Hola, 2009! Vol. 2

This is the second part of my year end wrap up, which is becoming a tradition already since I was also doing this, at this exact time last year. Hope to continue it for more years to come.

On the first part, I was trying to talk about what I did or did not like about the year and memorable events from politics to pop culture that I'll never forget and always associate with last year. In this post I am summarizing the personal stuff that was left out from the previous one. But i won't make this long and whiny. I'll try.

2008 was a year of contrasts as I've said. Personally, I had never been pushed to the limits to be patient and to be determine to finish the things to be accomplished. Most of the time, heck, 80% of the time my life has been focused on medical school on trying and trying on how to become a really great doctor. Let's just say I've been more mature compared to when 2007 ended.

In a nutshell, this is what happened:
- Started the year on some spill over issues but we worked it out.
- I was able to rebuild the bridges of friendship on some people that I was almost falling out of
- Still is stubborn regarding one person that I haven't talked to except during times when we need to be civil.
- Able to do really well during finals and battled some menacing faculty and was able to change my view points on honesty and integrity
- Had an amazing but short yet significant summer. I finally went to Siquijor after years worth of curiosity and had an awesome time!
- Visited Dumaguete and had another wild time.
- Started Junior year and hated it so much
- Fucked up Pediatrics clerkship and I still hated Pedia
- Bonded with awesome group mates in clinics
- Super stressed and I became an anti-social for three months, going to the hell hole and back again.
- Everyone from the class danced during Intramurals and it was a blast!
- Had an amazing case conference on Infective Endocarditis and actually pulled it off. I dare say that the best case con among juniors this year!
-Did surprisingly well in Surgery
-Reconnected during sembreak with friends I haven't talked or hanged out with for a long time
-Started and kept this blog updated!
-Learned a lot from the OB-Gyne rotation which is not the same with Pedia (bleh).
-Got busy for the masquerade ball
-Winning the parol contest!
-Pulling of the masquerade ball - not perfect but it was good enough to be called a smashing success!
-Being patient with someone you considered a friend who was saying things behind your back and you have no fucking idea what you did!
- Did my first suture on a scalp laceration nonetheless!
-Partied a lot and had a rocking good time every time, two weeks before Christmas!
- Enjoying christmas break and receiving lots of gifts!

Favorite Books I've read:
1.) Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis
2.) Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
3.) Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
4.) Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Happy that I got 'em:
1.) Love in the Time of Cholera - thanks to Mark
2.) The Reader - thanks to Jo
3.) If you love school, you'll like work - thanks to Dawnah
4.) Three Weeks with my brother - thanks to Cha, from the US!!
5.) Rant - thanks to Jo again

Favorite Movies:
1.) The Dark Knight
2.) Across the Universe
3.) There Will Be Blood
4.) Once
5.) Love Songs

Favorite Shows:
1.) How I Met your Mother
2.) Iisa pa lamang (hahaha)
3.) Amazing Race
4.) Supernatural

-more on watching reruns this year of Friends, Sex and the City, and Survivor

No new year's resolutions this year except: Live Fully, Think twice before you act and you, yourself only know who the fuck you really are and no one else!

Thanks to family and friends for the support and making this year very memorable!

2009 will hopefully be a better year. To quote Krystle, it might be an adventure!

Adios, 2008! Vol. 1

In as little as 3 days 2008 will be over. Gone. It will be part of history and a pile of the previous years planners and calendars will be useless! This year brought a lot of new things and events that will be remembered in history!

I am ambivalent towards this year. I mean it was colorful all right with lots of things happening in my personal life and also the world around me as I know it. It was supposed to be my year - the year of the Rat - but it didn't quite feel that way. Overall, it was a year of tests - a test of strength, character and perseverance. It was a foreshadow of the upcoming years to come only milder. I've cherished triumphs from pulling off case conferences that at hindsight was a long shot getting good grades at unexpected exams especially when the studying was neither here nor there and I've endured failure both academic wise especially when expectations aren't met and failure as a person. I've realized that I wasn't as mature as I've aspired to be. I know I have mature but I still need time and more experiences to really say that I am already "mature". 2008 gave me lots of opportunities to polish that but most of the time I ended up whining and going back to the dumps and back again. Every fucking time. 

On a positive note, this year I've come to know more who really are my friends. Those people who have always been there for me anytime, anywhere and whether I am at the top or bottom have never failed to extend their support and concern through listening to me and cheering me up whenever I need a perky cheer to get me through the day or week. You guys know who you are. And to those who told me things straight to my face and letting me know what I need to do you are real friends indeed. By doing that I declare you as catalysts of my maturity and to those people who said things behind my back which you think I didn't know, I actually couldn't care less. It doesn't matter anyway.

With the curriculum for Junior year and Junior clerkship, I have learned so much even though I despise you to the core! I've learned determination, confidence and patience from the past eight months. Though I admit you've also given me the most headaches and stress combined!

2008 has been both fast and slow, happy and sad, gentle and harsh - a year of contrasts but I'll always remember this year for that. I mean, way back I couldn't have wished more that this year will be done with, now I ain't that in a hurry. Looking back again (I am so in emo mode), it was a pretty good year. Good but not great, a little bit bad but not horrible.

Unforgettable events:

1.) Heath Ledger died of an overdose - It was a bittersweet end. And I actually enjoyed most of his films and I commend him for being always in character. His performance in "The Dark Knight" is a fitting but creepy finale. But at the same time you couldn't help but wonder again and again - "what a waste of talent indeed for dying"

2.) Obama as the new US president - Though I was pining a little for Hilary Clinton because of her experience compared to him, despite her giving off an aura to me of catty and uptight WASP-ness, I couldn't be more happier that after 150 years of emancipation a black president is more than ready to rule one of the world's most influential countries. Part of the thrill is watching him make amends and reforms of the previous administration's incompetence. I am not gonna talk politics here but I hope he keeps his promise of ending the useless war in Iraq. It will be six years already come March and what has it done?

3.) Eight Golds for Phelps and the Beijing Olympics -This Olympics will be hard to top especially the opening ceremonies. I enjoyed it a lot. But Michael Phelps an American swimmer, who was diagnosed with ADHD, went on to break records and got the eight gold medals he was aspiring and surpassed Mark Spitz with his seven golds and he became the Olympian with the most medals. And he's still training to compete for 2012 in London. It was inspiring and exciting watching this guy harvest 'em all. With determination, hard work, will and the power of suggestion, you can reach your goals!

4.) The Recession
It was actually a pain in the pockets with prices soaring high - taxi fares getting expensive, dining out has become a luxury and shopping has become a little bit elusive. I was really pleased with the rollback at the end of the year.

5.) Philippine Politics as a Teleserye
Countless of scams from the ZTE broadband deal, to too much money on freaking fertilizers, an impeachment complain for the nth time and more backstabbing, party switching, walk outs and quotable quotes from so called respectable lawmakers have flooded the headlines in newspapers and can compete with the country's top soap operas in terms of drama (crying during Senate hearings) and comedy (from well pronounced and enunciated English).

6.) Britney's comeback
Britney Spears is indeed invincible. After battling a nasty divorce, encounters with the paparazzi, battling addiction in rehab, growing back her mane, she won 3 VMA's  after 16 nominations and no wins, had a fifth new album debut to number one selling 500,000 copies and she absolutely renewed and reinstated her image as a sex goddess, but this time she's a little classier. 

7.) David vs. David
I'm getting bored with American Idol. Being in the top 12 is reward enough since some instances those getting the boot are more successful than the winner or they can get their big break - theater, TV or an album that will never sell. Still, that's not bad for exposure. Though I'm borderline bored I tuned in religiously. This season was a hodgepodge of talent indeed. The finale was really unexpected with Cook, the rocker defeating the favorite, Archuleta who is more or less a Jonas brother specie, by at least 12 million votes. Cook was overshadowed early on but was recognized for his ability to make any song his own - into a rock/emo vibe (Always be my Baby, anyone) and showing personality every week. Both have never been in the bottom 3 so it was actually any one's game I supposed. 6 months later both released their albums with Cook debuting at no. 3 selling 283,000 copies compared to Archuleta's 185,000. Cook's album has already been gold and another single from any of those solid cuts on the album can propel it to platinum at least. Post-Idol battle spin off: Cook wins but Archuleta has a solid fan base.

8.) Cebu getting more urbanized
More access to the hottest trends, more malls, more places to hang out... On the other end capitalist greed, pollution, chaos and do not forget the every increasing traffic every rush hour. It doesn't help that the city's road uptown are not wide enough, so what can we do? Suck it up. If those people from Manila can make heavy and horrendous traffic as part of their routine, why can't we?

9.) Federer saves a slump
Roger Federer was ruling the world of tennis for at least 4 years. This year the Federer express train is showing signs of aging and slowing down to a halt. Critics are saying this is his worse year. I disagree. Though he lost the number one ranking to Nadal, he's still been showing consistency by reaching the semifinals at the Aussie Open and losing both finals of the French and Wimbeldon to his nemesis. It's still no easy feat to reach two finals! I have to say his showing is not at par with what a world number can show. It would have been a very bad year but I was happy as he won the Olympic doubles gold medal after losing during the quarters and taking home the US Open! Two more Roger and you'll be the greatest tennis player ever! And I wish you'd finally take home a French Open crown. I'm hoping you'll win the Australian this January, equaling Pete Sampras record and to make it sweet, win the French Open and you have overthrown him and joined the small elite group of players who have captured all Grand Slams!

10.) Internet revolution is getting stronger
You've come a long way baby! From dial ups and just e-mails for business, now the Internet is so hot that it's just keeps on getting better. You can get everything (almost) from the Internet. But what I love about it is it made the world even smaller. Plus networking and social groups are fun ways of keeping in touch plus video sharing and profiling have made stars out of ordinary people. What's next?

Post Christmas Blues and Observations

Christmas had arrived and left already. This year I was very attached to making it significant and memorable. I think it was. I am really happy with the gifts I got this year. I was expecting more books but I didn't get any book from my family. It's a good thing anyway. I've been spending more and more on books this year and more and more are still unread and yet to be touched. I am really happy with the external hard drive my sister got me! It was a lifesaver for me and my laptop. Plus she already got me in advance since I was planning to get one before internship but now I've got all my movies, music, pictures and important documents in my ever reliable and new best friend gadget - my external hard drive. I also got cool shirts which I realized I need new shirts since I've been borrowing a lot from my father and my brothers. Being in the same size as your family members helps.

Right now people are running out of cash from too much holiday shopping, some are still rich and enjoying the post Christmas slash clearance sales while some like me are already scratching their heads and saying "Wait, has one week of my vacation been used already?". I haven't even started on reading for the exam on Monday and I still have about three books I want to read before classes starts! 

I've been really decadent so to say on this Christmas breaks. Parties and get togethers, impulsive shopping trips, pigging out on the holidays and leftovers and sleeping for 12 hours every night. Sigh! I guess I was more productive but at the same time I am enjoying this! Good thing that the left overs weren't that many. Last year I got sick to the point of eating leftovers for three days after Christmas. This year I only got to eat on Christmas Day, brunching on Noche Buena extras. Ironically, I miss not having lechon paksiw for almost a week. Last year I got sick and nauseated of having it on three meals for three days.

I'm predicting that I will be broke after this Christmas break. I still have three people on my Christmas gifts that don't have gifts yet and my resources are getting more limited. And speaking of sales, I am going crazy over the endless bargains at SM. They are having a clearance sale till January 4, 2009. I have lots of thing I want to buy! Fedora hats, shirts, under wears, colored wayfarers, shoes... the possibilities are endless but the finances are not enough to keep up! Don't forget the books from National Bookstore! Oh so plenty indeed! I mean 20% is good enough for me.
 
As I've said I don't have the Post Christmas blues this year. Instead I am left pondering and perplexed on how time was so fast, trying to make a study schedule in my mind and squeezing in more get togethers and bonding time since some people still owe me a Christmas gift! Carry on!

Would've Been

Lola Naring would've been 91 years old. She died six years ago on this exact date at around before lunch time in her sleep. She was my great-grandmother on the maternal side. Since we were growing up with both a grandmother and a great-grandmother, to avoid confusion we called her "Lola", like our parents did and our grandmother "grandma".

I  found out about the news after waking up I went downstairs and my mother told me about while she was baking goodies for Christmas Eve. I guess that was a shock but I really didn't grasp it yet. That was the saddest Christmas. I mean, Christmas and caskets don't actually and will never be in the same sentence. We never felt it that much during Christmas Eve since the usual dinner and festivities were already planned, it just that after dinner and before opening of the gifts there was a vigil to be done.

I was in denial the whole time. As if I was watching a soap opera with all the things happening. So I spent most my time staying at home, surfing the Internet or just watching movies and window shopping. I don't want to process it.

Her funeral was held on New Year's Eve because most of the relatives didn't want to usher the new year with grief. It's as if a gesture so that everybody can have a fresh start on the new year. That was the time that I finally was able to accept everything that has happened during the past nine days. New Year's Eve dinner that year consisted of only spaghetti and chicken since we weren't able to prepare along with the usual traditional fruits and round pastries for good luck. That year was memorable but not in a very good light.

My fondest memories of Lola were sleeping at her bed, rummaging through her books and magazines (she really read a lot and she got most of her books from the second hand shop, a trait which I got) and receiving Christmas gifts from her that she actually made.

Her death made me appreciate Christmas every year since then. They say that every happening has a purpose, well I guess I can conclude that the purpose of her death was to actually revitalize my zest for life. That time I was about to downward spiral into an abyss of uncontrollable melancholia. It was something I can't fight no matter how hard I tried. When she died I was able to fight a lot stronger but 10 months later I eventually entered the black hole but I came through thanks to the memory of her and the thought of my friends and family. Maybe it was just too much emo and overacting but honestly I couldn't find a logical explanation why I suddenly felt sad. Her death could have triggered it but I know for sure her death delayed the transition.. The most profound theory I could come up is it was undiagnosed depression probably due to stress and an impending burn out.

I have learn to celebrate Christmas all out after she died and I am ever thankful for the support and love of family and friends.

Six years have passed and four of your great grandchildren already finished college, two of which are pursuing careers in medical field by putting up through med school and the rest are well behaved and educated. You'll be proud! She always claimed that she will still be alive the time I graduate from med school. She would've been 93.

Rest in peace Lola! You've already lived a colorful life from surviving the Great Depression, fighting and protecting children during World War 2, being widowed and remarrying again, losing a son and watching your clan grow. I'll never forget you. Thank you for the lessons learned.

Merry Making, Jolly Feeling and Feel Good Shopping

Last week was exhausting. But the fun type of being tired - not toxic and suffocating. After the short quiz on Gastric Ulcers on Internal Medicine, I was in a celebratory mood the whole week! Plus doing really good on an exam, in which, I hadn't even finish second reading and I was on duty at the ER of a busy hospital that weekend, standing for almost 8 hours with no sleep at all, is a very much added bonus. I couldn't ask for more. What I was doing the whole week (apart from TRYING to read before and after lunch, catching up on sleep and practicing surgical skills like knot tying) was partying and shopping!

MONDAY: Party # 1: Secret Santa with Clinics Group 2
This was very spontaneous. We haven't had the chance to actually plan when to exchange the gifts and reveal our Secret Santas. Initially we wanted to have a separate party - specifically dinner and getting wild the rest of the night. And most people wouldn't want to settle on a lunch wearing our uniforms, too lame they say. Since it was the only night that we can be complete, because some of us are going out of the country and some have Christmas parties too that were booked weeks ahead, we decided to give it a go. The plan was to go to Ayala to find a gift at 8 p.m. and the dinner at 9. The result: Had a really great time! Dinner was at Hukad and exchanging gifts and photo session was at the fountain at the Terraces. It consisted of acting out your Secret Santa and the people guessing who it is. I was really surprised! My secret Santa gave me a copy of "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Thanks Mark! I'm so grateful! After party with karaoke and ice cold beer (literally). Spontaneity is indeed more fun than planned parties. Maybe not all the time but in this case it was!

TUESDAY: Party #2: Exchange Gifts with Closest Friends from Medschool.
This was also spontaneous I should say. We picked out the names before lunch and bought gifts after. My gift was actually from my house. Dinner at Cafe George. I had a heavenly chili con carne with rice. Then exchanging gifts thereafter. I got a planner from Careza, who admitted that she wanted to give me a book but could not find one that I might not have so she gave me a planner and sharpener - for exams!. Intimate, harmonious and fun bonding. Karaoke party (again!) at Paseo for 3 hours and after party with gossip at I.T. park. I had so much fun guys! Significant improvement on my singing as they've commented.

WEDNESDAY: Shopping Trip #1
Taking a break from parties and karaoke by getting presents for my friends at a tight budget. I was proud of myself for being able to squeeze 8 presents out of 1,200 pesos. Mind you, they are nice and super presentable!

THURSDAY: Party #3: Elixir Batch Christmas Party, Theme: Fashion Week.
Not everybody came but it was still fun because people were so game at anything. Everybody also dressed up in their own individual unique styles! Great and awesome food from the Promise Catering! Gone in seconds as people were enjoying themselves with third servings! I wore a brown statement T-shirt that says "I've Been Bad All Year", red skinny jeans, Jack Purcell black sneakers, accessorized by a brown Fedora hat and black shutters ala Kanye West! Our group won best presentation! We danced like silly to boy band and girl band tunes and to a novelty song. 1,000 pesos baby. The games were also fun. After party at Grill Avenue for Karaoke (again, third time this week) and more drinking. I fell from my chair and puke buckets but it was all good!

FRIDAY: Chill Day #1:
Jo finally came home from Manila and we decided to meet and just chillax and talk. And also she brought me homemade Banana Creme Pie! The best! Perfect blend of sweetness and flavor, not to sweet and you can actually taste the sumptuous combination of bananas, cream and the crust! Please bring more Jo! Had an interesting conversation at Starbucks, late dinner at Shakey's at the Terraces and controlling a book-gasm at Fully Booked.

SATURDAY: Shopping Trip #2
With Jo again and I think I've already completed my Christmas list except for Jo's because it's in Fully Booked. It was packed! I finally got myself a hoodie. More pictures taken and more talking.

SUNDAY: Chill Day #2
Together with my family. My sister is currently buying stuff to make her list complete and my mother is getting some new Christmas bowls for candies and desserts. But as for me I'm almost broke so no shopping. I was content with browsing around and making more lists. Dinner at Flavors of China and coffee moments at Coffee Bean with some relatives.

And today I compensated by sleeping for 14 hours! Whew what a busy week that was indeed but I am only more hyped up to make this Christmas more memorable!

It's All Been Done

The masquerade ball is over! After seven months of countless arguing over the theme, flaring tempers, getting broke because of the weekly contributions, dealing with diva moments, being patient over other people's inadequacies, revising and more revising, tension, nerves and gritted teeth it has finally come together and we did fly with passing colors! I can say that despite all the set back and the delays it was way better than last year in terms of preparation, decoration and food. The only thing that made last year fun was that the whole batch dressed up and the photos were silly and funny. This year the 600 pesos contribution was totally worth it. And judging from audience reaction majority enjoyed. Have to get feedback from the residents and consultants.

Honestly I was negative on the fact if we can pull this off considering the rifts in between the committees but apparently so the stars aligned with us. So it just proves that whatever you set you heart to and work hard on it like fighting like hell - you'll get it.

Despite all the drama - I'm really glad it's done and we did a good job.

After the program a wave of relief washed me and right now I am still soaked with the euphoria and I feel really high. The weather in Cebu this weekend is perfect for relaxing. It was rainy and very conducive for sleeping and perfect for lying in bed the whole day and going out means wearing sweaters and scarves and fashionable clothes that wouldn't be appropriate for Cebu weather.

I am breathing in and out this weekend!

Ideas for an ALMOST Perfect Christmas (since it's hard to achieve PERFECT, right?)

December is here, finally. But the journey to this month has been fast. It's like checking the calendar everyday and saying to yourself that its still far ahead and it won't be soon before long kinda way. I've always loved December. Its my favorite month together with the summer months. Too many memories - both joyful and sad but it's the intimate moments with family and friends I'll cherish. Meaning the various Christmas parties, Secret Santas and Manito Manitas, Christmas dinners with friends from high school and college, Noche Buenas, gift giving among family members and all those Christmas traditions. Cebu comes alive during the first month of the year mostly of the Sinulog Festival in January and the last month of the year because obviously it's Christmas! Lights and sparkling decors give the city that holiday feeling. Don't forget the huge Christmas tree in Fuente circle, right at the heart of the metropolis. I've been in a sort of giddy mood this morning, making plans in my mind on how to spend this month. I've promised myself that I will make this Christmas as memorable as possible - since it might be the last time in a long time that I will be able to enjoy without patients and responsibilities competing for my time. So less drama, less whining, less bitching, less tantrums, less conflicts yet more food, more gifts, more photo op moments, more Christmas parties as long as the wallet can keep up. This year will be a "White Christmas" minus the snow!

Here are my plans, in which I hope to accomplish after the masquerade ball, please be done with it already!

1.) Get my picture taken with the huge Christmas tree - under and over the skywalk with the tree behind me.
 Anika and I planned this about a month ago when the tree was still a work in progress. And since 2004 I've wanted a souvenir Christmas photo take with the tree in the background at night complete with lights.
2.) Shopping for myself and my friends - bazaars, malls, downtown... anywhere!
 I'll go shopping with Ianne at her school's bazaar and this has been a tradition between us anytime we have time. I'll be buying gifts for selected friends because I am not a son of a shipping magnate - gotta maximize my resources. But for sure I'll definitely be giving gifts to my friends in med school for putting up with someone unstable and borderline psychotic like me.. Nyayhahah evil laugh*
3.) Catch Up on My Reading
 I don't know on how I can catch up with my reading. The pile of unread books is turning into tower. But this season I'll finish the Twilight series by reading "Breaking Dawn" and I'll just randomly pick any book to read.
4.) Christmas Parties and Exchange Gifts
 As many as the funds allow...
5.) Batch Reunion
 I'm not yet sure on the Altavista Homecoming but I might go to the batch reunion. Sounds like fun.
6.) Listen to Christmas songs in my iPod to establish a personal holiday vibe
 I am loving the O.C. Mix 3. It's my Christmas album recommendation.

New Happy Place and New Coffee Love

Fully Booked finally opened its first branch about a week or two ago at the Terraces the newly renovated part of Ayala Center Cebu, which used to be an outdoor lagoon with gazebos and a place for just strolling into something very elegant and amazing. A garden in the center complete with two fountains surrounded by restaurants and coffee shops. Fully Booked is located near Starbucks and I think it is one of or not the only one that is not a restaurant. It's my sister April's favorite bookstore and she can't stop talking and recommending to me about the books that you'll find and she was right! Good thing is I guess I don't have much of a reason anymore to brave the Manila traffic, pollution, MRT stampede and unforeseen chaos because pretty much Cebu is catching up to Manila in terms of luxury shopping a.k.a. famous brands and fine dining a.k.a expensive restaurants and franchises from international cuisine. Don't forget the best kept secrets!

I've been there a couple of times since the last two weeks and I've been proud of myself for being able to control my impulses to get a book there considering there are a lot of choices that National Bookstore (my ever reliable store) doesn't have. I love the many and oh so diverse choices. Ranging from typical fiction flair - they practically have every book of Paolo Coehlo to literary geniuses from Murakami to McEwan and to personal favorites like Palahnuik, Ellis and Sparks! They also have a unique array of classics with very different covers. So not generic. The major letdown is the price. Cheapest are the Coehlo books at 250 pesos and the rest are between 400 - 700! Very expensive indeed. But I promised myself before the year ends or at Christmas I'll buy a book there just to satisfy the urge and to mark their presence here in Cebu! I have my sights set on Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger or a compilation of all the Narnia Books, all seven!, only for 880! That's like almost half the box set price! Others in the list include Blindness by Jose Saramago and the new book by Nick Hornby.

I consider it my new happy place because I feel relaxed and chill just browsing around books and just looking at covers. The sight of the books in bookshelves alone is enough to cap a perfect Sunday lunch and weekend! National Bookstore and BookSale are still my favorite places for ultimate bargain book buying and impulsive feel good shopping.

I am addicted to Starbucks' Dark Cherry Mocha one of their holiday special coffees. I love the perfect blend of chocolate, coffee and cherry together! Perfect blend to sip while the weathers getting a little cold. But I prefer it in iced. The Frappucino makes me bloat! I'll savor this holiday treat while it lasts!

Can't wait to go Christmas shopping next week and just having a stress free Saturday and a complete 8 hour sleep or more on Sunday night! Yes, finally all of this will be over after the masquerade ball - I just so want it to be over so I could enjoy the rest of the Yuletide season in peace!

Remember, remember, the past two weeks of November...

I wasn't able to update this blog for a while not because there was nothing interesting to whine or write about but the past two weeks have been very eventful a.k.a my new euphemism for busy that I can't find a time to write about the hurly burly and the blah blah blahs in between.

I've failed a really easy test. Not exactly a give away - but what annoyed the crap out of me was the people pretending to have a hard time answering during the exam. I really did have a hard time and they said they did too but when the results came out I bit the dust in which everyone left on their trails! Those bad actors in trying to convey emotions of failure passe,d but failed in acting 101! Hopefully I was able to bounce back from this week's exam.

Preparations for the Masquerade ball are half baked and all over the place. The posters were finally posted after a four week delay. The program is already on Plan E, and as head of that damned committee, we are given additional hassle of changing and re planning and just basically adjusting the program because of some other committee's incompetence. But right now I have to say I am kind of relieved as everything is slowly falling into place albeit really slow but I can finally but not totally shout and spread the word that we can make this awesome and we can entertain but I know we can. Please little stars and pretty moon align with us... I thought I didn't care but apparently I did. Too much at times that I just want to bite anybody who makes comments and suggestions when they are not part of my minions. Still nervous on hosting... Yikes on me!

The holiday frenzy is getting to me. As much as I want to go and start my shopping - I can't due to commitments, responsibilities, dance practice and fatigue. There were a lot of times during the past two weeks that I just want to stay in bed the whole day and eat French Toast four times a day. Yeah and I don't think I can start shopping anytime soon since I have to make my mask (Thank god for Ianne dear) and find someone who can sew a wacky Aztec costume without looking like a leftover from Halloween or an eager beaver for Sinulog! And the bimonthly exams are coming to town too way before dear old fat Santa!
 
I'm happy that in Clinics we are already doing our Secret Santa/Kris Kringle! Can't wait! I love our group a lot!

Plans for Halloween, What I Really Did on Halloween

Last weekend was the first time that I had classes on Halloween. It usually falls on a sembreak but due to being a junior in med school, we had sem break earlier because we started a month earlier so hopefully we could have one month break before back breaking, body killing internship.

We had been wanting to have a Halloween party and it push through! I went as Sherlock Holmes and I really had a fun time! Dinner was at Mooon and there were lots of picture taking! The dancing and drinks at Yo.U in One Mango Place. I'll post pictures in Multiply soon. Overall I was really happy that we did it, despite some people weren't into a costume-y mood but the fact that they showed up was good enough for me. Everybody from Clinics group was there.

Growing up, I look forward to watching Halloween specials on Magandang Gabi Bayan, a now defunct news documentary show. They feature ghost stories from places with reputations of being haunted. I admit that I do get disturb after.

Renting videos and movie marathons of horror movies was my Halloween thing during high school. College was relatively unmemorable - consisting of memories mostly of typical Filipino traditions like visiting the graves of dead relatives and lighting candles then lunch beforehand or dinner after. Most memorable Halloween has got to be 2004, because we had a Halloween party during internship. My costume was a Jedi, it was fun, though I got drunk during the party but afterward we went dancing till 4 in the morning. Fun. I miss those careless and reckless days of party all you want, without having to worry responsibilities and readings. What I don't like is having to recuperate the whole day the next day. Unlike before where I am up and about after just 4 hours of sleep - ready even for a whole day of malling and another night of bump and grinding. Oh well I think I've matured now.

This year my plans were DVD marathon of new horror movies I've missed from the past couple of months - "Mirrors", "The Strangers" and re watching classics like "Halloween", "Friday the 13th" and "The Scream Trilogy". Then visiting the dead relatives and then lunch out and shopping and then getting a good 8 hour sleep on both days of the weekend.

What I actually did: I was on duty assigned at the Ophtha Department. We didn't do anything. We just talked and then we ordered at McDonalds and the delivery guy came an hour late and botched up the orders. The next day I wasn't able to join the cemetery trip. Slept the whole morning. I was able to make it to lunch and some shopping but I went home to catch more zzzss. And last of all didn't have the 8 hour sleep I was hoping for, I had to catch up on the readings for the exam.

I think this is a preview of what my life will be like in the next couple of years - skipping holidays and losing the feeling of waking up after a good night's sleep.

Highlight of course was spending it with the family and Joanne invading Cebu this time around.

Boob Tube Favorites

I am hooked to these shows on TV. I have to agree that TV is indeed and is still is in its Renaissance. Creative writing and story lines, riveting plot lines, sympathetic characters, unforgettable antagonists and just plain addictive. I still enjoy reruns of Friends Sex and the City, The O.C. and Popular and Beverly Hills 90210 on DVD but these are the new shows that's keeping me at home on the couch.

1. How I Met Your Mother
      
                                                  
 
The tag line says it all. This TV show uses flashbacks, wisecracks and a witty humor that is reminiscent of Friends. With newly invented terms like "suit up", "The Bro Code", "The Slap" and how the writers make a philosophical reference to the life out of all the mundane things, like missing a flight at the airport or breakdown of a beloved car, this gets my vote. Ted, main character narrates to his children how she met their mother, in which as of now whose identity is top secret. His friends include ladies man Barney, and Marshall and Lily, the eternal perfect sweet couple and Robin, current girlfriend who may or may not be the woman he ended up with. Several episodes later it was revealed that she did not bear Ted's kids. Who could she be?

2. The Amazing Race
        
It's already their 13th season since starting 7 years ago. Not as exciting as the previous seasons but I am hooked. I am rooting for the mother/son team of Toni and Dallas. I hope they make it through the Final 3 at least. As of now they are consistent with their finishes at the PitStop. Terence and Sarah is also an interesting team to watch but the rest are just a dime a dozen - same from previous seasons.

3. Brothers and Sisters


                               

The family dynamics are well portrayed by the brilliant acting of the ensemble. A family drama about grown up siblings and how they interact through problems and trials as they become adults. My favorite characters are Sarah, played by Rachel Griffiths, the eldest daughter and Tommy the sterile middle child. Sally Field's acting is brilliant as matriarch Nora.

4. Supernatural

                                

The adventures of the Winchester brothers are exciting as they battle all forms of demons. I have to catch up on Season 3 soon.

And the others... Just an average fan - if time allows it I stick to the channel:

30 Rock - Tina Fey can act and write both equally superb! Her wit soars!

The Barefoot Contessa on the Lifestyle Channel - for mouth watering supposedly easy to follow recipes... NOT!

Iisa Pa Lamang - typical Pinoy soap opera flair. I have to admit that in order for you to just watch and sit back you have to leave your brain in the toilet. Acting is above average but what gets me watching is bitchy and sarcastic lines that are now classic! Just to try to catch a couple of episodes to see what I mean.

Survivor Philippines - Over hyped but couldn't maintain the buzz. What turned me off was airing the episodes daily - degrading the franchise into just another teleserye on telebabad.

Amazing Race Asia 3 - Rooting for resident villains, Geoff and Tisha, models, the former was previously of the PowerBoys fame (remember the deodorant commercial way back in college?) and the latter a dethroned beauty queen due to citizenship duality. Oh well because they are from 'Pinas! Go go go! Sam and Vince are the more deserving winners IMO, the best buds from HongKong.

TV couldn't get any better than this!

New Things, New Stress

Four weeks of relaxed and fun yet a wonderful learning experience of OB-Gyne rotation ended last Friday. We had a written exam and a practical on aseptic technique I did really bad because I was first but hopefully I managed to make it. I never thought that I would personally enjoy this rotation because I hated reading "William's Obstetrics" so much to the point of motor mouth swearing. But because of a dedicated, helpful and patient resident-in-charge, it was beyond my expectations. The last four weeks have been awesome.

I had my first stress of this bimonthly today. I started a four week rotation in Ophthalmology today. I went from bored (I rarely do) to stressed and frustrated in a couple of minutes because of an uncooperative patient and the Ophtha resident blew up. But she kind of felt bad in the end though we look like asses in front of her. Now we just have to make a way of getting hold the of the patient for the history in order to have one to submit and a clean fresh start with today's fiasco on Friday. By the way Ophtha gives me the ultimate hemorrhage. Nose bleed and bleeding from all natural orifices! It intimidates me and I do not know a lot at all about visual acuity and tonometry. Get my point? The technical terms are too technical! It will take a while to decipher them for my sanity. I hope it gets better, I really do.

5 more weeks till the masquerade ball and crunch time is imminent. I have to say that we are already a month behind from the planning and preparations. The posters haven't been made and posted up yet. And about the hosting job I have no choice - hostage!

Music and Playlists

I am currently hung up on Secondhand Serenade's latest album titled A Twist in My Story. This time around he recorded the songs not only with an acoustic guitar but with a band - complete with drums, bass and keyboards. But he did not stray away from his usual style. The words still convey pain and emotions that hit straight to the core and the lyrics are thoughtful and a perfect play of words without turning into grilled cheese. It's the perfect mush with a little bit of healthy emo. No whining, just sincerity on falling in love and losing someone. This is highly recommended.

If I'm not listening to Secondhand Serenade, I am reconnecting with the 80's by listening to REO Speedwagon's The Hits album and Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits, released last 1998 and 2001 respectively. Better late than never. REO Speedwagon writes perfect power ballads mostly about unrequited love minus the screeching and these songs have well written lyrics and belting at the appropriate times. Jon Bon Jovi's charm and appeal help Bon Jovi achieved millions of record sales way back in the days but it's just part of his talents, and man, he can belt out! Bon Jovi is one of those bands in the Philippines with a mass appeal. Just try riding a bus to the North or South of the city, chances are you'll hear most of their hit songs during the 3 - 4 hour drive. Bon Jovi is a little more hardcore compared to REO Speedwagon but they write mostly about love and leaving. Anyways both of these bands contribution to the music world are favorite karaoke hits of mine - drunk or sober.

After all the drama and controversies from the past year including a divorce, custody battles, drug rehab and addiction, meltdowns and various encounters with the paparazzi, Britney Spears is releasing a new album this December. Britney is making a perfect start of her comeback by looking hot during the VMAs and winning not one but three after 16 unsuccessful nominations and after that horrendous and pudgy opening performance last year. Proof that the girl is oozing with appeal and her fans are behind her through thick and thin. "Blackout" just released about a year ago was met with positive reviews by most critics. It's the only album of her not to debut at number one but the content is way above average compared to her previous efforts. I didn't think she promoted it well because of her dramas but it did good enough. I am looking forward to hearing her new album and how she has evolved as a singer and songwriter after the storm. Will she debut at number 1?

David Cook is also releasing his debut album by next month, as Entertainment Weekly reports it is still untitled. I am excited to hear his original compositions and at the same time I am feeling the pressure for Cook. As the first rocker winner of American Idol, all eyes are into him if he can surpass record sales of previous winners, get critical acclaim and from rock fans and critics and equal his creativity and credibility as an artist in comparison to his stint as a contestant. Will he exceed Daughtry's success by beating him in both record sales and respect from the rock community?

Download list: Boyce Avenue, The Academy is.., Joshua Radin

Time Flies, Just so You Know

Exams and Unreasonably long chapters (as if, the school didn't know, there just not doing anything about it. Training and that's the life of medical student, they would just say...)
I'm overwhelmed. This is my third week of school already and all I can say is the exams are really frustrating so far. Okay I know I've had worse. The questions of Pedia tests are straightforward. It's in the book and its not compared to others where you have to comprehend. It's there in the book! The only problem is the coverage is a mile long! I mean, how can you expect to read and retain? I think I am almost getting the hang of studying for the exams! Well see next week.

Double Treat
What an action packed day today was, during OB duty! We had a Cesarean Section and a few minutes later witnessed a normal delivery without any lacerations! We were supposed to have our practical but they had to do Cesarean because the baby was a face presentation and his face was swollen. Instead he was a breech presentation! (the butt instead of the head was approaching the opening of the vaginal canal). What a surprise indeed, as the anesthesiologist said, "that's the thrill of surgery!" After that we then proceeded to the delivery room to witness one of the most shortest and flawless deliveries I had the chance of witnessing so far. The perineum survived without a single tear! Both mothers gave birth to adorable baby boys. Today was a very fulfilling day indeed and it saddens us, which I never thought would happen, that we have 9 days left in our OB rotation. It's so fast! We were learning a lot of things and all good things do come to an end! Let's just see how we will fare with Ophtha!

7 weeks to go...
The preparation of the masquerade ball this December is a little bit behind. I say maybe by two weeks so to say. In the time frame, we are suppose to be putting up pictures, giving the tickets and hyping up the publicity for the party. Instead this week, the pictorials for the posters and tickets have yet to be done and we are still trying to bid on two hotels for the venue. But finally after two months of agonizing my already tortured soul, the program is 95% finalized. The committees were also revamped! Instead of forcing people to be assigned in a certain field, people now have the liberty to choose. I'm still head of the program committee but I am now heading participative and willing to work classmates instead of those half-hearted, whiny, and most of all complainers! Those I referred to and they who shall not be named have all flocked and migrated to the decoration committee! Ha! I am still worried that I might be de facto host of the program since there are no other persons confident enough to do it. I am not saying that I can't do it but it just takes to much time, effort and a very makapal na mukha! I can't bear the embarrassment!

Things to be done:
Role Play for Community Medicine, Talk Show Presentation on Bioethics about Stem Cell Research, Tabulate Data for Research, and of course study for next Monday's exam. Thank heavens I'm done with Case Conference and rotations of IM and Pedia in the Clinics which demands too much time!

Looking forward to Fitness Day tomorrow - we're playing badminton!

Run, Swim, Deliver, Gloves and Fitness

Being assigned in OB-Gyne right now has made me appreciate it a little bit more. I really hated OB during first semester. I don't get much how and the management is really all mixed up in my brain. What I love about this rotation though, is the gentle yet supportive residents who are willing to teach us. From the 8 days or so, I did Internal Exam, Fundic Height, Fetal Heart Tone, Labor Watch, Gowning and Gloving without pressure and not by constantly being in tiptoes as if it was like walking on eggshells. Relax and calm. I am kind of anticipating my first delivery. It is exhilirating I surprisingly admit but messy and scary at the same time.

Today, after hospital duty, my groupmates from OB-Gyne had our Fitness Day. We agreed a week ago that today we all would exercise - jog, swim, dance just for fun and to have a different kind of trip instead of just spending early offs sleeping. It almost didn't push through since it rained when we were about to go, but I insisted we go. I did TaeBo indoors since it was the only thing we can do. I did it with Leslie and Mae for 30 minutes. Ryan and Ann did laps in the pool in the rain! Then after our TaeBo stint the rain stopped and I was able to jog 3 rounds! Mae then tried Bellydancing and she loved it! Next Tuesday we will be playing badminton to promote fitness and the rest of the girls will be Belly Dancing. I'm loving getting a good sweat at least once a week. Thursdays I do HipHop abs at home. I am actually reducing my rice intake to half and the rest in moderation. My classmates are horrified of the thought and they think I have anorexia or body dysmorphia. Hahaha maybe sometimes I think I am a little fat. I am just preventing abdominal obesity and yes being fit makes me happy!

Monday Nights and TV

I learned to appreciate the value of Monday nights during med school. Mondays are the most dreaded days of the week. It's still basically the same for a medical student like me. I guess you can call it "Manic Monday" still as The Bangles sang during the 80's. I don't get enough sleep on Sunday nights. I barely sleep on Sunday nights preparing for a 50 item exam with a coverage of usually a 100 pages with font size 8.

Last year, we go out on Monday nights. Wear our hottest new clothes as if we were teen stars of this decade. Eat, shop, karaoke, drink and even party after a sleepless night of no fun and cramming. Medical students like us reinvented Mondays. During second year, Monday was the night to paint the quiet and sleepy town red!

However this year, due to an increase demand of effort and workload at school a.k.a. even harder exams, more challenging discussions and junior clerkship at the hospital, we get off at Mondays at around 7 pm if you finish your history or progress notes early then off you go. If not, then there you'll stay. So in summary, I am usually in Dead Man Walking mode during Mondays, that when I get home as much as I love to go out and unwind, I end up staying in by sleeping realizing that my body needs rest to recuperate from the day's beating. Also I find it a little late and short malling at around 8 pm, when closing time is at 9. Conclusion: Not a good time to shop when under time pressure. And I am resigned from drinking alcohol to shake off the frustration from the exam. I am recently in economic recession too! My savings are depleted and I got to recover it before December due to mostly senseless spluring and impulsive consumer qualities. Because of that, this semester I turn to TV! Yesterday I watched TV from 7:30 till 11:00 pm!

Monday nights probably have the best schedule in my opinion! It is really hard to keep track the shows. I usually start off with reruns of Friends in Starworld at 7:30. By eight I usually scan the Discovery Channel for interesting documentaries. Last night I caught an interesting feature on the same channel about the History of South Korean Cinema. It was a learning experience. If nothing catches my interest, I watch I Love Betty La Fea, MYX or MTV for the latest videos or HBO. Then at 9 p.m. I alternate between The Amazing Race US (13th Season already!) and Fight Quest on the Discovery Channel. It's a show about learning martial arts from different countries like Kali, Pencak Silat and Taekwondo among others. Really got me hooked! I never knew Martial Arts could be this exciting! At 10:00 pm it depends so I usually watch House on AXN, Brothers and Sisters on Studio 23, Don't tell my mother on Nat Geo, it's a travel show on the world's wartorn or dangerous places like North Korea and Palestine where people rarely go or anything on TV 5. Then if I find the episode of Sex and the City funny, I change the channel to Velvet on 10:30. And if I'm not yet subdued by 11:00 I tune in to MYX while waiting for Backtrax at 11:30. I love it when they play videos from the 90's or during high school. Right now, music from the early college years around early millennium is already on that show's playlist!

If I could only watch this amount of TV during the rest of the week, I'll be less cranky! But somehow that is wishful thinking. It's either watch TV or fail med school! Yikes!

Updated BookList

As if I need to buy more books I have a more books than I can have time to read them.

1.) Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
2.) South of the Border, West of the Sun - Haruki Murakami
3.) Diary - Chuck Palahnuik
4.) Emma - Jane Austen
5.) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
6.) The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
7.) Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
8.) Blindness - Jose Saramago
9.) Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
10.) A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby

The Dread

This has got to be the fastest sembreak in history! I can't explain why time flew faster than usual during the last two weeks. I mean two weeks ago, it was Julio's party and then followed on the Sunday by the Nature Trip and Jon's house party. Monday came, tired and weary yet I had this powerful feeling, an intense sensation that I can do anything! Meaning free time! Then right now I just realized that school's back in less than two days! Toink!

My classmates have been whining, oddly enough since like Wednesday. Surprising not I'm not that first since I was the resident class whiner, commentator and I'm outspoken to the point of tactless. They posted in their shout outs about how they don't want sembreak to end and all those pleading indirectly considering the fact that they are aware that sembreak will be over get a grip. I didn't let their words affect as I continued enjoying my sembreak, eating to my heart's content without counting the calories, reading as much as I can and sleeping more than the usual.

Now, I am dreading! I know, but this will pass once I release it. The reason I am having such a strong feeling is because the next nine weeks will be very busy organizing the Student's Night. It is a big party, held every year on December to coincide with the school's founder's week. Crazy and irrational as it might be the juniors are in-charge of that despite of the readings for SGD, exams every Monday and Junior Clerkship. It doesn't help that Pediatrics is this bimonthly's topic. Not that I care anyway since after my Pedia rotation a death sentence I have yet to serve so to say has been given to me. So to hell with Pedia. I'll give it a chance and try to love it. The keyword there is try!  I am groaning at the thought of being more or less the chairman for the Program Committee. A very challenging job indeed. We have to come up with an awesome agenda to be able to keep 200 people, majority of which are hard to please, extend their attention span.

Sigh! It would seem like the next couple of weeks are all work with no play and I predict emotions running wild, conflicts arise, grace under pressure diminishes and more drama! Well see... shall we?

Things I Want, Not Necessarily Things I Need

I've been walking around or more or less malling a lot lately. I find it relaxing... until your eyes spot something you want but it's impractical to get. Sigh, gone are the days where everything was cheap. Because I have an abundance of free time lately I took note of a lot of things that I'm planning to buy. To make it easier... mga luho! Maybe in time I'll wear off the itch to get 'em.

1.) Red or Yellow Skinny Jeans from Penshoppe
I remember that colored jeans were popular sometime during the early to mid-90's, just before late 90's minimalism was hot. Now the 90's are slowly making a comeback, I mean after all its been ten years since it was the 90's and if you were born in the 1990 you'd be eighteen turning on nineteen, that means you can enjoy your right of suffrage two years from now.
I feel comfortable wearing skinny jeans ala Jonas Brothers tight. Why not, I think I can pull it off considering my thin, slimmer than a beanpole frame. Its surprisingly not that discomforting until you have an urge to scratch then you'll have to excuse yourself and to the restroom to do so. And there is no scientific proof that the terminate your "manhood", I think. Other than that, skinny jeans are a great fashion statement itself, I mean emo rockers, models and fashionistas are donning it. Thought the trend would go away. But to make it red or yellow, is even more bold, which will go well with statement T-shirts, striped shirts or vintage T-shirts with loud and outrageous colors in the shade of yellow, orange or electric blue. I love Penshoppe's new line right now! But the pic isn't from Penshoppe it just more or less the same. I wonder will cargo pants make a comeback or it has become a must have?
Here's a look: I want one in red (like these) or in yellow!


2.) "Undercover" undies from Penshoppe
Even Penshoppe's new line of underwear are amazing. Ive never been a fan of their underwear before. I mean classic is good mate but theirs before was bland. I dare say that those undies don't have a personality at all! But this year, with designs like argyle, stripes in hot green that's really colorful but at the same time not to outlandish and it's softer than ever as I've noticed. Even the black looks good with the new twist on the garters! I already have the blue argyle (the one in red) and I'm planning to get a green one or the black one (ones in yellow):


3.) White Sneakers from Adidas
I should have saved up to buy this Adidas sneakers because they go with basically anything - even a white suit! Though I already have the Black Adidas Sambas which are a classic and should be a staple in any wardrobe, I still want a pair of white sneaks. The only thing that held me from buying white ones are they are high maintenance especially during the rainy season.

4.) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
I shouldn't be buying more books. Case in point I have about 30 or so impulsively bought just because they are hard to find or I was itching to get me some purchases. This is the last book of the Twilight Saga. A romance thriller about the love of Edward, a vampire and Bella, a human and how they struggle and fight against the world, in this case vampires and other malicious blood suckers. Throw in Jacob, the best friend who is a werewolf who also has hots for this human to make the plot riveting. I seriously can't put the book down and I can't elucidate how something written for adolescents can grab you and hypnotize through its well written words. Try to read it to be able to understand what I mean and maybe you'll be hooked too!



5.)  Cardigan Sweater
This is actually, if I ever buy one, a luxurious purchase. One, Cebu is sunny 90% of the time so I'll only get to wear it 10% of the time or unless I go to the mountains every weekend and two these are very expensive! I got inspired from Chuck Bass. This will go great with skinny jeans.


Speaking of impulsive purchases, I went downtown walking yesterday afternoon after going to the City Hall to get some important documents, I saw these shutter glasses by the sidewalk. I was intrigued and I remembered Kanye West sporting these at an event sometime ago. I was having second thoughts of getting one. But he gave me a good price after effortless haggling so I got it for 75 pesos and they sell at the department stores for 200 pesos. The only downside is they only have black or white while there are an array of colors to choose from among those that sell for 200. But hey, black or white is not bad. You can use them anytime with any color scheme on your outfit! But I don't know when to used this yet... My fashionista classmate says only in pictorials. Hhhmm maybe during parties or if I go crazy one day and just wear 'em to the mall! I also want one in yellow or orange!

I'm Back!... at least for now

I think this is my nth blog. I can't remember exactly but I do admit that I am the type to start a blog when I feel like it or if I couldn't sleep like right now, but after say a few months I just totally abandon my blog and start another one.
I have already signed up in LiveJournal, update my blog in Multiply occasionally and I mean once in a couple of months and god knows this is is probably my tenth or so attempt of starting one here in BlogSpot.
But this time around I promise myself and this blog that I will at least update every week and that means even quizzes and blah comments will count.
What to expect: Rants, raves about books, movies, and TV shows, acerbic lines and just whining and your usual comments that would parallel a radio commentator, think the type with the loud and shrilly voice, the ones you'll mostly hear when your in a cab and just your usual dose of me.
Who am I? It's a secret you'll find out when you read my profile!
Gotta go! Im on sem break! Gotta savor every moment!