I'm Absorbed in ...

Hii... 

long time no see...

I almost forgot that I had this blog.  I'm really absorbed in here.

Cheers...

Have a nice day

^_^

Juventus (4) Milan (2), Happy Day, Yow!

I'm happy today. ^_^. This is why...

Well, my bigotry toward Juventus is not as big as it was, but I'm always happy when they win the match. Juve was my young spirit. I was always on behalf of Juve when we spoke about football at that time. They were always controversial. Their controversy about many score arrangements wiped off their own great power. I was the one who was of a certain opinion that they were great by nature and did not need any interference to win the match.

When they were condemned into lower level of competition in 2005, I had to come down to earth. All I did was to believe that nothing could take away their magnificence, and someday they would be back. Up and down is a common thing in this world. Now they are weaving their stairs to heaven again, by beating AC Milan, and chasing Inter Milan this season.

^_^

Cheers.

Idiom to notice : come down to earth.

How Many Birds do You Kill with One Stone?

Why I like blogging?

By blogging I can :
1. Meet new friends,
2. Sharpen my English,
3. Find useful information,
4. And many more fun stuffs.

I can kill two birds with one stone after all. Well, it's more than two actually. ^_^


Idiom to notice : Kill two birds with one stone.

Who is the Apple of Your Eyes?

Do you ever find that somebody in your surrounding gets most of attention from the others? Or maybe you have someone that you treat specially like he or she is the only one who gets it? He or she can be anyone. Most people put their couples as the lucky one. But it is not limited to them. You might have experienced that your youngest brother or sister got everything he/she wanted from your parents because he/she was special. Maybe he/she was the gender that your parents long to have. Or in the office, your boss doesn't treat his or her subordinates equally (in positive manner of course) as there's somebody who gets most of his or her attention, maybe due to his or her cheerfulness.

If you experience so, then you should call him or her the apple of someone's eyes. Your fellow at the office is the apple of your boss's eyes. Your little brother or sister is the apple of your parent's eyes. And maybe, your boy/girlfriend is the apple of your eyes.

And I put my girlfriend as the apple of my eyes because she is very special.

Below is a poem that I created for the apple of my eyes.

THE APPLE OF MY EYES

She was Dian I met her
in senior high school
she was enermously cute
with her eyeglasses

I gazed at her deeply
my heart beatin' fast
when everything was perfect
I could only say silly hello

She was the one whom I wrote
the confession of mine
my sense of love was expressed
the first time in my life

My mind kept imagining
she was beside me
when everything was perfect
words just faded away as I passed by

Now she is mine. She's the apple of my eyes.

She's the happiness I want to share, she's the apple of my eyes.

^_^

Idiom to notice : The apple of someone's eyes.

To Give, Give, and Give

Yesterday I had a conversation with my friend, ex-college friend precisely. Before I continue my story, let me tell you about our backgrounds. We were at the same faculty and major in college, Civil Engineering. She emphasized her study in building structure (bumped into many complex building calculations :)) while I emphasized in Construction Management. Now she's working on her path as a Structure Engineer in a malaysian company, and I'm keeping on dreaming about owning an architecture consultant firm with my brother :).

So, after greeting for courtesy, I asked her whether she was ready or no if someday I would have to consult her about building structure. She answered "Certainly! You can rely on me". "I'm capable with building and bridge structure" She added. And innocently I asked her about the cost "How much will it cost? Do you put it by percentage of budget or per meter square?". After that question I sniffed out different atmosphere between us. A sort of having been offended feeling.

Having been silent for a moment I broke the ice with a greeting. Then she straightly told me that not everything in this world should be monetized. "We are friend, aren't we?" She told me so. "I would be very happy if I could help my friend. So just feel free". Wow, I was a little bit surprised with that answer. Nowadays it's kind of scarce to find someone saying like she did. Or maybe it is just me who is narrow-minded.

However it is, I learn something. There is no need of reason to lending a hand to others. We should not be bothered with what we'll receive in return by helping people. Actually, this is a very simple rule of Marketing. It is said that we should give, give, and give to the would-be customers. The next thing they will do isn't very important. The most important thing to be kept in mind is we do it sincerely with our heart and soul. Then God will do the rest :) It works out as I put my friend's name on the top list when I think of the term of Structure Engineer :).




Idiom to notice :
1. To lend a hand = to help

See You All Tomorrow

Tomorrow there will be reunion of my senior high school fellows (SMUN 1 Palembang). We'll gather at The Pondok Indah Mall Jakarta at 13.00 o'clock. I still have no idea what we're going to do. But whatever it is, I hope the party will come of with a bang.

Hmm...long time no see my friends. See you all :)



Idiom to notice :
1. come of with a bang = lively party.

Being Grateful and Positive

It was about four years ago when my brother was accepted in one of prominent universities in Indonesia, ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) . He chose Architecture as the field of study. The thing is, he did not register it through general test which was held by government, but he registered it through autonomous test held by ITB, which was more expensive.

Once he got the news, in hesitation he asked me what to do. I had been silent for a moment before finally I came up with some questions. "What did you write in the essay test?" I asked him. "I stated that my hobbies were drawing and sketching, and I felt that I could give the most out of myself in Architecture." He claimed.

"Then take it!"
"You like drawing and now you are an architecture student, isn't it perfect?"
"I know that you still want to challenge yourself by passing the government's test and paying cheaper registration fee."

"Uhm...ehm..." He mumbled.

"I tell you what, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

Then he said "Maybe you're right, there's no guarantee that I will pass the test". After that I convinced him to not worry about the money, just being a good student will surely pay everything. For the greater good sometimes you have to consider that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Good luck :)



Idiom to notice : a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

The Triumphant Barack Obama

Today is Barack Obama's. He easily defeated another candidate John McCain from The Republic Party. His name etched history as America's first black president. After struggling for about twenty one months, finally he ends it with triumph. It puts a bee in my bonnet that impossible is nothing.

Afterward, Obama has to race against time. He has to take the lid of economic crisis, two unfinished wars, and global uncertainty. Let's hope that he pay his promise to stand for all walks of life. But one thing for sure, we shouldn't rely on Obama or anyone else to make Changes. If we want to change the world better, we should start from changing ourselves and stand on our own feet.




Idiom to notice :
1. Put a bee in someone's bonnet = to have an idea
2. To take lid of something = to handle something
3. All walks of life = all communities regardless race, tribe, nation, social, economic, religion, etc.

Brrrr...Brrrr...Brrr...

A couple days ago my father was caught by cold.  He started coughing and sneezing. Unfortunately, he had to take an official trip to a remote area.  When he got back, his fever was getting worst that he could not leave his bed.

Yes. That is exactly what you have to do when you are under the weather.  When you are under the weather it is strongly suggested that you take a total rest before you get better and back to your activity.  Consuming balanced nutritous diet is considerably helpful to maintain your stamina.

Take care then :)    

Don't Be A Goody-Goody, Or...

Have you ever heard about a Goody-Goody? You haven't? OK, I'll tell you some characteristics of a goody-goody.

When someone is a goody-goody, he or she overdoes something helpful until you get sick of it.

A goody-goody often helps you without any request before. This is nice but to certain extent you will feel uncomfortable.

Furthermore, when you get any help from someone while you are not in the need of one, he or she is a goody-goody indeed.

They all end up with you getting sick. So don't be a goody-goody or you're going to have your luck run out. :)



Idiom to notice :
1. Have one's luck run out

When You Have To Get Back To Square One...

Yesterday my girlfriend told me that she was in deep water. She had been in a project for a noticeable time and she (or her fellows) found out that apparently there were fatal mistakes in the project that forced her to get back to square one. Regarding the time she had been spending and the progress, going back to square one is lamentable. But now she has to start all over again. Through this blog I want to cheer her up and summon all the strength in the world to go right into her spirit.

When you have to get back to square one, don't be sad (you may but not too long). All you can do is start it all over again. I believe she can pass this critical time if she just hang loose. Everything is going to be alright. :)


Idiom to notice :
1. In deep water = in trouble
2. To get back to square one = to start all over again
3. Hang loose = take it slow

Bad Day

Aaah...

Yesterday was a bad day for me. I went for an interview. It was a thousand miles away from my residence. I was confident enough with my electronic map that had been coming in handy for a long time. But yesterday I could not gain on the address at all. Gradually I got myself into a pickle. Actually I could only call the clerk of the office but this stupid me did not give it a shot. Been confused for a moment, at the end of my struggle I raised up the white flag and called the office. Know what? I missed in jotting down the address. Argh, how could I be such a hellbent for leather. She said that there were still time for me if I wanted to continue. Then the interview went on. For showing such bad impression, now I can only hope against all hope.




Idiom to notice :
1. Come in handy
2. Gain on
3. Into a pickle
4. Give it a shot
5. Hellbent for leather
6. Hope against all hope

UPDATE : 04 November 2008
"Gain on" in the way you used it doesn´t mean much to me. "To gain on" is to close in on someone in front of you, physically as in a race or metaphorically. I think you mean "I couldn´t find the address..."

"clerk of the office" should be "clerk at the office".

"helllbent for leather" In the UK we say "hell for leather" meaning with maximum effort. "Hellbent" on the other hand means making potentially disastrous choices.

"being confused" not "been confused"
"there was still time " not "there were still time"
"After making/giving such a bad impression" is the correct phrase.

"Hope against all hope" Normally we would say "hope against hope" without the "all".

"to keep hoping something even in slight probablility." Should be "To keep hoping for something, even against the odds/probabilities"

Thank you Chris :)

Laskar Pelangi, a Phenomenon.

I believe that most of Indonesians have watched Laskar Pelangi movie. This phenomenal true-story-based movie now is in its one-month showing. The producer Mira Lesmana said that the audiences watching were 100.000 people per day at average. Obviously it is no wonder considering its innovative story's point of view, the beauty of Belitong scenes, scores and soundtracks, and the totality of the actor and actress.

The story tells us how a band of children survived and enjoyed their elementary education under severe circumstance, how their teachers-two persons-made do with the condition to conduct the best teaching they could give. For your information, it is quite common in Indonesia to hear that school building and its facilities is under standard. But the band kept on being positive and giving their best to grasp lessons as much as possible. These genius by nature children are certainly a band whom nothing to sneeze at. It inspires us to hang tough in everything that we do and not to go through the motion. That we should see positivity in every single of negativity.

Another flank that you can notice is the actor and actress. Belitong and all things coming with it is relatively new in film industry. It is not as popular as Batak tribe, for instance. But Slamet Rahardjo, Ikranegara, Cut Mini, Alex Komang, Mathias Muchus, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, Tora Sudiro, and more, managed perfectly as I felt like home when I was watching the movie (I'm from South Sumatera). They are a bunch of Indonesia's best artist and we can say it indeed. What interesting is the fact that they hasted The Band of Laskar Pelangi from native. Being newbies but playing such smooth is something that we can appreciate.

They walked on egg when they blended the music. I enjoyed the proportional sound while contemplating the story. And finally, the scenes of Belitong is very awesome. It enriched the entire roll of film and makes me want to visit there someday.

Another interesting point of view can be traced here



Idiom to notice :
1. Made do, from make do
2. Nothing to sneeze at
3. Hang tough
4. Go through the motion
5. We can say it
6. To walk on egg

The Chord of Lentera Jiwa-Nugie.

Hi guys! Have you heard Nugie's newest song ? Been idle for a long time from music producing, Nugie has just released his newest single song titled "Lentera Jiwa/The Lantern of My Soul". The song and its video clip is very interesting.

The song's theme is really hand in glove with us as human beings. It tells us that there are many people who actually are not comfortable with their current works. It can be caused by many factors. One of them is parent's will. They chose their careers because they followed what their parents wanted them to be. It also can be coming from the situation that forced in the past. When life is settled one just realizes that it's not what he or she wants to be. Or it can be caused by anything else.

For those who has gotten rid of the storm to choose their own path, this song encourages them to hang tough, because just by doing something with passion your soul is kept to be enlightened, as lantern does. For those who hasn't, it enlightens them to love what they do, and they'll do what they love. This simple rule of pursuing happiness has just come up to the surface, Nugie certainly thought out of the box when he was writing the song.

Lentera Jiwa

Nugie

A F#m E D B7 E

Lama sudah kumencari apa yang hendak kulakukan

I've been searching so long what exactly I want to do

sgala titik kujelajahi, tak satupun kumengerti

I've journeyed all directions, none of them I understood

D E

tersesatkah aku, di samudera hidup

Am I lost in the wave of life?

Kata-kata yang kubaca terkadang tak mudah kucerna

The words that I read, sometimes it is not easy to get a grasp of them

bunga-bunga rerumputan bilakah kau tau jawabnya

Flowers and grass, when will you know the answer?

inikah hidupku, inikah takdirku

Is this my life, is this my destiny?

A Bm D E

Kubiarkan kumengikuti suara dalam hati

I let myself follow the voice inside my heart

F#m C#m D

yang slalu membunyikan cinta

which always sings of love

Kupercaya dan kuyakini murninya nurani

I believe in my faith that the unvarnished self of mine

menjadi penunjuk jalanku

has become the direction of my way

lentera jiwaku.

The lantern of my soul.

Ok guys. Don't let the grass grow under your feet, decide and pursue your lantern of soul! :)




Idiom to notice :
1. Hand in glove
2. Get rid of the storm
3. Hang tough
4. Think out of the box
5. Let the grass grow under your feet

If you had money to burn, what would you do ?

Guys! What would you do ? Share me!

Jazz Up Your Life!

When you feel like your life is boring, it's obvious there's something wrong. Maybe you're trapped in some routinities that you want to escape from for several of times. You've been tied with many tasks that you had to finish in a new york minutes. You can spend your weekend by doing something that you want so much. Clearly, It mustn't be related to your routinities.

You can mention some of them :
1. Cook your favourite menu
2. Read a book that you long to read but you have no time before
3. Play a challenging game in Playstation
4. Do a paint-ball match with your fellows
5. Etc.

So guys, what do you do in weekend or in your spare time? Whatever you do, make sure that It will Jazz up your life!
I jazz my room up because it looks so drab! Haha!

Backseat Driver

Hi guys!
Have you ever experienced that someone in your community tried to direct the actions of many people around him or her? In English this kind of person is callled a backseat driver. A backseat driver doesn't always sit in the backseat of a car. They could be in a car (wherever they sit) or in a general community. The most important thing to notice is that whenever they mingle in, they try to give many tidbits of advice to many different people. They don't limit their comments and directions to driver.

So what do you think guys? A Backseat Driver, is this personality positive or negative? For me, in particular case, they are helpful, but they are annoying indeed in many ways. What about you?