arlanadya

Welcoming The Old Routines Back

Posted on 12 Jan 201612 Jan 2016 by arlanadya

I have been much happier these days. It started when I unintentionally went to the old body language class once Langit slept one day. It was a very sudden decision and the class had started when I was still home. But, the urge to keep going was very strong. So, I did it. It turned out to be one of the best decision of the year so far.

Being successed once made me one to do it more. It felt very very good resuming exercise. After Langit came, I went back exercise on the second month. I stopped at her sixth month since she started eating and it was Ramadhan. Then, it wasn’t possible to do it because the class started at 8 am and that time, I hadn’t done with all those morning rituals from feeding, bathing, and so many things I had to do alone.

Having break from exercise made me miss it a lot. Worse, the body seemed getting bigger and bigger. I didn’t feel comfortable at all wearing anything. For so many times, I felt so ugly, fat, and exhausted. The reason I had a break for six months was because of feeding. I have been whinning how hard and exhausting feeding was but I couldn’t neglect feeding Langit just because exercising. Since I had no one to ask, then, not going is the only option.

After Langit turned one, I promised myself to resume fasting. But again, the most easily broke one is the promise you made yourself. Even after 27 November, I didn’t start and using breastfeeding as an excuse. Until one day when I felt so exhausted about taking care so many stuffs at home while still keep having feeding battle three times a day, it was when something hit me on the head telling me to grab back some of my favorite routines.

I have been doing Monday-Thursday fasting for almost 13 years while I have been exercising at the same place since I was in the second year of junior high. More or less 14 years ago. I didn’t realize having those two being cut from my daily life had a very signigicant effect to my happiness and these days, sanity too.

More, taking care Langit alone with no help around often made me feel even unhappy. Not unhappy about her, but more about the exhaustion from those never ending tasks, while le husband was very often absent.

After having these two routines back, I feel very much recharged. There is something that I am waiting for and I love it. But again, I don’t like losing one when I want to gain one. I don’t feel good to dismiss some of Langit rituals just for the sake of my exercise. So, Instead of diminishing the rituals, I choose to wake up earlier. By doing that, It feels fair for both of us. Langit doesn’t lose any her morning stuffs to do, while I can go exercising happily.

Since there is no special person to attend Langit while I go exercise, I have to compromise with myself. I only can go if she is sleeping. Then, if she isn’t, I should cancel it. When she is sleeping, I can leave her with the house helper without disturbing her work. Alhamdulillah, it’s been working very well for a month. I hope to keep this continue going like this. You know what, feeding feels very much bearable on the days I go exercise. Nice,eh?

It is really true then the one who says the limit is all about what you believe you can do. It is set by your head and strengthen by your heart. If you think you can do it, your head will find any possible ways to make it.

It’s just about either you really want it or you just simply wish for it.

Uncategorized

One(s) That Got ( me run) Away

Posted on 6 Jan 2016 by arlanadya

I have been always want to run away when facing three things although the chances
were quite rare. Whenever these things come, there will be some things which don’t exist beforehand, suddenly appear. Like non-stop coughing, or even worse the asthma. Just appear like that.

Luckily, among those three, I don’t have to face one of them. Oh well, just realize that it is actually two of them. The one that still here, guess I have to continue facing it in the future. So, the two expired ones were piano exam and someone who liked me. Weren’t they laughable? But, I won’t talk about those two here. It’s the third that makes me a bit anxious for few days and so I decide to write to lessen the anxiety.

It’s about going to hospital.

It’s been always got me on my nerves whenever I have to visit hospital. I don’t like its ambience, the scent, and everything. It’s too uncomfortable and somehow depressing. No matter how much some hospitals have changed to be more sophisticated, still I don’t feel any better. I had rare meeting with hospitals in the past. I mean for myself. So, when I knew that I was pregnant, one of the first thing come into my mind was the thought of giving birth by midwives, not a doctor in a hospital. Bien sur, le doctor husband refused. I delayed to visit an obgyn until a month later to be more mentally prepared.

Whenever the time for obgyn appointment came, I had been so restless. Few times hoped that he might have not come so it would be canceled. The fear was at its highest stake when the nurse called my name. Hah, entering the practice room with sweaty hands, pale face, frighten body gestures, maybe the doctor thought I had seen ghost before seeing him. That is why no matter how long we waited to be served by the doctor, we almost never spent more than 10-15 minutes inside. We only asked one big question to him, whether the baby was healthy. If he answered yes,then we didn’t need to ask for more. Off we went, happily.

I thought that I was getting better at dealing with the doctor after went through pregnancy and delivery. But, seemed that I was wrong. It’s been even more and much more nervous whenever I have pediatrician visit. Going to the hospital for Langit is a lot more frightening for me.

The doctor is nice, the hospital feels comfortable, so what else? I am afraid of the weight measurement. I really forgot what is the term for this. Whenever I see that thing, it feels like the examiner who will judge how I have been doing for month. Whether I am doing well or just bad. Really, maybe I am being exaggerating, but it matters to me.

I should have come to the hospital last Tuesday. But, the vaccine Langit should have is still not available. So I thought why should I go there? Again, skipping the appointment feels like breaking the rules for me. I have been feeling guilty. Because I know the main reason why I didn’t come wasn’t because of the vaccine. It’s my cowardice to face the truth if Langit’s weight is not increasing as much as I expect.

Langit has been more to height baby than weight one. The weight were mostly good. She has been on the green curve, but, the weight has been very much stingy. You don’t ask how it felt when the digital scale showed me some numbers that I couldn’t believe it was only that much. After those daily hardworks, battle feedings, messy preparations, was that all this thing could show me? A mere few differences like the previous month.

It turned my mood to the lowest level. Felt like all my energy had been sucked by that thing. It was just like a very bad paid to those works. Until few days after that, my mood was constantly bad.

Well, I have made up my mind to visit the doctor tomorrow. At least, I have noticed my helper to accompany me. Let see what tomorrow brings then. Now I’d better prepare my heart for the worst.

A bientot!

Uncategorized

Heyho, New Year!

Posted on 4 Jan 2016 by arlanadya

Here’s another year to come. Until the fourth day, it’s been not too exciting. The asthma is currently here, Langit has runny nose for several days and le husband is busy being the new chief in residency.

What’s the plan for this year? To be honest, no big grand plan. Just some small plans here and there. Doesn’t we sound too lazy? I am afraid yes:(

That is why the clearest thing we have in short time is having Langit joining a baby class. Combination of busy father and introvert mother like us will make Langit rarely meeting other people. Thus, I need something to push me out of our cave which gives a greater benefit than merely spending money for fun. The class will start on the next April insya Allah.

Le husband starts his chiefing period for the next six months. He’s been busy till he can’t let the phone out of his hand even for a while. This chiefing period will also the highest stage one could be in residency. Somehow, I can’t believe we’re really here.

Me? I’ve been busy daydreaming and watching korean drama. Okay, for the real thing, I’ve been doing some new activity for Langit at home. Toilet training. It’s nothing much yet but at least we’ve started. We skipped potty seat because it didn’t work well. So instead a potty, I use toilet seat directly. It works better. At first, she cried whenever I put her there. But now, she seems understand that she can sit comfortably and have me cleaned her.

Personal plans are not too much. I want losing weight and gaining more money. Sounds uninteresting? No problem. For me, both are not easy. I am weak to the good food which we have a lot here while leaving Langit for more working days still sounds too scary for me. It’s not the leaving time, but more to before and after working. It’s all self-doing.

Then, hope this year brings more blessings and more enjoyable ride. Amin.

Bonne année!

Langit Senja, Maternité

No Medecine (Urgently Needed)

Posted on 28 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

Disclaimer : this one will be very subjective and depends much to one’s preference or experience.

I have been having minimal encountered with any medecines since few years ago. From the common one like paracetamol until the specific one like asthma since I am the one with it.

The decision to stop taking medecine began when I started observing my self. When the asthma came, the more I used the inhaler, the longer it took to completely healed. Inhaler stopped the asthma for a while, But it made me breath even harder not too long after using it. It was getting worse each time I used it.

When I decided to stop, I went with Vicks Vaborup and hot water with honey. A lot of water with honey for days, even weeks. Until it was totally healed. It wasn’t easy, took time, but for me, it was very much a better way. The two last inhalers I bought, just in case, ended up unsealed until its expired time.

When it comes to Langit, I do the same thing. For these thirteen months, Alhamdulillah Langit has not tasted any medecine, even for fever. She has surely been sick once or twice, but, as I do to myself, when it comes to take medecine, the first thing to do is : I’ll wait.

Instead of medecine, I prefer improving her meals and fluid intake. I breastfeed more often, eventhough it means more waking hours at night, I prefer that way than giving her paracetamol, if the fever is not that high, and she seems still fine.

She has been having diarrhea these past three days and it made me worry, hm,a lot. It must have been from something she ate at home. Since she didn’t take any meal outside other than what is given at home, so more or less, it was my mistake.

The very best thing from her that have been helping me a lot is she never rejects any food. Not during teething, fever, even diarrhea. She eats normally. Same frequencies, same amounts. My homework is to choose carefully what to be given.

Other than the meals, there are two things are compulsory during any sickness. First thing that I always do is breastfeeding more often. Or you can say very often. The second after breastfeeding is water intake. I keep offering her drinking bottle eventhough maybe she is not thirsty at all.

For diarrhea, one thing that helped me a lot was banana. I changed all snacks to banana. So far, she had eaten three bananas before the diarrhea stopped coming. Alhamdulillah.

So, does it mean I will never give her any medecine when she is sick? Bien sur, jamais dit jamais. I will give her the medecine or visit the doctor WHEN she refuse to be breastfeed and have no appetite because of the sickness. Oh, when she shows any signs of unactiveness. Three days of having diarrhea, she didn’t stop climbing, jumping, or walking around. This signs gave me more confidence about delaying medecine or went to the doctor.

In the end, what works for me, might not be working for others. Thus, trust your motherly instinct with non-stop worrying so that way you’ll keep searching for answers to give the best treatments for the baby.

One small thing, trust your baby. She will show you the signs to make your best decision.

Favorite things

A Little Happiness

Posted on 28 Dec 201528 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

A package came for me this afternoon. It was a storybook collection from my favorite cartoon characters. The book came all the way from their origin countries.

I have been big fan since many years ago. It was the fifth grade of elementary if I’m not mistaken. A bit forgot how it began, but once it started, I never stop. I have been collecting lots of accesories, eating tools, hanger, notebook, I can’t name it all. It has been very happy everytime I buy something about it.

During my master studies abroad, there were some companions during my leisure time. A hard disk filled with criminal series from le husband, youtubing korean drama and downloading short movies from these cartoom characters. I didn’t felt old enough to watch them for so many times and laughed happily.

I don’t intend to make Langit should love the ganks too. But, she surely will see a lot of things about them at home. When she really likes it too one day, I will be very glad so I have reasons to buy more. Hahaha.

I really love all about these characters. They are warm and funny. I love the neighbourhood where they live. I used to daydream about living in such neighbourhood.

Well, I can’t help writing a special one post just to tell about this thing after receiving the package. Happiness is real when it is shared, isn’t?

So, here it is, I present you, my most favorite constant happiness :

A warm greeting from A hundred-acre wood!

Review

Aston Marina Ancol

Posted on 27 Dec 201529 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

Selalu bingung kalo mau mulai nulis dalam bahasa Indonesia. Oke, ini bukan detail review yang mungkin pada umumnya orang lakukan. Saya cuma mau kasih gambaran dan pendapat saya tentang hotel ini. Untuk gambar boleh liat langsung di webnya Aston Marina. Disini cuma ada ‘kenyataan’ di balik gambar.

Kamar

Kamar yang dipesan dua jenis kamar tipe apartemen. Satu kamar yang isinya dua kamar tidur dan satu kamar satu kamar tidur. Atau mungkin lebih gampangnya satu kaya apartemen studio sedangkan satunya lagi kaya apartemen dua kamar tidur. Tipe apartemen punya keuntungan dengan adanya dapur. Ini jelas untung ketika pergi dengan anak-anak. Apalagi yang masih bayi yang belum bisa bebas makan apa aja.

Kamarnya cukup luas. Area dapur dan kamar tidur ada pembatas tembok. Tempat tidur bisa pilih antara single atau twin bed. Kamar mandi dengan shower, cukup bersih. Buat saya yang agak ‘jijik’an, kalo kemana-mana pasti yang diliat kamar mandi dulu. Waktu buka kamar mandinya agak lega. Setidaknya itu cukup bersih buat saya. Untuk peralatan mandi semua yang standar ada.

Peralatan dapurnya cukup lengkap. Ada dua piring, dua mangkok, dan dua gelas. Sendok, garpu, pisau roti juga ada. Kompornya pakai kompor listrik dua tungku dan juga ada panci stainless steel dua buah. Selain kompor juga ada microwave. Tempat cuci piring juga ada biarpun kecil. Meja makan dua kursi juga ada di dapur. Dapur ini jelas bagian yang paling saya suka.

Hal lain yang ada di kamar ini yaitu ruang tamu kecil di depan dapur. Ada sofa dengan bantal, meja kotak pendek dan satu kursi kecil lainnya. Kamar ini ditulisnya untuk dua orang dewasa. Menurut saya, dua orang dewasa plus satu atau dua anak kecil pun masih oke. Ruang tidurnya luas dan ruang untuk anak bergerak pun cukup.

Interiornya standar dengan beberapa kekurangan sana sini. Seperti lemari di kamar mandi yang ada di bawah wastafel, kayunya udah mengelupas. Tapi, dibanding tempat shower yang jorok, atau wc yang kotor, tempat tidur yang bau apek, lemari kayu ngelupas masih bisa saya tolerir.

Kolam Renang

Ini alesan kedua setelah dapur saya pilih hotel ini. Kolam renang di Aston Marina ini bukan yang luas banget, tapi banyak yang kecil-kecil untuk anak-anak. Ngga ada mainannya atau apa, hanya kolam biasa. Untuk berenang ini, dari awal sebelum pergi saya udah set untuk berenang jam 6. Abis Langit selesai sarapan. Dingin? Ya ngga apa2. Sedikit. Toh ga mau berenang dua jam juga. Saya lebih milih dingin pagi dibanding berenang di kolam yang penuh.

Kenyataannya kita baru mulai masuk air jam 6.30. Tetep masih sepi. Cuma ada kita bertiga sama satu ibu dan anaknya. Kebanyakan yang pegangin Langit papanya. Sedangkan mami sibuk berenang sendiri sambil sesekali liat-liat. Minusnya, kolam renangnya ngga sebersih yang di foto. Makanya saya juga ngga mau lama-lama. Ini pertama kalinya Langit berenang di kolam betulan. Ngga bisa dibilang seneng juga, seringnya nangis, haha.

Sarapan

Sarapan ada di beberapa tempat di lobi. Ini menurut saya ide bagus karena emang tamunya banyak banget. Menu standar aja. Ada buffet nasi putih dan nasi goreng beserta lauk, bubur ayam, roti, aneka jus, dan ada sarapan western. Bagian sarapan western ini yang paling banyak antriannya. Saya ngga ikut karena males. Yg saya makan nasi goreng, bubur ayam sama roti. Baked potatonya enak dan Langit suka. Saran saya, kalo berniat kesini pas musim libur baiknya turun sarapan jam 8.30-9.00. Sebelum itu suasanya serasa di acara kawinan kebanyakan tamu.

Service

Saya cukup suka sama cara pegawai hotel ini nanggepin komplain. Kaya pas kamar yang satu agak lama belom siap juga kita nelpon berkali-kali setidaknya ngga ada nada nyebelin dari resepsionisnya. Nunggu agak lama sebenernya ngga menyenangkan, tapi akan lebih ngga menyenangkan kalo denger nada yang ngga enak karena kita cukup cerewet nanya kapan kamarnya siap. Dan buat saya wajar sih nanya nanya terus. Emang harusnya sudah masuk kamar setelah check-in. Kalo check out oh ngga boleh juga dilambat-lambatin. Housekeepernya juga ramah dan kita cukup ngerti mereka pasti lagi sibuk banget dengan tamu sebanyak itu. Jadi ya uda lah ya. Satu yang agak ngga nyaman adalah soal lift. Karena hotel ini lantainya cukup banyak, nunggu liftnya lamaa banget. Apalagi kalo mau turun. Sekalinya kebuka, eh penuh.

Kesimpulan

Mungkin itu gambarannya. Kalo ada yang tanya, sesuai ngga sama harganya? Well, itu relatif ya. Kalo buat saya pribadi untuk semalem harga sekitar 750-850, di musim liburan, dengan fasilitas kaya di atas, masih bisa diterima. Tapi, kalo untuk ditanya mau balik lagi ngga, musim liburan atau bukan, saya lebih milih nginep di tempat lain.

Okey, semoga kalo ada yang baca ini bisa bantu buat keputusan buat klik ‘pesan sekarang’ atau ‘batal’ di website pemesanan hotel kalo berniat nginep di sini.

Selamat liburan!

Thoughts

(First) Family Trip : Result

Posted on 26 Dec 201526 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

So, how was the most awaited trip going? Hm, it was fine.

Fine? It sounds like a polite translation of not pleasant, below expectation, and other verbs which describe unsatisfaction.

Well, maybe. I will just tell about an overall situation of the trip.

We arrived at the hotel around 5.10 pm. When we entered the lobby, it was a bit full and fortunately le husband’s brother had done all rooms check-in. So off we went to the 12th floor.

The ‘fine’ started right after I opened the door and saw the pretty messy room. It turned out that only our room that had been ready. While the other one was still being cleaned. Since it is holiday, so the cleaning took longer than usual.

I used to do staycation with my family and one of the excitement moment for me was when we saw the room for the first time. The nice scent, the clean bathroom, and my favorite was the tidy bed.

But, what I saw when we entered the room was messy kitchen, bags everywhere, food opened here and there, and the one that made me want to cry was the messy bed with the people lying there. Totally heart-breaking. Really.

Although it’s not just other people, but still, it was dissapointing. My mood had turned directly to the lowest level seeing the bed being that messy. Exaggerating? Whatever.

Thankfully, after maghrib the other room was ready. After it was clear, I did some cleaning to make it a bit closer to the room I was expecting. But still, it was heart-breaking everytime I saw the messy bed. (Bed again? Yeah, bed again and again).

Langit was pretty happy about having a large bed where she can rolled here and there. Also, the spacious room allowed her to walk and fall all the time. Seeing her happily laugh and play cured the bed mood a bit. Bed mood, you read it right.

As I expected, the first time she slept out wouldn’t be too smooth. She woke up several times at night and I kept breastfeeding. She woke up often until 4 am then instead of sleeping longer, she just totally woke up. Another ‘fine’ for me since no sleep extension after subuh.

Breakfast was also fine. Nothing was extraordinary. Having staycation during holiday season should make you expect at the very least the kids crowded. The fact I have one too, this one seemed truly fine.

Well, i think that is all for my ‘fine’ first family trip. For the next ones I think I prefer having the trip with only three of us. Gonna write about the place where we stayed later.

Greeting from my tired body after unpacking. Happy holiday!

Maternité, Past learning, Thoughts

Flash Back Parenting

Posted on 21 Dec 201522 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

Have you ever heard that term?

Nope?

Of course, I haven’t too. Until few minutes before started writing this post. The term just suddenly popped out in my mind. Nothing about new theory, just the term I think suits me best.

I read and heard many kind of parenting concepts these days. Helicopter, simple, reflective, authorative, and so on. All have its own theory. In spite of any terms, I believe every parents can’t be categorized in only one term. I believe each parents are a little bit of this and that. But, it’s likely that they are more into one category than the other ones. Of course, I am one too.

When I reflect along this one year parent Langit, what I have been doing most is flashing back. The way I parent Langit, most decisions made, many of them were according my flash back thinking. Since I can’t ask my role model personally, that’s the best thing I can do. I keep flashing back my mother’s words, actions, values, even the smallest things that she unintentionally did, but taught me lessons as well.

So, that explains lot now why I can’t help writing any posts without my mum being mentioned. Although my relationship with her hadn’t always been good and smooth, but I have been so grateful. Even more grateful because I had the honor to be the one whom she spent her very last days with. Even even more, spent it at the best place on earth. My last hug with her was during thawaf wada’ in front of Ka’bah.

Apart from my mother’s influence, other person whose the influence had some impacts too was my grandmother. My mum’s mother. She was the kindest person for me. She had lovely scent and I loved kissing her a lot. I loved and adored the way she did her prayers. I remembered clearly how I enjoyed doing five times prayer with her. The way she recited the do’a was very calming. The most remarkable trait I remembered about her was cleanliness. Other than kind, she was very very very clean. Oh, and tidy! Her bed, cupboard, every inch in her house was the cleanest.

The origin of my rule about no playing in the bed was from her. Langit is only being on the bed when she is sleeping. Other than that, she should play outside. Actually, le husband is also prohibited. But, yah, it’s negotiable with him.

My grandmother was very good at cooking and … playing cards. Haha! We had this routine family vacation to Cipanas where there was a villa owned by my dad’s workplace. For three days of staying there, what we continously did was playing cards. We only had a break for lunch and pray. Other than that everyone was sitting on the carpet holding cards and bragging the joker they had. And my grandmother was the one who was really eager of playing. All the time. Hahaha. Neskii, I.miss you so much:(

My grandma went in the same year as my mum did. In the same day, same date, by eight months difference. While my mum left on Friday, Nov 30, my grandma went on Friday, March 30. It was one of my biggest regret that I didn’t attend her funeral. I was still in UPM at that time. I was about going home in few days at that time. Received that news, I came home early. On the night before she went, I remembered I couldn’t sleep at all. I was very nervous, anxious, and felt so uneasy all night. I have been always like that when something unpleasant was about going to happen. That time, the answer came at 5 am. When my phone rang and my mom’s name appeared on the monitor, I already knew that it would be the worst news she was going to deliver. I even cried before my mum said anything. As if I knew my grandma had gone already.

It was a non stop crying day for me. I cried all day. I went home the next day and still couldn’t stop crying. Even crying more when I landed and le husband picked me up at the airport then sent me to my grandma’s house. It was crying all the way. Knew that I was no longer able to see her and even didn’t have a chance to say goodbye properly was heart-breaking.

Then, maybe this post should be called Flash back parent and grandparent-ing.

Today is happened to be December 22. It’s a mother day in Indonesia. So, this one suits that well. Happy mother’s day to both greatest mothers in my life. I love you both so much. One of my biggest desire is hoping that I am able to be at least as good as both of you, as a person and a mother as well.

Ah, of course, Happy mother’s day too, dear me. (Keep trying hard to) be a great one too!

I will.

Favorite things, Maternité

Family Trip : Introductions

Posted on 20 Dec 201521 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

There’s always the first time for everything. In few days insya Allah, we’re having our first family trip together. Yes, after a year since Langit came, we finally will go somewhere. Where to?

Abroad? No.

Out of town? No.

Oh!then Puncak or Bogor? Still no:)

We’re having staycation in Jakarta. Just for one night only,hehehe.

Since le husband is fully booked during holiday and all weekends, one night is already good enough. Even with that, we’ll be going after he finished his shift and the day after we go home, he will have another shift. No complaints, though. Hm, actually,the complaints had been done already.

The hotel we choose to stay has to be the one with kids pool. The very first purpose of this staycation is to try Langit’s new swimsuit. She has never been near to swimming pool anymore after a nightmare in one of the famous baby spa near home. Having such a lazy mommy like me just make another reason why she hasn’t been swimming since then.

This also will be Langit’s first night out. She has never been sleeping out of her crib before. Even in my bed. It’s not that I don’t allow her, but she really can’t sleep well unless it’s on her crib. So, this one is also another trial.

Other than Langit herself, this trip will be my first too with a little kid. So, I am having a higher level of fussiness than the usual. No matter what people said, told me to be more flexible since it’s holiday and I should enjoy it, I still won’t go easy with this.

I couldn’t be relax if I don’t prepare well. Or too well. Having experience a lot of family vacations with my family in the past, I learned how my mum prepared everything in details.

Well, sorry if this one sounds boring, but I guess I can’t talk about anything without having my mom mentioned.

We, my family, have this one habit that some people think this is a bit weird : having breakfast before subuh. So we’re just like doing sahur everyday. Before subuh prayer, we have warmed our tummy with a glass of tea or coffee and a piece of bread, or slice of cake, or one piece of fried banana, just anything.

We brought this one daily habit also when we traveled. Although we mostly stayed in a hotel with breakfast included, we also brought our own sachet drinks like instant coffee, chocolate drink, or teh tarik and a loaf of bread or any kind of cake.

Other than that, basic cutlery were also joined us. We brought five tupperware plates, five plastic glasses, and several spoons. Why? When we traveled too long, we couldn’t keep eating outside. After several day, we would surrender and choose to eat rice and abon instead. Of course, Abon was another compulsory thing to be brought.

As the cutlery was going on holiday too, we also brought a wash dishes soap, the brush, and the napkin to dry the dishes. Sounds rempong enough? Wait, you haven’t heard the most important one.

It’s travel cooker. The most must-have item during traveling. Our old travel cooker has been traveling to many places, domestic and abroad. Much more than my self do. It has been to England, France, Austria, Hongkong, Malaysia, Singapore, and its very last trip was Saudi Arabia during Hajj 2013.

We used this to cook rice or noodles, boiling egg or water, or heating any fluid we want to eat. I survived my master abroad by using this everyday to cook rice. If you travel often, you should consider to buy one.

Then, what about now? Again, my most prepared area is about Langit’s meal. I plan to bring her own food. Since we’ll stay at a apartment hotel room which has kitchen inside, I don’t think travel cooker is needed this time. But, let’s see later.

I’ve been preparing Langit’s stuff and mine eventhough it’s still few days to go. My brain has never been stop thinking about anything. Vacation preparations are surely one of the most exciting part of holiday.

So, that’s my long introduction about family trip. Hopefully, this most awaited trip will go smoothly. Amiiin!

See you on the next updates!

Thoughts

Relationship Skill

Posted on 16 Dec 201516 Dec 2015 by arlanadya

The famous Multiples Intelligences Theory by Howard Gardner stated that everyone has intelligences in different areas. Now, it has already been up to nine items consist of verbal-linguistic, mathematical logical, visual-spacial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, musical, naturalistic, and spiritual.
When I read about this theory at the first time, I directly knew my strongest one was Intrapersonal. While my weakest one was the other side, Interpersonal.

I’ve never been really good at socializing. Yet I still manage having several social medias. But, all of those things don’t require me to have direct interactions. Not face to face. It makes me uncomfortable being with unfamiliar people.

When it comes to relationship, I found it’s been hard. Even until now. I was so easy to feel uneasy when knowing someone was approaching. It was even more and more uncomfortable when they were taking real actions. Bah. The only thing I felt most comfortable was having one-sided crush where I only had to deal with my own feeling. Sad but true.

When it comes to marriage, it feels even harder. I found several (or maybe many) times that it sucked to let your feeling depended on other’s action. You couldn’t help expecting more from someone you’re married to. From those tiny unimportant things until the crucial ones. Then maybe that what makes some marriages fail.
We tend to be dissapointed by the person we care about much. The more you care then the more you’ll be dissapointed.

After three years of marriage, other than being in love with someone you’re married to, there’s another skill that one requires to master : managing expectations. I am still pretty far from good about that. I am still the one who brags more about what I have been done and what the other side hasn’t been done. The one who tends to forget the good things from the other, yet seem remember too well about herself.

Currently feel a bit tired of several things and also missing few things from the old days. When two people unites, it supposes they will have more, won’t they? I don’t know why I (currently) feel losing more.

Thus, I (currently) really try hard to get those things that make me happy back. The routine morning exercise, the sunnah fasting, a proper time to enjoy myself. That’s the only thing I can do since yah, the best thing you can rely on is yourself.

Taking care people can be so exhausting. Especially for a selfish person like me. Even more, when it is very least appreciated. Yes, I do expect appreciation. I am not that kind and generous. Sorry.

Maybe I am just the ungrateful, the hard to please, not sincere, and other not nice things to name. But really, nice has never been my middle name. I find it’s harder pretend to be nice. I am allowing my self to be judged unpleasantly since like this blog tagline said :

You know my stories. Not what I have been going through.

Sigh. Such a harsh post in this gloomy day. Then, have a gloomier day, dear you!