I mean it! Eradicate firecrackers!

Note absence of 5th finger and partial absence of ring finger, fracture of radius and those horrible looking pins!

I hope I'm doing humanity a favour if this picture can convince people to stop making and playing firecrackers! This 38-year-old labourer who lost his left little finger and the part of his ring finger, claimed that a piece a firecracker exploded near his hand... there's really not much use to interrogate further on the nature of his accident really... the damage is already done... I just hope that his children would not burn any firecrackers next year. The surgeons are planning a flap and reconstruction for him... I observed his very painful and lengthy dressing in the ward just now... almost 40mins... and his special dressing cost RM28/- a piece, about 20x20cm in size... he may need some 20 pieces?

Near your hand, in your hand, on your hand... so what? Look at what's left of it!

And I saw a cat commit suicide today.

What a pity really... it's actually a pseudosiamese... nice looking fur too...

.

And tonight I thought I wanted to look good for a wedding reception, but look at my zit! AARRGGHHH!!!! It's painful too... especially when I smile!

And I have a quiz tomorrow afternoon! And I'm not even half-way done with my revision. Guess it'll be a long night for me tonight.

The rest of you, have a nice evening!

Frozen in time

Pheobe's enjoying her birthday present very much... a new cushion... cost my mum RM50/- including the cover (the chequered one)! And it's so much fluffier and softer and heavier than mine! *jealous* And the weather was like really nice to sleep in the whole day... some are just born lucky.

Pheobe was kinda "drowsy" the whole day...

My parents and I picked up a family friend who arrived from Australia this evening... I was kind of tired from afternoon lecture, but I couldn't resist the ride up to our slowly but surely morphing airport! It's really, really pretty and classy... 1000x better than our old shithole. But I remembered Linus saying that he liked our old one, and wished they didn't renovate... he's always like that... he wants Kuching to be frozen in time, while he spends his productive years away from home, and would have home (Kuching) to come home to. But I want Kuching to grow... it should only be frozen in time in our memories... just like that.

Departure...

Arrival hall...

Oh no, talking about Linus, his place got burglarized last week... he lost quite a lot of money and equipment... really sorry about that friend. You can read his account on the incident on his blog.

One place that I've been to was Kai Chin's place in Jelebu, which I thought was so charming, and yes, very frozen in time. A huge chinese village and its main economy, rubber. One of my most memorable experiences... I took KTM from KL Sentral to Seremban, and from there Kai Chin drove me and Hema almost 2 hours I think to his place in Jelebu.

The village's basketball court, where you can see old "uncles" sitting around smoking and chatting in the evenings... gave this nostalgic feeling just sitting around there... Kai Chin (extreme right) was very disturbed though that I wanted to snap pictures there... :)

On a hill which had the panoramic view of the whole village... Kai Chin could even point out his house from the hill...

Ok, I have another motive for writing about Kai Chin... a little bird told me today that my friend has a GIRLFRIEND!

KAI CHIN HAS A GIRLFRIEND!

Muahahaha!!!

Since the secret is out, please do the right thing and introduce her to us lar... what's the point of keeping it secret-secret... hehe...

No wonder lar yesterday morning (Valentine's Day) when I met him in the ward, he was so bright and cheerie and even looked glowing... and he chirped, "Happy Valentine's Day Sharon!" and closed the door of the UNIMAS room on 6th floor... and I swear I could hear him singing down the corridor... nolah... heheh...

Don't be disturbed ya ChickenDuck.... I'm very happy for you... looks like the cupid was working overtime this Valentine... good luck! ;)

Cheers people! May all your dreams come true!

From my album (20) School Health Team

My colleagues and I participated in one of the school health programmes in the interiors of Sarawak... the team is manned by Medical Assistants and nursing staff, no doctors, so many of these children have never seen a doctor in their lives, unless they require hospitalization... what strucked me most during this health education session (when they were advised on proper teeth-brushing, hair and nail care, etc.) was when they were asked about their ambitions, they only said 2... teacher or "dressar" (medical assistant)... when asked whether anyone wanted to be a doctor, they all looked at each other, puzzled. :D It just goes to show that it doesn't really matter how great you are, it's what you actually do/contribute that matters.

From my album (19) "Croatian football team"

One of the coolest group photos I have... :)... Sg. Padas, Sabah.

Parasite

For the past 3 weeks, an adolescent male cat (see pics below) has been trying to be "adopted" by my family. He gave my mum a shock of her life around midnight 3 weeks ago, while she was watching Spanish soap, when this cat ran down my staircase and caused my dog to go crazy, barking her lungs out, and waking the whole neighbourhood.

We never knew how he got into the house.

Then a couple of days later, he suddenly appeared at my bathroom window while I was bathing (yes, stark naked, you bath with your undies on at home?)... anyways, I almost died of fright because he's quite huge as you can see in the picture... he sat on my window latch... luckily the glass is not totally like see-through... but still it was freaky... reminds me of Audrey when we were camping out in Mt. Singai... she refused to go bath in the girls' dorm toilet because she said that the spiders kept looking at her... muahaha! I thought it was cute because she was genuinely disturbed.

Then a couple of days later, he sat on my dad's car and looked into the house, with his 10-cents expression (direct translation from a local malay expression, "muka sepuluh sen").... my dad as usual lar said that we shouldn't encourage him or give him hope that we would adopt him, but I know he secretly leaves extra food for him after Miss Jelly (my schizophrenic cat).

But he disappeared for a few after that when I threatened to send him to Sam's... my sis' boyfriend, who coincidentally was hoping to adopt a kitten... needless to say, my sis said that Sam would probably think that "Parasite" (my mum couldn't do better with a name this evening during dinner when I suggested to name the fella for easier reference)... was kinda big for a kitten. *?*

Then today, he was so desperate that he jumped into my backyard, where Stryker, the hamster-shredder and chicken-slayer resides. Though he's blind, but I'm sure he's sense of smell is still in tip-top condition...

Parasite "landing" inside my backyard... Stryker was just like 6-7m away...

-

-

I immediately shooed him back onto my neighbour's shed roof...

Me offering Parasite "ikan bilis" and pieces of chicken...

Then I tried to convince him to stay on the roof by offering him food... I left some food on the roof... He looked contented after... hope he doesn't try that stunt again.

Not even his 9 lives would save him if Stryker gets hold of him.

I hope to convince Sam that Parasite's still a kitten.

Cheers!

Pheobe's 5 today! (5x7=35 dog years!)

Getting Pheobe was kinda of a rebound thing for my parents back in 2001 when our Dino died because of internal haemorrhage after he swallowed some plasticware. For weeks my parents, my dad especially wasn't quite himself... then one fine day... I remember it was in March... my uncle called to say that he spotted a litter of dachshunds in a pet shop somewhere in the city... my parents just dropped everything they were doing, packed me into the car and drove to the shop to "just have a look" of the puppies... Only 2 puppies were left when we got there, one black and the other Pheobe. My mum picked up the black puppy because she thought my dad would loved another Dino (who was a black dachshund mix)... but my dad took one look of the sleepy brown furry worm at the corner of the cage and asked my mum, "How much cash do you have with you?"

The rest you can guess.

What a great Valentine story. :)

Oh yes, Happy Valentine's Day...

Did you know that my middle/baptism name is "Valentina"? :)

From my album (18) Ginger

In memory of Ginger Boy (1996-2004)

Ouch.

Finally got to review my results with my mentor... and boy nothing else could have spoilt my day even more spectacularly.

"You failed your MCQ badly... really bad..." Dr. Chan revealed.

"I expected it Dr. Chan..." I responded almost immediately, but couldn't help wondering how one could fail "badly"... what's worse than failing? *wonder*

"You didn't fail marginally, you failed by quite a lot..." he said very simply, and focused on my face.

Shit. My heart felt like it dropped off from the thoracic cavity.

Then he went on and on about what strategy I should to be taking for my professional exam. But I couldn't really listen. Even though I knew I did the paper really badly, and that I never expected to pass, the reality of it hit me hard just now in the tiny office. That's the kiasuness setting in. I was thinking where I would stand in my batch of 28.

"But you scored so well in your OSCE, MEQ and long case... you even got a distinction in your long case..." he said, in a tone that sounded like he was trying to console me, but at the same time having a rather baffled look.

Knowing even that the 3 papers combined helped me pass the whole posting, and belittling my disastrous MCQ, I was definitely not comforted and not happy.

It's one thing to fail, but another to fail "badly". It's also embarassing? There must be a reason why my mentor chose to highlight my MCQ first, yes?

Then Dr. Chan went on and on about how MEQ and OSCE and clinical showed that I had good practical knowledge, but maybe lacked theory knowledge and stuff. And even worse, he tried maybe, in the last minute, in the last desperation, to try to alleviate my demoralization... said that "good" students usually don't score well in MCQ because they read "more" or "too much" that they tend to overanalyze... compared to "average" students who usually could answer without thinking over the answers too much.

I shot him down by saying that I was neither. I've never even came across some of the topics that were asked in the MCQ. Simple. And he just kept quiet. :)

It's ok. It's part of a medical student life. I'm kinda bummed, but I've learnt to get over these things pretty fast. I just need to be able to focus on the positive things... and of course I need to thank God for passing this very traumatic posting...

And now what I need is lots and lots of motivation and will power to just survive these final 4 months... God please....

I HATE FIRECRACKERS!

My Cap Goh Mei dinner was kinda stressful because my dogs were barking away because of our guests and also because it's a war zone out there. I hate firecrackers. Never played them as a child, and so grateful to my parents for their sensibility... it's stupid and absolutely a waste of money buying and burning the crackers... not to mention dangerous.

I hope one of the kids get their hair burnt by a piece of the cracker... then he would remember better not to play because of the smell of the burnt hair can be quite denerving.

At least I didn't curse them worse, like losing their digits or eyesight.

I believe the world would be a better place without firecrackers. It's such a horrible disease.

I know that we would be more civilized if we don't play firecrackers.

If they need something to chase ghosts away, they could try mooning.

I'll make it one of my life's mission to eradicate firecrackers from the world.

Start today. Start by pinching or twisting the ear of the rascal in your neighbourhood who's burning the crackers like nobody's business.

Good night people.

From my album (17) X-red

Happy Cap Goh Mei!

Photo Journal

I'm realizing a dream of a photo journal... at this period of time it's more like a stroll down memory land... but I hope that when I get my new camera I'll start it for real.

I've actually filled up 8 CDs full of photos eversince I started with my first digital camera in 2002, and also I've scanned selected prints to be stored digitally... on top of some pictures of specific trips that I've burnt into separate CDs.

Officially now I can say that I have a hobby. It never occured to me that what I've been doing was a hobby... stupid girl.

So it should be "photojournaling"? Or since it's on a blog, "photoblogging"?

Whichever. It's so much fun whatever it's called. :)

February is a birthday month... I was just looking through my Friendster list and noticed easily about 20 people are celebrating their birthday this month. My doggie's on Valentine's Day, and my mum's is on the 27th.

Yesterday, Mun Foo and Pei Ling both celebrated their 25th year of existence. Many happy return of the days guys!

And today it's another colleague's big day... Happy Bithday to you too Yek Song!

And of course, I'm extremely happy too because now there are more people joining the the BIG 25 group. :)

Yes, I was doing it again, I was stalking again for the past 2-3 days... and shit I think I may have blown my cover, so I had better not go into any details first (even though I'm itching to, but I don't want to jeopardize my current mission) until I'm sure that the course is clear... :) It won't be too long.

Happy Cap Goh Mei to those who want to embrace this little tradition. It's a dinner tradition to me mainly, no idea whether it has any other significance, besides it meaning that the celebration of the Lunar New Year is over and hence no more house visiting...

Have a good rest everyone!

From my album (16) A tribute to the Freesizers!

From my album (15) I kick ass

I'd rather not mess around with me.

From my album (14) Mum and Dad's Wedding

My mum's gorgeous, isn't she? :)

From my album (13) Signal Hill

Signal Hill in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah... provided me with such a spectacular view!

Beauty is skin deep. Urban legend?

It's already Friday but I don't really know what has happened for the past 5 days, really. Orthopaedic is very interesting, but I don't fancy the ward and the environment that much, so that's a bummer. I know I won't exactly have the priviledge of liking or not liking anything when I work later...

Oh I passed my medicine posting. The results are not officially out yet in the sense that I've not asked my mentor to collect my results for me... but I know because the group sort of know who didn't quite make it (I'm not one of them)... so that means that the rest of the group made it. No joy and happiness at all in the group, which I thought was very thoughtful and appropriate... because we all knew quite well what it "could" have been like ... everyone kept rather quiet and solemn during the afternoon class this afternoon when the news broke out about our results... and one of them slumped on the chair beside me and started pouring her heart out about how she was sort of expecting her results... My heart went out to her, and I didn't know how really to console her, because one thing we weren't that close to begin with... and I was so surprised that she chose to talk to me... maybe she wanted to share it with someone she wasn't really close to... I really don't know...

My day stretched until 7.30pm today... after my afternoon trigger, we had a special lecture/quiz with an invited paediatrician, supposedly from 5-7pm, but she was 40mins late, so our session extended to about 7.30pm... didn't get to have dinner with my family and my uncle Jon, so they just had something packed for me on their way home...

I was actually kind of planning to spend my day in the hospital tomorrow to complete my procedures and get some cases for my case summaries, but when I got into the car when my parents picked me up from the faculty, my mum was already going on and on about where she wanted me to bring her to buy the things for Cap Goh Mei... so I think I may just have to postpone the hospital thingy for another day... nowadays I really sort of cherish my time with my family especially my parents, because my heart's set on leaving Kuching in a couple of month's time... don't get me wrong... I don't really want to leave Kuching, I just need a change, and I'm thinking that KK would be just the thing for me. I was asking Hema about it just now... she seems very interested, but I guess she's also quite unsure... it's a tough thing really to decide.

Sometimes it kills me to think of leaving my parents behind. Soemtimes I wish I could leave them sooner... you know the works... but I'm always constantly thinking about my poor mum who has Rheumatoid Arthritis, and that these 2 decades or so would be her remaining best, so it kills me just thinking about leaving her. But she's very supportive... she's already talking about going down to KK with me if I get the posting, to help me settled in and stuff... I'm not so concerned about my dad... he can live without me... I know he can't live without my mum, but me... he'll be alright.

People always say that children are supposed to leave their parents when they are all grown up and start their own lives and families... but why do I feel like I would be an ungrateful child if I leave them? *Sigh*

I hope things would be clearer when the time comes... yes, yes, I know... why don't I pray about it? When I'm ready...

On a lighter note... I was just telling some friends that I was getting this motivation to loose weight for health and vain reasons... it suddenly occured to me what was important and what wasn't... my priority has sort of gotten reshuffled... and just this evening a colleague commented that I was looking prettier, so I thanked her but remarked to Adeline, who heard the compliment that I'd rather have the colleague compliment on my weight loss (if any) than on my looks, anytime... no matter how I try to psycho myself about beauty being skin deep, we still live in a very superficial world, sadly. I believe (not an overvalued idea) that I'm being passed for great opportunities because of my weight. I'm sore about it in some sense, and I won't pseudogratify myself that I'm happy with my "looks"... but I want to make it happen, I want to have a better control of my body. Period.

So that's all for my rantings tonight (this morning I mean)... cheers!

From my album (12) Graceful Monster

Another one of my work that I was very proud of... took it with my under-1MB camera. This was taken behind a little workshop in my campus... come to think of it I really now have no idea what that place was... all I remembered was that one time my bicycle got loose some parts so I wheeled it there because I saw some men fixing some machines and trucks... so ever since then I would cycle pass it every day... back to the subject of the photo... The first impression when I first spotted this huge tree was UGLY... but against that sky and the clouds... it was just so graceful... hence, the name "Graceful Monster"...

From my album (11) Goalpost

That's (L to R) Jane, Wilhma, ME and Wendy goofing around at Tanjung Purun Beach. :) I thought Wilhma had the best on guard pose... the rest of us just looked pretty sissy.

From my album (10) SMK Tebakang

Looks like something from a movie set... gorgeous right? It's actually taken in SMK Tebakang, about 15 mins drive from Serian Town... it's a huge hostel school, maybe 6-8 times bigger than my old school here in Kuching... this little bridge connects the main school compound with the teachers' accomodation on the other side of the lake... so beautiful and so serene... I actually saw tiny frogs jumping from one water lily leaf to another... this section of the lake had predominatly white lilies... the other end of the lake had mostly pink lilies... one of those "I love life" moments... :)

From my album (9) T1 & T2 at Tanjung Purun

Taken during the last weeks of college (2000) at Tanjung Purun (if I remember right) in Labuan... let's see if I remember all of them correctly... seated right in front is Benedict, 2nd row (L to R) Wendy, ME, Jane, Shirley, Connie, Lydia, Yonne, Dollie, Wilhma and Linda... then the last row (L to R) Adzuandy, Zul, Hasber, Yogesh, Airy and Arthur... wow that's a feat! Have not seen most of them since college... Not in the picture is Roslan, who climbed a pretty tall tree to snap this photo!

From my album (8) The Red Dragon

(L to R) Mun Foo, Kai Chin, Chiun Pheng, Kee Hoe, ME, Hema and York Tien. I love this picture more for its colour than anything else! Taking at Brunei's Jerudong Park, in front of its infamous "Pusing Lagi" roller-coaster... silly name actually... I call it the Red Dragon... One of the guys went "Oh my head!" while pressing his abdomen after the ride... that's how good it was! :) I almost didn't make it on that ride because I wasn't big on all the amusement park rides and stuff, but I succumbed to peer pressure... still have occasional nightmares...

Yak.

I thought ortho clinic today was fun today, except that the 3 of us (Adeline, Connie and I) agreed that Dr. Chan, the orthopaedic surgeon was kinda wacky and innapropriately happy?! Then again, it's just sooo miserable us (me I mean)... I was kinda jealous that Dr. Chan was so perky and so happy... cheh... Dr. Chan's actually my mentor for my final year (because my other 2 mentors have retired or left the faculty)... so I'm not very well acquainted in that sense that was hoped between a mentor and his or her mentee... the intended bond is not there... and I guess since it's my final year and I have about 3 more months to go, I won't be making any efforts...

I hung around in the wards the whole day today but thought that I didn't learn much... maybe I should just stay home tomorrow to study... I'll see how it goes tomorrow morning... We had a bedside teaching with Prof. Pan this afternoon, and as usual he never disappoints the students... you know he's so clear and concise and he's soooo super nice and even humble... it's such a rarity in the field you know... and even though I was extremely tired just from lepaking in the ward the whole day and standing so long in the clinics and all, I felt that I gained something from Prof. Pan... too bad I got to the clinics a bit late this morning, so I didn't manage to fight my way into a slot at his clinic... next week...

So Dr. EggHead (or the one malingering as a doctor) told the new group today that my batch was the best batch of the 3 batches of students so far from the recent exam... at first I thought he might be sarcastic and all, but later maybe I thought because my batch is quite even out, not that we were so good, in fact the previous 2 batches had all the class' creams :), my group had all the "within the curve" students... and also the fact that we have Adeline to make the group look good... :) He told the students that Adeline scored 88% for her short case! That's really amazing... I mean that's really something... wonder how I did? Hope I did not pale too badly to her 88%... Dr. EggHead said he failed student with 5%! That's sooo disgusting of Dr. EasterEggHead! He actually derives pleasure from giving exam and failing students... he's usually quite grouchy and all, but his mood usually picks up when exam's around the corner, and he would be going around psychoing students, reminding them that he only passed 1 of the 14 students he took from the previous batch, etc... that's both neurotic and idiotic.

I hope he falls and cracks his head, and the egg yolk would seep out and get cooked on the hot tar road.

There, I've said it.

Cheers people! Have a productive day tomorrow!

From my album (7) Soyabean

This is Soyabean, my bike for 2 years in campus, served me well... but I also didn't wear skirts for 2 years because I had to cycle everyday... when I moved down to my new faculty building in Kuching, Soyabean was kept in my backyard for almost 2 years when my dad gave it away to one the workers who did some renovation in my kitchen... he said his 2 sons wanted a bike each but that would be too costly... so my dad just wheeled Soyabean (without my knowledge) into the man's truck... I was sad at first but thought that Soyabean would be making some boy happy...

From my album (6) Perspective

This was taken with my very first digital camera, which was an RM200 under-1MB camera... so that time I was a little obsessed with taking pictures... I was just taking anything and everything, anywhere that had enough light... I could not shoot with it indoors mostly if there wasn't enough light... I think this was taken after one of our quizes... I managed to convince a few of my colleagues to run around campus under the blazing sun to take some pictures! We ended up having a blast! Thanks Adeline, Connie, Mooi, Yang, York Tien and Yek Song!

From my album (5) In front of G1

(L to R) ME, Jane, Wendy and Wilhma... posing in front of the boy's hostel in our college in Labuan... MISS YOU GUYS LOTS!

The ortho ward

I would say that my oncall didn't turn out so well... I was sooo overwhelmed by how crowded the ortho ward was just now... and it was so unbelievably hot! And the familiar odour from my 1st experience in the surgical ward from 3rd year... Poor patients... and each patient had average 2-3 relatives around them, their body heat contributing to the unpleasantness... the hospital's really not strict at all with the visiting hours... people just walking in and out, noisy too... the conversations and the handphones (aarrgghhh!)... I couldn't even talk to all my allocated patients... only managed to talk to 2 of them... so I figured since I couldn't do much, I packed my stuff and left... planning to go earlier tomorrow morning to check out the rest of my allocated patients.

And there's this very consultoid houseman who tried to "boss" us around, but fortunately she didn't make it very far because she's too busy... she's such a joke... remind me NEVER to make such an ass of myself when I start my housemanship.

I'm better off studying tonight. Besides I have clinic tomorrow morning...

On a lighter note, I discovered that Yang was a photography buff today! I never knew... we were in the same posting for the 9 months and I never knew... I was actually hiding away in the Paeds room studying when suddenly he appeared out of nowhere (my faculty's big you see, so it's quite a coincidence that we chose the same place to study) and we just started catching up and suddenly we both realized that we're into cameras and stuff... so I think we chatted about cameras for close to 2 hours??? Very disturbed...

He has the Panasonic Lumix FZ20! So he's rooting for the FZ30! But I guess my heart's set on the Canon S2... it has more of the "gimmick" features I would use instead of the more technical and "pro" or SLR-like FZ30, which by the way cost RM400 more! But I'm in the process of checking out the other Panasonic models... and I'll probably pay Yang a visit this weekend to check his baby out.

And finally of course today poor Raj was telling me about his brush with shameful racism here, here in Kuching... I was appalled, but tried to not to be worked up about it... I didn't really know how to console Raj... just hopefully my listening ear was comforting enough for him...

Good night!

From my album (4) Sg. Padas

Braving Sg. Padas, Sabah in 2004... one word... EXHILIRATING!

The Usual Suspects

Finally my dad got hold of "The Usual Suspects" on DVD for me last night... pirated version from Kenyalang... hehe... and I though I immensely enjoyed it, and of course I immensely loved Spacey in it, I thought the overall movie was just slightly above average... something I would have gone to the cinema to watch, but it didn't create any extraordinary thing for me, like Braveheart or Life is Beautiful... It's simple, witty and funny actually. :)

After all the hype...

Anyways...

At least I feel like I've finally started my posting today... Prof. Pan gave a really interesting slideshow and I thought it was great revision... now at least I have a list of something I can focus on in my revision and study tonight.... oh ya, tonight, before that I'm oncall! It's ok. The orthopaedic ward is less stressful in my opinion, so oncall or any extended period there doesn't bother me that much...

Now waiting for a 3pm class, so thought I just drop a line or 2 before lunch... cheers people!

From my album (3) Ginger Boy

In loving memory of Ginger Boy (1996-2004)

From my album (2) Jimbo

My first doggy, Jimbo, a dalmatian and pointer mix...

From my album (1) Form 4

Standing from left: Josephine, ME and Cynthia. Then below from left: Davina, Jane and Cindy. One of my favourite photos taken during Form 4 outside the Physics Lab, I think, or was it the Biology Lab? Whatever... We were a crazy bunch... Remember when Mr. Teo sprayed water at us for talking away during his class? That was cool...

Just a little hitch

A little hitch to the start of my posting today. None of the 4 or 5 lecturers we have showed up for the posting briefing this morning... so we all sat in the accreditation room for 2 hours and waited for the next class, and of course the lecturer couldn't make it eventually, he was in the OT... I'm sure some of my friends who flew back from West Malaysia this morning cursed and sweared as they made their way back to their hostel... and as I made my way home, quite delighted with the day off, so to speak... :) Have something on mind that I need to get settled.

All were not lost this morning... caught up with some of my friends... entertained thoroughly by Raj and his antics. We were going on and on about the Aussie Open... muahaha! It's always fun to chat with him because of our passion for the game, and of course because we are both equally bitchy when it comes to the game! :) No mercy for Justine Henin-Hardenne!

So about the thing on my mind, yup you guessed it, it's still about the camera... so now I'm online still checking out some issues of the cameras that came up during my conversations with some friends this morning. So it's basically just down to the FORM FACTOR. Everything else is kinda sorted out.

After this is back to the books... Apley is kinda cool... so no reservations about studying it... happy new posting guys!

Cheers!

The form factor

Pre-posting psychotherapy

While snapping away, I was imagining myself with my new Canon Powershot S2 IS... then suddenly I thought that I should seriously consider a more compact camera, because it would be easier to bring around, but I'm so torn between the form factor and the 12x OPTICAL zoom of the S2... shit... can I have 2 new cameras? :) That's the reaosn why I should act on impulse more often or else I would embark on this endless debates and analysis in my head. My parents requested me to think it through properly, and now I really think it's a horrible idea.

So I'm starting Surgery posting tomorrow... mixed feelings... happy? Yes, cause I kind of like Surgery. Scared, definitely... it's my last posting as medical student, which also means that my professional exam is drawing near.

Just want to wish my colleagues a happy new posting! Lots and lots of luck to us yeah?

I was telling my parents that I want to step up my exercise regime a little... maybe I'll start walking to hospital/faculty as well on top of walking home... the previous arrangement was for my dad to send me in the morning and then I walk home in the evening... but I feel progress is a little slow... and I have many risk factors for IHD. My dad thought it was an excellent idea, but mum... she said I would get too sweaty and yucky for class... so I'll sleep on that thought tonight and see on which side of the bed I wake tomorrow.

Mass was awful just now... there was no band only one very old organist who played so painfully slowly... and I had this horrible bout of headache... then later I bumped into Eleanor and Fred Teng and his family... his 2 children were beautiful, Isaac and Faith, but my mum was not impressed with their unbelievable hyperactivity and high-pitched screams and laughter...

She later made me promised never to subject her and dad to taking care of my children or my sis'... so I promised her I wouldn't...

"Only the occasional nights when you have a dinner function or something... that's ok... My life expectancy would surely be halved if I have to take care of children like those..."

That's just my mum...

She continued, "You and Karen were never like them... you were both so well-behaved... always sitting quietly through mass and family dinners...."

I was beaming... silly I know, like it matters... :)

Anyways... just yakking... better stop here... want to spend these last couple of hours psyching myself for tomorrow...

Cheers everyone!

p/s: Enjoy the pctures!

Pheobe chilling out on her couch...

That's me chilling out on my couch...

I just love the light in this picture...

That's Miss Jelly, my cat with schizophrenia, hiding out in the store room... my mum now calls her the store keeper...

That's Pheobe checking out my sis' new goldfishes (2 died this morning)...

That's Grandpa Stryker... 14 dog years (14x7=98 human years)... oh ya btw, he's blind...

My beautiful family...

That's Pheobe on guard duty...

Living the moment

Today while shopping with my mum, a lecturer from the faculty called my handphone... and I switched it off. I didn't care what she wanted me to do. It was still my holiday. I really don't give a fuck what she might say come Monday. It was still my holiday. For some reason I felt robbed with that phonecall even though I didn't answer it. I'm crazy a little.

I'm actually on a shopping frenzy (yeah, I know what shopping in Kuching, but I don't have any other choice) in hope to get some new clothes and shoes and all the works for a gal. But nothing much came out of today... now I'm seriously contemplating on KL for my next holiday. I need to buy new things.

My parents promised me a new digital camera soon. I'm contemplating Canon Powershot S2 IS... decided not to go for SLR after all... I don't know shit about the technicals of a digital camera... so I may look silly with a SLR... btw, I don't even know what SLR stands for...

Oh ya, my mum was at a goldsmith in Carpenter Street and was trying to get me to choose a necklace or something in gold or white gold, but I refused because I find them too old-fashioned, so my mum was kinda disturbed and maybe a little bit disappointed because maybe she thought it would be a mother-daughter bonding thing... but I just couldn't pretend... she couldn't understand why I would wear plastic, glass, wood, etc... cheap jewelries... and after that she indirectly made me promised not to sell off her jewelries when she dies... this I promised her... I'll keep the family heirloom no matter how ugly they are.

I guess I'm just a person of the moment. Not much regard of the past, nor any much reverence for the future, anymore.

What a great holiday!

Cheers!

3 more days

I'm not letting my little futile quest in getting hold of "The Usual Suspect" dampen my rather marvelous holiday. I spent the whole day visiting several shopping complexes in the city to try to locate the DVD, and by 3pm, I realized that I've exhausted my resources, so I figured that it meant that the movie wasn't so great after all, that's why I wasn't meant to watch it. :) I ended up buying some more earrings and a pair of very pretty sandals. :) *beaming*

I was also imagining that if I start earning my own money, I'll revamp my whole wardrobe, buy a special cabinet just to store my earrings and realize my dream of getting some more tattoos to complete the "back". :) I was just checking out my back this afternoon and realized that it would take quite a huge piece to cover it (considering my broad shoulders)... so now I might just start thinking and researching for a new piece. I vow to get it done as soon as my last professional exam ends in May.

But I have to keep in mind of my dress design for Jo's wedding... don't want to expose a highly inflammed back during the wedding or the reception.... have not thought about it, so I better plan both together... YAY! Now at least I have a mission.

I still want to stick to tribal... but probably personalize it like my first one. I actually got a crazy idea to tattoo someone's name this afternoon, but luckily my sensibility slapped the face of my impulsiveness... and snapped me out of it... luckily I didn't have the cash, or else I could have taken the car and drove myself to the tattoo studio this afternoon.

I can't believe that it's already Friday tomorrow. 3 more days before I return to the craziness that's my life. I hope this holiday would infuse in me some new strength and aspiration... you know, something to help me want to embrace life and all its challenges again, I have to to... I pray very hard to God for that.

Cheers!

The Shrine of St. Peter, St. Peter's Church, Padungan

The blogging power

Strike One! Speedy's not selling "The Usual Suspects"... the salesperson kindly flipped through some of the older DVD section and said that it must have "finished".

No problem... Empire wasn't open just now, and there's Kenyalang :).... nm... I'm learning to be patient.

I heard from a friend just now. I thought I detected a little cynicism when he was talking about blogging... cause I was asking him whether he had a blog and he said a BIG NO! He said that if he wanted to send "personal" messages then he would email or send a letter...

It's fine... my own sister also accused me of being an exhibitionist when I wanted to start my blog (now she has her own blog)... muahaha... I know it's too irresistable... we're from the same gene pool..

So anyways, I was indirectly telling my friend my experience with the whole blogging issue... in lesser words, I explained how much empowerment I've gained from blogging... how feeling bitchy and conceited and self-serving were quite therapeutic in many ways for me. :)

It's funny but I'm still thinking about Philip. I was wondering what would have happened if I had grabbed him in the car and kissed him that night? Would I have felt even better if I did?

Gosh, now I'll never know.

Cheers! I'm still enjoying my one-week break! :) Yipee!

Had a wondeful dinner at Merv's place last night. The ambience of his place for the dinner was just gorgeous... food was superb too... thanks Merv ans Sheryl! I didn't bother to build up any interest in the highlight of the evening though, gambling... just not my thing... I'm just too lazy to arrange the cards and all. But had such a wonderful catching up with Vic, and old friend from school... we were just talking about life to sum it up, about her hubby and her 2-year old son, Joshua, her struggles, her crosses... how eye-opening... and what did I get at the end of the night... that nice tingling feeling in the gut... a high just short of euphoria, a feeling that there's always light at the end of the tunnel, a feeling of hope.