad so I can just wear a supporter.

You know what, I guess this is God's plan. When I saw a doctor on friday, the doctor couldn't put the cast on my foot because I was wearing tight jeans. I told the doctor that it was okay if I couldn't remove my jeans, I would just use scissor to cut it. But, when I told him that, it was already too late, the clinic was about to close in 20mins time. So, he wrote me a letter and asked me to go to other clinic to get a cast on Saturday since his clinic is close on Saturday. I went to a clinic near my house on Saturday morning with my husband. It's good to get second opinion too, the doctor said that I don't really need a cast. OMG!! It's such a good news to me! I will need to go back to see that doctor again on Wednesday to see the progress. If it's getting worse, I'll need to put a cast. Please God, please God, I don't want to put a cast.. I really don't know what's the matching pants if my foot is in a cast.

My dear husband is now doing some of the houseworks for me. This is one of the most wonderful things of having a husband. Anyway, he bought 2 pieces of turkey's tighs yesterday, and cooked for me. We celebrated Xmas sooner.

On a silent Sunday, we ate the baked turkey, some muffins and hot tea.. just two of us.. in our home sweet home. I really enjoyed it. I forgot about my fractured bone for few moments.. *because you were sitting!* I still want to thank God for whatever situation I have.. because He sent me a great husband to take care of me when I'm disabled. *and do the houseworks for you?* Thanks God, for everything!

-Abbie-

"White Boot"

Friday, 14 Dec 07, 6.45pm at home

Hello my little diary,
Today is Friday..
Friday is the day that I always wait for..
But not today..
I was just back from hospital..
Got some X-rays..
Received a bad news..
My foot's bone is fractured!

Yes, I'm clumsy. Everybody knows that. I guess this time God really gave me a good lesson. Wherever I'm, Whatever I do, why it's always not right? Yesterday night I went to Ueno to collect my glasses. I was so happy that finally I got my glasses. On the way back home, I missed some steps of stairs in Subway, and I was flying for like 2 seconds before I landed with my right foot twisted. It's me, my life is so "challenging"!!

Doctor said that my foot has to be immobilized by using a plaster or gypsum to prevent movement of the injured part for 3 weeks. What I'm thinking now: Can I still go to Hokkaido? How can I pick up my parents in the airport? How can I take them to nice places that I want to show them? I really don't want to disappoint them. Meeting my family and the Hokkaido trip is what I've been waiting for since I came to Japan. I'm now just living with my husband, friends are what we only have here. I miss having a warm quality time with my family. Really.. I really look forward to this Hokkaido trip.. but what I get now?? I will not be able to move freely for the next 3 weeks, it's an exact time when my family will be here!! Why? Why? Why?

It's ok, Abbie. Think about the bright side. Wearing gypsum is like wearing white boot, slightly bigger and thicker boot though, but it's warmer! I have the black boot, it will be in trend too, wearing one black one white, with long white-black-chess-style socks, and black eye liner, cool rite? Since I can't wear sock inside my white boot, I can just draw some black squares on it as if there's a sock in it. Maybe it's a perfect time that God has prepared; when I'm disabled, I have my family with me who can take care of me, so 3 weeks will not be so long, rite?

Be tough, be happy Abbie..
And stop being clumsy!

-Abbie-

Secret Recipe of Japanese's Beauty

Tuesday, 13 Dec 07, 1.25pm at home

Dear diary,
Now is lunch time, that's why I'm home.

Last night, all my classmates, teachers, and I had dinner together in an Italian restaurant near my school after the presentations. I was sitting beside my best friend from Srilanka, in front of us is where the teachers were sitting. We talked to the teachers with our limited Japanese and mixed it with English when I started to mess up with my sentences, which happened many times. Well, at least it’s a good practice. We should do it during the lesson too, they should bring us to restaurant, market, shopping malls, street, or anywhere, and teach us how to say this and that. I guess this method makes the students easier to grab and remember the vocabularies. That’s how I learnt English during my homestay in Sydney, we went to traditional market and did some surveys about tomato’s price, paprika’s colors, type of oranges, etc. Well, the survey topic isn’t so important, the more important thing for students is to get some fresh air in the middle of a boring class. *but you said…..*

Back to topic, last night I found out something. It’s a secret recipe of Japanese girls’ beauty! I got the information from a trusted source, my very pretty well-maintained teacher. I should use whatever opportunity to achieve a goal, that’s what my dad teaches me to be able to be a successful entrepreneur! Well, parents’ teaching must be listened and implemented. Ok, no more writing around the bush, just jump directly into the bush.

Here are my findings. These are the secrets of true skin texture and true slim body:
1. Take a bath in a bathtub with hot water every night before sleeping
2. Eat Fish
3. Eat Tofu
4. Eat Apple

Look simple, rite? I also think so. Seems that the tips are not so much different with my current lifestyle:
- I take a bath
- I take a bath beside the bathtub
- I take a bath beside the bathtub with hot water
- I take a bath beside the bathtub with hot water every night
- I take a bath beside the bathtub with hot water every night before sleeping
- I eat fish, tofu, apple, banana, eggs, chicken, beef, pork, and their friends

I learn something useful. Every little detail must be taken into attention. Suddenly I remember how embok2 in Indonesia serve Nasi Gudeg, they use their bare hand, not spoon! It does make the taste so much more delicious, I guess. So, from now, I guess I should take a bath in the bathtub, not beside the bathtub. *How about the fish, tofu, and apple thing?* I follow the political view "The more the merrier".

-Abbie-

My First Japanese Speech

Tuesday, 13 Dec 07, 9.21am at home

Morning my diary,
My Japanese lesson is over. Last night was the last class. I did the presentation. About my topic? Well, my topic is very not an important topic. Ok, better I tell you the story. On Monday night, in the computer lab, I came to class 30 mins late. My teacher said that we had to save the draft by 9pm. That means I only had 2 hours to write my speech. I even had no topic yet! I was so panic. I browsed around yahoo and google. I didn't know what to search; "speech"? "help me"? "whatever"? "any topic please"? I gave up. My friends already had their own topics. At that point of time, I nearly decided to choose 'Dapur Cantik' as my topic. I opened Dapur Cantik, at the same time, I opened my little diary too. I was browsing around the title list in my little diary with a hope that I would get some inspirations, but I just realised that all my topics in my little diary are also not so important. I was also browsing around Dapur Cantik to see what new recipe my two pretty sisters already uploaded. Suddenly my teacher was behind me, I was panic, I closed Dapur Cantik and my little diary was still left opened behind. Before I had chance to close it, my teacher looked at pictures on my computer screen and screamed "Oishii..!!" I had closed Dapur Cantik, why was she still able to scream "Oishii"? I looked at my screen, Oopss, my master piece of cake was on display!

Sensei: "Waaa.. Is this your topic?"
Me: "ohh.. yes.. yes.."
Sensei: "Good that you have found your topic. I was about to give you some options for you to choose, like global warming, recycling system, and....blablabla"
Me: "Ehh.."

That's how I accidentally chose this topic. Here is the presentation slides, I want to remember my first Japanese speech for the rest of my life although my topic is unimportant useless childish topic.

I was telling story about "Watashi no Shumi" which means "My Hobby". This is the summary of my story:
"When I came to Japan, I saw the food samples that were being displayed in front of the Japanese restaurants. They are very cute and pretty. Japanese is very skillfull in making this kind of thing. I also want to make one! Not exactly the same one though. Then I bought the book and materials, and made 3 miniatures of cakes. I want to make one set of sushi too one day! I believe if I manage to create the imitation of sushi, I will be able to make real sushi!"

Then I showed them my cakes! This is the most embarassing part. Actually I didn't want to show them but my teacher asked if I brought the cakes. And I innocently said "Yes". OMG!! *In the first place, why did you bring them to class??* I put my 3 cakes in a white transparent container, put the container in a white plastic bag, tied it, and put it in my handbag. So, in a quiet presentation room, after I said "Yes", I took it out from my bag with the sound of "Kresekk..kresekk.."! Did I look like a 'kampoeng' mother who prepared a lunch box for my 3-years-old kid?

Anyway, they were all happy seeing my presentation. At least they laughed.. I don't care if they laughed for my childishness or my 'kampunganism', as long as I could be a bless for them.. Being able to laugh is a bless, isn't it?

-Abbie-

Dapur Si Cantik

Monday, 10 Dec 07, 4.07pm in office

Hellow my diary,
Another 11 days and I’ll be able to see my parents. Yohooo.. I miss them so much. I miss my little brothers and sisters too! I can’t wait to see them in 11 days!

My japanese lesson only has 2 classes left, tonight and Wednesday night. I have to prepare for a Japanese speech contest that will be due on this Wednesday. So, tonight class will be in the computer lab, we have to bring our own topic or picture or anything that we want to present and our sensei is going to help us doing the contents on the powerpoint slides. The topic is up to us. Nightmare! What will I say in my presentation? One easiest way out is: skip the class, problem solved! No No No.. my heart's screaming a BIG NO. I don't know if my brain would follow the screaming of my heart. Well, after all, brain is the only one who gives instruction to the rest of the body parts. Heart does not. It's normal that heart and brain always argues each other. At the end, the brain always wins, HaHaHaHa!! Oops, I'm laughing too loud. Let's see..

Diary, maybe you’ll think that I’m such a useless person who has nothing better to do. Well, I’m very busy now but I’m really in the mood of doing useless things lately, like creating a new blog, designing it, updating it. My sister, my dearest cousin and I just created a new blog called “Dapur si cantik”. Actually I’m too shy to tell you about this. This blog is about our own home-made food recipes and some tips about food, cooking, and diet! Very useless, isn’t it? That’s how we connect to each other. It’s like a child as a connecting point between a mother and a father. That’s how I describe our dapur-si-cantik.
- Dapur means kitchen.
- Si cantik means the pretty
In my language, dapur si cantik doesn’t mean pretty kitchen. But it means….ahh, I’m too shy to say this.

-Abbie-

p.s Should I choose dapur-si-cantik as a topic for my Japanese speech contest?

“Let Your will be done in my life”

Friday, 7 Dec 07, 4.31pm in a secret place

Hi my little diary,

Today is exactly the 5th month of our wedding anniversary. I never believe time flies so fast. I’m turning 27 soon, in 2 months. My mum has already started asking me about something, a common question that mums usually concern after their daughters get married. Yes, I’ve already expected that question long time ago. That issue is indeed another step in life. It’s another big commitment in life. Well, I don’t want to comment too much about this topic here. We are humans, we live with many limitations. If we say A, we would hurt some groups of people. If we say B, we would hurt another group of people. My little diary, actually I created this diary initially to express all my true feeling, but see now, I can’t! I should just listen to someone’s suggestion, which is to write my diary in Microsoft Word, keep it safely in my personal computer, and forever I can hide my secrets, except if I sell my PC and some kaypo nerd guys are able to restore my deleted files. Now I’m stuck here. I should blame all to blogger.com. Why should there be many good features that enable me to design my own page, put my pretty pretty picture, put my favorite cute feminine pink color, put my favorite books, movies, brands, etc? Anyway, now I have a personal invisible unbelievable unforgettable special relationship with my little diary, so I can’t leave you forever and ever till death comes between us. *Hmm sounds familiar, Titanic slogan??*

Anyway, back to topic... What is the topic again? About my 5th month of wedding anniversary? Or about me turning older? Or about ‘that big commitment’? Or about humans with limitations? Or about the kaypo nerd guys?

I don't want to make the topic looks so clear here. Whatever it is, I’ll just follow what God has planned on my life! But now, a little problem is, I don’t know what I should say in my prayer. Well, I'll just say “Let Your will be done in my life”. No regret, just keep going..

-Abbie-

The Price of Perfection

Wednesday, 5 Dec 07, 1.52pm at home

Hoii diary..
Before I go back to office, I just want to share something interesting that I found today. An article says that the reason for being unhappy/sad is sometimes because we're just being too perfectionist!

Do you know why I think this is very interesting finding? It's because it's very encouraging. I found many people (including me, sometimes) complain "life is not fair" or "this problem is too big for me" or "I'm the most depressed person in the world" etc etc. After I read this article, I feel relieved. You know, it's something like a student who gets score 6 for a subject. For some students, they are happy to get 6 because it is enough to get them pass the subject. But, for some top students, 6 is way too low since their expectation is to get 9.

So, when we have problems, when we're depressed, do not blame your fate.. do not blame others.. do not blame yourself too! See the problem thru a mirror, you're unhappy because everything is a really mess or it's just not up to your expectation? If you think that it's because the problem is really a mess, think again, what is your definition of a mess? Do you set your standard too high?

Well, I should not teach you to think this way. I know, some people have high dreams, they don't want to just feel happy, they want to feel fully satisfied. My husband also think so, but I don't. I'm happy just to have a simple life because I'm just an ordinary person. The way you think is of course up to you, the idea is "make sure you're always happy", do not let your perfection disturbs you to get your happiness!

-Abbie-

My House Key Appeared

Wednesday, 5 Dec 07, 1.42pm at home

Hi again diary..
My house key suddenly appeared! Maybe it was just so bored hiding in a dark place while I gave up searching and started to ignore it. I left my Japanese books bag in my office on the day I lost my key. In the next morning, I reached office and saw the card was in the bag! Very weird, I searched the bag, flipped thru the books and the papers so many times the day before, but I never noticed that it was actually in between the papers. Well, when I'm panic, I get clumsy. When I'm not panic, I'm easy to get panic by small thing.

Anyway, the key has appeared (I won't say 'I've found my key'). So, case is officially closed!
See you next time for other case..

-Abbie-

My House Key Disappeared

Tuesday, 4 Dec 07, 9.20am at home

Hi again diary,
I'm so sad again today, no, started yesterday afternoon. My house key disappeared. I don't say that I lost my house key. It just disappeared! I feel that the incident was very strange and unbelievable! You wanna know the story?

My office is just 5mins walk from home so usually I go back home during lunch time. Yesterday afternoon was a normal day, I went back home to have lunch. I had lunch at home, cleaned the house, called my sis in Indo, and went back to office. I locked the door before I left the house. Soon after I reached 1st floor, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to bring my Japanese lesson books (I have a class every Monday night). Then, I went up again. I still had my key with me, I unlocked the door, opened the door, went in, and took my books. It just happened very fast within 30secs. Then, I saw socks and my boots, yesterday was a cold day, they looked very warm. I was tempted to wear them. Then, I sat down on the floor near the door to wear socks and boots. I put my wallet and mobile and probably my key on the floor beside me. After I was done wearing my shoes, I stood up, took my jacket, my books, my wallet, my mobile, a bag of garbage (I wanted to throw it away downstair), and was looking for my house key! *You only have 2 hands, how could you carry so many things on your hands??* My house key has already disappeared! I was just sitting on the 1m x 1m floor with all my belongings around me. I didn't go to anywhere else in the house. It's impossible for me to leave the key outside or hanging on the door because my key is an access card. I checked every possible places, like:
- Outside the door
- Jacket's pockets
- Trousers' pockets
- Inside the wallet
- Inside my mobile
- Under my cupboard near where I was sitting
- Under the carpets near where I was sitting
- Inside my books' bag
- Inside my boots because it happened when I was wearing them
- Inside my socks
- Inside my trousers

It's very weird, but it just happened!
I still can't believe that my house key disappeared..
I still can't believe that my clumsiness is back..

I know that you won't be able to believe that my key disappeared just like that.
I know that you might think I dropped the key somewhere but created this interesting comic story to convince my husband that it was not my fault.
But, too bad, it's true..

Please pardon my clumsiness..

-Abbie-

Eyes or Brain Examination?

Monday, 3 Dec 07, 9.19am at home

Dear my little diary,
Finally, December has come! I love December, I love Xmas, I love holiday! My Japanese class has only 5 classes to go, I never believed that it will be over so soon. I feel that I havent learnt much, many Japanese verbs I don't know, but at least now I can speak Japanese although they don't understand what I talk about, it's their problem, rite? They are the ones who have listening problem, not me!

Yesterday finally I found glasses as a replacement of my spoilt glasses. I think I've told you about buying new glasses months ago, yeah, I found it at last! I've searched almost all big megane (glasses) stores in Tokyo almost every weekend but I hardly found any good one that suits me. Maybe something wrong with my face? Or something wrong with my nose? Nice glasses that I found usually don't have nose pads, well, maybe nice glasses are only meant for nice looking people with sharp nose. I do have sharp nose! It's just too sharp, maybe..

When my eyes were examined yesterday, I had a hard time reading the characters.

ド
ス
パ
Optician: blurblurblurb... (He said, Please read these characters, I guess)
Me: oh oh.. to su pa (oh oh.. to su pa)
Optician: (shake his head and was about to change the lens to higher degree)
Me: Choto matte.. do su pa (wait.. do su pa)
Optician: Ii desu ne. Warui desuka? (Good, is it not clear?)
Me: Iye, kono rensu ga OK! (No, this lens is OK!)

I was scared if he would change the lens again. It happened like this few times. Well, it's not that I couldn't read the characters but I forgot whether it's 'to' or 'do' with the two dots at the top. Was it Eyes Examination or Japanese Test? I only can hope that the optician gave me the correct lens measurement. It will be ready in 10 days, I'll let you know how it is.

Have to go to work now..
See you, diary

-Abbie-