11.27

I wish people would just leave me alone on this 'sacred' day. I didn't want to have a bizarre day. Deliberately didn't plan anything. The only plan (aside from cleaning up) was to spend the afternoon in the beach watching sunset and write.

Plan didn't happen because a couple of friends asked if I wanted to catch Harry Potter movie. Tough luck, long queue (mostly kids) so we decided to have lunch and check out if we could make it to the next show.

Long lunch is always pleasurable. Galeria is notorious for lousy restos, but this "warung ijo" is acceptable as they have decent food with decent prize with extra crackers for snack. Free. So the 3 of us chat about things, of course also unavoidable topic: the male of the species. Some points were already on my mind, but to hear it coming from a friend out loud gave stronger resonance to my thinking about some things. Ohwell, they meant well I know, but will see. As always, easier said than done.

We didn't get tix (didn't even bother to queue anyway). They ended up have some massage. I only tagged along as I didn't drive. Lazy afternoon. Not much things done, at least I get a chance to write this when I got home. No sunset tho, I'll catch it another day I guess.

Nothing new, a birthday is just another day...
No cake
No candles
No drinks
No delicatessen
No confetti
No boyfriend
Can it be anymore pathetic??
LOL.

another year passed

365 days ago I arranged a single celebration combined. Not like the usual mix of other people's celebration, but of a different kind (sorry, but only limited people know what I'm talking about). I'm never crazy about having a gathering (forget about party!) that has me on the lime light, I only arranged it to have a 'last' gathering with the big fam. 30 days earlier I've decided to take a big step on life path and work. A big change that scared me a little bit and I needed all the blessings and prayers I could get. This year is also special as it marks a year of living 'independently' far from family. Yeah I know Bali is just 1.5 hour flight, so not that far).

365 days passed with so many changes around my life. Unfortunately most of my waking hours was consumed with work that sometimes I lost chances to look inside and listen to the inner voice. The mornings were swept with one task after another, the evenings flew away with me being exhausted. On good days I get to get together with friends tho, which is a good break to have once a while.

365 days of interesting happenings, some are already predicted with slightly different details, some are just too surprising. Either I get lucky with a new challenging task, or meeting new people, new friends... Creating new responsibilities for myself, new possibilities. Things are just expanding.

365 days never ended without asking the big questions. It seems to be a waste if one year only went by with the basics stuff. There are just things keep rolling in my head and I will never stop pondering until there's a clear answer. Questions about the days passed, questions about the days to come, about people, and all the substantive things in life.

365 days only but I know some things in me changed, evolved. I can accept people more, just the way they are (some with their annoyingly stupid questions, some with their obnoxious attitude, some with attribute that's altogether is wrong). I learned to live a more meaningful single life from observing singleton gals who are older than I. I also learned that small kings deserve to be treated as kings in their kingdom, being subservient, without being a doormat.

365 days already, but yet still more things to do. The future needs to be prepared. Destiny needs to be fulfilled (if only I know what mine is to ensure the fulfillment).

365 days to be thankful for. Quick items on the list: good health, day in day out; good work; good friends; good family; good landlord/lady; small miracles that happened; good life.

365 days have passed but 1 thing still hasn't changed, still prefer to be alone on 'da big day'. Still antisocial, of course would be great if there's someone who could help me thinking out loud. Now, I'd just think out loud and typing here. I know my friends would be much disappointed if I hide, but I hope they'll learn this silliness and accept that part of me.

Small celebration would be later if any, besides, it's tanggal tua!! Wait til I get my paycheck ok, then dessert's on me! ;)

5.3 km taxifare = Rp.22,600, 7 mins
5.3 km bus+taxi = Rp.17,000, 2 mins wait for bus, 3 mins bus ride, 3 mins wait for taxi, 5 mins taxi ride.

Bali transportation is just ridiculous, if not non-existant. I noticed the condition when I had 10 day stay here, so already anticipated and made sure I have transportation to go places if I don't want to be stranded.

Today semi-voluntarily I took the bus after dropping off the car and later for picking it up. There was no time constraint so I just enjoyed the ride, the wait, but not the paying though. With that Rp.39,600 I could buy some gas and use it to go back and forth to the office for 5 days.

I've always enjoyed bus rides in Jakarta (despite the packed and dirty buses), but it's economical and less stressful than having to focus on the street. I love looking at things around, if I get a driver like in the bus/taxi I could do my observation and of course take pictures of bizzare things happen in the streets here. For the latter, I tried once took picture while driving, I found it really distracting and dangerous so I never did it again.

Still amazed by a friend who work in the office and doesn't drive. She's one nervous person can't handle traffic and crazy bike, but I think spending that much money in 1 errand makes me more nervous.

giving thanks

I want my Thanksgiving holiday too!

So busy catching up on people before the Thanksgiving holiday. If Canadian have it on October in relation to harvest time, US having it this weekend in relation to ... I've no idea what.

Well, if I don't get holiday in our national holidays, how come I don't get the US holiday? Would be super to have 4 days off. Sleep on 24th, sleep on 25th and more sleep on the following weekend. Isn't sleep life or what? Heheee..

Ohwell, there should be time for me to collect it, and that should be by the end of the year, come hell or high water.

In the mean time, I'm counting my blessings... Some are complete blessings (good health, good life, good family, good work, good friends, food, etc). Some are not a usual good stuff, but I believe is my portion, so I'll take it as mixed blessings (wrecked cars, extra hours of work, appointed to do voluntary work, being single, (sort of) alone in the island, etc).

Isn't life rich?? So many things to look at!!

it's just ain't my week

They said bad things come in threes???
No thanks!! 2 is more than enough for me!

A couple of days ago after dropping off my boss' wife the cute little black car had it's first wreck. I was avoiding this huge hardtop and then my tire stuck on something. Can't move forward, neither backward. Took a look and studied the situation it seemed I had to pull it more. So I did and it ripped the right side of the bumper. BUMMER!!

Move forward, I had to take out my boss' huge mercedes jeep and during the process it slightly bumped into the car in the left and created a small crack on the bumper. BUMMER BUMMER!!

What's wrong with me and bumpers?? Thinking about it just makes me depressed. But regretting and cursing the incidents just won't do any good. I need to talk to my friend and ready to pay for the damage, and also take care of my car as well.

Hhmmm... If only I can skip driving for the next couple of days and cool down so no more bumper crashing anymore for some time. Actually it should be for a long time, with a break or without break from driving.

sax made easy

On the olden days my friends and I would be awed whenever we watch Kenny G or Dave Koz perform. The way they played saxophone and write songs are just amazing. They were breathtaking and the music just swoon the hearts.

And just last night I saw two kids (Gadis, age 12 and Bazz G, 10) played the instrument as if it's a toy to them. They just blow and made music effortlessly. Even the gal stomped her foot, moved around and danced along. Mahvelus!!

Good for them to know what they're good at and start making money from it from early age. Cool kids indeed.

The event was BALI JAZZ FESTIVAL. Held on Nov 18-20, a three day fest with jazz performance from all of the world and Indonesia of course.

ps. Thanks to bli PP who got me free tix (my friend sure feel glad to know I have "contact" in high place ;))

plants snatcher

I was pretty surprised (if not shocked) when I got home today. I don't usually open the back door, as I usually got home pretty late so nothing I can do in the 2x4 open space. Today as I opened it I found the area was squeeky clean.

Well, it's not that it wasn't that dirty, but the tiny gutter habitated with some chillie plants (the seed must be from my neighbor who cooks), and other plants I wasn't sure what they were called. Now they were all gone!! Drat, just when I was starting to harvest big chillies (I don't cook, so I just give it to someone in the office).

The disturbing fact is that the landlord/lady had been inside my room for how many times only God knows. Hmmm... pity they had to witness my unmade bed, scattered papers and books, wet laundries hanged across the room, and the dead bodies... kidding. As much as I 'have' to trust them, I believe they should respect my and they at least should have asked my permission to come in and clean up while I was at work. I mean if I knew, I would have asked them to sweep the floor, clean the windows and scrub the bathroom as well. Right?!!

Well, they (or whoever did the cleaning) did a good job, so there goes funny plants I used to stare at when I don't have anything better to do.

ass u me

assume, as 1 meaning is to take as granted or true.

Is it wrong to assume? depends, of course. A good friend always say, "Don't assume, just ask." Right. I usually assume when:
- there's not enough data
- too lazy (or busy) to dig in for more data and cling on the existing only
- work done hundred times already and everybody already knows the drill
- too lazy (or busy) to follow up on regular tasks
- reluctancy

When talking to boss i don't use the word 'assume', the sentece may reflect it, but never ever use the A word. the minute you use it, it puts you in the wrong.

Then one time a colleague told me how a superior staff define the word - which I think was rather mindless. "Don't use the word assume! do you know what assume means? Assume is ass-u-me."

Briliant!! That's more of playing silly word game that doesn't make any sense. I mean AFAIK my ass is fine, I don't know yours :p. OK... I get the message. Be selective on your words lest it'll come back to you as sure as a boomerang.

Sure it did. My boss later on used the word in capital letters, the superior staff said nothing. Hah!! If you feel so damn right, why don't you tell it to the boss' face?!!

holiday wot??!

Who said Lebaran is a long relaxing holiday??

I could see myself very much stuck in this office for the past 2 days, also today. Oh fun!

As usual, last minute request. Good thing I didn't issue the ticket. But even if I did I they should pay for it. Since I'm assigned to help another department, is there a chance they will also assign their salary to my account? *tongue in cheek*

So let's see... I got another 1.5 month to work, slave myself and hopefully (I mean HOPEFULLY) I will my long holiday on Dec. That could b e another challenge, so perhaps we should start the discussion early on. I hope it wouldn't be fist fight (again).

OK, enough working already.
Work hard, party harder!
Am off for my (remaining) weekend.

Toodles!