Maybe if it’s not because of Effi’s best friend, Novi has a wedding day, I would never think that I want to go to Jakarta, spend few days there for a vacation. The weeding was fine and I had a lot of fun meeting people and also got opportunity to go to Sea World and going to malls at Jakarta which is so entertaining. Believe it or not I like going to the malls.

Well, trying new restaurants and window shopping at the malls are fun things to do.
But there is more inspiring thing for me as an internet marketer than just going to the mall; meeting with my fellows IM-ers.

Hanya dengan bertemu dan Danny Baskara, yang sempat menghebohkan gathering JISPortal dengan sharingnya dan Ali Topan (ini nama asli, bukan nick name ya, jangan protes) saja, saya merasa mendapatkan banyak ilmu baru. Sekarang jadi tahu apa yang namanya JV, dan system ‘hajar bleh’ yang bisa menghasilkan earning adsense sampai 5 digit per bulan. Wow!

Selain itu saya juga sempat bertemu dengan teman ‘satu sekolah’ saya (baca: sekolah onlie) yaitu Ary dan Bob serta Rhema, the sweet little girl. Since I knew them, this family have been a blessing for me.

Sebenarnya ada satu orang lagi yang saya rencanakan untuk bertemu pada saat kami ke Jakarta, yaitu Adryan Fitra, yang sempat menghebohkan dengan tekniknya menghasilkan 1000 dolar per hari. Wow! Strategi ini pernah dibagikan dalam acara gathering di komunitas kami dan ternyata amat sangat masuk akal dan bisa dicapai. Tapi sayangnya master yang satu ini ternyata lagi jalan-jalan di Singapur, jadi kami nggak jadi ketemu Well, ok deh nggak apa apa, next time gantian dia yang ke Surabaya. Hehehe…

Intinya ‘liburan’ saya di Jakarta sungguh sangat menyenangkan. Kapan ya bisa jalan-jalan ke sana lagi. Hehehe… I’m really looking forward to it.

Hello everybody, if you see the title of this post “Hello World!”, it doesn’t mean that this is the first post of this blog like the common WordPress blog. This is me Kenzo, saying hello to you all. Well, at least that was my parents did for me. My full name is Kenzo Gratia, and this is my story.

Tgl 24 Maret 2009 adalah hari pertama Kenzo melihat dunia. Bagaimana tidak? Mungkin beda dengan kebanyakan bayi yang lain, sejak hari pertama Kenzo lahir matanya sudah melek. Setelah penantian selama satu hari di rumah sakit, dari tanggal 23 Maret jam 11 siang akhirnya besoknya lahirlah Kenzo pada jam 4.45 dini hari.

Sejak sebelum Kenzo lahir, kami sudah bertekad untuk memberikan full ASI untuknya karena kami percaya bahwa ASI adalah makanan terbaik untuk bayi, tanpa ditambah dengan yang lain. Banyak artikel dari berbagai sumber yang menyatakan kebenarannya, tapi anehnya banyak orang yang tidak melakukannya dan bahkan rumah sakit bersalinpun kurang mendukung atau kurang memperhatikan hal ini.

Sesuai pesan saya yang berulang-ulang kepada perawat rumahsakit, maka beberapa saat setelah Kenzo lahir, dia langsung dibawa ke mamanya untuk disusui untuk pertama kali. Memang pada saat pertama kali, ASI belum keluar. Namun Kenzo mau menghisap susu mamanya. Beberapa kali saya ditanya: “Lho nanti bagaimana kalau ASI nggak keluar? Apakah tetap tidak diberi makan?” Berdasarkan apa yang saya yakini saya tetap menjawab dengan pasti. “Biarkan saja, tetap saja no formula dan berikan only ASI.” Untuk ini saya harus menandatangani ‘Surat Penolakan’ dari rumahsakit yang menyatakan menolak susu formula. Hehehe…

Pada hari pertama itu juga saya diberitahu oleh suster rumahsakit bahwa pada saat lahir, air ketuban Kenzo berwarna hijau. Ini menandakan bahwa pada saat di dalam kandungan, bayi ini sudah buang air, sehingga kotorannya bercampur dengan air ketuban. Kondisi ini bisa membuat bayi terkena infeksi dan sesuai prosedur, bayi akan di test dengan cara di-injeksi dengan antibiotik, Injeksi akan dilakukan melalui pergelangan tangan. Begitu kata rumahsakit.

Mendengar hal itu, saya langsung melarangnya meskipun banyak yang berkata, “Lho bagaimana nanti kalau infeksi?” Meskipun saya sedih, namun saya tetap yakin tidak mau memasukkan antibiotik ke dalam tubuh Kenzo. Hal yang saya lakukan adalah hanya berdoa. Untuk ini sekali lagi pihak rumahsakit menambahkan item yang saya tolak dalam surat penolakan saya. Seloah-olah berkata, “Kalau terjadi apa-apa kami nggak nanggung lho ya!”

Tiba saatnya kedua kali dan ketiga kali menyusu, ASI tetap tidak keluar. Setiap kali Kenzo nangis, perawat selalu memanggil Effi untuk menyusui. Saat itu kami tetap pada pendirian untuk tidak memberikan selain ASI, karena bayi yang baru lahir dapat bertahan hidup berhari-hari karena sudah ada persediaan makanan yang didapatkannya sejak dari dalam kandungan.

Tuhan menolong dangan mengirimkan teman saya Dorris. Dorris adalah teman kami yang juga sedang punya bayi. Dia memberikan bantuan pada saat kami di rumahsakit, baik dengan memberikan dukungan, doa, mengajari Effi menyusui dan juga memberikan ASI-nya untuk Kenzo. Ya, setidaknya itulah yang saya tahu bila ASI dari sang mama tidak keluar, pilihan berikutnya adalah ASI dari orang lain.

“Thanks Dorris, you were really a great help for us. And you still are. I believe your ASI was a special blessing for Kenzo.” Dorris and Tim Eckert with their three children TJ, Arianna and Ezperanza Grace give us support as friends more than we ever expected.

Ada seorang ibu yang menunggu anaknya menjalani operasi kiret yang menjadi teman sekamar kami. Walaupun berduka kehilangan cucunya, dia sangat baik dan membantu Effi dalam berbagai hal setelah persalinan. Karena ini merupakan pengalaman pertama bagi Effi, pertolongan dan nasehat ibu ini sangat berguna bagi kami. Saya berpikir bahwa ini adalah salah satu bentuk pertolongan Tuhan bagi kami (good friend at hispital).

Foto-foto (klik untuk melihat)

PERINGANTAN

Foto nomor 7 dan 8 mengandung pemandangan berdarah saat kelahiran. Bagi yang tidak tahan tidak dianjurkan untuk melihat.

1. Saat menegangkan menjelang kelahiran Kenzo
2. Kenzo lahir dengan sehat
3. First brastfeding
4. Good friend at hospital
5. Kenzo diantara bayi-bayi yang lain
6. Beberapa saat setelah lahir
7. Daddy memotong tali pusar Kenzo (WARNING !)
8. Teriakan pertama Kenzo (WARNING !)

Begitulah hari hari pertama Kenzo di rumahsakit. Kenzo lahir dangan berat badan 3,25kg dangan panjang 50cm. His birth is full of miracle, and I believe that God will continue His miracle happen on little Kenzo.

Me and my wife Effi, we both like Pizza so much. We often celebrate our moments together at Pizza Hut. Like what we did on my birthday, we had a good time together there. As you see in this picture, my wife Effi is pregnant, and the delivery is gonna be soon! It has been 9 months.

I have been here for many times and mostly in a crowd with friends. There is something different between going with friends and going with my wife. It’s the menu that we have. Instead of ordering typical menu like Super Supreme or American Lover like we usually had when we were with friends, Effi and me like to try something new. Believe it? Look at what we had at photos below. Makan yuuk…

Ini garlic bread dengan udang dan mayo.

Yang ini namanya baked italian sausages fusilli. Gurih nikmat saus carbonara meleleh pada lembutnya sosis sapi Italia. Hm.. looks good.

Karena kita di restoran Pizza, ya pesan pizza juga lah. Akhirnya kami memutuskan pesan pizza jenis baru, namanya fishchips dengan memilih pinggirannya cheesy bites. Terus terang ini pertama kali saya pesan yang seperti ini.

If you see all the pictures above, you might agree with me that all that foods are delicious, but for me the important thing is not the food or the restaurant. It’s being with you, Effi.

Liana’s Kitchen and Bakery – Royal Plaza Surabaya.
Get free steak by only pay for the drink at Liana’s Kitchen and Bakery, every Friday. Until July 4th 2008.

So, what happen next is exactly the same with what you are thinking. We plan to go every Thursday and Friday to take part of those events. You know, a bunch of hungry people with ‘Kiasu’ mindset. Hahaha…

Unfortunately the info was given to me on week-3 so I aready missed 2 Thursdays at Daun Lada and 2 Fridays at Liana’s Kitchen I think.

Daun Lada

Daun Lada adalah restoran seafood. Dengan membawa kartu kredit platinum, kita boleh membawa maksimal 6 orang untuk makan gratis. Bayar dengan ‘sukarela’, alias boleh gesek kartu kredit dengan nominal berapapun.

Meskipun tidak sepenuhnya gratis (bayar suka-suka), menurut saya makan dengan menu : ikan bakar, udang balado, sayur plecing kangkung, cumi-cumi, bihun, ayam goreng plus nasi putih dan minum teh/es teh manis boleh nambah sepuasnya, dengan menggesek kartu kredit seharga Rp.5000,- makan berlima ya… cukup murah lah.

Wajar bila dari minggu pertama sampai sekarang (menjelang minggu ke 5), dengan semakin banyaknya orang yang tahu maka antrian yang terjadi setiap hari Kamis semakin banyak. Bukan itu saja, dengan semakin kewalahannya pihak restoran maka fasilitas semakin dikurangi.
Minggu pertama & kedua : Makanan boleh nambah sepuasnya, minum juga bebas (boleh pesan juice, bir bintang juga). Unfortunately I didn’t join this.
Minggu ketiga : Minum dibatasi hanya boleh es teh manis/tawar saja, dan menu dibatasi 6 macam masakan saja.
Minggu keempat : Ditambah 1 ketentuan lagi. Meskipun sekarang mereka menerima kartu gold, tapi nominal ‘sumbangan’ ditentukan minimalnya yaitu Rp.25.000,-. Boleh bayar lebih, tapi minimal segitu. Mungkin gara-gara terlalu banyak yang gesek Rp.1,- ya. Hahaha.

Inilah ‘my team’ makan di Daun Lada, Kamis 19 dan 26 Juni.

Makanan disini enak. Dalam 2x kesempatan saya makan, saya sempat mencicipi kepiting telor, cumi-cumi, bihun goreng, ikan bakar, udang balado, kerang hijau. Hmm…. Nice.

Foto lain Daun Lada | Foto yang lain lagi

Steak di Liana’s Kitchen

Saya lebih enjoy menikmati steak di Liana’s kitchen daripada Daun Lada. Ada 3 macam steak yang di ‘promo’ kan : Liana steak, Tenderloin dan Iga. Disini, peraturannya adalah sebagai berikut : 1 kartu kredit gold boleh dipakai maksimal 5 orang (atau 5 steak) dengan ketentuan harus memesan minuman. Minuman yang ditentukan dalam menu (ada macam-macam juice, es leci, avocado, orange punch, dll) yang paling murah harganya Rp.8.800,-.

I am quite happy with this promo, so I decided to post this here so you can enjoy it too. You still have chance on July 3rd and 4th. Keep in mind if you want to participate, come early because the last day will be the most chaotic day.

Happy ‘free food hunting’.

Oops..! Did I say teacher?

This morning I was called by the principal of the school where I work as a part time art & craft / drawing teacher. Here is what she said to me:

“I am very grateful to you for your willingness to take your time to help this school, being an art teacher. I hope you will help this school again whenever needed in the future.”

Ooh yea! I forgot something about the principal. Even though this school uses English as the primary language, she doesn’t speak English, so may be this is more accurate:

“Terima kasih telah membantu kami selama ini, semoga anda mau membantu kami lagi bila nanti suatu saat dibutuhkan. Hehehe….”

I couldn’t believe finally my time has come. The school gave me permission to go back to my real job, full-time! Yes, it is nice to have my “job” back, but one thing I regret. I will be missing all the happy, fun, stressful sometime, crazy and wonderful times with all my friends and kids there.

Really, in term of income it doesn’t affect me so much, but I really-really miss the relationships. Back to my real job full time, getting the opportunity to be more focus should make me happy, happier and happier, but I couldn’t understand, the voices within me keep saying otherwise.

Here is Why

It is unnoticed when I was still with you, but when I left, I felt something missing. Slowly I realize that part of my heart was still there. I already fell in love with you all.

Kids, I miss you all. I miss the time when you came to me and told me that you just hurt by a friend. I miss asking you sharing about your favorite dinosaur, or asking about the princess in your drawing. I miss doing silly magic tricks and get caught. I miss the game we are playing in class. I miss yelling at you and making you scared.

Teachers, I miss you too. I miss our coffee and lunch time together. I miss the tough-stressful time when we worked on the scores and comments. I miss the food we ordered from depot Mimi. I miss all the ‘jayus and katrok’ things we did together. I miss selling Oriflame to you guys! It’s fun!!! I miss all, baik miss maupun mas semuanya.

Para Mis dan Mas

Ms Martha, thanks for crying for me. You know, your tears really means something to me.
Miss Chika, you know I like to see you smiling (which is very rare). Miss Dessy who always nice and funny. Ms Dewi, who is also a friend of my sister. Miss Vero, my best friend. Mas Daniel, tolong dididik anakmu Ngatini & Paimo. Hehehe.. Mas Danang, semoga betah di Rungkut. Miss Yani, thanks & lain kali pesan yang banyak ya. Miss Kathryn, please forgive me if there are lots of grammatical mistakes in this writing. Mas Jossapat & Miss Margie, I wish you luck. Miss Naomi, I like your spirit. For the new teachers Miss Karina, Ms. Vebe, & Ms Yenny, I wish we had more time together. We’re going to hang out sometime. And Miss Debby, my coffee mate… I leave the chocolate and the gula batu, please keep it with you just in case… I’m back.

Fun Time in Class

This post is dedicated to the teachers of ECS. All the primary teachers with whom I built relationship with, vice principal Bu Ratna, the hard-working woman who actually runs the school, all the admin and staffs, also the kitchen crews, cleaning services and securities, I really miss you guys and I wish I could have our happy time back like we used to be.

Your friend,
Tetsuo

As time goes by I began to know more about internet and web design. I learned more about blogging and I even got some web design jobs. Doing internet works for quite sometime, makes me think about making a personal website or blog. It is really nice to have a personal website that talks about topics that I like. I always look at famous people I admire, which inspire me with their thoughts, ideas and encouragement sometime, through their websites. It is really nice to share experience and help someone else.

Some of my friend tells me that as a designer it will be a very hard job to have a personal website. It is the biggest problem for a designer. They design everything for other people, and finish them due to the time limit, but for their personal project like own blog or website they will never finish it. It is nearly an impossible thing to finish our own website, my friend said. It is true that it will be a hard job to finish. New ideas keep on coming and the perfectionist character of designer, never satisfied feeling about the design makes it even harder. It is a big challenge for me to finish this personal website. But, by the time you reading this, as you can see, now I can say to you: “Here! I proudly present my personal blog, Relentless Inspiration.”

I have been a web designer for a long time, since there was no blog or CMS. I started to design a web using Microsoft FrontPage for HTML editor and Adobe Photoshop for imaging. This is my first ‘masterpiece’ if I can say. I designed this website in 1997 when I still worked for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) company, MitraNet.

Believe or not, this website is still alive until now. But what makes me sad is, someone edited the front page and put the name there. Fortunately as a designer, I left a hidden signature on every page of this Meshindo website : – ).

Go to the pages of this website, then press ‘Ctrl-A’ (select all). You can see the text ‘designer: Teddy Siswanto’ on the left of the page.

I wish the people from Meshindo or digConcept read this article. Hopefully after I told you this, it will not be removed. Please leave it there because for a designer, being credited for an art work (graphic design) is very important. Give the appreciation for the original designer.