My Grown and Not so Grown Up Christmas List

I think it is kinda late to be posting my Christmas list but here goes:

My Grown Up Christmas List:
1.) To be able to pass the Physicians Board Exam this August in one take
2.) A spot or an item in any Orthopedics Residency Program preferable VSMMC
3.) Good health for my family and friends
4.) Contentment and peace of mind
5.) To be able to spend time with my closest friends
6.) I hope I will never have to deal with premature balding (damn, it runs in the genes)
7.) More fun and happy times for 2011
8.) I will be prepared to take the Boards
9.) Both my medicine and medical technology yearbook be published already.
10.) Success for family and friends and more friends.

On the other side of the break, here are the material things I want that I have yet to receive.

1.) Vans Slip Ons
2.) John Lennon sunglasses (I can't believe I let this slip! Ugh!)
3.) Adidas white sneakers
4.) The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
5.) A Box Set of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larson
6.) Operation Board Game
7.) Any DSLR Camera preferably Canon
8.) Ghost World graphic novel
9.) Artwork Doodle Book
10.) Gucci perfume (the one endorsed by James Franco)
11.) Vintage T-shirts
12.) The Complete The O.C. Series on DVD
13.) Boots from Aldo
14.) National Geographic Special edition T-shirts from Regatta
15.) A plane ticket to Davao City

Merry Christmas everyone!

Words of Wisdom

I have to say that this year, was a year of continuing life education. And these are two philosophies I have lived with.

"You cannot control the way things change, but you can control the way you react at them"

"You have to learn to live with what you've got and maximize what you have rather than yearn for something you can't have.

True enough this powerful words were enough to get me through every day for this year and I have never been this contented in quite a long while. So 2010 is the year of steadfastness, camouflage and seizing the day.

And I have lived with this mantra for two years now and I will continue this for years to come: Voll das Leben. It is in German and when translated it means Live your life fully. I have appreciated every free time, every conversation with my parents, silly times with my friends both old and new, time for sleeping, good food, health and every little thing. Though I am do not have complete peace of mind yet, I am getting there slowly and surely.

Remember remember the Month of December...

Some signs that December is indeed here. Aside from pointing out the obvious that there is only one page in my calendar left.

1.) The temperature is getting colder. Though it is humid occasionally in the mid mornings to afternoons, the nights are windy and sometimes a heavy rain is all you need to make the weather very conducive for a twelve hour sleep.

2.) The yearly huge Christmas tree is already standing in the middle of Fuente Osmena circle all decked out in lights, shiny decor and Sr. Sto Nino on top.

3.) Our house already has a Christmas tree with a silver motif matched with Chrismas red curtains, a little bit off in the papers

4.) Bazaars sprouting everywhere - from MEPZ in Lapu Lapu City to the annual IT park Christmas Bazaar, we all can't get enough.

5.) The window displays in the malls vary from huge nutcrackers to cute little houses made up of cardboard put presented in a very artistic manner - all of them equally splendid and adds more to the holiday feel.

I am really excited for Christmas shopping. I am at a goal this year to spend half of my savings for wonderful yet affordable Christmas gifts for around 25 people. Two years ago I was able to accomplish this, and now there is nothing stopping me.

I am also looking forward to watching Love Actually again, starting a Christmas movie marathon, sipping hot coffee, PGIs Christmas Party, Christmas dinners and get together with friends, eating mom's Mango Float and cheese cake, lechon, Midnight Mass (I think it is about time I attend) and whole lotta more. December here I come!

In retrospect, here are the my Top 5 Best Decembers and Christmas:

1.) December 2008
This was my junior year of medical school and I know that I really have to enjoy and soak in. In my mind I am already aware that next year I might be on duty on Christmas.
Highlights: One week of Christmas parties, from Clinics group mates to Fashion Week to closest friends, High School reunion bowling, Banana Creme Pie, another one week of strolling around the malls, taking pictures of elegant Christmas trees and window displays, clearance sale shopping and quality time with family and friends. Last hurrah before the grind house.

2.) December 2004
As I have said over and over before everything about 2004 was awesome. New found freedom, new found friends and new found ways of having fun!
Highlights: This was my medical internship year - the Christmas parties, practicing for the choir singing and spending most of the month in Paknaan for community rotation, what a great way to end the year. Plus Christmas off and New Year's off!

3.) December 1996
I was in sixth grade, so this was the last for elementary school
Highlights: Our Christmas Field demonstration, Christmas party with all the fun and games, Our Periodic Table of Elements inspired Secret Santa (our adviser assigned each one of us elements as our code names and we don't know who we were and who we got in the first place, but a day before the party he revealed our identities so that we will know what to buy for our secret Santa. I was Americium and I got Platinum), spending the holidays in Manila, Enchanted Kingdom and Baguio.

4.) December 1991
This is the Christmas in which I have the earliest vivid memory of
Highlights: My grandparents actually paid or asked someone to play the part of Santa Claus. Though he didn't come down the chimney on Christmas Eve, he came knocking down on the door of Grandma's house bringing gifts and candy. And because of this I was a firm believer of Santa Claus, but right now I still believe the abstractness of his enigma.

5.) tie between December 2003 and December 2007
December 2003 was rebound Christmas year. The year before Lola Naring died so Christmas was a bit sad. This year I was on a goal to make up for the previous year and it was all good. It was even more special since I just battled depression two months before.
Highlights: First year I bought gifts for everyone, Berks all out Christmas drinking spree, very very rainy Christmas

December 2007 was a great way to start a year that started out kinda bad. But after summer everything went smooth sailing and things were falling as if they are in the right place without really wishful thinking for it to be.
Highlights: Guada and Bany's joint birthday celebration, Stardressed which is the most awesome students ball ever, Christmas party with Group 1 together with Dr. Sanchez and the most creative Secret Santa ever, Elixir Christmas Party organizer again for the second time, Dare or No Dare, Chain smoking and binge drinking, loudest High School reunion ever!

Honorable mention:
December 2000 - Last year of high school and my family and I spent the Christmas in Manila. Though I was initially against the idea but after a year it was indeed worth it.
Highlights: Christmas shopping in Glorietta and Megamall, wet day at Enchanted Kingdom, watching The X-Men on pay per view on Christmas Eve, buffet breakfast, receiving a Craig David CD, watching fireworks on my hotel window overlooking Dasma village in Makati, pool dipping at The Dusit, practicing and entertaining the crowd with our Blast from the Past Decade Rewind Dance.

Let's Round It Up, Shall We?

As much as I hate doing summary posts, which I think is a sign that I am neglecting this blog, but subconsciously I am not. Hey I have the best intentions for this blog, its just that I realized I write on a whim and I do get the most flow of words at totally inappropriate times. Times like there are no paper available or an Internet connection. Okay okay. This might be the last summarized post. Starting today I am on a goal to accomplish at least one post a week.

Well you see, I've not bored with this blog, its just that I am juggling a lot of leisure activities adjacent with my hospital duties. I go out at least once a week - Trivia Nights or Jo's Weekly Thing and make up sleep at least one or two days in a week. And the remaining time is squeezing in for reading fiction books that are totally non medical related, catching up on favorite TV shows and FaceBooking.

The past two months - September and October, were the best times of PGIship so far. It started out not the way I wanted it to be but eventually it progressed and ended way beyond my expectations. To sum it up it was balance of work, leisure, family and friends.

Here are the highlights:

1.) My Whim Manila Weekend Trip
After two months of non stop phone calls and planning, I finally booked a cheap ticket all the way to Manila to visit Jo. And it was very jam packed and fun indeed. I was able to eat a lot of good food, finally catch a musical live, meeting the star Ms. Dawn Zulueta and immersing myself in Binondo, Escolta and Intramuros for an afternoon of an enriching history class refresher. I capped off my visit with a shopping at PowerBooks Robinson's Malate - four books for 150 php including a commentary on Mexican cinema! Woo hoo! And since attorney is planning to work in Makati, hopefully this will be the first of a couple more visits of Manila pig out and roaming.

2.) Kim and Arnel's Wedding.
One of my closest friends finally tied the knot and to a very deserving gentleman. The wedding ceremony was heartfelt and seriously full of love. It was touching and genuinely blissful. So to the married couple, guys you still owe Dawnah and I the pajama shots and more babies to come!

3.) Charisma's homecoming and road trip
Cha one of the Berks people decided to have a two week holiday after working her ass off in the land of milk and honey for two years. One thing's for sure, it sure seemed like she never left and the talking still non stop. We did a road trip/bonding all the way to Simala for thanksgiving and petitions and then swimming in a pool somewhere in Argao and a dinner to end the trip. I can't wait for her next homecoming.

4.) Julie's homecoming and Dylan turns a year old.
Dylan Rafael turns one and Mommy Julie made sure to fly from NZ to spearhead the celebration. Our high school group is expanding into the next generation.

5.) Toledo weekend
After thirteen years of friendship, I finally was able to meet BFF Dawnah's hometown and her clan. And Toledo prove to be a peaceful place where I was able to gain and catch up on sleep while being her wingman for her 26 Beer-day. Sadly I passed out again before any one else. But I am really glad I was able to be a part of giving her another memorable birthday to cherish!

6.) Trivia Nights
Thanks to Dr. Milan's persistent invitation, I have a new and exciting way of unwinding and at the same time its a total learning experience, mid week Wednesdays just got extra exciting!

7.) Jo's Cebu City Week after Week
With partner in neuroses/crime in the Queen City of the South for four months it's about time she gets to live the Cebuano way of life. A slice of the city every week entails eating in homegrown restaurants and discovering new places that were yet to be explored.

8.) Kimmy's pre wedding visit
When Kim and Arnel personally attended to their wedding plans, it was a perfect opportunity to get to know the man she will be binded to. And it was a five very eventful days and not just on the ceremony but getting to know someone and getting to know that someone fully in a short span of time!

9.) Career Changing Decision
I think I have finally decided that I will never be a suited for a residency training in General Surgery. I don't think I have the skills, dedication and knowledge worthy enough to survive the grueling five year training. It's Orthopedics followed by Internal Medicine.

10.) General Surgery Rotation
Major thanks to the ever supportive, patient and willing to teach residents of the department. Though I realized that I will be never be fit for the program, I have learned a LOT of things on General Surgery. So far this has been my favorite rotation.

Looking back now, it was indeed an awesome two months. Living fully is indeed liberating. Good food. Good health. Good friends. It all sums up to the Good Life!

In Summary

August has come and past and September is here, but so far so good, still my anticipation is more worth than what is happening right now. But I'm doing great.

I finally turned twenty six and my birthday was not so bad as I had hoped. I was not looking forward to celebrating it but instead of moping around and whining I was able to come up with something to at least make the day memorable. At the last minute I decided I'm up for the challenge of drinking 26 glasses of liquor, each drink to be documented in a photo with a number to take not the shot. The result? I was knocked down in the 16th glass but hey in my defense I was up all night, the night before so I was really really tired. My mom again went out of her way to throw me a dinner party which I was officially MIA more or less. So this birthday became Top 6 of all time just barely making the Top 5 but a great way to start the rest of my adult life! Gulp! Another ironic moment is that my family again surprised with a present and guess what it was - a camera, which I already had one two weeks earlier but forgot to tell them. Hahaha. A month ago I had no camera, iPod and a cellphone. Now this month I have all three back. Talk about a rebound!

*****

Internal Medicine rotation is finally over. And after two months - what can I say - it was very toxic! But in the end of the day it was all worth it - I've learned a lot and in the process I gained confidence in myself. I am now considering Internal Medicine as option number two in residency! I am still on a goal to get into an orthopedics residency program. And goodbye to General Surgery for me since I can't seem to master the anatomy of the human body.

*****

My friends are now popping out babies of their system and because of this I finally have my first godson and goddaughter. Ivo Marcus Teves-Ocio born to lucky parents Lindley and Donna is super chubby and cute! He is the perfect mix of Lindley and Donna's features. I hope he will be as intelligent as his mom! I'm super honored to be one of the chosen people. First goddaughter is Bianca Frances Chiong-Lagarnia, Edgel and Yvonne's eldest an American citizen by birth. Bianca looks like her mom, with a touch of her dad's features. Though I can't be there on her christening, Yvonne already told me that I'm still her ninong. Another baby from our berks society coming up is Jamae's baby, she's due anytime December. Our group is expanding with the new generation.

*****

Ms. Joanne Balili Babon, future lawyer, is taking the BAR exam! I know y0u will do well Jo! Come back home!

Top 5 Birthdays

A countdown of my favorite birthdays in the first twenty five years of my life.

1.) 23rd Birthday 2007
Joint birthday celebration with Careza. We had dinner at Krua Thai with friends from med school. It was a feast followed by karaoke and drinks at Mountain View till people were passed out, vomiting and had episodes of loss of coordination in the wee hours of the morning. The other car almost slammed into a stone wall. We had then breakfast at Babsi's with noodles in which the other birthday girl missed it due to drunkiness. On the way home, the car I was riding with driven by Guada almost hit a lamp post. So to summarize it was unplanned and awesome and an anti-climactic near death experience to remember this year by.

2.) 15th Birthday 1999
I invited everyone from my high school class for a day of fun on the beach. This is also a shared joint celebration with Kitty Redula. It was a fun day and my first ever huge beach party with no alcohol yet but good and clean old fashioned fun. Around two thirds of the class joined in the revelry.

3.) 3rd Birthday 1987
This is the earliest birthday I had with actual memory of the event. I remembered running around the living room of my grandmother's house and playing with the other kids. On the picture I had two cakes, one was a typical 80's birthday cake and the other one was a Superman design. I think I invited every kid in my block.

4.) 20th Birthday 2004
Everything about the year 2004 was just amazing. This year I celebrated my birthday thrice. First one was a Sunday duty lunch with my 3S people - I brought them roasted chicken and ice cream. Next is with my closest friends on a 24 Hour Duty with Monster Pizza from JCA and of course ice cream. Third is lunch with my groupmates at Casa Verde. I never realized and felt so blessed with friends.

5.) Tie between 16th Birthday 2000 and 22nd Birthday 2006
The former since it was the first time I received a greeting card with almost everyone from my class writing and the latter because it's the first time I got a cake splat in my face courtesy of Krystle and the rest of my groupmates in PBL 1.

Worst Birthdays: 14th Birthday 1998 (very angsty), 17th Birthday 2001 (missing a lot of people) and 24th Birthday 2008 (too anhedonic to do anything and this year nothing ever came my way no matter how hard I tried to beg the universe to).

A Year of Failed Technology

For a year I have been whining that technology failed me. Can't imagine the amount of misfortune I've dealt with related to gadgets. If there was a rating classification it would be severe. Here's the beef:

September 2009 - My Old Dell model got stolen at the 3rd floor of the hospital.

November 2009 - Diana, my handy dandy external drive crashed three days right before an important case presentation along with a lifetime of pictures, movies and mp3s

May 2010 - I accidentally dropped by phone and it tumbled down ten steps into oblivion for which it's LCD broke.

July 5, 2010 - Double whammy. I lost my iPod (BFF) and my camera. Some ungrateful patient stole it. Well I hope you'll be crippled by your malady and I really mean it!

July 31, 2010 - I lost a phone for the nth time.

I'm officially going old fashioned. The only gadget I will have is Griffin and my laptop.

So there, a laptop, a hard drive, an Ipod, a camera and two phones. I am cursed and I can't seem to shake it off. Jeez, I'm such a drama queen.