Woof Woof!
Just to usher in the Year of the Dog, and conforming to
tomorrow.sg chinese new year celebrations, I decided to write this post.
Plus the fact that I'm actually a 1982 Dog as well. Having been through 2 cycles of the lunar calender, I suddenly feel quite old this year.
Talking about dogs, the only dog that I've ever had close, multiple contact with is my girlfriend's pet japanese spitz, Snowy. (I've known him for 6 years)
He's quite a geriatric dog, about 13 human years, equivalent to 97 dog years.
And he's quite a fighter.
He has severe arthritis of his left hip, possibly due to congenital hip dysplasia, resulting in his inability to walk since 2 years ago. Now he just bottom shuffles around. He has also survived testicular tumour s/p orchidectomy 3 years ago too.He also has long standing cataracts of his right eye. During the past few months, he has slowly lost his ability for ADLs, now on pampers and 'floorbound' most of the time. He has a pressure sore but luckily that's healing nicely. He may have also suffered a stroke (I suspect) as he tends to be unsteady towards one side and always falls on that side whenever he's sat up.
Now, before this starts to sound like some charity show. I suspect snowy's still quite happy. That's because he gets the best love and care from his owners. He's treated like a baby in the family and is very well-cared for.
Some of the photos we took when he was more ambulant. What a cutsie, no wonder my girlfriend calls him sweetsie.
Keep fighting my old friend.
Quotes
"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all." -Oscar Wilde-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I'm learning to enjoy reading my Talley over and over again, often discovering new things that I may have read before but did not understand or appreciate the importance of that sentence.
The trouble is that during the course of our study, we get waylaid with so many other texts that we don't re-read.
Maybe more books is not necessary good. At least not without comprehension.
Someone said, "Knowing something halfway is more dangerous than not knowing anything." Afraid I may be guilty of that.
So 6 weeks to brush up on my understanding and make sure I get my basic facts straight.
"Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game." -Michael Jordan-Just read. Have stress ulcers. Pass the exams.
May I press the panic button, sir?
.............................................~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Panic makes your mind go blank...
Better than good
The truth remains hidden.
Maybe by choice, maybe by circumstance.
But it doesn't matter.
Because the heart knows what's true and what's not.
With an aim in mind
Got this story from a speech my friend,
Kenneth, gave.
Totally inspiring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~在多年前，有个游客就在埃及漫步游行。走着走着，他碰到一个工人在山旁割石砖。这好奇的游客就问这工人他在做什么。这工人用一副很累，很无兴趣的脸回答：“你看不见吗？我在割石砖！每块得差不多四米长，两米高，两米宽。随随便便，做完工就可以了。”说完，那工人就很不耐烦地转回身去割石砖。
那游客就继续往前走，不到几十米，就碰到另一个工人，一样地在山旁割石砖。这游客同样地问这工人他在做什么。这工人虽累，但带着点微笑回答：“我在割石砖啊！每块得四米长，两米高，两米宽。据说我割出来的石砖将成为一座相当了不起的建筑！”
那游客又继续往前走，碰到一个工人吹着口哨，在山旁细心的割石砖。这游客更好奇了，就问这工人在做什么。这工人很兴奋地回答：“我在帮忙建这世界上最壮观的金字塔！每块石砖一定要四米长，两米高，两米宽，不能疏忽，要不然工程就可能因我而失败了！”
学习也跟这故事一样。当你知道人生目标何在时，你就会认真地面对种种问题，不论多艰辛或多简单，也不会敷衍塞责，得过且过。知道‘怎么做’已不再足够了，因为如今大家都能得到同样的资料，同样的训练；谁都会割那石砖啊。但若能放眼看世界，了解长远计划，了解‘为什么’你得做某件事情，为什么得做功课，得考试，这不但使我们的学习更有意义，更有热忱，也能必备我们面对人生更难的考验，因为你会知道有许多知识是不能在课本上读到的，如态度，经验，信心与表达能力。
OSCE / OSCA
It was a necessary evil, a step to take, inching closer to our inevitable fate.
Of course, I must say these are skills we should be equipped with before we are let loose in the wards. But isn't this time a little late? It would be much better if we had this test before the SIP.
Which brings me to a grudge I've been holding. If we pass the SIP and failed the MBBS, wouldn't that prove that the SIP was useless in preparing us to be a HO? Since the MBBS is a test of our ability to function as HO, passing the SIP should give a clear indication of our ability then. Afterall 1 month of work says so much more than 30 minutes.
Sigh... (of helplessness)
Anyway, the ocses today was fun. I was admittedly a bit nervous. Especially when I saw so many profs and doctors inside. It was like a mini-mbbs.
Most of them were nice and I managed to spot most of the stations. But there will always be examiners that do not leak any emotions on their face. It is most distressing when I am trying to gauge my performance and whether I was on-track by looking at their expressions, and then realising there was none. At some point, I thought I was going to fail that station.
But stumbling through all 10 stations, I believe I did well enough to pass.
It wouldn't be a monsoon without rain
Rain...
There's just too much of it these few days.
From the drizzles to the showers to the thunderstorms. The raingod seems to be doing a parade bypass of his amoury.
Frankly, rain makes me depressed. Or maybe it's the fact that I haven't been able to go running that's putting me down.
Everytime I look out the window, it's raining.
Everytime I go out, I have to avoid puddles.
The weather station says 2 more days of rainy weather. I hope they are right. I can't take any more rain.
Advice
Advice from Dr Jason fom CSMC.
"Do not panic. Stay calm."
Pretty good advice.
Spent
Refreshed!
Rejuvenated!Retail therapy works! 
Stop
Somewhere along the way, I lost myself.
I stopped smiling at people because half of those I smiled at didn't smile back.
I stopped saying good morning to people I know because grumpiness got the better of me in the mornings.
I stopped wondering why I had to do something and just did it because it needed to be done.
I stopped thinking about what I wanted to do in my life because I got lost in the mundane routine of life.
I stopped perservering because instant gratification seem so much more better.
I stopped prioritising and just did everything that came my way because I didn't want to miss anything.
I stopped thinking about other people first because the world is just plain selfish.
I stopped reflecting on my actions because there were too many things to do.
I stopped being myself because I changed.
The new year calls for resolutions.
I will stop stopping and start to find my way.
