Bravo Bybyq: It’s Two!

January 25, 2012

Yes.

If you came last night you might find something weird again about my blog. And it was definitely what you think it was. My blog got defaced again. Two times in a month, now I believe this web hosting sucks beyond repair. I really really really want to move this blog, however I still have no idea where. I think it is going to be a little bit a waste if I bought the unlimited service from some web hosting here, if I only use no more than few MB in a month. Even McXoem has questioned my decision using 5GB before :p

The fact that my blog defaced twice a month gave me impression that either the security of this hosting service is very lousy, or my blog is very popular. I will go for the first one though, although I am so tempted to believe the second one, out of narcissism.

Yes, and Two Heroes as well :D This time, the heroes are McXoem (again, because he’s the only one I know that I can trust to access my cpanel and has proven himself as a very experienced blogger which can do anything about blog), and his friend @aurel_666 (I don’t know what he wants himself to be referred to, but since I knew him on twitter, I’d rather mention him with his twitter name :) ). When I woke up this morning, McXoem just left a message on my BB messenger and also a mention on twitter, which also mentioned his dear friend.

Both of them saved my ass blog. McXoem said he hasn’t checked my cpanel, something I don’t really understand what for, but yes he still has my password so…

I believe in humanity now.

Well… I always believe in humanity.

The back to back hacking on my blog made me doubt it a little bit though :p, even I just knew from McXoem himself that the one that saved my blog was a repented hacker *confused*.

Anyway, I wondered what I should have done to make my blog safe? Is it hard to transfer blog somewhere safer? And which hosting would be safer? I have told myself over and over again that I wouldn’t continue using this service, and have a couple of months or weeks to decide where to go…

Where?

Kiss Me And Let Me Die

January 23, 2012

Title: Kiss Me And Let Me Die

Author: Alexandra Karina

Language: Indonesia

Publisher: Universal Nikko

 

Synopsis:

Angel, an ordinary girl with an ordinary dream suddenly found that her life might not be that ordinary. Especially, after she found out that an Angel of Death (the real one) was going to take her life. However, she couldn’t die yet. Not until she got her last wish fulfilled.

But, when she could actually get what she wished for, things become more and more complicated. It’s either not getting what she wants for the rest of her life, or die. Not a really good choice. But time is running out, and Angel needs to make up her mind before death finding its new target.

 

Review:

Alright. This novel is a teenlit. I am so sorry that the way I write the synopsis makes it sounds like it is very serious.

But indeed, it is a serious work.

I am not a fan of teenlit, to be honest. I took this one because it has my name on the “thank you” page, and I didn’t have to buy it because the author herself brought this book to England for me. LOL. Just kidding, AK! I was waiting for this book for years and when it’s finally published I am so lucky that I can be one of the first who got this book. With the autograph of the author (one day it would worth billion times more than its actual price :p).

Anyway, back to the review.

There are two kind of books that I can’t stop reading. First one is the book with lots of twists, which makes me wonder how it would end. The second one is the book, that I already predict the ending but I am very very curious how it would get there. This book is the second one. I knew it, AK! I knew it! But I am not gonna spoil it here.

Like I said, it’s so interesting to know how it get there. I should admit that I finish this book in only one day. Non stop. Fortunately I read it when I was having the winter break, so I didn’t screw my schedule because of reading this book.

Yes, the characterization of the main characters reminded me a little bit to Japanese Manga characters. At first, I thought it was because of the book cover, but I guess it’s not. It is a little bit manga-ish. I mean, the cool guy, the nice guy and the clumsy ordinary girl as the central character is a little bit typical.

I love the humor. God knows how I love smart humor and word plays. Should I say that the humor here is just too smart for a teenlit? I mean, making a joke about death is not easy, and my dear friend I am down on my knee and salute you for doing that. Good job.

Yes because the author is my friend and I have promised her to promote her book, so I recommended this book for everybody…

FOOL!

Of course not! My reputation as a reviewer is actually at stake when I write this review. I tried to be as objective as I can and yet I am still going to recommend this book. It is a teenlit, a bit or romantic, a bit of comedy…

and a bit of magic :)

London Calling

January 18, 2012

I should have posted it couple of weeks ago, but I hope it is still fine to post this now.

So, yes I went to London again.

However, it was a daytrip I planned to met AK who came to UK for her Christmas and New Year Holiday. I think it was not like what we had in mind, but it was nevertheless awesome. The problem was just because we didn’t have enough time and museum closed at 6 pm. So, yeah…

I went very early from Norwich (as usual) taking the earliest bus. Of course I slept on the way there and woke up with sore neck. I think I need to buy this neck pillow so at least I would be fine if I had to have a long journey. I can’t imagine going to Aberdeen for 13 hours on the train without proper sleep.

It is not so hard to find the hotel where AK stayed in London, because you can always ask the police officer. Seriously. No matter how scary they look, police officer won’t show you the wrong direction, unless they really don’t understand where you’re going. Or unless they arrest you.

So I met AK and her mother. And the first comment she made after we were alone was, “your hair….”

Seriously? AK? Seriously?

We planned to watch Wicked the musical in Victoria. Argh… the timing wasn’t really good, you know. Probably we’re really bad at planning. It’s good that none of us are working for the Tour and Travel agency because I think we suck at it. However, it reminds me that I still need to pay 10 pounds to her for the ticket! Please someone remind me to buy that goddamn amazon voucher so I don’t have to live with debt. I think all these unfortunate events are the result of unpaid debt -__-” (yeah… sure…)

How was Wicked?

LOL IT WAS WICKED!

I think AK also had the same in her mind that it was… well… I can’t find a better word than wonderful (I think she might have better vocabulary, she’s like a walking dictionary). I was thinking of making this going out watching musical as a regular activity, but when I think about it… the ticket price was so expensive, and I haven’t mention the bus ticket from Norwich to London. I think being able to watch it occasionally would make me very happy.

We also went to the Natural History Museum (or something like that) and yes it was crazy. It’s huge and there are so many stones. LOL. I love stones. I have this kind of kinky interest towards stones since I was very young, so it was like heaven for me to be there. I don’t think AK enjoyed it as much as I do though :p Sorry AK, but you chose this museum :p

Anyway, I think I managed to convince AK to study here. I mean, I know she hates studying and it was like an ultimate freedom for her to leave our beloved university. But I think it was my persuasion skill that made her think that she can stand one more thesis before she leave the academic world forever. Yes, by the beauty of the UK.

I am not sure though if I would still be here when she came lol, but yay, I like it when I can make someone do what I want them to do :D

2011 Achievements

December 15, 2011

Well…

In spite of some failed target, I am quite contented with what I’ve got in 2011. As a matter of fact, I have achieved some things that I never thought I would ever get. Today, I will list my conquest in 2011.

1. Cooking

I can’t believe I actually cook! I mean, all this time, the definition of cooking for me was putting everything together in a pot and boil it so when it’s done you wouldn’t have to eat a raw food. But over time, I became pickier and pickier, which consequently made me develop ‘creativity’ to make a better and tastier food for myself.

I still am not a chef. Even, probably, I am not yet a good cook, but I am a better cook than I was last year.

2. Shrinking

Hm… The title doesn’t sound quite right, but unfortunately I don’t have another idea. I wasn’t talking about shrinking my pants size, although if I did it would add up to my achievement list. What I was talking about here, is my decision to go to the shrink this year.

I always thought that I had this problem in me, but never knew what it was. Worse, I didn’t have this courage to go and see the shrink, until few months ago. It was a life changing experience… literally.

I might have not completely changed into a better person now, but I think knowing the problem and the alternative to solve it is one step closer into it.

3. New Friends

I never thought I would do this. My target was only to maintain a good relationship with my old friends, and keep them. I never knew that I can keep making friends from this blog. I even met some of them in real life already, and it was something special for me.

I never thought that I would make friends here, because my plan was to study and become a loner. No. I made some friends, and somehow I actually enjoyed it. Of course I have to learn more in girl-talks (considering most of my new friends now are girls) because I haven’t got the chance to develop this girl-chit-chat for years.

4. Big Decisions

Yes. Decision making is the hardest part for me, but this year I made some big decision of my life. Some changed me, some even changed my life forever. I am not yet sure if I have made the good decision. I could be wrong. I might say, “damn!” but I am pretty sure I won’t regret any of it.

I wouldn’t regret my decision to go far from home. I wouldn’t regret my decision to break up with si Onyed. I wouldn’t regret my decision to spend my food-budget on Noel Gallagher’s concert (I definitely am going to talk about it later). I would, of course, live with the consequences of these decisions, but… quoting The Cranberries, “Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?”

5. Finding

Myself. Not quite right, actually. I haven’t actually find myself, but at least, I have gone back to the right track. It’s not so easy to keep searching yourself while doing so many other things. No wonder people went to a hermitage to find themselves, because only in the peaceful mind you can do that.

Well, at least for now, I know what I want to do and what I don’t want. I have lists of things I want to achieve (and I will post that to), and of course priority list that I need to acquire in a short time.

I think there are some other things I have done this year and actually made me proud. But, I might not be able to list them all, so I only put my big five. What have you done this year that made you proud?

 

It’s Almost Over!

December 13, 2011

Just like what I did last year, I made a list of resolutions in the beginning of the year, and evaluate it in December. But seeing the 2011 RESOLUTION, I don’t think I am doing it right this year. Let’s see…

HEALTH:

I started to exercise, and jog every morning only for the first two months of the year. Later, I started to wake up late, and it’s gonna be too hot to go out and run. However, my body clock is getting better and better here in the UK, and I can wake up earlier. But, still, I don’t exercise. I just start to manage my food intake, and with me learning to cook, it’s easier to get a better and healthy food.

It is too bad that I don’t have a weight scale so I can’t update you now about the shaping up resolution. I am pretty sure I am not getting fatter, but the point is I have to lose weight, isn’t it? So, I might go to Denise’s house because she has the weight scale :D

Going to the UK also makes me concerns more about hygiene. Now that I bought everything myself, and shared a house with people who don’t care about hygiene makes me even more health conscious. LOL. Human brain works in a weird way. Especially now, when I am here, it looks like it is so important for me to be able to take shower twice a day. Seriously. In this cold weather?!

FINANCE:

Oh don’t ask me this one. Finance sucks.

I know it’s a bit related to my coming here, but even I can’t finish the 30 day cashflow form from Ligwina Hananto. Not even the first month. Of course I tried again the next month… can’t finish a month >_< That’s horrible. I can’t save up the targetted amount of money as well. But anyways, I saved up little by little here :D

FAMILY:

Uhm… We’re far apart now. I am happy because of that, because apparently I am a better person when I am not around them. LOL. Not that I hate my parents or something, I just can’t stand being in the same room with them too long because they would start saying something that pissed me off. But yeah, I tried to answer my parents when they called or send me messages. Although, sometimes I found it a little bit burdening for me.

I didn’t call my grandmother as much as I wanted. LOL. Merely because of the distance and language limitation. However, I tried to be more active on the family’s blackberry group, so they know I am alive and live well. Not that active. I don’t want them to start questioning about my life, but yeah, I appreciate my family’s support in this life.

OTHERS:

I think I am doing better in this section. As a matter of fact, I am doing really great with this blog. I am not only making this blog alive for another one year (an achievement) although the web hosting made scenes every once in a while. I also exceeded the initial posting target of 150. Up until now from the 1st of January 2011, I made 190+ entries (now you can applaud me for that). I am a proven determined blogger.

My other resolution to keep contact with my old friends also went quite well. I didn’t have to track them down one by one, but somehow I found them all. I went to two of my old friends wedding, and that was the best days on my life. I reached no less than 10 old friends for now and it was great. There were: Miiya, Momo, Two Clowns I Knew In Untar, Mr. Atheist, The Piano Man (Maybe I will tell you something about him), The Guitar Brother, The Hellboy, Win, AK, and Mr. Pervert. And, there are some other acquaintances I contacted again via my high school BlackBerry groups. I am doing very well in this. I just wonder where I can put Mr. X and Magneto among those names.

Few months ago a flew to the UK to start a new life a student. I went back to school, this time to acquire my Master Degree. That, was also one of my resolution (one of the hardest that I never thought would achieve) that I finished with distinction. And I am proud of it.

Those with quantities… I didn’t do it very well. I didn’t have time to watch movie, or read books. Unless reading textbooks counted. I hope I would do better next year for this section. Moreover, I start my Tribalwars over, so I didn’t manage 20 villages. I hope I would be able to get my first noble before Christmas Break though.

 

Anyways… That’s this year evaluation. I hope next year I am going to do better job :D