You-er Than You

Happy Birthday To You by Dr. Seuss

If we didn't have birthday, you wouldn't be you
If you'd never been born, well then what would you do?
if you'd never been born, well then what would you be?
You might be a fish! Or a toad in a tree!
You might be a doorknob! Or three baked potatoes!
You might be a bag full of hard green tomatoes.
Or worst than all that. Why, you might be a wasn't!
A wasn't has no fun at all. No, he doesn't.
A wasn't just isn't. He just isn't present.
But you...you are you! And, now isn't that pleasant!
Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
Shout loud,"I am lucky to be what I am!
Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam! 
I am what I am
That's  a great thing to be! 
I say so myself, happy birthday to me

Second Wind

What is it about a new running route that makes me forget about time and distance? An underpass with mosaic art, stretches of coastline, warm weather, extremely wide sidewalk, a promenade with white tents like structure filled with little shops, a clean public bathroom, a man fishing right on the boardwalk, a couple sat on the bench waiting for the sunset, boardwalk lined with psyllium plants that high five me, friendly passersby who whistled or yelled encouraging words, fellow runners who nod or smiled my way, bright sparkles from the city skyline, starless sky, gush of wind that kissed my face. All the kilometers just passed by so quickly. Or maybe the fact that I ran next to someone I'm in love with that made all the difference. Either way it really got my adrenalin going!

E-Drawing

I was cleaning and sorting some files in folders that fit into a category of "I hardly look at these but I have to keep them anyway" when I found this artwork I did years back from a photograph of my nieces. Completely forgot how I once was hooked on digital drawing. But turning a photograph into digital drawing was a tedious process that requires tons of patience and loads of layers in Photoshop. No wonder it only last for a while. I'm such an impatient person. But it's good to know that once upon a time I was a patient person. Even if it only lasted for a while. I'm hopeful.

Dr. Seuss

My favorite doctor in the whole world. He heals my inner child with his rhyming words. He takes me to a whimsical world full of giggling and dancing lines. He keeps me young at heart. Some of the best advice in life comes from his books: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better. It's not." The Lorax. "A person's a person, no matter how small." Horton Hears A Who. "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." I Can Read With My Eyes Shut. Happy belated birthday Dr. Seuss! Heaven rejoice!

A page from The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss

The Waiting Game

The only time I love waiting is when I'm presented with opportunity to flex my drawing skill. Otherwise I would probably be restless and busy taking a lot of deep breath to calm myself down. I hate waiting. That's why a sketchbook and a black pen are always in my bag. Just in case. I was waiting for my prints in a print shop when I noticed a lady with a teenager sharing a seat to talk to the print guy. Right behind them was rows of plush chairs where I sat. Maybe they were printing the teenager's project. But she just sat there quietly, fidgeting with her jacket while the lady did all the talking.

Catch Of The Day #15

Doodles & Photograph by Dena

Road Runner

Once in a while I venture out of the comfort of my neighborhood looking for a new running path. This week I ran dangerously against a Sunday morning traffic in Jakarta, the capital city of traffic and pollution. I envy those who live in a city with spacious pedestrian walk lined with trees. Jakarta's motorists have no respect whatsoever to pedestrians let alone a runner who run against the traffic. I had to maneuver my strides along the uneven walkway or road and watched the incoming traffic at all times. Not all intersections have zebra cross and motorists run through traffic lights like there's no tomorrow. I had to make eye contact with motorists and put my hand up to make sure they know I was about to cross a street. Running on the streets of Jakarta gives such adrenalin rush. I love it! My mind had no time to tell my legs to quit. Before I knew it I reached my 16k goal. 

The Apple Of My Eye

I was in a taxi enjoying the fact that I didn't have to drive in a heavy traffic when I caught a glimpse of a man on an old bike. I thought I was hallucinating because he looked so out of place. There he was biking against the city traffic, pedaling slowly, carrying some fresh greens, heading towards God knows where. What a sight for sore eyes.

Midnite Blues

Fifty eight minutes past twelve. Felt like jumping up and down on my bed or a trampoline. Wish I could jump into a pool or into the blue sea. It was definitely a Gene Kelly's I'm-Singing-In-The-Rain moment. I love you so much!

The Giving Tree

This week in computer lab I helped my little brothers and sisters in KDM making blank notebooks and paper dolls. When I was told that these items are going to be sold in an exhibition at the end of March I thought they are doing a fundraising for themselves. It turned out that they are doing this to support a foundation for handicapped children. What a lesson in giving. I'm blessed to have plenty but I mostly give what I don't need; small change, secondhand clothing item, toys or books. KDM children don't have much but they give all they have. :'-)

Lego

I was doing my grocery when I spotted these notebooks shape like a Lego block. Love them! Lego was one of my favorite toy when I was small. I love Lego but today's Lego leave little to your imagination. Their pieces are more complicated and detailed. All you need to do is to put together the pieces and voila...you have everything from famous building to star ship. Lego used to be just  simple building blocks in different sizes. That was the beauty of it. You could build whatever comes to mind but you had to figure out how to build it from the blocks available. Imagination was required.

Precious

A Father and a daughter spending a lazy & quiet Sunday morning playing Mermaid Barbie in an indoor swimming pool. He made a woosh woosh sound while he made the doll go in and out of the water. I don't need to understand Japanese to know that he was telling his daughter a story. You should have seen how her face just beaming with delight!

Back To Basic

They say running is 40% physical and 60% mental. So far I spend 100% on physical and 0% on mental. After a week break of running, I was struggling to get back on track. Too much worrying about pace, stride and weekly mileage. Too much reading Runner's World. "Forget running techniques. Just run!" Best running advice ever! A new ritual to practice at night before a run; Picture myself running through the break of a day. Breath in. Recite quietly reasons why I fell in love with running in the first place. Breath out. 

First Impression

I only met him twice. Yesterday I learned that he passed away. I barely knew him yet I was overcome with grief.  From the brief hours I was with him I could tell he was a good person who left eternal footprint in his friends' heart. He was loved by his friends.

Love Doodle by Dena

Kue Putu

I was just thinking about my Dad and was reading condolences messages from friends and family on my Facebook wall when I heard a soft steady whistling from the street. I knew that sound! It was a man selling this traditional delicacy called kue putu made from rice and coconut sugar. The sound came from a steamer in his wooden cart. It was my Dad's favorite snack. What a nice surprise to find out that my Dad was his regular customer. The putu man and I chatted briefly about my Dad. The sweetness of melted coconut sugar and the warmth of the steamed rice cakes satisfied my thirst of missing my Dad. Someone is definitely watching over me.

It's Delovely!

Hellooooooo March! Hug hug kiss kiss. It's really nice to see you again! You would not believe how much I miss you. You and I are going to have so much fun. It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious, it's delovely to be with you again!