Fruits and Veges, Anyone?

More and more Malaysians are now aware that prevention is better than cure, and lifestyle changes go a long way in preventing many diseases. While I was waiting for my grandmother at the hospital, I was talking with this elderly lady who is afflicted with Type II diabetes - she told me that she has been watching her diet, and I was very impressed with the fact that she knew that Type II diabetes is caused in part by diet, and that she was doing something about it.

The Star newspaper published an article on 27/05/2007 (http://www.thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2007/5/27/health/17846417&sec=health) to highlight the importance of lifestyle changes in the prevention of many non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes).

While it seems that lifestyle changes are only relevant to people of a certain age-group - those whose risk of getting cardiovascular disease is high - the take-home message is that lifestyle changes are relevant to everyone of every age, gender, walks of life, even if you've already had a heart attack, or a stroke.

The question is not how much longer we can live, but how we would want to spend the rest of our lives.

Fruits and Veges, Anyone?

You've Got Chatterbox

I joined a Chatterbox conversation at Kenny Sia's blog this morning...

I think I'm too old to chat... I realise half of the things that most people were chatting about didn't make much sense to me...

Revelation: Blogging is as much an industry as pharmacy is!!!

Perhaps it's because I've been too closeted in my pharmacy world... medications day in and day out...

Is there a Chatterbox specially designed for pharmacists??? Do let me know!!!

You've Got Chatterbox

Home and I

I've been home since 27th May 2007. I've been keeping myself busy, accompanying my mother to work, go for evening walks, doing some gardening, tidying up the house, feeding and putting eye drops for Swea'D (my 9-year old daschund), going out to dinner with my family, accompanying my grandmother to the hospital. Yes, I've been very busy indeed.

Every night I go to bed feeling exhausted, both physically and mentally. I still have dreams, though. I still wake up at about 3am without fail, again at about 5am, and another time at about 7am. The inner turmoil remains. The fear remains.

I wonder how long would it take before I stop dreaming, before I stop waking up a few times throughout the night.

During times like these I remember a song from a few years back, "Bent" by Matchbox 20.

I'm afraid that I'm bent, and I'm so afraid that "I'll never get put back together", in the words of lead singer Rob Thomas.

I'm looking for a silver lining...

Home and I

The Painted Veil

This time on the plane, I watched a grand total of THREE films back-to-back - "Music and Lyrics", Because I Said So, and The Painted Veil.

For starters, I was glad to pass the chance to see "Because I Said So" in the theatre... I couldn't imagine sitting still in the seat without wanting to jump up and run towards the big screen to strangle BOTH Diane Keaton's character Daphne Wilder AND Mandy Moore's Millie Wilder, as a result knock myself silly against the screen AND get escorted by the theatre attendants for portraying violent behaviour in the screening of a M-rated film (M for Moderate Sexual References, NOT Maniacal Nutcase Portrayal).

"Why did you watch it in-flight, then?", you may ask. I am a masochistic person, after all... I have read the reviews on this film, I know that it's bad to say the least, I just wanted to know for myself just how bad it is. Yes, it's bad. There are two saving graces, though. After watching it, I am most grateful to have my mother as my mother and not a persona of Daphne Wilder breathing down my neck. The other saving grace is Gabriel Macht. His smouldering gaze and enigmatic personality was the driving force for me to endure 1 hour and 41 minutes of paranoid mother-daughter behaviour.

The surprise film was "Music and Lyrics". I was told that it's not so good, but I personally found it to be pretty good. I especially liked the parts where Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant get together to compose the song and sing it together, and the ending where Hugh Grant sings a different song to win over Drew Barrymore. I really like the two songs, and Hugh Grant's singing voice sounds like a cross between John Lennon's and Elton John's. :)

(Way Back Into Love theme song from "Music and Lyrics" sung by Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett)

I watched "The Painted Veil" last. I didn't know what to expect, but the title intrigued me, as did the synopsis. The opening musical theme swept me away, as it faded to open the first scene, I just couldn't stop watching. Come turbulence, toilet breaks, air sickness, this film had me under its spell. Everything from the cast (Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, and even Anthony Wong Chau Sang!), the dialogue, the plot spoke volumes to me.

I would get "The Painted Veil" on DVD for remembrance. Good films are hard to come by, and it's worth it to get it for collection. :)

"Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people."

(The Painted Veil Poster (taken from http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/p/z/N/thepaintedveilposter.jpg)

(A La Claire Fontaine - ending theme song from "The Painted Veil" - sung in Chinese by Shang Wen Jie)

The Painted Veil

Fly Away

I still remember the first time I flew on my own... heading back to Semenanjung from Sarawak... I sat beside an elderly Phillipino lady... we chatted throughout the flight... I learned of her life story, and she learned of mine... that I wanted to become a doctor, my family back home...

I enjoy chatting with the person sitting beside me on the plane - provided that I'm not too nauseatic from air sickness, or that the person doesn't stare daggers at me, wishing that I would flush myself down the airplane toilet.

Perhaps it's because spending more than just a few minutes with a complete stranger sitting next to me compels me to be a bit friendlier than to just smile insipidly at that person when he / she tries to squeeze past me to get in and out of the aisle, or the other way round.

Either that, or I'm just plain nosy. :P

Fly Away

March of the Penguin

I will be back home in PJ between 27th May and 4th June... my family needs me... as I need my family.

March of the Penguin

Happiness

I remember someone telling me, "When you make someone else happy, you feel happy, too". I guess the whole idea is that happiness is a rubber ball, when you bounce it, it comes back to you.

Sometimes happiness eludes me... as it eludes me now. I've read somewhere that happiness is a butterfly that is difficult to catch when pursued, but should one sit down quietly, it may alight on that person.

I will sit down quietly. I will also try to make others happy.

One day, the butterfly will alight upon my shoulders... that day I will be content.

Happiness

To Learn

I frequently read Kenny Sia's blog, and I am very sad to read his latest entry on his encounter of a car accident which claimed the lives of the driver and passengers.

I do not wish to elaborate on details. What I wish to point out is that there are so many things that we can learn from this car accident.

Accidents happen world-wide, and, unfortunately, this won't be the last accident that would be reported in the newspapers.

We need to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. Drive safely. This can never be emphasised enough. Don't think that it won't happen to the best of us; therefore, we need not take heed.

The sad fact is, accidents can happen to ANYONE of us. If we can do in the best of our ability to reduce the chances of accidents happening, then take those precautions.

Stick to the speed limit. Don't drink and drive. Make sure we are well-rested before embarking on a journey, and have frequent breaks in-between. We see and hear government campaigns on these issues, and it's not something to be taken lightly. Let us not jeopardise our and others' lives.

If we should ever encounter an accident, the main thing is to try and stay calm. Assess what needs to be done in order of priority. First aid training is essential, because the main thing is to ensure that the casualties and involving parties are not in any further danger, discomfort, or harm before medical help arrives. I know that health care professionals are encouraged to have first aid training; I think that the community at large should be encouraged to learn first aid, too. It helps to know how to deal with an emergency.

Lastly, I'm not claiming to be an expert in dealing with emergency, or that I claim to be an authority in life. I just feel that I as well as whoever who reads this entry need to be reminded that life is very fragile, that we need to take care of ourselves and others, and not to take life lightly.

My prayers go out to the lives that are lost, as well as the family mourning their loss.

To Learn

Masters in Philosophy in Pharmacy?

Very interesting indeed. Sounds good as a title, too... M.Phil (Pharm). It's a research degree... something that appeals to me.

Masters in Philosophy in Pharmacy?

Highlights of My Life

(I DO NOT have a bald spot!!!!!)

What a double entendre...

I finally decided this morning when I woke up, I am going to get highlights in my hair for the first time in my life ... so I walked down to Broadway, and sat through about 2 hours of half-hair highlighting, washing, rinsing, and blow-drying session.

I now have subtle red highlights ... I am amazed by the result ... subtle yet still there.

Oh yes... I would be getting full-head highlights next. ;)

Highlights of My Life

Lesson

Let it be my lesson in life...

To be considerate of other people's feelings,

To not be too self-centred,

To learn to accept things graciously,

To not be quick-tempered,

To not take things forgranted.

Lesson

Support

It's a trying time for me... something that I've not experienced in my life... and I'm very touched by the support shown by my family, who've made calls to me and sent me emails and short texts, telling me not to be sad, not to despair, not to give up hope, not to lose dignity.

For my family, I am very grateful for the never-failing love and support... the pain will still linger, but I know it will pass. I will get stronger day by day....

Support

Changed

I wish... I wish for a lot of things...

One of them is to sleep well... I didn't sleep well at all yesterday... drifting in and out of sleep... even sleeping tablets carried me through sleeping spurts...

I wonder how long a person can last without food and sleep....

I wish I can go back to being me... but I think that with every change, it's hard to not become affected by it...

I wish... I wish for a lot of things...

Changed

Three Years of Eurovision

Without realising it, I have watched two Eurovision contests... 2007 being the third and most bittersweet for me... this year's winning is the most poignant at least for me; the singer sang the song with such emotion... I would really want to download this song.

Molitva
Prayer

Ni oka da sklopim
I can't close my eyes

Postelja prazna tera san
The empty bed chases sleep away

A život se topi
And my life is melting away

I nestaje brzo, k'o dlanom o dlan
And it's disappearing quickly, in a split second

K'o razum da gubim
It seems I'm losing my mind

Jer stvarnost i ne primećujem
As I don't even notice reality

Još uvek te ljubim
I still love you

Još uvek ti slepo verujem
I still trust you blindly

K'o luda, ne znam kuda
Like crazy, I don't know where to go

Ljubavi se nove bojim
I'm afraid of a new love

A dane, žive rane
And the days are like open wounds

Više ne brojim
I don't count them anymore

Molitva, kao žar na mojim usnama je
Prayer, like ardour on my lips

Molitva, mesto reči samo ime tvoje
Prayer, just your name, instead of words

Nebo zna, kao ja
Heaven knows, just as I do

Koliko puta sam ponovila
How many times I've repeated this

To nebo zna, baš kao ja
Heaven knows, just as I do

Da je ime tvoje moja jedina molitva
That your name is my only prayer

Al Bogu ne mogu lagati
But I can't lie to God

Sve dok se molim
As long as I pray

A lažem ako kažem
And I'd be lying if I said

Da te ne volim
That I don't love you

Molitva, kao žar na mojim usnama je
Prayer, like ardour on my lips

Molitva, mesto reči samo ime tvoje
Prayer, just your name, instead of words

Nebo zna, baš kao ja
Heaven knows, just as I do

Koliko puta sam ponovila
How many times I've repeated this

To nebo zna, baš kao ja
Heaven knows, just as I do

Da je ime tvoje moja molitva
That your name is my prayer

(Molitva, molitva)
(Prayer, prayer)

I nebo zna, baš kao ja
And heaven knows, just as I do

Koliko puta sam ponovila
How many times I've repeated this

To nebo zna, baš kao ja
Heaven knows, just as I do

Da je ime tvoje moja jedina molitva
That your name is my only prayer

Da je ime tvoje moja molitva
That your name is my prayer

Three Years of Eurovision

Indescribable

Life is like that...

One moment you can be very happy and content, the next day everything changes... and you feel the very opposite...

'tis life... full of ups and downs...

I'm sad at the moment, I haven't been this sad for a very long while... and I guess that it would be very long while before I feel happy and content again...

But this is life... my life... I would just have to deal with it, no matter how painful it is, and no matter how difficult it will be. Even when I feel that I've lost my heart... even when I feel that my heart is no longer beating... it will pass... just let it be over quickly...

Indescribable

The Replacement Pharmacist

I worked as a pharmacist-in-charge at Liverpool on Saturday, my first day practising as a registered pharmacist, all on my own. The night before I was agonising about working alone, and being the one in charge. I suppose with the short notice and all, I wasn't ready to be the 'Head'. The next morning, I woke up at about 6am, and got ready to go. I had to be at Redfern station by 7am. It took me a little more than an hour to get to Liverpool, otherwise, it was a very nice and scenic train trip, I thought I would feel sleepy and doze for the good part of the travel, but I was so anxious that I was very much awake.

I arrived at the shopping centre early, at about 8:30am, half an hour before the pharmacy opens. I didn't get to go in until about 8:45am when the pharmacy manager let me in. From the moment I stepped into the pharmacy, the roller-coaster ride began.

Note: if you think that pharmacy is a good career opportunity, you're most probably right. Be prepared for work-induced ailments, such as urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level), and fainting spells. From the time I stepped into the pharmacy, it was worse than serving time. As I was the only pharmacist, there was no lunch break for me. The dispensary technician got me some sushi rolls for lunch at about 1 something, and I only took a few bites at close to 4pm. As for toilet breaks, I drank so little water that I didn't even have an urge to go. Couple these external factors with a sympathetic overdrive.

I was on a fight, flight, and fright response HIGH - bombarded with customer service literally left, right, and centre, running around like a headless chicken trying to locate products to recommend, rushing back to the dispensary (it felt like a 100-m dash - the pharmacy was like a big MAZE) to get scripts checked - there was hardly a quiet moment.

I survived the day, barely. Had I have been much more organised, I would have enjoyed my time there. It was quite an experience, and as one of my pharmacist friend commented, it's fun being a pharmacist-in-charge, on your own. :) I would agree to that, but until I get a bit more experience, every day out on my own results in days of anxiety...

The Replacement Pharmacist

Work at Last!!!

I was having a peaceful nap this afternoon, when I got a call from one of the pharmacists from the place I worked at. To cut a long story short, I'm to work for him tomorrow at this other place, a branch of the pharmacy... and I'll be on my own ... pharmacist-in-charge. I only received my temporary registration number and got myself insured for professional indemnity... must be my lucky day today...

Well I hope that tomorrow I'll be fine on my own... it'll really be a test of my mettle as a registered pharmacist, or maybe I'm just a "P"-licence driver. :P

I've never even been to the suburb before, so getting there in one piece is a great achievement in it's own right.

(Maybe this is the end of my piggying days...)

Work at Last!!!

Beautiful Cooking Part II

(I might be able to make side-income out of this)

Oh yes, I have had great success with the kuih lapis project! I couldn't get any pandan leaves for the green layer, so I used green tea powder instead, hehe... I am also adverse to using articial colouring, so for the 'red' layer I added one small and "youngish" sweet potato (boiled and mashed up) - adds to the flavour, too. So the end product is indeed free of articial colouring, flavouring, and preservatives!

I also have the assurance from the people who have tried it that it tastes like the "real thing", I suppose that means that it's authentic.

I actually made a "pilot" batch two nights ago. KT and PY tasted bits of it, and said that it tasted good. I was about to put the tray into the fridge, but my butter fingers made sure that the kuih lapis didn't see the light of day. Hence a pilot batch.

Evidently this time around my fingers were not greasy. :P

Would anyone like to sponsor me for a stall at this year's Malaysian Fest?

Beautiful Cooking Part II