Welcome to the Real World

Well. say goodbye to the innocence and restless of youth, and welcome to the real world. I must not regret about this farewell, instead of being grateful for the moments I left behind. One year since my life turns upside down, for real. I have tried to move on. I never thought it would be so hard. Gone are the days of flowing water, living for today, and never caring for myself. There are too many risks to take, too much bet at stake. Maybe it's not time to complain, but again when is it? Just do your best and be thankful, at leat you can do.

One Year of Job

It's been one year since I back to work. After my second dropping out of college, it took 20 days until I get a new job, unexpectedly. Just like my old jobs, I got this one completely on behalf of friendship. Well, a lot of things have happened since last year. I have lost and found something in my life. No regrets, I suppose. I made many new friends, got new experiences, but also lost an important part of my life, kinda like a lost-and-found session. C'est la vie, ma chérie.

Here Comes the Flood, There Goes the Flood

The flood strikes back! After 2007, this probably the biggest flood in Jakarta ever. Now it's more widespread and quite intimidating. Well, if the flooding area is the heart of Jakarta, a.k.a. the Indonesia Hotel square, wouldn't it mean something? Last time, it's only the usual suspects, the area that flooded year by year. Well, that if the dam is intact, we won't have this discussion. The rain is not as often as last years, but the impact is more devastating. Everytime there's flood coming, my thoughts always come to the year 1993. That year, a big flood swept my hometown, right in the place where I was born. For a week the town is isolated from the world, the electricity is out, the rivers were ready to spill, the streets turn to canals, and the rain kept falling. Thank God we could get through it.

'Deserve's Got Nothing to Do with It' or Does It?

Just a little quote from a movie forum:

Deserves got nothing to do with anything in this life. I used this phrase often.
The winner in any sport competition does not have to be the best team. Academy Award Best Picture winner does not have to be
the best picture of that year.
Some of the students that failed in exams were not the stupidest in their class.
The elected president does not have to be the best candidate.
The husband of the prettiest women does not have to be the coolest dude around.
Life is not always fair. Life is just like that. Nobody wants you when you loose, Nobody loves you when you're down and out. And there is no justice for the loosing side. 

 Some calls it "Law of Nature", some calls it "God's Justice", some calls it "Shit Happens". Just pick your poison.

Yet Another New Year

It's new year's eve, time to blog again, everybody? After the rush hour and moving deadlines by the end of the year, closed by consecutive road trip to Malang for my little brother's wedding, finally some peace and quiet days are coming. Well, last year is an unexpectedly hectic chain of events for me, especially. My mother's health got worse culminated to her death, my extremely fast track engagement and wedding and aftermath, and of course, workload along woth the pressure. Also, my health issue, my mother-in-law's health issue, and my brother's wedding to round it all.
And yes, I lost much last year, but also gain some. I've lost both my parents, and struggled to keep the family from segregating. I also have a new family, and still wonder how to manage it, with this kind of long distance relationship. Now, a new year and a new home to live in, I kinda wonder if this year will be more exciting than last year. Well, we can only wait and see...

You're (Not) So Vain

Anybody recognized this song (written and performed by Carly Simon in 1972)? the famous line: "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." The mystery about the person hid behind the lyrics is very famous and still fascinates many people up till now. Well, what if it is you that become the person, or simply become the inspiration for a song, book, or movie? Are you gonna be proud, excited, flattered, embarrassed, or even angry? Or is it simply a mixture of them all? One thing for sure, you'll never know it exactly because most of the times, especially if you are not that famous, the author never tells the (whole) truth behind the story, or tell the person directly. That is enough to keep some interests in the work, a layer of mystery, a puzzle to solve, and curiosity, and maybe, add some colors to your life too.

Ignorance Is Bliss (?)

Sometimes, it's better to not know something, when knowing that something just gonna make you sad or regret. Now we know why people living in isolation, up high in the mountains or deep in the villages, seem so peaceful and happy, because they don't know what happens in this world nowadays. Whether it is about global warming, natural disasters, financial crisis, rising oil prices, shaking national leadership, higher politics temperature, or European cup fever. Nothing really bothers them until they caught up, or maybe they will just ignore it. Maybe it's better for you to not know the whole story about someone you befriended or idolize, or it will ruin your imagination. We always imagine how it's like to be able to read someone's mind, but maybe it is for the best.

When It’s Gone, You’ll Know It’s Not Yours

There's a danger in loving somebody too much. Or at least some might say that. It's hard enough to lose somebody close to you, it's even harder to take the blame for that. Everybody just keep saying that if only you did everything differently, etc etc. Someone even called me crazy right into my ear. But still, when someone’s gone, it’s always for good. I don’t know why for the past two months I keep losing something. I can consider myself very careful about keep my possession safe and intact. Of course, it only takes a moment of carelessness and just like that, it’s gone. Well, you shouldn’t get what you don’t deserve, so when you lost something, maybe that thing should not belong to you.

When You Lost Your Prepaid (Cellular) Number: Now and Then

Damn! I'm officially a cellular phone thief magnet when I lost my cellular for the fourth time last week. The most frustrating thing is, I have no idea when and how it was lost, stolen or maybe ran away from me. Once again I must reset all the data inside the phone. The most important thing to do when you lost your cellphone is to retrieve the number. After all, my primary reason to own a cellular phone is to simplify anyone who wants to contact me (not the other way around)!. But this time, I have a doubt because the number I use is registered under my (late) father's name. I'm afraid it's gonna be a hurdle in the retrieving process. Well, I could not be more wrong. Not only the process is nearly flawless, the cost is next to nothing, as cheap as buying a new number! Not only that, the remaining balance is still intact. You still have to supply your ID and list at least 5  most recent numbers you contacted. Back then, when I tried to retrieve another number, the cost was much higher (almost tenfold). At least from my experience in this particular operator, it is a highly improved service.

Alumni/Alma Mater

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, alumnus (alumni in plural) is: "1: A person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university. 2: a person who is a former member, employee, contributor, or inmate" and alma mater is: 1: a school, college, or university which one has attended or from which one has graduated. 2: the song or hymn of a school, college, or university.
By that definition, it is no wrong when a friend invited me to join an alumni organization of our former college, that is going to hold a grand reunion and election for the president of the organization. The thing is, in Indonesia, generally, only the one who graduates is considered alumni. And this particular organization also states, in black and white, in their statute (website). Not to mention that in one of the presidential candidate's campaign, clearly stated that (regular) membership of the organization will still be limited to the graduates only. So, it would be wiser for me (a dropout) to stay out of this kind of organization (for now), isn't it?