Intruding Snake

Today, just today, this very morning, half awake me going to bathroom in half darkness, when my eyes met an unknown moving object. I thought it was just our water hose sliding to the floor, then I remembered we never had such a white-black water hose. It was... snake. Poisonous weling snake.

Thanks to previous experience with snake hanging around my house, I overcame this problem more calmly than before. I called Damkar (firefighter) telling them about my problem, my address and Whatsapp number, asking them to come quickly as I knew this one is poisonous.

So yeah, they came in few minutes, searching for the snake, then inserted the snake into a double-sack and bringing them out of the house. What a morning we had today.

Almost a year ago we had an uninvited living-hose intruder as well. The panic level was higher but the snake was way smaller and that one was non-poisonous. Our savior was also those firefighters. In just minutes after I called, they came and help us. Really appreciate their work so much! They are truly helpful!

Cold is My Happy Weather

This morning, I had just almost reached my destination when suddenly I thought of continuing the journey. So I continued the climb. The weather was cold because of the season, and my place itself is indeed a colder place. Going to a new place is always an adventure for me. I love moving while observing my surroundings. I saw some lands and corn fields sold. I saw mountains and pine trees. I saw some coffee shops and cafes.  One of them is well designed, I am thinking of going there one Saturday. I stopped when I reached a crossroads, and went back. It's enough adventure for today. 

On my way back, I saw beautiful scenery. Blue mountains that's seen in a distance. It was so breathtaking. Hugged by the cold weather, I felt a peace when my eyes met the panorama. I wanted to see them from higher place so I'll have better point of view, but there was no proper place to enjoy the view. I saw a two storeys house that had a balcony right to the mountain. Looking at that... I really wish to have a house that has a balcony where I can enjoy a mountain view like this.

Beach is definitely a dope playground to visit, but mountain has a place in my heart. It's a serenity. It's a place to call home. 

These early months of 2022 has been going well so far. One thing I was really scared of months ago turned well actually. I am really thankful for this peace. However, I have lived long enough to realize that nothing lasts forever. As all my fears last year had passed, so will my peace now be someday. 

Life is indeed filled with ups and downs. As someone who had been in a flat boredom state, these ups and downs is actually something to be grateful of. Those headaches are signs that I am thinking and developing. I get new valuable knowledge and experience while being paid, and I count that as a blessing.

One Story, Two Perspectives

I was not in good state, until I had a chance to see greenery, when my bro brought us to Ecopark Curugtilu in Ciwidey in the last day of 2021. I applied for a leave that day, and that was really worth it. Vacation is really needed afterall. It was a short one but I was grateful for it.

I also saw two messages from different sources with the same meaning. Maybe a mainstream message we all had heard before. Usually I responded it by skeptically rolling my eyes. But it hit me quite differently this time.  

One Story, Two Perspectives

Seorang penulis buku terkenal duduk di ruang kerjanya... dia mengambil penanya... dan mulai menulis :

"Tahun lalu... saya harus dioperasi untuk mengeluarkan batu empedu. Saya harus terbaring cukup lama di ranjang....

Di tahun yang sama, saya berusia 60 tahun dan memasuki usia pensiun..., keluar dari pekerjaan di perusahaan yang begitu saya senangi... saya harus tinggalkan pekerjaan yang sudah saya tekuni selama 35 tahun...

Di tahun itu juga saya ditinggalkan ayah yang tercinta...

Kemudian... masih di tahun yang sama, anak saya gagal di ujian akhir kedokteran, karena kecelakaan mobil. Biaya bengkel akibat kerusakan mobil adalah puncak kesialan di tahun lalu..."

Di bagian akhir dia menulis:

"Sungguh... tahun yang sangat buruk!"

Istri sang penulis masuk ke ruangan dan mendapati suaminya yang sedang sedih dan termenung... Dari belakang, sang istri melihat tulisan sang suami. Perlahan-lahan ia mundur dan keluar dari ruangan...

15 menit kemudian dia masuk lagi dan meletakkan sebuah kertas berisi tulisan sebagai berikut :

"Tahun lalu... akhirnya suami saya berhasil menyingkirkan kantong empedunya yang selama bertahun-tahun membuat perutnya sakit...

Di tahun itu juga... saya bersyukur, suami bisa pensiun dengan kondisi sehat dan bahagia. Saya bersyukur kepada TUHAN, dia sudah diberikan kesempatan berkarya dan berpenghasilan selama 35 tahun untuk menghidupi keluarga kami

Sekarang, suami saya bisa menggunakan waktunya lebih banyak untuk menulis, yang merupakan hobinya sejak dulu...

Pada tahun yang sama..., mertua saya yang berusia 95 tahun... tanpa sakit apa-apa telah kembali kepada Tuhan dengan damai dan bahagia....

Dan masih di tahun yang sama pula... Tuhan telah melindungi anak saya dari kecelakaan yang hebat... Mobil kami memang rusak berat akibat kecelakaan tersebut..., tetapi anak saya selamat tanpa cacat sedikit pun..."                 

Pada kalimat terakhir istrinya menulis :

"Tahun lalu.... adalah tahun yang penuh berkah yang luar biasa dari Tuhan.... dan kami lalui dengan penuh rasa takjub dan syukur..."       

                             

Sang penulis tersenyum haru..., dan mengalir air mata hangat di pipinya... Ia berterimakasih atas sudut pandang berbeda untuk setiap peristiwa yang telah dilaluinya tahun lalu... Perspektif yang berbeda telah membuatnya bahagia...

Sahabat, di dalam hidup ini kita harus mengerti bahwa bukan kebahagiaan yang membuat kita bersyukur. Namun rasa syukurlah yang akan membuat kita bahagia. Mari kita berlatih melihat suatu peristiwa dari sudut pandang positif dan jauhkan rasa iri di dalam hati. 

Kita dapat mengeluh karena semak mawar memiliki duri, atau bersukacita karena semak duri memiliki mawar..

It was a forwarded message from Whatsapp group, something I usually don't read. And honestly, this kind of story is kinda cringe and ridiculously sentimental I could shudder in disgust. However like I said before, it hit me differently this time.

The other one was Stella Lee's Instagram story mentioning about the same thing. The point is, she chose to see the good in bad.

Maybe it will be a long road but I see no other better choice so...

Maybe I have to learn... to see good in everything.

Distraction

So I was stressed over a thing, and another problem came, distracting me from the first problem. 

It's like... I am abandoning an alligator chasing me because there is another cheetah running faster towards me. 

Life is a joke, really.

I love distraction from my current thought, but why the distraction is something even messier... I am never ready... 

What's comfort zone anyway? 

It's either death or jumping out of a shark tank to move to a lions' den.

Everything changes.

Nothing stays the same. 

Appealing Fiction

The more you want something to be true, the more likely you are to believe a story that overestimates the odds of it being true. 

What was the happiest day of your life? 

The documentary How to Live Forever asks that innocent question to a centenarian who offered an amazing response. 

"Armistice Day, " she said, reffering to the 1918 agreement that ended World War I. 

"Why?" the producer asks. 

"Because we knew there would be no more wars ever again," she says. 

World War II began 21 years later, killing 75 million people. 

There are many things in life that we think are true because we desperately want them to be true. 

Quoted from The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. 

Helped

Yesterday when I was going back home

It was an uphill road when my motorcycle stopped working in the middle of the climb

I tried to turn on the machine again but it didn't work

Lucky me, a Gojek driver behind me helped me push the motorcycle up until the flat road

He tried to fix my motorcycle

Thinking it was because of the fuel that is empty but it was not

Another Gojek driver came and helped

He said it was because of the busi that's dirty or broken

He needed busi key to fix it but he didn't have it

I called Pa Ade, the logistic man, asking him to come to help me

He came, bringing that busi key

And fix my motorcycle

Finally, the machine can be turned on again

The gojek men went back after all the problems were fixed

I was grateful for yesterday

I am not capable of machine things, 

But when I need help, there were people who helped

I ever had several problems with motorcycle in the middle of the road back then

But, although I have no clue at all about machinery, 

There were always people who helped me fixing the situation

I thanked them very much

Before going home, I went to Dunkin Donut, buying some for family

Buying food home, a thing used to do but no more lately

Mbanking was error when I tried to top up Shopeepay and Gopay

There should be discount if I used them, but the ammount of money there wasn't enough

I tried to top up using Mbanking but it was error

Finally i bought them without discount

I was angry that time, my bad.. 

But after going home, seeing my  sister was happily drinking the iced chocolate

My mom ate the durian donut, her favourite

(I didn't remember buying durian tho, as long as I remember, they said durian ones were out of stock) 

She liked it, took some photographs of the donuts and iced  chocolate

We remember father, how we used to ate together at Dunkin Donuts besides my Junior High School building after school.. 

It's father who introduced us to the iced chocolate here

I remembered very well he said "this is delicious! I ordered pure chocolate, don't use milk! Pure chocolate is more delicious! "

He kept saying that every time we ordered that drink

And seeing my mother and sister enjoying these Dunkins kinda made me happy

A happiness that I haven't felt again for so long... 

I used to buy food home occasionally, or going to mall to have a meal and window shopping with them

Since covid, I rarely do all those

If I may be honest, really honest, the condition is not good, it actually never is

But let little things happened yesterday bright a little light... 

As a remembrance that we all survived so far... 

I Have Too Much on My Plate

Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest. - Napoleon Bonaparte

I think I have too much on my plate

Tired and overwhelmed

Until end of November is critical time

Move from one deadline to another

Running with time in these passing weeks

From feeling offended till don't care anymore

No room to grouch because too many things to catch up

Things need to be finished well, that's it

Good things and wisdom are so easy to say

But to keep doing it is another story

'I am learning, I am learning, ' I keep saying to myself

As encouragement to encounter these all

There is no way out but to run until the finish line

. 

. 

. 

A weird thing just happened

I'm doing a work.. I took a rest a bit by writing this post

And when I get back at my work, I found out the paper I'm working on is wet

It's damaged I can't use it anymore

And when I look on the surroundings, there is no splash of water

On the table on the floor, all are dry

I have to print the whole paper again, for hust these two little pieces

It adds things to do for tomorrow already busy morning

I know myself.. When things got me really really stressful

Instead of grumbling, here I am laughing

I Have a Lot on My Plate

I am so busy lately

But i am not even complaining

Many new knowledge I learn

New experiences I get

I have never really felt so lively in working before

I am also learning to declutter my mind

Occupy it with prominent ones

I start re-reading Bible again

Focusing on things I can control

Letting go the uncontrollable ones

I am so busy lately

But i am not even complaining

...But being really grateful instead

Sundubu Jjigae

Bahan tumis:

- 3 siung bawang putih, geprek, cincang kasar

- 3 siung bawang merah, iris halus

- 1/2 bawang bombay, iris

- 3 cabai rawit merah, iris

Isi sup:

- Tahu 5 buah potong kotak

- Jamur shimeji 100 gram

- Jamur kancing 7 buah, iris tipis

- Ayam cincang kasar 100 gram

- Sawi putih 2 buah

Bumbu:

- Gochujjang 6 sdm

- Gocchujaru / boncabe secukupnya

- Garam

- Air sekitar 1 liter

- Telur 2 butir

Taburan:

- biji wijen, sangrai

Cara membuat

1. Tumus bahan tumis sampai harum

2. Masukkan ayam, masak sampai setengah matang

3. Masukkan sebagian gochujjang dan boncabe

4. Masukkan jamur

5. Masukkan air, masak hingga mendidih

6. Masukkan tahu

7. Bumbui dengan garam, gochujjang dan boncabe sampai sedap

8.Pecah telur di atas sup yg mendidih

9. Masukkan sawi putih sesaat sebelum api dimatikan

10. Sajikan panas-panas bersama nasi hangat, mantaps! 

Personal story

What a random night yesterday was that I thought of cooking Sundubu Jjigae this morning. I have bought a bottle of gochujang since about a year ago and didn't use it yet. I had some leftover shimeji mushrooms in the fridge as well. We also had a half bottle of boncabe. So this morning I went to the kitchen and started making this dish. 

This sundubu jjigae turns to be sooooo good. I am more than happy! Today I have to go to work after unsatisfying short Ied holiday. I expected to have 2 weeks long holiday but in fact I have to go this morning. To be honest I hate it, but I tried to be grateful instead. I have works to finish so going to work isn't that bad. And this morning as well.. I do something I hadn't been done for so long: morning prayer. Oh man when did my last morning pray occur.. 😂😳😬

And this morning cooking went successfully well. It was warm, spicy, savory, comforting soup to accompany this cloudy morning. Really, this satisfying sundubu jjigae made my day! So happy! ^^~

Death in the Clouds - Agatha Christie (1935)

It's been so long I haven't feel any excitement in something, until I started reading this book a few days ago. It was so exciting that I stayed awake until midnight just to continue reading because I was too curious about what will happen next. In my opinion, Christie had given some clues that readers should have been able to guess who the culprit is (although I didn't, haha). But as always she mixed many clues altogether to get the readers confused. The explanation in the end is quite satisfying although there are still some unsolved minor mysteries.

This is one of my personal favourites, just as Curtain, And There Were None, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and Murder in Mesopotamia. So happy to have read this one! 

Tiramisu

Untuk 3 toples @500gram

Bahan krim

- 5 kuning telur

- 120 gram gula pasir (250 gram Rp 4.000) 

- 1 sdt vanilla extract ( 1 cup Butterfly Rp 8.000) 

- 250 gram keju mascarpone (Yummy - Rp 66.000) 

- 150 gram whip cream bubuk (Pondan - Rp 27.000) 

- 300 ml air es

Bahan biskuit

- 200 gram (2 bungkus) Monde eggdrop (1 bungkus Rp 6.500) 

- 200 ml air panas

- 8 gram kopi bubuk (Nescafe) 

- 20 ml rum (1 botol kecil Rp 18.000) 

Baham Topping

- 10 gram cacao powder

(Tambahan karena ternyata eggdrop nya habis bari krimnya masih banyak)

- 100 gram (1 bungkus kecil) biskuit Marie regal (Rp 10.000) 

- 75 gram air panas

- 2 gram kopi bubuk (Nescafe) 

- 4 ml rum (1 botol kecil Rp 18.000) 

Cara membuat

Siapkan larutan kopi

1. Campur kopi bubuk dan air panas

2. Saat larutan kopi sudah dingin, tambahkan rum

Siapkan krim

1. Taruh mangkuk stainless di atas panci berisi air panas di atas kompor yg dinyalakan dengan api sedang

2. Kocok kuning telur dan gula pasir di dalam mangkuk stainless sampai gula larut dan adonan panas

3. Tambahkan vanila extract ke adonan (2) 

4. Buat whip cream sesuai anjuran di bungkusnya (mixer 150 gram whip cream bubuk dengan 300 ml air es sekitar 6-7 menit) 

5. Masukkan 250 gram keju mascarpone ke adonan (3), aduk sampai rata

6. Masukkan 1/3 whipcream ke adonan (5) , aduk sampai rata

7. Campur seluruh whipcream dengan adonan (6) sampai rata

Eksekusi

1. Siapkan wadah bening

2. Rendam egg drop ke dalam larutan kopi dan rum 1-2 detik

3. Tata di dasar wadah

4. Lapisi dengan krim

5. Tata lagi rendaman eggdrop dalam larutan kopi di atas krim

6. Lapisi lagi dengan krim

7. Idem sampai wadah penuh

8. Taburi permukaan dengan cacao powder yang diayak supaya halus

9. Masukkan kulkas sekitar 6 jam supaya krim set

10. Enak pisan sumpah! 

Personal story

Last week after making the kuotie, I planned to make tori paitan ramen, but it will take me more than 5 hours to prepare everything and I was kinda busy so I thought of postponing this ramen. And I remember my wish to eat tiramisu long time ago, I even went to Bread Talk and Prima Rasa to buy a cup of tiramisu but unfortunately they were out of stock. So last Saturday I went to Riju to buy mascarpone, eggdrop, whip cream, and stuffs I didn't have at home. 

Spent Sunday afternoon preparing everything and I am super satisfied! It was so gewd. Oh man. It's like tiramisu bought from real bakery. The coffee and rum flavour's is strong. The sweetness of the cream tastes so good as well. 

I found mom have many kitchen utensils, I found some cute little spoon with rabbit head on the handle. I also found some steak knifes, oh man, so excited! Someday I want to make a plate of steak with mushroom sauce as well! But, but, I want to make tori paitan ramen as well. Let's see how my mood will be next week. 

Whatever I'll cook, hope I can cook again next Sunday, hehehe, so happy! 😊😊😊