random thought number 5: TGIF

it's always nice to have at least one friday off. still a weekday but almost the weekend. the pace is slow. you have time to do errands during the day then get ready for a night of letting loose, after a week of hard work. even better if it's payday.

right now it's just me at home, again multitasking. here i am at the dinner table, with my laptop and a bunch of mail to sort. doing some laundry, paying bills online, facebooking, having coffee while listening to john mayer. in the next few hours i plan to take a nap, have a facial, take clothes to the drycleaners, make a courtesy call to the mall, then drive to LA to meet up with friends.

just looks busy but really no sweat. and not urgent. because it's friday. and if it can't be done, you can always do your errands saturday morning...:)

ahhh, such bliss....

that time of the year again...

september 1st is coming up. residency application season. still a lot of things to be written, sent, paid for, filled out. i should be a pro at doing this, coz' i've been doing this for four years. yet the thought that four years have passed with still no position in sight hinders me from doing this again.

four years.

izzie, meredith and the rest of the grey's anatomy crew are already doing their solo surgeries. the once-crazy interns in 'scrubs' are already attending physicians. the doctors in e.r. have trained the hundredth batch of interns.

and then there's doctor aby. residency applicant 2005 to present.

each year seems to be harder. more expensive. more competitive. i always say this would be the last time i am doing this, everytime i apply. but then i seem to still get on the race.

this year the excitement is fading. the motivation waxes and wanes. yet the dream still burns.

so no self promises this time. 'coz i know i would still try again. 'coz i have nothing to loose (money does not apply though). 'coz i know i would make one damn good doctor who'll make a big difference in this world. and sooner or later, they would have to take me in!

simple pleasures

sunday mornings
sleeping in...
breakfast in bed
skin against skin...

early morning sun
bathing your face...
dipping your feet
on the warm watery haze...

oodles of affection
from your ever loyal pet...
a smile here and there
from the people you've met...

blowing bubbles
against a clear day...
singing out loud
to other people's dismay...

hearing the right song
at the right place and time...
saying the right words
seeing the clear night sky....

blue moons, chicken soup
i could go on and on....
a thousand things that delight us
could be a thing, a place or a song...

whatever it is
that makes us feel this way...
i realized this is just around
and will help us get through the day...

Quotes from people I know

there are certain things that people say to you that you still remember, even if this was said a long time ago. and they probably even forgot that they said this but this has made an impact on the way you view life. in my case, i just felt compelled to write them down.

1. "if you need to spend money on an expensive but worthy cause, go ahead and spend it. money is just money. in time you will get it back."
- from my mother, on dreams and finances

2. "don't feel too bad about not eating everything in your dinner plate but feel bad about the pounds gained when you eat it."
- from my auntie terry , on dieting

3. "it is what it is."
- from dr. chan, on difficult patients, abnormal labs, and
unpleasant situations

4. "do not do anything that you know may not benefit your patient. if this will not improve his quality of life, then this is not worth doing."
- from dr. sahni, on his disagreement with the surgeon to do surgery
on his patient

5. "it is always better to catch problems in its early stages and resolve it right away than wait for it to get worse."
- from dr. dallal, on complications of gastric bypass surgery

6. "live your best life. do want you want to do while you still can. then you will have no regrets."
- from my cancer patient

7. "you are never too old to learn. a good education always gets you somewhere."
- from my 89 year old patient

8." travel, see places while you are still young and healthy. you can only do this now."
- from jerry

9. "seize the moment while you're still single. do everything you want to do, buy everything you want to buy and go everywhere you want to go."
- from my auntie yoly

10. "there is always an advantage to coming early, whether to work, to choir rehearsals or to school. your mind is not as frazzled and you don't have to worry about sneaking into the room."
- from ana b.

11. "stay away from men who pretend to be who they're not. you'll know this when they're too nice, too quiet or too perfect."
- from sir fidel, on dating

12. "when you're alone, broke and work pretty much sucks, you can always count on music to keep you company, enrich your spirit, and help you relax."
- from gelo

13. "you're actually pretty. you just need to lose some weight."
- from my 9 year old niece cassie, on being attractive

14. "you can only be good in what you are exposed to."
- from leilani, on trying out different specialties

15. " it is like the lottery, the more entries you send the more chances of winning."
- from armie d., on residency applications.

16. "when you are able to rely on yourself, then you are ready to help others."
- from shoreh