Fire-cranker

I saw something unusual yesterday morning. Some men wore certain shirts and hats; and they seemed having coordination in the Block I lobby. I had never seen such uniform, so I guessed there was a special occasion. When we were having routine job in the office, at about 10.00 a.m suddenly one of the men - on special shirt - came and checked things out. Something was about to happen. I knew that. Then I remembered that my friend told me there would be a fire simulation, so I confirmed. "Will it be fire simulation?" I asked. "Just wait and see". Okay, that meant yes.
"When you heard the smoke bomb, run!" Mr. BS said that when I asked what time would it be. He clearly knew when the simulation began and didn't want to tell. But seeing the inspection I guess it wouldn't be long. I started to put my notebook in my bag and be ready to scram anytime. Just couple seconds after putting my notebook into my bag, my boss asked to borrowed it. I had told him that we would have "fire" soon, but he insisted. So I reluctantly gave it to him. I didn't know how the simulation would be, who knew there would be water spray that could damage my notebook. It's still a precious thing for me, man, since it took me a year to pay it (psstt...) and just got it finished couple months ago.
Not more than five minutes later, I heard something exploded, the alarm rang, and men - on special shirt - gave instruction for us to get out froum our rooms and went through the stairs. I also heard a taped voice in the speaker, telling us to go out quickly through the stairs and not taking the elevator.
My boss, who sat still and worked didn't seem to take it seriously about the situation, untill I came to him, a little uneasy. "Sir, come on, there's fire! Let's ruuuun!" Though I sounded that I cared about his being, actually I only cared about my notebook. Hehehehe. Maybe it's just a simulation, but hey, we couldn't be that careless to leave that expensive and important stuff (once again, for me) in the room. Perhaps if there was really a fire, then I wouldn't that mind leave everything and just run. Safety is the first. But since it's still doable to gather my things, then I would do it.
So I took my notebook from his desk, still with his two flash discs on it and ran. "My notebook's softcase!" I said before leaving the room. "Okay, okay, I'll bring it," My boss replied. He might be very annoyed with my attitude at that time, I could see it on his face. "I still need your notebook. You get back here as soon as this thing over," he added. Hehe..
People had already left their offices when I came out. Silly thing I forgot to take my cellphone in my drawer and I had to go back. When I was out for the second time, the hall was already full with orange smoke, a thick smelly smoke. It's worse than mosquito's smoke attack, man. But I think real fire would be a lot worse.
The alarm sound and smoke covered Block I and Block IV building. We were walking to the yard for evacuation. If this was real, I don't think we would be that calm. The canteens wouldn't be that crowded. And those ladies wouldn't speed off to Tanah Abang for brief shopping.
I went to parking lot in front of Block IV where peole had already been there. I saw something pretty different view. There were many young man and woman, looking fresh and chic outside. Well, that's something. So that's how those people looked. You see, Block IV was the place for private company and offices, so the employees somehow had different look-type with us, civil servants. Hahahaha... I was just kidding... no, it's true. We're a little bit different indeed. Just like "Metropolis" versus "Margipolis" (comes from the word 'marginal') - Hey, I do make new words here. Well, it's my blog, I can say anything I want..tehehehe. I don't mean to generalize. Young civil servants are fashionable too now, but still most of us are just ordinary.
All right, back to the fire. People were taking pictures, even taped it on video when a strong spray of water from a hose came out of one of the window, along with the orange smoke. Maybe it was supposed to be the "fire". I sensed something was missing there. But what?
Then the sirene wailed and came a fire truck. That's it! When there was fire, there should be fire truck coming in short time. But at that time, it was not that short. If it was a real one, there would be dead people already. Where the heck have you been, dude?
Those firemen pulled off the hose from its place and dragged it to the hydrant. After filled with water, they aimed it at the fake fire. Some people cheered like seeing a mortal combat show between good water and bad water - the fake fire. Some others just made comment "They sure help the cleaning service to clean that unreachable wall" and "Hey, look at that, some people are lucky to have their cars washed for free. Wish I put my car there this morning" when the water hit some cars in the parking lot.
Yeah, adults enjoyed this occasion as two hours free time from work, but I did see a kid cried. He asked to his father to take him home. He was really scared. Eventhough his dad and somebody told him that it was fake, he didn't buy it. If I were him, I would be afraid too. Not with the smoke on bad water, but with Godzilla.
No coherence with previous line, huh? I don't care.
I heard this simulation is regular - once in a year maybe, but in a few years back there was also a simulation to safe people from higher floor, using a special equipment for people to glide from windows to the yard. That would be really fun...

My "Great" Great Granny

There's never a wish, better than this, if you only had a hundred years to live (Five For Fighting - 100 years)



I believe that I'm one of the lucky people regarding family. I still have a great granny. Until yesterday...

At around 08.30 a.m, my great granny from my dad passed away (Tuesday, 7 October 2008) after almost a hundred years living in this world. I don't know exactly how old she was, but my dad is 51 years old, so Mbah Dok (my great granny's nickname) would possibly be more than 90 years old.

She was a very tough woman. She still recognized us in the last days of her life. I visited her this lebaran day. She had already been in bed for about 40 days after she fell down in the bathroom. She didn't eat at all, only took water. My dad, my sister, my brother and I held her hand when we greeted her. She said to us that it was the time for her to go and she asked us to let her go. And we said we did.


I was sad hearing that, but I thought that she had had her journey well. She did a great job nurturing all of us. You see, she had been through a lot, more than most people could bear. She had nine children but only two survived. They died when they were little. She experienced pains, losses, disaster, problems, any kind of things for ages and yet she still got up and fought. Even for her age, she was still taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren when they were in trouble. She's just a hard bedrock, man. Like no bullet would make her get shot, no bomb would make her explode, no nuclear weapon would make her surrender. Remember the battery rabbit? I guess my great granny is like that one.

Yeah, when you have been through so much in your life, anything that happens to you is just another day. Just bring it on!

Mbah Dok, thank you so much for what you have done for all of us.
I will keep you in my heart always.
LOVE YOU...