Monday, July 30, 2007

State of Health Address

I come to realize I do a state of health address more in the hottest months of the year than any other time. Does it mean a) high temperature equals health problem or b) I just have too much time lying around to address the issue(s)?
  1. Redness of the eyes
    Well, it started as one irritated right eye in the middle of the week. I haven't use contact lenses except on the weekends. It's safe to say, it was not from questionable cleaning practice on the contact lenses, as what normally happened to me. I put a drop or two of over the counter generic eyedrop. Problem solved on that one eye, but in another 12 hours, the other eye showed the same symptom of irriation. I treated that left eye with the eyedrop, it worked fine, but in another 12 hours, the right eye got back to status quo, which compelled me to put the eyedrops again. Thank Godness, the cycle stopped right there.

  2. Skin Fungi
    This is a self-diagnostic. I bumped into an itchy spot on my left arm with protruding white dots on it. I used to have these back home when exposed to direct sunlight on a very hot day. I haven't put anything on it. Please don't spread around, little fungi.

  3. Back Pain
    This is just plain weird. I haven't killed myself in a rigorous workout problem for a few days (it feels like something that one might get from overdoing Rotating Torso exercise). Why the back pain, then? From sleeping position? OOT: I finished the book last night in a hasty fashion for the sake on knowing who's the killer. I will reread the detail again, including guessing the meaning of the copious fragments and sentences in Latin.

  4. Sand Particles Inhalation
    Not from a beach trip, mind you. Today, I sandblasted parts of an equipment. I wore mask, I can still fill particles inhaled. Luckily, the new sandblasting equipment reduced the amount of time needed to get it done. Be still my poor lung

  5. Question on if I should start visiting "woman doctor"
    We have no family history on "women problem", but being on the late twenties, I think I should start doing so, it's covered by the health insurance anyway. It's just I'm too lazy to drag myself to an appointment in the middle of the week, during office hour. Heck, I still have my glasses prescription six months ago which is still not materialized into an ownership of a new pair of glasses.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Semper Memori

Happy Birthday, Papa!

You would have been 55 years old today. A twin double digit number, if only.

A look at my archive of today in the yesteryears of 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006...they are not much, but I'm glad I have those written down in memory of you.

And here, I'm sneaking in my favorite picture of you and me, when we were both young and carefree.


A little song for you, Papa.

Ayah ...

Betapa kuagungkan
Betapa kuharapkan

Ayah ...

Betapa kau berpesan
Betapa kau doa kan

Ayah

Betapa pengalaman
Dahulu dan sekarang

Ayah

Rambutmu t'lah memutih
Cermin suka dan sedih

Ayah ...

Ceritakan kembali
Riwayat yang indah waktu dahulu

Ayah ...

Ku takkan bosan mendengar
Riwayat waktu kau muda perkasa

Ayah ...

Kau dapat,merindukan
Kau dapat mengenangkan

Ayah ...
Waktu terus berlalu
Sampai ke anak cucu


Ayah, Koes Plus

PS:
Happy birthday other exceptional July 29th-ers: Bison and Enda.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Shirt and Boy

Dear R,

Last night, I was finally able to drag NY to go the Rec with me (and the New Rec Buddy). As soon as I donned on my choice of burnt orange with navy stripes on the neck and arms Cheers t-shirt and black crop exercise pants, NY vetoed the ensemble.

"What should I wear, then?" I said, succumbed to the Princster's short of an order.

She mentioned a stylish sportswear top I had acquired on a sale a couple of months back. I hesitated. You see, the shirt, is a bit too small for my size and the wear of it requires confidence of the highest degree, what with the overly amount of fat on top of my muscles (let's pretend I really do built some muscles with the blind workout program all these times).

"No, you look great on it." She said. So, I went on with it hoping that I won't run into people I know. Alas, it was only at the Rec entrance, when a person from my floor saw me.

After we safely stowed our belongings at the locker, NRB asked me to run at the track instead of on the threadmil. I said yes and on our way upstairs, we ran into you. My thought was "Gosh, darn it, why it had to be you."

"Hey..." I said. You acknowledged my presence coldly--I wonder if I should behave likewise to you, well, I've been until last night.

I followed the split second encounter by the stupidest proclamation, "You are so sweaty.."

There were better words to express my concern on you, you did drenched in too much sweat, your shirt was completely wet, even drops of sweat still dripped down from your hair. Of course, I am only an innocent girl, who didn't know how to present herself in an unfortunate situation like this, or anything else for that matter.

Anyway, I know I will regret jotting down this post. I just realized Sunday was last post and today is already Friday. So in the midst of the happenings of my life, I'm sorry you've been reduced to the choice of thing I wrote.

Sincerely,
X

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Today Is What I Call a Productive Day

On the list of honor:
  • Grocery, check
  • Cooking, check (beat this Rachael Ray, on our not-so contingent hand: a 2 hour cooking time for the whole week's worth of meals)
  • Laundry (along with white clothes pre-treament in bleach), check
  • Ironing, check
  • Rec trip, check (I tried HIIT again today and it killed me again. Two sets of one minute walking, five minute running, one minute sprinting. I spared you the speed of each activity.)
  • Window shopping, check (seriously, whoever still shops at Old Navy...you're a big spender. Try Target instead.)
  • Bookstore trip, check (I stumbled upon the translation of Umberto Eco's The Name of The Rose. I managed to read the first 53 pages. I believe I watched the movie nine years back. Seriously, I gotta love this book. It has everything I am passionate about: detective plot, Catholicism, and the Middle Ages. Will try to check one out from the school library.)

Friday, July 20, 2007

Empty

Hey whaddaya know, it's the weekend. Suddenly, I have the utmost hope that small things like "Have you had lunch? Let's go to Mc Donald!" or "Are you going to the Rec tonight?" or "pa kabar, loe?", not necessary by the same person, could somehow elevated and resulted in a preparation to one heavier occasion.

I spent too much time on this drawing.

I am rereading Harry Potter 4.

....and last but definitely not least, a certain social networking reminder about your deceased parental unit's upcoming birthday. It's just too sad.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

This Sums It

Arghh..I think I'm burnt out

go shopping
:P

I'm not a shopping type of person
more like...eating
tapi gue ada nikahan Agus ini...ntar nggak muat lagi bajunya
serba susah :(
hahahahah

hahaha
a girl's thought process
it's a strange thing

hahahahahah
wedding kan buat tebar pesona
gue pengen nonjok2 seseorang
:P

what did he/she do?

gue nggak tau siapa yang mo ditonjok...
hahahah
what do you call it...punching bag
oh well...

Monday, July 16, 2007

Hardships

As far as I'm concerned, everyone is entitled to a personal misery (/ies). Whereas when such misery is adding up to the collective misery of the loved ones, a concept of fairness should have never existed. What you really wish is that you have the capability to be that someone that gives out word of comforts, who stays faithful, who keeps everyone together. So question on the existence of the light at the end of the tunnel would have a definite positive answer. Ah...these burdens, our crosses.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Feeling Dressy

Cross-posted here.

Was planning to wear it to church this week, but I bailed out. It's just too much (cleavage), you know. Pardon the messy room, and the dry scaly feet. Gown (with a sweetheart neckline...thanks, Han!) by Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Shoes also from Target...And they were both from ludicrously handsome sales.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Going Gung Ho

Hmmh....I don't know how far luck will go with my ignorance and gung ho mentality. Case in point is the "bundle of joy" I am currently spending my time on. With the goal in mind to finish things as quickly as possible, I didn't think much over the minutiae of the process flows, in fact, I didn't consider anything much all. True to the heart, I am operating like a horse with its eyes covered to stay on the route.

I refused to give up on a processing of a certain metal after using all the known chemical mixes designed for the process. Luckily, we have all three available in the lab, strangely, none of them worked. I ended up using the one heck of an a*c*i*d solution that for sure will do the job, granted not to the best quality. It didn't work on some portion of each plate, but I decided it was already good enough. It turned out the use of such solution save me on the next step. It automatically cleaned the backside ox*ide to enable the con*tact formation to the sub*strate--a necessary step I ignorantly left.

Another problem is that the choice of metal I have has been known to not forming a good oh*mic contact, not without a significant elevated temperature ann*ealing. Well...I tried one to around 800 centigrade. Surprisingly, there were no peeling off and the measurement shows that some of these things might be working just all right.

To add to the craziness, I found out later, that those portion of the plates that I thought were totally damaged, were actually the ones that gave good result.

Note to self: thinking before doing, you won't be as lucky forever.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Pengganti Elu, Want

Eh, ntar malem jadi?

Jadi dong. Nggak ada mobil tapinya.

OK, aku jemput aja.

*tok tok tok*

Lah, pake mobilnya nya si anu?

He he he...iya.

....sekali-kalinya dijemput pake B*M*W, kalo L*e*x*u*s sih udah pernah...ya nggak, Ka? ;)

Hmm...hari ini cardio-nya ngapain ya, lari di treadmill aja, yuk?

Boleh.

Pernah denger HIIT nggak?

Hm..apa tuh?

Jadinya di-rotate, jalan, lari, sprint, ulang lagi sampe beberapa set.

Boleh juga tuh. Mau gimana? 5-5-5 menit trus ulang?

Hmm...sprint 5 menit kayaknya terlalu berat ya. Gimana kalo 3-5-2? Jadinya 3 set dalam 30 menit.

OK.

Set kedua...

Aduh, nggak kuat ni...abis ini cooling down aja lah.

Iya, aku juga...

Trus latihan kaki kali ya.

OK
Trus, kita latihan pake beberapa mesin untuk paha (depan dan belakang, sisi luar dan sisi dalam), betis, gluteus, free motion hamstring and quad, diakhiri dengan sit up yang pake bola beban (si Rec partner) dan yang cycling in the air.

Ini besok pagi dijamin bangun-bangun nggak bisa jalan, deh.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Blaming Bu Didi for This

Lab work sucks, but I like it. What a contradiction!

From FS' bulletin board, and I deleted the ones I don't want to answer. :P

31 girl questions...answer them with the truth..

Do you straighten your hair everyday?
* If I have the time. Otherwise, it's pony tail and headband.

Do you worry about the size of your b**bs?
* Don't care.

What's your favorite girly magazine?
* Don't have one. Does Vanity Fair count?

Would you kill for chocolate?
* Hell, yeah!

Jeans or skirts?
* Girly days: skirt

Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry?
*Yes/yes/not really.

Did you ever spend all day/night getting pretty for a guy?
* Guilty

Would you leave the house without makeup on?
* Yes...on school days and during the summer...on the weekends, it's a different story.

On a scale of 1-10, how fun is shopping?
* 10 if I have the budget and if I need the stuff.

Are you spoiled?
* I guess?

Do you think lipgloss is the best?
* The subtle the better.

Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show?
* Nope. Most of them are on reruns anyway.

Do you yell a lot?
* No, I don't. I just blog.

How long does it take you to get ready?
* Give and take 10 minutes, but on girly days, it could be more than an hour.

Do you wear sweatpants/pajama pants to school/work?
* Not in a million years, and I despise people who do so.

Accessories make the outfit; true or false?
* True, sometimes. When it's dressed up day.

Do u like skater boys?
* You mean, sk8ter boys? Nah...

Is pink truly the best color in the entire universe?
* No, it isn't...purple is.

Lip gloss a must?
* Not really. Body lotion is.

Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy?
* Nope.

Do you like wearing dresses??
* Yes, I do

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Music and Work, segunda parte

Today is an improvement in term of hour spent at the lab: down to 13 hour instead of 14. However, the early results from measurement are not looking promising. I'm trying another thing to improve them first thing tomorrow. Hope it's still salvageable. Wish me luck on not burning down the lab.

Today a certain Miss D gave me a list of singer-songwriters that includes Alexis Strum, Emiliana Torrini and Rachel Yamagata.
oo anda suka lagu2 penyanyi cewe + gitar + mellifluous sound

yoiiiiiiiiiii
hahahahaha
or piano singer/songwriter
She also came up with Architecture in Helsinki and Explosions in the Sky and Sufjan Stevens. They're all interesting. That last one, I kinda like the sound of him, I will pay more attention into it tomorrow.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Music and Work

Today I broke my record (since March) to work inside the lab for 14 hours straight saved for the 15-minute lunch and dinner. Good thing is that I was able to realize my work goal of the day. It kinda paid off the aches on my legs from having to stand most of those time spent in the lab. There were times when I swirled from one point to another by pushing myself on the swivel chair. It was that tiring to walk.

It also came with a good dose of boredom. To relieve myself, I asked some people on my MSN for songs, I mean, the titles.

"Just give me a song, any song, and I'll find it on YouTube," said I.

One came up with this.

"Nice one," I said. It had a happy jazzy tune that makes me want to dance around.

"I have it memorized," he said.

I thought what a lucky girl his girlfriend is.

At first, my own sister wasn't able to come up with any song title for me, until suddenly, she sent me this YouTube link. I eagerly clicked on it, when I realized what the selection was. Great, now it reminded me of this movie and the fact that I was totally alone in the big yellow lighted lab. Yes, that NY is just something. What a bully!

Next, B came up with a title corresponded to a thieving feline.

"What's that?" I was curious even before I got around to browse the YouTube.

"Dangdut."

Apparently that particular song is a current hit, despite of its lack of quality.

Luckily, B proceeded to list several titles that are closer to my liking. These so-called adrenaline songs include In the End by Linkin Park, Believe by Franka Potente, and Anvil of Crom, the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack.

Now, you guys, prepare a list of song for me to hear while I'm immersing myself of yet another long hour day at the lab tomorrow. It helps. Thank you very much.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

That NY

X (CR): hi NY

NY: hi
please go nudge somebody else
i'm busy

there's no else to nudge
I'm theriouth

haahahahaha
.
.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-765.pdf

kak do you also mind to print that file
it's like 10 pages
i really appreciate if you don't mind to do it   

huh

huh?

tadi nggak boleh di nudge
skrg manis2

hihi
pleath???

oahoahohaohaoha

pwetty pwetty pleathe??

ohaohaohaohaoh
okai

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Two Things

When I was at this exhibition, I couldn't help but wondering about the similarities of the imperial Rome and the US of A. 520 years of the imperial power compared to the 231 years and counting of the existence of the USA. Will there be "The Rising and The Fall of the USA Empire"? This piece sort of gives a glimpse of an analogy between the two powers (via Dappled Things).

In May, I was looking for books written by Umar Kayam at a local bookstore in my hometown to no avail, they did not carry any. Instead, I was petrified by the selections of books with cartoonish illustration on the cover. Apparently, these genres, coined teenlit and chicklit, are the ones that are profitable enough to carry. On one hand, there is an increase in reading awareness among young people. On the other hand--I haven't read much of these books, so I might be wrong about the general content--it is a pity that people are bombarded by these "sugar-coated-empty-calory" entertainments. What about something a little bit on the heavy side? A grain of social criticism, of cultural awareness, of googol of other things to ponder?

Friday, July 06, 2007

Being A Little Shallow

As I get older I care more and more care about my body image, in a healthy way of course. Take for example, along with sensible intake of food, I don't mind getting drenched in sweat at the gym working out for a flatter stomach, a nice upper body (I'm giving up on my lower part, ha ha) or just to maintain the weight with cardio exercise. In fact, I felt the sexiest last summer when Rec Buddy and I conjured in daily intensive high intensity training--I want those protruded veins on my feet back!

Lately, I couldn't afford the amount of gym trips necessary to maintain the weight, much less to lose a couple of pounds away. And then I remember there is an immediate goal to attain, I need to fit better in this dress for a wedding in August. The dress as you can see is very forgiving on the lower part but not necessary on the top part.

So, yeah, I need to put myself in a mild boot camp of diet and exercise. I don't know if I can do that in the middle of everything that's going on in my life. But then, life is life. And as is, there will always be something going on with it.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Home Sweet Home

The other night, I was waiting for NY in the car and this song came up in the radio. I'm such a sucker for similar sentimental rock songs. It is always for the minor tunes first and later for the lyrics and then I find my self later tapping on the surface of my desk following the beats of the drums.

On its March 2007 edition, Rolling Stones featured a story on Daniel Levitin's study on the brain response to recorded music, Dr. Levitin wrote a book This is Your Brain on Music. For illustration, when someone listens to Mozart's, his/her primary auditory part of the brain is active. James Brown's further ignites the brain part responsible for emotion and motoric skill, while Eminem's adds up the sparks on the brain part responsible for language.

Interesting. That kinda explains my observation above.


You know I'm a dreamer but my heart's of gold
I have run away high so I won't come home low
Just when things went right
Doesnt' mean that they were always wrong
Just take this song and you will never feel left all alone

Take me to your heart
Throw me in your bones
Just one more night
And I'm coming off this long winding road

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home

You know that I've seen too many romantic dreams
Up in the light falling off the silver screen
My heart is like an open book
For the whole world to read
Sometime nothing keeping me together at the seams

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight Tonight
I'm on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

The Reply

From:
Date: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: Udah Nyampe Ya?
Message: Halo inda,

sorry yah ga sempet bales imel kemaren itu.. Maklum waktu lagi liburan friendster kurang diperhatiin. Setelah baca imel elo yg sebelumnya, trus diceritain lagi sama temennya E** yg di cols, trus kemaren ketemu sama koko elo jg di kawinannya E**, skrg g ngerti deh.. Bener2 maluin deh US embassy ampir bikin salah kayak gitu... :P

puji Tuhan deh minta visa semuanya lancar.. gue dah balik dari tgl 20 juni lalu. Elo minta visa di jkt tgl brp yah kemaren itu? May 21 kah? Hmm... too much serendipity sih kalo tanggalnya sama juga. hahaha....

Yah luar biasa jg yah kalo dipikir2. Dunia emang udah sempit... hahaha...

Btw, salam kenal juga yah... ini gue kenalan aja belon, omongnya dah panjang gini... :P

*****

S-p-u-t-t-e-r-i-n-g

I asked the advisor so that I can be trained to use that other module, the one we need for the last part of the project. This way I don't have to depend on the colleague who owns the module to work on my samples. Freedom like this is something one has to give up when one decides to work in this field profesionally.

Yesterday, I tried for the first time to do the work with the module to gather the first data point--I'm planning to have four-- for this set of paramater. And then I'm thinking of examining the second paramater with another four data points and call it a complete experiment. It needs way too much time, which I couldn't afford. Next, I will see how the other colleague is with his part of the work and go from there to make a complete device.

There are difficulties encountered when operating this module: plasma couldn't ignite, leaking valve, etc. The fact that it is operated manually can be a blessing in disguise. We spent quite a lot of money on this module and to think that we still need to control the experimental condition by hand is just beyond me. On the other hand, there is less complicated electronics and no programming to be worried about. It's all straight operation, a clean and safe one.

So, here I am on the 4th of July, working on the second data point. I'm hoping I'm improving my skill from yesterday's.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Ranting i-Products

http://cache.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/iProduct.gif

hahahah mangkel nggak dapet iPhone pak? ato emang anti iProduct?

anything i is the anti-cool
people who want to seem like they're cool... buy iProducts
not even 3G... for 600 bucks


I don't know...Mac is worth it
iPod i anything else...I don't know


a mac isn't really an iProduct
it's just MacBook...
ada sih iMac...and it's lame

the thing is...I am partial to junk tech stuff..my future depends on the market for these things

there's a whole world other than iCrap
overpriced overhyped
shows you how far a pretty face can go in the world


what's your cellphone?
brand type etc?

the cheapest nokia
i don't know the type haha
it makes phone calls


good boy
hahahahaha

org sini gaji 3 juta HP 5 juta
8 juta


I know...how can people afford it?

kaya org penting aja...
HP pake those pen
thingys

it's called stylus

yeah those things
i am the anti fancy cellphone
haha
especially for people who dont have a use for it
but u know lah...bangsamu... just to show off, flip out a Nokia N95... ooooo...aaaaaaaaaahhhh


bangsaku kan bangsa mu juga
makanya dididik itu


i'm kryptonian
:P
i just use my ear haha


parah
then use those powerful laser eyes to destroy every single overhyped cellphone


ha ha
kalo gw ada iPod...
i'd stick it to my cellphone...
with duct tape
iPhone!


OHAOHAOHAOHAOH
oh well...we know better

Sesuai Cuaca (Luar Dalam)

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Caught up in circles confusion
Is nothing new

Flashback to warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after

Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said

Then you say, go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows you're wondering
If I'm O.K.

Secrets, stolen
from deep inside
The drum beats out of time

If you're lost you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time

You say, go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time

If you're lost you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time