schtuff, adore.

So I read his article on GQ July 2008 and I must say I FRIGGIN LOVED IT! It was honest, bitter, witty, and entertaining. Well, for me, at least. Maybe somehow I totally get his point of view. Doesn’t mean that I grew up in unhappy family (I’ve read a little about his history that he grew up in an unhappy Orthodox Jewish family) to get his point of view. In fact, i grew up well with tremendous happiness.

Anyway, after I read his article, I’m planning to buy his books titled Foreskin’s Lament : A Memoir and Beware of God : Stories. After googling here and there and read a couple reviews, I found his book are really worth to buy and read. Makes me wanting more to buy them soon! I wonder if they’re available here in Indonesia. I haven’t got the chance to look for them in stores.

 

If you read this while you’re eating, the food will come out your nose. Foreskin’s Lament is a filthy and slightly troubling dialogue with God, the big, old, physically abusive ultra orthodox God who brought His Chosen People out of Egypt to torture them with non-kosher Slim Jims. I loved this book and will never again look at the isolated religious nutjobs on the fringe of American society with anything less than love and understanding.”

– Matt Klam, author of Sam the Cat, on Foreskin’s Lament : A Memoir

 

… (an) extraordinary collection, which has an energy, a precision and a deep black humour I haven’t seen in a long time. I suggest you read it, in order, in one go. It won’t take long; the stories are short. It’s like drinking 14 shots of vodka. The effect is similarly disorienting… They read as though they have, in the writer’s dream formulation, written themselves. I found myself asking, again and again, “why hasn’t this been done already?” That’s a good sign – a sign, almost, of genius; or at least of something pretty close to it. You will not get these out of your head once they’re in there.”

– Nicholas Lezard, The Guardian, on Beware of God : Stories

For more info about him and his works, check his official website out!

Auslander’s picture from here.

1st Row (left to right) : Billy Kirk, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lambertson Truex

2nd Row (left to right) : Sandstorm, Urban Outfitters, Tumi

Writer’s faves are Sandstorm & Lambertson Truex

Which ones are yours?

For more pics click here.

Click image to enlarge

Another pictures from personal documentation. I’ve asked my sister about the pictures from professional photographer, but they haven’t ready yet for about a month, blah! These few pictures pretty much show us the event process, hopefully

The groom and his crew just arrived

My mother – welcoming the groom

My Father – put keris on the groom

Ijab Kabul (a.k.a. I Do’s part)

The Newly Wed Couple

The wedding party – Here’s come the newly wed

Traditional dancers (Can you see me? I’m sitting over there! )

The newly wed with their parents plus the dancers

                                      Wedding car no.2      VW police car     Ready to convoy

Click image to enlarge

Here are few pictures from “siraman” ceremony, including “pengajian” and “ngaras”. All pictures are from personal documentation, so ignore the not-really-good angles

First picture of the day – My family

Pengajian

My sister – sat on our parents’ lap

Washing her mother’s feet

Ngaras (sungkeman) – asked permission and forgiveness

Washing her father’s feet

Sungkem to her father

My sister and me – it’s the moment i was talking about

Click image to enlarge

Thanks God It’s Friday! Tonight I’m going to have a midnight road trip to Bandung with Volkswagen Racing Association (VRA). Well, it’s more to I beg them to give me a lift to Bandung, hahah. I think that’s one of the advantages if your dad is happen to be the head of VRA, LOL.

This weekend, I’ll be back to Bandung for Anky’s Farewell Party. The Party will be held in two places, we’re going to have a dinner at Cozy (Iyas’ place) and the next venue is The Cellar. By the hostess request, flip-flops and shorts are not allowed. Well, who would wear them on saturday night at the place like The Cellar anyway?! I’ll manage to take some pictures, so I can put them up on the next post.

Cheers!

Feels good to be home, indeed. Though that I always feel tired on the way home (from Jakarta to Bandung) every weekend, but instantly I forget about my tiredness and I feel much better as I step my foot in Bandung. And now, I’m enjoying Bandung at its best. Yep, I’m talking about its cool weather. Some people says that lately the weather here is as hot as in Jakarta. I must admit that I was one of them and I was totally wrong. I know that Bandung in the afternoon sometimes really hot, but compare it with the weather there in Jakarta? Nah!

Anyway, the reason I come back home this weekends is for my the one and only sister’s wedding ceremony on sunday night. Hope everything’s going well as we planned. I kinda feel bad for not really helping her to get thru the wed preparations. But hey, I always include her on my pray, so yeah it kinda make me feel a bit better. Today, the “pengajian” and “siraman” ceremony went well. And whoaa, that “ngaras” thing really touched me, not as I expected! A touch on my soft side as my friend said.

Well, all the best for you, sister! Start tomorrow, you’ll live a new life. A new chapter of your life….

Congrats and hugs,

Your favorite brother (since I’m the only brother and sibling you have after all )