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...

Deadliner

Afternoon, dude. How's your fasting day? Keep the spirit high.

Today (September 3rd) I am so thrilled. Finally I manage to send my scholarship application after getting through a long winding road. Such a journey, man, I tell you. Yeah. Tomorrow is the deadline and the last document was signed this morning.
To tell you the truth, I'm kind of a deadliner (I don't know if this term is common, coz I make it myself. You know what I mean.), but it doesn't mean that I prepare those requirements the last days. Though somehow some problems always occur to test my patience and my emotion that I have to run here and there like crazy dealing with them.
It is hillarious how pieces of papers could make you go beyond reason. Just one of the example: I had non-stop journey just to get letter of recommendation from my academic supervisor and copies of certificates & academic transcript in English. I was in Gorontalo for work till Wednesday. The flight was at 11.20 a.m from Gorontalo, reached Soekarno-Hatta at about 4.30 p.m. I came home at 5.30 p.m and went to Gambir railway station at 7.00 p.m. I took Argo Lawu train, started from Gambir at 8.45 p.m and reached Tugu station in Jogja at 5.30 a.m. My friend picked me up to her house (to take a bath and had breakfast) then she took me to my campus at about 9.00 a.m. I stayed in campus till 2.30 p.m to get the documents. A little bit anxious because my English version certificate was not copied yet and you know, sometimes we couldn't get signature in one day. If I didn't get it that day, I didn't think I had enough time to submit my application. But, luckily I got them. Yaay, alhamdulillah.
So, after spending almost a whole day in campus, I went to LBA to meet my friend (and to take a bath). My cousin picked me up at 7.00 p.m to take me to Tugu station. I went back to Jakarta at the same day I arrived in Jogja, at 8.00 p.m. Two nights in row I slept on the train, which I couldn't. Friday morning, 5.30 a.m, I reached Gambir and an hour later arrived at boardinghouse. Did some cleaning and then I went to work. Yeah.
Hectic day has been my favorite eventhough I go crazy passing it. It always means something. That we really could go beyond.

E-Jacked!

Yesterday I got email from myself (through milist), entitled "I NEED HELP URGENTLY", saying that I am in London and having trouble...blah..blah..blah...then finally asking for money.
Riiiiiiiiiggghhht.....!
It is such a rubbish, dude. First of all, I don't write in English that well. Second of all, if I were in London... Oh, who am I kidding. It could be a possibility, but not at this moment.
Anyway, this e-jacking is annoying. Like someone breaks in to your house and mess up with your stuffs. Good thing I had cleared things up with some friends who got my "fake e-mail" and renew my password.

Intermezzo.
Last Saturday, August 9, 2008, I took IELTS test in Raffles International Christian School, Pondok Indah. It began at 09.30 a.m and ended at 12.00 p.m for the written test (listening, reading and writing), then continued by speaking test conducted by native speaker. My turn was at 04.00 p.m. Yeah, I waited pretty long for fiveteen minutes of speaking test. I haven't known the result yet. Hopefully I don't get a lousy score coz it cost me $ 150. Yeah, for that amount of money, you don't want to have low score, right? Hehe.
You know, it was my first time taking IELTS and also first to know the kind of questions. Man, it drove me nuts coz it's different with TOEFL, which I was familiar with, so in the first of five minutes each part I was just staring at the question sheets and went like "Okay...what am I doing here?" Then when the timer said "You've got twenty minutes more", I yelled in my heart "What, are you kidding me?! I havent' finished reading the the first text yet!" Waaarrrrggghhh...!"
A little thing I remember about IELTS (I took academic IELTS).
Listening. Usually in TOEFL, for all sections, it's multiple choices, whether you choose A, B, C or D. In IELTS, there are multiple choices and filling the blank with words. So if your ears are off for a while, you'll be lost.
Reading. There are some types: matching main idea to the paragraphs, matching statement to character or items, filling the blank with words. The first two using set alphabet.
Writing. Therea are two sections. First section is analyzing chart/graphic/picture. Second one is giving opinion about something.
Speaking. There are three sections. First one is introducing yourself. Second one, talking about a topic the native speaker gives you. Third one is giving opinion of further questions given by the native speaker.
The IELTS score, if I am not mistaken, range from 1.0 to 9.0. Or does it start from 0? Well... I guess I have to check that out first.

Only talking about it gives me a little headache (I am kidding. I have headache coz I had luch quite late so my brain hurt).

Okay, I have to go now.
Oh, almost forget. In that very day, Si Cantik was born at about 09.00 a.m. Yaaaay!
Now, I'll see you again, dude.

The Reunion

Hi, Dude. How's life going?
Yesterday, July 30th 2008, I went to Cafe Pisa, Setia Budi Building, to meet my high school friends. It's my first time to go there. As usual, I took a cab to take me coz I had no idea where the place was. Though I've been living in Jakarta for a couple years...still I am blind as a mole if you ask me the way. So, when you say "You should take the bus number T from Y, then take bus number W until you reach Z, get on to angkot number Q to get into X", then I will say "Can I just take a cab?"
I don't know, maybe my brain is not ready yet for the mapping. Or I'm too lazy to memorize. Or perhaps I'm just slow.
Anyway, we met. When I got there, it was already merry. I was glad seeing them. New looks, new styles, new way of talking. People do grow..hehehe. I was so amazed.
You know what's funny. My junior in college, whom I went there with, was a bit surprised seeing "The Bloranians". She thought that all Bloranians are old-fashioned (ndesit) people like me..hahahaha...then she noticed that it was so wrong. Bloranians in Jakarta have transformed into "shopiscticated" people. That's normal coz big city is, indeed, influencing people to get better (looks, styles, ways). The conclusion is, maybe I am the one who's not normal, coz I'm still trapped in vintage world. Wakakakakak....!
Well, everyone has their own color. I like mine, so I enjoy.
Yesterday's reunion is another open door. New agendas are waiting to be done. And most important thing, old friendship will blossom again. Nice seeing you, guys. Keep in touch!

Let it out

There are times in work where I meet my enemy, dead end. Actually, there's no dead end as literally said, but the situation that feels like one. You know, two jobs in one bottle where the output comes from the same neck. Which one should be out first while the deadline only knows one line.

I had one just recently and it drove me nuts for a few days. Like you wanted to scream to your heart's content. You raced with yourself. It's hectic, but fun. It's overwhelming, but challenging.
I knew that I would eventually finish them. That's one of small lights that kept me going. I had to make decision, though, to have priority.

Now, I need a vacation (n_n)

Bluffer Muffler

I dont' get why some boys put that super freaky noisy muffler on their bikes. I really don't. What are they, tone deaf? I have a friend whose bike has that kind of muffler, and everytime he starts the engine it roars like horrible screaming contest. Not to mention the smoke that comes out of it. So, the muffler is basically a chimney with that loud lousy sound. He says it's cool. I say it's stupid. But then again, everyone has their own opinions....and ears.

Every night, on the street - in front of my boarding house - once or twice... or more.. in every hour I hear that sound from the dark world. I wonder if they are in competition coz they speed up. You see that, horrible sound in high speed? Makes me think what a creepy dough if they crash. It's public highway, man, not racing circuit.

Talking about motorbikers in Jakarta is talking about daredevils. Often when we raise our hands - crossing street - they're speeding up instead of slowing down. Like NO means YES. And they're making the sidewalk becomes red carpet where they can ride along in style. Like PEDESTRIAN means third class citizen. Hello......??? Maybe we should build fence along the sidewalk... or hedgerow. Hey, dude, this is my territory and that's yours. Keep it that way!