Redirect, Your Honor?

I wonder, does anybody remember this post?

Well... it's party still true. You never get what you really want... but you always get something better for you in the long run....

Days Breezing Past

I used to write in this blog every day, then almost every day, then not really every day... days to weeks, almost to months (although I never let it go over a month)...
Yes, I've been busy as usual, and moments that previously were used to fill this blog, are now better spent with the loved one... not undermining this blog, and how it states things about me, but it seems that the theraputic effect of writing has finally kind of finished its phase (although I would think not entirely, never entirely), and I have moved to a new stage in life: stop writing and start living. Perhaps when I've got the 'living' part done, I can enter a new phase of my writing... I'll just have to get through this first.
It's the fasting season, yet it has gone by much, much faster than previous years. The level of activity at work really has risen; although I have one assistant to help me out with some specific tasks, it seems that my work still seems endless. I'm curious on how I pulled it of for the first 2 years on the job...

I am happy, and hopefully generally happy for a long time...

Two Years Later...

October 6th, 2008.

I am writing this while I am waiting for my plane to take me back home. I always try to get to the airport early, but the airline I'm taking always manages to delay their flight by an hour at least. At least the airport has free wifi, so I've been browsing and chatting the hour away (and of course, writing this post), stuff I wouldn't be able to do on an average working day.

I really want to get back home soon because my wife is coming close to her delivery date; it's such a strange feeling! I can't describe it; a mix of anticipation and anxiety, excitement with a tad of fear that I'll screw things up. Oh well, I guess that's how all fathers-to-be would feel. Looking forward, I just hope I'm not too old to play basketball or something with my son when he's older (and I start greying hair). But something tells me that it's a girl; I've always wanted a daugther, being a man who loves women, hehe... but my wife insists that it's a boy. Well, whether it will be a boy or a girl, I'm pretty sure my enamour with gadgets will definitely pass on :D. God knows, the house is filled with stuff to play with...

Work is terrible, as always, but terrible in a sort of good way. The workloads and deadlines never end, but that's always good for a small company. Growth has levelled off a bit in Indonesia, but we're anticipating that with a few more tricks up our sleeve, and my parent company has asked us to assist forming similar companies in the other territories. Consulting comes with a price, of course, and it's a bit ironic that my own parent company is now my client in other countries. So... I think we have some comfortable targets to reach for 2009.

It's unfortunate that I had to cut my Lebaran holiday short for this trip, although it was only for a few days, but business is business, and not everything can be done on weekdays. We hammered most of the details over the weekend (over good food, of course) and this morning we spat out all the emails and communications needed to get the ball rolling, so the local guys can run it from there. I just miss my wife a lot; and as trying as the days have been during her pregnancy, at the end of the day I swallow my pride and hold her hand; and when she smiles back and holds my hand tighter, all becomes right with the world. I had time to shop here but I refrained myself from buying unecessary baby stuff, as the accumulation of whim purchases is already overwhelming, haha... but I'm sure I can justify some of the purchases to my wife :D.

Oh, there's the call for the plane. I'll SMS my wife on the plane and call the office driver to confirm picking me up at the airport...

[This fictious post is to commemorate 2 years of my working with this company, with its ups and downs, crazy work, and implications on all other aspects of my life. All that I am grateful for today.]

New Things, New Steps

Hey guys... it's been pretty busy, so I've had no time to update my blog (not to mention that my computer is still being used routinely for some office work). So.... here are some updates, as clear as they get, no funny words or long sentences, just pure crystal facts.

- cancelled the move to another company. Reason: didn't feel like the right thing to do, although I sort of forced myself onto the new challenge. Lesson: always, always listen to your heart. Outcome: I am still with my previous company, having turned down yet another prestigious job offer.
- have been keeping up with the Mac mailing lists more often lately. Reason: a new computer, finally! It's a black Macbook, and although it definitely needs more RAM, it is sufficiently powerful for producing some audio work for office business. Lesson: be grateful for what you've got. Outcome: I have renewed enthusiasm for the computer experience. The downside is, I have almost officially lost all my Windows troubleshooting skills, now that I am spoilt with Mac OS stability.
- we (Dad, Mom, and especially me) decided to buy back the old Corona that I used to drive in college. I have been mulling over buying a car (new or used) for at least a year, and the neighbor who bought the car from us sold it back for a good price, in a fairly better condition (hint: it's cold inside now). I will be using the car daily. Reason: there are two parts; first is cost saving (since between Saskia and myself, we use taxis a lot to go everywhere, and it's starting to pinch our pockets), and another step towards independence. Lesson: responsibility, personal finance management, future planning. It's better for me to keep the old thing going but to buy it outright (rather than pay 4 year installments on a new car), so when I do have the money, I spend it on a house or apartement (which value rises over time, as opposed to a car). Outcome: I have joined the fleet of commuters that go to and fro from the Sudirman area; luckily my office building is located where I don't have to go through the 3-in-1 area.

Things have been going so well lately, I must always remind myself to be grateful and say thanks to the Big Guy above looking out for me. We should all do that more often...

Full Stop

I think I made a mistake... a huge mistake... and somehow, my inner voice always knew it. So now, finally, I have done what it takes to try to make it right. The mistake was taking another road in the first place, so now it's full stop, I'm going back home.

It's good to be home.

Security Problems, Or Problems Because Of Security?

I have been spending more and more time with Saskia, most often at her house, and where the whole family has practically welcomed my presence. I come often at any hour and the door is always open. But somehow it seems, the problem is not with coming, it's about leaving.
For a couple of times now, whenever I call for a cab to go home (which would be past midnight for average), the security guard who is in charge of the main portal to the complex always harrases me indirectly. At one point, the cab driver (for whom I am becoming a quick reguar) was denied entry, and he had to walk to Saskia's house to pick me up.
The next incident was when the taxi left the complex, the security guard actually came to the driver window and scolded me; "If you're visiting someone's house, be wise about the time! Now if you want to call a cab, you better walk to the portal." I gave him a cross, blank stare as a response. The person became more and more on my nerves, as it already felt he had bad sentiments towards me. But then still, I tried to think from his perspective, trying to analyze what I might of did wrong. So the next time I went home from Saskia's, Saskia asked one of the house helpers to wait for the taxi at the portal to make sure the taxi was allowed access. We thought this was the end of this.
Tonight, well, more precisely this morning, I arrived home at about 1.30 AM, and I am still up writing this post because I had to blow off a lot of steam because of my anger. Just when we thought there wasn't going to be a problem with the security guard, he harrased me AGAIN. "Hmm, this is becoming a habit. I thought I told you to walk to the portal when looking for a cab!" I gave him the same cross, blank stare, but my instincts were inches away from either giving him a lecture on human rights, ethics and courtesy or a good punch in the larynx (yes, it's meant to be painful). The cab driver, on the way to my home, mentioned that I am not the only one who orders cabs at that hour to that complex, and there have never been problems. If the security guard didn't want cabs coming into the complex, he should have been consistent and not open the portal for the cab, right? Finally, I found no fault in what I was doing, and that this was a deliberate act of prejudice or bad sentiment. I have been spending the last hour or so analyzing, all the while calming myself down, but also creating scenarios in my head on how best to handle this. Usually, I don't care about people like this, God knows we all have our share, but this guy is unavoidable. He must be handled.

What do you think, guys? I really hope I can find what made this guy act like that in the first place, but it has gone too far and therefore the reason is irrelevant. But do share your thoughts...

Long Days Ahead, But Counting...

So...
Tomorrow is the start of the long weekend, and I mean really long. It starts from Thursday, which is Independence Day, up to Monday, which is Isra Mir'aj (I don't know if there is an English translation to that). The long-awaited spell of a pseudo-holiday is here! Unfortunately, my schedule is already filled here and there with some events that I have to attend, so I could not go out of town as previously planned (although I did not have time to plan anything anyway). But at least, the break from work (although I get the feeling that it will seep in bit by bit eventually) will be most welcome, and I can spend it however I wish (with consideration to the girlfriend, of course).
The great thing I am anticipating of an unplanned long weekend is that I can do anything just spontenaously, as opposed to the rigid programming and planning (especially scheduling! You should see how my meeting appointments line up every day) that you get on your average working day.
The long weekend will also leave Jakarta comparatively empty, as many people who did have time to plan their long weekend will be out of town, and thus decrease the amount of potential crowds I will meet anywhere at any given time.
A bit of the initial excitement that came with moving to the new job is back, because of some open talk with my new boss (and seeing him at his vunerable side), but still, some doubts are clouding my mind. To be frank, some other factors are suggestive toward my second thoughts, but... we'll just have to see how it goes, and make the most of it.

On another note, I have been challenged to do something rather big. Hope I can do it. It may become the first step of another career...