Dear girls, This is it! I'm making my biggest move so far. And I know you all understand why I'm doing this. I'm happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because little by little I know that Noy and I would have a "normal" life. Sad, because in doing so I'll have to stop working with you. It's been a great year for me. I had highs and lows and I'm thankful that you all get to be part of these important life events of mine.  Let me give the first credit to one person who made this possible. Funny how some seemingly unfavorable life circumstances could lead to fruitful ones. Dra OCHIE, there was a reason you had to leave so I can take over. I believe that God works in wonderfully different ways that we could only sigh in thankful disbelief when we finally realize all that trouble was worth it. Thank you for the insane rides home; I enjoy every minute chit-chatting with you, and I'm glad you get to join us every now and then. I wish Perfect Guy would come swoon you off your feet soon; that would make me really happy.  To my long lost cousin ANGIE, thank you for always letting me get a ride first before getting on your own jeepney home. It's a simple everyday gesture that I truly appreciate. I guess it's second nature of a LACHICA to be considerate of others, and somehow I see myself in you in all your selfless cares, toxicities, worries and troubles - some painfully unnecessary. But I know that you are strong deep inside no matter how vulnerable you may seem. I just wish that you finally get what you have always wanted. You deserve it. Please don't forget to send me an invite to your wedding. In fact, it would be a pleasure to help you out with the preps. *wink*   IANNE, you are the life of our own little party. Your enthusiastic funny nature always perks up my mornings. Ginawa yata kitang kape - hahaha! You may not be aware of it until now, but yes you do wanna make me get up and go sometimes when work sometimes gets a little boring. And I wanna thank you for that. I wish we'd have more time exploring the wonders of LB. I know that you are in an uncool situation right now, but have faith. Everything works out for the best, as long as we see what God deems as the best for us. If you get pregnant soon, we'll pray that darling Yael will have a baby sister :)   My dear dear NISA, I know these words won't be needed, because I know that you already know. I'm not sure if this will ever happen, but if Chris & Noy would finally get the chance to sit and talk, we both know they're going to get goosebumps from realizing that they have so much in common. That's our little secret that I'm too perky to keep as such. How can I ever thank you for pampering me all this time? Wasn't little Lianne ever threatened? Ayan tuloy natatakot ako mag-start sa pgh kasi feeling ko wala talaga akong alam. Haha! Seriously though I would never have gone through work without your guidance and patience. So thank you. For this and for everything else. You already know what.   And to the one who started this all - LIZBETH - I still remember how I almost ditched that one text saying you needed a new doctor. I was from duty then, really sleepy and was finding it hard to comprehend anything important. Thank you for remembering me - it could have been anyone. I'm still in awe trying to put together what we've talked about on the way to ATC the other day. I can only nod in approval and be amazed. We are truly blessed. I am blessed. To have met you, known you better and worked with you.   Could you please tell our bosses, Doc Kat and Doc Saldy that since I can't make them ninang & ninong at my wedding, they be my life heroes na lang? Dra Kat, for her unrelenting spiritual advice and Doc Saldy, for his unwaivering belief in me. I've never felt much support in my present endeavor. And for that I am forever grateful. I'll never eat tulingan, tortillos, sweet corn, banana & camote cue, pizza hut's italian pizzas, chowking fried rice and smokey's hotdogs, or drink tequila the same way again. I'll never shop at an ukay-ukay the same way again. I'll never stroll through a Waltermart (if I ever would) the same way again.  I'd simply be transported back to the time when I was surrounded by people who truly cared. When I look at a Clomiphene tablet, chances are I'd remember Ate Joy. Please tell her I thanked her publicly for the literally lots of support!  I love you girls. When this finally pays off, please be at my baby's christening rites. Let's have tequila, tortillos and a big Conti's Mango Bravo after the party. xoxo ANNE "I'm always dry". This was how one consultation at my clinic began one gloomy Saturday afternoon. In front of me was a twenty one year old woman who looked a little older than that, being skinny but well-dressed and a little made up. She talked to me in English (casual, not very fluent with acceptable flaws in grammar but forgivable) while I talked mostly in Filipino. Indeed, it was a sexual problem other girls her age would be too ashamed to talk about with their doctors (here in the Philippines at least). But here she was, upright and open to questioning. She's married to a 56 year old caucasian who only visited her twice in a year. Every visit in the last two or so years always ended up in a sour note because the husband would always complain that she was, well...dry.  She asked if I could prescribe her with something that could take the dryness away. I almost laughed, immediately quipping, "Have you tried a lubricant?" But when I realized for a split second that this was a real life problem, I tried to pry a little more. Turns out she had a very sad childhood - dry, if you may. Her father died when she was 11; she met her mother only a year ago. She grew up with an aunt, who, upon learning of her marriage with an old divorced foreigner, disowned her and threw her things out the door... except her money and some jewelry. And this particular scene, she told me, always comes up her head whenever her husband tried to make love to her, shunning all sexual thoughts away. But since she wanted a baby with this man so much, she tried to fake it all away until she had these nasty abrasions down there, from all that dry forceful friction. Which would later bleed after every attempt at lovemaking, leaving her hurting inside and out, frustrated and with little self-esteem. And here I was, frustrated myself but with remorseful nevertheless from a recent career failure. Yes, I failed, but I don't have to get stuck with an old divorcee because I have a caring and responsible husband always at my side, who understands my feelings and day to day changes. Whom I don't have to try so hard to please. Who in the midst of his own academic failure, stood by me and played his role of husband dutifully. Who understands why we are still childless, and doesn't blame me for it. Whom I have always been proud of. Who doesn't leave me dry and hurt and dirty. I grew up in the comfort, security, love and support of a family, with a complete set of parents who sacrificed their own comforts for the sake of their children.
 Sometimes it's in the loss of others that we get to see and appreciate what we have and have always had. I have never given such heartfelt advise to a patient before. Not because she needs a lot of help, but because she reminded me how blessed I was.
There weren't tears from her. Just sheer determination to make peace with her aunt once and for all so she could have that baby and move on with her life. Oh, and have lots of great, fulfilling, dry-no-more sex.  | Grandma | Apr 13, '09 8:36 AM
for everyone |
One month and two days ago today, I was made a lola by this raisin-colored tiny little bunch of joy, courtesy of my niece Joyce (a cousin's daughter), who went into preterm labor after he stubbornly fixed himself upon the narrowest recesses of his mother's uterus.  | Whoa! | Apr 6, '09 11:48 PM
for everyone |
My husband and I were squeezing in a visit to Nona, our CRA, who had surgery at the Manila Doctors Hospital, on our list of to-dos last Saturday. We parked at the 5th floor of Rob, and coming down the escalator on the third, I saw a familiar cute little face of happiness - Angel!!! For a while there I was speechless. I knew he was in town, but we didn't really set a "date" si nce he's going to be very busy vacationing and all. But, his New Yorker butt was right there on my face so it wa s only proper that we make the most of what little time we have to spend togeth er. [Anj, Felix & I were blockmates in college. We didn't belong to the same set of friends but Anj was quite the darling of the block. He he lped me through Organic Chem in Bio and Biochem for the medical boards, and led me to a m oonlighting stint in Calamba. He's become a good friend through the years.] Here we are waiting for his watches get repaired (haha! chaka I know, but at least we get to chit chat!) -  And here we are talking about our blockma tes over halo halo at Razon's. Kidding. We had plain honest-to-goodness catching up done. And it was great!!!  You know what they say about impromptu meetings being the ones that actually push through and end up being more fun & fruitful than the highly-organized ones? Well this was definitely one of those. As for Nona, who's the reason why we were in Rob in the first place - It was nice to see her smiling and comfortable post-op, surrounded by friends & family. We just didn't know where to place the flowers properly so it was on the bed. haha. Get well soon Nona!  ...I covered for my boss... (for the experience - I have to maintain a clinical eye if I really want to pass the AMC, and "camaraderie" - hahaha!). I had a great time, except for the fact that it was tiring. ...I played nanay to my sister in law, who figured i n an accident at Magallanes flyover on board a cab to work, in the hospital for a day. They were downhill, and the bus behind them "lost its breaks", hitting the cab. SIL hit her head on the windshield, shaterring it. Miraculously, she didn't have even an abrasion, just mild to moderate whiplash injury.I kinda felt sorry for my husband Noy, tired and sleep-deprived that he alre ady was, who bore the burden of being the sole family member, who had to make a ll the arrangements and do all the talking. Their pare nts and middle sibling were all in Australia when the incident happened.  As I talked to Mama on the phone that night, I told her that gone are the days when we would just sit on one corner of the hospital lobby and wait for the room to get cleaned so we can eat and watch TV whenever a family member is hospitalized. It's kinda big having to decide for your family member's life. and that's another "hello, real world" moment for me. ...I submitted an old film to the clinic where I'm having my Australian Embassy requirements done, hoping that would help cut down the presupposed expenses that will be incurred. ...I met with an old friend Jenny (by chance!) who promised to fulfill one of Noy's biggest dreams - to appear on TV. She works for ABS-CBN and is occasionally looking for doctors to interview on whatever topic they want to discuss on any show. Over rose milk tea and some great-tasting toast at Toast Box Trinoma, Jenny & I tried so hard to hide our giggles as the poor husband discussed his intentions with a dead serious face.  ...I finally got myself some pampering! Since trying out relaksasi about a year ago, we kept heading back to this place whenever our aching back muscles let out a cry of despair. We've never been disappointed so we're finding the new branch at Megamall heaven sent. Been busy enough to keep my mind off the koalas & kangaroos eh? | Yummy! | Mar 25, '09 11:14 PM
for everyone |
Enough badmouthing. Got an email from Yummy Magazine a few days ago telling me I've won a yummy deal! it's not a biggie, i just sent an email with my details and forgot about it, now they're giving me GCs to UCC Coffee. Yay! It definitely brightened up my sad gloomy week. Here's what Im probably having for brunch tomorrow -  now that's something sure to lift me up just in case my follow-up with the pulmonologist tomorrow morning won't turn out okay. I've been sampling their coffee before but I haven't really tried the food, so Im looking forward to a pleasant experience at UCC. Can't wait!   I come home to a bright cozy breezy abode amidst rice fields and mahogany trees whenever time permits me to. Surrounding it is Mama's garden - a rich wide escalating patch of green dotted with pinks, reds, yellows, oranges, violets and whites. One side sits right next to the street but I never felt exposed. The neighbors on the other side of the street can probably watch me breathe but here - being carefree is second nature.   Here I can watch the sun climb its way up the mountain with that single lonely tree atop it. I can laugh with the timbabaras birds as they play with our dogs an d cats every morning. I can feed the birds and the chickens with as much corn as they like . I can lay on the couch all day reading my current favorite novel. I can literally dance in the rain. I can take long naps in the duyan at the bahay kubo.
I can sit at th e front stairs waiting for a plant's scientific name to pop in my head - and laugh at how hideous it sounded and how utterly stupid my pastime was.   There are no exotic plan ts here, just the usual plants any average Mom would put in garden. The garden had no archi tectural plan, no sophisticated watering and lighting systems, no trimming schedules, no sweaty hardworking hardineros. Mama just placed everything where it felt most comfortable. Like her garden, she's never complicated nor loud. Like her plants, she's stable, strong and well-placed. Like her flowers, she's simple and beautiful and stood out just by being herself. Always. It's not grand, it's not magazine-worthy, but here I love every nook & cranny. In its simplicity I find an exquisite treat - peace, quiet, happiness and love only Mama can give.  
I always sang at weddings ever since I learned to curb SOME of the stage fright. I never did it professionally though; it was more for friends and family and acquaintances. It's thrilling and exciting and a nice way to get to know people. Recently though, I was requested by a cousin to be the commentator at her wedding ceremony. I never did it before but I shrugged it off, thinking it was a pretty simple task. On the way to the church though, I was having butterflies in my stomach. I hate to admit it and I don't know why, but yeah, I was darn nerv ous! I think I did pretty well, but I faltered towards the end. I forgot to ask the sponsors to remove the veil and cord, and asked the guests to stand when it wasn't really time yet. Oh well.  My husband, always on the lookout not to let little things bug me down, said it was not bad for a first timer. So I shrugged it off the way I shrugged it off the first time I learned about it. And capped the day with creme brulee, mango panna cotta, and red wine. Cheers to Kathy & Cid! |  | I just made sure the sepia effect worked. That's what happens when people forget to bring a frickin digital cam on an out of town trip. |
The girls of VIVIANE & PATRICIA trooped to Sofitel Philippine Plaza for an evening of razzle & dazzle with the GSK scientific studies people from all over the country. Too bad the red carpet wasn't long enough for all the glitzy glamorous people to walk on.  More photos here. 
...because for now, here is where I only really go, with no rounds to make and no ER to man.
Which allows me to have time to appreciate these wonderfully bright things that's been lighting up the hallway since october.
Who cares if they're recycled? Sometimes all it takes is something as ordinary as this to banish those wrinkle-causing thoughts... like where have all the 13th month pay gone. Hahaha | le tache | Oct 29, '08 8:18 AM
for everyone |
 1. Check for gross
abnormalities.
2. Insert speculum ever so
carefully.
3. Insert brush; twist clockwise
five times, twist
counterclockwise five
times.
4. Remove speculum gently.
5. Swirl the brush inside the
bottle with the preserving
solution.
6. Bimanual exam.
7. Good to go!
| |
