golden slumbers

The toughest audience

2011-04-27T05:40:00.001+07:00

Embracing 2011

2010-12-23T13:45:00.000+07:00

And yet another new year is coming. Following our tradition in welcoming 2010, 2009, and 2008, we would like to embrace 2011 at least with the same optimism. This year has been great. Alfie and Alwyn turned 4 and 2 last August. Time flies. Alwyn has enrolled in pre-kindergarten. He enjoys it so much, he sometimes sneaks in to bigger kids' program, Alfie's that is. Alfie on the other hand is more into his music school. He can now pick up on tones and play them on the piano - many times incorrectly, but way better than his father. School activities also varied more. He had a couple of outings to museum or national park.

But most enjoyable to the two boys this year seems to be two things. Firstly, thanks to Tante Luthfi we could observe the training session of Indonesia's air squadron guys - in their preparation for the Military Anniversary. Alfie and Alwyn were so excited looking at all the F16s and others making maneuvers in the air. The following weeks were full of them telling the story to their friends - or taking it to their dreams.

Then came Bali. Aco was having a conference in the beautiful island and he took the entire gang with him. As he was busy making presentation, Anna and the kids explored the beach, swam, and what not. After the conference they all visited Turtle Island - a small island 40 mins by boat from Benoa seashore. There Alfie held a young turtle (but reluctant to touch the older, bigger ones), while Alwyn looked more interested in iguana. They also enjoyed watching monkeys in Uluwatu, despite some brief quick "attacks" of those animals in their attempt to grab the peanuts in Alfie's hands.

Other than those two experiences, the two boys constantly fought each other -- and made peace right after. Alfie is calm and patient, while Alwyn is more provocative. But when Alfie gets angry, he can be very dangerous. So far the competition, attack and retaliation between the two young men is still tolerable.

Anna went to US in July for two weeks and to Malaysia in December for a week, so Aco had to take care of the kids by himself. Well, not exactly. When you say "take care" of the kids in Indonesia, usually it means asking help from your parents. So what he did in weekdays was take the kids to his in-laws after school and pick them up in the evening. On weekends, he was devoted to the kids' request.

Anyway, happy new year, anyone!

Alfie and the Transformers

2010-08-22T10:16:00.000+07:00

Alfie is four

2010-08-20T06:00:00.000+07:00

Aug 18, 2010

Alfie goes green

2010-08-15T20:28:00.000+07:00

Alwyn goes green

2010-08-15T05:20:00.000+07:00

For Alwyn

2010-07-28T12:55:00.000+07:00

Alwyn, you just fell asleep after crying for the big autotoy downstairs. Too bad we can't take it, Son. It belongs to your school. But I know you're crankier than usual not because of that car. But because you're not feeling very well. You're having a fever, albeit a mild one, as far as I could tell when I kiss your forehead. Just sleep, Son. I can feel your lil heartbeats against mine. So regular, so innocent. While listening to your breath, I'm canceling some meetings -- still embarrassingly too little of sacrifice compared to your being ill, I know. I'm sorry, Son, that I've been busy again. But the last two days were beyond my power. The AC broke down so it got too hot in the house. You couldn't sleep well. Neither could your brother. That's why I sent you over to granny's along with your bro. I'm glad to hear that you both could sleep tight there at night. Now that the AC is fixed, I promise you, I'll pick you up this afternoon and you can sleep in your fave room again. Mama sure misses you too. But she is working far, far away. Let's pray for her so she can come home with lots of toys for you. Alright?

Ready to Kindergarten

2010-06-28T19:53:00.000+07:00

Yes, it's Alfie's preschool graduation day! I am proud of him. Looking back a year ago, I was full of doubt in deciding whether he should go to school before he is turning into 3 years old. But today, I know that I made a right decision.
I remember in the first month of school, it was so hard for us to convince him that school was fun and it was not as scary as he thought to be left alone there. He cried all the time asking to go home and ended up with throwing up everything he ate. He kept doing that to get our attention. However, going to the 2nd month, he started to like school, play with his friends and catch up with the lesson. Suddenly, he speaks English all the time. Then, he pretended he was the teacher and performed very well as hawaian dancer.. the other time, he fought with Matthew - his fighting partner.
Today, Alfie is a big boy. He is now 20kg and 105cm tall. He can count 1-20, recognize numbers and letters, can spell ( but stil can't read), and of course sing a great numbers of songs. He loves Alwyn very much, tough sometimes he can't help to hit or kick Alwyn. They are really Cat and Dog :). We are very blessed to have them.
Good luck Alfie in your next journey to knowledge!

The Graduate

2010-06-20T06:25:00.000+07:00

Soccer frenzy

2010-06-20T06:24:00.001+07:00

Aco Jr.

2010-05-13T07:41:00.001+07:00

Bukan Iklan loh

2010-05-11T21:42:00.000+07:00

Alwyn goes to Ancol

2010-04-07T15:36:00.001+07:00

Alfie goes to Ancol

2010-04-02T12:19:00.000+07:00

Mallrats

2010-03-16T12:15:00.000+07:00

Waiting for pickup

2010-03-09T12:40:00.000+07:00

Alfie's 2nd Field Trip to Rumah Abia

2010-03-03T16:23:00.004+07:00

Alfie's school 2nd field trip to Rumah Abia - Ciawi. Visiting wooden toy factory, Alfie paid a lot of attention to toy-making. Alfie also experienced coloring his own toy.

Alfie's Masterpiece

2010-03-03T16:03:00.003+07:00

Alfie likes brown colour very much. Everytime he has drawing class, he always colours his picture in brown. This is one of his masterpieces.

Alfie is cleaning up

2010-02-15T16:05:00.001+07:00

One lesson that we always enforce our kids to follow is cleaning up their toys after playing. One day, after messing up the toys with his bro Alwyn, Alfie just left the room. Of course I asked him to clean up. "Alfie, please clean up" then continue with the usual song "I see Alfie cleaning up, I see Alwyn cleaning up..." In a second, Alfie picked up the song and sang together with me. But he didn't start cleaning up. So I asked "Alfie, why don't you clean up?" And he answered "I am singing, so I don't have to clean up." Oh, kids...

Welcoming Tiger Year

2010-02-14T16:06:00.003+07:00

Nadia: Gong Xi Gong Xi

Alfie: Aku dah gaya belum?

Alwyn: (cool aja deh)

Vanessa: Aku dong dah kayak putri Chen Ie

Phoebe: ?

... and laughing

2010-02-07T12:09:00.001+07:00

Seriously watching tv

2010-02-07T12:08:00.001+07:00

Nite, ewwewone!

2010-02-03T07:02:00.001+07:00

Alfie and Ben

2010-01-30T19:47:00.000+07:00

Alwyn reads Barney

2010-01-30T09:40:00.000+07:00

Alwyn and the shade

2010-01-24T09:39:00.000+07:00

Embracing 2010

2010-01-04T10:45:00.001+07:00

Wow. It feels just like yesterday. And today we're entering yet another new year. We wish you all a happy 2010. May the coming year be at least as wonderful as the best so far.

We don't have a Guinness record class of stuff in 2009. We enjoyed it, nevertheless. Well, not really all the time, maybe. Anna was surely suffering during the Lebaran holidays, as the nannies left for good. And boy, what a pain finding their replacements. It was really trial-and-error at work. I did try to help. But I guess my contribution was marginal, though. The two boys knew full well, I'm not their mother.

I was busy, too. The transition at office took more time and energy than we had expected before. That included the hefty and slow bureaucracy at the university and faculty levels. As a consequence, I was without any designated position (and hence task) for nearly three months. The upside of that is I was able to publish a couple of papers. Life is fair, I guess.

For the two boys, well, of course they enjoyed every single day of the year. Alfie is almost 3 and a half now. This year he performed twice at school. Once as a giraffe and the other time he was a hoola-hoola dancer (the teacher told us, the theme wasLilo and Stitch -- we couldn't find any right costume, so we agreed to his teacher: make him a hawaiian dancer). Alfie has started his Yamaha music school this year. Oh, he also got a special present from Tante Fifi, a set of Lego blocks. He keeps his new assembled house close to his Ben-10 stuff.

Alwyn, on the other hand, is 1 year and 5 month. He can walk -- I guess 'run' is more appropriate: he walks so fast, he falls down many times. But he's made of iron and steel, that's what we think. Alwyn likes to come to Alfie's school. One day he insisted to join the big(ger) kids club and thought he could do trampoline bouncing -- he fell down successfully with his face on the carpet. No tears nor cry whatsoever.

Happy new year, everyone!

Alfie is rehearsing and Alwyn is disturbing him

2009-12-21T16:17:00.000+07:00

Override my preference

2009-10-26T09:29:00.001+07:00

A: Mama, where is your javelin?
M: It’s over here, what are you going to do Alfie?
A: I am going to change your Javelin colour
M: why?
A: I don’t like black, I like green
M: You don’t like black, why?
A: Because black is not nice, green is nice
M: ???

A quarrel with 3 years old boy

2009-10-26T09:23:00.001+07:00

Alfie: Mama, can I have your “dompet”?
Mama: No Alfie, you cannot have my dompet
I grabbed the purse from Alfie’s hand
A: why?
M: Because it belongs to me
A (with upset tone): Mama, don’t do that, I don’t like this
M (angry): You don’t like what?
A: I don’t like this, I am going outside
M: Listen you cannot have my dompet
A: OK, I am going to buy one

Colorful Alwyn

2009-10-16T08:16:00.000+07:00

Alfie and the Blue Gene

2009-09-13T11:23:00.000+07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Alwyn!

2009-08-31T14:32:00.003+07:00

Happy birthday, Dear Alwyn. Papa, Mama, and your brother Alfie are very grateful to have you with us for one year now. And no doubt, for many, many years to come.

As what happened to Alfie , now you've got four big teeth. You're still struggling to walk by yourself, but that's okay. Don't be too quick to run, 'cause you can't even walk properly yet. Remember when you fell? Yes, that's what you get if you're impatient.

But thank you for bringing yet another cheerful factor in the house. Yes, the house is now too small for us (when Papa told Mama to prepare a space for Aline -- that's the name for your future baby sister in Papa's imagination -- Mama looked at Papa as if he were crazy). But don't you worry. Alfie has been so kind to let you occupy Papa and Mama's bed. He has his own kingdom in the living room, just by the tv set.

Alwyn, sorry that some of your toys are actually Alfie's. Even some of your clothes were used by your brother some time ago. That's what people call the curse of the second child. You get used stuff. Of course not all of them are old. That Dinosaur t-shirt is new, so is the little submarine toy (that makes your brother envious). But, as we also keep telling your brother, share. You can borrow Alfie's toys, but you should also let him play with yours.

Once again, happy birthday.

Alfie's 3rd Birthday

2009-08-21T15:57:00.003+07:00

Alfie was very happy and proud with his Ben10 cake.

His friends couldn't help to touch it :)

Happy birthday Alfie, may you always be a good and happy kid.

Alfie and Alwyn

2009-07-21T16:45:00.000+07:00

Dynamic Duo

2009-07-06T15:08:00.001+07:00

alwyn 8-month

2009-05-11T22:50:00.002+07:00

10.5kg

Tangerang's ATV

2009-04-12T09:14:00.000+07:00

"Ma, we're there already, stop the becak"
"Ugh, I'm trying... Can't stop it"
"What? Hit the brake, Ma! Hit the brake!"
"Huh? This thing's got a brake? Where's the damn brake?"
"Oh, Mama, you're a lousy driver..."

Advising disservice

2009-03-29T14:42:00.000+07:00

"Papa, what's that? What are you doing?"
"Err, Papa is reading a ... friend's book"
"But, Papa, why are you writing and drawing on it? You're ruining it, Papa... I thought you didn't like me doing that to your book?"
"Ugh, this is different, Son. Papa is trying to help this guy. He's Papa's student"
"But, Papa, stop putting notes on his book! You're rude!"

Bagged

2009-03-28T09:00:00.000+07:00

"Alfie, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to put myself inside Papa's luggage"
"Why? It's way too small to contain you!"
"So buy him a bigger luggage, Mama. I want to go with him"
"Ssshh, here's a better solution, Son. Tell Papa not to go too frequently..."

Happy birthday, Mama

2009-03-11T09:07:00.001+07:00

"Happy birthday, Mama"
"Oh, thanks, Alfie. That's very nice of you. Any gift for Mama?"
"Ah that, Mama. Sorry, Alfie doesn't have a job yet. Can't buy you stuff. How about a kiss, Ma? Here you go"

***

"By the way, Mama... How come Papa isn't here? It's your birthday!"
"Papa is at work abroad, Alfie. It's alright. He has sent Mama his wishes... "
"He'd better have, Mama... And ugh, is he getting me and Alwyn gifts?"
"You? It's Mama's birthday, not yours or Alwyn's, right?"
"I know, but I'm the kid here, no? ... "
"Er, OK, let's text Papa then..."

Fishing @ market

2009-03-01T10:57:00.000+07:00

"Let's go, Alfie. It's our turn to do grocery this time. Mama stays home with Alwyn"
"What are we buying, Papa?"
"Hm, mainly fish, I guess? Mama said you need to eat lots of fish"
"Hey look, Papa. That fish is sleeping on ice. Ain't it cold?"

idol.jpg

2009-03-01T09:54:00.000+07:00

"Papa, Mama, why do you guys love this American Idol thing so much?"
"Why, Alfie? You have problem with that?"
"No, I'm just curious. I thought those guys just learn to sing, you said? Why don't you just watch your music DVD and all?"
"Hehe, this is not just about singing, Alfie. We love the thrill, we even enjoy the bad singing. On top of all we love seeing how families and friends can be very supportive to their champ -- no matter how bad he or she sings..."
"Ah, that's complicated"
"Yes, but you will understand someday..."

good morning

2009-02-21T20:04:00.001+07:00

"Papa, what time is it?"
"Seven thirty"
"Ah, are we going to Merlion?"
"Later in the afternoon. Now Papa has a meeting"
"Ah poor you. Then I'll go around with Mama. You enjoy your meeting, Papa"

Alfie @ Changi

2009-02-16T11:49:00.000+07:00

Alrite, Mama. You said Singapore is cool. This is empty! Where are people?

Alfie's GM

2009-02-07T19:08:00.001+07:00

No worries Bro, I'll give you some...

Alwyn's GM

2009-02-07T18:52:00.000+07:00

Where's my noodle, Mbak?

Gong Xi Fa Chai 2560

2009-01-27T21:59:00.004+07:00

Alfie asked for Angpao, he said: "Gong Xi Fa Chai, Angpao na lai"

Doctor Alwyn

2009-01-19T09:57:00.001+07:00

"Alwyn, now you be the doctor, I the patient"
"Rararararararara...."
"No, you hold this thing and put it on my chest... You know, like Tante Dokter did to you..."
"Rararararararara..."
"Oh, what is so difficult, Alwyn? Hold it Doctor Alwyn, hold it!"
"Rararara... Rurururu?..."
"Oh you're hopeless... Mbak Tari, can you help him, please?"
"Alfie, be nice to your brother"

Econ of queuing

2009-01-15T12:48:00.000+07:00

"Papa?"
"Yes?"
"Why are those motorists queuing?"
"They want to buy gasoline, Son"
"But why the long line?"
"Because there are more motorists and only fewer pumps"
"Why don't they just buy on street vendors? No queueing there"
"Because it's more expensive there"
"Oh, so price at station like this is too low?"
"Urg, yes. Maybe"

Alwyn 4.5 m

2009-01-10T11:11:00.001+07:00

Alwyn, 4.5 months old, 8.5 kgs

Alfie's strict preference

2009-01-08T08:51:00.000+07:00

"Alfie, what's your plan this weekend"
"You tell me, Papa. You're the one who drives"
"OK, pick one: golf or car?"
"Golf"
"Golf or swim?"
"Golf"
"Car or swim?"
"Ugh... Golf, Papa!"

Note: 'Golf' refers to that Putt-Putt minigolf at Senayan. You pay Rp 20,000 and you get one ball and a little stick. Then you can tell your kid to play as long as he or she likes. The trick is, avoid the last hole (that hole will take the ball back to the store, and you need to pay again to have another round). "Car" means the minicars in Timezone and the likes. "Swim" is, well, swimming.

Alfie and TV, cont'd

2009-01-05T15:53:00.000+07:00

"Papa, come here"
"What's up, Son?"
"Look, fireworks and firecrackers everywhere... Wow, look at that!"
"Urgh, that's nothing like new year's party, Alfie. That's war. Those things exploding are bombs. They're dangerous. They kill people"
"What is ... war, Papa?"
"Ehm, something ... bad. It's when two groups of people fight each other..."
"Why do they fight, Papa? Barney and BJ and Baby Bop always say we are a happy family..."
"I don't know, Son... I don't know. But war is not good. Here. Let's stop the tv now OK? How about I read you that new dinosaurus book?"
"Let's just read the shinkansen book, Papa"
"OK"

Alfie and TV

2009-01-04T23:10:00.000+07:00

"What are you watching, Fie?"
"Mr. Bean, Papa. This one is my favorite. He's playing golf"
"I thought you liked Barney"
"That too, Papa. But I'm a boy now. Let's save Barney for Alwyn, he's the baby"
"What else do you like?"
"Slam Dunk. It's a cool cartoon about basket ball, Papa"
"I see... So you're into sport, I guess?"
"I am, Papa. But music, too. You promise me piano, Papa"
"Urg, yes. We'll fix Mama's old piano. I hope you're OK with that. We can't buy a new one. Too expensive"
"That's OK, Papa. Now if you excuse me, I'm trying to watch tv here"
"Alritey, Boy. Make sure you stop right after this Mr. Bean; turn the TV off and go to bed. Deal?"
"Deal, Papa"

Embracing 2009

2008-12-28T18:24:00.004+07:00

Friends and families, we are delighted to enter the new year of 2009. We wish you all the very best. May the upcoming year bring joy and happiness to you and your beloved.

As usual, a little reflection. The year 2008 has been wonderful. We did have one bad news early in the year, when Alfie was attacked by dengue fever and had to stay in the hospital for three days. Thanks God, he was recovered well, and actually after the hospital days, he has been picking up words and started to speak quite clearly. The best news of 2008 of course is Alwyn, the baby brother of Alfie. Alwyn was born in August 26, about a week after Alfie's second anniversary. As of now Alwyn is 8 kgs and 72 cms. So, after adjusting for time, he is a bit bigger than his brother. And boy, he cries louder too. Her nanny told us, though, that usually, the characters reverse when kids grow up; so expect a calmer Alwyn and a noisier Alfie, she went on.

A noisier Alfie? We're not sure. Because even now, he is already very, very active and talkative. His friends now has extended to Mr. Bean, McQueen from Cars, and Spiderman -- he still likes Barney, of course. He also loves to see people playing piano and golf -- and has tried both. This year, he had his first performance at school, singing and dancing that is.

Anna didn't do much traveling this year, due to pregnancy and Alwyn's birth. She only went to Bangalore for a week. Aco had some: London/Brighton, Paris, Bangkok (twice), Manila, and Amsterdam/Den Haag. In addition to that, he published four academic papers this year.

That's all, folks. Again, happy new year!

Let's go golfing

2008-12-23T05:07:00.000+07:00

"Papa, how come you don't play golf?"
"Err, I don't know... Maybe it's not my thing..."
"What do you mean it's not your thing. This is like totally cool, Papa"
"Well... For one, it's expensive"
"But Nathan's papa said you could rent those things"
"I guess so... But it seems too tiring and time consuming"
"But you need exercise, Papa... Besides, you waste your non-working time for useless blogging... Go golfing, Papa"
"Ehm... Maybe it's not my thing, Son..."

Alfie and the snowmen

2008-12-20T11:26:00.000+07:00

... But the snow ain't real, Papa...

Alfie's first performance

2008-12-18T11:27:00.001+07:00

Happy new year everyone!

... And Alfie makes the headstart

2008-12-14T16:49:00.000+07:00

Alwyn can't wait for the holiday season

2008-12-14T16:44:00.000+07:00

Smoke gets in presentation

2008-12-11T11:34:00.000+07:00

How often do you give a talk where at the same time is allowed to smoke? The last time I saw that happened was in a movie about Indonesian revolution. Today I find this ashtray sitting so nicely next to the microphone. Luckily the topic today has nothing to do with clean environment or climate change and all that...

Bumpy ride

2008-12-11T07:56:00.000+07:00

"Hey, look, there's another hole!... Papa, why do we have so many holes on the street?"
"Because we're developing, Son. Holes are good sign"
"But why do they dig it again after they fix it, the street?"
"Ergh, because we're learning how to develop, Son. It's all trial and error..."

Mie ain't no food, Bu

2008-12-10T11:58:00.003+07:00

"I think it's time now for Alfie to eat, Bu"

"Er, but he just ate mie. A bowl of noodle, all by himself"

"No, Bu, mie ain't no food, Bu... Alfie has to eat nasi, Bu. Now, that is food, rice..."

He's cool, she's hot

2008-12-08T08:48:00.000+07:00

"Papa, what's cool really mean? And what's hot?"
"Ugh 'sejuk' and 'panas'..."
"That's what I thought. That's what my teachers say, too"
"So what's the problem?"
"This dude of mine. Whatever I do great stuff -- rolling, jumping and all -- he goes: you're 'cool', man... And one day I overheard Mr. X said to Ms. Y that Ms. Y is 'hot'..."
"Oh, I see. There's something called slang. Both 'cool' and 'hot' can mean good or great"
"That's confusing"
"I know"

Hi

2008-12-01T20:25:00.000+07:00

Alwyn, 3 months, 7.7 kgs, 70 cms

Nursing corner

2008-12-01T09:24:00.000+07:00

Further to the post below. Here is their "nursing room". Don't expect too much. It is actually NOT a room. It is a cubicle with wooden wall and two office chairs behind it! Have you been to the nursing room in Plasa Senayan or PIM? This one here is nowhere near it. Isn't it ironic that you have better nursing room in shopping malls than in hospitals?

And this is the best mother and baby hospital in town!

Stinky hospital

2008-12-01T09:15:00.000+07:00

We love this hospital, mostly because it is close by and it has good doctors. But this morning it stinks. As we entered the clinic, we immediately sensed a really bad smell. Obviously somebody just threw up. It's a scent of puke all over. Some visitors were covering their nose. Of course we asked the nurses what had happened (surely it's a puke) and why they had not tried getting rid of the smell (which is very easy; if they wanted to). But this is their response: "Smell? What smell?" Can you believe it? As I'm writing this the smell is still bothering.

And this is the best mother and baby hospital in town!

Good boy don't cry

2008-11-30T09:30:00.001+07:00

Alfie has been picking up words and words. He is now able to construct them into meaningful sentences, albeit imperfectly. One thing needs more improvement is his associating English sentences used by his teachers with their true meaning. Apparently context is much more important (or probably easier to comprehend) to a toddler, regardless of the lexicographic meaning, i.e. text attached.

So for example, Alfie's understanding of "good boy don't cry" is "throw it into the trash bin". I notice, whenever we ask him to throw stuff into the bin, he goes "Good boy don't cry". As it turns out, at his school, when anybody (mostly boys) happens to cry, the teacher pulls out tissue paper, wipes his tears, and asks him to throw the tissue paper into the bin. In so doing, she keeps saying (presumably in the attempt to calm down the boy): Good boy don't cry.

Isn't language amazing?

Driving in Jakarta

2008-11-29T06:15:00.000+07:00

"Papa, why do we always have this heavy traffic jam?"
"Because this is Jakarta. It's supposed to be busy, crowded and noisy"
"I see. Look, you told me red means stop, but why are those motorists crossing it?"
"They're color-blinded"
"And what's with all this honking?"
"We do that. We're friendly"
"Papa, I love Jakarta"

Is Alfie an anomaly?

2008-11-25T14:13:00.006+07:00

We'd been worried that Alfie would show his rejection and jealousy in welcoming his younger brother. Every parents that we met always told us and reminded to 'watch out the big brother' or he would hit or do harmful things to his younger brother, out of jealousy. The fact is, Alfie just loves his brother so much. He actually helps me taking care of Alwyn. "Mom, Alwyn is crying, go nurse him" is just an example.

Today, we just found out another anomaly. We had to take a new nanny for him yesterday. His nanny, who had been taking care of him since he was baby, now changed to taking care of Alwyn -- she is an expert of newborn babies; so we needed a replacement for the now-toddler Alfie. So there we were, picking up the new nanny. Again, we were quite anxious. People had been telling us that toddlers would not let go of their nannies easily. As it turned out, we needed not to be that anxious. It took Alfie only two hours to like her new nanny! We were so relieved...

As I'm writing this the two boys are sleeping already. I thank Alfie for being such a nice boy...

Overthonged Spidey

2008-11-25T10:04:00.000+07:00

"Papa, why is Spidey's underwear outside?"
"Ugh, because it is what superheroes do..."
"I want to be a superhero. Can I wear my underwear like that"
"No, not until you can fly"
"Hey, in that case, it wouldn't hurt if I let Spidey wear mine as well, would it? After all, he is a superhero"
"..."

Hulk and Alfie

2008-11-16T07:01:00.000+07:00

Alfie's new buddy, The Incredible Hulk

Vulgar Bahasa or Bahasa Vulgar, whatever

2008-11-14T09:03:00.000+07:00

I know we have taken this for granted since long time ago. We say "banjir kanal" while what we mean is "kanal banjir" or flood channel (or better yet "saluran air" or water channel). We all know that the right Bahasa Indonesia structure follows noun-adjective or noun-adverb order like that of French and unlike that of English. But of course we have violated this here and there. We see people selling "pisang goreng" or fried banana but the sign on the cart says "goreng pisang".

I guess I shouldn't care too much either.

Baby Barack

2008-11-10T08:46:00.001+07:00

The New York Times reported that there has been an increasing number of babies named Barack, after the president elect.

It reminds me of an email from Neil McCulloch over at Sussex some time ago. "How are the boys? Since you name your kids after great economists -- Alfie Marshall and Alwyn Young; would the third be Paul?" The email came a week after Krugman got his Nobel.

Actually I've been thinking of Armand -- after Armen Alchian.

But of course Anna says enough is enough.

Don't underestimate kids

2008-11-09T10:06:00.001+07:00

We've been irritated by Alfie's new hobby: fridge inspection. Too bad our fridge comes without lock key. Every now and then Alfie opens the refrigerator and takes stuff out or simply reorganizes the things inside, the way he likes it.

So I came up with this brilliant idea. Put a security mechanism on the door. I bought one of those Japanese made household thingies. Then I put it on.

And it took only 5 minutes for Alfie to figure out how to get around the system. Now, instead of a lock he sees it as yet another new toy...

Greetings from Bogor

2008-11-07T12:47:00.001+07:00

Papa, will they destroy this statue? You know I heard they just passed a law that prohibits things like this?

The Gas Chamber

2008-10-31T04:47:00.002+07:00

This is actually a class room. It so happened the uni got some funding from State Gas Company. As a token of appreciation, the room is named "Ruang Gas Negara" or literally "state gas room". Which always reminds me of gas chamber in those stories about Auschwitchz...

The Troublemakers

2008-10-28T16:44:00.000+07:00

Alfie vs Alwyn (inflation adjusted)

2008-10-28T09:56:00.003+07:00

Top: Alwyn, October 26, 2008 (~ 2 months old)
Bottom: Alfie, October 28, 2006 (~ 2 months old)

Alwyn 2 months old

2008-10-26T06:47:00.000+07:00

Alfie's favorite Beatle

2008-10-26T06:31:00.001+07:00

I just noticed. Alfie's favorite Beatle is that of Ringo Starr. That makes him another non-mainstream Beatlemania. Before in the house there is one. Me, who prefers George Harrison to the other three.

Wishing you a happy 1429th Eid Day

2008-10-03T13:42:00.000+07:00

... from all of us.
Anna, Aco, Alfie,Alwyn

For Alfie

2008-09-30T22:48:00.000+07:00

Alfie, I apologize that I was mad at you.

You are sleeping now. I am busy reading and sending short messages regarding the Eid Day. When you grow up, you'll understand what that is, the SMS, the Eid Day. But that's beside the point now. I just want to explain that what I did to you, slapping your wrist, was not cool. And I'm sorry. Even more so, as I am watching you sleeping so peacefully.

Once ago, I don't remember exactly when, I told myself that I would follow your grandpa's way: never punish his children physically. I guess I failed today. Yet, to make me feel better, I insisted that it was just the slap-on-the-wrist slap on the wrist. You, on the other hand, were surprised nevertheless and cried "Papa, that hurts!". I admit I was being a bad father who lost his temper. Maybe it was the nanny's absence that made me exhausted and in turn loosing my cool. Maybe it was the culmination of a series: you drew pictures on table, you almost broke a glass plate, you poured water into my laptop. All those finally led to the slap as you were yelling so loudly just an inch from your sleeping baby brother's ear.

While admittedly, these are probably your happiest days: free from the nanny and spending all time with your otherwise office-working parents. You had probably looking forward to a time like this when you could see your papa and mama every minute and second. When you could ask him or her to read any story you like. Or simply to show them how advance you were as a two year old. You, in other words, deserve to be spoiled this week. And I blew it.

I am sorry for two counts. First, for slapping your wrist (and thus ignoring those books' advice of never-slap-your-child-just-talk-to-them). Second, for not being able to tell you my regret directly in words, even though I knew you forgave me right away; as 15 minutes afterward you asked me to read you Clifford -- which in fact amplified my guilty feeling.

So here it is. While everybody is asking forgiveness one another in the eve of the Eid Day, I tender mine especially to you. You would not give a damn to this post of course. But someday you'll read it and know that once when you were two, your father was mad at you, slapped you, then regretted it.

I'm gonna sleep next to you know. So when you woke up, I'll be there telling you what I wrote here in plain words. Of course you (and your mother for that matter) will think I'm nuts. But I'll do it anyway.

Alfie's gig

2008-09-29T21:13:00.000+07:00

Alfie: Hi, I'm Alfie. Mind if I join?
The girl: Not at all. What do you play? I'd like to sing
Alfie: I'll do piano
The girl: Alright. What do we sing?
Alfie: Yellow submarine?

Anna's three boys

2008-09-25T04:51:00.000+07:00

or rather: two boys and one shameless older dude...

Doc Oc and Alfie

2008-09-20T07:42:00.000+07:00

Anna texted me over to Manila. She was teaching English to Alfie.

Anna: What's this [pointing to a picture of octopus]
Alfie: Ehm... gurita! [that's Indonesian for octopus]
Anna: Yes, it is also octopus
Alfie: No, it's gurita!
Anna: OK. In English it is octopus
Alfie: But Doctor Octopus is in Papa's Spiderman comic!
Anna: ?

Picture taken from Wikipedia

Meet Alwyn

2008-09-07T04:30:00.000+07:00

Alwyn

2008-08-27T07:38:00.000+07:00

Dear friends,

We're delighted to inform you that Alfie now has a baby brother, Alwyn. He was born Tuesday August 26, 2008 at 0821 am in Bunda Hospital Jakarta. Birthweight is 3.7 kgs and birthlength is 50 cms. (Anna opted for waterbirth and it was cool, by the way).

The name is Alwyn Yang Patunru. Some of you would think I was inspired by the Chicago economist Alwyn Young (whose research on learning by doing I used for my undergraduate thesis). Yes, partly, maybe. But it was also because we wanted a middle name that goes in-sync with Alfie's "Shan". "Yang" (pronounced 'young') means sunny place (as in yin-yang). I was told, it can also mean "mighty".

Alfie is now with his grandma. But from what he sounds over the phone, he seems to have a mixed feeling on Alwyn's presence: a fun buddy but also a competition.

Pictures and all will be posted soon.

Ready to go...

2008-08-23T06:32:00.000+07:00

Alfie's looking forward to his cocktail party

Salute to the country

2008-08-19T06:27:00.000+07:00

Alfie is saluting the country's 63rd Independence Day. His second birthday is one day after.

Alfie's update

2008-06-30T14:15:00.001+07:00

It's been awhile. So many things have developed.

Alfie now has become the most talkative person in the entire house (population size: 4). He even proudly calls himself a "burung beo" (mockingbird), because he picks up on whatever you say. Now he can sing three or four songs from Barney's (usually his memory fails him after halfway through in which case he would mumble some alien words). His favorites include London Bridge is Falling Down and Ring Around the Rosies (is that the correct title?). He has his own version of ABCD song: he goes a-b-c-d in English pronunciation then e-f-g in Indonesian pronunciation, then he deliberately spells the remaining very vaguely to avoid criticism from his parents -- he only makes it clear when it comes to m-m-m-o-p (his version of "l-m-n-o-p"). He can count from 1 to 9 even if the objects are only 3 or 4. And he memorizes TV commercials way better than his mom. For example, he recognizes Indomie Seleraku commercial just by listening to the very first two tones.

He also started to like characters other than Barney's and Tom-and-Jerry: Spiderman, Spongebob, and SBY.

(Not so) Old Man and the sea Boy

2008-05-26T10:52:00.000+07:00

"Can't believe we're finally doing this, Pap. I mean, you've been promising me playing kite together like years ago"
"Sorry, Son. I said sorry already, right? And what do you mean 'years ago' you're not even 2 yet. Don't exaggerate. But hey, look at the bright side: here we are walking in a park with a kite. Let's hope the wind is good"
"OK, Pap, but promise me you'll take me swimming after this"
"Errgh, how about next week? Pap has to do some works in the aftern..."
"Oh, c'mon, Papa. It's weekend for god's sakes. What's with all those works? It's not like we're going broke once you skip a work or two, right?"
"Hey, who taught you that? You talk like a grown up"
"Mom"
"Ah, don't listen to your Mom"
"But she's cool, Pap. She just bought me a new pair of shoes. Look at this. Yeah, they're kind of too big, but I don't mind. I can use them longer. You call that 'economics', don't you?"
"Oh, let's not get into that. OK, I promise you we'll go swimming later"
"Thanks, Pap! That's my old man!"
"Shut up"

Lunch, shall we?

2008-05-19T15:39:00.000+07:00

Alfie and his buddy, Nathan. Can't wait for the meals.

Update: Alfie's recovered

2008-04-30T09:18:00.001+07:00

Thank God Alfie only stayed for three days at the hospital. But that was enough, of course. He now hates the concept of hospitals and doctors and nurses -- looks like a thing we have to work on in the next few weeks or so (because he still has some scheduled immunization plans). He showed strong resistance when we took him for a check up last Thursday.

Home is always sweet even to the 1.5 year old. The first thing he did when we arrived home last Tuesday was walking around and checking on his toys. Next we asked about Bulan -- that is his girl friend next door, about the same age. He's been improving since. Now we can say Alfie is back to normal again (by that, I mean including his resuming Barney and Tom-Jerry watching, drawing on the sofa, and tearing Papa's magazines apart). His weight has also come back to the pre-hospital level. Anna can even catch up with her delayed work -- she's now in India, allowing me and Alfie for more quality time.

We thank all of you for your sympathy and support -- you know who you are.

Thanks.

poor lil' alfie is ill and he reminds me of ... me

2008-04-21T13:44:00.002+07:00

I was already 13 or 14 when it happened. My friends and I had just come back from camping when I started feeling something weird on the right side of my forehead. But I ignored it. Two or three days later, my temple felt itchy and it had red rashes. Then my parents took me to hospital. According to the doctor there, it was an effect of a snake poison. But I didn't recall getting bitten by snake. The doctor said it was possible that I slept on a spot where some snake had just disposed its poison -- something like that. The following days were terrible. The itch expanded to my head, neck, and back. And now it was not just itchy, it was burning and very painful. Then my right eye.I could not open it. My parents consulted many physicians as well traditional healers. But it took some time.

One night when I was asleep I somehow felt that somebody was watching me. I woke up in silence and I knew it was my father sitting right next to me, staring at me. From the angle of my left eye, I could vaguely saw him -- the room was rather dark. But I saw it: wet eyes with tears. My father was silently crying. His mouth was moving -- I knew he was praying. Deep down in my heart I felt very warm. I felt his love and care. To the maximum. He didn't even know that I was already awake.

That memory just came again. When I am the father and Alfie is the son. Now Alfie is ill and hospitalized. He is having a dengue fever. His doctor said his statistics showed improvement this morning. But he still needs to stay a couple days more. What makes it difficult is Alfie's resistance to IV infusion that runs through the vein on his left forearm. He, like myself, turns out to hate the idea of injection. But what could we do? Because of his age and especially his strong opposition toward the fluid infusion, the nurses put support board around his left arm. I tried cheer him up saying he looked like a cool robot. I failed. He still did not like that thing.

So, we keep trying distract him so he has no time to see his left arm. But whenever we fail, he immediately tries to get it off by shaking the arm or even trying banging it on the bed! Oh poor Alfie, of course he could not get rid of it. He then just cries and cries and my heart aches every time he does that.

And every time he cries I also remember my father. I now know exactly what he felt that night. I can never thank you enough, Pak. I have marks on my forehead and wear glasses because of the accident, but I'm thankful that I'm alright. But on top of that I'm thankful to have you. And Alfie.

... and compose

2008-04-13T07:56:00.000+07:00

... and later he composes his first song about beach...

On the beach...

2008-04-13T07:47:00.001+07:00

Alfie is enjoying his beach experience...

That's "Mona"!

2008-03-25T08:40:00.000+07:00

Alfie has been liking a piece of picture he tore out from Tempo magazine. The picture is supposed to show Jakarta's landmarks. He recognizes the distinctive Wisma BNI building and calls it "kanto Mama" (from 'kantor mama' - mama's office building). And there is another 'building' he likes to stare at. It's the national monument, Monas. We told him, the name's Monas, and he goes "Mona, mona".

We drove around last Saturday. When we were in Gambir area, suddenly Alfie shouted: "Mona! Mona!" -- he finally was aware that the thing in the picture exists tall and clear. So we stopped the car. And here he is, telling you all: THAT'S MONA!

From Alfie to Aunt Maria

2008-03-14T06:32:00.000+07:00

This is Alfie congratulating aunt Maria Boerngen for her successful PhD defense. Congrats, Auntie!

What happened to Coffee Bean?

2008-01-25T09:17:00.001+07:00

We used to love Coffee Bean. Now we're at one in Plasa Senayan. We're surprised that our favourite cesar salad is no longer good. The coffee tastes bad, and the tea is served without the bag... So we called a friend who used to work here. It turns out, she quit already. "I quit. Management is lousy now".

But I still like the cup.