No Time To Even Take A Leak

ALL of my housemen were down the road this morning taking their forensic exam. That left JY and myself...actually...that left me alone to attend sort out the morning's chemotherapy as JY was kidnapped by the methadone sprites. Things were very exciting:

• We had our names (our names being 'CYTO!!!' and 'METHADONE!!!') constantly called out.
• I got a new housemen (hhhmmm...wonder why she did not go for the exams) who I did not have time to brief, so I got to her to read all the SOPs.
• The phone rang every three minutes.
• Patients were lining up to see me in front of the counter.
• Regimen after regimen landed in front of me. I think that my clerks enjoyed the bewilded look on my face as they place the protocols on my table one after another. My hair reflected the condition my cyto table was in: messy and wild.
• A whole stack of my ward's prescriptions landed in front of me...each one had either Tazocin or Tienam in it. As I was on leave for one whole week and missed rounds that morning, I had no idea of what was going on with the patients upstairs.
• A request for paclitaxel test dose came in. I had never done a test dose for paclitaxel before and so I had to squeeze in a literature search in between all of the above.

There was no time for coffee, eating or peeing and we worked through lunch till the said housemen returned at 2 pm. By that time, I was so caffeine deprived that my mouth was spewing sentences that did not seem to originate from my upper regions. I was calling people by the wrong name and had taken to walking into tables and door frames. A classic example of a major system shutdown.

Thank God for the wasabi covered macadamia nuts on my table!

TVXQ/DBSK/THSK

That's the name of the Korean (yes finally established their nationality) boy band we went for last night. The show lasted TWO AND A HALF HOURS...compared to Linkin Park...it was really long. Okay...I know...you guys...I know that I am not going live this down (more like you guys will NOT let me live it down)...but I am going to say this: IT WAS NOT ALL THAT BAD. Really. I had fun with the twins. Their screams are soooo cute. And, I was not the oldest person there (yay!). There were a number of 'aunties'...and they were so not accompanying their young ones.

I would give them points for showmanship. That and stamina. And length. And for the fireworks and in particular this 'fish tank' scene where they really did manage to pull of the illusion of swimming downwards...was pretty impressed with that. And the cute mechanical airplanes that appeared at the very end.

How many points would I give to their songs? Hhhmmm...am not overtly a fan of ballads and plus...did not understand a word...obviously...so their slow songs were somewhat lost on me. But have to say that I liked their faster songs...nice beats...the punk rocker in me tapped and swayed accordingly.

The weather was good...sporadic breezes blew the humidity away. So overall, one enjoyable experience. But one foreign concert was enough for this weekend. When Christie asked whethe I would to go for the Live & Loud concert (chinese singers only) in Sri Hartamas...I cringed inwardly and then politely said no, thank you. And also, no more boy bands for me. It's alternative, punk, rock, jazz and classical from now onwards.

In Response To Chew Cheong Tat's Blog Entry

Finished my clinics at around 3pm...was tired (had nightmares last night where my face broke out with numerous vicious red spots...hhhmmm...is there an outbreak of varicella zoster* in the hospital?) and cold and most of all HUNGRY. Figured that I had some time to blog (hadn't done so in a long time) before heading over to the Lokes to to erm...hhm...'supervise' (for lack of a better word), their twins at a concert tonight. I don't know the band. Ah Suan's decription of them (the band not the twins) was this: "Some Korean/Jappanese boy band. The twins are crazy about them. They are not Linkin Park but I am sure that you'll like them." The first thing that went through my mind: "OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!! What have I gotten myself into? Korean slash Jappie (and by the way Ah Suan...Korea and Japan...two different countries you know...) boy band?!!!" I suddenly felt old. I could just imagine myself (the oldest person in Stadium Merdeka) standing in a crowd of young psychedelically dressed teens (mostly girls I presume...though these days...you just never know) screaming and crying hysterically while I yawn and check my nails for cracks.

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But I digress.

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So there I was...in a state of hunger...hypoglycaemia (if you guys forget the definition of this...I ain't teaching you anymore medical terms) and I decide to read Chew Cheong Tat's blog...and lo and behold as the page load unto my computer:

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http://ctchew.blogspot.com/2007/11/ode-for-pearl.html

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Good grief! My salivary glands went into overtime and my poor stomach growled so loudly (thank goodness no one was around) that I nearly popped another gastric pill (had one in the morning) into my mouth. But being the responsible drug pusher (certified!) that I am...did not do so. But being a woman, I could not let him have the last word and thus my reply to his post:

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Is that Lionel Loke's pig? Mua ha ha! You did say 'his' bed...unless of course you can't differentiate between the male and female gender.

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Last minute invitation. Do not be deceived to think that the Lokes like you so much. It was more like at the last possible minute Lay Suan had a thought,"Oh dear! So much food. Afterwards if not finished...have to put in the fridge...and then don't know whether my kids will it all or not. How can I make sure that all the food tonight is finished? Hmmm, I wonder...."

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And by the way...uncle and aunty Poi was invited along because you obviously could not be trusted to behave in a civilised manner when in the presence of all that food. Only Koko Nut is big enough to physically restrain you. And when uncle and aunty Poi emailed me to tell me about the festivities that I missed...they were kind enough to leave out the details unlike some people I know.

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And yes...darn it! The spaghetti looks really good!!!

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You'll have to read his post to understand all that. Okay...gotta to go. Cute (and very young) Korean boys are all set to serenade me to sleep...or to a really bad headache. Will keep you informed. Peace out!

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*Chicken pox

Wasabi Covered Macadamias

My current favourite thing (food category) in the world!!! I can't explain it but I just can't control myself when it comes to wasabi covered macadamia nuts!!! Put a packet...a tin...in front of me and it has less chance of surviving than a snowball in a preheated (to 200 degrees) oven. Like Pringle's slogan "Once you pop, you just can't stop', I just can't stop!!!

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The packet above is courtesy of Davey Boy who managed to find it (bless your soul!) somewhere in the Perth airport. Sigh, unfortunately, one can only find wasabi covered macadamia nuts in Australia (and I am sure in other countries as well...just not in Malaysia) and thus my cravings are only satisfied a few times a year...at the mercy of kind souls who take pity on me and my ridiculous requests.

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If only I have not layed eyes on you that very first time in Queen Victoria Market. And that time in Perth. Sigh...you had me at hello (yes...it was calling out to me!!!).

Back From Teluk Intan

I am back!!! My goodness. One week without the internet. Felt rather strange. Aunt is recovering well. Will explain in another entry. Rushed back for the clinics tonight. Could not get anyone to take that slot. Anyway, the way out to Bidor was slow...my Formula One instincts hampered by numerous trucks and lorries that woke up (the drivers that is) this morning and decided to leave TA at the same exact time as us. The North-South Highway was not any better. Contruction works narrowed the two lane highway down to a sad sad single lane status. Safe to say...the 'Kimi' in me stayed dormant. Okay...gotta have a really quick shower and battle my way to the hospital.

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Will update the blog later with some pics I took in TA...of food (of course) and a dog with a tongue long enough to lick his entire nose. Such exciting stuff...ha!

Day One in Teluk Intan (Diamond Bay!)

3:40 pm, Grandfather’s Old Room

Events of the past week has left me with a gastric problem that in turn has left me in a rather ‘windy’ situation…if you know what I mean. If you don’t…well, you are probably better off that way. The long stretches of not eating and then pigging out on really spicy food has put a toll on my poor tummy. The problem is compounded by my ‘forgetfulness’ to pop a tab of pantoprazole (a proton pump inhibitor that aids in reducing gastric acid secretion) when my stomach starts growling.

I am the most non-compliant person when it comes to taking pills. The bottle of multivitamins (60 tabs) that I bought half a year ago is still sitting on my table (staring me in the face every time I sit down to work on the computer). The ferrous (iron) and vitamin b complex tablets from my last blood donation stint two weeks ago is also still somewhere on my table. When I remember…I double up the dose (disclaimer: these ‘stunts’ are performed by trained and certified drug pushers…do not under any circumstances practice them at home…EVER…seriously!). Which reminds me that my calcium lactate tablets are also also still somewhere on my table…and that makes me feel guilty because as Abbott never fails to reminds us ‘Bone Loss Starts at 30’…and I am the perfect candidate for osteoporosis because:

• I don’t drink milk. The only time I do (touch the stuff) is when adding the minute-ness of amounts into my coffee. Unfortunately, caffeine is not good for the bones and thus whatever good the little milk I consume is totally cancelled out by all the coffee I drink.
• I will be hitting the big THREE-ZERO at my next birthday and damn Abbott for making that advertisement that is pasted up outside the Kedai PharmUMMC. Not only is it pasted up for the world to see…it is pasted up in such a strategic window…a window I pass by each day on the way to Happy Corner for my cup of mojo. Isn’t it ironic…don’t you think…it’s like rain on your wedding day…a free ride when you’ve already paid…
• I can’t remember to take my calcium tablets (I can hear you guys going…in unison…”That good for nothing pharmacist!”) and I don’t see that improving as age catches on.

But I digress.

Teluk Intan…my kampung (hometown). Grew up here y’all. The first four years of my life and pretty much every other school break. The cousins (Andrew, Jess, Meng, Wen Wei, occasionally Yuen and Kit and then finally Jenna when she came along very much later) and myself have plenty of ‘growing up’ memories in this house. Our parents would dump us together during the said school breaks and we managed to entertain ourselves without the need of an internet connection or cable tv or a computer. Yup...the house is full of memories. I think that it's our get away...now...from the craziness of KL. No jams. Everything is five minutes away. Chee cheong fan. Hakka mee. Cheap bananas. RM 2.50 bowls of noodles. Shall I go on?

Going Out Of My Mind

Life has been a blur. Talk about sporadic blogging. Deepavali...gone. Had a bout of cough (irritating wet cough...stuffed nose...woolly head) that became worse last Friday ...that had me waking up that morning to a spinning room (no...no alcohol was consumed the night before). Contemplated crawling to the bathroom to get ready for work (mind was harping on the amount of UMSC protocols to be done, Voriconazole, Zometa, ward patients...etc...etc)...but the legs just refused to co-operate. Conked right out as head hit the pillow and only woke up at eleven plus to the ringing of the phone (my doctors...).

The weekend of course flew by. The bits that I remember...Kanna Curry House...Georgia Rule...Hair Spray. And then before I knew it...MONDAY!!! Oh Garfield...you are so so right to hate Mondays. Have been on an adrenaline high since 8 am (caffeine probably had a role here). SO MUCH FREAKING WORK TO DO BEFORE I GO ON LEAVE TOMORROW! That's why I am taking a moment here to blog...release some stress before continuing the madness that is pilling high on my desk.

Anyway...am trying to psych myself up about Linkin Park...which is set for tomorrow. I know that the excitement will set in once I get all of this out of the way. The plans are all laid out. We will catch an early bus tomorrow morning which will take us all the way to Novena Square. Get the tickets and keys to Hamish's place. Freshen up. Make our way to the indoor stadium. One hour (hopefully more) of screaming. Winding down for the night. An early taxi to Senai Airport. An early flight back home. Then heading back to the hospital for some data collection (the pile in medical records is still...a high...high pile)...clinics at night. And I am very certain that by the end of Wednesday...I will be so tired that I will opt to wash my hair the next morning (which we know will probably never happen) and just collapse into my comfy queen sized bed with all that pillows (some courtesy of MAS...ha ha ha ha ha) and pigs.

Okay...enough of this procrastination. Back to the drawing block...sigh...and no...to those of you who think I am blogging during office hours...this is AFTER office hours and therefore am doing this work pro bono...basically the only time I get to sort out a lot of things in peace.

Linkin Park...HERE I COME!!!!

A Moment of Silence

I just received news today that someone I know in the medical field passed away yesterday after a battle with ovarian cancer. I first knew her while working together in a society I belong to. She has been in the government service for quite some time now and has somehow managed to maintain her upbeat and cheery demeanor. She is very well respected and has contributed A LOT in her specialised field.

She received chemotherapy in my hospital and you could see that everyone was rooting for her...willing her to get better. When she saw me in the corridors, she would stop and thank me for preparing her chemotherapy so well. I was always very embarass to receive such gratitude when all I could do was so minute a deed.

But as is with life...being the fragile and unpredictable thing that it is...she relapsed. The wake was tonight, but I was working and so could not make it...but I can imagine the multitudes that would make it to her house to pay their final respects.

My heart goes out to her family. I know how hard it is to lost a wife...a mother. Her son was very close to her. I pray that he will learn how to cope...to let go...and to move on.

You will be missed.

Linkin Park Fever

Last night...Starbucks. Slow internet connection. Attempts to book tickets online. Bickering. "No, we should collect the tickets one hour before...no, we should get them sent to someone in Singapore...no..." Discoveries...ecobutterfly. Ecobutterfly??? For real Jules(name changed to protect the person's indentity)??? Ha ha. But finally...THE TICKETS ARE PURCHASED!!! Woo hoo! Time to rock and roll. But that's a different story that has to be told at a different time...I am late for care group!!!