Hishashiburi~

Haih~ tonight is one of those night where I can never seem to manage to fall asleep. Had those nights before? It sucks right? And this happens when I had planned to wake up early tomorrow. I might as well not try to sleep at all.

The thing is there's a sign on my apartment's entrance that tomorrow, there will be a fire drill sometime between 8 am and 10 am. Was planning to leave before that starts. But what can I do, I probably will be asleep in an hour or so and won't be able to wake up then. Sigh...

Haven't updated this blog for a while. Kinda lost interest to write lately. No particular reason, just can't seem to find any topic to write about. But anyway, I have one now. Well, more like a question...

You've must have heard that there has been so much protests on cosmetic products tested on animals. So now if you look at, say, your lotion. Most likely you'll find a statement that says, "This product is not tested on animals." So I was wondering, how are they sure that the product is safe? What do they tested it on?

Okay, don't mind me, just rambling here. Since this is me not being able to sleep after tossing and turning on my bed for 2 hrs or so...

First snow of the season falls down today. Winter has arrived...

The Weekend

Just finished watching Meteor Garden 2. Finally! I think it's the best TV series I've ever watched. Great quality, unlike the Indonesian sinetron (electronic cinema) back home, so lame... Anyway, if I were Shancai, I would pick Lei instead of Daomingse. But that's just me :P

This weekend is pretty good for me. Not just wasting time by myself as I usually would. Went to Nicaise's son's 1st birthday party yesterday. The food were awesome! And plenty... I was so full coming home from the party. And what was even more wonderful is that all of us who were present represents the entire world. Well... maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. But seriously, the countries represented were Cameroon, Peru, China, Srilanka, Indonesia, and of course, United States. Very cool!

Today is the most productive weekend of mine this semester. I met with Natasha to study together. She was working on her thesis and I worked on my Linear Models homework. Although we started off by talking about Grey's Anatomy for a while, we did get some work done. Oh, by the way, don't forget to read my other blog about Grey's Anatomy!

Tomorrow, is Sunday. So sad, cause it means the next day would be Monday... Oh well, I'll think of it as a day closer to the next weekend. Till next time!

Starbucks

Pulang gereja hari ini males rasanya masak untuk makan siang. Akhirnya karena kebetulan udaranya juga lagi enak banget, gue jalan menelurusi downtown Duluth, menuju Starbucks. Gue sih berharap soup ada di menu list mereka, eh ternyata nggak ada... Akhirnya gue pesen Iced Caramel Latte sama Blueberry Coffee Cake. A treat once in a while should be good, right?

Sambil menikmati jajanan ala bule, gue duduk disamping jendela, sambil baca buku. Sesekali gue perhatiin mobil2 yang berenti di jalan raya depan Starbucks soalnya Starbucks letaknya tepat didepan lampu lalu lintas. Lalu pemandangan didepan gue menarik perhatian. Ada 2 costumer Starbucks yang juga lagi ngopi, duduk di 2 meja yang berbeda nggak jauh didepan meja gue. Yang satu bapak2 lumayan tua, rambutnya udah 50% uban. Yang satunya lagi perempuan muda, anak kuliahan. Si Bapak keliatan jelas dari meja gue, tapi si cewe ketutupan pintu masuk. Si Bapak nggak bawa bacaan apa2, jadi ngopi sambil ngeliat aja keluar jendela. Rupanya si cewe juga nggak ngapa2in, soalnya gue lalu ngeliat si cewe mindahin barang2nya ke meja si bapak, trus mereka salaman.

Gue heran, kok bisa yah mereka kenalan gitu aja. Coba di gue tiba2 disapa bapak2 di coffee shop. Palingan gue senyumin aja, trus ngabur ato pura2 sibuk sendiri. Takut kale...

Time According to Meredith

The notion of time has always facinated me. Eventhough time runs in a constant manner for everyone in the universe (otherwise, clocks and watches wouldn't work the same way all over the world), time can feel different to any of us in any given time. 5 minutes seems to be such a short length of time most of the time but sometimes, 5 minutes is such a long time to wait.

Grey's Anatomy season 3's premiere episode is titled "Time has Come Today". As always, Meredith's voice over in this episode is something I can relate to. After digging through the internet for the exact words, I finally found it in Wikipedia! Hah! My favorite online encyclopedia.

So here it is...

Time takes pleasure in kicking our asses.
For even the strongest of us it seems to play tricks.
Slowing down... hovering until it freezes.
Leaving us stuck in a moment-
unable to move in one direction or the other.

Time waits for no man.
Time heals all wounds.
All any of us can want is more time.
Time to stand up.
Time to grow up.
Time to let go.
Time.

If you like it and you want more, I've created another blog which documents the voice overs of Meredith from each episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Click here to check it out.

Mr. Curiosity

Jason Mraz - Mr.A-Z

Hey Mr. Curiosity
Is it true what they've been saying about you
Are you killing me?
You took care of the cat already
And for those who think it's heavy
Is it the truth
Or is it only gossip
Call it mystery or anything
Just as long as you'd call me
I sent the message on did you get it when I left it
See this catastrophic event
It wasn't meant to mean no harm
But to think there's nothing wrong is a problem

I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
Love is a mystery
Mr. Curious...

Come back to me
Mr. waiting ever patient can't you see
That I'm the same the way you left me
In a hurry to spell check me
And I'm underlined already in envy green
And pencil red
And I've forgotten what you've said
Will you stop working for the dead and return
Mr. curious well I need some inspiration
It's my birthday and I cannot find no cause for celebration
The scenario is grave but I'll be braver when you save me
From this situation laden with hearsay

I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
And love is a mystery
Mr. Curiosity
Be Mr. please
Do come and find me, oh
Find, find me, find me

I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
Trying not to ask why
Cause love is a mystery
Mr. curiosity
Be Mr. please
Do come and find me

Love is blinding when the timing's never right
Oh who am I to beg for difference
Finding love in just an instant
I'm outta my mind, at least I've tried
Well I tried, I tried...

Love

During my vacation at my parents' house, I dug through our family old photo collections. Unexpectedly, I found a photo album of my mom and dad's photos while they were still in college. When I told them about it, we looked through the pictures together. It was so much fun seeing their reactions as they flipped through the pages and remembering old times.

There was one particular picture that is so special. It was the picture of my mom and dad's group of friends, the ones they hang out with then. The picture is in black and white. My mom asked if my dad remembers the color of the dress that she was wearing in the picture. Amazingly enough, he remembers it still with such great details.

I thought it was sooooo romantic! Isn't it great how you can remember all the little things about someone you cared about so much.

Ketika seseorang menyatakan bahwa kini ia single tanpa kau bertanya padanya, apakah hal tersebut sebuah undangan untuk masuk kedalam hatinya?

Finally, nice weather

In a catholic church mass, there is a part where you offer a sign of peace to the people around you by shaking hands while saying "Peace be with you." Back home, whenever I extend my hand, I received a hand shake. It was always a fun time for me. We had a special song for it and I always had my family to shake my hands with. When I was in St. Cloud it felt a bit lonely because I didn't know anybody there but it's still fine because most of the time, the church is packed with people and we offer each other peace gladly.

Today was different. The church I attend here is never packed. Instead of a choir, there is only 1 lady (always the same lady) singing and 1 person playing organ/piano. During the offering of peace today I turned back and saw a woman standing straight. I extended my hand to her while smiling. She saw it, looked up to me and said peace. I still have my hand extended, hoping she would grab it. But no, she just turned her gaze forward, ignoring me. I was shocked. How could someone attending the church, home of the loving God, be so cold?

Anyway, after 2 days of nonstop raining, today's weather was very nice. I even decided to have a walk around my block after I threw the garbage outside. Hopefully it'll stay this way for a while.

Bowling

Went bowling with some friends today. Haven't done that for a long time. And by this I meant bowling, as well as socializing. It was so great! This weekend was a blast, sushi yesterday and bowling today? Heavenly...

Anyway, I bowled badly, which didn't really matter because all of us are beginner. So no pressure whatsoever. But in 2 games, I scored a strike once, played inconsistently, my scored ranged from 0 to a strike each time I threw the ball, and my total were a low thirties and a low sixties. Crazy!!

Just got back with some friends. We have an early dinner, in the Zen House Duluth. We had sushi and tempura. For pictures, I have it all in Flickr so just click the link on my side bar!

Now, for some laugh, check this out!

This is what a frustrated mathematician might do...

While someone who doesn't really understand the trigonometry might do this...

Have you ever done something like this in a math test before?

Now this one cracks me up the most since this is real...

My version of the Devil Wears Prada

She doesn't exactly wear Prada or any of the expensive brand. But you can say she is one of the stylish people in where I am now. Her looks differ by the day. My first impression of her was how nice she was. I also noticed that she likes to tell stories.

However today I realized, she doesn't just like to tell stories. She likes to tell stories that compliment herself in some ways. Someone she knows made a mistake and she blab all about it to everybody about how awful it was and how she would never do that. Now once maybe acceptable. Nobody's perfect. But she did this over and over again, it made me think if she realized that she was giving bad impressions out...

5.30 pm, perpustakaan.
Menghabiskan waktu sambil membaca novel bestseller.

Sejak pindah ke Amerika, gue suka ngabisin waktu di perpustakaan. Enak aja gitu, tenang nggak ada yang ngganggu. Tapi juga luas jadi selalu aja ada bagian yang bisa gue eksplor. Mau main komputer sepuasnya bisa. Kalo udah bosen tinggal cari2 aja buku untuk dibaca. Kalo bosen, cari yang lain.

Tapi tiba-tiba aja barusan, suasana hening terpecah oleh suara seorang perempuan tertawa terbahak-bahak. Bukan.. bukan kuntilanak kok (Ih.. syerem!) Tapi ada seorang bule pirang tak tau diri, entah lagi baca apaan, ketawa seenak udelnya. Nggak cuman sekali, berkali-kali! Sadar dong mbak, ini perpustakaan, bukan kafe....

Wonderful Saturday

As I usually just stayed at home on Saturdays, today is a special day. The international club had their annual tour and picnic for the new students to meet up with the returning students. The tour wasn't all that impressive since we went through the same routes as last year. And we didn't even stop on the sites this time so no picture op...

Anyway, the volunteer that drove us was a very nice gentleman. Talks a lot too, which I don't mind because I find it hard to find topics to talk about when I'm not in my comfort zone (i.e. close friends all around). After the tour, we went back to UMD for some foods. The usual burgers and hot dogs, typical American outdoor party foods, vegetarian lasagnas, and several types of currys with the roti pratha (or whatever it is called :P). And, sodas and cookies.

I met with an Indonesian adopted Swedish! Too bad she doesn't speak Indonesian anymore, that would have been nice.

After that I went to watch the students from India played a couple games of cricket. I ended up talking with the girls instead of watching the game though. What can I say, I don't enjoy watching sports that much so talking is definitely better.

By the time I got home and cleaned up, it was already 7 pm. My day's almost up. And it's such a nice feeling thinking, "Hey, I can be social, at least once in a long while... "

Stop This Train

John Mayer - Continuum

no, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
try to keep an open mind
just can't sleep on this tonight

stop this train
I wanna get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's movin' in
I know I can't
but honestly won't someone stop this train

don't know how else to say it
don't wanna see my parents go
one generation's led the way
for findin' life out on my own

stop this train
I wanna get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's movin' in
I know I can't
but honestly won't someone stop this train

so scared of gettin' older
I'm only good at being young
so I play the numbers game
to find a way to say that
life has just begun

had a talk with my old man
said help me understand
he said turn 68
you renegotiate
don't stop this train
don't for a minute change the place you're in
don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly
we'll never stop this train

once in a while when it's good
it'll feel like it should
and they're all still around
and you're still safe and sound
and you don't miss a thing
till you cry when you're driving
away in the dark

singing
stop this train
I wanna get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's movin' in
I know I can't
'cause now I see
I'll never stop this train

And today I feel homesick again....

My countdown towards graduation has begun. Approximately 8 months from today I'll have the title MSc. following my name. Excited? Not really... Rather, I feel anxious about all the things I have to do this year. My comprehensive exam that I took after my first year at UMD wasn't that great. My mentor got access to it AND expressed her dissapointment to me. Boy does that absorb all the good feeling in you! And then the project report that I'll have to write! That's the one I fear the most.

So, with all these happiness-depriving-feelings inside of me I'm homesick yet again.

DEMALSIN???!!

Apa nama penyakit yang paling merugikan didunia? Menurut gue jawabannya bukan AIDS, bukan juga flu burung ato penyakit2 mematikan lainnya. Menurut gue jawabannya adalah kemalasan...

Rasa malas bisa bikin orang menunda-nunda pekerjaan. Murid-murid yang seharusnya belajar keras demi menimba ilmu merasa males. Akhirnya nilai pas-pasan asal lulus. Waktu ngelamar kerja, wawasan kurang, nggak diterima kerja di perusahaan impian. Akhirnya cari kerja asal keterima. Kerja ngerasa nggak enjoy jadi males-malesan. Bukannya nyelesaiin laporan malah browsing, chatting nggak jelas. Akibatnya jadi karyawan yang nggak produktif, gaji nggak naik-naik (abis gak dapet2 promosi, kalah melulu sama yang rajin-rajin). Yang ada jadi orang nggak bahagia banget.

Maaf, bukan maksud hati menguliahi, justru ini lagi curhat. Lagi males banget nih... Semakin dikit kegiatan gue, semakin parah aja rasa malesnya. Kenapa juga nggak ditemukan "DEMALSIN: obat mengatasi rasa malas." Halah!

Film Indonesia

Dalam rangka mendukung perfilman Indonesia, kalo lagi pulang ke Indo, gue suka nontonin film2 yang kira2 bagus. Biasanya sih referensi gue adek gue yang paling kecil. Jadi kadang yah gak sesuai selera. Tapi tetep aja, namanya juga perfilman Indonesia baru aja mulai berkembang, wajar lah kalo sekarang itu masih dalam tahap belajar.

Tapi ini bukan tulisan untuk ngebahas dengan serius perfilman Indonesia. Gue cuman mau ngasih tau satu hal yang menurut gue lucu. Tadi barusan gue nonton VCD film Indonesia. Di bagian credits seperti biasa dimulai dengan daftar nama Produser, Co-Produser, Pemain, dsb, dsb, dsb... Kemudian muncul nama PAWANG HUJAN. Kocak! Bisa dijamin, yang kaya gini cuma ada di film Indonesia aja tuh.

Back to Duluth

Habis sudah liburanku di Jakarta. Yang namanya liburan, mau seminggu kek, sebulan kek, setaon kek, kayanya kalo udah berakhir pasti akan buat kita mikir, "Gila, cepet banget nih liburan abisnya..."

Dan selama di Jakarta, males banget yang namanya main internet. Pertama, koneksi lambat banget, kedua, misalnya mau gue sabar2 nungguin koneksi yang lelet itu juga, tagihan telpon nyokap gue bakal melambung tingiiiii.....

Setelah balik shoutbox blog gue kena spammers gitu, males benerinnya... Trus dapet 1 komentar anonimus...

hellow.. i've been enjoying ur blogs for so long.. where r u now?
update dongg.. :D

Duh, ternyata ada yang rajin bacain tulisan2 gue yang seringkali gak ada gunanya... Aku Tersanjung! (Sinetron abis... :P) Thanks yah! Makanya sering2 kasih feedback yah, bias gue nggak ngerasa nulis buat diri gue sendiri aja.

Once Upon a Time in IKEA

I have comitted a terrible crime!

Waktu lagi jalan2 di IKEA, ada sekeranjang penuh boneka buat model gambar dari kayu.

Temen gue nanya,
"Buat apaan sih boneka kaya gini?"
"Buat model gambar lah! Kaya misalnya..."

Sambil ngejelasin ke temen gue, gue ambil satu boneka. Maksud hati gue mau bikin boneka itu ke posisi split. Lalu, "KRAK!" Kaki kanan boneka itu terpisah dari seluruh badannya... I literally gasp! Waktu berhenti sejenak di dunia gue. Terus temen gue bilang, "Cil, taro pelan2, ayo kita kabur!" And that was exactly what I did. Kaget bo!