when being "busy" is not good for the business

The laundry lady returned a bundle of unwashed clothes this morning. Arrgghhh!! It was the same bundle I dropped in a week ago. What the heck is it doing sitting there unwashed? Ugghh, won't even imagine the germs gorging....

I see this trend 2 months ago, but then the service resumed, and right now it only got worse. How big is your bundle of clothes in two weeks? Quite a lot, don't you think?! Well, that's the bundle they're holding now. Two weeks worth of laundry. For a person who doesn't have lots of clothing, this can be a potential stress.

When some people say "what should i wear this morning?" is actually showing off that they just have too many clothes in their closets, mine would be "i don't have any clothes left!!". Literally.

Their excuse? "Repot, tiang be upacara!" (read: I'm busy, I have lots of ceremonies).

In Bali, it's very classic. So classic, for some people outside their culture it's unacceptable. You try to run a business (for example a simple one, like laundry), but most of your time are spent preparing for these upacaras. You have to prepare canang, kewangen/sesajen, gebogan (for a bigger ceremonies), rayunan/ajengan (dishes set up for people attending the ceremony), jotan (similar dishes set up for people who couldn't attend). It's more like a feast, you see, but what happens if you keep busying yourself from one feast to another (ie. spending money everytime there's a big feast/upacara, and in Bali, that happens at least weekly)?? Sure is bad for business.

Well, I'm a bit stuck here... So that means need to move to another laundro mat. Or... I should get my own washing machine and ironing and ironing board (whoa!!). Or... I should just shop more clothes. Now that sounds fun!

feed the gods, feed the people

wasted

learned from previous experience to plan ahead for long weekends. but what can i do if something comes up? force majeur. more tuff if the big boss is the force majeur. big time!

the biggy plan was either pulkam (read: Jakarta) or get out of the island. lombok was along the line, and was most appealing as transport would be much cheaper. already planned to drive across with a friend and just explore the island. serious explore or just killing time would do.

as anticipated, boss voluntarily came and asked to work on some projects on friday. lovely.

so there goes my three wasted valuable days. at least this time i haven't pack anything yet, so don't have to unpack packed suitcase.

partypooper.

compensation: went to this abg (read: juvenile) event in seminyak area with some friends. we didn't come for the party, just to hang out in an open roof club (? cafe? bar?). slouching in a long bale (read: bed?), staring at the stars and the fullmoon, and talking and chatting. the next thing i know they were closing, so had to move and go home... yawn.

when was the last time i make a wish?
when was the last time my wish come true?
as one gets older and the reason rules
poor imagination lost its charm
. . . .

how is it can one go back and have a glimpse
of that inner child to re-exist
look up above and deeply awed
silently pray a and breath a wish
. . . .

star light.. star bright
first star i see tonight
i wish i might, i wish i may
have the wish i wish tonight

prana

+ You see all these cables, electric plugs, computers and gadgets? They create negative energy..
- Hu-uh (??)
+ Yes, the energies make people tired
- Hu-uh (?)
+ Let me ask you something, do you feel tired?
- Well, you work eight hours a day, sometimes more, I think it’s normal
+ No, it’s not. Let me show you something

He went to his bag and pulled out two L shape iron-sticks. He held the short handle in a way that the longer handles are above his grips. He moved to the end of the room and walked toward me with the sticks facing me (rather intimidating). As he got closer, the long sticks moved inward, as if something prevented it from getting near me.

+ You see that? So your body protection is only around here (moving his hand approx. 1 m in front of me, forming half circle). That’s why you get tired
- Hu-uh (??)
+ Now let me try another thing. Lift your left arm and you hold as strong as you can as I push it down, ok
- Yeah
+ See, that was easy, I only used one finger
- Well, that was my left arm, I’m right handed
+ Ok, now let’s try your right hand. See, that’s only one finger
- (??)

There was a commotion inside the room. Two people came in. Similar explanation, similar demonstration on both people.

+ You will see that after I clean all the energy here, you will feel better, your body protection will increase
- Hmmm (??)

He went to the end of the room again. Stood there, legs apart, eyes closed, and started inhaling and exhaling with a noise. Hoooooo... whooooooosshhh…

The other two went silent, as if gave him time and space to concentrate and do his prana power energy cleaning.. clearing.. flushing.. Not sure which.

Time passed. Not very long, around 5-7 minutes. And he opened his eyes.

+ Wow, that was great. Do you know what I did? I went up, around 15 m, I saw all these energies rolling around in this room, but also around the compound. So cleaned all the energy. Now there’s no negative energy here. Your computers are clean, your phones are clean
* Wow, far out!
- Huh (come again??)
+ Yes, everything here is clean. Now, let’s try this again and see what it did to your body

He pulled out his sticks again, and asked me to stand up in the usual place. He moved toward me and the sticks moved inward just after he took two steps.

+ You see, after what I did your body protection is now here

He moved his hand making a circle around 2.5 m in front of me. The commotion kept going around the three, then at a point he put his hand on my back. (hmm.. what the heck was he trying to do???)

* Whoa.. that’s awesome!
- Hmm.. (??)
+ Yes, now let’s try this to each one of you. Blah blah blah.. Now if only I can work with the other in another rooms.. Blah blah blah..
- Excuse me, but shall we have lunch now?

(??) meant a lot as it represents unwritten thoughts which are private. It’s troubling enough seeing what people do here day in-day out which I think invite more ‘negative energy’, so I don’t think I need more of it. Yes, I’d simply categorize it as another mumbo jumbo new age thang. Prana, eh? I wonder if he knows the difference of kundalini, kundasari and kundarasa. Not an expert myself, just enough to see the slip.

Well, he could try to impress other people with his theory, but it was nothing more than observinge moment for me, see how they actually do it. Far in my silly imagination (after reading some articles about it) maybe I expect to see some demonstration. Flashing lights, power shortage, clashing electricity.. hmmm.. maybe not, we don’t wanna create fire in the office, do we?? :p

That was a week ago. Nothing changed. Still felt tired after a long day, but after a good night sleep I feel fresh and ready to face another day. Now that’s energy recharging method I like best. Besides, the Source of Energy I know is so much powerful.

I wonder, am I going to see more of this? This energy cleansing.. flushing.. (toilet??) or whatever it’s called.

humanizing pet(s)

Animals like to be called by their names. Just like humans. Get attached to it and refuse to respond when it’s called with a different name.

There are funny names that have been used by many people for many years and make them legitimately animal names. There are proper names for dogs: Spot, Bruno, Rex, Nero, Comet, etc. Names for cats: Kitty, etc (what else? Nothing came up, never had cat pet).

The sun slowly rose. Like me perhaps, it didn’t get enough rest the night before but realizing the whole world is depending on its predictability, it showed up. Reluctantly. Global warming, they say? Maybe they’re wrong. It’s April, and its counterpart, the rain, seemed to be ready to shower the earth.

Perfect morning, especially when you have the luxury of spending it on a lazy beach chair staring at the wave yawning. We were a different group of people. A model, a photographer, an assistant, and a bag carrier. Each of us had rushed our way to the beach to catch the early ray. Not to slouch or kill time, but for work. All were excited, but disappointed when our ‘date’ came late.

Four tall figures slowly approached us. Finally. Tied one with another, and leading them was the trainer. They seemed to be well fed, clean, set with two-seat saddles. Our date was one big dumb-looking camel. We picked the most friendly as recommended by the coach and started the photo shoot.

Did I say camels looked dumb, well this one was also stubborn, although the trainer claimed it otherwise. The photographer had to take all angles so asked if the animal could turn the head another direction. The trainer jumped in and started yelling in English (yes, the camels understand English, after all they were originally from Australia). “SEE HERE..!! HERE!! HERE… C’MON ISABELLA.. SEE HERE ISABELLA!!”

“Yes, it’s ok, I just need to shoot from this angle”.

I suddenly looked at both the trainer and the photographer and thought “oooppsss!!”

“HERE, C’MON..SEE HERE!! JUST CALL HER. HER NAME’S ISABELLA”

The trainer kept yelling enthusiastically and suddenly she realized the fact, “Ohh.. I thought you were talking to me”.

It’s confusing when people name the strangest animal. Cows. Pigs. Goats. Well, definitely I don’t want to befriend with something that will be served on my plate a few months later. The other three camels were named: Jenghis Kahn, Cherry & Jeddah (while I think they should be named Dumb, Dumber, Dumberer and Dumb Master). Still more confusing when people name their animals with people names. I don’t think you want to name your dog with a woman’s name and later on you meet a girl whose mother share the same name with your dog. Well, some people name their pet after people they hate. A guy feels good after kicking Rodney, a rottweiler that was named after his mean boss.

“So, now we have two Isabellas”

Laughing, “Yes, if you ever get angry with me, you just go down here and get at that Isabella”

“Hhhhmmphhh” I just needed to scoot from them. Tired of keeping a straight face.

prayers and the pontiff

So it seems to be that millions of people’s prayers was not answered, where the answer was a blunt “no”. I believe millions prayed asking God to heal the pope. And we all know that he passed away yesterday. But then a no is still an answer.

It reminds us even what to pray for is important. A bit tricky isn’t it, where we ask God what to pray for?? I don’t think so, it makes the prayer more effective. Rather than asking what’s selfish, we try to pursue what God wants in the issue. Like the pope, he’s old, has been sick for quite some time (at least 10 yrs), what do we know how he feels, what he’s ailing, and if he’s suffering?

Reminds me of my 84 yo granny. Same age as the pontiff, an active old lady who is blessed with good health. I think she’s happy, but the whole family knows that she can’t wait to leave this world. I guess she’s tired, and bored, and lonely. We try all we could to keep her company, her children and grandchildren. She’s happy and grateful at those times. Glad to see her children are doing well, also most of her children’s children, even blessed with a great grandchild. But I guess she just wants to go home.

I don’t think there’s anyway we could find out what the pontiff’s prayers, but my granny’s was to be called home. It’s sad, but I guess it’s her decision. I respect that, even admire when most people work hard to live long, be immortal if possible. She’s someone who knows when enough is enough.