Sunday, December 31, 2006

A New Year

At the very last day of 2006, we are still stranded at the heart of this good ol' Albuquerque. We started the day at 12 PM with quite lavish a lunch at a nearby Applebee's. Afterward, we went downtown to the Old Plaza area and did some shopping for handcrafted Indian jewelries. At around 5 PM, we went back to the hotel to plot what to do for the evening. Sushi and karaoke were at the top of the list. We looked at places nearby considering the fog and icy roads. I can safely add driving in snow and icy condition to my portfolio now.

We ended up doing some kind of a restaurant hopping, first at the sushi bar, second at a local Italian restaurant for desserts. By the end of the eating out, we didn't feel like going karaoke and headed back to the hotel. The rest of the evening were spent packing--no card playing tonight. Three of the five musketeerettes even fell asleep thirty minutes before the new year. I finished chatting with my mother.
"sudah dulu lah ya nak selamat tahun baru semoga dalam tahun ini kita sehat2 dan tercapai apa yang kita inginkan"
The two of us who were still alive ended up plotting a more complete look up on the return route. We will have to take the southbound route but had no chance to visit Marfa, since the town is about 70 miles off the I-10 which will add up a considerable amount of time and mileages to our already close to a 1000-mile trip back home. We will, however, stop by for lunch at Las Cruces, the southern part of NM. Time and mood permitting, there will be one last sightseeing object to visit, the Elephant Butte reservoir.

Fifteen minutes before the start of the new year were spent alone browsing and watching the ball drop in NYC and a Coca-cola toast, and a few minutes past 12, I received a nice Happy New Year call.

To the new year and to this journey of life, to all of us.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Xnow Day, Day 2

What I like about this land of the Pueblo is its abundance of natural parks and attractions. Tapi ini udah gak lucu, today is the second day of snow, which is not fine since our hotel is smacked dab in the middle of Albuquerque. All roads and portion of the interstates we needed to travel outbound are packed with snow and generally are not safe to use. No snow chain + minimum driving experience on iced, slushed,and snowed road = stranded at the hotel, again + eat at Owl's Cafe, again (this one is okay, we love the atmosphere of the place)+ what amounts to zillion card games. There are so many places to see and only two days left. We haven't even gone skiing.

I-25, which naturally spans North-South, is needed to travel up to Bandalier, a part of a scenic 100-mile trail of Indian ruins, waterfalls, and much more. To the south, there are the Las Cruces area, the sand dunes and more of the state parks and cultural attractions.

Passage to the west to Amarillo along I-40, which leads to our return route, is currently closed. That should not be a problem should it be still snowing next Monday. There is always the alternate route from southern NM thru I-10 via Marfa.

No snow. That's part what I like about Texas.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Tak ade digital, webcam pun jadi

Stranded (in the hotel) on snow day.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Bienvenudos New Mexico

Arrived safe and sound today at 12:30 AM. 13 hours driving.
Went to Santa Fe today.
Downloading NY's Wifi driver from the convenience of Circuit City (snailian though) using a Mac with a giant 21 in display.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Quick Notes

The five of us are leaving on the NM roadtrip tomorrow, be back late on the 1st. I don't know when and if we will have internet. NY will bring her laptop but its wireless connection setting is messed up, so...Happy New Year, just in case.

We were just watching Pursuit of Happyness. At the end, the Chris Gardner character narrated "this part of my life is called happiness" while the scene shows how he went trying to control his emotion after finding out that he gets the coveted stock brocker job. I remember March 11 nine years back, I was trying to contain mine after finding out that I've won the 4.5 years all-paid scholarship here to the States. In that respect, all these years of my life since that day have been called happiness.

Out of worth to read materials, female publications (those mostly exploring vanities and what not) ranks the lowest on my list. I don't believe I'm buying into one of its featured articles. Paraphrasing: if you happen to find someone who loves you more than you love yourself, don't ever let him go. Is it too far fetched that not to deep inside a little part of me is wishing that you are going to be it?

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Met Natal

Cinta ho ho ho ho CINTA

Buat yang lagi jatuh cinteeeee ato infatuated or whatever... :D (Ah...I miss that feeling)

Benernya amat sangat kurang cocok sih liriknya...tapi ini yang lagi kepikiran.

What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again

What do you get when you kiss a guy?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, he'll never phone you
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again

Don't tell me what is all about,
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out,
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you

What do you get when you fall in love?
You get enough tears to fill an ocean
That's what you get for your devotion
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again

What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow.
So, for at least until tomorrow,
I'll never fall in love again!
I'll never fall in love again!



Friday, December 22, 2006

Remember Christmas

This person right here, it was just two days ago when she was all grumpy for having to work long hours. Under the usual circumstances, the long hours have been a habitual practice of the last five years, but not this time around, baby. It's almost Christmas and she had just passed her prelim, what she needs is a little break. On top of that, most of those samples she had been dutifully worked did not meet her expectation. Adding to the pressure, she had to give a talk at the last research group meeting of the semester while trying to catching up on a rapidly approaching deadline.

While working on the presentation, she came up with an idea to what caused the samples to fail. The next day, she quickly approached her boss and they discussed a possible quick fix. And it worked. She just needed to remeasure the samples.

So all day yesterday, she got that euphoria of working back. She is also catching up on her Christmas spirit listening to the O Antiphons and Christmas Novenas on YouTube. Yes, she needs more than gaudy Christmas decorations and secular songs about winter wonderland. She still loves this song, though.

Still at lab

Merry Christmas!!... Don't get too drunk

:D
Don't worry...my threshold is pretty high
what is that piece of beauty?

it's my new baby...delivered Tuesday
damn Christmas holiday


owwwww
switching to big cars now?


hihihi... I hid my
Greenpeace tree hugger card


hahahahahahaha
apa sih? Landcruiser?


Fortuner
I can't afford a Landcruiser


Is it Japs?

Toyota Fortuner

hahahahaha
coool


poor man's
Landcruiser


my friend bought a used H3
6-month old
damn it's hottt
also black
what is it with guys and black?


i dunno...kalo gue sih...sebenernya demen biru.... but they have discounts on 06 models...tapi cuman ada hitam
huahahahaha

hahaha oh well

but i hear warna hitem is easier to sell

maybe...it goes with everything
it's not really economical gitu ya...Jkt kan macet?

yahhh...economical sih biasa aja...gak gede2 amat mesinnya (by American standards)
2.7 liter


hahahahahah

tapi badannya itu...rada gendut
parkiran sempit...jalan2 sempit


ck ck ck... still got that Texan mentality huh?

ha ha ha
i miss walmart parking lots

haooahaohaohaohaho

lluaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssss banget

sampe RV aja bisa markir

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Udah mo Natal tapi semangatnya entah di mana, mai...

hhh....I hate my life!!!

kenapa????

udah Desember bukannya makin santai malah makin hectic udah 3 hari 3 malam ini di labbbbbb mulu
kapan gue bisa ngurus badan ya?

hahaha
bentar lagi kan selese
disambil2 aja


gue bosen hidup kayak gini!!!!
.
.
oh well, back to CR


sabar bu
namanya jg PHD
abis ini bakal sangat nikmat hidup loe
;)

huhuhuhu sangat nikmat apanya?

kalo udah kerja ntar

gue mo jadi ibu RT aja ah

waduh salah kuliah kl gitu

gue homeschool anak2 gue
trus jadi freelance writer di majalah teknologi gitu

ngga perlu sampe PHD
kayaknya kl jadi bu RT

perlu juga
siapa tau bosen jadi ibu RT
trus
mo jadi wanita karir


hahahhahahaha
dasar

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Apocalyptic

Hello,

During the two hours and twenty three minutes of watching a certain motion picture, in between the gory heartbeating actions and the greatest love of all, I was thinking about you.

Did your ancestors go through the same ordeal? You would say the Mayas and the Incas were of two totally different cultures, one of Mesomerica, the other of South America and that the latter came into its imperial existence at a much later period. I couldn't help to say that they all look the same to me. He he.

So, anyway, how's the break so far?


Penguins Dance

---

Eh, barusan dapet contekan dari FS...
Pak Dodol, met ultah ya. 31 kan? Live long and prosper and may the Force be with you (standar banget). Mamam-mamam (dan undangan lain)-nya ditunggu. Hehehehe...

Monday, December 18, 2006

Yang tersisa dari Jum'at

Yang lulusan aja kayaknya nggak secentil dan seheboh yang nonton deh ya...hmm...


Maksudnya mo niru pose FS...


"Kak Yada Hon, orang keliatan kayak orang baik-baik ya di sini..."


PS: De, poto hookah mana, De?

Upcoming Roadtrip



Peeps,

Here is my idea for our route for the upcoming roadtrip. The purpose is to maximize our driving experience across this great state of Texas. The route generally covers the far west, the desert, the hill country, as well as the middle part. :P

To Albuquerque, NM:
We'll take the northbound route, which is CS-Waco-Amarillo-Albuquerque. Total mileage is around 800 miles. We can stop by the Cadillac ranch--that famous Route 66 attraction-- and some other places (sekalian streching gitu).



Back to CS:
We'll take the southbound route...Albuquerque, NM, Las Cruces, NM,-Marfa, TX-Austin-CS. Total ~1000 miles.
Marfa has a lot of neat installations of modern art and
architecture, which I really want to visit. :D




All route involve major highways. That should make it easier.

What do y'all think?

--X

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Drama Queen Saturday

What I hate about myself is this tendency to romanticize and fantasize thing that has an equivalent meaning as speck of dust in the wind. And then to wasting much of the unnecessary time to dwell and to psychoanalyze it, all just to no avail. I just couldn't help it. For instance, for the better part of today, what I wanted was for you to treat me better than an alternative. That in itself is truly far fetched, even when pig finally can fly. I know you too well. Argh.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Dietary Advice

Just gotta blog this. :p

saya kemaren malem dinner nya cereal
hari ini lunch nya cheese sandwich + yogurt
entah knp nggak pengen makanan yang laen
cleansing
kali ya
i would say cleansing is more about veggies and fruits
not cheese

HAHOAOHAOHOHOHAOHOA
tapi kan biasanya yg fried
dan spicy
ini kan blend [<--Editor note: see..how mushy my brain is?]

hahahaha
whatever
cleansing with milk

ohaohahoahoaohohahoahoahooaohaoha

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Percolating

At the end of the day
She wonders
Why does it have to be...
A kind of circular reference

Monday, December 11, 2006

While Waiting

Disclaimer: Jeng ini, "pinjem" idenya ya.

50 Greatest Chick Flicks according to E!

Further administrative things:
a. I don't even watch the channel...
b. I don't even subscribe to the term "chick flick"
c. Pretty mediocre except for the purpose of inventory, you'd say, but fun nonetheless. Ha ha.
d.Categorized based on the Homeland Security's thread level code:
Red = Puffy heart it
Orange = Okay, I guess
Yellow = Triple hate it
Blue = Looking forward to
Green = Not in a million years

50. Sweet Home Alabama
49. Mystic Pizza
48. Mean Girls
47. Bring it On
46. 10 Things I Hate about You
45. Waiting to Exhale (Love the soundtracks)
44. Father of the Bride
43. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
42. Never Been Kissed
41. Chocolat
40. Splash
39. A League of Their Own
38. Moonstruck
37. The Bridges of Madison County
36. Untamed Heart
35. St. Elmo's Fire
34. Muriel's Wedding

33. Wedding Crasher
32. Pretty in Pink
31. Fried Green Tomatoes
30. Romeo & Juliet

29. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
28. First Wives Club
27. The Joy Luck Club
26. Notting Hill
25. The Wedding Planner (but also a guilty pleasure, ha ha!)
24. Clueless
23. Bodyguard
22. Sixteen Candles
21. Four Weddings and a Funeral
20. Pride and Prejudice

19. Working Girl
18. Love Actually
17. My Best Friend's Wedding
16. Jerry Maguire
15. Legally Blonde
14. Say Anything
13. The Way We Were
12. While You Were Sleeping
11. Bridget Jones' Diary
10. Thelma and Louise
9. The Notebook
8. Terms of Endearment
7. Ghost
6. Dirty Dancing
5. Sleepless in Seattle
4. When Harry Met Sally
3. Steel Magnolia
2. Pretty Women
1. Beaches

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Southern Comfort


  • Baby Red Mashed Potatoes
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Fried Chicken
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Feta Cheese with Green and Black Olives


And, psst...Bu Didi...over here.

PS:
Ade, Ika, KYH, beat the hell outta finals!

Think of me?

You know how you tend to micromanage your life. For instance, for me this last Friday, it was supposed to be like this: go home at five, be at the gym by 5:30, dine out at 7, followed by a one hour napping, and finally to have some kind of a night life --which usually ends up being catching the midnight show at the movie place. But then something unexpected came.

Five minutes to five, a knock at my office door.

"I'm still here..."

"Ah, you are still here. When are you leaving?"

"Monday."

"Hm..six weeks, huh? I wouldn't know what to do if I have all of those time in Indonesia."

"You're not used to too much fun and actually missing working?"

"Yeah, I guess...ha ha ha."

"Well...I'll be working too, a little bit, sometime during those six weeks."

And that was the start of a nice long talk, well, not really long, about an hour or so. The conversation couldn't be easier, everything flew naturally, and that we sort of finished each other's thoughts.

I guess I am falling into the idea of sharing stuff with someone who knows what I am really talking about, and I mean not just about school or work stuff, but also something beyond. A good conversationalist makes you comfortable revealing things you don't actually say to others. And this person, he's just like that.

Towards the end, he said he needed to go already, twice, but there was always something that pulled us back. The last part was how the religion of the majority of the masses turns into a cultural thing and in time is being taken for granted.

"Do you celebrate Christmas?"

"Yeah, I am a Catholic. Don't you? I mean people from your country are predominantly Catholic, no?"

"I don't know what I am. I don't really go anywhere or do anything."

"Hm. But you are baptized, right?"

"Twice...I didn't remember the first one. But I got pictures of the second one. They tilted my head like that and poured the water over."

"Ha ha ha...is that a cultural thing there, to get baptized twice?"

"I don't know. I asked, they never gave any good explanation... Well, I really need to go now. Merry Christmas. I'll see you next year."

"Merry Christmas. Yeah, I'll see you next year too. Have fun!"

Ah, six weeks, huh. I wonder if we will be thrown into this kind of nice conversation then, just innocently getting to know him. But knowing my luck...


Think of me
Think of me fondly
When we've said goodbye
Remember me
Once in a while
Please promise me
You'll try

When you find
That once again you long
To take your heart back
And be free

If you ever find a moment
Spare a thought for me...


--Think of Me from The Phantom of the Opera

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Thursday, December 07, 2006

D-Day

Stress can actually manifest itself physically, I didn't know that. OK, I knew, but this was different from what I usually experienced. Last night, preparing a midnight snack, I felt a sudden tense on my upper torso, my shoulders got into a shrugging position, and I felt like throwing up. Luckily, the episode ended there, I ate my yogurt, the half portion of mie goreng, and something else I forgot. Then, I went to bed. I actually got a good night sleep.

The presentation for the prelim was at 2 PM. But before, we had a research group meeting at 9:30 AM. At the end of this meeting, the advisor, who seemed to be chasing somekind of a deadline, asked me to make sure that I would not cross the 30 minute line for presentation. He also said that as soon as I am done with the exam, I should immediately start on the next project. Boy, do you know what I drew from those? That he guarenteed me a pass already, before I even take the exam.

Moving on to 2 o'clock. One professor, whom actually is a substitute for one of the committee member, was late. His office was just around the corner from the exam room. When I peeked into his office, he signaled an I'll-be-there-I-just-need-to-finish-talking-to-this-person. And then I found out that I forgot to bring the folder containing the paperwork they need to sign. I fetched for it back upstairs to my office and when I got back the door was closed with all the members inside. The advisor asked me to excuse them for a few minute since they needed to discuss something beforehand. Hmm...that's weird. What was the subject of the discussion? I can't even start to imagine. Is it a good sign or a bad one?

Btw, I fitted into my good old brown suit, from 1998. :D As for the shoes, I sticked to the navy blue square pumps, also an old pair. So where were we? OK, the presentation. I thought it was pretty good. The other day, I was just thinking about the fact that I am going to be inside a room before four male professors and just couldn't help to reduce it into a war of the genders. Will I be slain? Will I have enough confidence? Will I be resourceful enough? Will they think of me as just another stupid graduate student presenting another worthless research for the sake of finishing the degree so that she/he can just get out of the school already?

They behaved nicely during the presentation. Three were paying close attention to what I presented. One was falling asleep. And then came question time. They were not too terrible, some were really fundamental, some were too far down the road. The advisor asked me some stuff too, but mainly to support my respond to the other committee member's questions. These 30 minutes seemed forever, though.

In the end, they asked to be excused again meanwhile they were discussing the merit of my research. To kill time, I stopped by to the secretary to the graduate affair for a little chit chat. When I walked back to the room, the advisor called me from behind and shook my hand. "Congratulations, you have passed." One of the committee members that was walking with him congratulated me also. The remaining committee members managed to find me and two other rounds of congratulations were in order.

So yay, I passed. It didn't sink on me yet, not until I text messaged the parental units (at 5 AM their time) and got an immediate reply.

"Selamat lah ya nak. Mama berdoa utk anak2 semua. Sekali lg selamat ya in. Terimakasih pd Tuhan."

I was about to cry but I was in the middle of conversations with fellow students so I thought it would be best if the crying can be postponed to a later time.

As it happens, today is the holy day of obligation for Immaculate Conception. At the Mass, surprise-surprise, instead of the usual piano and guitar ensemble, we had a guy playing the pipe organ. What a beautiful Mass, indeed. It brought back the memory of the days of when I was one of the five organist at Santa Lusia. I regret that I did not do it wholeheartedly then. I probably can start practicing again here. Anyway, with the music and candles around, I couldn't help to let out a teardrop or two. The overwhelming emotion has to be released somehow, no?

The rest of the evening went smoothly. I went to the Rec, did a 15-min walking an incline, 15 -min running at the threadmill, and 15-min at the elliptical. I also did a couple of sets that cover most body parts with the weight machines. Not bad for a jumpstart.

All in all, what a great day, what a balance life!

Bonus... ;-) Ah, that Glenn.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

D-1

24 hours to prelim.

Stuff to do:
  • Check on paperwork
  • Check on laptop and projector
  • Send email reminder for all committee members to be there tommorrow
  • Peruse over materials (62 total slides, 22 hidden)
  • Think about more possible uncovered holes
  • Buy killer beverages, pastries, and fruits in attempt for decepting committee members (LOL)
  • Attend today's daily Mass
  • To not hyperventilate


14 hours to prelim.

duuhh...besok (kalo pass nih prelim-nya) ....gue langsung ke Rec! lari dan gymming....

hahahhaha
sip sip sip
gut lak yah
prelim nya
pasti pass lah

mudah2an
trus langsung mulai cari kerja

dari gym langsung cari kerjaan
hmmmm

hahahahahahah
ya figuratif
maksudnya mulai minggu depannya gitu

Monday, December 04, 2006

D-2

Isn't it great to be able to say, "Aha, I just couldn't care more"? If only it didn't take that long to arrive to that kind of mentality.

---

Also on the news, Gates' confirmation hearing and St. Mary's pastoral team blog (ah, finally, something local).

---

Sometimes you meet this person whom you thought have no interest on what you're talking about. And then at times too many this person sweeps you up your feet with the uncanny, intellectual insights of the exact matter at hand (and funny ones too, with a straight face and all, just like that).

---
KIH, coba kamu nyanyiin "Chriiiist, the Lord". (It was the scrething high pitch ending part of O Come, All Ye Faithful)
Nggak bisa, Princy, kekenyangan....
Coba lah, sekalian latihan suara kamu.
"Chrisssttt...." *panting* Ah, nggak bisa.
Ayo lah, ini soalnya lagi ngebandingin suaranya si penyanyi ini dengan suara orang. Kok suara dia kayaknya jelek ya dan suara orang mirip dengan suara dia. Jadi orang mau dengar kalo kamu yang nyanyiin kayak mana. *we look at each other, cricket chirps*
Huhuhuhuhu...jadi ini buat konfirmasi kalo suara penyanyi itu dan suara kamu itu bagus ya. Sial...

D-3

I am so looking forward for after Thursday:
  1. To start planning for a holiday westbound roadtrip (possibly all girls), out to the desert (I want to visit Marfa, TX, too), New Mexico, and might be stretched as far as Colorado (for some skiing). I am so thrilled for the abundance of objects and places to be photographed. The thing is I would only have access to a manual 35 mm Olympus camera as my brother is bringing the Canon with him for his trip home. To think about the cost for films and developing and the fact there will be no instant gratification over the pictures.
  2. To pick up the exercise and healthy lifestyle routine once and again. This time, NY is joining the bandwagon.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

D-4

And thus, the beginning of the Advent...


Ellen de Generes' AMEX commercial. It's too...funny.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

H-5

.
.
.
ooh.. lah kamu?

hahahhahahahahahahhahaha
tau lah...ini selese skolah aja dulu
ntar baru "fokus"

alah.. lu mah..
ayo... gak usah ketawa2 doang..
sapa sih... heheheeh

eh masih jojoba kok
jojopupuba

kamu sih nggak pernah serius

serius gimana ya...hmm...it's a curse
I am simply...unlovable
:P

ngaco kamu

ntar berguru deh ama situ
:D

hahahaa
gue mah simpel...
cari di gereja.. hahaahaha
gak ada rahasia nya

ya iya lah masak di bar
ya udah, ntar sambil tanda salib aer sucinya aku ambil banyakan
buat nulis di jidat "single looking available" sambil kedip-kedip
gimana?

ye, kamu ini diajakin ngomong serius

ye mo serius gimana lagi
kalo emang nggak ada ya nggak ada gitu
belom saatnya mungkin :)
udah ah, cabut dulu ya
sampe ketemu taun depan :D

okeh
bye

Friday, December 01, 2006

D-6, pt. 2

The department hosted a late Thanksgiving dinner, buffet style, tonight in one of the classrooms on first floor of our building. I was sitting with two of our research group's newest group members and talking about our usual business when suddenly came Dr. Y claiming a seat next to me. I've known her all these years. Come to think of it, my brain started turning into a mushier mush sometime around my taking the first Chem E class during sophomore year, the one she taught eight years ago.

We never talk about anything more than classes and school and work in general. When we passed by each other in the elevator, in the hallway, it was always with the "Hi, how are you? I'm fine, thank you, how are you?" But tonight, the catching ups were beyond the usual.

We talked about our school branch in Q*a*t*a*r, how she spent a full year preparing class module and designing the accompanying lab. She actually got to teach one semester there. "It was a lot of hard work, but it didn't work out. I just gave up the idea to ever teach in there."

And then we talked about her home country.

"Say, Dr. Y, is the Blue Mosque in Turkey?"

"Ah, you must be watching the Pope visit."

"Yeah. Really the mosque is so beautiful. But the Pope, hm, sort of not very welcome there? I mean he didn't really smile or his body language, it looks like he does not belong there." (I had read a piece by a German journalist the other day, describing the less friendly atmosphere surrounding the visit)

"I too watch the program every night. The last Pope was more popular. He kissed the ground. This one, he didn't. The last one was also more charismatic, he smiled a lot. This one, not so much. So, maybe that's part of the problems." She elaborates.

Somehow the conversation sort of turn into more personal topics, both ways, if you must know. Here is just a part of it.

"Is your daughter still in med school? John Hopkins isn't it?"

"Yes, she is. And it's Cornell. She almost graduates, at least I know she already has enough to graduate. In their field it takes seven years to get a PhD."

"Oh, she is on the PhD side of med school...how cool."

"And Cornell med school is actually in the middle of Manhattan. They have subsidized apartments right next door to the campus. That's where my daughter lives."

I was all wide-eyed by this story of a young woman, pursuing a PhD in a respected major in a top notch school, in the middle of Manhattan.

"Oh wow. What was her undergrad on?"

"She was a double major in UT in Cell and Molecular Biology and the other one was in Liberal Arts."

"Gosh, she's one well rounded person. That is one very interesting resume."

"I know. But sometime, you have to get in touch with reality, to graduate and to get a job. She can open a consulting business and start to make money. It seems that school is dragging her too long. I hear that in that major they have to take a Post Doc afterward. The money is a little bit better than being research assistant, but it is still not a real world, you know. Ah, I just don't want to think about it now."

"Hmm....she must be my age."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Yes she is your age, and the same problem too."

"I know I should've gone straight instead of getting that master's first."

"Yes you should. It wouldn't take that long for engineering."
.
.
.
From these snippets of conversation, my point across is that profesor itu manusia juga. I used to think they are a breed of superior beings who always happen to achieve success without being emotional about it. It turns out they have simple aspirations, they weep over failures, and they too act like any normal parent.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

D-6

kak inda kamyu ke rec gak?

hm

kak inda kamyu ke rec gak?

well
hmm

kak inda kamyu ke rec gak

ndak lah

kak inda kamyu ke rec gak?

why?

why?

why?

I still have a lot to do

okay

are you going?

but not even just for an hour
i am it's been 2 days

it's already 9!!

rec closes at 12 stupida

I'm gonna be dead in 3 hours

yok lah

besok lah

just an hour

I can't

okay I see

soalnya ini lagi ngerjain project si dr "call me James" H*w*a*n*g
biar orang gak diganggu minggu depan

oh I see
kan bisa besok
kan dr.K gak ada

no besok I want to work on my prelim!!!!

oh okay I c
never mind then

k
but could you pick me up later?

heck nowww

once you're done with Rec??

you're just using me

lah kan sekalian

no wayyyyyyyy
heck nowww

huhuhuhu, but it's freezing cold Princy

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

H-7

"Habis ini aku mo ke seminar, tapi mo makan dulu ke McD. Kamu ngapain?"

"Ehm, mau measurement lagi sih, ada sampel yang baru diradiasi. "

"Eh, itu mah entar-entar aja, selesein dulu presentasi kamu. Ikut aku makan aja dulu. Kamu pasti belom makan siang kan?"

"Iya belom, nggak laper, stress kayaknya."

"Udah pasti bisa lah. Yang pede aja..."


Ya gitu deh.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

D-8

My other boss this semester (and possibly next semester too, God forbid) stopped by my office this afternoon.

"So how are you these days?" He said, looking relieved of having find a place to sit on one of the two empty chairs.

"Well, I have my prelim next Thursday so I'm finishing up on the slides," said I.

"Ah, pretty busy then."

"I'm kinda nervous."

"You should be. That's the right reponse."

"I'm confused on balancing the theoretical stuff and the actual result. Which one should I elaborate more?"

"It's always better to present your result. Here it is. Tell them why are you doing the research, the way you are working on it, the justification of the methods, and finally show them if the result is really as what you expected."

"Hm...okay, that sounds plausible."

In the middle of the conversation, a colleague responsible for arranging group meeting time interrupted us:

"We are having a group meeting at six today, I just got an e-mail from Dr. K. Do you have something to present?"

Before I had a chance to say something, Other Boss replied, "She always have something to present."

I looked at the time, sighed, and quickly planned something I can talk about in two hours.

"I supposed I can present this preliminary presentation I've been working on. It's just gonna be very rough, as I haven't planned on the actual sentences for each slide."

"That will work. Thank you very much, you save me, I forgot all about it," said Colleague.

"Good luck on the exam...and let me know how you are doing," and with that, Other Boss left for his dinner.

"Thanks, I need it."

Some "Thoughts" about "Blogging"

When I moved from Misnomer to Dungeon, it was partly because I was getting more and more uncomfortable with the kind of audience it had. True, this is the internet, once it's out there, it's out there. To some extend you have given out privacy, and it's really up to you how explicit you want it to be exposed.

Another reason was because Misnomer was a place for silly stuff, slacking stuff. It was a place --what Ade would say-- where posts with high level of crispyness (read: garink) are in abundance. I am part of the school of thought that says as one gets older, one needs to jot down more serious and informative materials, maybe once in a while comes up with--what Bu Didi would say-- touchรฉ insights.

Dungeon, still chronicles a day-to-day life (or non-life), keeps a selective smaller circle of audience. People I am comfortable with. Those include you on the sidebar and some of you my "real life" friends and sisters. Of my blood, it's only NY who is fully aware of the existence of this blog. She makes quite a contribution to the more entertaining part of it, that fireball. Because as much as intended to be a bit more mature, we still need to retain some form of fun stuff, no?

Most of the time, what I wrote were things that troubled me. Not in a locked diary, electronic or otherwise, not in a more for-your-eyes-only online setting such as el-jay. As I much as I value privacy, I need to reach out to people who "get" me (and can I say, care about?) conveniently. Can we hear in unison, this all boils down to a modern day curhat? I feel like a heavy weight egoist already.

I've found it's amazing the clarity one gets from descripting one's thoughts, emotions and feelings, no matter how of little eloquence it is. Anyway, just like any other things, these stuff you read here will be filtered out through your own experiences, values, and personality and got processed (or maybe not, he he, as at times I notice I tend to go on and on about something, all with empty meaning). If I'm lucky, I'll get feedbacks. You are afterall my little support group, my shrinks, my confidants. I can't thank y'all enough for that. If not, then at least I have created parts of my own time capsule. Did I mention that my memory sucks?

Note to Self

Forgot to mention. Last Sunday was the Solemnity of Christ the King, which means it was the last Sunday before Advent as well as the last Sunday of this liturgical year. Ah, the season of Advent. I wonder if the Schola Cantorum and the Celestial Sounds will perform like last year.

Found this informative Catholic calendar. Might as well start using it.

PS: Whatever happens to attending daily Mass?

Sunday, November 26, 2006

The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

Whoop!

baru mo bilang
thank you for the support
:D

ha ha ha
Doa2 gue terkabul juga
huahahaha
* sekali2 soalnya *

t'was a day to be thankful

huahahahahaha

hoahoaohahoa

Congratulations for the Sooners, the Big 12 South Champion.
Congratulations for the Aggies, for beating those t.u. guys. (Although I'm unofficially a 2%-er. :p)

Some Light Pictures

Meet the Parents

On his day off, the father of yours truly would wake up really early in the morning (as in 4 AM or so). With his rise, he would demand everyone else in the house (these days, it's only the mother of yours truly) to do just the same. He would go straight online with the snailian dial up connection. On his lucky day, some of his four children are also online at exactly the same time. And this is what we would do.


Paternal Unit, NY, and me


Both Units, NY and me
Left-over Fiesta



  • Biscuits (NY made her version of cinnamon butter)
  • Lettuce
  • Corn niblets
  • parts of an 8 oz. Texas Roadhouse Sirloin
  • Roasted Chicken with Spicy Chilly Raspberry preserve

"French Manicure"

One of NY's little beautification projects on me. We were admiring those babies when suddenly I panicked, "but how am I going to take of my contact lenses?" The next day, I tactfully peeled off those fake nails. Beside, it was just too hard to function.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Ear Worm Saturday





Bonus: with teary eyes...is it kinda a sad song, don't you think, or is it just me?

---
Tonight when you stole a seat just beside me and there was just the two of us talking under those lights, I wish you were someone else. Huhuhuhu.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Gobble Day

This has been one warm Thanksgiving day with temperature in the 60s and 70s. I have spent better part of the afternoon working on the presentation for the preliminary exam.

A wheel of Brie, a jar or organic spicy chili raspberry jam, and a box of wheat crackers and I am off to the Advisor's Thanksgiving dinner in two hours.

I have nothing but the highest hope to be somewhere else than here this time next year.

Here is to this year and the better ones ahead.

Like last year's, the compulsory side profile pose. By NY.

I don't know where I'm going with this

I will look at this in the future and laugh at the pebblemindedness of a girl in her late twenties. A late twenties waiting for her cold medication to kick in the night before Thanksgiving. Oh, what the heck.

What is it that makes one fell a certain romantic feeling towards someone? Is it nature, as in that chemistry, that click are there perchance, or is it something that you nurture from nil? My suspision is that like most of things in the universe, it is not as black and white.

For instance, you get a chance to spend time alone with someone that you insisted on not having such a predisposed feeling toward. You didn't deny that you think about the possibility. All those time and you get to know this person really well. So you started building a list balancing the pros and cons of his personality and what not. Yes, I like his honesty and his confidence. He's pretty rough in some areas, but sure, it can be molded. People can change. The thing is when you arrive at the "negative" things you observe about this person, you started to throw him into a double standard. Your claimed sincere amore would never act like this or that in that kind of situation, etc. In the end, your non-feeling toward this person doesn't change. You are not saying it is a waste of resources and time. It helps you to be your own self, as you are actually getting more comfortable with him in a very platonic kinda of way. See, it opens your eyes to the world.

And then there is the one you put on pedestal. You don't actually get to know this person all that well or as much as the person you described above. But from all you've seen so far you can't help all but to keep this predisposed feeling that makes everything he does seems to naturally fit you and your preferences. Well, most things but one fundamental stuff. You don't form harsh judgment on the otherwise will clearly be thrown into the unacceptable flaws bin, instead you accept and learn to deal with them. Really, it goes back to that predisposition thing. The funny thing is, you don't really act yourself when you are near this person. At times, you convince yourself harder and harder that it is not all worth the commotion. Can't you just let it go already? If you have more chance to get this person better, will it wash off the feeling you have on him?

I don't know where I am going with this.

--

It's all coming to this epiphany. You never expect anything out of him, because if he does he will be totally out of his character. And, that's not the person you fall for. In return, you keep admiring him for that. Ah, what a circular reference.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Ascorbic acid, pt. 2

Ah, to be sick again with sore throat and headache twice in three weeks. This is just not right.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Oh oh siapa dia and some other stuff

Nona M: Uhm..itu si X kok tambah ganteng aja yah...

Nona XL dan XS serentak: IYAAAAA

Nona XS: Tadi itu yang dia baru masuk pintu, XS yang...oh kok jadi tambah ganteng aja nih orang.

Nona XL: Iya, jeans nya keren, jaketnya keren, gayanya keren, badannya juga tambah jadi aja.

Nona XS: He he he...eye candy baru kita ya.

Nona XL: Iya, tapi cuman bisa dijadiin eye candy. Seneng aja gitu ngeliat dia.

Nona M: Oh, emang eye candy yang dulu sampe ditaksir juga ya? Hohaohaoha...

Nona XL: Jadi malu...

---

further money = possible married

It is a fundamental base

funding for marriage?

no I mean financial security

i know
that's my only reason left to delay marriage
ok, that and find a partner
i got a partner
now the financing...

oh, lucky you

----

nda
lagi apa?

di lab
watsup?


ke
rec yuks?

ha? elu masih di sini?????

hahahaha ngga ding
gw udah masuk kantor dong tadi
uda mulai kerja


dasar!
bikin orang deg-degan aja

----

Yada says:

x when are u coming home x?

X (CR) says: in a little while Y

kok tumben nanya2?

I need help on lab report

HAOHOHAOHAOHA kurang ajar

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Viva La Comida

Bu Didi, it's not just you who's in a cooking frenzy. NY cooked these two noodle delights. One of Korean origin (Dubokki), the other of Italian (penne with muscles in white wine sauce, they sell live muscles at HEB yesterday! "Don't forget to keep this part of the container open, so they can still breath," says the seafood counter guy).

We couldn't decide which one to eat first, so we got a heaping portion of each. As NY sez, "the best lunch I've ever had these past four months."



Oh, on Saturday, she cooked Biryani Masala Beef, which I love to death but she doesn't. Quite an industrious young lady, that NY.

And moi? I made a rendition of The Outback's baked sweet potato (my second food epiphany after that Fuzhou food in NY Chinatown last December). The picture didn't do justice. The brown "sauce" is made out of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Blurry Moment

The one and only, the "she's just too cute" Nadia B and I. CS Seafood, Friday night. CMU played NIU.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Hidup Baru (Bukan Saya), pt 2

loe dari tadi kemana?

barusan makan
hehehehe
ke Rec yok?

wahhhh
kacau pasti makanya makanya mo ke rec
ya kan :P

IYAAAAA
huhuhuhuhu
fried catfish, oyster, french fries

gw udah mandi
males hehehhehe

haduh gue ngantuk apa napping dulu yak

hahhahhaha
ya udah napping aja
tadi udah makan banyak
ngga ke rec
pas nya napping tuh

SIAL

:P

hhh...abis Desember 7 gue intensif lagi
pangling entar elu liat gue taun depan :p

mulai senin gw intesif bgt lagi
liat gw sebulan lagi
jgn pangling yah

tanding kita?

ntar gw duluan deh yg nyapa
siapa tau loe ngga kenal lagi

ya kayaknya elu yang nggak kenal ama gue deh pastinya
udah pake X5 gitu entar

eits siapa bilang X5

hah H3 pula?

;)




Irreconcilable Difference, pt. 2

A version of Le Figaro's Voi che sapete was being played on my WMP.

NY (under the comforter, getting a nap): "Kak Inda Hon, I don't like the song you're playing there. I cannot hum with it, I can only listen to it and I don't like it. Please turn off the volume...."

moi (imitating Miss Church): "Tell me what love is, what can it be...What is this yearning burning me?"

NY: "Oh, Kak Inda, don't make it worst...it was almost okay before, now it's just unbearable..."

moi: "Hhhhh....prepare to be dustified..." (clicking on Dusty Springfield's What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)

NY: "Oh, no...what did I do to deserve this..." (pingsan)

Friday, November 17, 2006

Mea Culpa

.
.
That I have sinned through my own fault,
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done, and what I have failed to do.
.
.

She recites the confiteor everytime in Mass. These days, that's the closest thing she's been to a penance.

Even so, a recite is a recite. She doesn't actually comprehend the concept until a few days ago when a certain Pinkish Polkadot brought up a similar subject to one of their afternoon chats.

Right then she got that spiritual light bulb working and went straight into a mild conniption, "we are responsible for all four?" And finally to realize that it is one thing to admit and to contrite that one has sinned over words said and deeds done. It's not the same case for the ones committed in mind and on things purposedly ignored.

w1$h ¥0ยต w3r3 h3r3

Today, I was working on something that was all the way over my head. I got so frustrated I felt like crying. All I want need to do is to talk to you. You, in turn, will come up with things that completely rebuild my shattered confidence. And at the end, my dear, the world will turn out just okay. Gosh, I miss you.

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here

Thursday, November 16, 2006

=)

no pierda su tiempo en mรญ, usted es ya la voz dentro de mi cabeza (6x)
soy extraรฑar usted extraรฑar usted (6x)

-intermitente uno ocho dos
hei yang lagi kehilangan napsu makan, emang sang bintang blom bersinar, sabar ya =)

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Irreconcilable Difference

Jadi ada dua teori. Satu bilang, intelijen itu udah dari sononya. Kalo elu pinter ya pinter, kalo bodoh ya bodoh, tetep aja seperti itu. Sedangkan teori satunya lagi bilang, intelijen itu bisa diubah, bisa tambah, bisa kurang.

Implikasinya ada dua...Satu...buat yang ngajarin....kalo ikut teori pertama, si guru nggak suka ngajar orang yang "bodoh", percuma gitu kan. Kalo guru pengikut teori kedua, dia bakal seneng ngajar, karena dia percaya semua orang bisa diubah, bisa dididik.

Dua..buat yang diajar, kalo dia penganut teori pertama, dia bakal cepet puas sama diri sendiri dan nggak bakal termotivasi buat hal-hal yang lebih menantang kalo dia ngerasa dia nggak bisa bersinar di situ. Jadi belajar lebih buat hasil akhirnya. Kalo dia penganut teori kedua, dia orangnya punya motivasi untuk jadi lebih, talentanya bisa dikembangin gitu, jadi belajar bukan sekedar buat nilai, tapi for the sake of learning.

Elu penganut yang mana?

Hmm...teori gw buat teori itu...Gue nggak percaya intelijen itu fixed, jadi bisa diubah harusnya. Bisa berkurang juga, kayak orang yang udah lama nggak ngomong Inggris, jadi bisa ilang gitu, padahal tadinya cas cis cus.

Tapi, gue nggak pernah merasa belajar for the sake of learning khusus yang buat pelajaran sekolah. Kalo di luar pelajaran sekolah, itu sepenuh hati deh gue....ha ha ha.

Dasar....tapi elu berhasil juga tuh sekolahnya. Apa cuman didasari ulterior motif pula lagi..hahaha..

Yoi...gw belajar soalnya gw mo berhasil dalam kerjaan dan ujungnya bisa hidup nyaman.

Ha ha ha....

...udah terlalu banyak perbedaan...

Rediscovering 311

I Really Do Care

The measurement apparatus was broken prompting an early dismissal for the last lab section I am teaching this semester.

"You can tell the students to come next Monday or Tuesday, and they can measure anything they want," Lab Manager shouted from the other end of the room.

"They don't really care. If I were them, I would come whenever. We've been working all semester for this, you know...to see...to see that your devices that you make with your own hands are actually working," I said.

"Ha ha...well, just announce it and see whoever wants to, they're welcome."

"...yeah, we'll see," I said pushing back the double door to the hallway, "see you later."

"Hey, H, you just said the magic word, 'If I were them...', see it's because you care so much about this lab. Good job!"

"I really do care," I whimpered to myself.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Fall 2006 International Mass

When we first saw this picture, we both screamed "Cantiknyaaaa...." (HA HA HA. Maap narsis.)
NY and I
Anyhow, it was taken at the 5:30 PM Mass today, which this fall's International Mass. As always, the complete set here.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Just stuff

It's 5:30 AM. Yours trully is falling to the old habit of living through the wee morning hours. She finished and submitted the proposal for preliminary exam to her research advisor today. In return, he gave back a third revision for that other paper. She wonders if they will ever finish it for publication. The APL one did not have as much worked done on it compared to this.

Her prelim exam is set to be on December 7. There is a presentation need to be worked on and with it a whole lot of preparation. She is just...overwhelmed. Meanwhile, her research load is getting heavier as the semester rolls to an end. The advisor, being back from the conference, is enlighted with many "novel" research ideas. Yours truly needs to haul her ass back to the CR to work on the feasibilities of these epiphanies. On the bright side, she's glad to be done with the teaching load next week.

Tonight, after dinner at the Vietnamese place in the corner, she fell a sleep while waiting for a call that never came. She woke up around midnight. Her sister had made plan with a friend to go to the gym and to watch movie. But she, in turn, fell asleep as well. The two of them decided to splurge on calories and to watch rented DVD. So off they went to the local HEB.

Back at home, they first munched on the donuts, followed by the chips/pretzel/cheetos mix, onto the boxes of Cracker Jack, and finally the peanuts. Notice the alternating sweet, salty, sweet, salty snacking activity. That's how you get the ultimate food comma. Meanwhile, The Benchwarmers was being played.

Her sister went to sleep not long after the movie ended. Yours truly parking herself in front of her sister's laptop. She was browsing through a lot of pictures on Flickr, blogwalking, and visiting random websites, when suddenly the internet connection started acting up. She walked downstairs to reset the modem and the ethernet, and she went back upstairs to restart the laptop. All to no avail. After several trips up and down, she decided to just listen to the TV in the background and played a couple of Freecells. But that did not last long. She finally had an idea to disconnect the cable connections to her desktop and to her brother's laptop, to eliminate the bad contacts among those three computers. And voila, the connection was back.

Through all this commotion, her omnionline friend was still online from his office in J-town. For some reason, he sent her an e-mail with Tony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential attached. She was absorbed by this piece of work. His TV shows were her favorite, but she used to think of him as just another faux cook celebrity. Turned out he is a well-respected guy in the gourmet industry.

It's 6:30 AM and she still cannot fall asleep.

Oh by the way, she still misses that guy.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Vanity is Overrated

jadi kan gue ber rok ria ke sekolah hari ini
trus ada yang bilang (cewe) "aw, you look pretty...are you dating a guy?"
hahahahhaahahhaahahah

hahahahah

sial sial..emangnya nggak boleh tampil cantik untuk diri sendiri ya..hoaoahooa
trus dia bilang gini
"is your advisor here?"
dia pikir gue bisa gaya kalo nggak ada si K** aja kali ya
ahhahahahah

makanya cantik tiap hari
biar ngga di comment
;)

HOAOHAOHAHOOHAOHA
kalo cantik tiap hari nggak asik juga
nggak pangling dong orang2

mending di bilang "wah dia cantik" drpd "wah dia hari ini cantik... tp biasa nya..."

ohaohaoahohahoahoahoahohoahoaho
ya udah nanti gue bawa second outfit
buat masuk CR

hahahha good good

Silentia

I wonder how it ends
The beating hearts and the cheerful thoughts
The ubiquitous notions and the imaginations

It swirls around and it slowly evolves
It finds comfort in sadness than in happiness
It screams emotional than physical

It's the saddle as well as the pedestal
It's in the silence and in all the things said
It's something I never bind to understand

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Hot of the Press

Yasa 360 says:
ur prez is the new defense secretary

X says:
oh wowwww
didn't even know he was nominated??

baru aja si rumsfeld resign

gila
why him? apa nggak ada orang lain yak

ya dia kan bekas CIA....taulah kerjaan defense
plus he's close to the Bush family

hahah...iya...
gila hahaha...gosip2nya
dulu si Gates ngelamar buat jd seseorang di UT
but they only gave hime an associate professor position

oooo....

kalo di A&M langsung jadi presiden hahaha...definitely the Bush's connection

he he

eh kan blom pasti yak...harus diapprove dulu ama senate? kayak si Condee dulu? pake hearing segala...

condy...nggak ah
ini kan pegawai eksekutip
kalo gak salah sih gak....gak tau juga persisnya
kalo gak salah sih hak presiden...mau hire tukang sapu kek:P

ohaohaohaho
"The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. "
Wiki sez

oh ok
my bad

"The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the United States presidential line of succession."
hahaha...

ha ha
so he has to kill 5 people?

kayak raja aja ya
ohaohaohaohhoahoahoaho
gila di Wiki udah diupdate gitu
"Robert Gates (nominated)"

iya

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

DQ Tuesday

True, for two people who spend a considerable amount of time together in a non-romantic kind of way for the sake of achieving respective goals, at the very best and time permitting, you've become kinda, a small kinda, one of the current objects of my "affection" (as are Taco Bell's Nacho Supreme and Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate line, eh salah, itu mah addiction ya...). Naturally, we are bound to be open to each other...and you are. But me, see, I still need a bit more privacy--which is a paradox in itself, since I'm writing this down for the whole world to see. Back to the privacy thing, please don't pull another of the "who was that on the phone with you?" variety. I'm minding my own business even though I'm dying to know if it had been the same person (read: girl) that had been calling you omnihourly. He he he.

Oh, one more thing. Please spare me the detail. I would never bring up a certain undergarment problem--while trying to fix it up, gasp!-- to a person of the opposite sex, no matter how close we are. Ha ha ha.

---
X: My own two knights in shining armors...

Knights in Shining Armors
NY: only in plantersville...
NY: what happens in plantersville stays in plantersville
X: HOAHOAHOAHOHOAHOAHO
That ever witty NY...

Saturday, November 04, 2006

TexRenFes

We went to the Renaissance Festival today. And here is the only picture we took...just kidding. View the complete set here.

Friday, November 03, 2006

When I grow up, I want to be just like her

Waktu itu saya pernah bercakap-cakap dengan seseorang, saling membicarakan masa depan impian.

Saya:
Jadi kan, kalo nih, kalo....misalnya gue dapet fellowship itu...kan entar bakal internship ke sono...trus kalo gue bagus kerjanya kan bakal ditawarin kerja. Bayangin...kerja di perusahaan itu... aduh keren abis!!! Trus misalnya gue kerja mati-matian, terus di promosiin sampe jadi senior researcher, trus jadi manager, trus jadi VP teknologi...ahahaha...oh mai...Trus gue lupa ama cita-cita gue buat nikah dan punya keluarga sendiri....Alah...terlalu muluk-muluk. Nggak bakal seekstrim itu pastinya.

Dia:
*diem dua detik* Jangan lah, jangan sampe. Ntar loe hidupnya kayak nerd pula lagi.

Ya enggak, kerja sih kerja, social life ya harus jalan juga dong. Kan asik tuh, nggak usah pake komitmen ama siapa-siapa, kecuali ama diri elu, kerjaan, dan bonyok aja kali.

Hmm..iya kali awalnya asik nggak komitmen, tapi kan entar lama-lama loe pasti punya keinginan buat settle down.

Iya ya...we'll see.

and then this seminar announcement....

Dear Faculty and students:

Dr. H***** is the highest ranked female researcher in Hitachi Central Research Laboratory.

The seminar would be very informative on the Japan's top research laboratory.

The Advisor

The good doctor came up with one of the most succesful crystallization techniques used in production. I wonder what kind of a person she is, succesfully breaking the glass ceiling like that. Well, first and foremost, she's smart, soft spoken, polite, proactive, stylish and a bit shy. I wonder how her social and other lives are.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

In reverse chronological order

"Do you mind if I keep this channel on?" An employee at a local eatery asked me. We were the only ones watching the big screen TV.
"No, no..."
"Which one do you prefer? That one or this?" He pointed at one of the other TV sets broadcasting yet another sporting event.
"This." I motioned my head towards the soccer match played at our big screen.

Between 22 well built, dynamically moving, good looking Latin Americans and stuck up middle age men in oversized umbrellas, it's clear which ones I prefer.

--

Who in the right mind will put an approximately 200 g of thawed salmon fillet on a 1200 W microwave heating for 5 minutes and 30 seconds (that really amounts to 396 kJ of energy, and with a Salmon heat capacity of approximately 2.7 J/g C, corresponds to over 800 degrees C of cooking temperature)?

The innocent fillet shrinked too much, exhibited unappetizing burnt marks, and was not easy to masticate. I had to employ a knife, one of those crappy plastic picnic ones, even then, it was still hard to cut it into smaller chewable bits.

--

This morning I woke up from a long sleep nursing my cold (or is it allergy?). I was just thinking of a series of dreams, yeah, like that Bob Dylan song. I rarely dreamt about people in real life. In these ones, I did. If nothing else, I almost forgot how you look like, it's all coming back now.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Ascorbic acid

I am thinking it's a sign
that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images
and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned

and I have to speculate
that God himself did make
us into corresponding shapes
like puzzle pieces from the clay

It's true, it may seem like a stretch
but its thoughts like this that catch
my troubled head when you're away
when I am missing you to death

when you are out there on the road
for several weeks of shows
and when you scan the radio
I hope this song will guide you home


---

Ah, to be sick and out of shape...one can use it as an excuse to a much needed break from work. If only one's preliminary exam is not set to be in one month and one does not need to finish the corresponding proposal and submit it to one's advisor in a mere few days. ARGH!

Somethin' somethin'

kemaren ada cowo lagi beli a box of Trojan(extra strength)
jam 12 malem
hahahahaha

huahahahaha
somebody's gettin' some...

belinya cuman itu coba...mbok di disguise dikit
ambil roti, ambil susu

huahahahahaha
ngebut gak keluar parkirnya?

hmm...dunno
kalo kelasnya jam 8 apa nggak capek tuh?
hahahaha

yah....kalo soal begituan mah....udah kaga mikir kelas lagi
namanya juga college age kids
humpin' like bunnies

eiuh
kasirnya bilang gini..."have a good evening"

trus di jawabnya apa?
"how'd you know?"

biasa aja...abisnya bilang good evening nya juga netral
harusnya kan "have a goooddd evening ;)"

hihihi

hahahaha
that guy needs some rest and relaxation kayaknya...kusut banget tampangnya

hauhahahahaha

I hope he takes shower before :p

hauhahahahahahahahaha
bau ikan asin...malah gak jadi ya

ohaohaohahohoaohaohahooha
iya...killing the mood right that instant kan

hihihi