Thursday, September 29, 2005

Boredom

Have you ever had this feeling that you don't have energy to do the things you NEED to do but you tend to do things that you WANT to do? Well, that's what I'm feeling now.

Out of quintessential boredom, I googled my name. Well, a lot of sites come out. Hell, there's a lot of places in the US which bears my name. Thanks to my mom, I have an american name, a very Filipino middle name and a Spanish surname. I wonder what got into her. So, as I was saying, there was a lot of gibberish sites that sprung up. Actually, I was just checking if this blog will appear in the search results. It does not. When I googled Monster's Ink, it led me to this. A book by Diana Bennett. I think its about a monster and his ink. Totally uncool. I don't like the cover of the book. And I bet it's just totally shitty. I didn't get this blog title from her, FYI.

I went to the infamous UK-UK store today. Guess what? I bought a U2 down jacket for 140 pesos ($3) and a Baleno all weather military green jacket for the same price. Talk about bargain, man. Which is good. Because I'm running low in cash. I have to budget everything I buy, otherwise, I won't be having any money in my pocket to the States. I bought several shirts too. Now, I can kiss shopping goodbye:

Goodbye, 6th Ave. As if I shop here. Well, H&M. Cool merchandise.
Goodbye, Michigan Ave. Promise I will ONLY look at the iPOD store. Nowhere else.
Goodbye, The Grove. I was so tempted to buy a pair of Lucky jeans the last time.
Goodbye, Las Palmas Mall. I discovered how overpriced Hollister is. God, a pair of jeans for $150. The shirts costs $60. Dude, I know a place in Cubao that sells 350 pesos for a shirt.

But, I cannot promise not to shop in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I can't believe their discounts in that place...

God, I wish I don't have to worry about money.

Back to work, Mon. You lazy bitch.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Four days to go

I'm flying to Chicago in four days. Four days! I haven't' packed yet. I don't even know what to pack. My clothes are not yet washed because the washing lady comes every Saturday. I'm scared to bring a bootleg copy of my reviewers but I don't want to leave without one.

I need to shop. I promised my aunt to buy her some nice things for her house. I helped her decorate her house the last time I was there. We painted the walls and upholstered her furniture. It was fun hunting for an ottoman for her living room. We even went to the Fashion District in LA to hunt for pillow covers and upholstering cloth. I told her that there are better furniture in the Philippines and it costs way cheaper than what you get here. She, thus, made me promise to buy her some cute stuff for her home. All of a sudden, I became them Felicia. Wonder when will I become Kyan Douglas. He's a big hit.

Honestly, I'm not as excited in this trip as was before. I'm pretty much worried about my application and the whole matching loopalooza. I'm doing this wretched thing again!!! I hope it works this time. And if not, I'll make sure to get a job somewhere. Gawd. I'm neck deep in dollar debt. I don't even have my own bank account. My career is going practically nowhere. And to top it all off, I'm neck deep in dollar debt. Dollars, man. Well, I'm a bit excited with the wedding. It would be nice to sing with the tour group again. And will get to see my classmates. And Joseph! Gosh, I wonder how he looks like. I hope he didn't gain that much weight. And Jeff too! I wonder how these girls look like. Another thing to be excited about: Chicago. After reading the book about the Columbian exposition, I'm deeply interested in the city. This time I will do the river tour and perhaps go to the artsy-fartsy tour. I haven't seen the Navy Pier, either. Hey, I'm going to St. Louis too. I haven't seen much of this city except when we drove down last year for Mardi Gras. And I'm gonna see Eva again!! Geez, I guess there's a lot to look forward to.

Tita Marie would want to bring me to Las Vegas this time. We might drive to the North also to visit Janelle in Cedar Creek and to have a nice wine tasting time in Napa Valley. Whoa. But I have to constantly remind myself that I need to study for the Step 3 exam. I don't want to fail. It's a horrendous feeling.

I don't have a Personal Statement yet for Pediatrics and Family Medicine. I don't know how to start the thing. I want it to be insightful, impressive, artistic and with soul. Too much to ask for my rusty writing skills and dim-witted brain. I haven't written a single word.

I should have written it last night. But it was the first episode of Amazing Race 8. I've got to watch it. But then, I didn't like this season. I think the Family Edition was a bad idea. Well, the irritating shrieking pink ladies from Illnois won the race, the-family-with-evil-kids come a close second and the cutest bunch almost got eliminated. Geez. The pink ladies are very annoying: they are always screaming and yelling in their high pitch voices. Just as if someone stole their undies and they come running after him. It was the sound of sexual excitement and shriek from a slasher movie rolled into one. Makes me want to puke, honestly. Then, it's hard to watch kids saying--not the darnest, mind you--but the meanest things. Like they would sneak up to the other teams and crush the competition like they really mean it. I mean, it's like watching Shark Boy and Lava Girl in reality television. I'm into Pediatrics, so I guess, you would understand. And finally, the hunky Linz family. Boohoohoo. Their biceps are bigger than their brain, their strength is not proportion to their body mass and man, they talk like scoundrels. Where did you guys come from? Prison? I hate to see them go in the next episode, but brains are needed than body in this game. Well, in this WORLD, while we're at it.

Oh yeah, the Black family got sacked. I almost forgot that one. At first, I thought the commentator (Phil) made a racist remark. Pretty offensive on national television. But, I was wrong. But I heard it correctly:

"Next team on the amazing race...the Black family"

And the next frame shows a black family. Whoa. They could've at least called them by their family name!

But I was wrong. They were really THE Black family. Too bad they got sacked early in the show. But man, the kids have more spirit than their dad! He drives terrrrribly slow. This isn't a trip, honey, its a GAME. And its not just any other game, its a freaking RACE. Poor kids. It must've been a total bummer to have boring parents. Well, mine is not THAT boring. My mom is just like the Italian mom. She nags a lot and keeps his motherly pride above everything. It takes a below-the-belt remark to make her shut up. Well, at least my parents are a little bit cool: My mom snorkeled in Puerto Galera while my dad, er...hmm...my dad had 2 car accidents in one month. Everytime he sets down to the driver seat, he feels there's a NASCAR logo printed on either door. How can you get cooler than that?

I gotta go. So much things to do today.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Another weekend spent away from home

Countdown: 6 more days and I'm outta here! I'll be flying again to the states for another family-budget-wringing time in the States. This is my last try and if I don't get a freaking job this time its time for me to say "oh well, i tried...but i guess its not for me" and start my own practice. Not a good plan though. Not at all, man. Because if that shit happens, I'll be neck high in debt to my parents. Although nobody in this house has ever nagged me about money, it doesn't mean that my dad picks green bills from trees in our backyard. And besides, I told myself that I just "borrowed" the money. I'll pay it back with my own well-earned dough.

Since I'll be flying off to the US of A in a couple of days, my high school friends decided to spend the weekend in Lucban, Quezon. It's an old town around 4 hours from Manila. We just miss the habhab, lugaw with lechon and halo-halo we ate last time we were there. We go to Lucban annually to attend the Pahiyas Festival but this weekend is a special send-off party for me.

No Lucban trip will ever be complete without having lunch in our favorite restaurant: Kamayan sa Palaisdaan. It's around 5 km from the town of Lucban, actually, it is part of the town of Tayabas. Anyway, the food there is my ultimate comfort food. I have dreams of their tasty sinugbo (grilled tilapia cooked in coconut milk and green peppers) and exotic enseladang pako (fern salad with sardines). The ambiance isn't that spectacular but the food was delicious. It took our waiter 10 minutes to serve the food and 10 minutes to clear the table...10 minutes apart. We sneaked in a bottle of wine to cap our lazy afternoon. We don't want to pay corkage fees, so we end up pouring the wine under the table. We can get that cheap.

We were heading back to Manila when the girls agreed to go hiking to the falls. I thought there were all sluggish from all that food but then, they were in the mood for a swim. It was just a good 10 minute walk down to Majayjay Falls. It was great because we have the falls to ourselves. It took me quite sometime before plunging into the chilly waters but I did it. I was thinking of running off the ledge, just like what we did in Tali Beach, but nobody was up to it. I was banking on strength in numbers during that time. Anyway, we ate, swam, took millions of pictures, ate some junk and headed home before it gets dark.

Reaching Liliw before sundown, we scurried among the shops finding the best bargain for slippers. I bought several pairs for pasalubong when I get to the states. Tip to anybody going to the states: bring slippers. Better yet, bring slippers for pasalubong. The price of thong slippers is rediculous over there. Well, if you can muster a $70 Banana Republic sandals for your pambahay, good for you. Get two servants to fan you while you eat while you're at it, you Queen of Sheba!

We ate dinner at Anabelle's at Liliw, Laguna. Good food...considering it sprung from nowhere. I like the T-bone steak and their pasta is amazingly...italian. Great price, too. I wa wondering who owned the place but I was quite tired to do some social gestures to anybody. It's a small eatery with a low roof and a few tables. When I was smoking from outside, I noticed that it's just a basement of an old Spanish style house. I peaked through their glass mirror...lo and behold! Narra furnitures, mahogany china cabinet, extravagant chandeliers. I will not be surprised to see a $70 Banana Republic sandals on the doorstep. The owner has taste and so is his food.

As we were heading back to Manila, I was so tired. I could barely lift up my eyelid. But my friend, who was driving, keeps shouting on my ear, "DONT YOU DARE SLEEP ON ME!!" We agreed to stop beside a fruit stand where we bought 2 kilos of lanzones and a kilo of rambutan. No, we didn't finish everything, contrary to the legendary capacity of my appetite. We just emptied the rambutan bag. We have to keep eating or else I'll be dozing off the passenger seat. I even dont care if my arms and palms were soiled with rambutan juice when we arrived home.

It was a great weekend.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Friday, September 16, 2005

Bits of nonsense

  • I bought a Kodak C300 before I went here in Boracay. So far, it's been great! It's the most affordable camera in the market. I've always been drooling to get an IXUS-- just like what my sister has--but, I simply cannot afford it. This one is a third of the price and surprisingly, it takes good pictures! Downside: the LCD is not that crisp. But I agree to what my friend said: you just need it to know if you need another shot. It has video too, but alas, no sound. But still, for the price and for a beginner's camera, I definitely recommend this one.
  • I'm leaving in a few weeks and I have so, much things left to do. I'm still here in the island and I need to cram everything in a week to get everything done. Definitely, I won't accomplish one thing I went back here for: learning to drive and getting a license. I KNOW! I'm such a brat. I always have someone to drive for me or pick me up. I LOVE riding in FX's and securing the leftmost seat in order to secure an undisturbed sleep throughout my ride. I am a natural commuter. I like the mystery of the new person sitting beside you every time. I like to read, hear music and even fantasize during a long commute. I organize my thoughts and plan my life in those long rides. Its one of the perks of living in the suburbs. Well, I'm looking at the bright side of it. Give me a fucking break.
  • From KAPLAN lectures (mp3): "Why would doctors want to specialize in hematology? It's a dead specialty. What is the newest disease they found in the specialty? Nothing. Did management of hematologic diseases change over the years? No. Well, except for the treatment for CML, everything in hematology is the same 20 years ago. I don't understand why people choose this field..." Thaaaank you, sir!

Thursday, September 15, 2005

MD on call

The beach looks this way at this time of the year. He's such a beauty.







After one of my house calls in Nami. I vowed to myself that I will work hard in the US in order to afford this place. It has a breathtaking view of the ocean. The place is quite a sight to behold at night.

Weekend at Tali

This was one of the best weekends I had with friends. It was planned two nights ago and I glad I came. Well, I never thought of not going because I'm sure, Richard will be all over me again and cursing me to oblivion. Ha ha! And besides, I'll be out of the country again in three weeks...I wouldn't miss this for the world.

Richard and I met in Manila at 7pm and picked up Nick V in Pasay. We had several stops along the way (we had to buy Cinnabon for dessert, then halfway through, Richard was dying for coffee). It took us 4 hours to reach Tali Beach.

We arrived to a bunch of shrieking, screaming, definitely drunk friends. They have been acquainted well with Jay (&B) and Gilbey for quite a while now and we have to catch up real soon. I was cheering VODKA! VODKA! in the car upon we enter the village gate. Catching up is not a big deal, really. I have an appetite for a barrel of alcohol that night.

I miss this kind of thing. Being drunk like nothing else matters. Drunk as drunk can get. We sang and talked and teased in the jacuzzi like Irishmen. It was blast.

If I was Susan Sarandon in The Banger Sisters, Richard will definitely be Goldie Hawn. We used to drink until 4 in the morning and go home all drunk and puking on the floor. We even fell asleep in the car before a stop sign in Quezon Avenue. We were too drunk then to stay awake. Good times. I don't know but the world seemed to move on. Suddenly, I found myself getting sleepy at an early time. I become getting annoyed with the hypnotic sound of house music. To some extent, going out seems to have no fucking sense.

Anyway, the rest of the weekend retreat was absolutely memorable. It was the first time I jumped from a cliff of a considerable height, landing my touche in the sand in the bottom of the sea. I buckled at first, but I did it anyway. We spent the whole day in a cloud of laughter. I learned how to play mahjong again. I got hooked with it and called it quits at 5 in the morning. A drop of vodka was nowhere in our midst by that time.

The beach looks good from this point of view. It was a memorable weekend all right.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Week 2: The Last Boracay Stint

Wait. Wrong title. I dont want to say that this is the last EVER. Maybe last stint for the year...or the season...whatever.

My nose is stuffed tonight and I think I am bound for a headache. It's already 12 midnight and I have to do tons of stuff. Well, I just have to do a Personal Statement for my residency application. I find it hard, I must say, since I have to be formal and conscious about my thoughts. Blast those blog writing skills for now. And I've been putting this off for the last couple of days. Despite the burden on my back, I still decided to write here first. Hoping to jumpstart the creative juices.

My first week here is not that exciting. There's only a few consults...around 15-20 a day, most of it locals and mostly, trivial cases. I finished 2 books already: Farenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) and The Reader (Bernard Schlink). I definitely consider the latter one the best books I've read this year. Well-constructed sentences, good plot, very detailed analysis of the protagonists' conflict. And, very concise--not a sentence wasted in each paragraph. It's a memoir of a German professor who fell in love with a 36 year woman when he was 15. It was a very honest, sexual relationship and both were happy. He read to her during the time they were together. One morning he found out she was gone. They met again 10 years after, in a courtroom, he was a law student while she was defending herself for being a prison guard in Auswitz during the Holocaust. The subject of the Holocaust made me so interested in the story.

Not because I like anarchy. I empathize with the Jews in this big bruhaha. I admire the spirit of those who survived. I constantly wonder how could somebody be capable to do such brutality. Ever since I read Elie Weisel's book Night, I got caught in the emotions of the Jews who survived the Holocaust. I savored films like Schindler's List and Sophie's Choice. My interest peaked when I went to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The very bastion of the Holocaust memory built by Elie Weisel himself. Going through the exhibits was a real tearjerker if you ask me about it, especially for someone in the profession of saving lives.

Before I went here in Boracay, I thought, "Geez, I never had any patient from show business, I wish I will have one this time." Yesterday, I found a celebrity couple waiting for me in the clinic. It took me quite a while to fix his problem but I did it anyhow. I stole a couple of snapshots from them and got an invitation to their newly opened business in D'Mall. It was great to be superhero again.

Tomorrow, there will be a whole bunch of public officials who will be having a summit on the island. I'm already excited to do housecalls. I just hope everybody brought their medications and will stay out of Jack Daniel's reach. Please --let there be no MIs in my island!!