Friskies-Bred
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Check It Out
I finally got off my butt and bought myself one of these.
'Purchased' the sleek black one. Absolutely gorgeous. And I didn't even have to pay cash -- a certain insurance company gave me $600 worth of vouchers, ooh yeah. :)
Now if only I can find the time to play around with it, heh.
Recommended - If You Have A Strong Stomach
I just love these dudes.
Why does everybody think I'm so serious and goody-goody? Nothing could be further from the truth. :D
The show airs on cable's MTVAsia Channel 20 every Friday at 10:30pm. There's another repeat somewhere but I usually watch the Friday edition.
These guys do the craziest things, like grabbing wild anacondas by the tail, jumping in as human scratching posts for Bengali tigers, eating / drinking all sorts of disgusting things, and strutting around in thongs and loin cloths.
They're vulgar, grungy, throw up at will... but boy are they funny.
You're gonna either love 'em or hate 'em. Try it out!
And Speaking Of Cable
Looks like April's going to be a blast.
Re-runs of Grey's Anatomy begin next month, so if you missed most of the first season, this is your chance to catch up.
I used to prefer Derek Shepherd ( the hunky neurosurgeon played by Patrick Dempsey ), but am now quite taken with George O'Malley ( the surgical intern played by the lovable T.R. Knight ).
Then there're the back-to-back doublebills of James Bond movies every Saturday night on HBO. The one I'm watching out for it The Living Daylights, starring Timothy Dalton. Has always been my personal favourite, always will be.
Also, they've got the cable debut of Constantine ( Keanu Reeves' excellent performance as the world's coolest exorcist ) and The Incredibles.
Soft Spots
After a crappy week at work, it was great to be able to unwind with a couple of good guy friends.
Had a celebratory birthday lunch with one. The wood-fire pizzas at Spageddies Paragon are TO DIE FOR. As is the Seafood Sizzler, wah lau. :)
Hit the Kinokuniya bookstore after that. Beats Borders hands down. I just love its medicine section. Felt tempted to buy a whole armful of books, but had to rush off to meet...
Guy #2, who's kind of a total opposite of Guy #1, but has always been extremely accomodating of my random whims and fancies, and who gamely helped me pick out the iPod that evening. Funny how he followed me to HMV despite some initial protesting ( that's how I found out the store doesn't carry Jason Mraz's Live At Java Joe's CD ). Then it was a loooooong dinner at Swensen's nearby. The chef on duty was terrific, by the way. I ate this sambal fish course which melted in my mouth, while he took 2 whole hours to finish his black pepper spaghetti.
Seems our GE episode during an internal med houseman call has become the stuff of legends. A fellow HO met my friend during reservist training and remembers it to this day. Yep, we always have the best laughs about that horrible experience. :)
He surprised with an offer to walk me back to my car, which was parked ALL the way back at The Tanglin Club. I've been wondering how I should tell him something for quite a while now, but can never muster up the nerve to do it. He mentioned my birthday before we parted ways, so I've got another 2 months to figure this out.
And last but not least, Guy #3, whom I haven't seen for 3 years, but who's apparently been keeping very close tabs on me. I need to tell him something as well, but again, no good opportunity for it. ( Though he did SMS that he would be dropping by my workplace today, but unfortunately, I was away on course. Argh! )
I was supposed to unburden myself last year when I hit 30. This procrastinating habit is getting out of hand.
Finished Truman Capote's In Cold Blood -- well-written, but probably won't appeal to many in this day and age of desensitization to violence and various degrees of perversion. I did enjoy his style though -- very poetic, conveying tonnes of detail with his wise choice of words and beautiful metaphors. Funnily enough, I found the last few chapters ( post-conviction ) the most compelling. All those character studies of death-row inmates easily rival criminal-profile pioneer John Douglas' in-depth analyses anyday.
My latest bedside reading: Sherwin B. Nuland's The Mysteries Within, where he delves into the organs of the human body, mixing history and myth with his own personal anecdotes. So far, so good.
Next blog post will be up soon after Jamie Cullum's concert next Tuesday. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, I strongly suggest you do so ASAP. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)
Perhaps a discussion on ER issues will be possible at a later date.
For now, I shall leave you with a picture which currently graces my laptop's wallpaper.
9 years old, but looking not a day older than 2. Who needs a man when you can have this little darling? :)
I finally got off my butt and bought myself one of these.
'Purchased' the sleek black one. Absolutely gorgeous. And I didn't even have to pay cash -- a certain insurance company gave me $600 worth of vouchers, ooh yeah. :)
Now if only I can find the time to play around with it, heh.
Recommended - If You Have A Strong Stomach
I just love these dudes.
Why does everybody think I'm so serious and goody-goody? Nothing could be further from the truth. :D
The show airs on cable's MTVAsia Channel 20 every Friday at 10:30pm. There's another repeat somewhere but I usually watch the Friday edition.
These guys do the craziest things, like grabbing wild anacondas by the tail, jumping in as human scratching posts for Bengali tigers, eating / drinking all sorts of disgusting things, and strutting around in thongs and loin cloths.
They're vulgar, grungy, throw up at will... but boy are they funny.
You're gonna either love 'em or hate 'em. Try it out!
And Speaking Of Cable
Looks like April's going to be a blast.
Re-runs of Grey's Anatomy begin next month, so if you missed most of the first season, this is your chance to catch up.
I used to prefer Derek Shepherd ( the hunky neurosurgeon played by Patrick Dempsey ), but am now quite taken with George O'Malley ( the surgical intern played by the lovable T.R. Knight ).
Then there're the back-to-back doublebills of James Bond movies every Saturday night on HBO. The one I'm watching out for it The Living Daylights, starring Timothy Dalton. Has always been my personal favourite, always will be.
Also, they've got the cable debut of Constantine ( Keanu Reeves' excellent performance as the world's coolest exorcist ) and The Incredibles.
Soft Spots
After a crappy week at work, it was great to be able to unwind with a couple of good guy friends.
Had a celebratory birthday lunch with one. The wood-fire pizzas at Spageddies Paragon are TO DIE FOR. As is the Seafood Sizzler, wah lau. :)
Hit the Kinokuniya bookstore after that. Beats Borders hands down. I just love its medicine section. Felt tempted to buy a whole armful of books, but had to rush off to meet...
Guy #2, who's kind of a total opposite of Guy #1, but has always been extremely accomodating of my random whims and fancies, and who gamely helped me pick out the iPod that evening. Funny how he followed me to HMV despite some initial protesting ( that's how I found out the store doesn't carry Jason Mraz's Live At Java Joe's CD ). Then it was a loooooong dinner at Swensen's nearby. The chef on duty was terrific, by the way. I ate this sambal fish course which melted in my mouth, while he took 2 whole hours to finish his black pepper spaghetti.
Seems our GE episode during an internal med houseman call has become the stuff of legends. A fellow HO met my friend during reservist training and remembers it to this day. Yep, we always have the best laughs about that horrible experience. :)
He surprised with an offer to walk me back to my car, which was parked ALL the way back at The Tanglin Club. I've been wondering how I should tell him something for quite a while now, but can never muster up the nerve to do it. He mentioned my birthday before we parted ways, so I've got another 2 months to figure this out.
And last but not least, Guy #3, whom I haven't seen for 3 years, but who's apparently been keeping very close tabs on me. I need to tell him something as well, but again, no good opportunity for it. ( Though he did SMS that he would be dropping by my workplace today, but unfortunately, I was away on course. Argh! )
I was supposed to unburden myself last year when I hit 30. This procrastinating habit is getting out of hand.
Finished Truman Capote's In Cold Blood -- well-written, but probably won't appeal to many in this day and age of desensitization to violence and various degrees of perversion. I did enjoy his style though -- very poetic, conveying tonnes of detail with his wise choice of words and beautiful metaphors. Funnily enough, I found the last few chapters ( post-conviction ) the most compelling. All those character studies of death-row inmates easily rival criminal-profile pioneer John Douglas' in-depth analyses anyday.
My latest bedside reading: Sherwin B. Nuland's The Mysteries Within, where he delves into the organs of the human body, mixing history and myth with his own personal anecdotes. So far, so good.
Next blog post will be up soon after Jamie Cullum's concert next Tuesday. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, I strongly suggest you do so ASAP. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)
Perhaps a discussion on ER issues will be possible at a later date.
For now, I shall leave you with a picture which currently graces my laptop's wallpaper.
9 years old, but looking not a day older than 2. Who needs a man when you can have this little darling? :)
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Review of Jason Mraz's concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, March 17 2006
I'm on a timer here 'cos I have to drop my mum off at church then rush to work later.
Oh boy... where do I begin? :)
I remember how, after the show ended, I grappled with my attempt at reshuffling my personal choices for Top 3 performances thus far, and finally decided that it's time to do away with that restriction and just classify them all into different categories, 'cos I've seen way too many great shows in this lifetime.
So yes, last night was UNBELIEVABLE. ABSOLUTELY MIND-BLOWING. HEAVENLY. A TOUR DE FORCE. A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF MUSICAL GENIUS.
And the dude was just 10 feet away, right in front of my 3rd row centre seat. *thud*
The Music
If you're not familiar with Mraz's albums, I strongly suggest you drop by a CD store the next time you're able, sample both and, hopefully, purchase them in the same sitting.
He writes and arranges his own compositions, and catapulted to stardom with his debut effort, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, released in 2002. The famous tracks You And I Both and The Remedy ( I Won't Worry ) sealed his reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and his latest, Mr. A-Z ( 2005 ), only illustrates this fact even more brilliantly.
Jason opened the show with a breath-taking rendition of Plane ( off Mr. A-Z ), beginning with a soft, relaxed whistling routine then sliding smoothly into a leisurely guitar riff, later joined by percussionist Toca Rivera on the bongo drums, before launching into whispery vocals.
Wow.
Those first few minutes were only a mere taste of what was to follow. The next 1.5 hours were pure bliss, with gorgeous acoustic versions of Wordplay, Geek In The Pink, Life Is Wonderful, Please Don't Tell Her, The Boy's Gone, You And I Both and The Remedy.
He also sang perhaps 4 or 5 songs I'd never heard before -- whether it's new material or covers, they were all amazing and captivated the full-capacity audience from start to finish.
However, he almost brought the house down with a medley of 2 covers, kicking off with Talking Heads' Our House, during which he got the audience to do a little singalong, later transitioning seamlessly into the Black-Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love? The latter sounded 100 times better than the original ( especially when you consider what poor 'live' performers the Peas are -- I've seen enough of their sub-standard work on awards shows to form an opinion ). Jason took a bass-heavy hip-hop piece and transformed it into a real treasure -- quiet, introspective, almost like a lullaby. And when we all hummed along to the catchy chorus, it wasn't a shout-fest, but a hushed, religious murmur. This song has never sounded more beautiful than it did at that very moment.
THIS, my dear readers, is what truly great music is all about.
The Man
In person, Jason's thin and pretty tall ( slightly less than a 6-footer I reckon ). Dressed in a simple plain white T-shirt, well-worn jeans and sporting a greenish baseball cap, he nonetheless enraptured his 1,500 fans.
His skill on the guitar is mind-boggling at times, and from my vantage point, I could see all 10 of his fingers doing their thang on the strings, woohoo. John Mayer and Eric Clapton, eat your hearts out. :)
And his voice! I'd already heard his 'live' performances on the radio in the past, and was expecting a good showing vocally, but he completely blew all that into smithereens when he delivered a pitch-perfect 90-minute showcase, despite the absence of any breaks and maybe 3 swigs from a mineral water bottle during the entire course of the concert.
His studio recordings on the albums almost always feature a full band, so you may not totally appreciate the crystal clarity and power of his pipes. But last night, with the excellent acoustics of the Concert Hall and the bare minimum of just a guitar and bongo drums, Jason's vocal gift took flight, right up to the rafters and beyond.
Like he sang in one sweet little ditty about wanting to visit outer space, those spine-tingling glory notes took us all up to the stars. Whether he was belting out a rock number or exercising his divine falsetto, this guy could do no wrong. I felt tears sting my eyes. And my heart skipped a beat. Yow. :)
Last but not least, there's the humour! There were SO MANY gems I can't possibly recall every single one at this time, but if I remember any I missed out they'll get posted stat. Of course, if you were there too and have any to add, please do so in the comments section!
Example #1: During Our House, Jason asked the audience to sing the chorus. After a couple of trial runs, he requested that only the ladies sing, but got a bashful, lukewarm response. He thanked "the four of you who represented everyone else", then asked the guys to take over. Huge difference, which was hilarious ( I could hear all the dudes around me belting their guts out ), after which Jason quipped, "AND NOW THE TRANSGENDERS!" No-one knew how quite to react, but percussionist Toca gamely opened his mouth, and the crowd roared. :D
Example #2: His witty impromptu lyrics, the earliest of which included a change in the words to Plane right at the end. He started to sing "Gotta get myself off the floor / Gotta get to Singapore" to loud cheers of appreciation. He loves to start and end each song with a little improv routine, be it some funny humming or cute verses or one-liners. While singing "It's gonna be a long, long time", he suddenly told us "It's true, this could be the entire show. We can do this for the next 90 minutes. It's REALLY going to be a long, long time!"
Example #3: Somewhere in the middle of the show, Jason remarked how beautiful the Concert Hall is, and how he felt they should've dressed a little better for the gig. He then said he wanted to sing in a more appropriate fashion, and went straight into a very competent operatic falsetto, complemented wonderfully by Toca. I loved it!
Example #4: His anecdote about the food. You see, someone sent a hamper of food to Jason's room Thursday night, and he claims he didn't know who was responsible ( although I'm dead sure it's one of the organizers ). He said he didn't eat it, but "I slept with it. Placed it on the bed next to me, put a blanket over it and whispered into the cake..." What a riot! :D
Of course, Toca was the perfect sidekick. All dreadlocks and toothy grins, he punctuated key moments with a trademark decrescendo-ing guffaw ( HA-ha-ha-ha-ha ), initially not even speaking a word, until Jason commented that "Laughter is the official language where Toca comes from". Heh heh heh!
The Audience
I loved the crowd! Mixture of young ( teenagers to undergrads ) to older ( yuppies, Mediacorp artistes ) and much older ( my mom was with me, more on her comments later ).
Very enthusiastic, very into Jason's music ( hence those singalongs were fantastic, especially on You And I Both -- we sang the whole chorus while Jason just stood back and soaked it all in, eyes closed, a whimsical smile on his face, before whispering ( I heard it! Did you? ) "That was nice." at the end of our bit. AAAHHHHH :))
Lots of cheeky greetings and even cheekier questions. Rapturous applause. At least 2-3 standing ovations. What a night!
Famous faces spotted in the crowd: Taufik ( our Singapore Idol ) and Adrian Pang.
The Autographs
Many many many thanks to the lovely lady who helped me yet again in my quest to get a signature from the divine Mr. Mraz. No autograph signing session post-concert, so I will treasure this forever.
My Mom's Review
Believe it or not, she LOVED the show! She isn't actually a fan, but was extremely taken with his music, and loosened up in the 2nd half, during which I spotted her laughing really hard whenever he cracked a joke. She rates it at least 9/10, but still prefers Michael Buble ( of course :)). However, she also thinks Jason and Taylor Hicks ( the American Idol 5 finalist ) are very much alike -- passionate about their craft, great showmanship, effortless at capturing audiences.
So there you have it. :)
The Esplanade has done well this year, with the likes of Kings of Convenience and Jason Mraz in the line-up. Am greatly looking forward to the next Mosaic Music Festival. And I hope Jason will return to Singapore very soon at a much larger venue, so more can experience the magic for themselves.
I actually sneaked about 5-6 photos on my digital camera. Prohibited, yes, but c'mon, you can't expect die-hard fans in the first few rows to NOT want pictures of the dude, can you? Considering the fact that a meet-and-greet wasn't even organized?
Will post 1 or 2 pictures at a later date. Stay tuned.
I'm on a timer here 'cos I have to drop my mum off at church then rush to work later.
Oh boy... where do I begin? :)
I remember how, after the show ended, I grappled with my attempt at reshuffling my personal choices for Top 3 performances thus far, and finally decided that it's time to do away with that restriction and just classify them all into different categories, 'cos I've seen way too many great shows in this lifetime.
So yes, last night was UNBELIEVABLE. ABSOLUTELY MIND-BLOWING. HEAVENLY. A TOUR DE FORCE. A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF MUSICAL GENIUS.
And the dude was just 10 feet away, right in front of my 3rd row centre seat. *thud*
The Music
If you're not familiar with Mraz's albums, I strongly suggest you drop by a CD store the next time you're able, sample both and, hopefully, purchase them in the same sitting.
He writes and arranges his own compositions, and catapulted to stardom with his debut effort, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, released in 2002. The famous tracks You And I Both and The Remedy ( I Won't Worry ) sealed his reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and his latest, Mr. A-Z ( 2005 ), only illustrates this fact even more brilliantly.
Jason opened the show with a breath-taking rendition of Plane ( off Mr. A-Z ), beginning with a soft, relaxed whistling routine then sliding smoothly into a leisurely guitar riff, later joined by percussionist Toca Rivera on the bongo drums, before launching into whispery vocals.
Wow.
Those first few minutes were only a mere taste of what was to follow. The next 1.5 hours were pure bliss, with gorgeous acoustic versions of Wordplay, Geek In The Pink, Life Is Wonderful, Please Don't Tell Her, The Boy's Gone, You And I Both and The Remedy.
He also sang perhaps 4 or 5 songs I'd never heard before -- whether it's new material or covers, they were all amazing and captivated the full-capacity audience from start to finish.
However, he almost brought the house down with a medley of 2 covers, kicking off with Talking Heads' Our House, during which he got the audience to do a little singalong, later transitioning seamlessly into the Black-Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love? The latter sounded 100 times better than the original ( especially when you consider what poor 'live' performers the Peas are -- I've seen enough of their sub-standard work on awards shows to form an opinion ). Jason took a bass-heavy hip-hop piece and transformed it into a real treasure -- quiet, introspective, almost like a lullaby. And when we all hummed along to the catchy chorus, it wasn't a shout-fest, but a hushed, religious murmur. This song has never sounded more beautiful than it did at that very moment.
THIS, my dear readers, is what truly great music is all about.
The Man
In person, Jason's thin and pretty tall ( slightly less than a 6-footer I reckon ). Dressed in a simple plain white T-shirt, well-worn jeans and sporting a greenish baseball cap, he nonetheless enraptured his 1,500 fans.
His skill on the guitar is mind-boggling at times, and from my vantage point, I could see all 10 of his fingers doing their thang on the strings, woohoo. John Mayer and Eric Clapton, eat your hearts out. :)
And his voice! I'd already heard his 'live' performances on the radio in the past, and was expecting a good showing vocally, but he completely blew all that into smithereens when he delivered a pitch-perfect 90-minute showcase, despite the absence of any breaks and maybe 3 swigs from a mineral water bottle during the entire course of the concert.
His studio recordings on the albums almost always feature a full band, so you may not totally appreciate the crystal clarity and power of his pipes. But last night, with the excellent acoustics of the Concert Hall and the bare minimum of just a guitar and bongo drums, Jason's vocal gift took flight, right up to the rafters and beyond.
Like he sang in one sweet little ditty about wanting to visit outer space, those spine-tingling glory notes took us all up to the stars. Whether he was belting out a rock number or exercising his divine falsetto, this guy could do no wrong. I felt tears sting my eyes. And my heart skipped a beat. Yow. :)
Last but not least, there's the humour! There were SO MANY gems I can't possibly recall every single one at this time, but if I remember any I missed out they'll get posted stat. Of course, if you were there too and have any to add, please do so in the comments section!
Example #1: During Our House, Jason asked the audience to sing the chorus. After a couple of trial runs, he requested that only the ladies sing, but got a bashful, lukewarm response. He thanked "the four of you who represented everyone else", then asked the guys to take over. Huge difference, which was hilarious ( I could hear all the dudes around me belting their guts out ), after which Jason quipped, "AND NOW THE TRANSGENDERS!" No-one knew how quite to react, but percussionist Toca gamely opened his mouth, and the crowd roared. :D
Example #2: His witty impromptu lyrics, the earliest of which included a change in the words to Plane right at the end. He started to sing "Gotta get myself off the floor / Gotta get to Singapore" to loud cheers of appreciation. He loves to start and end each song with a little improv routine, be it some funny humming or cute verses or one-liners. While singing "It's gonna be a long, long time", he suddenly told us "It's true, this could be the entire show. We can do this for the next 90 minutes. It's REALLY going to be a long, long time!"
Example #3: Somewhere in the middle of the show, Jason remarked how beautiful the Concert Hall is, and how he felt they should've dressed a little better for the gig. He then said he wanted to sing in a more appropriate fashion, and went straight into a very competent operatic falsetto, complemented wonderfully by Toca. I loved it!
Example #4: His anecdote about the food. You see, someone sent a hamper of food to Jason's room Thursday night, and he claims he didn't know who was responsible ( although I'm dead sure it's one of the organizers ). He said he didn't eat it, but "I slept with it. Placed it on the bed next to me, put a blanket over it and whispered into the cake..." What a riot! :D
Of course, Toca was the perfect sidekick. All dreadlocks and toothy grins, he punctuated key moments with a trademark decrescendo-ing guffaw ( HA-ha-ha-ha-ha ), initially not even speaking a word, until Jason commented that "Laughter is the official language where Toca comes from". Heh heh heh!
The Audience
I loved the crowd! Mixture of young ( teenagers to undergrads ) to older ( yuppies, Mediacorp artistes ) and much older ( my mom was with me, more on her comments later ).
Very enthusiastic, very into Jason's music ( hence those singalongs were fantastic, especially on You And I Both -- we sang the whole chorus while Jason just stood back and soaked it all in, eyes closed, a whimsical smile on his face, before whispering ( I heard it! Did you? ) "That was nice." at the end of our bit. AAAHHHHH :))
Lots of cheeky greetings and even cheekier questions. Rapturous applause. At least 2-3 standing ovations. What a night!
Famous faces spotted in the crowd: Taufik ( our Singapore Idol ) and Adrian Pang.
The Autographs
Many many many thanks to the lovely lady who helped me yet again in my quest to get a signature from the divine Mr. Mraz. No autograph signing session post-concert, so I will treasure this forever.
My Mom's Review
Believe it or not, she LOVED the show! She isn't actually a fan, but was extremely taken with his music, and loosened up in the 2nd half, during which I spotted her laughing really hard whenever he cracked a joke. She rates it at least 9/10, but still prefers Michael Buble ( of course :)). However, she also thinks Jason and Taylor Hicks ( the American Idol 5 finalist ) are very much alike -- passionate about their craft, great showmanship, effortless at capturing audiences.
So there you have it. :)
The Esplanade has done well this year, with the likes of Kings of Convenience and Jason Mraz in the line-up. Am greatly looking forward to the next Mosaic Music Festival. And I hope Jason will return to Singapore very soon at a much larger venue, so more can experience the magic for themselves.
I actually sneaked about 5-6 photos on my digital camera. Prohibited, yes, but c'mon, you can't expect die-hard fans in the first few rows to NOT want pictures of the dude, can you? Considering the fact that a meet-and-greet wasn't even organized?
Will post 1 or 2 pictures at a later date. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Whoa!
1. I made it through the last 10 days of crazy shifts intact. Woohoo!
2. Taylor Hicks wowed my socks off tonight with his latest performance! This dude is actually becoming quite sexy, imagine that. :) I want him to win. Reaaaaally bad.
3. A surgical professor recognized me during a mass casualty exercise the other day. Stuck out his hand and said it was "a great pleasure" to meet me. I was too dumbfounded to phrase an intelligent reply, but I offer a retrospective, sincere "thank you very much, sir". :)
4. The orthopaedic MO-on-call a few nights ago rejected a referral for acute osteomyelitis. However, thanks to the A&E consultants' veto rights, my senior-on-shift approved my request to ship the patient up to the ortho ward ANYWAY. No complaints so far. Ahhh, it felt goooood.
5. Patients perishing from outright exsanguination are few and far between ( excluding the usual horrendous RTA cases at least ). Terminal cancers are scary. Still vividly recall a gentleman with NPC who burst his carotid artery a year ago. Last night, a lady with advanced CA cervix died after a MASSIVE PR bleed. Premorbid state was already poor, but we went the extra mile with 7 pints of fluids, 1 pint of blood, 3 peripheral iv lines, 1 intraosseous needle ( we have the kit, with a drill and everything ), iv atropine / adrenaline, stopping just short of an intubation. Unfortunately, we couldn't save her, and once in a while, I feel something that goes beyond the usual disappointment and fatigue. Yesterday, I paused yet again as I filled out her death certificate, staring at the healthy, young woman smiling from the NRIC photo.
Sometimes, being a doctor is a lot toughter than one can ever possibly imagine. And I'm not talking about the hours or exams.
TV Updates
Seinfeld is currently airing reruns. All NINE seasons of them. For 6 whole months! Starworld Channel 18 every weeknight at 7:30pm. MUST NOT MISS!
House reruns are on the way. Apparently "by popular demand". Watch for these on AXN Channel 19.
If you missed the better part of Grey's Anatomy Season 1, fret not, as Starworld will air this in April, starting from the pilot. I didn't really like the show much initially, but I gotta say, it's kind of growing on me. George O'Malley is quite cute, no? :)
Lost Season 2 is due to return 30 March!
And of course, American Idol 5 boasts perhaps the best lineup ever ( not even Season 2 compares, save for Clay Aiken ). The final 12 are upping their game and letting it rip. Time magazine predicts the top 4 will be Paris, Katharine, Ace and Taylor, but I just want Taylor to win. He's so darn excellent! :D
Am currently reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Was prompted by the recent Oscar buzz. Haven't had any time to watch any movies this year, but I plan to read the novel then catch the film if possible. Preliminary reviews are good. I'm a fan of compelling, slow burners -- I'm quite obsessed with Thomas Hardy and John Berendt -- so Capote's detailed character studies are right up my alley. Wealthy family slaughtered in an otherwise quiet small town. Neighbours start locking their doors, people start talking, secrets unravel. I always worry that a book I'm enjoying just a little too much will end up disappointing, but I have a good feeling about this one.
Next on my list of to-do's: a blissful evening with the divine Jason Mraz this Friday. Review to follow this weekend. :)
1. I made it through the last 10 days of crazy shifts intact. Woohoo!
2. Taylor Hicks wowed my socks off tonight with his latest performance! This dude is actually becoming quite sexy, imagine that. :) I want him to win. Reaaaaally bad.
3. A surgical professor recognized me during a mass casualty exercise the other day. Stuck out his hand and said it was "a great pleasure" to meet me. I was too dumbfounded to phrase an intelligent reply, but I offer a retrospective, sincere "thank you very much, sir". :)
4. The orthopaedic MO-on-call a few nights ago rejected a referral for acute osteomyelitis. However, thanks to the A&E consultants' veto rights, my senior-on-shift approved my request to ship the patient up to the ortho ward ANYWAY. No complaints so far. Ahhh, it felt goooood.
5. Patients perishing from outright exsanguination are few and far between ( excluding the usual horrendous RTA cases at least ). Terminal cancers are scary. Still vividly recall a gentleman with NPC who burst his carotid artery a year ago. Last night, a lady with advanced CA cervix died after a MASSIVE PR bleed. Premorbid state was already poor, but we went the extra mile with 7 pints of fluids, 1 pint of blood, 3 peripheral iv lines, 1 intraosseous needle ( we have the kit, with a drill and everything ), iv atropine / adrenaline, stopping just short of an intubation. Unfortunately, we couldn't save her, and once in a while, I feel something that goes beyond the usual disappointment and fatigue. Yesterday, I paused yet again as I filled out her death certificate, staring at the healthy, young woman smiling from the NRIC photo.
Sometimes, being a doctor is a lot toughter than one can ever possibly imagine. And I'm not talking about the hours or exams.
TV Updates
Seinfeld is currently airing reruns. All NINE seasons of them. For 6 whole months! Starworld Channel 18 every weeknight at 7:30pm. MUST NOT MISS!
House reruns are on the way. Apparently "by popular demand". Watch for these on AXN Channel 19.
If you missed the better part of Grey's Anatomy Season 1, fret not, as Starworld will air this in April, starting from the pilot. I didn't really like the show much initially, but I gotta say, it's kind of growing on me. George O'Malley is quite cute, no? :)
Lost Season 2 is due to return 30 March!
And of course, American Idol 5 boasts perhaps the best lineup ever ( not even Season 2 compares, save for Clay Aiken ). The final 12 are upping their game and letting it rip. Time magazine predicts the top 4 will be Paris, Katharine, Ace and Taylor, but I just want Taylor to win. He's so darn excellent! :D
Am currently reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Was prompted by the recent Oscar buzz. Haven't had any time to watch any movies this year, but I plan to read the novel then catch the film if possible. Preliminary reviews are good. I'm a fan of compelling, slow burners -- I'm quite obsessed with Thomas Hardy and John Berendt -- so Capote's detailed character studies are right up my alley. Wealthy family slaughtered in an otherwise quiet small town. Neighbours start locking their doors, people start talking, secrets unravel. I always worry that a book I'm enjoying just a little too much will end up disappointing, but I have a good feeling about this one.
Next on my list of to-do's: a blissful evening with the divine Jason Mraz this Friday. Review to follow this weekend. :)
Monday, March 06, 2006
Short Pre-lunch Rant
The weekend was FANTASTIC, but I've got 10 straight days of work ( starting now ) so who knows when I'll next post something.
To cut a long story short, the recently concluded emergency medicine Annual Scientific Meeting was truly INSPIRATIONAL. In large part thanks to Prof. Colin Robertson, who edits the latest version of MacLeod's Clinical Examination, co-authors the excellent and indispensable Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine, and is a really REALLY nice person to boot.
Expounding on the merits of ER physicians in his gentle Scottish accent the other day, he boosted both morales and egos by stating what many are either too arrogant ( those NOT in e-med ) or too humble ( those who are ) to even suggest.
This was a closed-door thing, so I'm not going to quote him. Suffice to say, it dispelled a lot of the frustration I ( and countless others ) have been battling for the longest time, and gave me new insight into my personal motivations and the vital roles ER physicians play in the healthcare system.
I will mention something else Prof. Roberson said though:
"I've been an ED physician for 30 years, and I have NEVER once heard anyone say that they're bored. They may say they're exhausted. They may say they're frustrated. But THEY ARE NEVER BORED."
How right he is. :)
In other news, my Saturday afternoon shift turned out to be peptic-ulcer-inducing, NO thanks to a certain specialist who came down for a consult and almost drove my consultant and I mad. Nice chap, I'm told, and very senior ( he recently returned from an extended research sabbatical ) but he made some extremely dubious decisions and scared the hell out of even his own fellow specialists ( who are more junior but a lot less rusty clinical-wise ). Thank goodness the patient didn't suffer significantly ( except for a rather unnecessary visit to the CT room ). And granted, the specialist called my consultant later to apologize and provide an update of the patient's progress in the ward.
Oh well, as long as someone learnt something and no-one died.
Another incident which worsened my IBS is a certain MO ( whom I shall call X ), who almost sabotaged me. I believe it wasn't deliberate, but I just can't understand why, after 5 whole months in our department, X still possesses no independent thinking skills, almost always takes a grossly inadequate history, seldom exhibits any tinge of resourcefulness, and likes to argue when a senior points out deficiencies in his/her management.
This has happened so many times I've become pretty immune, but when I almost kena ambushed, my blood started to boil.
I shall not provide details here, but those working closely with me have already heard the facts and been duly warned to be extra-vigilant. I'm hoping X will quickly leave us once the next MOPEX rotation comes round. If not, I will personally recommend for X's physical removal from the ER.
Am tempted to scold X severely, but am too tired at the moment. Sigh.
The Oscars Cometh
I asked a male friend ( who's straight ) what he thought of Brokeback Mountain ( which I haven't seen ). His reply: It was boring. I dozed off.
Interesting. :)
I haven't seen any film in the cinema since King Kong. Am starting to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Anyhow, perhaps I'll write something after Jason Mraz's concert March 17. Hear it's selling out fast. aliendoc: Have you bought your tickets yet? I have. :)
Argh, wanted to review Mraz's latest album, Mr. A-Z, which I bought a week ago and have been blasting till I got tinnitus. In brief summary, it's EXCELLENT, and far better than his debut ( Waiting For My Rocket To Come ). I especially love Bella Luna ( best track ) and O. Lover ( very raw, very sexy ). What I enjoy most is how he's matured so much yet retained his trademark styles ( ie. cool wordplay, catchy rock-pop fusion, still that endearing boyish quality ).
May do a track-by-track review one of these days. If I survive the next week.
Haha.
The weekend was FANTASTIC, but I've got 10 straight days of work ( starting now ) so who knows when I'll next post something.
To cut a long story short, the recently concluded emergency medicine Annual Scientific Meeting was truly INSPIRATIONAL. In large part thanks to Prof. Colin Robertson, who edits the latest version of MacLeod's Clinical Examination, co-authors the excellent and indispensable Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine, and is a really REALLY nice person to boot.
Expounding on the merits of ER physicians in his gentle Scottish accent the other day, he boosted both morales and egos by stating what many are either too arrogant ( those NOT in e-med ) or too humble ( those who are ) to even suggest.
This was a closed-door thing, so I'm not going to quote him. Suffice to say, it dispelled a lot of the frustration I ( and countless others ) have been battling for the longest time, and gave me new insight into my personal motivations and the vital roles ER physicians play in the healthcare system.
I will mention something else Prof. Roberson said though:
"I've been an ED physician for 30 years, and I have NEVER once heard anyone say that they're bored. They may say they're exhausted. They may say they're frustrated. But THEY ARE NEVER BORED."
How right he is. :)
In other news, my Saturday afternoon shift turned out to be peptic-ulcer-inducing, NO thanks to a certain specialist who came down for a consult and almost drove my consultant and I mad. Nice chap, I'm told, and very senior ( he recently returned from an extended research sabbatical ) but he made some extremely dubious decisions and scared the hell out of even his own fellow specialists ( who are more junior but a lot less rusty clinical-wise ). Thank goodness the patient didn't suffer significantly ( except for a rather unnecessary visit to the CT room ). And granted, the specialist called my consultant later to apologize and provide an update of the patient's progress in the ward.
Oh well, as long as someone learnt something and no-one died.
Another incident which worsened my IBS is a certain MO ( whom I shall call X ), who almost sabotaged me. I believe it wasn't deliberate, but I just can't understand why, after 5 whole months in our department, X still possesses no independent thinking skills, almost always takes a grossly inadequate history, seldom exhibits any tinge of resourcefulness, and likes to argue when a senior points out deficiencies in his/her management.
This has happened so many times I've become pretty immune, but when I almost kena ambushed, my blood started to boil.
I shall not provide details here, but those working closely with me have already heard the facts and been duly warned to be extra-vigilant. I'm hoping X will quickly leave us once the next MOPEX rotation comes round. If not, I will personally recommend for X's physical removal from the ER.
Am tempted to scold X severely, but am too tired at the moment. Sigh.
The Oscars Cometh
I asked a male friend ( who's straight ) what he thought of Brokeback Mountain ( which I haven't seen ). His reply: It was boring. I dozed off.
Interesting. :)
I haven't seen any film in the cinema since King Kong. Am starting to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Anyhow, perhaps I'll write something after Jason Mraz's concert March 17. Hear it's selling out fast. aliendoc: Have you bought your tickets yet? I have. :)
Argh, wanted to review Mraz's latest album, Mr. A-Z, which I bought a week ago and have been blasting till I got tinnitus. In brief summary, it's EXCELLENT, and far better than his debut ( Waiting For My Rocket To Come ). I especially love Bella Luna ( best track ) and O. Lover ( very raw, very sexy ). What I enjoy most is how he's matured so much yet retained his trademark styles ( ie. cool wordplay, catchy rock-pop fusion, still that endearing boyish quality ).
May do a track-by-track review one of these days. If I survive the next week.
Haha.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
It's A Kind Of Magic
It's been an exciting week. :) And it's only Thursday!
Patrizio Buanne's concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 22nd February 2006
As you know, I adore this fellow. Not as much as I love Clay Aiken, Michael Buble and all the jazz guys, but considering how few of these "semi-operatic" albums I gravitate to ( didn't enjoy Il Divo at all, but I suspect they're a lot better 'live' ), Patrizio ranks right up there in this particular genre.
Just 6 months after his last visit here for a lovely showcase, he's back for a full performance, with an impressively large orchestra and a wide repertoire comprising favourites as well as new material.
After a rather lengthy opening speech by Gold 90FM DJ Brian Richmond ( who may have been buying time for a ??tardy Patrizio ), things finally got off to a 15-minute late start. Following an instrumental version of Il Mondo, the tall, dark and handsome Italian strolled out to belt Man Without Love in pitch-perfect vocals.
Let me just congratulate the sound team from last night. I sat right behind the console but hunkered down a little so their lights wouldn't bother me, but kudos to them for an unbelievably fantastic job. I've attended loads of concerts at this venue, but yesterday's acoustics were absolutely beautiful. Patrizio's voice blended seamlessly with the orchestra without ever being drowned out. It was so crystal clear I could pick out every single lyric. Except for one second of mild feedback whining, the whole thing was perfect.
As for the man himself, ahhh, words fail me. Nah, of course I'm kidding. :)
Clad in an outfit which looks identical to what he wore during his Singapore stopover, Patrizio has remained just as slim, and just as charming. Initially a tad bowled over by the gorgeous interior of the hall ( and I quote, "Wow" ), he quickly warmed up to the appreciative audience, launching into a string of crowd-pleasers like Come Prima, On An Evening In Roma, Parla Piu Piano, Il Mondo and Che Sara.
With the odd improvisation and spine-tingling glory note, plus some sexy Latin dance moves ( check out that unexpected spin! ), he was definitely on a major high, even "accidentally" leaking the location of his hotel in case anyone was interested in a post-show party, heh. :)
New material included his cover of Dean Martin's That's Amore, which starts of in the usual slow-waltz style, then snaps into a toe-tapping swing with a big band riff. ( Yow! ) Then there's his goosebump-inducing impersonation of Elvis Presley on It's Now Or Never ( preceded by O Sole Mio, on which the Elvis tune is based ). And get this, Patrizio plays the guitar like a pro! I did not expect him to whip it out and strum the strings with such skill. And he sounds EXACTLY like the late King of Rock 'N Roll. I kid you not. My mom, who's always been a huge fan of Elvis, couldn't stop beaming. And for just a few minutes, the entire concert hall was filled with a voice that did the King 100% justice.
Patrizio also sang Quando Quando Quando ( recently done by Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado ), and later proffered another new piece from his next album ( due in August ) -- a soothing Napolitan song which will no doubt be a big hit.
However, the evening wouldn't have been the success it was without his effusive personality. Rest assured that Patrizio is the same whether on stage in front of thousands, or with a small group of people in a nondescript room. I still remember how he kept talking to my mom and I about Italy when we met him last August, and so he did yesterday, even giving the reason that "I'm Italian so I like to talk a lot". He also did a "Michael Buble" -- ie. literally jumping off-stage ( no stairs provided ) to walk up to the back of the hall to shake hands and pose for pictures, but only after stating strictly that "no touching allowed" ( to pacify the security staff ). He came right up to the row we were sitting in, but we were somewhere in the centre, so I didn't manage to squeeze out to the aisle to say hello. But he did perch himself on the ?wall ?barrier just in front of us, and leaned in to shake hands with the sound guy, so I got a good look at him. No photos, sadly, 'cos the lighting people lacked the sense to switch the lamps on during Patrizio's little walk. A Caucasian guy behind me shouted, "Turn the lights on!" but to no avail.
As per Italiano tradition, he kissed a few women's hands, distributed roses and thanked audience members in Mandarin, Malay, Italian and French. But a young Westerner in the front row ALMOST stole the show from right under his feet when he did a very competent chorus of Il Mondo ( woohoo! ). Even funnier still was how, when Patrizio attempted to take the mike back, this dude ( who looks like he's in his 30s ) hung onto it for dear life, resulting in a tug-of-war which was hilarious. :D
Despite expressing a public appeal to the organizers to let him do a post-show autograph session, it didn't happen, and many crestfallen fans left empty-handed. Even contacts within the recording company couldn't get around the situation when I asked if a friend's friends had any chance of getting signatures.
So I'm grateful for the privilege last year. And I wish Patrizio great success for many years to come. :)
American Idol 5 -- The Best So Far
Ever since Clay Aiken bowled everyone over in Season 2, I've been pretty bored by the likes of Fantasia, Carrie and Bo. Constantine Maroulis was very promising, but ( at least according to rumour ) got himself booted off when his band decided to release their album to cash in on their ex-lead singer's fame.
This year, though, is proving to be a smorgasbord of talent.
Here's a complete list of the last 24 standing.
I will admit that I'm usually partial to male singers, but last night's list of gals was more than delectable. My top picks include:
1. Ayla Brown -- this 17-year-old high school basketball star who secured a college sports scholarship is gorgeous, mature, humble and boasts a US Senator for a father. She's got a strong, rich tone and admirable voice control, knocking Christina Aguilera's Reflection miles out of the stadium.
2. Katharine McPhee -- another very beautiful young lady, whose mother is a vocal teacher. This girl has so much charisma and the camera just loves her. With translucent, flawless complexion, a winsome smile, and loads of showmanship, she had the chops to cover a Barbra Streisand piece and do it really, REALLY well. Wow.
3. Paris Bennett -- only 17 and already a pro. After causing jaws to drop with her Billie Holiday impressions, she went ahead with Gladys Knight's Midnight Train To Georgia and infused it with a mixture of awesome vocals and disarmingly youthful energy and charm. Whether she makes it to the final 3 or not, she's got a successful career waiting for her.
And now, for the lovely, lovely guys. :)
1. Ace Young -- he sang I'm In The Mood For Love during his 1st audition, and two of my most vivid memories are (1) his honey-smooth voice, and (2) those bedroom eyes. Hey, I have hormones too. :)
Through the weeks, he's proven that he's much more than just a pretty face, and demonstrated savviness in his song choice last night ( George Michael's Father Figure, which is a classic, and guaranteed to raise anyone's temperature -- unless you're a zombie ). Simon Cowell praised him for it, and another nice memory I've got stored away is (3) his beautiful hands, with those long, tapering fingers. Watch him closely and you'll know what I mean. :)
Million-dollar smile filled with sincerity and just a tinge of bashfulness. All the judges agree he's got "the X factor", and boy does he have tonnes and tonnes of it. He can just stand there and ooze sex appeal. He may very well win this competition.
2. Taylor Hicks -- lest you think I only root for the handsome ones, here's something to prove you wrong! When I watched him at the Las Vegas audition, I literally got goosebumps. This didn't happen with Ace, believe it or not, but it certainly did with Taylor. Much of it is about the voice, but it's also about the personality and the passion. I've loved music all my life ( a fact my ex never discovered, or at least didn't bother to ), and one of the things I now absolutely insist on in any guy I spend time with is that he feels as deeply about it as much as I do. It can be about anything from classical to rock to pop to jazz to R&B to alternative, but ultimately, truly great music is all about how it affects you.
And Taylor affects me in a BIG, BIG way.
He's effortless with the singing, so it's his unique style that captures the senses. He did Sam Cooke and Ray Charles in Las Vegas. Last night, it was Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was a song I wasn't familiar with, but it was technically gospel, and he did an amazing job which Simon complimented simply but significantly.
I can't WAIT to hear what he sings next week.
3. Will Makar -- aka William Makar, aka "Seth" ( the nickname my mom and I picked for him, 'cos he strongly resembles Adam Brody, who plays a character named Seth on "The O.C." ). Whenever he appears on TV, I just can't stop saying how adorable he is. It gets really bad to the point where my mom has to tell me to shut up. But it's true -- he IS adorable, yet immensely talented at the same time.
Boasting a boyish yet powerful voice that can soar on pieces like Bridge Over Troubled Water, he delivered a high-energy, pitch-perfect performance of a Jackson 5 favourite. Mixed reviews from the AI judges, but I'm confident he'll make it to at least the final 12 of the whole lot.
4. Kevin Covais -- the baby of the group who could give Josh Groban a huge run for his money. I sometimes find it so mind-boggling how certain individuals are blessed with the most amazing pipes, a few of which are so unexpected, with Kevin as a prime example. This little boy has a heart-melting tenor vibrato and almost never goes off key, no matter how tough the song. Undeniably the most well-loved in the entire gang, he's also a big favourite with the judges, who sang his praises and encouraged him to work harder to loosen up and show off his personality more.
This guy picked Brian McKnight's One Last Cry for his television debut. You gotta give him bonus points for that!
5. Patrick Hall -- another of my hot favs. Not much footage of him in the earlier stages, but his rendition of Bread's If during Hollywood Week had all the makings of a star. Not conventionally handsome and still a tad stiff on-stage, but give him a power ballad and you'll see the magic unfold. If I could vote, I'd make the call.
6. David Radford -- I rooted for him early on because of his strong jazz foundation, but he's got some work to do if he intends to stay in the running. Rather hyper-excitable during his performance of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, but this guy can be trained, and it'll be interesting to see just how much he can develop himself as the weeks wear on. If nothing else, he's a very good-looking fellow. Who knows, he may take John Stevens' path if he makes an early departure, so it's still a win-win situation.
No medical discussions today. Instead, I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that:
1. CSI ( Las Vegas ) is back on cable. Season 6 airs every Wednesday night at 10pm on AXN Channel 19, with repeats later in the week. Eric Szmanda ( who plays Greg Sanders ) has a new haircut. Yeah, that's my little tidbit for ya. :)
2. Numb3rs Season 1 is having a full re-run daily at 7pm on the same channel. Pilot episode aired last night, so don't miss any more of this terrific series. I'm going to run out of videotape very soon.
Time for a little night reading ( ie Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science ), then off to bed.
It's been an exciting week. :) And it's only Thursday!
Patrizio Buanne's concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 22nd February 2006
As you know, I adore this fellow. Not as much as I love Clay Aiken, Michael Buble and all the jazz guys, but considering how few of these "semi-operatic" albums I gravitate to ( didn't enjoy Il Divo at all, but I suspect they're a lot better 'live' ), Patrizio ranks right up there in this particular genre.
Just 6 months after his last visit here for a lovely showcase, he's back for a full performance, with an impressively large orchestra and a wide repertoire comprising favourites as well as new material.
After a rather lengthy opening speech by Gold 90FM DJ Brian Richmond ( who may have been buying time for a ??tardy Patrizio ), things finally got off to a 15-minute late start. Following an instrumental version of Il Mondo, the tall, dark and handsome Italian strolled out to belt Man Without Love in pitch-perfect vocals.
Let me just congratulate the sound team from last night. I sat right behind the console but hunkered down a little so their lights wouldn't bother me, but kudos to them for an unbelievably fantastic job. I've attended loads of concerts at this venue, but yesterday's acoustics were absolutely beautiful. Patrizio's voice blended seamlessly with the orchestra without ever being drowned out. It was so crystal clear I could pick out every single lyric. Except for one second of mild feedback whining, the whole thing was perfect.
As for the man himself, ahhh, words fail me. Nah, of course I'm kidding. :)
Clad in an outfit which looks identical to what he wore during his Singapore stopover, Patrizio has remained just as slim, and just as charming. Initially a tad bowled over by the gorgeous interior of the hall ( and I quote, "Wow" ), he quickly warmed up to the appreciative audience, launching into a string of crowd-pleasers like Come Prima, On An Evening In Roma, Parla Piu Piano, Il Mondo and Che Sara.
With the odd improvisation and spine-tingling glory note, plus some sexy Latin dance moves ( check out that unexpected spin! ), he was definitely on a major high, even "accidentally" leaking the location of his hotel in case anyone was interested in a post-show party, heh. :)
New material included his cover of Dean Martin's That's Amore, which starts of in the usual slow-waltz style, then snaps into a toe-tapping swing with a big band riff. ( Yow! ) Then there's his goosebump-inducing impersonation of Elvis Presley on It's Now Or Never ( preceded by O Sole Mio, on which the Elvis tune is based ). And get this, Patrizio plays the guitar like a pro! I did not expect him to whip it out and strum the strings with such skill. And he sounds EXACTLY like the late King of Rock 'N Roll. I kid you not. My mom, who's always been a huge fan of Elvis, couldn't stop beaming. And for just a few minutes, the entire concert hall was filled with a voice that did the King 100% justice.
Patrizio also sang Quando Quando Quando ( recently done by Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado ), and later proffered another new piece from his next album ( due in August ) -- a soothing Napolitan song which will no doubt be a big hit.
However, the evening wouldn't have been the success it was without his effusive personality. Rest assured that Patrizio is the same whether on stage in front of thousands, or with a small group of people in a nondescript room. I still remember how he kept talking to my mom and I about Italy when we met him last August, and so he did yesterday, even giving the reason that "I'm Italian so I like to talk a lot". He also did a "Michael Buble" -- ie. literally jumping off-stage ( no stairs provided ) to walk up to the back of the hall to shake hands and pose for pictures, but only after stating strictly that "no touching allowed" ( to pacify the security staff ). He came right up to the row we were sitting in, but we were somewhere in the centre, so I didn't manage to squeeze out to the aisle to say hello. But he did perch himself on the ?wall ?barrier just in front of us, and leaned in to shake hands with the sound guy, so I got a good look at him. No photos, sadly, 'cos the lighting people lacked the sense to switch the lamps on during Patrizio's little walk. A Caucasian guy behind me shouted, "Turn the lights on!" but to no avail.
As per Italiano tradition, he kissed a few women's hands, distributed roses and thanked audience members in Mandarin, Malay, Italian and French. But a young Westerner in the front row ALMOST stole the show from right under his feet when he did a very competent chorus of Il Mondo ( woohoo! ). Even funnier still was how, when Patrizio attempted to take the mike back, this dude ( who looks like he's in his 30s ) hung onto it for dear life, resulting in a tug-of-war which was hilarious. :D
Despite expressing a public appeal to the organizers to let him do a post-show autograph session, it didn't happen, and many crestfallen fans left empty-handed. Even contacts within the recording company couldn't get around the situation when I asked if a friend's friends had any chance of getting signatures.
So I'm grateful for the privilege last year. And I wish Patrizio great success for many years to come. :)
American Idol 5 -- The Best So Far
Ever since Clay Aiken bowled everyone over in Season 2, I've been pretty bored by the likes of Fantasia, Carrie and Bo. Constantine Maroulis was very promising, but ( at least according to rumour ) got himself booted off when his band decided to release their album to cash in on their ex-lead singer's fame.
This year, though, is proving to be a smorgasbord of talent.
Here's a complete list of the last 24 standing.
I will admit that I'm usually partial to male singers, but last night's list of gals was more than delectable. My top picks include:
1. Ayla Brown -- this 17-year-old high school basketball star who secured a college sports scholarship is gorgeous, mature, humble and boasts a US Senator for a father. She's got a strong, rich tone and admirable voice control, knocking Christina Aguilera's Reflection miles out of the stadium.
2. Katharine McPhee -- another very beautiful young lady, whose mother is a vocal teacher. This girl has so much charisma and the camera just loves her. With translucent, flawless complexion, a winsome smile, and loads of showmanship, she had the chops to cover a Barbra Streisand piece and do it really, REALLY well. Wow.
3. Paris Bennett -- only 17 and already a pro. After causing jaws to drop with her Billie Holiday impressions, she went ahead with Gladys Knight's Midnight Train To Georgia and infused it with a mixture of awesome vocals and disarmingly youthful energy and charm. Whether she makes it to the final 3 or not, she's got a successful career waiting for her.
And now, for the lovely, lovely guys. :)
1. Ace Young -- he sang I'm In The Mood For Love during his 1st audition, and two of my most vivid memories are (1) his honey-smooth voice, and (2) those bedroom eyes. Hey, I have hormones too. :)
Through the weeks, he's proven that he's much more than just a pretty face, and demonstrated savviness in his song choice last night ( George Michael's Father Figure, which is a classic, and guaranteed to raise anyone's temperature -- unless you're a zombie ). Simon Cowell praised him for it, and another nice memory I've got stored away is (3) his beautiful hands, with those long, tapering fingers. Watch him closely and you'll know what I mean. :)
Million-dollar smile filled with sincerity and just a tinge of bashfulness. All the judges agree he's got "the X factor", and boy does he have tonnes and tonnes of it. He can just stand there and ooze sex appeal. He may very well win this competition.
2. Taylor Hicks -- lest you think I only root for the handsome ones, here's something to prove you wrong! When I watched him at the Las Vegas audition, I literally got goosebumps. This didn't happen with Ace, believe it or not, but it certainly did with Taylor. Much of it is about the voice, but it's also about the personality and the passion. I've loved music all my life ( a fact my ex never discovered, or at least didn't bother to ), and one of the things I now absolutely insist on in any guy I spend time with is that he feels as deeply about it as much as I do. It can be about anything from classical to rock to pop to jazz to R&B to alternative, but ultimately, truly great music is all about how it affects you.
And Taylor affects me in a BIG, BIG way.
He's effortless with the singing, so it's his unique style that captures the senses. He did Sam Cooke and Ray Charles in Las Vegas. Last night, it was Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was a song I wasn't familiar with, but it was technically gospel, and he did an amazing job which Simon complimented simply but significantly.
I can't WAIT to hear what he sings next week.
3. Will Makar -- aka William Makar, aka "Seth" ( the nickname my mom and I picked for him, 'cos he strongly resembles Adam Brody, who plays a character named Seth on "The O.C." ). Whenever he appears on TV, I just can't stop saying how adorable he is. It gets really bad to the point where my mom has to tell me to shut up. But it's true -- he IS adorable, yet immensely talented at the same time.
Boasting a boyish yet powerful voice that can soar on pieces like Bridge Over Troubled Water, he delivered a high-energy, pitch-perfect performance of a Jackson 5 favourite. Mixed reviews from the AI judges, but I'm confident he'll make it to at least the final 12 of the whole lot.
4. Kevin Covais -- the baby of the group who could give Josh Groban a huge run for his money. I sometimes find it so mind-boggling how certain individuals are blessed with the most amazing pipes, a few of which are so unexpected, with Kevin as a prime example. This little boy has a heart-melting tenor vibrato and almost never goes off key, no matter how tough the song. Undeniably the most well-loved in the entire gang, he's also a big favourite with the judges, who sang his praises and encouraged him to work harder to loosen up and show off his personality more.
This guy picked Brian McKnight's One Last Cry for his television debut. You gotta give him bonus points for that!
5. Patrick Hall -- another of my hot favs. Not much footage of him in the earlier stages, but his rendition of Bread's If during Hollywood Week had all the makings of a star. Not conventionally handsome and still a tad stiff on-stage, but give him a power ballad and you'll see the magic unfold. If I could vote, I'd make the call.
6. David Radford -- I rooted for him early on because of his strong jazz foundation, but he's got some work to do if he intends to stay in the running. Rather hyper-excitable during his performance of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, but this guy can be trained, and it'll be interesting to see just how much he can develop himself as the weeks wear on. If nothing else, he's a very good-looking fellow. Who knows, he may take John Stevens' path if he makes an early departure, so it's still a win-win situation.
No medical discussions today. Instead, I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that:
1. CSI ( Las Vegas ) is back on cable. Season 6 airs every Wednesday night at 10pm on AXN Channel 19, with repeats later in the week. Eric Szmanda ( who plays Greg Sanders ) has a new haircut. Yeah, that's my little tidbit for ya. :)
2. Numb3rs Season 1 is having a full re-run daily at 7pm on the same channel. Pilot episode aired last night, so don't miss any more of this terrific series. I'm going to run out of videotape very soon.
Time for a little night reading ( ie Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science ), then off to bed.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Argh
Life's just a continuous line of hurdles. Another one down, 10 million more to go.
March is going to be hell.
To everyone who's emailed but received no reply as yet, I humbly beg for your forgiveness. Seems you all asked a few common questions, so:
1. I will be tied up indefinitely. No chance of a dinner, drinks or toilet break.
2. I can't find the time to watch Brokeback Mountain, but thanks for the invite.
3. I'd love to hear more about the Mayo Clinic. Next coherent email, I promise.
4. Great job on the latest SEMS newsletter.
In Other News
Decided to put the US trip on hold. Need a proper holiday break. And soon. Thus, a switch to tour Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria this July. Looking forward to Mozart's 250th anniversary celebrations. :)
Another ST headline worth laughing over: the day the feature titled "Bed shortage problem solved" came out, one A&E closed and informed us there were FORTY patients waiting for beds, so we couldn't transfer their old cases back ( ie. ambulances diverted so these landed on our doorstep ). A certain super-bug which made the news early 2005 has also recently hit another hospital ( not that the ST has even mentioned it, hmm ), which makes for some pretty interesting scenarios.
So please, don't believe everything you read, ok?
Reasons ERs Always Lose Money
1. MOs LOVE to order blood tests.
I wasn't in a good mood yesterday. When an MO came up to ask me about an abnormal blood result, I learnt that the test was done "because the patient is old". Presented with a complaint of knee pain, later diagnosed as osteoarthritis, so the bloods were clearly not warranted. The MO in question is a very nice chap, but after 3 months in our department, I had to tell him off.
Same goes for x-rays. Senior ER physicians review all abnormal radiological reports, so I've come across quite a few doozies -- patients ( especially those involved in road traffic accidents ) who get zapped from head to toe for the slightest pain, EVEN if there're no deformity, EVEN if there's full range of motion, sometimes EVEN when there's no definite trauma. The x-rays cost $300, the patient gets discharged, and pays a measly $80 for the whole consult. So the radiology department earns big bucks, the A&E foots the bill and gets interrogated on why it exceeded the department budget, while the MOs get away scot-free.
2. Patients LOVE to get poked and irradiated.
Earlier this week, I saw a fellow with a well-known history of atypical chest pain. Followed up at the National Heart Centre because he has hypertension and regular complaints of chest discomfort, but stress testing always came up negative, and the cardiologist didn't think an angiogram was indicated.
So he comes in yet again for "tightness in my chest". Completely atypical variety, ECG pristine, but I decide to put him on our chest pain protocol for good measure. Since he's been in and out of our ER many times, I only take Trop T levels and forgo the usual FBC, renal panel, CXR set.
"Aren't you going to x-ray me?" he asks, sounding a bit miffed.
"Err, no. I don't think you need one," I reply.
"What?! But I ALWAYS get a chest x-ray each time I come here!"
"I know. But the x-rays were ALL reported as NORMAL."
"So you're really NOT going to x-ray me?" ( starting to sound fed up )
"That's right."
"Well, I WANT an x-ray."
"Well, I'M the doctor, and I'M not going to order one, because you DON'T NEED IT."
We stare at each other. He is NOT pleased.
Tough.
The thing I've noticed about Singaporeans is how they expect a definitive diagnosis during the very first consult with a doctor. If you explain that you're not sure and need to investigate further, they then assume that any blood test or x-ray or scan will miraculously yield the answer they've been searching for. If you tell them the results are normal and refer them to a specialist clinic, they start to freak out. "Huh? You mean you don't know what's going on? I thought the blood test / x-ray / scan will reveal everything!"
On a few occasions, I decided to ask where they got such an idea from. The answer: their polyclinic or family doctors.
I'm not pointing fingers here. These are truths based on actual interviews.
"My GP / OPS doctor told me the hospital can do a lot of blood tests to find out what I have."
"My GP / OPS doctor said I can come here for a FULL-BODY CHECKUP. TODAY."
"My GP / OPS doctor assures me I can have an OGD / colonoscopy / MRI - heck even brain surgery - TODAY."
It's bad enough we have to entertain loads of frivolous referrals to the ER on a daily basis ( e.g. a patient with Bell's palsy sent to us for "??Bell's palsy", a potassium level of 5.1 with normal creatinine and a history of ACE-inhibitor ingestion, a haemoglobin level of 13, "floaters x 10 years", "itchy throat", "itchy ears", etc ). It's worse when we have to bring these patients back down to earth and explain that our specialist clinics' appointment slots are filled to the brim and no, they can't be seen by a specialist that very day because what they have isn't urgent.
Sometimes, when I get realled ticked off by a particular referrer's stupidity, I just tell the patient point-blank that the referring doctor shouldn't have sent him/her to the ER because there wasn't any need to. And I don't bother to defend the physician when the patient becomes furious. I cover up mistakes most of the time, but if the referral clogs up our queue and demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of basic management, I think it's only fair that the responsible party is highlighted.
Anyway, I'm getting really tired and want to take a walk in the nearby park, so I'm gonna stop here. No idea when my next entry will be so drop by the other links to get your usual dose of angst, haha. :)
Life's just a continuous line of hurdles. Another one down, 10 million more to go.
March is going to be hell.
To everyone who's emailed but received no reply as yet, I humbly beg for your forgiveness. Seems you all asked a few common questions, so:
1. I will be tied up indefinitely. No chance of a dinner, drinks or toilet break.
2. I can't find the time to watch Brokeback Mountain, but thanks for the invite.
3. I'd love to hear more about the Mayo Clinic. Next coherent email, I promise.
4. Great job on the latest SEMS newsletter.
In Other News
Decided to put the US trip on hold. Need a proper holiday break. And soon. Thus, a switch to tour Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria this July. Looking forward to Mozart's 250th anniversary celebrations. :)
Another ST headline worth laughing over: the day the feature titled "Bed shortage problem solved" came out, one A&E closed and informed us there were FORTY patients waiting for beds, so we couldn't transfer their old cases back ( ie. ambulances diverted so these landed on our doorstep ). A certain super-bug which made the news early 2005 has also recently hit another hospital ( not that the ST has even mentioned it, hmm ), which makes for some pretty interesting scenarios.
So please, don't believe everything you read, ok?
Reasons ERs Always Lose Money
1. MOs LOVE to order blood tests.
I wasn't in a good mood yesterday. When an MO came up to ask me about an abnormal blood result, I learnt that the test was done "because the patient is old". Presented with a complaint of knee pain, later diagnosed as osteoarthritis, so the bloods were clearly not warranted. The MO in question is a very nice chap, but after 3 months in our department, I had to tell him off.
Same goes for x-rays. Senior ER physicians review all abnormal radiological reports, so I've come across quite a few doozies -- patients ( especially those involved in road traffic accidents ) who get zapped from head to toe for the slightest pain, EVEN if there're no deformity, EVEN if there's full range of motion, sometimes EVEN when there's no definite trauma. The x-rays cost $300, the patient gets discharged, and pays a measly $80 for the whole consult. So the radiology department earns big bucks, the A&E foots the bill and gets interrogated on why it exceeded the department budget, while the MOs get away scot-free.
2. Patients LOVE to get poked and irradiated.
Earlier this week, I saw a fellow with a well-known history of atypical chest pain. Followed up at the National Heart Centre because he has hypertension and regular complaints of chest discomfort, but stress testing always came up negative, and the cardiologist didn't think an angiogram was indicated.
So he comes in yet again for "tightness in my chest". Completely atypical variety, ECG pristine, but I decide to put him on our chest pain protocol for good measure. Since he's been in and out of our ER many times, I only take Trop T levels and forgo the usual FBC, renal panel, CXR set.
"Aren't you going to x-ray me?" he asks, sounding a bit miffed.
"Err, no. I don't think you need one," I reply.
"What?! But I ALWAYS get a chest x-ray each time I come here!"
"I know. But the x-rays were ALL reported as NORMAL."
"So you're really NOT going to x-ray me?" ( starting to sound fed up )
"That's right."
"Well, I WANT an x-ray."
"Well, I'M the doctor, and I'M not going to order one, because you DON'T NEED IT."
We stare at each other. He is NOT pleased.
Tough.
The thing I've noticed about Singaporeans is how they expect a definitive diagnosis during the very first consult with a doctor. If you explain that you're not sure and need to investigate further, they then assume that any blood test or x-ray or scan will miraculously yield the answer they've been searching for. If you tell them the results are normal and refer them to a specialist clinic, they start to freak out. "Huh? You mean you don't know what's going on? I thought the blood test / x-ray / scan will reveal everything!"
On a few occasions, I decided to ask where they got such an idea from. The answer: their polyclinic or family doctors.
I'm not pointing fingers here. These are truths based on actual interviews.
"My GP / OPS doctor told me the hospital can do a lot of blood tests to find out what I have."
"My GP / OPS doctor said I can come here for a FULL-BODY CHECKUP. TODAY."
"My GP / OPS doctor assures me I can have an OGD / colonoscopy / MRI - heck even brain surgery - TODAY."
It's bad enough we have to entertain loads of frivolous referrals to the ER on a daily basis ( e.g. a patient with Bell's palsy sent to us for "??Bell's palsy", a potassium level of 5.1 with normal creatinine and a history of ACE-inhibitor ingestion, a haemoglobin level of 13, "floaters x 10 years", "itchy throat", "itchy ears", etc ). It's worse when we have to bring these patients back down to earth and explain that our specialist clinics' appointment slots are filled to the brim and no, they can't be seen by a specialist that very day because what they have isn't urgent.
Sometimes, when I get realled ticked off by a particular referrer's stupidity, I just tell the patient point-blank that the referring doctor shouldn't have sent him/her to the ER because there wasn't any need to. And I don't bother to defend the physician when the patient becomes furious. I cover up mistakes most of the time, but if the referral clogs up our queue and demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of basic management, I think it's only fair that the responsible party is highlighted.
Anyway, I'm getting really tired and want to take a walk in the nearby park, so I'm gonna stop here. No idea when my next entry will be so drop by the other links to get your usual dose of angst, haha. :)
Monday, February 13, 2006
In Short
Rather time-challenged, but figured I'd post something while I'm logged on doing work of some sort.
Jamie Cullum Live In Singapore
If you haven't bought tickets yet, shame on you. ;)
He's THE jazz performer to catch. Yes, Michael Buble's terrific, and Peter Cincotti is gorgeous to watch, but Jamie has unbelievable energy, and never fails to blow my mind with his on-stage genius. I've watched his performances at various televised events like a Ray Charles tribute, the Swarovski Fashion Rocks concert, and the DVD special of his Blenheim show. However, in person, this dude is electrifying.
Don't forget how he turned a simple showcase in Singapore in 2004 into an impromptu 90-min full-throttle extravaganza, despite the small venue and free tickets ( handed out to industry execs and contest winners ). I thought he went the extra mile with that effort, and can't possibly imagine what's in store at the Singapore Expo come April.
Will I be meeting him in person? Umm, yes, actually that's been arranged. Heh heh. :)
American Idol 5 - The Hot Picks
Patrick Hall -- a skinny 27-year-old who sang "If" during the next round of auditions in Hollywood. Beautiful voice!
Kevin Corvais -- 17-year-old bespectacled nerd, but with pipes that exceed Josh Groban's. Wow, wow, wow.
Taylor Hicks -- prematurely grey-haired 29-year-old from Alabama who gave me goosebumps when he auditioned in Las Vegas, singing Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, followed by a dead-on ( pun unintended ) impersonation of Ray Charles. In Hollywood, he wowed the judges yet again with his powerful, unique tone. Lots of stage presence too. Even Simon Cowell couldn't help smiling.
Katharine McPhee -- lovely brunette with an equally mesmerizing voice. She has amazing lung power, with an ability to sing multiple verses without taking a breath, plus hitting all the high notes effortlessly. Most impressive.
The Buried Secret Of M. Night Shyamalan
If you have cable, please check your HBO listings for the next repeat telecast.
I found out AFTER catching the movie that reviews were absolutely dismal across the board, but I dunno, I really loved this film, still do, and would be happy to put it right up there with my personal Top 5 favourites.
It's probably best that I don't reveal too much -- spoilers ++ -- but hey, I'd love to discuss its merits and de-merits with anyone who's interested, so post a comment if you've seen it.
I will say this though -- I found it compelling, hilarious and downright spine-chilling at times. That, in itself, has got to count for some excellent film-making, don't you think?
Strange Email
Someone asked me to submit an application for upcoming auditions for a horror film being shot locally. It's called Stay & Die ( catchy ). Yeah, like I'm interested. The title needs reworking.
More ER Issues
To follow in the next post. Frustrating beyond frustrating.
Straits Times Boo-Boo
Been meaning to write about this, but forgot ( that's how much attention I pay to the paper, haha ).
Anybody recall a piece they did about TTSH's "first in the region" handphone system for all its doctors? They made a huge thing about it being a pilot effort, how no other hospital does it, etc.
Erm, do any of the reporters realize Singhealth did the same thing at least 6 months ago?
Tsk tsk.
I guess this is what happens when the reporters have no friends in the Eastern cluster. Heh heh heh.
Last But Not Least
I finally ordered something from Amazon, hah!
Got a cool Chris Botti CD titled To Love Again, featuring fantastic duets with Sting, Gladys Knight and Michael Buble ( the last sings Let There Be Love, which turned me to mush ).
The other is Peter Cincotti's Live In New York DVD. It sounds like a concert recording, but actually isn't. It's more of a collection of music videos, but has Peter banging the piano on a NY street near his old neighbourhood, with his band and a few extras close by. I enjoyed it, of course ( great music, nice setting, Peter's mega-watt smile :)), but am still hoping for a proper 'live' concert release in the near future.
In the meantime, will eagerly await his next album, due out mid-2006. Hope he includes the cover of Cry To Me. It will blow your socks off, I guarantee it.
More this weekend if I find the energy.
Rather time-challenged, but figured I'd post something while I'm logged on doing work of some sort.
Jamie Cullum Live In Singapore
If you haven't bought tickets yet, shame on you. ;)
He's THE jazz performer to catch. Yes, Michael Buble's terrific, and Peter Cincotti is gorgeous to watch, but Jamie has unbelievable energy, and never fails to blow my mind with his on-stage genius. I've watched his performances at various televised events like a Ray Charles tribute, the Swarovski Fashion Rocks concert, and the DVD special of his Blenheim show. However, in person, this dude is electrifying.
Don't forget how he turned a simple showcase in Singapore in 2004 into an impromptu 90-min full-throttle extravaganza, despite the small venue and free tickets ( handed out to industry execs and contest winners ). I thought he went the extra mile with that effort, and can't possibly imagine what's in store at the Singapore Expo come April.
Will I be meeting him in person? Umm, yes, actually that's been arranged. Heh heh. :)
American Idol 5 - The Hot Picks
Patrick Hall -- a skinny 27-year-old who sang "If" during the next round of auditions in Hollywood. Beautiful voice!
Kevin Corvais -- 17-year-old bespectacled nerd, but with pipes that exceed Josh Groban's. Wow, wow, wow.
Taylor Hicks -- prematurely grey-haired 29-year-old from Alabama who gave me goosebumps when he auditioned in Las Vegas, singing Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, followed by a dead-on ( pun unintended ) impersonation of Ray Charles. In Hollywood, he wowed the judges yet again with his powerful, unique tone. Lots of stage presence too. Even Simon Cowell couldn't help smiling.
Katharine McPhee -- lovely brunette with an equally mesmerizing voice. She has amazing lung power, with an ability to sing multiple verses without taking a breath, plus hitting all the high notes effortlessly. Most impressive.
The Buried Secret Of M. Night Shyamalan
If you have cable, please check your HBO listings for the next repeat telecast.
I found out AFTER catching the movie that reviews were absolutely dismal across the board, but I dunno, I really loved this film, still do, and would be happy to put it right up there with my personal Top 5 favourites.
It's probably best that I don't reveal too much -- spoilers ++ -- but hey, I'd love to discuss its merits and de-merits with anyone who's interested, so post a comment if you've seen it.
I will say this though -- I found it compelling, hilarious and downright spine-chilling at times. That, in itself, has got to count for some excellent film-making, don't you think?
Strange Email
Someone asked me to submit an application for upcoming auditions for a horror film being shot locally. It's called Stay & Die ( catchy ). Yeah, like I'm interested. The title needs reworking.
More ER Issues
To follow in the next post. Frustrating beyond frustrating.
Straits Times Boo-Boo
Been meaning to write about this, but forgot ( that's how much attention I pay to the paper, haha ).
Anybody recall a piece they did about TTSH's "first in the region" handphone system for all its doctors? They made a huge thing about it being a pilot effort, how no other hospital does it, etc.
Erm, do any of the reporters realize Singhealth did the same thing at least 6 months ago?
Tsk tsk.
I guess this is what happens when the reporters have no friends in the Eastern cluster. Heh heh heh.
Last But Not Least
I finally ordered something from Amazon, hah!
Got a cool Chris Botti CD titled To Love Again, featuring fantastic duets with Sting, Gladys Knight and Michael Buble ( the last sings Let There Be Love, which turned me to mush ).
The other is Peter Cincotti's Live In New York DVD. It sounds like a concert recording, but actually isn't. It's more of a collection of music videos, but has Peter banging the piano on a NY street near his old neighbourhood, with his band and a few extras close by. I enjoyed it, of course ( great music, nice setting, Peter's mega-watt smile :)), but am still hoping for a proper 'live' concert release in the near future.
In the meantime, will eagerly await his next album, due out mid-2006. Hope he includes the cover of Cry To Me. It will blow your socks off, I guarantee it.
More this weekend if I find the energy.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Happy Lunar New Year!
Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was immensely enjoyable. :)
Updates
1. My back hurts. All that spring cleaning, swimming, playing with friends' and relatives' kids, and aging ( haha ).
2. Based on what I saw during my shift on CNY Day 1, I have a theory that all those calorie-loaded reunion dinners have a direct causal effect on coronary arterial plaques. Meaning: tuan2 yuan2 fan4 => AMI.
Although someone disagrees. :)
One guy with an evolving anterior STEMI decided to AOR discharge.
"Uncle, you MUST understand that you've had a heart attack, need urgent angioplasty, and may DIE if you discharge yourself against medical advice!"
"Yes, doc! I understand! Never mind lah!"
Yeesh.
3. Almost got run off the road by this sociopath driving an SUV. CNY Eve, he swerves into my lane and I horn at him. He rolls down his window, screams at me for being "noisy", then when I remind him that it's my right of way, he shouts, "Right of way, right of way LAH! So WHAT?! Don't want to let me in, we BANG LAH!!!" before proceeding to ignore me. We're at a red light, and when it turns green, he jerks forward - attempting to scare me, no doubt. But he's got my hackles raised, and I don't take the bait. So I zoom past him, which drives him off the deep end. He races past me on the left, cuts into my lane, missing me by a mere couple of inches, then brakes so hard I almost got a heart attack. He speeds up again, but when I accelerate so as not to block traffic behind me, he jams on the brakes again. I get fed up, switch to the left lane, then he slows down and swerves towards me AGAIN! At this point, I've practically given up playing psycho games with him, so I stay behind at a safe distance and later filter off at a slip road while he glares daggers at my rear bumper.
And get this, there was a little boy in the back seat of that SUV.
Fact one: Road rage isn't quite so bad if it's just adults involved. But when a child's in the vehicle, well that's just plain irresponsible and reprehensible.
Fact two: the kid's most likely going to grow up to be another sociopath like his good ol' dad.
Is this incident reportable? Please advise.
In Hibernation
The day has come, but it couldn't be helped -- we're all just too busy.
However, further plans may materialize, so stay tuned.
American Idol 5 - Week 2
Spotted a few other stars-in-the-making.
Baldie #1: The cop who sang Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, then did a slow dance with Paula Abdul, before revealing that he's in fact MARRIED, which really pissed Paula off. But you gotta admit -- the fellow's got a fantastic set of pipes. Those high notes were pure gold!
Baldie #2: Hispanic dude whose name escapes me ( as does the title of the song he did ), but he's reaaaally good.
Blondie #1: Hunky chunk of beefcake called Jeffrey something-or-other. Voice is so-so. Obvious that he got through only because of his bod. Sad.
Blondie #2: Beautiful young lady named Kelly Pickler, who hails from a small town, was abandoned by her mother, has a dad in prison, stays with her grand-pappy, and hit a Kelly Clarkson number right out of the ballpark.
Paris Bennett: So far the BEST I've seen EVER. 16-year-old with vocals to die for ( did you hear her cover of that Billie Holiday song? ). Endearingly humble despite her relation to quite a few musical celebrities. Lovely girl.
Weekend Fix
Jay Leno's Tonight Show airs on local cable's CNBC Channel 15 every Saturday and Sunday at 10pm, and I've been having a ball watching all the fun. Recent guests include Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger from "Brokeback Mountain", Colin Firth ( "Bridget Jones' Diary" ), ex-supermodel Heidi Klum ( "Project Runway" ) and ice-skating Olympic gold medalist Sasha Cohen. Klum, in particular, was an absolute delight. She demonstrated quick wit, loads of bubbly personality, and had everyone in stitches when she repeatedly shot stern questions at fellow guest Ledger ( who played along by looking befuddled and terrified, heh ) and did a hilarious impression of her snowboarding instructor's surfer-dude slang.
A great way to spend one's weekend nights. There's also Jon Stewart's show on CNN Channel 14 at 11:30pm. Political satire with lots of Bush-bashing. I love it. :)
Feast Your Eyes
I don't really want to see movies in cinemas anymore ( high cost and microbiological loads ), but I'll make the exception for "Brokeback Mountain" and "Zoolander". If I find the time, that is. And the energy.
The latter's definitely worth catching. Don't recall much from the time I first saw it in the Fox Glacier region in New Zealand back in 2003, but I do remember laughing my socks off while my parents snored in the next bed ( we'd just completed a full day of major hiking ).
ER Discussion Part 2
In reply to milo's comments about the merits of direct admissions vs A&E referrals: since I've worked in different departments and experienced both systems, I think admitting rights should be allowed for the following:
- all medical disciplines
- most surgical specialties ( GS, ortho, neurosurg, uro )
Screening in the ER before admission is warranted for:
- cardiology ( don't play-play with chest pains, ok )
- ENT
- eye
- O&G ( all those PV bleeds can be tremendously scary )
In addition, ENT and eye cases should preferably be reviewed by those on-call ( e.g. FBs, traumas, other complicated conditions ), rather than deferred to the A&E doc ( junior OR senior ) to handle. I once worked at an ER where the ENT MO refused to come down unless we'd CONFIRMED an FB ( either through x-rays or direct visualization ) and/or at least attempted to remove the darn thing on our own.
Although I tried to empathize ( maybe the MO is busy or very stressed for whatever reason ), it later dawned on me that it made no sense to subject the patient to prolonged / repeated examinations which is often VERY uncomfortable and, if done by inexperienced hands, extremely unpleasant, perhaps even dangerous.
Plus, this same ER had the horrible habit of allocating patients to consult rooms, so while you're digging around the guy's throat, you have this nagging worry in the back of your mind about your queue getting jammed. Of course, the patient is completely oblivious, but it does little for the poor doctor's psyche and every case that comes after the FB throat.
As for eye, sigh... the worst encounter I had was with an MO(S) who die-die refused at all cost to set foot in the A&E. He'd ask a million questions in a sarcastic tone. He even asked my senior whether she had "any understanding of basic eye anatomy"! Nasty bugger.
Anyway, I personally feel that ophthalmological diseases presenting at the ER deserve an urgent eye consult, even if it looks and smells like simple conjunctivitis. This is because -- and this stems from a short stint at the SNEC a year ago -- nothing is absolute where eyes are concerned, and even the simplest condition can deteriorate within just a few hours. A slit-lamp exam is almost always warranted, and this is a skill which requires adequate experience and sufficient time -- something not many A&E MOs possess and which the busy ER seldom accomodates.
My hospital provides excellent eye backup, for which I am extremely grateful. It also helps that the SNEC director knows my mother and me personally. Very nice man. :)
V-Day
In response to Vagus' query, NO I HAVE NO PLANS FOR FEB 14. Haven't had any for the past 5 years, don't think that will change any time soon.
I'm not a chocolate-and-roses type of gal. What REALLY gets me going? That's for me to know, and for the guy to find out. :)
Okay, enough information for one day! Enjoy the rest of the New Year.
Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was immensely enjoyable. :)
Updates
1. My back hurts. All that spring cleaning, swimming, playing with friends' and relatives' kids, and aging ( haha ).
2. Based on what I saw during my shift on CNY Day 1, I have a theory that all those calorie-loaded reunion dinners have a direct causal effect on coronary arterial plaques. Meaning: tuan2 yuan2 fan4 => AMI.
Although someone disagrees. :)
One guy with an evolving anterior STEMI decided to AOR discharge.
"Uncle, you MUST understand that you've had a heart attack, need urgent angioplasty, and may DIE if you discharge yourself against medical advice!"
"Yes, doc! I understand! Never mind lah!"
Yeesh.
3. Almost got run off the road by this sociopath driving an SUV. CNY Eve, he swerves into my lane and I horn at him. He rolls down his window, screams at me for being "noisy", then when I remind him that it's my right of way, he shouts, "Right of way, right of way LAH! So WHAT?! Don't want to let me in, we BANG LAH!!!" before proceeding to ignore me. We're at a red light, and when it turns green, he jerks forward - attempting to scare me, no doubt. But he's got my hackles raised, and I don't take the bait. So I zoom past him, which drives him off the deep end. He races past me on the left, cuts into my lane, missing me by a mere couple of inches, then brakes so hard I almost got a heart attack. He speeds up again, but when I accelerate so as not to block traffic behind me, he jams on the brakes again. I get fed up, switch to the left lane, then he slows down and swerves towards me AGAIN! At this point, I've practically given up playing psycho games with him, so I stay behind at a safe distance and later filter off at a slip road while he glares daggers at my rear bumper.
And get this, there was a little boy in the back seat of that SUV.
Fact one: Road rage isn't quite so bad if it's just adults involved. But when a child's in the vehicle, well that's just plain irresponsible and reprehensible.
Fact two: the kid's most likely going to grow up to be another sociopath like his good ol' dad.
Is this incident reportable? Please advise.
In Hibernation
The day has come, but it couldn't be helped -- we're all just too busy.
However, further plans may materialize, so stay tuned.
American Idol 5 - Week 2
Spotted a few other stars-in-the-making.
Baldie #1: The cop who sang Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, then did a slow dance with Paula Abdul, before revealing that he's in fact MARRIED, which really pissed Paula off. But you gotta admit -- the fellow's got a fantastic set of pipes. Those high notes were pure gold!
Baldie #2: Hispanic dude whose name escapes me ( as does the title of the song he did ), but he's reaaaally good.
Blondie #1: Hunky chunk of beefcake called Jeffrey something-or-other. Voice is so-so. Obvious that he got through only because of his bod. Sad.
Blondie #2: Beautiful young lady named Kelly Pickler, who hails from a small town, was abandoned by her mother, has a dad in prison, stays with her grand-pappy, and hit a Kelly Clarkson number right out of the ballpark.
Paris Bennett: So far the BEST I've seen EVER. 16-year-old with vocals to die for ( did you hear her cover of that Billie Holiday song? ). Endearingly humble despite her relation to quite a few musical celebrities. Lovely girl.
Weekend Fix
Jay Leno's Tonight Show airs on local cable's CNBC Channel 15 every Saturday and Sunday at 10pm, and I've been having a ball watching all the fun. Recent guests include Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger from "Brokeback Mountain", Colin Firth ( "Bridget Jones' Diary" ), ex-supermodel Heidi Klum ( "Project Runway" ) and ice-skating Olympic gold medalist Sasha Cohen. Klum, in particular, was an absolute delight. She demonstrated quick wit, loads of bubbly personality, and had everyone in stitches when she repeatedly shot stern questions at fellow guest Ledger ( who played along by looking befuddled and terrified, heh ) and did a hilarious impression of her snowboarding instructor's surfer-dude slang.
A great way to spend one's weekend nights. There's also Jon Stewart's show on CNN Channel 14 at 11:30pm. Political satire with lots of Bush-bashing. I love it. :)
Feast Your Eyes
I don't really want to see movies in cinemas anymore ( high cost and microbiological loads ), but I'll make the exception for "Brokeback Mountain" and "Zoolander". If I find the time, that is. And the energy.
The latter's definitely worth catching. Don't recall much from the time I first saw it in the Fox Glacier region in New Zealand back in 2003, but I do remember laughing my socks off while my parents snored in the next bed ( we'd just completed a full day of major hiking ).
ER Discussion Part 2
In reply to milo's comments about the merits of direct admissions vs A&E referrals: since I've worked in different departments and experienced both systems, I think admitting rights should be allowed for the following:
- all medical disciplines
- most surgical specialties ( GS, ortho, neurosurg, uro )
Screening in the ER before admission is warranted for:
- cardiology ( don't play-play with chest pains, ok )
- ENT
- eye
- O&G ( all those PV bleeds can be tremendously scary )
In addition, ENT and eye cases should preferably be reviewed by those on-call ( e.g. FBs, traumas, other complicated conditions ), rather than deferred to the A&E doc ( junior OR senior ) to handle. I once worked at an ER where the ENT MO refused to come down unless we'd CONFIRMED an FB ( either through x-rays or direct visualization ) and/or at least attempted to remove the darn thing on our own.
Although I tried to empathize ( maybe the MO is busy or very stressed for whatever reason ), it later dawned on me that it made no sense to subject the patient to prolonged / repeated examinations which is often VERY uncomfortable and, if done by inexperienced hands, extremely unpleasant, perhaps even dangerous.
Plus, this same ER had the horrible habit of allocating patients to consult rooms, so while you're digging around the guy's throat, you have this nagging worry in the back of your mind about your queue getting jammed. Of course, the patient is completely oblivious, but it does little for the poor doctor's psyche and every case that comes after the FB throat.
As for eye, sigh... the worst encounter I had was with an MO(S) who die-die refused at all cost to set foot in the A&E. He'd ask a million questions in a sarcastic tone. He even asked my senior whether she had "any understanding of basic eye anatomy"! Nasty bugger.
Anyway, I personally feel that ophthalmological diseases presenting at the ER deserve an urgent eye consult, even if it looks and smells like simple conjunctivitis. This is because -- and this stems from a short stint at the SNEC a year ago -- nothing is absolute where eyes are concerned, and even the simplest condition can deteriorate within just a few hours. A slit-lamp exam is almost always warranted, and this is a skill which requires adequate experience and sufficient time -- something not many A&E MOs possess and which the busy ER seldom accomodates.
My hospital provides excellent eye backup, for which I am extremely grateful. It also helps that the SNEC director knows my mother and me personally. Very nice man. :)
V-Day
In response to Vagus' query, NO I HAVE NO PLANS FOR FEB 14. Haven't had any for the past 5 years, don't think that will change any time soon.
I'm not a chocolate-and-roses type of gal. What REALLY gets me going? That's for me to know, and for the guy to find out. :)
Okay, enough information for one day! Enjoy the rest of the New Year.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Follow-Up
What happens when I've got free time on my hands, am too tired post-full-day-AST-session to do anything else, and there's no "House" on cable?
Why, I blog, of course. :)
See This Dude
But bear in mind - he's more of a personal taste than a mainstream artiste.
March 17th. Mark your calendars.
I will say this: His 2002 album, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, is a real gem, thanks to the beautiful, upbeat You And I Both, and the ingenious The Remedy ( I Won't Worry ). ( Also love that rooster featured in his CD photos. )
Mraz has an impressive vocal range and displays seasoned versatility in pop, rock, folk and jazz styles. He also delivers pitch-perfect 'live' performances, as evidenced by samples from concert recordings played on the radio now and then.
An "intimate, acoustic" evening -- sounds like heaven to me. :)
Don't know why I never saw his latest release in the stores I usually haunt. Time to go hunting for it the next time I'm in town.
By the way, is anyone going to the Kings Of Convenience show? Have heard some of their music via videos on MTV previously - really enjoyed it - but alas, I have to watch my spending this year, in preparation for some good stuff in New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas and perhaps even Los Angeles.
It's gonna be a rather long wait ( by my standard at least ), but definitely worth it. :)
The Bubble Burst
Ah, one mystery solved.
A male colleague described me as "not a bad deal" the other day ( he isn't comfortable with direct compliments, so I appreciate the effort, heh ), but what's the point really, if certain people consider my ex so overwhelming a factor that they won't even dare make an approach?
I kid you not.
It's one thing to be avoided because of my own flaws.
It's entirely another when the ex still manages to exert such ( negative ) influence on my social circle.
Quite frankly, I find it insulting.
Funny
It came up during a conversation while strolling in the park this evening: how Italian television is almost extra-terrestrial in nature, with 99% of the programmes broadcast in the native language, whether they're locally produced or Hollywood fare.
I still recall how, when I first arrived in Rome, I spent a couple of days flipping channels like crazy and watching the likes of "The Firm" and "Grease" in Italian. If it weren't for CNN, I would've lost my mind.
But it also helped that they've got lax censorship. "The Lover" ( that Jane March vehicle ) was screened in all its uncut glory, though everyone spoke - you guessed it - Italian. Not that I cared, heh heh.
3 more days of leave left. Need to make the most of it.
Ciao.
What happens when I've got free time on my hands, am too tired post-full-day-AST-session to do anything else, and there's no "House" on cable?
Why, I blog, of course. :)
See This Dude
But bear in mind - he's more of a personal taste than a mainstream artiste.
March 17th. Mark your calendars.
I will say this: His 2002 album, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, is a real gem, thanks to the beautiful, upbeat You And I Both, and the ingenious The Remedy ( I Won't Worry ). ( Also love that rooster featured in his CD photos. )
Mraz has an impressive vocal range and displays seasoned versatility in pop, rock, folk and jazz styles. He also delivers pitch-perfect 'live' performances, as evidenced by samples from concert recordings played on the radio now and then.
An "intimate, acoustic" evening -- sounds like heaven to me. :)
Don't know why I never saw his latest release in the stores I usually haunt. Time to go hunting for it the next time I'm in town.
By the way, is anyone going to the Kings Of Convenience show? Have heard some of their music via videos on MTV previously - really enjoyed it - but alas, I have to watch my spending this year, in preparation for some good stuff in New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas and perhaps even Los Angeles.
It's gonna be a rather long wait ( by my standard at least ), but definitely worth it. :)
The Bubble Burst
Ah, one mystery solved.
A male colleague described me as "not a bad deal" the other day ( he isn't comfortable with direct compliments, so I appreciate the effort, heh ), but what's the point really, if certain people consider my ex so overwhelming a factor that they won't even dare make an approach?
I kid you not.
It's one thing to be avoided because of my own flaws.
It's entirely another when the ex still manages to exert such ( negative ) influence on my social circle.
Quite frankly, I find it insulting.
Funny
It came up during a conversation while strolling in the park this evening: how Italian television is almost extra-terrestrial in nature, with 99% of the programmes broadcast in the native language, whether they're locally produced or Hollywood fare.
I still recall how, when I first arrived in Rome, I spent a couple of days flipping channels like crazy and watching the likes of "The Firm" and "Grease" in Italian. If it weren't for CNN, I would've lost my mind.
But it also helped that they've got lax censorship. "The Lover" ( that Jane March vehicle ) was screened in all its uncut glory, though everyone spoke - you guessed it - Italian. Not that I cared, heh heh.
3 more days of leave left. Need to make the most of it.
Ciao.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Reprieve!
Just started a week of annual leave. S-weet. :)
Congratulations In Order
For a good friend and A&E colleague, who just welcomed his baby boy into the world. Poor wife had a tough time though, but thank goodness everyone pulled through okay. Now if only he'd find the courage to pick the little neonate up! :)
Good wishes also go out to Hugh Laurie, who won his first Golden Globe for Best Actor ( TV Drama "House" ) 4 days ago. Did you catch his hilarious acceptance speech, where he stuffed a fistful of more than a hundred names on little strips of paper into his left pants pocket then randomly drew 3 out like a lotto? Think he thanked his hairstylist and a caterer, before moving on to his agent ( "Hmm, this isn't my handwriting." ). One of the best I've heard since Emma Thompson's Oscar speech for "Sense & Sensibility", Cuba Gooding Jr's for "Jerry Maguire", Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's for "Good Will Hunting" and Adrien Brody's for "The Pianist" ( although the kiss took up >50% of that one, heh ).
Surprise of the evening? Sandra Oh's win for her supporting role on "Grey's Anatomy" ( which, incidentally, also got nominated for Best Actor - Patrick Dempsey - and Best TV Drama ( no "House"! horrors! )). She looked equally stunned too. Not sure if she really deserved it, but heck, something for me to write about in my review.
American Idol 5
More of the same, but amazingly, still as entertaining as ever.
Loads of deluded tone-deaf Idol wannabes, with the occasional manic / effeminate ( bordering on transvestite ) / foul-mouthed character.
Can you guess who I've picked out?
2 fellows.
Both 17.
Both cute.
Both fans of the jazz genre.
One - Zachary Smits, who did a beautiful version of "I'm In The Mood For Love". Lush tenor vibrato, bedroom eyes, winsome smile, dark brown curls. No wonder Paula Abdul was drooling.
Two - David Radford, who sang "Summer Wind" ( one of my favourites, and Simon Cowell's too ). Sounded a little forced and bland, but he was trying to imitate his idol, Frank Sinatra, so it's hard to tell at this point. Definitely shows promise, especially when he crooned Dream A Little Dream in his car ( his friends listen to jazz as well, which is great ). He just needs to loosen up a bit.
Patrizio Show
It's confirmed! 22 February at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets go on sale next week ( direct info from the record company ). Well worth the time and money. Don't miss!
ER Issues
Here's where I may shoot myself in the foot. :)
First, the less controversial stuff.
I saw a few "live cadavers" recently. Not exactly the Chinese New Year Dumping Syndrome as yet, but they're starting to trickle in, and it may really pour this coming week.
The lady I saw was in her 80s. Paramedics called in just before 8am at the tail end of my night shift as a standby for "drowsiness and low BP".
She was in one of THE worst states I've ever witnessed ( and I've seen my fair share of gross neglect in the elderly ). Absolutely parched, sandpaper tongue, skin that remained tented after a gentle pinch, sunken eyes and temples.
BP on arrival 60/40. Patient was gasping at a rate of maybe 10 breaths a minute. Man, she didn't look like she was going to last very long.
Good thing resus was empty at the time, so my 2 MOs and I ( plus a whole army of nurses ) went straight to work. Quick IV access, oxygen 100%, concurrent ECG and hypocount.
"Sugar's LOW," the nurse hollered.
"How low?" I asked.
"LOW, as in 'LO' on the hypocount machine. Unrecordable."
Aha! At least there was something we could treat! IV Dextrose 50% 40 ml stat, a pint of normal saline fast, and before we knew it, she turned pink, opened her eyes and nodded her head when we called her name. Respiratory rate 18 per minute. BP 100/65. She was even starting to move her upper limbs.
"Remember the old lady we saw the other day?" one of the MOs involved with the case asked me last night. "She's been discharged back to her family. But I can bet we'll see her again soon."
Or maybe her family won't call the ambulance next time.
Second, a pseudo-controversial issue.
Seems a patient got VERY worked up over some public comment made by a certain government official in the local paper, and shot in a lengthy essay detailing why s/he thinks this official's opinions are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
Something about a botched admission. Psychological distress caused by anticipation / anxiety / venepuncture. S/he even brought up an incident which occurred ONE YEAR AGO to further illustrate the point.
That's where I kena.
So I checked up this person's records on the computer. S/he made some sweeping statements about things I said, and turns out I remember this person quite well ( s/he has a rather unusual condition ). And besides, I'm quite paranoid where case-notes documentation is concerned, so I practically transcribed every conversation word for word.
In a word, I'm APPALLED.
The complaint pertaining to the ER experience makes up only a tiny part of the overall complaint ( which mainly pinpoints the ward ), but I managed to pick out a huge number of lies within a single paragraph.
Apparently, 20 minutes qualifies as a "long waiting time". An "urgent referral" from a GP warrants quick attention, I agree, but what s/he left out is that fact that s/he opted to wait FOUR ENTIRE DAYS before coming to the ER. S/he was so "sick" s/he managed to celebrate the Chinese New Year! ( By the way, this was the reason given when I asked why s/he didn't come to see us sooner. And yes, I typed it all in. Whew. )
Wait, there's more.
This is an educated young adult. Works in the civil service. Respected job.
But get this: I fully explained the management plan to him/her, after personally speaking to the specialist-on-call, who didn't think anything further needed to be done and requested an early outpatient review, which I thought was completely reasonable given the situation.
I ALWAYS inform the patient, or at least the patient's relatives, of the plan on discharge. I documented this in my notes ( "patient informed and agreeable" ), but s/he turns around and says I told him/her to consult the specialist on his/her own instead! Making it sound like I was totally bo-chap and negligent in some way!
Argh, my blood boiled for a full 5 minutes.
Anyhow, I submitted my reply ( no choice, since the official got a direct email and needed our answers ). But thanks to my obsessive-compulsive scribing, my ass is covered. Yay me.
Moving on...
Alex, this bit's for you. :)
So I had an interesting email exchange about the merits of direct admissions from ER to the ward versus reviews by the ward teams in the A&E prior to accepting cases.
Bottomline: There's no perfect, win-win scenario. Rather, it depends on how we adapt to whichever system we're working under.
After all, what's the use of having referrals from the ER prior to admission, if the ward teams either can't or won't review patients, or worse, refuse to accept clear-cut cases into their care, thus causing major problems for the ER and the patients themselves.
Admitting directly to the ward also has its drawbacks. I once did an Internal Med call as a house officer where I got swamped with 5 extremely sick patients at one go. There was an allergic reaction which progressed to anaphylactic shock, a severe asthmatic attack, one pulmonary oedema, another haemorrhagic stroke ( no scan in the ER, yeesh ), and a septic shock.
My MO and registrar were already mobilized, but we were hanging by a thread, and still had a whole string of other cases waiting to be seen. Details are blurry ( it happened 7 years ago ), but I probably saw the last patient of the night maybe 4 hours after s/he was sent up to the ward. Thank goodness everyone else after that nightmare bunch was stable and remained so till morning.
The ideal situation, of course, is to have all patients either reviewed by the ward teams in the ER itself, OR have them admitted directly upstairs and seen within the hour, BEFORE anything untoward happens.
What I suggest: document ER notes METICULOUSLY, call the ward teams if you're worried, maintain good relations with the various specialties, and put your foot down once in a while if it's warranted.
Here's the kicker:
True stories related by a consultant and a senior medical officer respectively.
Incident #1:
Patient has condition A. Scan done, awaiting bed in observation.
Unexpectedly, patient develops condition B. Wheeled back to resus and intubated.
Specialist A called because patient originally presented with A, so by right should go to ICU A.
But specialist A says "the nurses in ICU A cannot handle condition B", and wants the ER to call specialist B.
Specialist B, however, agrees that condition A should be treated by specialty A. Doesn't accept case to ICU B.
Specialist A called again, this time requested by the ER to come down to see patient personally ( original consult conducted via phone ). So s/he comes down, still doesn't take the case, then suggests admitting to specialty X, which has no real jurisdiction where conditions A and B are concerned!
However, specialist A speaks to specialist X and the latter takes the patient to ICU X ( will wonders never cease ).
There's a punchline though - because ICU X is full, the patient has to overflow to ICU A! So the ICU A nurses end up taking care of the same patient they're supposedly "incapable" of handling!
Har har har :)
The other case is under specialty D. An outpatient investigation is done, during which the patient develops an adverse reaction resulting in condition E.
Specialist D considers routing the patient to the ER for admission to specialty E, but admits to ward D first to expedite the process, refers to specialist E upstairs, hoping the case will be taken over.
Unfortunately, specialty E will have nothing to do with the case, preferring instead to drop in every other day to check the patient's progress.
One fine day, the patient gets condition F. VERY serious, gets intubated and sent to ICU F, managed by specialists F for 2 weeks before improving and getting sent back to general ward.
However, specialty F doesn't accept the case under their care, so specialty D asks if specialty E can take over, since condition E was the presenting problem, triggered the other complications and hasn't resolved as yet.
Specialty E says no, keep the patient under specialty D. Orders this and that, but to be carried out by specialty D, okay?
So the medical officer tells me the next time something like this happens again, don't be surprised if we end up seeing the patient in our ER.
Dude, I usually don't enjoy entertaining this sort of thing, but in view of what you've told me, I say do what you have to do. Whatever's best for the patient.
But please call ahead first. So I won't blow my top ( I scolded an oncology MO for the same thing before. Don't mess with me. ).
Ahh, I love unloading. :)
Miscellaneous
Have you heard of Bill and Barbara Pease? Some psychologist couple that wrote a bestselling book pretty similar to the "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" prototype. The Pease's effort is "Why Men Don't Talk and Women Can't Read Maps" ( I think ). Flipped through it at a salon and was pretty nauseated by some of their "statements".
Man's need to spread their seed is an evolutionary trait - ie. they can't help it! You can't blame them for wanting to sleep with everything in a skirt!
Err, yeah, right.
Equally demeaning views about women somewhere in there too. But I switched off at some point so don't ask me for examples.
I do remember what they wrote about "the perfect partner" though. Apparently a woman is safest with a "Chinese man who listens to classical music" and should stay away from "hardworking jazz pianists".
Obviously, the Peases haven't met Singaporean men before.
Hey, you could consider that a compliment of sorts. Heh. Heh.
Looks like I'm going to get set up no matter what. But I do find it interesting that this fellow's name got mentioned by 2 different people, both of whom think I'm a prime candidate for "matchmaking" purposes.
Ah well. We'll see what happens. But don't place any bets yet. :)
Photos For The Day
Just doing my part to publicize Patrizio Buanne's upcoming concert. This was taken at his showcase at the Grand Copthorne last August. LOVELY guy. :)
The rest are random pictures left over from the Italy trip. Thought they'd add some colour. Also runs with the overall Italian theme, haha.
Time for a juicy Mandarin orange. Enjoy your weekend.
Just started a week of annual leave. S-weet. :)
Congratulations In Order
For a good friend and A&E colleague, who just welcomed his baby boy into the world. Poor wife had a tough time though, but thank goodness everyone pulled through okay. Now if only he'd find the courage to pick the little neonate up! :)
Good wishes also go out to Hugh Laurie, who won his first Golden Globe for Best Actor ( TV Drama "House" ) 4 days ago. Did you catch his hilarious acceptance speech, where he stuffed a fistful of more than a hundred names on little strips of paper into his left pants pocket then randomly drew 3 out like a lotto? Think he thanked his hairstylist and a caterer, before moving on to his agent ( "Hmm, this isn't my handwriting." ). One of the best I've heard since Emma Thompson's Oscar speech for "Sense & Sensibility", Cuba Gooding Jr's for "Jerry Maguire", Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's for "Good Will Hunting" and Adrien Brody's for "The Pianist" ( although the kiss took up >50% of that one, heh ).
Surprise of the evening? Sandra Oh's win for her supporting role on "Grey's Anatomy" ( which, incidentally, also got nominated for Best Actor - Patrick Dempsey - and Best TV Drama ( no "House"! horrors! )). She looked equally stunned too. Not sure if she really deserved it, but heck, something for me to write about in my review.
American Idol 5
More of the same, but amazingly, still as entertaining as ever.
Loads of deluded tone-deaf Idol wannabes, with the occasional manic / effeminate ( bordering on transvestite ) / foul-mouthed character.
Can you guess who I've picked out?
2 fellows.
Both 17.
Both cute.
Both fans of the jazz genre.
One - Zachary Smits, who did a beautiful version of "I'm In The Mood For Love". Lush tenor vibrato, bedroom eyes, winsome smile, dark brown curls. No wonder Paula Abdul was drooling.
Two - David Radford, who sang "Summer Wind" ( one of my favourites, and Simon Cowell's too ). Sounded a little forced and bland, but he was trying to imitate his idol, Frank Sinatra, so it's hard to tell at this point. Definitely shows promise, especially when he crooned Dream A Little Dream in his car ( his friends listen to jazz as well, which is great ). He just needs to loosen up a bit.
Patrizio Show
It's confirmed! 22 February at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets go on sale next week ( direct info from the record company ). Well worth the time and money. Don't miss!
ER Issues
Here's where I may shoot myself in the foot. :)
First, the less controversial stuff.
I saw a few "live cadavers" recently. Not exactly the Chinese New Year Dumping Syndrome as yet, but they're starting to trickle in, and it may really pour this coming week.
The lady I saw was in her 80s. Paramedics called in just before 8am at the tail end of my night shift as a standby for "drowsiness and low BP".
She was in one of THE worst states I've ever witnessed ( and I've seen my fair share of gross neglect in the elderly ). Absolutely parched, sandpaper tongue, skin that remained tented after a gentle pinch, sunken eyes and temples.
BP on arrival 60/40. Patient was gasping at a rate of maybe 10 breaths a minute. Man, she didn't look like she was going to last very long.
Good thing resus was empty at the time, so my 2 MOs and I ( plus a whole army of nurses ) went straight to work. Quick IV access, oxygen 100%, concurrent ECG and hypocount.
"Sugar's LOW," the nurse hollered.
"How low?" I asked.
"LOW, as in 'LO' on the hypocount machine. Unrecordable."
Aha! At least there was something we could treat! IV Dextrose 50% 40 ml stat, a pint of normal saline fast, and before we knew it, she turned pink, opened her eyes and nodded her head when we called her name. Respiratory rate 18 per minute. BP 100/65. She was even starting to move her upper limbs.
"Remember the old lady we saw the other day?" one of the MOs involved with the case asked me last night. "She's been discharged back to her family. But I can bet we'll see her again soon."
Or maybe her family won't call the ambulance next time.
Second, a pseudo-controversial issue.
Seems a patient got VERY worked up over some public comment made by a certain government official in the local paper, and shot in a lengthy essay detailing why s/he thinks this official's opinions are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
Something about a botched admission. Psychological distress caused by anticipation / anxiety / venepuncture. S/he even brought up an incident which occurred ONE YEAR AGO to further illustrate the point.
That's where I kena.
So I checked up this person's records on the computer. S/he made some sweeping statements about things I said, and turns out I remember this person quite well ( s/he has a rather unusual condition ). And besides, I'm quite paranoid where case-notes documentation is concerned, so I practically transcribed every conversation word for word.
In a word, I'm APPALLED.
The complaint pertaining to the ER experience makes up only a tiny part of the overall complaint ( which mainly pinpoints the ward ), but I managed to pick out a huge number of lies within a single paragraph.
Apparently, 20 minutes qualifies as a "long waiting time". An "urgent referral" from a GP warrants quick attention, I agree, but what s/he left out is that fact that s/he opted to wait FOUR ENTIRE DAYS before coming to the ER. S/he was so "sick" s/he managed to celebrate the Chinese New Year! ( By the way, this was the reason given when I asked why s/he didn't come to see us sooner. And yes, I typed it all in. Whew. )
Wait, there's more.
This is an educated young adult. Works in the civil service. Respected job.
But get this: I fully explained the management plan to him/her, after personally speaking to the specialist-on-call, who didn't think anything further needed to be done and requested an early outpatient review, which I thought was completely reasonable given the situation.
I ALWAYS inform the patient, or at least the patient's relatives, of the plan on discharge. I documented this in my notes ( "patient informed and agreeable" ), but s/he turns around and says I told him/her to consult the specialist on his/her own instead! Making it sound like I was totally bo-chap and negligent in some way!
Argh, my blood boiled for a full 5 minutes.
Anyhow, I submitted my reply ( no choice, since the official got a direct email and needed our answers ). But thanks to my obsessive-compulsive scribing, my ass is covered. Yay me.
Moving on...
Alex, this bit's for you. :)
So I had an interesting email exchange about the merits of direct admissions from ER to the ward versus reviews by the ward teams in the A&E prior to accepting cases.
Bottomline: There's no perfect, win-win scenario. Rather, it depends on how we adapt to whichever system we're working under.
After all, what's the use of having referrals from the ER prior to admission, if the ward teams either can't or won't review patients, or worse, refuse to accept clear-cut cases into their care, thus causing major problems for the ER and the patients themselves.
Admitting directly to the ward also has its drawbacks. I once did an Internal Med call as a house officer where I got swamped with 5 extremely sick patients at one go. There was an allergic reaction which progressed to anaphylactic shock, a severe asthmatic attack, one pulmonary oedema, another haemorrhagic stroke ( no scan in the ER, yeesh ), and a septic shock.
My MO and registrar were already mobilized, but we were hanging by a thread, and still had a whole string of other cases waiting to be seen. Details are blurry ( it happened 7 years ago ), but I probably saw the last patient of the night maybe 4 hours after s/he was sent up to the ward. Thank goodness everyone else after that nightmare bunch was stable and remained so till morning.
The ideal situation, of course, is to have all patients either reviewed by the ward teams in the ER itself, OR have them admitted directly upstairs and seen within the hour, BEFORE anything untoward happens.
What I suggest: document ER notes METICULOUSLY, call the ward teams if you're worried, maintain good relations with the various specialties, and put your foot down once in a while if it's warranted.
Here's the kicker:
True stories related by a consultant and a senior medical officer respectively.
Incident #1:
Patient has condition A. Scan done, awaiting bed in observation.
Unexpectedly, patient develops condition B. Wheeled back to resus and intubated.
Specialist A called because patient originally presented with A, so by right should go to ICU A.
But specialist A says "the nurses in ICU A cannot handle condition B", and wants the ER to call specialist B.
Specialist B, however, agrees that condition A should be treated by specialty A. Doesn't accept case to ICU B.
Specialist A called again, this time requested by the ER to come down to see patient personally ( original consult conducted via phone ). So s/he comes down, still doesn't take the case, then suggests admitting to specialty X, which has no real jurisdiction where conditions A and B are concerned!
However, specialist A speaks to specialist X and the latter takes the patient to ICU X ( will wonders never cease ).
There's a punchline though - because ICU X is full, the patient has to overflow to ICU A! So the ICU A nurses end up taking care of the same patient they're supposedly "incapable" of handling!
Har har har :)
The other case is under specialty D. An outpatient investigation is done, during which the patient develops an adverse reaction resulting in condition E.
Specialist D considers routing the patient to the ER for admission to specialty E, but admits to ward D first to expedite the process, refers to specialist E upstairs, hoping the case will be taken over.
Unfortunately, specialty E will have nothing to do with the case, preferring instead to drop in every other day to check the patient's progress.
One fine day, the patient gets condition F. VERY serious, gets intubated and sent to ICU F, managed by specialists F for 2 weeks before improving and getting sent back to general ward.
However, specialty F doesn't accept the case under their care, so specialty D asks if specialty E can take over, since condition E was the presenting problem, triggered the other complications and hasn't resolved as yet.
Specialty E says no, keep the patient under specialty D. Orders this and that, but to be carried out by specialty D, okay?
So the medical officer tells me the next time something like this happens again, don't be surprised if we end up seeing the patient in our ER.
Dude, I usually don't enjoy entertaining this sort of thing, but in view of what you've told me, I say do what you have to do. Whatever's best for the patient.
But please call ahead first. So I won't blow my top ( I scolded an oncology MO for the same thing before. Don't mess with me. ).
Ahh, I love unloading. :)
Miscellaneous
Have you heard of Bill and Barbara Pease? Some psychologist couple that wrote a bestselling book pretty similar to the "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" prototype. The Pease's effort is "Why Men Don't Talk and Women Can't Read Maps" ( I think ). Flipped through it at a salon and was pretty nauseated by some of their "statements".
Man's need to spread their seed is an evolutionary trait - ie. they can't help it! You can't blame them for wanting to sleep with everything in a skirt!
Err, yeah, right.
Equally demeaning views about women somewhere in there too. But I switched off at some point so don't ask me for examples.
I do remember what they wrote about "the perfect partner" though. Apparently a woman is safest with a "Chinese man who listens to classical music" and should stay away from "hardworking jazz pianists".
Obviously, the Peases haven't met Singaporean men before.
Hey, you could consider that a compliment of sorts. Heh. Heh.
Looks like I'm going to get set up no matter what. But I do find it interesting that this fellow's name got mentioned by 2 different people, both of whom think I'm a prime candidate for "matchmaking" purposes.
Ah well. We'll see what happens. But don't place any bets yet. :)
Photos For The Day
Just doing my part to publicize Patrizio Buanne's upcoming concert. This was taken at his showcase at the Grand Copthorne last August. LOVELY guy. :)
The rest are random pictures left over from the Italy trip. Thought they'd add some colour. Also runs with the overall Italian theme, haha.
Time for a juicy Mandarin orange. Enjoy your weekend.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Ugh
First entry of the new year, and I'm down with the flu.
Ironically, the URTI comes a week AFTER I was practically coerced into taking the flu vaccine. Oh well, I gave more than adequate advance warning about going on medical leave should I get sick, so there.
So thanks, once again, to those of you who've been dropping by. Despite my increasingly erratic posting frequency.
What've I been up to since NYE?
The NYE Call
Let's see, the night itself was pretty eventful, yet nowhere as bad as we expected ( probably because one of the MOs on with us has unbelievably good karma ). There was a constant trickle of drunks and traumas, with the occasional nutcase.
Tonnes of kena-whacked-with-spray-cans ( so many that I decided to forget about formal T&S and just go with the Hair Apposition Technique / HAT instead ), kena-bashed-up-for-no-rhyme-or-reason, kena-bashed-up-because-someone-tried-toget-jiggy-with-someone-else's-woman, and one kena-stabbed-in-the-head.
The last was fascinating. Young fellow who claimed some "stranger" decided to stick a 20cm-knife with a 10-cm blade into his right parietal skull, before running away like a yellow-bellied coward.
He saw it fit to run all the way from the Esplanade to our esteemed establishment, was miraculously neurologically intact and, though intoxicated with booze, had the presence of mind to NOT yank the thing out of his head.
We did both skull x-rays and a CT brain. The former gave some indication of the depth of penetration into the cerebral parenchyma, but the latter - unfortunately - didn't. Here's a nice little lesson learnt: a metal blade emits a fierce beam of white light on computed tomography. So all we saw was the weapon going into the bone, then this fan-shaped ray that blotted out everything in its path.
"Hmm," I went.
"Hmm," the neurosurgical registrar concurred.
There's a happy ending to the story, so fret not. The poor guy underwent a craniotomy and a relatively straightforward "foreign body" removal. Last I checked, he was still alive and doing fine.
What Else I've Been Up To
Watched a whole lot of DVDs, for one.
In My Father's Den - NZ production. Compelling. I enjoyed it.
Maria Full Of Grace - stark portrayal of "drug mules" from Mexico. Interesting.
Wedding Crashers - daft, but hilarious. Love Owen Wilson. :)
Must Love Dogs - anything with my fav John Cusack is always a treat. Not his best, but I could care less.
War Of The Worlds - Not bad, but I keep getting this feeling that Spielberg is losing his touch just a tad. Did anyone think the scenes were forced, the ending way too cheesy?
I, Robot - Caught this on cable. Extremely good, I thought, despite its lukewarm box-office performance.
New TV Shows
Grey's Anatomy - Will be reviewing this in greater detail for the SMA News, but first impressions are mixed. A little silly, lots of scandalous affairs, the requisite mawkish reflections on being noble and so on. A definitely guilty pleasure. Airs Monday nights at 11pm on Channel 5. Try it out. ( Patrick Dempsey is hot. :))
4400 - Another Monday night feature, 9pm on cable's Starworld Channel 18. Season 2 is currently airing, but you could always catch Season 1 somewhere, somehow. Excellent series about 4400 ??alien abductees who are suddenly dumped back on Earth, only to discover that a significant number of returnees possess special abilities - some good, others evil. Lots of intrigue and emotional bonds formed and broke in the blink of an eye. Great acting and writing abound. It's my new addiction.
The Apprentice 4 - The Donald's back! And I know who won ( stumbled upon it by accident while watching Larry King Live, darn it ). Some of you may find the tasks repetitive, but us fans know the show's success hinges on the players, with their neuroses, narcissistic personalities and delusions of grandeur. Omarosa II got booted off early ( what's her name again? some Hispanic chick ), so it's up to the rest to keep viewers hooked. Catch them every Sunday night at 10pm on Channel 5.
Fare Thee Well
To "Numb3rs" and "House".
But the latest from "CSI" ( Las Vegas, that is ) is due in February, woohoo!
Other Updates
Radio ads have been running on Gold 90FM for an upcoming concert by Italian tenor Patrizio Buanne. Stay tuned for more details.
Robbie Williams' new album, Intesive Care( which I sat on for a few months before slotting it into my new car's pumping stereo ), is terrific. Loads better than Escapology, just a whisker shy of his best to-date, Sing When You're Winning. Returning to his pop roots and coming up with catchy melodies tinged with a little bit o' country, little bit o' rock, little bit o' dance -- it's a lovely mix topped off by RW's soaring vocals. Maybe it's my hi-fi's super speaker system, but Mr. Williams has never sounded this good before. Go get it. :)
New Links
Under the "Asian medical blogs" category.
Enjoy.
Picture Time
There is, of course, a good reason for my photo choice.
Clay Aiken's sophomore album release is slated for early 2006.
Something to look forward to. :)
Time to take my flu meds. Have a good weekend ( or what's left of it ).
First entry of the new year, and I'm down with the flu.
Ironically, the URTI comes a week AFTER I was practically coerced into taking the flu vaccine. Oh well, I gave more than adequate advance warning about going on medical leave should I get sick, so there.
So thanks, once again, to those of you who've been dropping by. Despite my increasingly erratic posting frequency.
What've I been up to since NYE?
The NYE Call
Let's see, the night itself was pretty eventful, yet nowhere as bad as we expected ( probably because one of the MOs on with us has unbelievably good karma ). There was a constant trickle of drunks and traumas, with the occasional nutcase.
Tonnes of kena-whacked-with-spray-cans ( so many that I decided to forget about formal T&S and just go with the Hair Apposition Technique / HAT instead ), kena-bashed-up-for-no-rhyme-or-reason, kena-bashed-up-because-someone-tried-toget-jiggy-with-someone-else's-woman, and one kena-stabbed-in-the-head.
The last was fascinating. Young fellow who claimed some "stranger" decided to stick a 20cm-knife with a 10-cm blade into his right parietal skull, before running away like a yellow-bellied coward.
He saw it fit to run all the way from the Esplanade to our esteemed establishment, was miraculously neurologically intact and, though intoxicated with booze, had the presence of mind to NOT yank the thing out of his head.
We did both skull x-rays and a CT brain. The former gave some indication of the depth of penetration into the cerebral parenchyma, but the latter - unfortunately - didn't. Here's a nice little lesson learnt: a metal blade emits a fierce beam of white light on computed tomography. So all we saw was the weapon going into the bone, then this fan-shaped ray that blotted out everything in its path.
"Hmm," I went.
"Hmm," the neurosurgical registrar concurred.
There's a happy ending to the story, so fret not. The poor guy underwent a craniotomy and a relatively straightforward "foreign body" removal. Last I checked, he was still alive and doing fine.
What Else I've Been Up To
Watched a whole lot of DVDs, for one.
In My Father's Den - NZ production. Compelling. I enjoyed it.
Maria Full Of Grace - stark portrayal of "drug mules" from Mexico. Interesting.
Wedding Crashers - daft, but hilarious. Love Owen Wilson. :)
Must Love Dogs - anything with my fav John Cusack is always a treat. Not his best, but I could care less.
War Of The Worlds - Not bad, but I keep getting this feeling that Spielberg is losing his touch just a tad. Did anyone think the scenes were forced, the ending way too cheesy?
I, Robot - Caught this on cable. Extremely good, I thought, despite its lukewarm box-office performance.
New TV Shows
Grey's Anatomy - Will be reviewing this in greater detail for the SMA News, but first impressions are mixed. A little silly, lots of scandalous affairs, the requisite mawkish reflections on being noble and so on. A definitely guilty pleasure. Airs Monday nights at 11pm on Channel 5. Try it out. ( Patrick Dempsey is hot. :))
4400 - Another Monday night feature, 9pm on cable's Starworld Channel 18. Season 2 is currently airing, but you could always catch Season 1 somewhere, somehow. Excellent series about 4400 ??alien abductees who are suddenly dumped back on Earth, only to discover that a significant number of returnees possess special abilities - some good, others evil. Lots of intrigue and emotional bonds formed and broke in the blink of an eye. Great acting and writing abound. It's my new addiction.
The Apprentice 4 - The Donald's back! And I know who won ( stumbled upon it by accident while watching Larry King Live, darn it ). Some of you may find the tasks repetitive, but us fans know the show's success hinges on the players, with their neuroses, narcissistic personalities and delusions of grandeur. Omarosa II got booted off early ( what's her name again? some Hispanic chick ), so it's up to the rest to keep viewers hooked. Catch them every Sunday night at 10pm on Channel 5.
Fare Thee Well
To "Numb3rs" and "House".
But the latest from "CSI" ( Las Vegas, that is ) is due in February, woohoo!
Other Updates
Radio ads have been running on Gold 90FM for an upcoming concert by Italian tenor Patrizio Buanne. Stay tuned for more details.
Robbie Williams' new album, Intesive Care( which I sat on for a few months before slotting it into my new car's pumping stereo ), is terrific. Loads better than Escapology, just a whisker shy of his best to-date, Sing When You're Winning. Returning to his pop roots and coming up with catchy melodies tinged with a little bit o' country, little bit o' rock, little bit o' dance -- it's a lovely mix topped off by RW's soaring vocals. Maybe it's my hi-fi's super speaker system, but Mr. Williams has never sounded this good before. Go get it. :)
New Links
Under the "Asian medical blogs" category.
Enjoy.
Picture Time
There is, of course, a good reason for my photo choice.
Clay Aiken's sophomore album release is slated for early 2006.
Something to look forward to. :)
Time to take my flu meds. Have a good weekend ( or what's left of it ).
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