Simple Pleasures For Simple Minds

Chely was burning some of our favorite latin/angolan music to CDs to give to some DJs at our favorite clubs here in Jakarta.  We ran into a bit of a problem as some of the songs were from her iPod and used their proprietary format and was considered "unreadable" .... those podantic iPod folks !!! .... I tried and tried to decode the files with the software that I had ... but to no available.  So I got a bright idea about asking Josh, Chris, and Paul which decoder I should use.  Just I got ready to type the email I paused .....

Well even a blind dog finds a bone once in a while ... I did a quick internet search ... carefully read some descriptions then downloaded a test version of ImTOO .... man that is some slick decoder ... no more than a couple of clicks and presto-mundo ...three files converted from m4a .... to mp3 .... YAHOOO !!!!!!

... bye ... gotta go see my honey ....

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Told You So ....

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Wacky Wednesday

Ah the joys of spring break ... whatever that means in Indonesia.  I guess the girls are more or less staying busy so far.  Good news is that tomorrow (Thurs) we head over to hotel Le Meridian and check in for a couple of days (free vouchers !!!).  There is a great lebanese restaurant there ... which we will take the girls to (they've never been there before).  Not sure what else the we have planned ... but no doubt we will stay busy somehow.

Speaking of staying busy, this has been a horrible, emotional, long week at the office.  After 2 days, I feel beat up ... rode hard / left wet ... and drained.  Thankfully I am taking Thursday and Friday off ... to enjoy time with Decy and the girls - that will help.

Received a call from Beni the manager at Club CJs.  Our tickets/invitation to the Opera are ready.  We will collect them today or Friday.  Unfortunately, 2 folks cancelled out on us so for our table of 10 we only have 8 people so far.  We are trying to flog the other 2 tickets - if we can't, we are out of pocket $300 .... uuuggghhh.

Here's one for you ... about 2 weeks ago, one of Decy's brothers (Dewa) was riding his motorcycle at night (note:  in that part of the city there isn't much street lighting and streets are small).  Anyway, in the middle of the road squats an old homeless lady.  Dewa doesn't see her and she doesn't move.  He hits her with the motorcycle.  Police come - seize Dewa's motorcycle and license.  Dewa takes the old lady to the hospital and pays for her medical care - minor injuries. Police give Dewa back his motorcycle but not his license - they tell him that he must care for the old lady in his home until she is able to take care of herself again (rhetorical: wonder when the last time she was able to take care of herself?).  So, for the last 2 weeks (more or less) Dewa has been caring for the homeless lady - clearly she has no incentive to get better or to leave.

Finally, in desperation, Decy's mother Doortje (and yes, the family is full of "Ds" .... Doortje, Decy, Dolly, Debbie, Dewa, Dona, Dino, etc) takes the bull by the horns and takes the old lady to an old folks home.  The OFH won't accept the lady unless she gets medical clearance.  They take the old lady to the hospital, they check her out - clearance received.  Then the OFH doesn't want to accept the lady because she has no money (duh !!).  Finally after careful and persuasive talking Doortje convinces the OFH that they need to take the old lady because the old lady cannot possibly continue staying with Dewa ......... because ............  Dewa is a Christian and it would be impossible for the old lady (a muslim) to worship and live in that house. NEXT STEP - Get Dewa's license back.

Not much else and no new developments are going on.  Need to close.

Ciao ciao. 

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Troubling Tuesday

Decy terminated Pak Mustofa on Monday - the entire process took about 2.5 hours as she walked him through his recent performance, the issue with "majic" being irreparable, and final compensation. Pak Mustofa asked about his returning to the company as a car pool driver (which is what he was doing before) ... we said that we would not say anything negative to prevent him from doing that but we would not give him a "letter of recommendation".  Prior to Mustofa's arrival, several family members came in (as witness and protection) and Decy had Mustofa searched for weapons.

The "protection" issue might seem odd, but it is not.  In fact just last week Jakarta had an incident where a dismissed driver and maid were implicated in the kidnapping of a child. And some dismissed drivers have tried to retaliate by damaging or stealing vehicles.  Its sad - but its a risk that has to be taken.  Hopefully, by treating Mustofa with respect during his employment, and respect during his termination this will not become a bigger issue.

To help close the circle and help the other driver Pak Yono save face ... Decy met with him and gave him a written warning about his involvement in the issue.  Such was not necessary (from our perspective) but allows him to save face as he can say he was disciplined too for his role in the matter.

Decy will meet with the remaining domestic help and give them a clear message that "majic will not be tolerated in this house".  Also, for any future employment contracts, we are going to add such a clause - for the avoidance of doubt.

Now - to find a new driver.

Also, Wiwi the primary maid/cook will begin maternity leave in about 10 days - maternity leave will last 6-9 months.  We think a temporary replacement will show up for an interview this week .... we shall see how that goes ... another transition.  urrrggghhh.

Gotta go ... ciao ciao

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Spring Break / Monday Morning

At Jakarta International School, this week is "Spring Break".  That's a bit odd given that we are in the southern hemisphere, which really means it is either (a) fall, or (b) the dry season.  But, guess they didn't want to refer to it as Easter Break ... although they could call it "mid term break".  Anyway, the girls are off from school this week.

I was wanting to take most of the week off and go out of town.  However, between shifting workloads and recent transportation catastrophe's here in Indonesia, we elected to stay in town.   Nevertheless, I am taking off Thursday and Friday.  We have (free) vouchers for 4 nights at hotel Le Meridian (2 we won, 2 were part of a "priority club" pkg).  So, Decy, the girls and I are going to stay at Le Meridian on Thursday and Friday nights .... relax, eat out together, do something different.

As for this past weekend, I did not hash.  Just didn't have the strength in me to go running for 1-1.5 hours especially without someone going with me.  Picked up my tux on Saturday, the sizing and cut is perfect.  But, its a bit big on me in the waist due to recent weight loss - but it is fine and I will "grow into it" over the next weeks and months.

As to the saga of our driver Mustofa, Decy and I have been in long conversations.  We have carefully reviewed his employment contract.  It is not clear that we could suspend him without pay ... and common practice is suspension with pay during investigations .... so, he will be paid his base salary for the past 4 days .... but not any overtime he might have earned.  Decy and I have talked through all the issues - we have determined that the trust that he broke/lost is irreparable.  The emotional trauma he has put Decy through is substantial and not something she will easily get over.  If he is willing to use "majic" to manipulate his job situation, then obviously he is not focussing on doing a good (being safe, and providing a quality service).

Pak Mustofa has been asked to be at our house today (Monday) at 9am for a meeting.  Decy will have 1 or 2 family members here as witnesses (I'm not much good due to the language barriers).  Decy will give Pak Mustofa:  (1) his 3 month evaluation (Jan-Mar), (2) a summary of the situation and showing how he violated 3 of the employment requirements - resulting in termination, effective immediately, and (3) a document that states that he has been fully compensated for his work and has no financial claim against us.  Decy and Pak Mustofa will sign documents #2 and #3.  Document #2 will also have a witness.  As you can appreciate - Decy had a lot of work to do pulling together the appropriate documentation.

** not sure how the meeting will go; it will clearly be stressful and emotional.  Please pray for Decy.

>>> I need to wrap up so I can go to work in a few minutes.

ciao ciao

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