Every cloud has a silver lining, deshou?

Last week I was in a deep sh*t; the score didn't meet my expectation. The verbal score was atrocious though the quantitative was just fine. The awful verbal section brought the whole score down. And yesterday, I just received the full report of the score.

I got 5.5/6 for analytical writing-assessment, which means, placed in >80% percentile of the total test takers for the essay *throws confetti*. So it is actually possible to do well on the essay and bomb the verbal section at the same time *sarcasm mode*.

It was quite surprising since my writing skill has been very horrendous -and its no more a clandestine. I failed my Qualifying English Test; then ended up taking 'English Proficiency' classes for two consecutive semesters. When I joined the English Literature Classes -hoping to be conferred a Minor-, my writing assignments had always been butchered with blasphemous comments written on them. I thought my writing skill was pathetic, since most often I didn’t do proofread, I just write what I think without further ado *sniff sniff*.

However, this essay score won’t stop me to cast upon my vendetta against the @$#@$#%$ test. Let’s see how things go, and I’ll decide later =p.

Run Apratz, Run!

Another thing is, my new office is located just in front of the running track! Then there are no reasons for not exercising regularly everyday. This is my post-eid-mubarak resolution: to run at least 4 rounds each time and minimum twice a week. I’ll retrieve the old days spirit and the old body shape *lol*.

P.S. I watched Code Geass R2 : Finale at night before I took the test ;__;. The 'Geass Aftertaste' was so severe that it brings my actual score much lower than my mock tests. But I won't regret that ;__:. I won't....

On the Job and Marriage Issue

And i won't wish you luck
Coz i don't think it's luck
I think you have what it takes
So if you get the job, it's not luck
It's you!
Luck found you the job
Anything else from there is your own capabilities

(Quote Yixian in sometime around August'08)

After 100 years waiting in solitude (??), finally they confirmed my placement at the #1 University in Singapore as Research Analyst. Why Research? Coz i am a Research-whore -_-.

Then i need to give up another position at my beloved University as an Assitant Manager -I am so sorry!

I hope everything goes well with the HR process and all, and can start working on the 2nd week of October. Gee, fasting month has shown its tremendeous blessing of virtue T_T. Thank goodness!

On the bad side, I'll be taking TOEFL this coming Sunday at 8.30 AM in Jakarta! WTF I'm still in Lala-land at that time, it's not funny to be overslept at such a critical time -though i always did it. This iBT is fairly different from the previous test, since they have Speaking and Writing section. Good thing is, I love to speak! Bad thing is, I often butcher the language in the writing test *sob sob*. And nervousness sure can kill! Hopefully i am able to accumulate abundance of self confidence by the time i take the test!

I am still screwed at my GMAT. And i can't really sit down and study at home as there will be myriad temptations whatsoever *sob sob*! The reason why i study so hard its because the fee is bloody expensive, and i won't make it a waste by getting mediocre score report *hurhur* though it is also impossible for me to get the astronomically high score -_-. I feel like doing Self Hypnosis to maximize my ability in the Verbal section T__T.

I'll be going back to Jakarta from 26 September - 4 October 2008, so whoever wants to meet up and fool around together let's kick off (nah this is what i called bloody temptation T_T).

Hari Raya is coming, then family gathering is in front of the eyes. I always feel inferior during family gathering especially when relatives touch on the issue of marriage and family building. I mean, sometimes they had a private chat with me, asking about my progress on that 'issue' -which made me speechless all the way. Well, I am still a normal girl, getting infatuated with Hyde or Yamapi and can't resist Japanese hearthrobs *grin*, but i think it's still a long time to go. I don't think at this point of time I am mature enough to share my life with somebody else 'til death - at least not now. Well, let's see how i can handle this and prepare the politically correct answer during the chat *lol*.

To everyone who are fasting, these are the last 10 days of the month, so don't waste it! :D

ANTI-SOCIAL FOR NOW

29th of August marked my last day being a corporate slave. Right now I am officially unemployed.

I need to re-think about everything to re-organize my life, therefore, i'll alienate myself for a shortwhile, being an anti-social, a Hikikomori for the next 1-2 weeks.

Anyway, i got a giant 'thank you' card from my colleagues in my last day. These was written in the envelope :

Dedicated To : A Dreamer, A Japanese Talker, An obsessed anime fan, and a True Human Being

Well, that's 'encouraging' in its own way ^^.

Regards,
Apret
Unemployed
In a search to become a true human being

From Jakarta with Nu-Haircut and Random Things

Dear Honorable Readers,

Apology for a delay in responding to your comments; as I was in Jakarta last week with limited access to internet connection. History is repeating, I had an awful haircut. This time it is Yzak’s wannabe T__T.

Maybe i should dye my hair gray and cosplay as Yzak T_T

So what I did during holiday?
- Relay Code Geass season 1
- Relay Gundam 00
- Relay Gundam Seed
- Watch ‘Nobuta wo Produce’
- Watch corrupted government officials in corruption trials
- Watch news of murders, senseless killing, death penalty
- Watch news about the energy crisis the earth is facing nowadays

And suddenly, I promised myself to save the world and make it a better place to live! Applause?

Okay, that’s corny. But perhaps those things have more or less influenced me with the decision I’m currently holding on : to quit my job :).

Truth is on the march, nothing can stop it

“Do you know why I said that to you? I challenge your thoughts!”
“No, you can’t. I’m using my ‘heart’ now.”

I have officially tendered my resignation letter yesterday.

People might think that I am crazy, but I can no longer lie to myself. I often used my brain to choose or determine something, but now I solely listened to my heart. Even though it’s a zero-sum game, I have no regret and I won’t turn back. Life is so short; and don’t make it a waste by doing things we don’t really like.

It sounds super naïve and childish. I know, but devil may care since I considered myself as a conscious working adult and responsible human-being. It’s time to make maneuver in life, do a soul-searching while enjoy life to the fullest. If I don’t get pay by working on something I really like, why don’t I find a way to make earnings?

So what am I going to do next? I got thousands of plans in mind. I won’t let myself get bored and be in despair again. Wish me luck!

The Goblin Awakening

This is a whinning post.

Baru pulang dari KL, dengan keadaan super tepar dengan mood pengen makan orang.

Sengaja nulis pake bahasa indo yang nggak jelas se-nggak jelasnya supaya oknum2 di kantor ngga ngerti, huahaha. Akhirnya jebol juga pertahanan 'ga bakal nulis blog dalam bahasa indonesia'!

Bulan ini, ada empat kali presentasi, empat kali perjalanan bisnis, empat kali lipat penderitaan bikin laporan dan analisa, empat kali bertemu orang2 gila yang menyebut dirinya klien. Oh betapa sudah berapa ember air mata dan darah kutumpahkan untuk kalian2 semua....

1) Apabila mengerjakan analisa dengan baik, tak ada satupun penghargaan mampir
2) Apabila mengerjakan analisa dengan kurang baik, maka badai angin taufan puting beliung akan melanda fisik dan mental selama beberapa hari
3) Apabila mengerjakan analisa dengan SALAH, maka bersiaplah ambil tali dan gantung diri (self service)
4) Apabila ambil cuti lamaan dikit, teror mulai melanda; dari mulai ancaman2 serius sampe ancaman2 super serius
5) Apabila lapor ke bos kalau kerjaan terlalu banyak dan tidak bisa dikontrol lagi, maka didaulat kalau 'tidak bisa kerja!', 'tidak efektif kerjanya!', 'masa kerjain gitu aja lama banget, dasar bego!'
6) Apabila pulang tiap hari jam 10-11 malam, dan sabtu-minggu kerja, tak ada yang peduli, tak ada yang tahu, dan ketika masuk kantor paginya telat sejam, maka semua orang akan tahu dan bersiaplah masuk ke Chamber of Gas dengan bos tercinta sebagai pengeksekusi
7) Apabila bos melakukan kesalahan, kesalahannya langsung dioper ke kita dengan cepat dan rapi dengan konsekwensi berkali lipat
8) Apabila kita melakukan kesalahan, bos tutup mata tutup telinga dan bikin review jelek tentang 'associate saya yang bego itu bla bla bla bla' sambil bersiap meng-guillotine

I am seriously going insane! I want to eat people!

Internetless and Penniless

I am shifting to another Flat starting from last Saturday, and the most devastating thing is, the new place is still internetless! &^&^&%^%^$^

Anyway, I will be off to Hongkong in this coming weekend to catch L'Arc-en-Ciel's TransAsia via Paris Tour (it's a dream comes true!), and travelling for Business Trip to Kuala Lumpur the week after and the next week after.

Apology that currently I am not able to reply to your commentaries, as I can't open the page in office PC (perhaps blogger.com is considered Not Safe For Work ? :p). Another grief for this week is I am zombified due to overload work (as always). If this thing keeps on happening, i might stand a chance to secure a role in the next Dawn of the Dead movie *sobbing*

Over-work Makes Your Brain Goes Dull
By : Prof. DR. Apratz

Recent experiment has scientifically proven that overwork (and over-study at the same time) will possibly make you dumber and dumber without thou even realizing it.

Symptomps :
- During crazy GMAT drill, you mistakenly read the word 'subtle' into 'subtitle' due to lacking of anime-time, and almost lost half of your score on the GMAT Verbal section
- You often talked to yourself in every circumstance, and your colleagues always noticed it
- You often show dumb expression during casual conversation ever since you're thinking about work (and anime, and yaoi manga, and increase in rent fees and so on and so forth)
- You often laugh without cause, and make your colleagues frightened
- You will see more and more wrinkles stuck in your face
- You mistakenly saw 6 as 8 and ended up creating wrong cost request that potentially cause a loss for your (dear) company
- Coffees become your best friend ever after
- Your usual dinner came from Starbucks at the ground floor of the office

Based on true story told by an anonymous innocent party XD.

The Never-ending Desperado Chronicles

Yesterday I've made a mistake at work. A very stupid mistake. A mistake that even an idiot perhaps won't do. And today, I was forced to go back to office to revise that stupid thing. Now i wonder where my brain is actually located, maybe it is there... (yes, there, nothing wrong with the location, just that the actual brain volume might be looked weird, whatever!)

Or perhaps the brain actually lies on the butt? I don't know *crying at the corner*

Anyway, i do really want to follow Homer's advice below. I think it is totally awesome, and even more critical, sinister, realistic (and not to mention much more brilliant) than Keynes/Nash/Smith theories ever...

For the time being, it’s a dream comes true!

Dear Folks,

This is not a dream, this is not an April Fool, this is a dream comes true!

Apratz will be going to Hongkong from 23^th – 27^th May 2008 and watching L’Arc-en-Ciel Trans Asia via Paris Tour in Asia World Expo Arena on 24^th of May!

OMG OMG, kudos to Yixian who informed me about this.

Today I started working lethargically, turned on the Comp and began to check emails *yawn*, until quite sometime, Yixian came to me and told me about this Hongkong concert. She was a hardcore Cieler who often checked the website to retrieve more info about L’Arc’s activities. Without further ado, both of us have booked our round trip ticket from Singapore to Hongkong.

Unfortunately the concert ticket will start selling on the 1^st of April (and guys, it’s official so it won’t be an April Fool!), and I am so afraid that ticket will be sold out before we manage to grab them *sobbing*. I do really hope that everything will turn out well so that we could watch the live concert sound and safely.

Now I feel like I am more energetic to start my days. I even don’t care that I ought to work this coming weekend due to some outstanding projects that have yet been finished. I am just longing for the D-Day crawling nearer, and afterwards I don’t care of what will be happening.

Thank goodness, this will be a remarkable once in a lifetime experience for me, a very meaningful B’Day present for this year. I thank You for everything you’ve been giving me until this time. Alhamdulillah, thank you =).

I am a Devil, yes, the Dorky one!

Managed to find one of my superficially devilish picture in one office party. Here it is :

MB's X-Mas Party @Wine House

this will make :"Pretty Girl, Dorky Devil and Drunken Santa" (picture courtesy of Miki)

FYI, Apratz is a good girl, she doesn't drink wine in there...

Anyway, I will be going back to Jakarta during Chinese New Year holiday (6 Feb 2008 - 11 Feb 2008), so I guess, enjoy your vacation!

You know what..?

1) It is already 11.42 PM. Midnight. (behold, Cinderella was about to turn back into a poor servant lady!)

2) Apratz just drank 2 bottles of Red Bull (equivalent to Kratingdaeng for those who aren't familiar with). With her determined gaze, she's pulling her hair up and wearing her old-fashioned specs.

3) It's time to get back to work, She feel kinda energized already.

Fact : Due to some dorky mistakes she has done, Apratz needs to redo her work within a super tight and merciless timeline *sobbing*. Kindly cross your finger on Apratz, as she's currently being zombified and ready to devour whoever passes by on her (it seems that she's going to have mental breakdown very soon. For pacification sake, let's call nearest mental hospital before everything is too late).

OSU!

I am damn-seriously tired...

O' Dear Holy weekend, please come faster....

MB Singapore

presenting

COLOURS OF THE WEEK

Credits : Thanks Yixian for initiating this (as well as sending reminders in the end of the day on what colour to wear for the next day), thanks to Client Service Dept. who participated *grin*

Monday -Bloody Red

Sending a strong signal during Monday Morning meeting *bloody!*
I forgot to wear reddish stuffs =(

Tuesday -Horizon Blue
Feeling out of the blue, since it is STILL tuesday, 3 more days to weekend *grin*

Wednesday-Traffic Green

Finally we came in the midst of the week, feels so-so
I was fallen sick, didn't attend work X(

Tuesday -Cherryblossom Pink

Yatta, friday is almost coming, (pink's depicting overflowing cheeryblossoms in mind XD)

Friday -Morbid Black

OMG OMG OMG deadline is coming, time is running out, noo.. arrghhhhh *dead*

It was fun. I am looking forward into another event XD.