Just a Light Early January Chit Chat

Happy that I attended Church on the first day in January 2010. That will not automatically 'save' me, but as a believer, it recharges my faith, somehow.
I haven't had many things worth noticing at this very young 2010, most stuffs are still just the leftovers from 2009.

Talking about the leftover things, I forgot to write it down on my blog my favourite films throughout 2009. So here they are, the top three, starts from the most liked by me:

1. The Ugly Truth
I had started laughing at the beginning of this film. Very funny, and Gerard Butler is the sexiest man alive!I'm probably a bit biased, but the dance scene really possessed me and I even dreamed about it, but not with GB :-P This is a very light movie, you don't need to think at all cause there will be no time to think, you will not be able to restrain yourself to laugh.

2. This Is It
it changed my perception of the late Michael Jackson. He was indeed very passionate about the things that he loved, but I didn't know that he was that shy, and he was very humble too. I somehow believe that he was misunderstood by some people, but people who dislike him I'm sure also admit it that MJ was and is a great dancer and a genius in music and entertainment world. Glad that the producer of his last concert filmed the rehearsal sessions.

3. Avatar
A must see in 3D. Very cute story with great and cutting edge visual effects.

I must stop now, sleepy already, and oh, my best friend Leet will undergo a surgery tomorrow, please wish her a best luck and pray for her too.

Happy 2010 friends, may God gives us more power, more success and best luck. xoxo.

Many Tastes of Christmas

I thank Jesus for today. Never before I appreciated Christmas Eve as today, because last year in these days we were almost in total eclipse which was due to my Mom's health problem that made her has to be hospitalised. This afternoon when my family and I gathered at my parents' dining room to have little celebration of  Christmas Eve together, I couldn't stop thinking about last year when the situation was different 360 degree. I couldn't stop to think about people who are not as lucky as us today, to those who have their loved ones in weak condition suffering from sickness, even terminal illness and to those who have to deal with the death of their loved ones.

People always relate Christmas with joy and happiness, that's why they put "Merry" in front of Christmas. When Jesus was born, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were having tough time.

Let's all of us this Christmas also remembering and praying for those who are in state of illness and sadness, may Jesus comfort them. Amin.

I thank Jesus, my Lord, my God, my Comforter and my Savior. Merry Christmas everyone, remember that Jesus always be with us in any circumstances, we are never alone. xoxo.

Un biglietto per mia mamma

I made this card as a requirement for Fika's "MINI JUICY CONTEST". The contest theme is about making a card or a scrapbook for someone very special and with some bit story why the person is special.
By default parents are normally always special someones to their children, my Dad is also a special someone for me, but my Mom needs some encouragement because she really had some troubling moments since October last year that made her have to be in and out some hospitals, and from January til early May she almost spent the whole months lay in the hospital bed.

Glad that she made it through, but during that period of time I came to realise how much I missed her and how much it stressed me to see her in that painful situation. Painful as literally being cut without anaesthetic, this was because Mom is very sensitive to anaesthetic agent. Previously in January, she almost lost her life after her bad-toe amputation operation, the operation went well, but after she was back in her room for just about 30 minutes, she started to pant and gasp like she could no longer have power to inhale. She even told us that she couldn't make it anymore, there was only me, my auntie -my Mom's elder sister and my uncle-my Mom's younger brother in the room, all the other have gone home. My auntie and uncle then tried to calm her  and to keep her conscious while I nervously ran for help since the bell wouldn't get the nurses' attention as fast as we want and because the nurse station was just in front of my Mom's room. So in that one day she came out from the operation and landed at the ICU. It was because of that later when she needed another surgery for her sole of foot in March, the doctor that operated her seemed reluctant to do it, it seemed that Mom would be in big risk for that 'small' operation because of Mom's susceptibility to anaesthetic. The chief doctor of the team who's also my Mom's Internist Endocrinologist then took over the operation procedure by himself but without anaesthetic. I don't want to tell the horror here cause it's not nice at all, but just imagine the pain  every time some muscles being cut.

I'm just happy Jesus gave Mom strength  and power during that time, and that her healing process goes so well. I thank also to my friends who prayed for her health, especially to Michele who lit a candle at Church for her cure. I'm happy with this contest too.

Still Mango

The Häagen-Dazs Ice Cake that I ordered for my Pa's birthday was great, much better, fresher and prettier than Bakerzin's Mango Mousse Cake. The whole family were enjoying it.

Last Saturday I was a bit hopeless that I couldn't find a nice substitute for Mango Mousse cake from Bakerzin. My family and I always ordered that same cake for many occasions. The only alternative that I could think was Häagen-Dazs.

Then some friends suggested me Secret Recipe. One friend said Secret Recipe makes fresh cake and he even told me that it also has Mango cake though it's not a mousse cake one. Most of those friends were complimenting Secret Recipe cheese cakes, and I don't really fancy cheesecake. However I still went there with my friends to check how the Mango cake really looks like and to see its other cakes.
I was not satisfied with what I saw. This was not because the cakes were not scrumptious but because they just didn't look scrumptious enough to my eyes
Their prices are very reasonable compared to those at Bakerzin though.

Since I didn't want to take a risk, we then went to another Shopping Mall to find Häagen-Dazs. Unfortunately –which is good because that means it's fresh- all the cakes there can only be ordered 4 days in advance. I was almost regretting myself for not preparing it much earlier, until the waiter told me about the ice-cake type that can be ordered 2 days in advance and the price is reasonable since Häagen-Dazs has been known worldwide for its super premium ice-cream quality. So it I ordered -I forgot the name!!- the ice-cake which is actually 1.5 kg ice cream in a cake form and it's made of strawberry ice cream and our favourite Mango.
The best thing is they even provide a free delivery service for that, I think it's because my place is not very far from there.

There is a bit turn-off though, I found out later from its website that for my purchase I would actually be entitled for four stamps, and with ten stamps collected within a five-months period I would be able to get Häagen-Dazs Super Premium Club (SPC) Membership.

Oh well, nothing is perfect.

So Much for Your Promises

Seems I have to start to find another cake shop now after some disappointing fact with Bakerzin service at Plaza Senayan.

I ordered a Mango Mousse cake for my Mom's birthday, but I asked them to make it less sweet. The head of the staff (I supposed that because she's not in uniform) told me that they might try to make it if there's no stock available. Her reply confused me. I thought since the cake was pre-order 24-hours in advance, it should be fresh then.

She said that they stock cakes every 2 days, so they would try to fulfill my request if it's possible. She continued telling that the cake would still be fresh even if it's 2 days old since they put them in a frigde. I still didn't like the idea, because for me logically any cake that is garnished with fresh fruits on its top should always use fresh fruits only. Besides the cake uses some easily spoiled fruit like star fruit, and of course mango.

I told her the reason why I wanted it to be less sweet is because my parents have diabetic –which is true, although mild diabetic- and to be honest, other than that reason –now that I heard that 2 days-old cake fact- I just wanted a fresh cake with fresh fruits.

She quibbled that I better ordered the cakes made especially for the diabetic people, pointing three choices of diabetic cakes. Oh, and so she they could clear off their stock cake? But of course I didn't say that, instead I told her that mango cake was the only cake that we wanted from there, and it's true, we always have had mango cake for most any celebration at home.

I couldn't get her guarantee on the cake freshness, but since I needed it for the next day and I couldn't remember any other cake shop at that moment, so I carried on it.
I only asked them not to put the cake on the display –which they usually do- and this time they didn't argue me but the first response from that manager was funny. She said “oh of course, you don't want your Mom to see it when she picks it up.” Before I was out of my amazement hearing what her just saying, she seemed finally aware of her own weird statement.

The actual reason why I don't want them to put the cake on display before the picking time because once I spotted a flying insect on the display. I already told the waiters there once or twice about my experience since they tried to debate me when I asked them to put my cake in the fridge before I picked it up. It's not a fly, but still this is not a cheap cake shop as it pronounces on its website: It wasn't long before we became well known for our exquisite desserts. By 2000 it became obvious that the time was right to cater to the more upmarket palate.

Of course who said money can buy cleanness? :-P

Actually this also proves my suspicion about the cake and the fruit decorations freshness there because last June this year I also pre-ordered one mango cake and coincidentally my brother bought the same kind of cake from the same place and we picked it up at the same day and they were for the same event. I don't remember which one, but one of the cakes had a fresh mango and strawberries while the other one didn't look so fresh.

So much for your promises. Disappointing.

Future Generation

Here are my cute niece, Lulu, 2,5 years and my gorgeous nephew, Rabin, 6 months.
They look alike, though they have different parents. Their fathers are my elder brothers.
Here are the clues:
Rabin's pics are only two, "save our forest" and "pace"
A pic of Lulu when she's 6 months "Save Mother Earth."
Then the rest are Lulu's.


Picture display by PictureTrail