how useful your side mirror is until you break it.
Driving back from work has been absolute hell. Now that you stupid inconsiderate drivers have clogged up the roads by forming two lanes on a one laned road, there are even more stupid drivers who think they can be clever by overtaking using other people's lane! Kau ingat kau sorang ke nak cepat?
It's safe to say that I made full use of my horn for those stupid drivers yang dgn muka tak malunya amik lane aku nak potong an already jammed, almost unmoving traffic.
Bodoh.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
7 hours and 2 cakes later.....
...and I think I am feeling better.
Out of the seven deadly sins, which one do you think is the deadliest? Is there such a thing as a deadly sin being deadlier than the other?
There is WRATH, ENVY, LUST, GLUTTONY, PRIDE, ANGER, GREED and SLOTH. I was chatting to a friend and I remarked that I personally think ENVY is the worst of them all. Without envy, you will not get greedy about accumulating wealth, or be angry that someone is richer than you and be proud when you are richer than the person living next to you.
Perhaps I've got the concept wrong, but I think it all starts with being envious. I was trawling through FB (something that I really should stop wasting my time on, since there isn't much on it apart from looking at other people's VIRTUAL farms) and people are driving beemers, and having gorgeous houses that should belong in between the pages of Impiana and flying off to exotic countries for the sake of their careers. For a second, I felt envious.
Well, to be honest, it lasted more than a second and I wasted a few hours of my life being up there on my angry cloud, lamenting on how my life should be more exciting. That I should be driving a bigger car, or have a nicer house or own a Prada handbag or two.
and then I thudded to the ground - reality check. I thought about that Thalassemia patient, whose Hari Raya clothes were bought by her teacher and who could barely scrape enough money just to get her blood levels checked at the hospital. I remember a child who was admitted for pneumonia who was wearing clothes that looked worse than my dishrags. I remember that pakcik whose knees hurt so much that he could barely walk, yet despite us insisting that we could get him financial help on the prosthesis, is still thinking twice about it because he couldn't afford to pay for the hospital admission.
I remember a particular kakak who lived deep in the kampung that she has to pay a 'kereta sapu' RM50 just to get the family screened for TB at the hospital after her husband died from it - an RM50 that a lot of us take for granted yet this woman can barely pay.
So I will drive my battered Kenari because it still serves its function as a vehicle carrying me from point A to point B. So I don't own an Aryani or a Ratu or Fareeda or whatever-the-current-trend is tudung because I still own a drawerfull of plain bawal headscarfs because it still covers my aurat no matter how cheap or out of date they are.
I will think of these people that I have met and I will remind myself to stop being envious of things that I don't have but to be thankful for the things that I do have.
and with that, a more cheerful Selamat Hari Raya everyone.
Out of the seven deadly sins, which one do you think is the deadliest? Is there such a thing as a deadly sin being deadlier than the other?
There is WRATH, ENVY, LUST, GLUTTONY, PRIDE, ANGER, GREED and SLOTH. I was chatting to a friend and I remarked that I personally think ENVY is the worst of them all. Without envy, you will not get greedy about accumulating wealth, or be angry that someone is richer than you and be proud when you are richer than the person living next to you.
Perhaps I've got the concept wrong, but I think it all starts with being envious. I was trawling through FB (something that I really should stop wasting my time on, since there isn't much on it apart from looking at other people's VIRTUAL farms) and people are driving beemers, and having gorgeous houses that should belong in between the pages of Impiana and flying off to exotic countries for the sake of their careers. For a second, I felt envious.
Well, to be honest, it lasted more than a second and I wasted a few hours of my life being up there on my angry cloud, lamenting on how my life should be more exciting. That I should be driving a bigger car, or have a nicer house or own a Prada handbag or two.
and then I thudded to the ground - reality check. I thought about that Thalassemia patient, whose Hari Raya clothes were bought by her teacher and who could barely scrape enough money just to get her blood levels checked at the hospital. I remember a child who was admitted for pneumonia who was wearing clothes that looked worse than my dishrags. I remember that pakcik whose knees hurt so much that he could barely walk, yet despite us insisting that we could get him financial help on the prosthesis, is still thinking twice about it because he couldn't afford to pay for the hospital admission.
I remember a particular kakak who lived deep in the kampung that she has to pay a 'kereta sapu' RM50 just to get the family screened for TB at the hospital after her husband died from it - an RM50 that a lot of us take for granted yet this woman can barely pay.
So I will drive my battered Kenari because it still serves its function as a vehicle carrying me from point A to point B. So I don't own an Aryani or a Ratu or Fareeda or whatever-the-current-trend is tudung because I still own a drawerfull of plain bawal headscarfs because it still covers my aurat no matter how cheap or out of date they are.
I will think of these people that I have met and I will remind myself to stop being envious of things that I don't have but to be thankful for the things that I do have.
and with that, a more cheerful Selamat Hari Raya everyone.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Of exhaustion and a blocked nose...
The Facebook is akin to witnessing a horrifying accident, complete with torn up limbs and severed heads. You don't really want to watch but you look anyway. It's just the voyeur in all of us. You know you will probably hate what you see but you just HAVE TO.
I do find it 'amusing' reading status updates saying so and so is going to bed now, or that he/she will be going shopping. Perhaps some people find that interesting, I don't know.
Apart from being exhausted, I've also got a cold. My throat is dry as I am breathing through my mouth. I have barely spoken 10 words to my husband, an indication that my call has gone really badly and I know I am in a bad mood because I am on leave tomorrow and that doesn't cheer me up.
Perhaps it is the coming festivities. I've long learnt that festive occasions are more appreciated by people with kids, not for a jaded auntie with 13 cats. If not for Abg, I would be celebrating it by sitting in front of my Wii, surrounded by my furkids.
I started this post with a long rant in my head but I guess it's not worth it. I figure I am just feeling sorry for myself after that particularly bad call.
Selamat Hari Raya everyone.
I do find it 'amusing' reading status updates saying so and so is going to bed now, or that he/she will be going shopping. Perhaps some people find that interesting, I don't know.
Apart from being exhausted, I've also got a cold. My throat is dry as I am breathing through my mouth. I have barely spoken 10 words to my husband, an indication that my call has gone really badly and I know I am in a bad mood because I am on leave tomorrow and that doesn't cheer me up.
Perhaps it is the coming festivities. I've long learnt that festive occasions are more appreciated by people with kids, not for a jaded auntie with 13 cats. If not for Abg, I would be celebrating it by sitting in front of my Wii, surrounded by my furkids.
I started this post with a long rant in my head but I guess it's not worth it. I figure I am just feeling sorry for myself after that particularly bad call.
Selamat Hari Raya everyone.
Post call blues
There are calls that when I am off home, I feel satisfied, knowing that my patients are okay and are getting the treatment that they should.
and There are calls that I've left feeling exhausted and depressed.
Yesterday's was one of those.
The 60 plus pakcik had been unstable since the night before and he was already very ill by the time I reviewed him yesterday morning.
Unsurprisingly his condition deteriorated. Nothing I did appeared to help and the worst thing was I didn't really know what was wrong with him.
Finally I told his wife that there was nothing much that I can offer. He passed away at about half eight this morning and I'm left feeling dejected - was it my ignorance or lack of knowledge that contributed towards his demise? I hope not, but I am feeling pretty down nevertheless.
and There are calls that I've left feeling exhausted and depressed.
Yesterday's was one of those.
The 60 plus pakcik had been unstable since the night before and he was already very ill by the time I reviewed him yesterday morning.
Unsurprisingly his condition deteriorated. Nothing I did appeared to help and the worst thing was I didn't really know what was wrong with him.
Finally I told his wife that there was nothing much that I can offer. He passed away at about half eight this morning and I'm left feeling dejected - was it my ignorance or lack of knowledge that contributed towards his demise? I hope not, but I am feeling pretty down nevertheless.
Friday, September 04, 2009
An oncall story
I was oncall last night. My partner had a horrendous one where he couldn't sleep much due to the trickling in of cases all throughout the night. Hence I was not in the best of moods when I started to be on call.
During the early evening, it was pretty quiet. There was a patient waiting to be wheeled into the ward, an elderly pakcik who was being nebulised, and an anime character look-a-like who looked like he was about to collapse from exhaustion and fever.
I was told pakcik requested to be admitted. Apparently he was fit to be allowed home. The male ward was already one bed short of being full and I wanted to save the bed for someone who really needed it, rather than someone who thinks he needed it.
Despite being told that he could go home, pakcik threw a fit and sulked. Apparently he sat on the floor and dragged himself all over the place and finally went outside at the waiting area. One of the security guards then actually wheeled him in again later that night, put him on stretcher number three and there he stayed for the rest of the night.
Needless to say, pakcik had a better sleep than me despite having construction work going on merely a few feet away.
The next morning after sahur, I went to clerk a case of abdominal mass (since when abdominal mass of 8 months is an emergency, seriously lah) and pakcik was still there.
and I wondered, how bad can it be that this pakcik would rather sleep on a stretcher in an emergency department, rather than go home?
During the early evening, it was pretty quiet. There was a patient waiting to be wheeled into the ward, an elderly pakcik who was being nebulised, and an anime character look-a-like who looked like he was about to collapse from exhaustion and fever.
I was told pakcik requested to be admitted. Apparently he was fit to be allowed home. The male ward was already one bed short of being full and I wanted to save the bed for someone who really needed it, rather than someone who thinks he needed it.
Despite being told that he could go home, pakcik threw a fit and sulked. Apparently he sat on the floor and dragged himself all over the place and finally went outside at the waiting area. One of the security guards then actually wheeled him in again later that night, put him on stretcher number three and there he stayed for the rest of the night.
Needless to say, pakcik had a better sleep than me despite having construction work going on merely a few feet away.
The next morning after sahur, I went to clerk a case of abdominal mass (since when abdominal mass of 8 months is an emergency, seriously lah) and pakcik was still there.
and I wondered, how bad can it be that this pakcik would rather sleep on a stretcher in an emergency department, rather than go home?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Pet peeve
Noted during patient registration at casualty while on call last night:
DAFFYEENA AMMALIEYN AIESYYA
Why why why??????
I'm going to start a campaign against the wastage of vowels in kids' names soon.
DAFFYEENA AMMALIEYN AIESYYA
Why why why??????
I'm going to start a campaign against the wastage of vowels in kids' names soon.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Things that were left unsaid
To my sister who got married a few weeks ago, Selamat Pengantin Baru. I am writing here the words that were left unspoken in all the chaos that was your wedding. You know how it is; no matter how prepared our mother is, she will always find something to do at the very last minute and end up being very very hassled.
I love you Ma, but you are what you are and those are the things that makes you, you and we love you nevertheless.
I am jotting down here little things that I wanted to say but ended up being masked behind silly remarks while clowning around. Things that you may want to take to heart or maybe not; it doesn't really matter for these are things that you may go through yourself but I think I should mention because I am your big sister after all.
I will not go as far as calling them words of wisdom, for I know, with only 5 years of marriage, wisdom is far from what I have.
Enjoy your married life. Enjoy the companionship, the love and laughter that will definitely adorn your lives from now onwards. I hope the man you married is not just your lover but also your best friend; someone who will not judge you for making a harmless remark on someone who was mean to you but who will accept it as a part of the person you are.
I hope he will share your happiness and also your sorrow, who will hold your hand until the pain has passed.
Have at hand bucketfuls of love and affection, tonnes of sense of humour and unlimited patience - there will come a day when you will have your first big argument and I hope during these times that you do not ponder on all the things that are bad but to concentrate on the things that are good. Having had a few big arguments ourselves, I know that that is easier said than done but try anyway.
Take time to enjoy each other - to celebrate all that you have in common and to appreciate those that you don't. Have respect for each other's opinion, no matter how radically different it can be. Afterall, someone who agrees with you all the time can be pretty boring after a few months.
Always find time to make each other feel special, no matter how hectic life can be. The gestures doesn't have to be grand or OTT but small things can make a difference; like remembering his favourite kuih or making his favourite drink even when he doesn't ask for it.
Being a wife means that sometimes you have to bite your tongue - in an argument, refrain from saying things that you may regret later, no matter how much satisfaction you think you might get from 'letting it all out' - you can never take it back, and the harm would have been done.
I wish I could say that 'happily ever after' starts now but you and I both know that the fairy tale concept doesn't exist in real life. But I've always believed that one needs a few glitches in their lives to truly appreciate all that is good in life. Have an awesome journey and make every moment count!
Love,
Akak
I love you Ma, but you are what you are and those are the things that makes you, you and we love you nevertheless.
I am jotting down here little things that I wanted to say but ended up being masked behind silly remarks while clowning around. Things that you may want to take to heart or maybe not; it doesn't really matter for these are things that you may go through yourself but I think I should mention because I am your big sister after all.
I will not go as far as calling them words of wisdom, for I know, with only 5 years of marriage, wisdom is far from what I have.
Enjoy your married life. Enjoy the companionship, the love and laughter that will definitely adorn your lives from now onwards. I hope the man you married is not just your lover but also your best friend; someone who will not judge you for making a harmless remark on someone who was mean to you but who will accept it as a part of the person you are.
I hope he will share your happiness and also your sorrow, who will hold your hand until the pain has passed.
Have at hand bucketfuls of love and affection, tonnes of sense of humour and unlimited patience - there will come a day when you will have your first big argument and I hope during these times that you do not ponder on all the things that are bad but to concentrate on the things that are good. Having had a few big arguments ourselves, I know that that is easier said than done but try anyway.
Take time to enjoy each other - to celebrate all that you have in common and to appreciate those that you don't. Have respect for each other's opinion, no matter how radically different it can be. Afterall, someone who agrees with you all the time can be pretty boring after a few months.
Always find time to make each other feel special, no matter how hectic life can be. The gestures doesn't have to be grand or OTT but small things can make a difference; like remembering his favourite kuih or making his favourite drink even when he doesn't ask for it.
Being a wife means that sometimes you have to bite your tongue - in an argument, refrain from saying things that you may regret later, no matter how much satisfaction you think you might get from 'letting it all out' - you can never take it back, and the harm would have been done.
I wish I could say that 'happily ever after' starts now but you and I both know that the fairy tale concept doesn't exist in real life. But I've always believed that one needs a few glitches in their lives to truly appreciate all that is good in life. Have an awesome journey and make every moment count!
Love,
Akak
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
For just a moment....
I took the afternoon off work to run an errand in KB today. Had to look for a gift for our boss in conjunction with his new bundle of joy.
Initially I was just browsing around, hoping for something to catch my eye. You always want to give someone something that they would find useful, so I always end up buying something that I would buy for myself. Anyway, as I was looking at the tiny shoes and mittens and caps, I suddenly found myself welling up.
There is a pair of tiny mittens and a cap tucked away at the back of my closet. They have been there since about a year ago. Also hidden away is a pregnancy book and a book of names.
For just a moment I let myself cry silently for something that wasn't meant to be.
Initially I was just browsing around, hoping for something to catch my eye. You always want to give someone something that they would find useful, so I always end up buying something that I would buy for myself. Anyway, as I was looking at the tiny shoes and mittens and caps, I suddenly found myself welling up.
There is a pair of tiny mittens and a cap tucked away at the back of my closet. They have been there since about a year ago. Also hidden away is a pregnancy book and a book of names.
For just a moment I let myself cry silently for something that wasn't meant to be.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Bad taste in the mouth
I had a fantastic thought earlier today, surprisingly while scrubbing up for an operation, but NOT surprisingly, have totally forgotten about it now. Must seriously consider idea of hanging a notebook on my neck.
I was oncall last night. Not a drop of rain and in comes four motor vehicle accidents. One was totally unconscious, smelt of vomitus and had bits of kuey tiau, bean sprouts and cabbages hanging off his dark green sweater and it was the first time I saw my colleague sweat (WKY, it's because you are usually the epitome of coolness!).
But anyway, I am feeling bad right now.
It was 7pm and I was still in OT. Felt like I was a houseman all over again. Suddenly my mobile rang, and the OT phone rang. A staff nurse was asking me whether I wanted to do the discharge.
DISCHARGE? At 7 pm? Are you seriously serious or seriously out of your mind?
Firstly, I hate it when the staff take it for granted that I will answer all calls from the hospital, regardless of time and day. Last weekend, I was in IKEA and a staff nurse called to ask me about removing the stitches on the leg of a patient. Hello? Patient mati ke kalau tak buat STO tu??
I make it a habit not to accept phone calls from the hospital outside office hours unless when I am oncall, but it is still disturbing to know they called because, y'know, what if it was something urgent? Heck, that's what oncall people are for!
and the thing I am totally pissed off about is, that THEY actually make me feel bad about telling them off about calling me about minute matters like that.
Secondly, at about half two just now, as they were changing shifts and exchanging reports, I had called EVERY ward and went through all my patients and asked if there were things that needed to be done, i.e. xrays to see, discharges to do etc etc. So, tell me, if I shouldn't be mad if you call me at 7pm to ask me to do a discharge (which wasn't planned for that day anyway!). You had passed over at half two and you couldn't have called me over the next two hours to confirm if that patient was indeed for discharge.
Aargh! Seriously lah!
and don't even get me started on how gobsmacked I was the other day when a STAFF NURSE didn't know how to do chest compressions!
I was oncall last night. Not a drop of rain and in comes four motor vehicle accidents. One was totally unconscious, smelt of vomitus and had bits of kuey tiau, bean sprouts and cabbages hanging off his dark green sweater and it was the first time I saw my colleague sweat (WKY, it's because you are usually the epitome of coolness!).
But anyway, I am feeling bad right now.
It was 7pm and I was still in OT. Felt like I was a houseman all over again. Suddenly my mobile rang, and the OT phone rang. A staff nurse was asking me whether I wanted to do the discharge.
DISCHARGE? At 7 pm? Are you seriously serious or seriously out of your mind?
Firstly, I hate it when the staff take it for granted that I will answer all calls from the hospital, regardless of time and day. Last weekend, I was in IKEA and a staff nurse called to ask me about removing the stitches on the leg of a patient. Hello? Patient mati ke kalau tak buat STO tu??
I make it a habit not to accept phone calls from the hospital outside office hours unless when I am oncall, but it is still disturbing to know they called because, y'know, what if it was something urgent? Heck, that's what oncall people are for!
and the thing I am totally pissed off about is, that THEY actually make me feel bad about telling them off about calling me about minute matters like that.
Secondly, at about half two just now, as they were changing shifts and exchanging reports, I had called EVERY ward and went through all my patients and asked if there were things that needed to be done, i.e. xrays to see, discharges to do etc etc. So, tell me, if I shouldn't be mad if you call me at 7pm to ask me to do a discharge (which wasn't planned for that day anyway!). You had passed over at half two and you couldn't have called me over the next two hours to confirm if that patient was indeed for discharge.
Aargh! Seriously lah!
and don't even get me started on how gobsmacked I was the other day when a STAFF NURSE didn't know how to do chest compressions!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Nonsensical ramblings
I have this strange habit - well, I wouldn't call it a habit but more of an observation - of thinking that medical officers can tell what their calling in professional life is by looking at the type of cases that come when they are on call.
For instance, I noticed that when the senior Peads MO is oncall, somehow it is on that night that kids usually come to our casualty.
Last weekend I was on call and I noted that there were mainly surgical based cases that turned up that day as my partner is the current Surgical MO.
Now, what deduction should I make when I'm on call, and no cases turn up?
P/S: The above statement is by no means me "bercakap besar" - after all I still have one on call left this month.
For instance, I noticed that when the senior Peads MO is oncall, somehow it is on that night that kids usually come to our casualty.
Last weekend I was on call and I noted that there were mainly surgical based cases that turned up that day as my partner is the current Surgical MO.
Now, what deduction should I make when I'm on call, and no cases turn up?
P/S: The above statement is by no means me "bercakap besar" - after all I still have one on call left this month.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Boo....
...for the blocking of blogs on the hospital internet.
I mean, at nights when you are on casualty call, and you are just sitting there waiting for the results to come back, at least that gives us something to do. Besides, I write best in the middle of the night when the patients are just thinning and sleep eludes me.
Anywho, last night's call was one of those weird ones. It was practically patient-less from about 5 to about half ten. Yes, it must be one of those blue moon nights. My partner, however, wasn't so lucky. She was riding on the ambulance escorting an ICB case and only came back at about ten, only to be woken up at about 2 to escort another case. But of course, TM being the place it is, patients started to come after midnight. For a three day fever, can you believe it? Have some mercy people?!
It is a shame when the public misuses the casualty department like this. They have learnt that staff at district hospitals will call you ASAP when you turn up after midnight as they want to settle all cases as quickly as possible. It doesn't help that TM has an abundance of a night life for all the nocturnals. Hmm.
Anyway, I was woken up at half twelve for a case of assault and an MVA where a boy cracked his forehead open. The skull was exposed and I swear I can feel a crack yet the CT scan came back normal i.e. no evidence of a skull fracture. Good news for the kid but kinda embrassing for me. However, my partner that night examined the wound and totally agreed with my assessment.
I will be oncall again tomorrow and hope I won't be as unlucky as my partner.
My parents must be pretty happy right now as all three grandkids are back. Apparently my niece has become a minah salleh (Hi Hannah!) and Ayes is still being Ayes. They are expecting their fourth grandkid any moment now. Seems like kids are popping everywhere. Sigh.
There are times during the year when work starts to bore me. Perhaps I am one of those people who get excited about something for a short while and then grow out of the phase. Kinda risky when it involves work what with an apartment in KL to pay for. Maybe what I need is to get out of Kelantan. There are times when I wonder how I ended up in a life that is so vastly different from what I am used to. I've been informed that my family members wonder about this on a regular basis.
I had a conversation with a colleague not long ago. Among others it centred on our lives and how not having kids affected it. I've long discovered that I no longer care if we have kids or not. I look at other people's offsprings and I am relieved that people won't be able to judge me based on how my kids look like and how they behave. We're already being judged on the job we hold, the car we drive and the number of jewellery we own - life doesn't need to be so complicated.
I also decided that I will make a lousy parent. I can't even get my cats to respond to their names. They all come running on "tsk tsk tsk" so I might as well have called them all "tsk tsk tsk"- hahaha. Jokes aside, should it is fated that we remain childless, I am content. I believe that my marriage is strong enough to withstand this and I consider myself lucky as not many married couples can say the same thing with the same amount of conviction as I have.
I mean, at nights when you are on casualty call, and you are just sitting there waiting for the results to come back, at least that gives us something to do. Besides, I write best in the middle of the night when the patients are just thinning and sleep eludes me.
Anywho, last night's call was one of those weird ones. It was practically patient-less from about 5 to about half ten. Yes, it must be one of those blue moon nights. My partner, however, wasn't so lucky. She was riding on the ambulance escorting an ICB case and only came back at about ten, only to be woken up at about 2 to escort another case. But of course, TM being the place it is, patients started to come after midnight. For a three day fever, can you believe it? Have some mercy people?!
It is a shame when the public misuses the casualty department like this. They have learnt that staff at district hospitals will call you ASAP when you turn up after midnight as they want to settle all cases as quickly as possible. It doesn't help that TM has an abundance of a night life for all the nocturnals. Hmm.
Anyway, I was woken up at half twelve for a case of assault and an MVA where a boy cracked his forehead open. The skull was exposed and I swear I can feel a crack yet the CT scan came back normal i.e. no evidence of a skull fracture. Good news for the kid but kinda embrassing for me. However, my partner that night examined the wound and totally agreed with my assessment.
I will be oncall again tomorrow and hope I won't be as unlucky as my partner.
My parents must be pretty happy right now as all three grandkids are back. Apparently my niece has become a minah salleh (Hi Hannah!) and Ayes is still being Ayes. They are expecting their fourth grandkid any moment now. Seems like kids are popping everywhere. Sigh.
There are times during the year when work starts to bore me. Perhaps I am one of those people who get excited about something for a short while and then grow out of the phase. Kinda risky when it involves work what with an apartment in KL to pay for. Maybe what I need is to get out of Kelantan. There are times when I wonder how I ended up in a life that is so vastly different from what I am used to. I've been informed that my family members wonder about this on a regular basis.
I had a conversation with a colleague not long ago. Among others it centred on our lives and how not having kids affected it. I've long discovered that I no longer care if we have kids or not. I look at other people's offsprings and I am relieved that people won't be able to judge me based on how my kids look like and how they behave. We're already being judged on the job we hold, the car we drive and the number of jewellery we own - life doesn't need to be so complicated.
I also decided that I will make a lousy parent. I can't even get my cats to respond to their names. They all come running on "tsk tsk tsk" so I might as well have called them all "tsk tsk tsk"- hahaha. Jokes aside, should it is fated that we remain childless, I am content. I believe that my marriage is strong enough to withstand this and I consider myself lucky as not many married couples can say the same thing with the same amount of conviction as I have.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Fuming mad post...
I received news of this last night but was down with fever so only managed to write this down now. My youngest baby brother is doing his pre U course in UM. Yesterday, in one of his chemistry practical class, a friend accidentally knocked a test tube filled with undiluted chemical and it spattered on his back.
Do you know what the stupid teacher in the class did? He dabbed on it and said it would be ok. OK????? My brother now has a gaping hole in the skin of his back, what do you say to that? I thought the first things you learnt when you enter a lab is basic first aid? Whatever happened to letting the skin sit under running water you idiot?! and you don't even have the decency to send your student to the health centre. Idiot.
and at the Health Centre, another idiot nurse let my brother sit for an hour unattended without any further treatment while the chemical was practically burning a hole in his back!
However, kudos and thank you to this Burmese medical officer who saw the urgency of my brother's case and actually sent my brother to UMMC.
So much for being the top Uni in Malaysia. I suppose this is where we are when we only run like headless chickens to get everything in order only when the Accreditation Survey is going to be held.
Do you know what the stupid teacher in the class did? He dabbed on it and said it would be ok. OK????? My brother now has a gaping hole in the skin of his back, what do you say to that? I thought the first things you learnt when you enter a lab is basic first aid? Whatever happened to letting the skin sit under running water you idiot?! and you don't even have the decency to send your student to the health centre. Idiot.
and at the Health Centre, another idiot nurse let my brother sit for an hour unattended without any further treatment while the chemical was practically burning a hole in his back!
However, kudos and thank you to this Burmese medical officer who saw the urgency of my brother's case and actually sent my brother to UMMC.
So much for being the top Uni in Malaysia. I suppose this is where we are when we only run like headless chickens to get everything in order only when the Accreditation Survey is going to be held.
Monday, July 13, 2009
I heart Singapore!
The number of hours my KBR-KUL flight was delayed - 5
The amount of time I said "I heart Singapore!" while I was there - many!
The number of steps we took travelling up and down escalators and buses and walking - gazillions.
The number of times we went to VivoCity but did not go to Sentosa but instead went to Candy Empire - 2
The number of times we saw a Mat Salleh and his SPG nearly getting into a physical fight with a scrawny chinese guy with very frightened girlfriend - 1
The number of keychains I bought at Bugis Street - 30
The number of fridge magnets I bought - 5
The number of wallets I had planned to buy - 1
The number of wallets I ended up buying - 0
The number of handbag I planned to buy - 0
The number of handbag I ended up buying - 1
The amount of bruised knee I got as a result of stumbling off the ramp in front of the Singapore Science Centre - 1
The number of people Abg said saw me fall - 0
The real number of people who saw me fall - probably EVERYONE there!
The whole Singaporean experience - priceless.
The amount of time I said "I heart Singapore!" while I was there - many!
The number of steps we took travelling up and down escalators and buses and walking - gazillions.
The number of times we went to VivoCity but did not go to Sentosa but instead went to Candy Empire - 2
The number of times we saw a Mat Salleh and his SPG nearly getting into a physical fight with a scrawny chinese guy with very frightened girlfriend - 1
The number of keychains I bought at Bugis Street - 30
The number of fridge magnets I bought - 5
The number of wallets I had planned to buy - 1
The number of wallets I ended up buying - 0
The number of handbag I planned to buy - 0
The number of handbag I ended up buying - 1
The amount of bruised knee I got as a result of stumbling off the ramp in front of the Singapore Science Centre - 1
The number of people Abg said saw me fall - 0
The real number of people who saw me fall - probably EVERYONE there!
The whole Singaporean experience - priceless.
It's nice to be home......
...but Singapore was fantastic!
There were all these 'signs' that I kept coming across, as if telling me that I shouldn't be going on the trip, but I am glad I did.
There was the 5 hour plus delay on our flight back to Kuala Lumpur where we ended up arriving at Ma's house at nearly 2 am, but otherwise the rest of the trip was smooth sailing.
However, is it me, or is this guy wearing OT trousers?
There were all these 'signs' that I kept coming across, as if telling me that I shouldn't be going on the trip, but I am glad I did.
There was the 5 hour plus delay on our flight back to Kuala Lumpur where we ended up arriving at Ma's house at nearly 2 am, but otherwise the rest of the trip was smooth sailing.
However, is it me, or is this guy wearing OT trousers?
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Things to do when you are post call...
....is scrape half the length of your already battered Kenari against a moronic lorry whose driver couldn't be bothered to find a better space, hence blocking half the road.
A******.
.....and then go home irritated because of the above incident and snap at your other half.
Sigh.
A******.
.....and then go home irritated because of the above incident and snap at your other half.
Sigh.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Of working till dusk and wrinkly clothes
Yesterday I spent 12 hours at the hospital. Working.
I left home at half six, arrived at work and punched in at about 7 and only punched out at 7 that evening.
It's been three days in a row when I have driven home in my OT clothes, simply because after finishing our cases, I just couldn't be bothered to change back into my work clothes. I now have a feet high heap of OT clothes on the floor of my bedroom.
Don't get me wrong, I love being in the OT. There's just something about the sensation of the suture needle piercing the skin and seeing your knot opposing the wound that just relaxes me. I love the crisp feel of the scrub and the quiet sigh of the sterile cloth that we drape on the patients. I'm weird, I know. I blame it on my star sign; I'm an Aquarian and we're supposed to be weird.
But, my household have suffered as a result of me coming home late everyday. Two basketful of clothes are waiting to be ironed and hung. Don't even get me started on my bathroom floor! Tsk. I can't even imagine people with kids coping without help. By the time I get home, usually near dusk, I'm already too exhausted and my feet are sore from standing so much while doing the cases. At least I have the liberty of not cooking dinner if I don't feel like eating and there aren't kids to bathe and feed.
So, if I am already so exhausted just working in a small district hospital with specialists, tell me how am I supposed to cope with joining a Masters programme?
and THAT is something that I will ramble on later when I have the energy to do so.
I left home at half six, arrived at work and punched in at about 7 and only punched out at 7 that evening.
It's been three days in a row when I have driven home in my OT clothes, simply because after finishing our cases, I just couldn't be bothered to change back into my work clothes. I now have a feet high heap of OT clothes on the floor of my bedroom.
Don't get me wrong, I love being in the OT. There's just something about the sensation of the suture needle piercing the skin and seeing your knot opposing the wound that just relaxes me. I love the crisp feel of the scrub and the quiet sigh of the sterile cloth that we drape on the patients. I'm weird, I know. I blame it on my star sign; I'm an Aquarian and we're supposed to be weird.
But, my household have suffered as a result of me coming home late everyday. Two basketful of clothes are waiting to be ironed and hung. Don't even get me started on my bathroom floor! Tsk. I can't even imagine people with kids coping without help. By the time I get home, usually near dusk, I'm already too exhausted and my feet are sore from standing so much while doing the cases. At least I have the liberty of not cooking dinner if I don't feel like eating and there aren't kids to bathe and feed.
So, if I am already so exhausted just working in a small district hospital with specialists, tell me how am I supposed to cope with joining a Masters programme?
and THAT is something that I will ramble on later when I have the energy to do so.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Things to do when you are sick
I am at home sick today.
Urgh.
It used to be that I get sick once a year and would last for maybe 2-3 days. Now, it's 2-3 times a year and lasts about a week. I've had this cold since Thursday, been on call with a cold, had a clinic with a cold and the lack of rest has resulted in a temperature of 38 last night.
Double urgh.
Anyway, I was feeling sorry for myself this morning and ended up watching Oprah. She was having a 'Pay It Forward' campaign where she gave everyone $1000 and urged them to give it away. So this morning's show was about what everyone did with their money.
One story had me sobbing like a kid. There's just something about seeing people do good or animals that turn me to jelly.
One member of the audience advertised in a local newspaper asking people to write in and nominate someone whom they thought deserved the money.
So one first grade teacher wrote in about Alferd (yes, his name is spelt that way), who is 68 and comes to her class. Yes, Alferd is the oldest student in her class.
Alferd is the oldest of his 9 siblings and he never went to school because he had to take care of his brothers and sisters. So, at 68, he decided that he wanted to learn to read. Now he can read first grade books.
So this teacher's letter won and they used the money to buy Alferd books so that he could read to his heart's content.
I've always thought that we tend to take things for granted. Being able to read, ride an escalator, order KFC without looking at the menu, having a colour TV - but here is a 68 year old who could have easily gone through his golden years not being able to read (he has gone through 7 decades safely without the ability) yet he took the effort to approach someone and asked to be taught.
That put my flu into perspective, somehow.
Urgh.
It used to be that I get sick once a year and would last for maybe 2-3 days. Now, it's 2-3 times a year and lasts about a week. I've had this cold since Thursday, been on call with a cold, had a clinic with a cold and the lack of rest has resulted in a temperature of 38 last night.
Double urgh.
Anyway, I was feeling sorry for myself this morning and ended up watching Oprah. She was having a 'Pay It Forward' campaign where she gave everyone $1000 and urged them to give it away. So this morning's show was about what everyone did with their money.
One story had me sobbing like a kid. There's just something about seeing people do good or animals that turn me to jelly.
One member of the audience advertised in a local newspaper asking people to write in and nominate someone whom they thought deserved the money.
So one first grade teacher wrote in about Alferd (yes, his name is spelt that way), who is 68 and comes to her class. Yes, Alferd is the oldest student in her class.
Alferd is the oldest of his 9 siblings and he never went to school because he had to take care of his brothers and sisters. So, at 68, he decided that he wanted to learn to read. Now he can read first grade books.
So this teacher's letter won and they used the money to buy Alferd books so that he could read to his heart's content.
I've always thought that we tend to take things for granted. Being able to read, ride an escalator, order KFC without looking at the menu, having a colour TV - but here is a 68 year old who could have easily gone through his golden years not being able to read (he has gone through 7 decades safely without the ability) yet he took the effort to approach someone and asked to be taught.
That put my flu into perspective, somehow.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Snippets of a holiday
Welcome to Jakarta....!
View from our room in Cikini.
Bronze elephant in front of the National Museum.
The chaos that is Tanah Abang shopping area.
What Malaysians love about Tanah Abang.
Very informative cartoon on buying food in Tanah Abang market.
Set ikan gurame bakar.
MONAS - Monumen Nasional
Writings on the bust of Husni Thamrin.
What I managed to catch of Senayan City before I was told taking pictures is prohibited. Hehe. Nice mall though.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Of substance
Sometimes I wish I could write great things. Things that make people think and things that teaches people and change lives. All my blog does is serve as a platform for me to rant about my work and my mundane life.
Though I hope mine is a tad more interesting than the ones who give a complete description of what he did and what he ate bla bla. I prefer blogs which give an insight on what people are thinking and what makes him/her do whatever it is that they do.
Jaded as I am, as I trawl through this massive cyberworld, all I seem to come across are mindless youths, whom, when asked about a memorable quote from a film, would volunteer "You've got to move it, move it" from Madagascar. Maybe it is the generation gap, but come on....!
I stumbled upon this blog after someone in the forum pasted his article on "Why do we get married?".
Below is an extract:
Bearing in mind what I usually come across, here is a malay male youth, freshly graduated who has actually read Freud!
So I spent a few hours reading his entries. At one glance people might brush him off as an angry rebellious young thing who has decided to blame everyone and everything around him but read a little deeper and you will discover an intelligent, well read and most importantly passionate person. and what passion he has!
He constantly states his dislike of our current education system, who seems to produce regurgitators than thinkers. Which is something I can relate to.
A few days ago, radio Era had a mini competition for parents to win an opportunity for their kids to go on air. One parent, when asked which of the following is a famous equation - E=mc(squared) and E=my, confidently gave the wrong answer. Another parent couldn't give the correct scientific formula for water.
Is it me? Am I sounding a teensy bit snobbish because 'of course la you cannot expect to remember something you learn in school ten years ago' or 'of course la you think it's easy, you did science in high school' but - seriously?
Maybe what is really worrying me is that, these same parents could have easily told you who the last winner of One in A Million or Akademi Fantasia. Whose home is filled with Media Hiburan, URTV and Mangga.
I digress.
To me, he is an example of what a well rounded Malaysian youth should be. Sure, he has radical opinions, but most importantly, he actually has one! In a world where we are surrounded by 'Tidak apa' attitude, here is a young man who is passionate in what he believes in.
and reading his blog showed me that there are more like him and it gives me hope.
Though I hope mine is a tad more interesting than the ones who give a complete description of what he did and what he ate bla bla. I prefer blogs which give an insight on what people are thinking and what makes him/her do whatever it is that they do.
Jaded as I am, as I trawl through this massive cyberworld, all I seem to come across are mindless youths, whom, when asked about a memorable quote from a film, would volunteer "You've got to move it, move it" from Madagascar. Maybe it is the generation gap, but come on....!
I stumbled upon this blog after someone in the forum pasted his article on "Why do we get married?".
Below is an extract:
Satu soalan paling kontroversi: Kenapa kita perlu berkahwin?
Jawapannya: Untuk memenuhi fitrah manusia yang mahukan seks. Ini hakikat. Sigmund Freud mengatakan ini dalam istilah saintifik dipanggil sebagai 'libido', iaitu kemahuan paling dalam dan tersembunyi dalam diri manusia yang dipanggil 'id'. Pemikiran manusia secara dasarnya dibahagi kepada tiga: id,ego dan super-ego.
Id adalah kehendak yang paling asas seperti makan, minum, pergi jumpa Encik Tan untuk pelaburan*(ini ke tandas), dan seks juga tidak terkecuali. Seks adalah satu aktiviti pembiakan kalau dalam bahasa saintifik, untuk terus mengekalkan speisis untuk terus berkembang. Dalam kes kita, homo-sapiens.
Ego adalah peraturan yang kita sendiri cipta untuk mengawal kemahuan id kita. Ini seperti prinsip hidup dan kepercayaan diri sendiri. Manakala super-ego adalah undang-undang yang dicipta oleh negara atau agama atau adat untuk mengawal kemahuan id kita.
Jadi dalam kes seks, itu adalah id kita, dan super-ego (agama) melarang kita melakukan seks kecuali apabila berkahwin. Manakala ego kita pula ialah kita malu kalau masyarakat tahu yang kita lakukan seks sebelum kahwin.
Bearing in mind what I usually come across, here is a malay male youth, freshly graduated who has actually read Freud!
So I spent a few hours reading his entries. At one glance people might brush him off as an angry rebellious young thing who has decided to blame everyone and everything around him but read a little deeper and you will discover an intelligent, well read and most importantly passionate person. and what passion he has!
He constantly states his dislike of our current education system, who seems to produce regurgitators than thinkers. Which is something I can relate to.
A few days ago, radio Era had a mini competition for parents to win an opportunity for their kids to go on air. One parent, when asked which of the following is a famous equation - E=mc(squared) and E=my, confidently gave the wrong answer. Another parent couldn't give the correct scientific formula for water.
Is it me? Am I sounding a teensy bit snobbish because 'of course la you cannot expect to remember something you learn in school ten years ago' or 'of course la you think it's easy, you did science in high school' but - seriously?
Maybe what is really worrying me is that, these same parents could have easily told you who the last winner of One in A Million or Akademi Fantasia. Whose home is filled with Media Hiburan, URTV and Mangga.
I digress.
To me, he is an example of what a well rounded Malaysian youth should be. Sure, he has radical opinions, but most importantly, he actually has one! In a world where we are surrounded by 'Tidak apa' attitude, here is a young man who is passionate in what he believes in.
and reading his blog showed me that there are more like him and it gives me hope.
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