Pufffhhh, hungry, thirsty, sleepy, everything in one (just like those shampoo sold in a mini market. Two-in-One or Three-in-One shampoo =p). I never thought it's gonna be so boring, that I have posted on this blog, three articles already! *lol* I came late today, I overslept. I was supposed to be here at 9:00 AM, but I woke up at 8:25 AM. You can imagine how long it takes from Fairfax, VA to downtown Washington D.C. Sekar reminded me of how I was supposed to be in my office at 9:00 AM sharp. I took a shower in a flash, still I missed the 8:46 AM Fairfax Cue Bus. There was a slight sprinkles outside this morning. Luckily, Sekar's Dad, Oom Marfi, arrived home at 9:07 AM, so instead of waiting for the 9:20 AM Cue Bus, I politely asked him (yes, he just dropped his daughter off to school. But I really, desperately needed a ride.) to drop me off at Vienna Metro Station. It took 12 minutes by car from home to Vienna Metro Station. I took the metro subway there, it took about 35 minutes to get to my office.
I arrived exactly at 10:00 AM, on time according to the new rescheduling appointment (I called my supervisor earlier and apologized for my coming late and asked for an appointment rescheduling). A pass had been waiting for me at the security lobby (unlike yesterday, when I came too early, 8:00 AM, and got stuck waiting on the security lobby for 3 hours since all my supervisors were out of the office), I went straight up to the 12th floor and met her (my supervisor) right away. We discussed a lot of things, she mostly introduced me to the office internal systems and how things are done here in the office. The introduction took about 40 minutes only and lasted at some time around 10:40 AM. And then, here I was until now (when I'm writing this article), all on my own, trying to get a grip of what have been going on or what have been done in the past. It is interesting to see how they organize all their forms and templates so that they don't need to "reinvent the wheel". Each of the projects differ by their nature only, the way they are preserved and compiled is the same. I received the anticipated work program for year 2006, compiled quarterly, and because of their effort, it's easy to understand the pattern of their works (but I don't think I need to understand what they have been doing so far and in the past).
This is pretty much a job which has similar tasks to what I've been doing and trained so far during my M.B.A. program. I think I shouldn't struggle too much. But I hope I am not over self-confident as I'm dealing with this. Earlier this morning I was told that I will be involved in a software package project on this late November. I am gonna be in a training session for 3 days, starting on November 28. Ho..ho..ho... This means no thanksgiving holidays for you mister...=) Besides, I need to get my act together. I don't wanna quit my wushu training (I just wanna reduce the amount of it depending on my schedule) and I need to start filling those Ph.D. application forms and start making essays or statement of purpose (hey, that's what I'm here for). On November 12, I will take the official GMAT test at George Mason University Testing Center. It seems that November is gonna be a busy month for me...=) Anyway my dear readers, I gotta go back to what I've been doing before, resuming my self introduction to the works of my team. Au revoir.
I got these posts from a blog of a friend of mine back in college, Dewi. I think it's nice to review these and think of the essence of these posts. All of the messages were originally in Indonesian, but I will try my best to translate these in english and probably add some of my personal opinions.
Al - Ahzab (1 - 3) Dengan Menyebut Nama Allah, yang Maha Pengasih, Maha Penyayang (1) Hai Nabi, bertakwalah kepada Allah dan janganlah kamu menuruti orang-orang kafir dan orang-orang munafik. Sesungguhnya Allah adalah Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Bijaksana, (2) dan ikutilah apa yang diwahyukan Tuhan kepadamu. Sesungguhnya Allah adalah Maha Mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan. (3) dan bertawakkallah kepada Allah. Dan cukuplah Allah sebagai Pemelihara.
Translation:In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. (1) O Prophet! Fear Allah, and hearken not to the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites: verily Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom, (2) but follow that which comes to thee by inspiration from thy Lord: for Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do. (3) And put thy trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs.
I always believe that the Prophets are the Messengers of Allah. What they inform, teach, and instruct are all descended directly from Him. We all have our personal opinions and thoughts. But is it necessary to disobey these instructions? In my humble opinion, this lack of trust shows that we actually don't understand what we have been taught for all our entire life. It shows that we don't understand the essence of what we have been practicing. It is all just ceremonial. I often say to the non-Indonesians that Indonesians are religious. But unfortunately, some of us are just religiously ceremonial. And some of us are too blinded by logic and science. Don't they know that logic and science originally derived from philosophy which is a (in my humble opinion) compilation of various religions? Well, I, personally, am not religiously ceremonial, I miss (or skip probably =p) prays sometimes, but I try hard to understand the essence of all regulations and teachings, why we are told to do so or why we are forbid from doing so.
Next is a lyric of Nasyid by Opick. No, I've never listened to the song, but I personally think that this song (as well as other Nasyids) contains a good message to remind us of how terribly spoiled we are as human beings (including me of course =p) in a melodious way. Yes, because we as humans have our own mind and our own free will, even when we're young, we tend to disobey what our parents told us. As we grow older (and we think we become wiser), and legally allow to do just about anything, we think we have the power to do just about anything, purposely disobeying not only our parents but Him above. Just to show that, hey, I'm mature now, I'm 17 (or 21) years old or older than 17 (or 21) years old, no one or nothing can stop me as long as it's by the book and under the rules (those rules written by humans). I never believe that I have matured. Never. Please read my article entitled Maturity? that I posted last January 2005. I always believe that we grow, we learn and absorb wisdoms from our religious teaching, society, and experience.
I just received a message from my Mom, that my cousin, as old as me (a year younger actually), just passed away of HIV/AIDS because of drugs addiction and got infected from a needle. Nauzubillah Min Zalik. May Allah save me from any similar terrible incident. My deep condolence to my Uncle and my Aunt in Jakarta. I never like and don't respect the fact that some people do mistakes on purpose, in an excuse for gaining some experience. We start smoking for an experience and then accidently end up being an addict. We start drinking (too much cause we can't control the urge?) for an experience and then end up being an alcoholic (or those terrible pain we suffer in the morning. Why look for that unnecessary pain and then nagging that we regret to drink but then start it again once we are socializing or when we are depressed?). We start experiencing premarital sexual intercourse and then end up believing it's a normal thing to do (then why is there a marital institution and all of these ceremonials? Just to have a party and waste our future parents in law's money? Duh?!?). We start to use drugs because of peer pressure or just want to know how it feels like and then end up being a junky (or worst case, like my cousin whom I just mentioned earlier). The results are obvious, why would you want to put yourself in uneccessary troubles, dude(s)/dudette(s)? I don't understand, I just can never understand... In my very humble opinion, just lead yourself to a simple life. We don't need to look cool or impress others with these stuffs. Don't lie to me, we all start all of these because of peer pressure and we want to look cool in front of our own peer (yeah, I can do it, I can be like you...). Pokoknya enggak usah neko-neko deh, that's what Indonesians say.
I don't know. But probably I'm still too overwhelmed of what have happened to me lately. That these raise my sense of awareness. I don't know, but you can call me naive or too conservative. Well, that's who I am, but please respect my opinion as I never interfere or forbid anything that happens as long as it doesn't drag me into it or put myself in trouble as well. We are all humans, we are never mature, we are still learning so that when death calls, we are ready to face Him and that we deserve a better place next to Him. Check out the next lyric or message. Wassalamualaikum Wr. Wb.
Kesaksian Diri Tak satupun orang bisa menjamin dirinya Selamat disaat ajal memanggilnya Setitik kesalahan semua akan diperhitungkan Semisai buih dosa yang telah kita kerjakan
Setiap mata, hati, tangan, kaki, akan jadi saksi
Tiada dusta diri yang tak terhakimi
Luka sepi air mata tak berarti lagi
Akan terlambat segala sesal diwaktu nanti
Allah mohon jangan hukum kami dari dosa Ampuni kami karena tak mungkin kami Sanggup menahan pedih Setitik rahmat yang kau beri lebih berarti Dari segalanya
Setitik ampunan-Mu kan menghapus dosa kami
Karena mata, hati, tangan, kaki akan jadi saksi
Tiada dusta diri yang tak tehakimi
Luka sepi air mata tak berarti lagi
Akan terlambat segala sesal diwaktu nanti
Translation:
A Self Witness
Nobody is able to guarantee himself or herself
Safe when death calls
A tiny mistake will be considered
As a sin we have already done
Every eyes, hearts, arms, legs will testify
No lies cannot be tried
Tears of loneliness wound will be nothing
It will be too late to regret anything
Allah please do not punish us for our sins
Have mercy on us because it is impossible for us
To handle the pain
Any of Your blessing will be truly worthy
More than anything
Any of Your Mercy shall banish our sins
Because every eyes, hearts, arms, legs will testify
No lies cannot be tried Tears of loneliness wound will be nothing It will be too late to regret anything
Jacko Christmas What's the difference between Michael Jackson and Santa?
Nothing, they both leave children's bedrooms with empty sacks!
Kemosabe Waters the Bushes One day Lone Ranger and his side kick Tonto were out riding when Lone Ranger had to take a piss. So Lone Ranger goes over to the bush pulls down his pants and then he screams. He runs over to Tonto and says, "Tonto I've been bitten by a snake on my penis go to town and ask the doctor what to do."
So Tonto rides to town and goes to the doctor and says "Doctor, Lone Ranger has been bit by a snake what do I do?"
The doctor looks at Tonto and says, "You take a knife and make an x on the spot where he was bit, then you suck out the venom."
Tonto thanks the doctor and rides back to Lone Ranger and Lone Ranger asks "What did the doctor say?"
Tonto looks at Lone Ranger and says "Doctor say you gonna die!"
Mickey, Minnie and Goofy One day Mickey Mouse woke up and Minnie wasn't there. He went to look for her and, as he stepped outside, he saw "Mickey sucks" written in a yellow liquid in the snow. He investigated and realizedthere was good news and bad news: it was Goofy's urine, but Minnie's handwriting.
Bar... Monkey A guy walks in to a bar with his pet monkey. He orders a drink and while he's drinking the monkey jumps all around the place. The monkey grabs some olives off the bar and eats them. Then he grabs some sliced limes and eats them. Then he jumps on to the pool table, grabs one of the billiard balls, sticks it in his mouth, and to everyone's amazement, and somehow swallows it whole.
The bartender screams at the guy, "Did you see what your monkey did?"
The guy says, "No, what?"
"He just ate the cue ball off my pool table - whole!"
"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy. "He eats everything in sight, the little bastard. Sorry. I'll pay for everything."
The man finishes his drink, pays his bill, pays for the stuff the monkey ate and leaves.
Two weeks later, he's in the bar again, and his pet monkey is with him. He orders a drink and the monkey starts running around the bar again. While the man is finishing his drink, the monkey finds a maraschino cherry on the bar. He grabs it, sticks it up his ass, pulls it out and eats it. The bartender is disgusted. "Did you see what your monkey did now?" he asks.
"No, what?" replied the guy. "Well, he stuck a maraschino cherry up his ass, pulled it out and ate it!" said the bartender.
"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy. He still eats everything in sight but, ever since he swallowed that cue ball, he measures everything first."
Big Testicles A tourist is in Spain, and goes to a fancy restaurant for dinner. As he looks around, he notices a diner being served a beautifully garnished dish with two gigantic meatballs in the middle. When the waiter asks him for his order, the man asks him about the meatball dish. The waiter explains that the meatballs are bull's testicles, and when the bull loses the bullfight, the bull is brought to the restaurant, and this beautiful dish is made.
The diner tells the waiter that he wants the bulls testicles for dinner, but the waiter tells him that only one bull a day is brought to the restaurant, but he can have it tommorrow. The diner agrees. The next day the diner goes to the restaurant, and orders the testicle dish. When his food is brought out, he notices that the meatballs are extremely small. He mentions this to the waiter, and the waiter replies, ''Well sir you have to understand, sometimes the bull wins''.
Bozo's Big Beautiful Ass There was an old man named Bozo, and all he had was a female donkey. One day he wins the lottery and gets $50,000. He doesn't know what to do with his money, so he decides to spend a night in a five star hotel. He asks for the finest room and starts going up the stairs with his female donkey. The manager sees him and asks where he's going with his donkey. "Anywhere I go, she goes." "I'm sorry, sir," said the manager, "but you can't take the donkey upstairs. Leave it down here with us and we'll take good care of her." So Bozo goes up to his room and opens the door. Everything is made of gold, there is a table full of food, and a huge television. He doesn't want to ruin anything so he takes his raggedy coat off and sleeps on the floor. The next morning the manager comes up to the room and asks how his night was. ''Great!'' replied Bozo. ''How much do I have to pay?'' he asks. ''One thousand dollars for the food.'' ''But I haven't touched the food." ''It was right there, so you should have. Two thousand dollars for the TV." ''But I didn't even know how to turn the damn thing on!'' ''It was there, so you should have. Five thousand for sleeping on the bed." ''But I slept on the floor!'' ''It was there. Your total is eight thousand dollars." ''You owe me ten thousand dollars for screwing my donkey.''
''But sir, I didn't screw your donkey.'' ''It was there. You should have!''
This is one of my favorite songs. I always love its lyrics. This song was originally sung by Cliff Edwards (voice actor of Jiminy Cricket) in 1940 for the original soundtrack of Walt Disney's Pinocchio.
When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you
If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do
Fate is kind She brings to those who love The sweet fulfillment of Their secret longing
Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true
It is like playing with fire, you will get burned, some say I ran in a dark forest with one of my precious jewels A special jewel that in my opinion can light and shine my way A special jewel that I notice long ago But was kept out of my reach on the top of my closet I chose this jewel only, as its shine shall guide me out of the forest I seem to forget how fragile jewels are
It is like playing with a sharp knife, you shall get cut, some say I held it too firm in my palm I extended it too high in a hope to light my way The jewel started to crack Lord, it is not even half of the journey! How can I get through these thick thorny bushes, these venomous spider webs? How foolish I am, I realize I am not well prepared
It is like playing with water, you will be wet, some say I brought this jewel with me But I left my sword, my armor, my torch and my stallion at my hut How naive I am The crack expanded, it finally brake and scattered all over the forest How outrageous this is, I am devastated and very embarrassed of myself I do not know whether to go on or to collect the pieces of the jewel
It is like feeding a hungry wild beast, you find yourself in trouble, some say I collect these remaining pieces in a hope that I can assemble it It is so precious that I do not have the heart to surrender it I hold the pieces in my palm, but they are so sharp, they wound my palm No more light to shine my way out of the forest My face is covered by dust and spider webs My arms and feet are wounded by the thick thorny bushes
I am a mess, inside and outside I am bleeding but my heart bleeds even vigorously I was so blinded by the shine of the jewel that I ignored the mists The mists have long ago sting my eyes, even before I enter the forest They warned me about the forest but I insist to walk in with a naive self confidence Now I realize, even if they sting my eyes, their fresh breeze gives me peace They help me find my way out, indirectly though, I feel the air moves and their breeze guiding me
I am not completely out of the forest The bloods dry out, my wound starts to recover, but still I am a mess My palm is still bleeding, I still insist to hold the remaining pieces of the jewel It is a long journey, but now I have the mists to guide me I am still confused which to choose, I see so many spots of light at the faraway I have to assemble this jewel and present it to Their Majesties, the King and the Queen Yes, this is a special jewel How foolish I am to play with it
Description: A man born an artist and raised as an analyst. A man who tries to see everything from the good side. A man who tries to mature every second, every moment, but tries to see the world through the eyes of a child. A man who uses music as his main source of inspiration and as his secondary air to breathe.
