The Snake Pit | Haiku & Poetry Potluck

Moments of terror.
Snake pit; I can’t close my eyes.
Calm a pondering heart.

Will I stand this fight?
Thee, brave warrior inside.
Keep me safe and sound.

~RA

A little note on the story of these words. You can take the meaning of my writing to the inner mental state of a person, but there is also another real story captured behind. Yesterday, we actually found a snake pit or hole on our yard. A big white snake was caught from it. I didn't dare to look at it. A black companion was also seen inside, but until now there are still no more signs. I really hope that there were only the two of them, because the thought of a nest gives me a chill. But, I guess that's one of the consequences you have to stand living near rice fields at the countryside. There's this possibility that they come to visit once in a while. I'm okay with it as long as they are not poisonous and keep a safe distance. Even better, if they stay far away. Usually they are harmless little snakes without poison, not big ones like yesterday. Other residential areas in my country don't have any snakes. Please, don't worry. Have a blessed day, everyone ^_^.

Thanks to Jenn for this week's theme: 
Stress

The meme basics:

Haiku is simple!
It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively
(a great way to use your fingers!)

Thanks to Amanda & Kavita

at Jingle Poetry for this week's theme:

Kings, Queens & Warriors

Poetry Potluck Instructions:

Every week, MckLinky will be up on Sunday, at 8pm (CST),
and will stay open till Tuesday, 8pm (CST).
So you will have 48 hours to share up to 3 poems with us.

I don't create poetry, I create myself,
for me my poems are a way to me.

~Edith Södergran

Keep a poem in your heart.

Two Little Boys The Muffed Target 13

Well, there is actually just one little boy in the photo. My nephew. But add him up to my boy and you'll have rumble in da house. These two guys have not a slightest idea of trouble in their dictionary. Except, of course, causing mischief by their own.

Here, the two little boys were trying to play badminton according to their own rules on our latest family vacation. Just look at the determined expression of my nephew's face. The two were quite absorbed in the game and it was lots of fun. Well, may be not so fun for the person who was in charge to get and throw the shuttle-cocks. LOL

The badminton racket in the photo got all muffed. But, I kind of love the motion captured in this shot. Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Submitted to Thom's Muffed Target taken over from

Gattina @gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com. 

Thanks for hosting, my friend.

Music is expression of harmony in sound.

Love is the expression of harmony in life

~Stephen F. Gaskin

Keep a song in your heart.

Des'ree: You Gotta Be #MM

The kids are having school examinations for a week. So, I'm quite sure that my time will be more than full packed along with all those other chores and deadlines. To be truth, I can't wait to get at the end of the week. Well, what kind of spirit is that to have at the beginning of a week? That's why the song You Gotta Be by Des'ree seems a perfect fit for me. All I know, all I know that love will save the day. Come on get into the beat!

You Gotta Be is the first single of Des'ree's second  album I Ain't Movin, released in 1994. In 1995 it was used for the ending credits of the movie The Next Karate Kid, starring Hillary Swank and Pat Morita. I hope you'll enjoy watching and listening to the video. Remember, love will save the day.

You Gotta Be Lyrics

Songwriters: Weekes, Des'Ree; Ingram, Ashley

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry


You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day


Herald what your mother said
Reading the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my, heh, hey


You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day


TIME asks no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face


Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my heh, hey, hey


You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day


You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Source:
http://www.youTube.com

Thanks to Amanda who is temporary hosting Music Monday

& Diane@goodmourningglory who is taking a break.

Thanks to Denise for her Music Monday blog hop

Keep a song in your heart.

Three Things Tag & Two Awards

Almost two weeks ago, the three things tag & two awards were passed on to me by my friend Imagina's Pages. Thanks for thinking of me.

I'm very late for everything. We had a long holiday here in Indonesia and I recently took on more serious writing in my mother language (my first anthology book will come up soon), so I'm trying to catch up on many deadlines and various things. Please, forgive me if it takes time to make my rounds. Now, let's get started!

3 places I would pack my travel bag for

Lombok, Indonesia
Some say that it is even more beautiful than Bali.
I'm curious.

Duisburg, Germany
I was born here.
It always has a special place in my heart.

New Zealand?
Difficult pick.
Basically, it is any place with natural beauty.

3 On-Screen characters I love to watch

I rarely watch TV these days. Too little time.
But, I'm addicted to  Korean dramas.
The characters are cute and fun. LOL

Troublemaker Lee Mong-Ryong
in Sassy Girl Chun Hyang

 Eccentric writer Lee Jin Soo
in Coffee House

Witty Yoo Rin
in My Girl


3 moods that describe me the best

loved
passionate
almost always rushed


3 things I always think of doing on a weekend

Time off
Culinary Food
Photography


3 things from my childhood that I can’t forget

Germany (again)
Intimate and traumatic moments
Gosh, I'm getting old. I gotta admit that I forget a lot :p.


3 things I would never say no to

Family and friends in urgent need
Holidays & Vacation
Special Treats


3 things I can’t live without

Family
Friends
Blessings



Music is expression of harmony in sound.

Love is the expression of harmony in life

~Stephen F. Gaskin

Keep a song in your heart.

Night, Moon & Stars | Poetry Potluck

Thanks to Amanda & Kavita
at Jingle Poetry for this week's theme:

Night, Moon & Stars

Dark as the night
Reflections of the moon rise
Sparkling light
Dancing stars
Every time I dive
Into the depth of your eyes
My sweet child

~RA

Poetry Potluck Instructions:

Every week, MckLinky will be up on Sunday, at 8pm (CST), and will stay open till Tuesday, 8pm (CST). So you will have 48 hours to share up to 3 poems with us... Wonderful!

I don't create poetry, I create myself,

for me my poems are a way to me.
~Edith Södergran

Keep a poem in your heart.

Natasha Bedingfield: Pocketful of Sunshine #MM

Pocketful of Sunshine performed by Natasha Bedingfield has me moving this week. I love the song's upbeat rhythm and the lyrics fit my current mood perfectly. We just returned from a sweet two week holiday escape, but now reality is calling. Monday was quiet a day to kick off the week. After a huge pile of vacation laundry, my motorcycle decided to turn a back on me and let me push it for almost 2 km back home. I was lucky that Mr.Hubby was still out of office and came to help after I called. He tried to pull me with his motorcycle, but a flat front tire on my motorcycle (what a timing!) was giving both of us a hard time to move forward. The usual ten minute trip turned into I don't even know how long... On other holidays, we could have easily pulled over into a workshop to fix the problems. But yesterday happened to be the time after a very special holiday here in Indonesia, where almost everyone returns to their hometown and many businesses were still on a temporary close. If I didn't have a pocketful of sunshine with me, I could have burst into tears for sure. Well, may be this was just a warm up for the great news I received today, the following day? I woke up to find out that my story submission for an anthology book has been accepted. Awesome. There actually will be a book with my name in it. I'm so excited.

Pocketful of Sunshine is the second single of Natasha Bedingfield's second North American album with the same title, released in 2008. It is also an original soundtrack of the romantic comedy movie The Ugly Truth starring Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl. I hope you'll enjoy watching and listening to the video. Wishing you all better days ahead.

Note: If you can't see this video, Amanda has provided another link by VEVO in this post comments. Thank you.

Pocketful of Sunshine Lyrics

Songwriter: Bedingfield, Natasha; Brisebois, Danielle; Shanks, John M

OOOOh yea yea yea


I got a pocket,
Got a pocket full of sunshine
I got a love and I know that its all mine
Oh, woah

Do what you want,
But your never gonna break me,
Sticks and stone are never gonna shake me
no,oh

I got a pocket,
Got a pocket full of sunshine
I got a love and I know that its all mine
oh, woah

Wish that you could but you aint gonna own me
Do anything but you want
you cant slow me down
no,

Take me away (take me away)
A secret place (a secret place)
A sweet escape (a sweet escape)
Take me away (take me away)
Take me away (take me away)
To better days (to better days)
Take me away (take me away)
A higher place (a higher place)

I got a pocket,
Got a pocket full of sunshine
I got a love and I know that its all mine
Oh, (got a pocket, got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine) oh (and I know that it's all mine)

Do what you want,
But you never gonna break me,
Sticks and stone are never gonna shake me
no, (never gonna shake me) oh (never gonna shake me)

Take me away (take me away)
A secret place (a secret place)
A sweet escape (a sweet escape)
Take me away (take me away)
Take me away (take me away
To better days (to better days)
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Take me away (take me away)
A higher place (a hegher place)


There's a place that I go
That nobody knows
Where the rivers flow
And I call it home
And theres no more lies
And the darkness is light
And nobody cries
Theres only butterflies


Take me away (take me away)
A secret place (a secret place)
A sweet escape (a sweet escape)
Take me away (take me away)
Take me away (take me away
To better days (to better days)
Take me away (take me away)
A higher place (a hiding place)
(2 times)


The sun is on my side
It takes me for a ride
I smile up to the sky
I know I'll be alright


The sun is on my side
It takes me for a ride
I smile up to the sky
I know I'll be alright

Source:
http://www.sweetslyrics.com

Thanks to Amanda who is temporary hosting Music Monday

& Diane@goodmourningglory who is taking a break.

Thanks to Denise for her Music Monday blog hop

Keep a song in your heart.

How To Disable Facebook Instant Personalization

Did you know that the new Facebook Instant Personalization privacy setting shares your user information to third party websites on default?

According to what I have understand through several articles, Facebook Instant Personalization means that any application or third party you use through FB will be able to pull out your user information to give you a personalized experience on their app/site.

I don't really know, if this is actually good or evil like discussed by many people on the web? Some say that these new settings make it easier for apps or sites to determine what you probably like on their site. You'll be able to see what people in your friends circle like related to this certain app/site, and it also works the other way around. On the other hand there are also people that say Instant Personalization leaves the doors open to privilege abuse. People are able to see your related activities and information, weather you like it or not. You can find more insightful articles on this issue on the web.

If you feel uncomfortable about this whole situation and decide that you want to be more in charge of your private information, you can still opt out of this setting. Here are steps on how to disable Facebook Instant Personalization:

1. Choose Privacy Settings from Account.
2. Scroll down to the left bottom of page and edit your settings in Applications and Websites.
3. Edit settings in Instant Personalization.
4. Deselect Enable instant personalization on partner websites and confirm to save changes.

You also might want to check out the Edit settings in Info accessible through your friends. There is a note saying that: your name, profile picture, gender, networks and user ID (along with any other information you've set to everyone) is available to friends' applications unless you turn off platform applications and websites.

Music is expression of harmony in sound.

Love is the expression of harmony in life

~Stephen F. Gaskin

Keep a song in your heart.

8 Tag Questions

My friend Amanda @ Bloggin' with Amanda has been tagged with 8 tag questions and passed them on to me. I need to answer these questions and then tag 8 others. Thanks for the tag, Amanda. Okay, let's start!

1. Why did you start blogging?

I didn't really know what blogging was when I started out writing on my first blog at Friendster. I think, back then I must have seen it as a sort of online diary. The first post Superman VS Batman in June 2008 was something about my son and his panties. LOL

My friends Alex and Waileng were the ones who brought me into real blogging. We moved together from Friendster to Blogger in January 2009, and it was a month after that when I came upon these fascinating photo memes that lead me to many new wonderful societies and friends in our Blogosphere.

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world with no restriction of costs, where would it be and why?

This might sound cliche, but I would want to travel to the most beautiful places in the world. Places that give away tranquility and still show the pure beauty of mother earth. You'll come on stunning photos, when you search for this keyword on Google Images. Wow!

3. Did you have a teacher in school that had a great influence on your life? If so, what?

I've been blessed with many wonderful teachers who have taught me about life. This reminds me of a quote I just wrote on my FB status for Teacher's Day earlier this month

"The true value of a teacher is determined not by what he knows, nor by his ability to impart what he knows, but by his ability to stimulate in others a desire to know."

~Prof. Robert Lee Madison

4. If you could spend the day with a famous person, who would it be, and what would you do?

Depends on what side of my personality takes over that day. Right now, I'm on holidays. The vacation mood is dominating and I would say bring Gerard Butler or Hugh Jackman to me. Do I have to explain more?

5. Toilet paper – over or under?

To be totally truth, I have no idea what the question means. English is not my mother language, you know.

6. Name one thing in your life that you would do over, if possible.

This is a tricky question. I admit that there are some things in life I would love to do over again, but I don't know about the new outcomes. Would circumstances really become better or worse? Like the butterfly effect, some things are just meant to be a certain way. I kind of like my position now. So, no. I'll skip on that.

7. Tell about your pets – if any.

We have cats inside and outside the house, plus a turtle. Before that we also had a marmot and hamsters, but unfortunately I was allergic. Add these critters with two kids and you have plenty of stories to tell. Let me give you a favorite and spare you.

8. Do you live in a small town or a large town. (You don’t have to name the town.)

I might say, it is a combination of both. I live in a smaller town at the border of a big city.

Now, who will I tag?
I love to play, but... Nope, I'm still no good at tagging.
Just play along, if you like.

PS. I just remembered that my daughter started blogging @ Amalia's Heart. Tag, you're it! Answer the 8 questions, dear.

Paper Windmill Craft | The Muffed Target 10

This is the silhouette of a paper windmill craft made by me and my daughter for one of her school projects. As usual, we love to take photos of artworks or crafts that we have done to keep them in our memories. I'm sure that I could have come up with a much better photo, if only we didn't have to finish this project until the last minute. My daughter got almost late to school and this is the best photo that I got. I dunno, what possibly went wrong? Too much or less light exposure or what? May be someone could give me some advice on this.

If you want to make a paper windmill craft, you could use these following materials:

• a plastic jar
• origami paper
• colorful aluminum paper
• a wooden stick and
  
• some nails.

The plastic jar was cut into the shape of a flower. Origami paper was cut into shapes of petals and glued onto the plastic jar. We used the colorful aluminum paper to wrap the wooden stick, and then nailed the windmill flower on it. Last but not least, we cut out some butterflies and leaves from the origami paper and glued them on the wooden stick and the flower.

I really wish you could see the actual colors of this paper windmill craft. But, then again it wouldn't be submitted to Thom's Muffed Target taken over from Gattina @gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com. Thanks for hosting, my friend. Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Music is expression of harmony in sound.

Love is the expression of harmony in life

~Stephen F. Gaskin

Keep a song in your heart.

Rob Thomas: Little Wonders Lyrics #MM

The song Little Wonders written and performed by Rob Thomas really got stuck into my head, when we were watching Meet The Robinsons on Saturday. I love the great tunes, uplifting lyrics and wonderful voice of the singer. It's a very inspiring song to get into this week's mood.

Little Wonders can be found as the fourth track in Disney's Box Office Hits album, released on 24 November 2008. You might want to check out the other 14 tracks as well. Besides Rob Thomas, you'll find several other popular songwriters and singers. I think it is an awesome compilation.

Besides going solo, Rob Thomas is also lead singer of the American rock band Matchbox 20 formed in 1995. Coming on the song Little Wonders reminded me of how much I loved their music back then. Although they are on a current hiatus, it has been stated that the band might will record another album at this end of year.

I hope you'll enjoy watching and listening to the video Little Wonders by Rob Thomas. It is an original soundtrack of the movie Meet The Robinsons. Keep moving forward!

Little Wonders lyrics

Songwriter: Rob Thomas

Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know the hardest part is over?
Let it in, let your clarity define you
In the end we will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made in these small hours
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours still remain

Let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine until you feel it all around you
And I don?t mind if it?s me you need to turn to
We?ll get by, it?s the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made in these small hours
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours still remain

All of my regret will wash away somehow
But I cannot forget the way I feel right now
In these small hours
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate
Yeah, these twists and turns of fate!

Time falls away, yeah but these small hours
And these small hours still remain, yeah
Ooh they still remain
These little wonders, oh these twists and turns of fate

Time falls away but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

Source:
http://www.elyrics.net

Thanks to Amanda who is temporary hosting Music Monday

& Diane@goodmourningglory who is taking a break.

Update September 7th:
Thanks to Denise who is giving away a $15 iTunes gift card
to one lucky participant at her Music Monday blog hop

Keep a song in your heart.

Nessa's Writer Workshop: Assignment 1-3

Thanks to Nessa

Sunday (20100829): Write one sentence about what I want; why I am participating in “Do It, Write!” Be as specific as possible in 25 words or less.

Monday (20100830): Write a list of at least 10 reasons why I haven’t perused or achieved what I want. Using a black marker, scratch out each excuse until I can’t see them anymore.

Tuesday (20100831): Write “I am a …” 10 times based on the sentence from Sunday.

My Assignment Answers

Sunday (20100829): Why do I participate?

I want to be a consistent writer and improve my skills with the help of serious critique and encouragement.

Monday (20100830): Why I haven’t perused or achieved what I want?

1. I don't have a fixed schedule to write.
   
2. I think too much before I begin to write.
   
3. I have not enough time to write.
4. I don't know what to write about.
5. I can't write long story lines.
6. I don't have knowledge enough to write.
7. My vocabulary is not large enough.
8. I get confused with grammar and spelling.
9. I'm concerned about what people will think.
10. I have to get into the mood before I can write.
    

Tuesday (20100831):

1. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
2. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
3. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
4. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
5. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
6. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
7. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
8. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
9. I am a consistent and skilled writer.
10. I am a consistent and skilled writer.

There are thousands of thoughts
lying within a man that he does not know
til he takes up the pen and writes.

~William Makepeace Thackeray

Secret | Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Thanks to Jenn for this week's theme

Secret

Come closer, my dear.
I'll whisper to you my heart.
No one else to hear.

~RA


The meme basics:

Haiku is simple!
It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively
(a great way to use your fingers!)

Thanks for every visit and comment.

Keep a song in your heart.