You know the saying, "I'm surrounded with fools!". Usually that's what the baddies say in some B-class action flick or cartoons.
You know what I say? "I'm surrounded by stubborn people!".
Well, I'm one of those stubborn people myself, but for once, this post is not about me.
A lot of my friends are very successful in their careers, which is due to diligence, persistence and a share of stubborness. I don't think any of us got where we are now without that.
The downside of this is stubborn folk tend not to listen to others, even when those people have their best interests at heart. I again must also admit that I also have this affliction, thus supposedly I cannot make an objective opinion about this subject. Who cares. The blog maybe one of the most democratic mediums on the internet, but still, I think I'm entitled to also share my subjective views.
Back to the topic. I have concerns for a friend, I cannot talk about it here, but let's just say his or her pride, and definitely stubborness, makes it hard for me to convey my concerns.
I could be wrong, mistaken, I could be assuming something that I don't know much about, but, come on, at least hear me out, and if you can't accept my concerns, at least think about why I have these concerns. I can easily just forget about it, forget about you, and pretend nothing's wrong, and I'm sure that's the better way for you also. Now which would you prefer, me leaving you alone, or continue to be your friend and listen? For God's sake, don't be paranoid, or have your pride feel threatened or anything. Just look at the years past in hindsight, what have I ever done to take anything from you, to undermine you, to make you look bad, or any other thing that might be hell for you? Nothing. And frankly, that's something I can't say applies to you.
It's always saddening when you know you're not appreciated, even though you have put out your best efforts.
Thursday, January 6, 2005
Phantom Of The Opera
Nevertheless, an entertaining movie, although I don't think I can sit through the actual Broadway show, or even a second viewing. Seemed pretty long to me. Forgive your uncultured friend here, but I guess not all parts of the movie were interesting to me. I do admit, though, the movie was entertaining, and the songs are still recorded in my brain.
Well, you have to watch it anyway, although maybe not necessarily on the big screen.
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
New Composition
As promised, here are the photos of my room:
Well, I know it doesn't look like much, and it seems messy and full with stuff... but it's home, and sometimes a workplace when needed. Come by sometime, if you can. :)
Here you can see my 26-year-old TV (on the left with the dials, partial), my water dispenser and fridge, my beloved acoustic bass guitar, my shoe rack (with the beloved shoes), my Zero Gravity lamp, the towel hanger, and the cat-shaped clothes hanger on the wall.
Well, I know it doesn't look like much, and it seems messy and full with stuff... but it's home, and sometimes a workplace when needed. Come by sometime, if you can. :)
The Apparent New Reality
I'm sitting here in my new office room, waiting for prayer time before I head home, accompanied by soft songs from my laptop, and I just remembered something that was one of my initial reasons not to move into the room in the first place: the apparent solitariness of it.
With only the desk lamp on, the tunes, and a window overlooking the nearby buildings, it just suddenly struck me. This place is but a small window from the world outside, and I don't think I'll ever be able to pick out which window is mine if I looked at the building from the street. I am resisting the cliche urge to sit on the table next to the window and just watch the sunlight drain from the city, replaced by hundreds of small specks of light here and there. But I do lean over and look; the over-priced apartment building next to my office building, the unfinished (and never will be) hotel building behind it; the cars and buses, the pedestrian crossing bridge, the ubiquitous garbage....
I recall something I heard somewhere; I think it was a movie, but I'm not sure what: It gets very lonely at the top.
I just realized what such change the move into this room has; other than the obvious step forward in my career, but also a slight shift in everything else: a new perspective, a new outlook on reality, a new energy. But also, the realization that despite my desires otherwise, sometimes a moment just can't be shared. Sometimes that's a good thing, but right now, I felt I had to share my thoughts of this minute.
I need to share. I guess that's why I have a blog.
With only the desk lamp on, the tunes, and a window overlooking the nearby buildings, it just suddenly struck me. This place is but a small window from the world outside, and I don't think I'll ever be able to pick out which window is mine if I looked at the building from the street. I am resisting the cliche urge to sit on the table next to the window and just watch the sunlight drain from the city, replaced by hundreds of small specks of light here and there. But I do lean over and look; the over-priced apartment building next to my office building, the unfinished (and never will be) hotel building behind it; the cars and buses, the pedestrian crossing bridge, the ubiquitous garbage....
I recall something I heard somewhere; I think it was a movie, but I'm not sure what: It gets very lonely at the top.
I just realized what such change the move into this room has; other than the obvious step forward in my career, but also a slight shift in everything else: a new perspective, a new outlook on reality, a new energy. But also, the realization that despite my desires otherwise, sometimes a moment just can't be shared. Sometimes that's a good thing, but right now, I felt I had to share my thoughts of this minute.
I need to share. I guess that's why I have a blog.
Monday, January 3, 2005
Fresh Start
Three months into the job (and three months on this blog as well), I am finally settling in my own office quarters. No more cubicles for me, at least for now at this office. Now, for a person of my level, usually they are entitled to get their own office space, because the need to have meetings and such; but I never really bothered because I usually meet people in my boss' room or outside the office anyway.
One of the rooms had been empty since December, because she moved to another company, but I didn't quite want to bother with moving until yesterday I finally started to move stuff. The room was still a mess, so one of the office guys helped me tidying up, and I moved my still minimal office belongings to the new 'crib'.
And the walls are purple. I guess I'll have to live with that.
With the new room, comes a higher level of privacy, and responsibility, but I feel that it should be giving me the necessary kick to start the new year with a bang. Bang.
Before I know it, I'd have a dozen stuff from home here already.
One of the rooms had been empty since December, because she moved to another company, but I didn't quite want to bother with moving until yesterday I finally started to move stuff. The room was still a mess, so one of the office guys helped me tidying up, and I moved my still minimal office belongings to the new 'crib'.
And the walls are purple. I guess I'll have to live with that.
With the new room, comes a higher level of privacy, and responsibility, but I feel that it should be giving me the necessary kick to start the new year with a bang. Bang.
Before I know it, I'd have a dozen stuff from home here already.
Sunday, January 2, 2005
Putting Everything Together
Sometimes, when it's the holidays, or the weekend, or your day off, a few hours, possibly the whole day, spent for quality time with yourself, is refreshing. In between going to Serpong on the 1st, and lunch at Plaza Senayan on the 2nd, I had quite a lot of time to myself, either to just simply sleep in, read a book, or do other stuff.
My room is looking a bit nicer (and certainly cleaner, too) now that I have tidied up a bit, reorganized some stuff; I must admit, on occasion it still looks like a used electronics store with a bed, but the new layout, albeit with minimal changes, is suprisingly refreshing. I stacked all the electronics in one line, to free another corner, where I can put the towel hanger, the shoe rack, and my Zero Gravity lamp. Then I attached the cat-shaped clothes hanger Djepun gave me with some Blu-tak to the wall by the towel hanger... I won't be hanging anything there, but it looks nice anyway. (I'll post a few photos later).
The room is also well-stocked with food, albeit some junk food, from previous stockings and leftovers from new years'.
I just want to start the new year just right. Let's see what happens this week...
My room is looking a bit nicer (and certainly cleaner, too) now that I have tidied up a bit, reorganized some stuff; I must admit, on occasion it still looks like a used electronics store with a bed, but the new layout, albeit with minimal changes, is suprisingly refreshing. I stacked all the electronics in one line, to free another corner, where I can put the towel hanger, the shoe rack, and my Zero Gravity lamp. Then I attached the cat-shaped clothes hanger Djepun gave me with some Blu-tak to the wall by the towel hanger... I won't be hanging anything there, but it looks nice anyway. (I'll post a few photos later).
The room is also well-stocked with food, albeit some junk food, from previous stockings and leftovers from new years'.
I just want to start the new year just right. Let's see what happens this week...
Let's See What Happens Next
First of all, happy new year. May the new year bring wisdom and joy to everyone.
It's a bid sad that the new year passes at the moment when so much sadness and suffering is going on in Aceh. I still can't bring myself to watch the newsreels on TV, with bodies everywhere, devastated cities, and people crying. Everybody crying. Nothing happy on the news (well, there never was anyway.. but this time, it's different).
It's comforting to see how the nation just came together and at least made some small contribution for helping the tsunami victims; all these companies, albeit with the obligatory public broadcasts, donating very large sums of money... and it's a bit sad, that at this time of sorrow, only now the nation is more united than the past few years. A disappointing note; a group of students held a demonstration at Bunderan HI today criticizing the government for being inept at handling the crisis.
Here's my take: with a catastrophe of this magnitude, who can really handle it?? I doubt that even if this happened in the US, the government would handle it better. This thing was BIG. And considering that the existing infrastructure before the disaster was already minimal, now it is virtually non-existent. I see the fact that the government actually was already able to start giving out rations 1 day after the disaster as already a good effort. You know what those students should do? Shut the fuck up, and use their demonstration warchest to go to Aceh and help with the relief efforts. Hope you guys are reading this; take a look at what's going on yourself over there then make an opinion if the government is inept or not in handling this. I'm not usually a pro-government kind of guy, but give them a break; nothing like this has happened for over a hundred years. (Well, at least that's my take on the facts I have).
Well, anyway.
I invited a couple of friends over to my house for the new years' , to watch DVDs, eat junk food, perhaps get drunk or get high (I will not confirm anything here :D). It was fun lah. In some way, it was necessary. Sometimes you just need to be reminded which people are the closest to you, and I'm glad that a lot of them were there at my house. Even if I only got 2 hours sleep as I had to pick up my brother at the airport the next day, I had fun and I was happy.
My brother was only in town for 1 night, but we made the most of it; lunch together, hanging round the house... and this afternoon, lunch at Chatterbox before he had to check out at his hotel.
And, after a bit of the usual depression-related moods before the new year, the days after are refreshingly emotional-baggage free. Don't know what that means, though. I guess I'll just enjoy it for now.
It's a bid sad that the new year passes at the moment when so much sadness and suffering is going on in Aceh. I still can't bring myself to watch the newsreels on TV, with bodies everywhere, devastated cities, and people crying. Everybody crying. Nothing happy on the news (well, there never was anyway.. but this time, it's different).
It's comforting to see how the nation just came together and at least made some small contribution for helping the tsunami victims; all these companies, albeit with the obligatory public broadcasts, donating very large sums of money... and it's a bit sad, that at this time of sorrow, only now the nation is more united than the past few years. A disappointing note; a group of students held a demonstration at Bunderan HI today criticizing the government for being inept at handling the crisis.
Here's my take: with a catastrophe of this magnitude, who can really handle it?? I doubt that even if this happened in the US, the government would handle it better. This thing was BIG. And considering that the existing infrastructure before the disaster was already minimal, now it is virtually non-existent. I see the fact that the government actually was already able to start giving out rations 1 day after the disaster as already a good effort. You know what those students should do? Shut the fuck up, and use their demonstration warchest to go to Aceh and help with the relief efforts. Hope you guys are reading this; take a look at what's going on yourself over there then make an opinion if the government is inept or not in handling this. I'm not usually a pro-government kind of guy, but give them a break; nothing like this has happened for over a hundred years. (Well, at least that's my take on the facts I have).
Well, anyway.
I invited a couple of friends over to my house for the new years' , to watch DVDs, eat junk food, perhaps get drunk or get high (I will not confirm anything here :D). It was fun lah. In some way, it was necessary. Sometimes you just need to be reminded which people are the closest to you, and I'm glad that a lot of them were there at my house. Even if I only got 2 hours sleep as I had to pick up my brother at the airport the next day, I had fun and I was happy.
My brother was only in town for 1 night, but we made the most of it; lunch together, hanging round the house... and this afternoon, lunch at Chatterbox before he had to check out at his hotel.
And, after a bit of the usual depression-related moods before the new year, the days after are refreshingly emotional-baggage free. Don't know what that means, though. I guess I'll just enjoy it for now.
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