In A Hurry

*pant pant*

I think I'm deliberately doing this to myself. Not good.

In a nutshell - 'cos I doubt I will be able to blog again till next week...

1. Will be catching the Asian premiere of CSI:New York tonight. With a possible chance of winning a set visit. Woohoo!

2. I love teaching. Both med students and basic trainees.

3. Caught the students whispering my name as I passed by the other day. Guess they do read the NUS Med Soc newsletter faithfully ( where I contributed something early this year ).

4. The ER is overcrowded to breaking point. And I'll be seeing this day in day out for the rest of my career. Yay.

5. I need sleep. Badly.

6. Jessica's out of AI4. Now if only they'd get rid of Scott too.

More another day. Gotta grab a quick dinner then I'm off! :D

The IRAS Cometh

I HATE e-filing tax returns.

But it's done. One less headache to contend with.

The Iceman Singeth

Did anyone catch Parkinson on StarWorld last night? Guests included Renee Zellweger, Mel Brooks ( aka Marlin from Finding Nemo ), and *drum roll* Kevin Spacey.

Spacey obliged with 2 performances of Bobby Darin songs ( one of which was Mack The Knife ). What a treat. :)

But of course, he's also one of Hollywood's most elegant, eloquent speakers. Calm, confident, purposeful choice of words, yet brimming with good-natured humour ( get a load of his Jack Lemmon impression ) -- precisely why I'm such a big fan.

Photos To Follow

Clay Aiken appeared on "Scrubs" earlier this year, but I never managed to write about that thanks to my crazy schedule. Online recap available here, but I've seen the photos already, and have never seen him look better. Now if only I can remember where I saw those pictures...

Burning Out

Into my 2nd month of registrar-ship, and at least 3 people notice I've lost weight. Yikes.

Last week was a particularly bad one, with busy shifts, and a literally "nightmare case" involving a young asthmatic who deteriorated before our eyes within a mere 5 minutes. If you thought a child could never be diaphoretic, you're totally wrong. This kid was into his 2nd nebulizer when his clothes became drenched. And I mean SOAKED THROUGH. I pushed him from Critical Care into Resus immediately, and had to intubate him soon after.

The good news is, he was transferred to the paediatric ICU at you-know-where that very afternoon, extubated later in the evening, and sent to the ward the morning after.

Guess we adult ER physicians got the brunt of the (extreme) stress. His parents were frantic, we were doing everything we could to avoid intubating the boy, but once the drowsiness and plunging sats set in, the decision was final. Titrating the Magnesium Sulfate and IV Salbutamol ( not to mention all those sedating drugs to stop him from pulling the ETT out ) weren't exactly fun either.

Hats off to paediatricians.

Shift's starting soon. Wish me luck.

SMA News March ( Junior Doctors ) Issue
-- as expected, quite a bit of complaining. But at least it's now being done "openly". Well, anonymity notwithstanding, heh heh. Hey, walls can't be broken down overnight.

American Idol This Week

My top 4 ( always seems to be 4, hmm ):

Nikko Smith: He rocked this week! His performance of Sisqo's Incomplete ( a song I don't even know ) blew me out of my reverie ( it was my day off, and I'd just done some major house-cleaning ). He'd been my least favourite male finalist up till then. Now he's a CONTENDER. Mighty interesting.

Constantine: This guy has convinced me to dish out money for tickets when ( and I'm sure of this ) the AI4 group of 12 comes to Singapore later this year for a concert. Gave the AI3 gang a miss ( can't stand Fantasia ), but Constantine ALONE is worth the price of a front-row seat. :)
Here's a fellow who's suddenly developed a knack for making me smile in spite of myself. Didn't really like him in the earlier episodes, but he's grown on me a lot since last week's powerhouse version of You Make Me So Very Happy, and his cover of The Partridge Family's I Think I Love You yesterday sure induced some good-natured laughs of appreciation. :D
He picks rather odd songs, but is confident enough to pull them off every single time. He's a rocker at heart, but doesn't turn songs from other genres into heavy metal nightmares. There's a very fun spirit in his performances which I'm beginning to get addicted to. And that SMILE... I haven't seen any AI finalist smile this much since... Clay Aiken! :)

Anthony Fedorov: He's done better previously, but at least he picked a catchy tune ( I Knew You Were Waiting For Me by George Michael and Aretha Franklin ). I still prefer the original, but Anthony has got some smooth moves in him yet. If only he could find a way to harness and control that pure, unique and beautiful voice of his.

Carrie Underwood: Sporting big hair and all, she bravely broke out of the country-girl stereotype and belted her guts out on Heart's Alone. Wow. Although, I have to disagree with Simon Cowell's over-the-top statement about Carrie winning AI4 and going on to outsell all her predecessors. No way, man. This year, the guys rule.

Disappointments: Nadia Turner's poor choice of song ( Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time ) and Anwar Robinson's weak vocals on Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody. But hey, their fans know better and could care less. Me included.

Deep Throat

Well, not really.

But I've heard so many shocking pieces of news today that my head is spinning right now.

First, something about a training fee certain junior specialists have to fork out every month. And it's significant.

Second, the dire conditions in a particular medical specialty.

Third, the number of cases being sent to the wrong departments for the wrong reasons.

And it isn't even a case of concerned parties doing nothing. It's a case of concerned parties trying to do something, but hitting obstacles in every direction.

If you're in a position of power, but use that power irresponsibly, then the patients suffer, and ground staff will grow increasingly disgruntled. The lack of a strong foundation does not bode well for a large healthcare institution.

Sigh. Maybe life as an ignorant MO was better after all.

In Retrospect

The conversation was extremely one-sided.

The realization of the misstep grossly delayed.

The method of making amends - disturbingly inadequate.

Note to self: Stop doing favours for people.

A Few Short Notes

... before I start a major rambling session. :)

To SP: Hope you've arrived safely. Are you still reading the blog? Keep in touch.

To my good pal: Thank you for meeting me at such short notice. It was great talking to you. Think we needed it.

To Budak Pantai: I need more advance warning! Please update us at least a week before your next performance. I promise to attend if my schedule permits.

To my fellow A&E colleagues: An innocuous comment turned into a huge stress-busting laughing session the other week. And every single day, without fail, we share some measure of good humour and heartwarming anecdotes, even with the many nurses and MOs. I couldn't ask for a happier surrogate family than this.

To the local Clay fans: Your unbridled excitement always brings a smile to my face. I got through the Monday call only because your Forces Of Nature updates kept me up the whole night. :D

And to Clay Aiken, aka the centre of the following major updates, I can't believe that 2 years have passed by so quickly. I can't believe how far you've come, how much you've achieved, and how effortlessly inspiring you are. Most of all, I can't get over the fact that you were in Kuala Lumpur, and DIDN'T COME TO SINGAPORE, aargh! ( Just kidding. ) We're glad you've promised to come by someday ( threads below provide first-person accounts which confirm this ). Definitely something to look forward to. :)

And now for the rambling... ( nasty comments will be deleted, so don't say I didn't warn you first )

A Gorgeous New Website I Recently Discovered
-- the pictures are exceptional
-- lots of hot-off-the-press videos, which I have to download very patiently, since I'm still very resistant to broadband

Thread On Clay's Aceh Visit
-- check out Callisto's video avatar of the dear boy dancing with the children, awww
-- my favourite pictures in the whole lot: the very first one in the thread ( aka Feast Your Eyes #1 from my previous post ), and one included by aikencrazy on March 15, with him crouching next to a little Acehnese boy and waving his arms. My heart melted when I saw that one. :D

Thread on Clay's Appearance at Forces Of Nature In Kuala Lumpur
-- these were taken by our very own Singaporean fans who were just a foot away from the man himself on the red carpet
-- if you can't read through everything, this was where he stopped to sign his fans' CDs and posters, and answered "I will!" when my friend asked if he'll come to Singapore, woohoo!
-- he's grown significantly more haggard, but the years have added a certain compelling quality to his features which exudes quiet confidence and a clear direction. Very rare.
-- he's a brunette now. Even better. :D

The Video You Simply MUST Watch
-- is the 4MB file dated March 18 2005, titled Clay Visits Indonesia ( Reuters version )
-- he is clearly happiest when among children, and anyone who feels nothing after seeing him dance and sing with these kids needs some serious psychotherapy.

Thank you, Clay, for maintaining - and occasionally restoring - my faith in the human race.

Last But Not Least

CD reviews are being put on hold while my brain recovers from a sleepless call.

Training to be an ACLS instructor was fun last Sunday. Seems I was "too kind" to a candidate ( ie. I tried to help her out by prompting just a little too much ). So we were told to just stand there and let them squirm until time's up. Err, okay.

One of my A&E MOs surprised me by blurting the smallest details about American Idol finalists ( both past and present ). The main reason for the surprise? He's a guy... who wants to be a surgeon... and is really good-looking.
And some of you thought only losers love this show. :P

Anyone care to wager that Ian will emerge victorious in Survivor:Palau? This guy is really growing on me. Great swimmer, beautiful smile, kinda geeky at the same time. Yep, my trademark funny taste kicking in yet again.

Star Movies just screened Part 1 of a made-for-TV version of "Spartacus" -- Part 2 is this coming weekend. Having been bored out of my mind by the original which starred Kirk Douglas, I greatly enjoyed this one, mainly because the lead is none other than Goran Visnjic, aka Luca the Russian doctor in "ER". Whereas Douglas was all blonde and bronzed, Visnjic is dark and melancholy. Lacks some conviction where those big-speech scenes are concerned, but the series is well-made, the pace crackling, and certain sequences most memorable ( especially one where the Roman senator disdainfully crushes the fingers of a dying African gladiator ).

"American Beauty" also made an appearance on local television a few days ago. Don't ask me how I missed out on the commercial-free cable telecast ( think I didn't have cable then ), but this classic is irrefutable proof why Kevin Spacey is one of our generation's most accomplished actors, and totally deserving of that Best Actor Oscar.
( Although personally speaking, I still think Swimming With Sharks is Spacey at his absolute best EVER. Think I'll order it through Amazon one of these days. )

I need to get some rest before my health starts to suffer.

Allow me to end off with a quote from "American Beauty":

Lester Burnham ( previously oppressed husband played to perfection by Spacey )
-- "You're right, I have lost something. But you know what? It's never too late to get it back."

First, The Good Stuff

Feast Your Eyes #1

Feast Your Eyes #2

Feast Your Eyes #3

Translation Below:

American Idol Runner-up Entertain Aceh Refugees
Monday, 14 March 2005 | 7.19 pm WIB

TEMPO Interaktif, Banda Aceh: Clay Aiken UNICEF Ambassador who is also runner-up of American Idol, Monday (14/30) afternoon charmed the kids from Lampuuk Beach, Lhok Nga, Aceh Besar (bigger part of Aceh) refugees. About 100 children of elementary school age gathered around the shore to greet Clay.

The kids are from tsunami hit areas who now are sheltered at camps around Lhok Nga. The kids welcomed Clay with songs, he then had some chats with them. He also motivated the children to be happy.

Clay, accompanied by Ferry Salim (local celeb who's also a UNICEF ambassador), was also singing with the kids. Slowly his mouth began to get used to the song 'di Sini Senang, di Sana Senang' (literal translation: happiness everywhere; a common Indo kids nursery song ^_^). Next, they went with drawing competition and calligraphy writing which was held by the committee, Child Center under the umbrella of UNICEF.

Clay was the American Idol 2003 runner up who is signed by RCA. He appeared on Rolling Stone cover and Entertainment Weekly Magazine. UNICEF appointed Clay as Ambassador for All Children of the year 2004.

Adi Warsidi-Tempo

( ps. Tempo is like the local TIME magazine )

Word also has it that Clay was a last-minute addition to the Forces Of Nature tsunami aid concert being held in Kuala Lumpur tonight. A couple of local fans have already flown up at a moment's notice. We'll be hearing from them very soon. :)

Boy have I been out of the loop...

Now For The Not So Good Stuff

First One

The phone call came right smack in the middle of our meal.

Hushed conversation, but I caught some of it despite trying not to.

He hung up, and the countdown began.

I knew it was coming. So when will the evening end?

It lasted another hour or so. He didn't look distracted, but soon after dessert, he called for the bill, and we parted ways. She's probably waiting for him somewhere nearby.

First time this sort of thing has ever happened to me, come to think of it.

Not very pleasant, but oh well. Life goes on.


Second One

You read the blog faithfully, so I know you will see this.

I don't know how to fully express my fears and reservations about your rash decision.

She manipulates you time and time again, and you let her.

She didn't like me before we met, and she still doesn't like me after.

I've only met her once, and she keeps refusing my invitations to join us whenever we get together. Why?

You're always the one making all the compromises.

She didn't keep a promise she made.

She's drawing you further and further away from God.

Once the deed is done, I know I will lose you.

I see the signs so clearly because I've been there before, but I escaped. I'm trying to help YOU escape. But you won't listen.

Losing you will be infinitely more painful than the heartbreak I suffered. Because you're one of the best people I know. Because you're my oldest and best friend. Because she doesn't deserve you. Because you can find true happiness with someone else.

I would never do anything to hurt you. In making this irreversible decision, my greatest fear is you inadvertently hurting yourself.

I will pray hard for you, my friend. That you will see the light, and do the right thing. And that I will always be there for you, even if you start to hate me someday.

Number Three

Yes, AI fanatics, Mario Vasquez is officially out of the competition. Extremely disappointing.

Judging from this week's performances, my top 3 are:

Constantine -- aka Smouldering Idol ( Simon's words ), he sang You Make So Very Happy right out of the ballpark. After simmering on the sidelines for the past month, he's finally broken free of his chains and released all that testosterone and rocker energy when it matters the most. Earth-shattering!

Nadia -- Getting more gorgeous with each passing week, her soulful rendition of When You Say You Love Me combined with a svelte silhouette togged out in a fabulous short green dress was, in Randy-speak, "Da Bomb"!

Anwar -- this is one handsome dude, people. And with 3 years of classical tenor training under his belt, his voice is ( Paula's description ) "flawless". He picked a rather dull song this time - A House Is Not A Home by Burt Bacharach ( which according to my mom, was featured in a movie about prostitutes, hmm ) - but his track record stands him in good stead, and he sailed through to the next round.

Anthony faltered with Neil Sedaka's Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, but only because he tried a little too much. He's got wonderful vocals - very pure and a joy to listen to - but he has to relax and just keep to the basics.

I repeat: the female contestants ( except for Carrie and Nadia ) SUCK. Little wonder the bottom three were all gals. Kick them out fast. Please.

Reviews To Follow

Kenny G's albums - just bought another one which has Chinese packaging but is original stuff ( cost me only $9.90 at That CD Shop, woohoo :))

The Ultimate Hall & Oates Collection - TWO full CDs ( again shipped from China, excellent quality ) that cost only $12.90. Reeeeaaaaallllllllyyyyyyy good. Wish they'd return to Singapore for a 2nd gig already.

Non-Sequitur Omnibuses ( is that the correct plural form? can't be bothered to check. it's past midnight. ) - Darn funny. The Far Side who?


Right. Time to turn off the lights and ATTEMPT to sleep. All that sashimi and sake is keeping me wide awake. Isn't alcohol and a full stomach supposed to do the exact opposite?

American Idol 4

My predictions for the top 4:

Nadia Turner -- odds of winning: VERY HIGH, if she remains consistent. Gorgeous young lady with a devastating stage presence. Cross between Beyonce and Tina Turner. Best performance so far: her rock / R&B / disco cover of the usually sedate ballad Try A Little Tenderness ( also featured on Michael Buble's latest album ). My jaw dropped. :)

Mario Vasquez -- odds: ALSO VERY HIGH, if he doesn't screw up. Another good-looking contestant with lots of sex appeal. Beautiful smile. Awesome showmanship. Best performance so far: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart at the most recent show. It literally broke mine. :D

Anthony Fedorov -- odds: MODERATELY HIGH, but could get higher if he loosens up a little. Constantly compared with fellow bespectacled power vocalist Clay Aiken, and described as "sweet" and "a very nice guy" by none other than Simon Cowell. Fantastic voice, capable of belting Jon Secada, Richard Marx and Marc Anthony numbers. Best performance so far: Hold On To The Night on the first semi-finalist episode. Gave me goosebumps!

Anwar Robinson -- odds: MODERATELY HIGH, but set to rocket past everyone if he plays his cards right. The reason I say this: he's got TWO great performances so far, and I can't even choose between them. First, his fantastic rendition of Moon River, and second, his amazing cover of Louis Armstrong's simple yet poignant What A Wonderful World. He dazzles just that little bit more with each passing week. If he keeps this up, he'll win for sure. Plus, he's also been described by Simon as a very nice person, and he's a music teacher who used to coach a school choir. What more do you need to be an American Idol?! :)

P.S. The female contestants suck. Except Nadia, of course.

Work Issues

A little disturbing sometimes. And I don't mean the patients.

Can someone please tell me if a positive Murphy's sign has any value anymore? A person, who shall remain unnamed, told me the other day that a fever MUST be present in order for acute cholecystitis to be EVEN CONSIDERED. So a strongly positive Murphy's in an afebrile patient = DEFINITELY NOT ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS.

Since when?

SP, since you read my blog and are well-placed to answer such a question, perhaps you can provide some answers? Thanks. :)

In the book, The House Of God, by Samuel Shem, the protagonist's stint in the ER mentions prominently his attempts at being a Wall, aka a Gatekeeper, who tries his darnedest to prevent the wards from overcrowding with gomers and other assorted unwanted or unwarranted admissions.

I tried to be a good Wall the other day.

Elderly man, just discharged 4 days ago for pneumonia. Perfectly well at home until that morning when he was brought to the hospital for a blocked urinary catheter. Found to have a very low-grade fever <38 degrees. Chest Xrays and urine combo negative. Just completed a course of Augmentin. Sitting on the bed and grinning at me. Tells me he's okay and keen for home. Family also wants to take him back.

The niggling temperature bothers me a little, but I didn't want to subject him to an unnecessary inpatient stay, with all its nosocomial infections. So I decide to do a simple full blood count to assess his total whites. If it's significantly elevated, he has to stay, no question about it.

Patient and family agreeable and happy with above plan. Besides, he has a clinic followup in just 3 days' time. I draw the blood and put him in observation. Only thing is, I'm going off shift, and need to hand the case over to a fellow colleague, who shares a similar rank, but has a few additional years of experience on me.

I tell him about the case, and when the FBC is mentioned, my colleague suggests I admit the guy immediately, BEFORE the results are back. I explain that the patient's problem was NEVER a fever, but the ?blocked catheter, which has now resolved spontaneously. We debate the issue for a few minutes, and at one point, I ask ( a little loudly ), "You mean you WANT to ADMIT the patient?!"

Not sure how that came across. I wasn't being rude or disrespectful, just simply shocked. I didn't think it was justified. But my colleague was being insistent, and try as I might, I couldn't give in. Perhaps if HE wanted to admit the patient, HE should go tell the patient and his family that, and leave me out of it.

Silence for a few seconds, then he relented. Okay, we'll wait for the FBC. Not sure what happened, since I'm off today. But I'd like to think I had good reason to at least wait before taking up another bed in an already busy hospital.

And if the colleague in question does read this, please don't take my reaction the wrong way. He's a good guy, and I enjoy working with him. But doctors often disagree, and I was only trying to present the merits of my case. After all, I was the one who saw the patient and spoke extensively with his family, who swear that he's absolutely fine at home.

The 3rd issue: Referrals to a certain department ( or more specifically, certain junior members of that department ) are being mismanaged. To put it nicely. People getting admitted to other disciplines because this one regularly rejects them, then being referred again after they're sent up to the wards. Diagnoses made late. Treatment delayed. Outcomes not very good in some cases. Then the ER docs get blamed in "closed door" meetings. C'mon... don't any of you have a conscience anymore?

All hell breaks loose tomorrow. Monday morning, and I'm on shift. Sigh.

A Few Updates

Amazingly, The Straits Times didn't use some unflattering statistics about the medical profession to their own advantage -- ie. flog a story in the wrong direction for the purposes of sensationalism, THEN refuse to accept any responsibility for the consequences.

Not that I see a point in publishing ER "waiting times", whatever those entail, since from all indications, these figures were garnered over the 2004 period, and have no meaningful breakdown in terms of peak periods of the day or year, detailed patient circumstances surrounding the discrepancies, the corresponding manpower differences, etc.

I mean C'MON, if ( and this is based on personal experience ) THREE of the A&E department's fastest doctors can't clear a Priority 3 queue even when they're on shift TOGETHER at 8am in the morning, it's obviously a PATIENT issue, right?!

The way I see it, if you (1) didn't come to the hospital via ambulance, (2) don't have an URGENT condition as specified by another qualified doctor ( GP or OPS ), (3) have stable vital signs, (4) are not in severe pain of any kind, and/or (5) can watch American Idol on the ER's television to the point of not hearing your name being called -- you can afford to wait, dammit.

We actually have people who register at the counter, leave the hospital to run errands, then return 2 hours later ( with the assumption that they'll have to wait that long for their turn anyhow ). Others stroll off somewhere to have hour-long dinners, despite presenting with complaints of "nausea and abdominal discomfort".

Singaporeans. You just can't beat 'em.

But why harp on something I have no control over? The past 3 days have been absolutely terrific, thanks to an Advanced HAZMAT Life Support Course conducted by 2 world-renowned American Disaster Medicine Specialists who came down with the specific purpose of conducting this inaugural event.

One of them, who hails from New York, even does consulting work for the long-running ( and IMHO, unbeatable ) TV series Law & Order. He's been on the set, met the stars, the works. Call me easily impressed, but WOW. :)

Also, great things are in store for Singapore's profile in the emergency medicine arena, as our country will be hosting the International Emergency Medicine Conference come 2010. Woohoo! :D

And if that weren't enough to send me into the stratosphere, I've managed to convince my usually reticent mother to let me do my HMDP in the USA, instead of the UK as previously discussed. Yes yes, I know I'm an adult and shouldn't have to get anyone's permission for anything, but I'm not the sort who relishes upsetting my mom, whom I respect and love. It just isn't my style.

But, back to the issue at hand. The choices are limitless. Mass Gen, the CDC, Connecticut, Georgia, or how about NYC ( consolation for not winning that trip on Class 95 )? :)

Of course, this also means I'll need to take another exam ( if I intend to do some clinical work ) -- the dreaded USMLE. Sigh. Back to the grind.

Norah Jones & The Handsome Band World Tour -- A review of her performance at the SUNTEC Convention Centre, 27th February 2005

Isn't it funny that there was no mention of this concert anywhere in the papers? ( No press conference either, hmm. )

Some inside info on that mystery later in the post.

Okay, I just want to state for the record that I AM NOT A NORAH JONES FAN. AT ALL.

I have her debut album, Come Away With Me, bought eons ago at the suggestion of a salesperson at That CD Shop. I listened to it maybe 5 times at most, before relegating it to the shelf to collect dust.

I didn't buy her subsequent albums / DVDs, etc, but did catch her on TV numerous times ( a bit of an overkill really )-- at the Grammys, a Ray Charles tribute, the American Music Awards, and so forth.

I realized a long time ago that even though I find her studio recordings rather dull ( who knows why she's picked up EIGHT Grammys so far ), she sounds a lot better "live". And this being her 2nd stop in Singapore in maybe 3 years ( plus the fact that I'm trying to "live it up" a little before my 30th birthday ), I thought what the heck, let's go see her. Just once.

Did I regret the decision? Initially, yes. I had very good seats -- 5th row slightly to the left, with excellent views of her at the piano -- and her voice was pitch-perfect and quite lovely despite the venue's icky acoustics. But... her musical style holds no appeal for me whatsoever.

Maybe I'm the sort who favours high-energy jazz, the sort only men can provide. The crazy creativity of Jamie Cullum, the adrenaline-pumping zest of Michael Buble, the cheekiness of Robbie Williams. Or maybe jazz is a genre where women HAVE to listen to men, and vice versa, in order to enjoy the experience. ( Although I do like Renee Olstead, Paula Cole and Barbra Streisand. )

In any case, I don't remember much of her performance, which featured the standards ( well-known pieces such as Don't Know Why, Sunrise, Come Away With Me ), some country songs and the smattering of obscure new compositions.

The good parts? Seeing her in a different light -- she actually stands up and dances quite a bit, her solo performance ( meaning just her and the piano ) on the mesmerizing The Nearness Of You ( the one truly magical moment of the evening ), and the encore, where she obliged with THREE songs, and allowed fans to run to the stage to snap pictures and gawk.

Where was I during the finale? Right up front with everybody else who had a brain. I mean, this is Norah Jones, never mind whether she's really that great or not. She's sung with a lot of famous people, and is probably going to win another 10 Grammys at some point in the future. I wasn't going to stay in my 5th row seat!

So I slinked through the throng and finally inched my way right up to the stage, where lo and behold, Norah was swaying right in front me, just an arm's length away. Other cameras were already flashing, but as I whipped mine out to snap a few photos, she suddenly noticed me, and smiled right into the lens. I couldn't believe it!

Before we knew it, the show was over, and she disappeared with her band to be whisked away to her hotel. I had her CD with me when I sneaked forward, but she isn't the sort to grant autographs ( unlike the very easygoing Michael Buble ).

And here's the "insider information" garnered from someone in the entertainment industry: when I told him about my failed attempts at getting her signature ( first during the encore, then later when I approached her stage crew with a request -- but was nicely turned down ), his reply was "It isn't management. It's HER." Seems she isn't too friendly off-stage, a far cry from her girlish giggling and cutesy comments during the performance ( e.g. "Wow, it's so dark here. It's like a black hole! And those lights in the back look like a spaceship!" ). Food for thought eh?

Well, that's it for now, folks. I've got another 2 days ahead spent attending the local emergency medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, interspersed with FULL Registrar shifts. Gulp. Stress of a different kind. Thank goodness for the ample Consultant cover. :)

A Moment Of Silence

For Dr. Chan Kah Poon, aka "Garfield", who was a member of the SMA News' editorial board, and whom I met a few times during our ed board dinners.

Always such a jolly man, with so many wonderful stories to share. I last spoke to him about a year ago, when we were seated next to each other at the table, enjoying a buffet spread. We spoke of medical and political issues, and he related his retirement plans.

The illness struck unexpectedly, and its progression was swift. But his last moments were spent with many people who loved him dearly, and he will be missed tremendously.


It's Time -- Michael Buble

As I mentioned earlier, the shamefully brief review in Life! is a huge travesty, considering the calibre of this second effort.

The best descriptions for it are: adventurous, versatile, vocally exceptional, playful and sensuous.

In a word: WOW.

Get ready for the track-by-track!


Feeling Good -- one of many Big Band pieces on the album. Buble's velvety voice coupled + a pounding orchestra + James Bond-esque theme = a big winner.
Best bits: the bridge, which features the brass instruments in all their full-bodied glory; the line "Oh freedom is mine " being belted by Buble in the later half of the song, followed by his purring "I feel so good " right at the end. Yow. :)

A Foggy Day ( In London Town ) -- this has the word "happy" written all over it. Buble delivers it with a light yet assured touch.
Best bits: the bridge ( again! ) with its infectious swing beat and sweet saxophones; Buble's soaring "everywhere " in the last line of the piece.

You Don't Know Me -- crooning at its best! Lovelorn, oozing with deep longing, and rife with the regret of missed opportunities and unrequited affection. Buble in his element!
Best bits: a beautiful electric guitar solo; the lines "Afraid and shy / I let my chance go by / A chance that you might love me too " ( that's my life story right there, haha )

Quando, Quando, Quando -- I first heard this done by Engelbert Humperdink ( remember him? ), thanks to my mom who's a fan ( and that guy could really sing, you know ). Humperdink did a fast version, whereas Buble's duet with Nelly Furtado ( yes, believe it ) is a simmering rumba. In fact, she sounds so different from her usual nasal self I mistook her for Renee Olstead.
Absolutely wonderful, this one. Definitely one of my favourites on the CD.
Best bits: everything. :D

Home -- an original composition by Buble and his resident pianist, Alan Chang ( who's also really nice-looking, heh ), this is a lovely little song which will certainly hit a nerve in anyone who's ever been homesick.
Best bits: Buble's smooth and appropriately under-stated vocals; "I'm surrounded by a million people / I still feel all alone / I wanna go home " sung with raw emotion.

Can't Buy Me Love -- one of his "adventurous" forays in the sense that he's deviated from the mainstream, crowd-pleasing fare which populated his debut album. This piece starts off with a frenetic bass accompaniment, then switches to a finger-snapping swing tempo. Great trumpet bridge, and more of that James Bond theme!
Best bits: the bridge, yeah!; the ending, which swings to lyrics from The Beatles' She Loves You ( Yeah Yeah Yeah ), if I'm not mistaken ( ie. "With a love like that / You know you should be glad " ).

The More I See You -- the Big Band makes another appearance in this cool-cat song. Conjures up images of giant white tents on even bigger lawns, or smoky nightclubs, take your pick.
Best bits: Buble's soaring vocals in the second half; his nicely done scatting at the end.

Save The Last Dance For Me -- I've heard this sung by Nat King Cole before, but Michael Buble does it sooooo much better!
Never fails to bring a smile to my face, 'cos it's just so fabulous. From the opening guitar riffs, to the castanets, to the Mexican-flavoured trumpet and piano melodies. Another of my favourites on the album!
Best bits: the entire arrangement; Buble's purr/growl of "Baby don't you know I love you so" early in the song.

Try A Little Tenderness -- a beautiful, slow, romantic ballad. I tend to pick out the piano in almost everything I listen to, and this piece features an absolutely gorgeous keyboard accompaniment. Don't miss it!
Best bits: the piano ( in case you've forgotten :)); the last part for sure, where Buble hits high notes and does some vocal acrobatics with the word "tenderness". Someone hand me a cold towelette please. :)

How Sweet It Is -- with a chugging beat ( literally ), this is a far cry from James Taylor's version, but of course, both are excellent in their own ways. I personally prefer songs that keep me awake, so no prizes for guessing who won.
Best bits: the very creative and thumping sound effects.

Song For You -- my interest in Michael Buble all started when I heard his voice on The Way You Look Tonight 2 years ago ( not, as some of you may think, after spotting his CD cover shot! ). So it should not come as any surprise that I favour his slower pieces. This track showcases his ability at crooning to amazing effect.
Best bits: the noir-ish feel, with its brooding trumpet solo and sensual piano melody; Buble's emotional delivery ( "And when my life is over / Remember when we were together / We were alone and I was singing my song for you " ).

I've Got You Under My Skin -- you must've heard Frank Sinatra's original, or perhaps his duet with Bono from U2? Here, we have another worthy cover of a great classic. What can I say, Buble can't possibly go wrong with jazz. :)
Best bits: All those trumpets, trombones and clarinets; the Big Band bridge; those awesome vocals again, switching effortlessly from high octaves to low growls.

You And I -- okay, I have to admit this is my FAVOURITE SONG from Michael Buble EVER. For now at least, haha. I'd never heard this piece before, but now that I have, I don't think anyone else can hope to surpass this version. There's a gem in every jazz album, and not necessarily one that gets the popular vote ( my personal choices include Buble's You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine and You'll Never Know, Jamie Cullum's I Get A Kick Out Of You, A Time For Love and It Ain't Necessarily So, and Robbie Williams' One For My Baby ). This song, IMHO, takes the cake!
Best bits: from beginning to end. No kidding. The kicker -- in the 3rd minute, when he hits the higher octave with "You and I / In my mind / We can conquer the world in love / You and I " ). Sigh.

Dream A Little Dream -- I've heard this sung by a variety of people, but heck, Buble makes it sound as fresh as if it's just come off the composer's wet manuscript. Another crooning session, but that's exactly how it's meant to be done.
Best bits: his wonderful voice ( "Stars fading but I linger on dear / Still craving your kiss " ), the sweet piano solos.

Mack The Knife -- if I have to find one, just ONE, complaint about this album, it would be this track. And only because I've heard the "live" rendition from his Come Fly With Me CD/DVD offering, which possessed great energy that only "live" performances can exude. This version is upbeat and well done, with Buble experimenting liberally with the core melody, but my mind's already made up, sorry. :)
Best bits: the second half, with all those "alternative" tunes; the inevitable buildup to the climactic finale; Buble's glory note right at the end.


What're you waiting for?! Go get a copy right now!

AWOL

Hmm, looks like I've neglected the blog for a bit. Being promoted hasn't been a bed of roses. Nothing unexpected, of course. As always, "Your salary's higher now, and they expect to get their money's worth."

And how...

This is my 2nd day off in almost 3 weeks. Worked through the Chinese New Year, and even hung around the hospital for 12 hours earlier this week, thanks to a sedation lecture at 8am, a Mortality Round which ended at 10:15am, and my shift from 1-9pm.

Have been milling around in the MO pool this month -- and getting saddled with a few "experimental" shifts like 5pm-1am, 11am-7pm and the like. Things should improve a little in March, when I'll start actual Registrar hours ( and be expected to vet MO's cases, ack ).

This place is just so darn busy. Where do all the patients come from?! And they're so sick. I mean, really really on-the-brink-of-death sick. Resus is a continuous stream of AMIs, BGITs, APOs, cardiac arrests, bad COPDs, septic shocks, unexplained hypotensions, multiple traumas etc. Just yesterday, I became the resident resus doctor, with nurses and paramedics wheeling in an endless line of unstable cases, then asking me to help see them. Well, I actually enjoyed it, haha, so it's all good. :)

Lots of old folks too. Quite a few debilitated ones ( ie. bedbound, verbally uncommunicative, multiple contractures, NG tubes, indwelling urinary caths ), but even those with good functional status are extremely sweet. "Thank you, doctor. You look so young! You're so smart! So skilled! So capable!" ( I just sit there and smile. Hey, none of this is solicited, okay. :))

The nurses at this ER are just THE BEST. I worked with many of them in 2001, and although a few new faces have joined the pack, the overall efficiency is still top-notch. They come up to you before you can even ask for help. They constantly make the rounds to see if they can expedite something or other. They are whizzes at handling patients' relatives and friends, keeping them outside the Critical Care Area and thus effectively reducing the doctors' stress levels.

And... they love to feed us. Cherries, cakes, fried noodles, kuehs, Indian cuisine -- I'd better exercise more. :D

Have got 3 more off days in the next week, but one of them will be spent camping out at BCLS and ACLS recert courses ( I'm expected to turn Instructor sometime soon as well. Yikes. ) Another will be used to visit a special school ( more on that in the near future ), yet another will include a relaxing time at the Norah Jones concert. Then once March arrives, 3 days of intensive HAZMAT courses ( with experts from the US, woohoo! ), and another 2 for our local Annual Scientific Meeting. Cool. :)

Leisure Activities

Another highlight for my 30th year on Earth -- met Taufik Batisah, aka our very first Singapore Idol, at Junction 8 during a meet-the-fans session today. I only learnt about the event yesterday, and since the place is a mere 5 minutes' drive from my place ( and I eat dinner there almost weekly anyhow ), I gamely zoomed over with my mom, with 3 CDs in tow. ( Explanation for multiple copies: will be keeping one, and sending 2 to America to certain people with connections to the music industry. Oh well, it never hurts to try. :))

Interestingly, I happened to stand at 2 very strategic points, such that Taufik practically brushed past me on his way in and out of the venue. Very tall guy, and extremely good-looking. Bear in mind that my admiration isn't of the Clay-Aiken variety, but there's no denying that Taufik is one talented dude who would've done very well if he'd had the chance to perform on the World Idol stage.

He started off with a few greetings, a short interview with the host ( ??a Power 98 DJ ), then went straight on to the autograph-signing. Having hit double platinum ( 30,000 copies sold ) already, Blessings has certainly broken lots of records in the local music scene. Still, Taufik remained energetic and friendly, even taking the initiative to shake hands with each and every one of the fans at the autograph-signing table. Including me, ahem. :) Close up, he's even more handsome than the best photos I've seen. And the sincerity in the smile he flashed was genuine. Strong grip, direct and prolonged eye contact. Man, his PR skills are admirable. :)

A very enjoyable experience. I wish him the very best in his career.


CD Overload

Bought so many I've earned a lifetime membership discount from That CD Shop, heh heh. :)

Your Love, My Home -- Joshua Payne

His album cover was the main draw, I admit, but this guy has a beautiful voice that's just a total mismatch with his physical appearance. Amazing vocal control, with some wonderful tracks ( e.g. The Moon, Nature, Let It Be Me ).

When I Fall In Love -- Chris Botti

This blue-eyed blonde used to tour with Sting before embarking on a successful solo career. I wasn't that keen on his earlier fare, but this album -- which features quite a few jazz pieces -- sounds so fabulous in my car I played it to death and almost drove my mother crazy. :D

Check out his smooth, sexy grooves on the trumpet, accompanied by terrific arrangements of classics like Someone To Watch Over Me, When I Fall In Love, My Romance, One For My Baby And One More For The Road ( one of my all-time favourites ), Let's Fall In Love and Make Someone Happy.

Paula Cole's sultry voice adds to the sensual mood on What'll I Do? and How Love Should Be ( gorgeous! ), while Sting raises the temperature on his duet with Botti on La Belle Dame Sans Regrets.

But I absolutely LOVE Botti's interpretation of No Ordinary Love ( sung by Sade many years ago ). Very dark, which is exactly what makes it so fantastic. Perfect for my late-night drives home after a tough shift at work. Ahhh.

Josh Groban Live At The Greek

This package deal is so sweet you'd be a fool to pass it up. A full-length concert DVD with an accompanying CD recording of selected tracks, and it costs less than $20!

Josh does well "live", but the sound quality isn't as pristine as that on his first concert DVD, and he seems a little breathless on the tougher songs. Wardrobe needs some twiddling as well -- red and shiny jersey isn't, err, quite right for him.

However, great bits abound: a drum-pounding session ( I think it's after Canto Alla Vita ), his competent piano-playing ( on Remember When It Rained and a nice cover of Paul Simon's America ), and my fav -- his performance of Remember, that haunting theme from "Troy". Great stuff.

It's Time -- Michael Buble

I was supposed to get this in the hamper I won on Class 95, but ironically enough, we're all still waiting for it 'cos the recording company is sending over some exclusive Michael Buble merchandise which got held up somewhere.

So, I couldn't tahan anymore and decided to pick it up today ( after its official release in Singapore 2 weeks ago, yeesh ). A full review will follow ( naturally :)), but if you're interested in hearing some of the better tracks, try Home, Quando Quando Quando, Save The Last Dance For Me, I've Got You Under My Skin and Dream A Little Dream.

Don't believe a word of Tay Yek Keak's unflattering review in Life! today. I get a feeling he isn't that much of a jazz fan. And in my opinion, if you don't love this genre, you shouldn't be reviewing jazz albums because you just won't be able to appreciate them lah.

Other Goodies

The Very Best Of Sting & The Police

When I Look In Your Eyes -- Diana Krall

Genius Loves Company -- Ray Charles

At Last... The Duets Album -- Kenny G

The last one is a MUST-HAVE! More detailed reviews of each will be posted another time, but for the Kenny G CD, pleeeeaaase sample Don't Know Why ( feat. David Benoit ), Pick Up The Pieces ( feat. David Sanborn ), Careless Whisper ( very well done by Brian McKnight ), Baby Come To Me ( feat. the timeless vocals of the very talented Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates -- someone tell me where I can find their albums already, aargh ), and The Way You Move ( feat. Earth, Wind & Fire -- which was also covered by Outkast ). Hot, hot, hot. Can't wait to blast it on my hi-fi -- after I get sian of Michael Buble, that is. :)


Turn On Your TVs

Survivor: Palau

Just when I'd sworn off Survivor for good ( after the debacle on Vanuatu where all the guys and the young women got picked off leaving only the old fogies ), the 10th season grabs me by the throat and stuffs me in my seat yet again.

Lots of young 'uns this time round, with 3 eliminated on the first day. Interesting group dynamics are already beginning to show, and my favourite right now is Ian, the Marfanoid bespectacled dolphin trainer. Yeah, I have funny taste.

CSI Season 4

Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I've missed the Las Vegas original so much, and am ecstatic about its return to cable telvision ( Channel 18 Wednesdays 9-10pm ). The first episode had 4 simultaneous cases and a mysterious subplot involving Sara Sidle's alcoholism. Did I miss something somewhere?

Nick Stokes ( played by George Eads ) shaved his head, ick. But Gil Grissom ( William Petersen ) is just THE BEST. Welcome back. :)

Lost

Starting on AXN Channel 19 next month, and hailed by Newsweek as 2004's Best New Television Series. Matthew Fox from Party of Five leads a motley crew of plane crash survivors as they cope with life on a seemingly deserted island. Nice!

CSI: New York

Coming to AXN in March or April. Gary Sinise heads the team, which also has a couple of young good lookers. Always a pleasure. :)

Desperate Housewives

I think this show is totally overrated, but it's fun to watch, so what the heck.
The character I love most? That young Hispanic gardener having an affair with the hot Latino tai-tai. Seems to have more personality that the entire cast put together. Spin-off, hint hint!

Frasier

The final season airs Monday on Channel 18 at 9pm, and FINALLY has Niles propositioning Daphne. It's about time!

Aladdin

This was screened on the Disney channel over the New Year, but may be repeated in the future. One of the best Disney cartoons ever, it made me realize how much I love this film when I found myself singing all the lyrics as if the past decade didn't even exist. Wish they'd show The Little Mermaid. :D

I've got a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Have a nice week. And thanks for reading this far. :)

Review Of "Constantine"


**spoilers beware**


And for good measure, check out the very cool website. Be sure to click on "Photos". But then, if you don't want this to ruin your enjoyment, you can always look at the pictures after you've caught the show.

Yes, readers. I spent the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year being blown away with maybe 15 other moviegoers in a huge cineplex. ( Turns out I'm not the only person who thinks visiting people is a colossal waste of time. )

To put it simply, Constantine is AWESOME.

However, you first have to get past the equally glaring fact that it's actually kinda HOKEY too.

The HOKEY-NESS stems from the liberties the writers take with major Christian themes. I'm Anglican, so I don't know about the Catholic belief in The Spear Of Destiny. But throw in Hell Bibles, extra Bible chapters, something named Mammon, and you basically have a foolproof recipe for B-grade camp.

Thankfully, there're 3 saving graces that prevent this debacle: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, and director Francis Lawrence.

Reviews in the print media would've sufficiently brought you up to speed plot-wise ( if not, then just go to the website already ), so I'm gonna dwell more on the film itself: a visual spectacle of fiery landscapes, dark rainy depictions of Los Angeles, and nail-avulsing ( though few ) battles between good and evil. Maybe it's because I've never even heard of the Hellblazer comics, thus resulting in my finding everything novel and thrilling. But hey, that's what I paid good money for, and Constantine delivers it in great abundance.

From the vertiginous crossing of dimensions to the exorcism sequences, the movie is reminiscent of many famous predecessors, yet also manages to inject new ingredients that elevate these scenes way above the rehashed-and-cheesy standards of most horror flicks. The sweet Chinese girl scaling her bedroom walls and spouting foreign tongues is lifted straight from The Exorcist, but instead of the conventional priest wielding a crucifix and chanting Bible verses, we have John Constantine, dressed in a black suit, $200 white dress shirt, and loose black tie, flashing star-shaped talismans and stomping out cigarettes, before climbing over the demon and whispering in its ear, "This is Constantine. John Constantine. Asshole."

Casting Reeves in the lead is yet another inspiring choice in the previously straightlaced ( ie. boring ) land of Hollywood. Like Johnny Depp, Reeves started out as a poster boy, rising the ranks on the strength of his good looks and athleticism, before breaking out into less mainstream projects, then successfully turning those into box-office gold. From his early days in Bill & Ted adventures, to supporting roles in films as diverse as Parenthood and Much Ado About Nothing, he soon found himself carrying entire movies like Point Break ( one of my all-time favourites, never mind its inherent stupidity ), The Matrix trilogy ( of which only the first installment is worth anyone's time, IMHO ), Speed ( dumb, but only made believable through capable acting ) and The Devil's Advocate ( his best performance so far, in my book at least ).

As Constantine, his haunted, gaunt face already brings a deep sadness to the role, but awareness of Reeves' real-life tragedies will no doubt be additionally significant. After losing an unborn child and a subsequently depressed girlfriend, and in the midst of caring for a dying sister, the lines of pain and suffering are evident. And yet, despite being 40 years of age, Reeves has retained his boyishness, and is even more handsome today than he was a decade ago.

As John Constantine, vigilante exorcist with recurrent haemoptysis and a rebellious compulsion for smoking, he is so cool it's scary. Cool because he carries the role so effortlessly, making it a surefire cult legend with a heart-throb edge. Scary because like Neo in The Matrix, this hip but dark character may induce copycat behaviour the same way it supposedly did in the Columbine High School shootings.

Similarly, Weisz has blossomed following her Hollywood induction via the interminably dull Chain Reaction ( in which she also co-starred alongside Reeves ). Her transformation began in The Mummy, hit its peak in The Mummy Returns, and sailed even higher in About A Boy. Here, she exudes an understated yet undeniable sensuality, especially in 2 particular scenes where she and Reeves literally come into very close quarters. ( This on-off chemistry phenomenon seems to recur with Reeves -- note his 2 movies with Charlize Theron, where they sizzled [ The Devil's Advocate ] then fizzled [ Sweet November ] with equal aplomb. )

Then we come to Francis Lawrence, who fought hard to get Reeves as his leading man, disregarding rabid Constantine fans' howls of protest ( apparently, the character was modelled after Sting, aka My Man :)). Lawrence steers this movie with a strong hand, wisely toning down on the CGI effects, then letting the script, the actors and the sparse sets do all the work.

There're some truly creepy bits in this film. Especially the exorcism sequence. Brrrr.

With regards to the grand themes of God and Satan, good and evil, redemption and eternal damnation, I leave it to you to decide. Like I said before, some of the answers provided don't exactly sit well with me ( and perhaps fellow Christians alike ). But the questions asked ( e.g. Constantine's remark that "I didn't go to church. I didn't pray enough." as the reason he is burdened with such a curse ) certainly bear pondering.

I jokingly said to my mother ( who caught the show with me ) that people who've seen Constantine may be frightened into going to church or getting baptized. But then again, you also have to remember that it's a movie based on a comic book series.

Here's a nice quote in closing:

[ Constantine kneels over the possessed Chinese girl, who suddenly stops writhing and stares intently at him. ]

Girl: [ foreign tongue, likely rife with vulgarities ] sdnkofdoiugfoijgkwe...

Constantine: [ listens quietly, then smiles almost imperceptibly ] Sure. [ proceeds to brand her with his talisman ]


What a classic. :)

There's Something Very Liberating About...

... waking up after 8 in the morning then having a truly leisurely breakfast. On weekdays.

... speeding home on a deserted highway at 1am in the morning.

... going for a swim when no-one else is around, then eating fantastic Thai food for lunch, before heading to the hospital feeling fresh and well-fed.

... being trusted to handle resuscitation cases on my own. From start to finish, without nary a stare nor question from the attendings.

... being post-night on Mondays, so I can do whatever I like while the rest of the working population has to suffer, heh heh.

... seeing my name next to the word "REGISTRAR" on all printed documents. ( It's been a long journey, but I finally got there. :))

... parking in the "real staff carpark" located in the basement just below the ER. But it desperately needs upgrading. Those ceiling pipe thingies are going to rip off some unsuspecting person's scalp one day.


Anthony Fedorov

For the uninitiated, this is the blonde, bespectacled fellow on American Idol 4 who's being compared to Clay Aiken. Personally, I think the similarities encompass the physical aspect, and nothing else. Voice doesn't stand out and lacks Clay's immense power. Personality isn't as strong.

Oh well, he's the only contestant whose name I can remember. Counts for something eh?


The House Of God

... is so awesome it's practically sinful. Go buy one right now. :D


Busy weekend coming up -- spent working at the hospital. Shifts are always busy, but having rotated through once before in 2001, for some strange reason, I just never feel stressed out in this particular department. I love the people -- docs and nurses alike. Meals in the pantry are absolutely the best. :)

Glad I made the right choice.

So Close

Oh well, I didn't win the grand prize -- an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to see an exclusive Michael Buble showcase at the Rose Theater in the Lincoln Center ( also home to the world-renowned Juilliard School of Music ). But it was kinda fun to do something I've never done before, ie. sing solo "in front of" a large audience ( thank goodness it was over the phone, haha ). And the high's I experienced in the week leading up to the finals were just unbelievable. :)

Suspect it came down to a toss between myself and the winner, another Buble fan named Edwin. I admit I was REALLY SAD when they announced he'd won, but hey, he definitely deserves it, and I hope he has fun on the trip.

Trying not to think about the meet-and-greet session Warner Music is organizing for fans at the showcase. Aarggghghghghghghgh!

Ahem. :D

Anyhow, I was informed that Michael will be coming down to Singapore for a proper concert later this year, so that's consolation enough. Now if only I can find a surefire way to get front-row seats this time, instead of 8th row centre. :)


Homecoming!

Returning to my favourite ER for good, though slowly easing into the routine of senior resident for now. A bit out of touch, so will probably have to ask my superiors a lot of questions. Ack, my brain has been rotting for 3 months, and I haven't touched my stethoscope either! Terrible, ain't it?

The best part? Not having to wake up at 6:30am every single day, and fight heavy traffic to and from work. Having time off on weekdays to go to town, run errands, or maybe catch movies with no-one else in the theatre, woohoo!

Gotta run. More another day.

30th Birthday Updates - sort of

1. Catch Sting in concert -- check
2. Catch Norah Jones in concert -- 27th Feb, akan datang but check
3. Sing on national radio - twice -- first round's over, but second one's on the way; not something I planned, but it's kinda fun. Check! :)
( Those interested in hearing me crow on air can SMS me to find out when I'll be put on the spot again; the prize is HUUUUUUGE and I've already overcome major odds to secure leave should I somehow win. Wish me luck! )

What I Think Of Tasmania - Part 2

Okay, it's hard to say bad things about a place -- even though I hated the food, the weather, and the Sleepy Hollow feel -- when your holiday photos turn out looking like a million bucks. I kid you not.

My camera's 4 years old and of the manual Advanced Photo System variety, but the pictures are amazing . Some of them are even more fantastic than those I snapped in NZ. What the... ?

Favourites of the lot:

Russell Falls at Mount Field National Park ( Hobart )-- A surreal three-tiered waterfall surrounded by little trees. Unbelievable on film. Top on my photo list.

Cataract Gorge ( Launceston ) -- An oasis of lakes, rivers, cool rock formations and a babbling brook, not to mention an outdoor pool, garden cafe and chair lift ride ( the last is extremely dangerous, if you really think about it -- ie. no locking mechanism on those "restraining" bars ). Beautiful.

Port Arthur ( Hobart ) -- An historic site where an old prison and various staff residences can be found, the sprawling grounds and gorgeous weather ( thank goodness for that! ) make this my favourite place Tasmania-wise.

Nature Shots -- Collected from a number of places, including the abovementioned. Flora and fauna are abundant on the island, and I'm particularly fond of my pictures depicting a wild echidna and wallaby ( the latter was successfully coaxed to nibble from my hand ), as well as a field of poppies ( never mind about the surrounding electric fence :)). The St. Matthias vineyard and Sorell cherry farm also turned out very well.

Best of all, my parents and I actually look happy and younger than usual. Hmmm.


Reading Material

Haven't finished the Poor In Singapore feature in today's Straits Times yet, but will discuss this further another day. I get so PO-ed when I see people throwing good money away on frivolous pursuits. Spare a thought for those in need, yeesh. Even if you're not the donating kind, at least save some of your dough.

The House Of God & Mount Misery by Samuel Shem; Complications by Atul Gawande -- Found them at a good price at the medical bookshop located in SGH. I just love that store. They even carry Christian fare! :)

That's it for now. Am suffering from a bout of nerves due to the upcoming singing thing. But hey, if you don't do this at least once in your life, what's the whole point eh? :D

Newsflash

I think Urgh is a Woman. Check out her ( well, it could still be a Him, who knows... ) comments here.

A Memorable Sunday

Got confirmed today, and received my first holy communion. It was wonderful. :)

A Question of Money

There's a debate raging on re-minisce's blog, about the "right to spend", or more accurately, the "right to splurge because it's my money dang it".

I totally agree that no-one can or should dictate what you should or shouldn't do with your own hard-earned cash. I have my personal opinions about paying ( IMHO "too much $$$" ) for food that -- as someone so eloquently put it -- ends up in the toilet anyway. But then, that's just my opinion.

I'm sure a number of you shake your heads when I write about Clay Aiken's albums, books, T-shirts and concert programmes ( which aren't cheap ). I own way too many CDs, and don't really believe in bargain-hunting when it comes to overseas trips. Guess we all have our weaknesses.

But seriously, just as re-minisce has his idea of The Perfect Evening -- which apparently includes fine wine and food -- my idea of A Great Night Out is pretty simple in comparison ( and since I don't date much anymore, it's okay to post this online 'cos guys can't use this info anyhow :D ):

1. I must already find the guy attractive in a significant way.
2. Any place with nice, fresh food which doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
3. Ambience that won't make me uncomfortable -- ie. snooty waiters / maitre'ds, or worse, nasty patrons.
4. Easy conversation ( preferably NOT revolving around medicine ), lots of laughter ( that's what REALLY gets me :))
5. Maybe a stroll along a quiet, scenic stretch after the meal.

Alternatively:

6. Concerts are also great in my book. Especially jazz -- that revs me up big-time.

This list is mostly based on trial and error, and believe it or not, I've had a couple of evenings which had at least 5 out of the 6 above points. One of which occurred quite recently, in fact, but then, neither one of us wants to admit it was an Actual Date, heh heh.

So carry on with the jaunts to posh restaurants, my dear re-minisce, and don't let the comments get the better of you. But my personal favourite is still Mezza9 at The Grand Hyatt. Pretty reasonable prices, and that chocolate fountain during champagne brunch -- absolute heaven....

Not in the mood to talk about Tasmania today. Maybe some other time.

A long overdue entry, with apologies.

Before I begin, let me just mention that we've activated the Guest Writer feature at The Lingual Nerve. Click on the link to find out who our first contributor is.


Recommended

Books:

1. Learning To Sing – Clay Aiken

I initially planned to write extensively on this, but am repeatedly limited for various reasons, so this is the truncated version.

As you know, I really enjoyed reading Clay’s autobiography. Wish I could say it’s toppled Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil from its top spot on my personal list, but the two novels are so different, it just wouldn’t be a fair comparison.

If you’re a fan, LTS is a definite must-have. But even if you’re not, I urge you to get it anyway. Of course, if you detest all things associated with Clay, then don’t bother, because the book contains deeply personal stories, which will either inspire or nauseate, depending on your own proclivities.

Personally speaking, I was extremely moved by his words from beginning to end – remember a comment about the Kleenexes? :) I don’t think I’ve shed tears over any novel since, let’s see, maybe Schindler’s List. ( TV and movies don’t count. I bawl over everything whether it’s on the big or small screen *bows head in shame* )

Clay starts off with a rundown of life events, from his early childhood to his current stardom. There’re things we’ve heard before, but also a significant number of new revelations, most shockingly those concerning his stepfather. ( If you want to know what exactly, go read the book! )

The second half dwells on his work with children with special needs and his religious convictions – immensely uplifting, especially for new or struggling Christians. But let’s not forget his large following of young, impressionable fans. Over the years, I’ve read numerous posts from those belonging to this subgroup, describing how Clay’s fine example propels them in the right direction, and brings a refreshingly moral touch to the otherwise degenerating media industry.

LTS has so many valuable lessons to convey. I couldn’t find copies of this book the last time I was in town, so I’m hanging onto mine for now. Maybe I’ll pick up a few paperback versions to give away in the future. :)

2. Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain

I actually brought this with me to Tasmania. I usually end up hating all the books I read overseas, so it’s interesting that I really loved this one. Especially considering that fact that the whole thing revolves around food.

Bourdain, to put it very mildly, is a colourful character. Self-confessed ex-drug addict, previously alternating between stylish gigs in 5-star restaurants and periods of doped-out unemployment, he’s managed a comeback of astounding proportions, and penned an autobiography that easily rivals those written by our generation’s literary giants.

Boasting an edgy, almost gleefully egotistical style, he effortlessly leaps from dingy diners to posh patisseries, unloading truckloads of information about ingredients, dishes, fellow chefs and his many bosses.

Much has been said about his “pearls of wisdom”, namely why you should never eat seafood on a Monday, and how a restaurant’s toilets act as red flags.

I, for one, love his character pieces. Some of the cooks are portrayed as veritable sociopaths. One in particular, a guy named Adam, is a genius with bread, but otherwise drives his colleagues raving mad with his erratic behaviour. There’s a whole chapter on this guy. I strongly suggest that you read it, even if you decide to give the rest of the book a miss. ( And if you’ve seen Northern Exposure in the past, you may draw parallels between Bourdain’s Adam and the show’s own chef extraordinaire of the same name. Coincidence? )

Another funny thing about KC is the innate similarites ( at least that’s my opinion ) between cooks and – get this – doctors. Something about boys’ clubs, the wielding of sharp objects, the glamour of the profession, even vigourous training through “college” ( with its own share of quirky teachers ).

The last bit falters a little, but the first 3/4 more than make up for it. A chapter on Bourdain’s rampage through Japan is worth mentioning as well. His gorge fest at a certain tiny eatery is a masterpiece! :D


3. Searching Issues – Nicky Gumbel

This was given to me by my church vicar, but for the main purpose of passing it over to a friend whom I’m witnessing to. However, I still consider myself a very young Christian, and often grapple with tough questions posed by non-believers, so I read through this in order to educate myself a little more.

For a thin volume, the book sure packs in a lot. From God’s role in suffering, to the issues of premarital and homosexual relations, Gumbel offers clear explanations, yet leaves the reader space to ponder further.

The eventual conclusion? The Bible does provide some answers, but in the end, there’s no way any of us can fully understand the Lord’s intentions. The big question is: Can and will you still trust in Him in spite of this?



Films:

[ No current ones to review. Will probably avoid cinemas until I’m back in the ER, or when Harry Potter 4 arrives. ]


1. The Day After Tomorrow

I realize this didn’t do very well at the box office, but if it’s somehow re released, it may make pots of money this time round, due to its significant relevance post-Asian-tsunami.

I was surprised to find myself perched on the edge of my seat throughout the movie, which offers everything from hurricanes to tornadoes to tidal waves. The last disaster is particularly frightening. Who needs Godzilla when towering bodies of water decimate New York City to much better effect?

Like Independence Day’s immensely likeable cast, Day After Tomorrow also has its share of admirable characters. Jake Gyllenhaal shines in an understated yet poignant performance, both as stranded son to Dennis Quaid’s frantic father, and as courageous saviour to Emmy Rossum, for whom he carries ten gigantic torches.

2. Fahrenheit 9/11

Heard of the dramedy ( e.g. Ally McBeal )? Now meet the docu-comedy. Michael Moore’s painful jab at the Bush administration has more laughs than some of Jim Carrey’s films. Boy does it pack a wallop! Tonnes of footage weaved seamlessly into a tapestry of gaffes make for compelling viewing. Add Moore’s sarcastically humourous voiceovers, interviews with parents who lost children in the Iraq war, and a few priceless stunts ( reading a bill Congress passed over the loudspeaker of an ice-cream truck, asking a Congressman point-blank if he’d like to enlist his son for army service in Iraq ), and you’ve got quite a piece of work.

Moore’s style hasn’t changed much since Bowling For Columbine ( the small-town visits, the deeply personal interviews, the stunts ), but the subject matter sure has. BFC addressed the breakdown of values in rural America, but Fahrenheit now goes straight for the American President’s jugular.

The biggest shock of all, however, isn’t the revelation that Osama Bin Laden’s relatives were flown out of the US just 2 days after 9/11, or that the Bush family has strong ties to the Saudi royal family, or that the administration so obviously LIED THROUGH ITS TEETH in order to justify a war. The biggest shock, my friends, is how, despite the allegations and the administration’s feeble defence, Bush still got re elected. SIGH.


3. The Bourne Supremacy

Somewhere in the middle of the film, I wondered if the sequel could possibly surpass its predecessor. It’s definitely terrific, with all the elements of the original that I love, but can I actually say that it’s BETTER? Shortly after the second car chase began ( the first took place in India ). Bourne, at the wheel of a taxi, shot through the streets of Berlin ( at least I think it’s Berlin, haha ) with a hired assassin hot at his heels. Traffic is heavy, the police are also in pursuit, then at an intersection, as Bourne turns his head to the right to reassess the situation, a patrol car slams into him from the left. That’s it! The moment I was waiting for! Yes, The Bourne Supremacy IS better than The Bourne Identity! ( cheesy, I know :))

Get a load of Joan Allen, who looks so much younger with longer hair, and generates great chemistry with Matt Damon even though they never appear together in any scene. The villain’s essentially the same ( Brian Cox ), while the assassin ( Karl Urban ) fails to live up to Clive Owen’s menacing coldness in the first installment.

Still, Damon’s excellent, and his biceps seem to have gotten bigger. What do you think? :P


Television:


1. The Apprentice 2

If the pilot is anything to go by, the second season is going to be a blast! I caught only the last episode in Tasmania, so I can’t possibly miss out on all the fun now, can I?

A priceless twist came early this time, with one member from each team ( men vs women again ) crossing over to the opposite side to act as project leader. The hilarious part? Bradford ( The Guy ), after puffing his chest out and promising to put the women in their place, is intimidated into quiet submission during a group discussion ( hahahahaha! ). Even his attempt to make an “executive decision” ( euphemism for “I’m the boss, you’re the cockroach under my shoe.” ) falls flat when his suggestion for a new toy receives a cool reception from Mattel representatives, and he has no choice but to accede to the suggestions made by the females instead ( surprise, surprise, their idea won in this first tussle, woohoo! ). On the men’s side, Pamela ( aka the Ice Queen ) had no problems with leadership, but failed to come up with a good idea of her own, preferring to let the guys derail the team with their moronic Crustacean Nation pitch. ( I’m no guy, but c’mon, who the heck wants to play with action figures depicting sea creatures?! )

Rob, the first casualty, would not have survived long in this motley crew. And let me insert one tiny spoiler now: Andy, the Harvard grad who’s also a nationally ranked debater, won’t either. ( In fact, he’ll be out-talked by a pair of gals, heh heh. )

Ah, how I’ve missed this show.

2. Manhunt

Available only on cable, this is essentially the male equivalent of Tyra Banks' The Next Top Model. Here, Baywatch slut ( I mean, Babe ) Carmen Electra plays hostess to a group of hunky hopefuls in their quest to secure a contract with a reputable agency.

Sounds tasty, yes? Funnily enough, I fell asleep during its pilot episode, which doesn't bode well, heh heh. Well, maybe I was just tired. :P

Best of all, Manhunt provides some prime examples of undesirable male traits, namely stupidity, vanity, promiscuity, and really dumb facial expressions ( in one hilarious scene, the contestants are asked to imitate Ben Stiller's Blue Steel impressions from Zoolander ). Absolutely classic! :D

3. American Idol 4

They're baaaaaack. If you have cable, you'll get to see it a full day before it's screened on local TV -- Jan 19 instead of 20. I watch only because I'm waiting for them to discover the next Clay Aiken, but deep down, I don't really want them to, so I'm content to shout "You're no Clay!" at the screen every week. :)

4. The Amazing Race 6

The 5th season sucked ( boooring ), but this new one rocks. Much more interesting tasks, lots of drama, and many good reasons to hate certain people. Watch out for intra-couple tension ( lots of it ), inter-couple tussles ( even more ), and ick factors ( one guy puked into his bowl of soup, then had to drink his own vomit, yuck!!! ). I've reached the point where I don't even like any of the remaining teams. Terrible, yet also fun. :P

5. The Bachelor 5

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm addicted, aargh! But let me just state, for the record, that Jesse what's-his-face isn't that cute, IMHO, so I'm tuning in for the Women, people! ( My favourite has always been Andrew Firestone. Pity about him and Jennifer Shreft breaking up, darn. )

Look out for Trish, the gold-digging, kid-hating, sex-hungry model. Even Jesse's best friend, who was planted within the group to act as a spy, couldn't convince him to drop her. A stunt to increase ratings perhaps? Hmmm...


This entry has gotten a little long, so more on Tasmania another time.

Review of Sting's Concert, Singapore Indoor Stadium, January 10 2005

[ Please don't read this if you're not interested, or if you're doing so only because you want to post nasty comments. Thank you.
And now, back to our normal programming. ]

Let me say this right now: STING IS HOT.

Let me also say that up till last night, I had never once thought of Mr. Gordon Sumner in such a manner. Sure, I've been a fan for almost 10 years ( missed his last show because I only started listening to him a few months AFTER that, aargh ). Since then, I've bought maybe 5 or 6 of his albums, including Mercury Falling, Brand New Day, Sacred Love, The Best Of Sting, and All This Time.

I've also got one of his concert VCDs, but didn't really like it 'cos he kept hitting high notes and sounded a little whiny doing it.

To my very pleasant surprise, his voice was nowhere near Irritating Level yesterday. In fact, he did so well I've developed new appreciation for his music, and am now playing his All This Time CD over and over again in my car. Unbelievable stuff. :)

The Indoor Stadium was filled to the brim with 10,000 fans, ranging in age from pre-teens ( I'm not joking ) to geriatric. Comprising mainly young professionals and a significant number of expatriates ( hence the tight security measures ), it was an extremely rowdy bunch, especially when you consider the fact that Sting is in his 50s ( 53 to be exact ), isn't a conventional rocker ( like Robbie Williams, who drove the crowd wild ), and last visited us about a decade ago ( the music industry is a terribly fickle one, but this show still managed to sell out within a month ).

I was seated to the left of the stage in the tiered section, about 10 rows away from centrestage. Superb view.

Things kicked off 45 minutes late, but we could all care less, judging from the deafening reception. The moment I saw him stroll to the mike and pluck at his guitar, my jaw literally dropped.

Like I said before, Sting is HOT. Tall, lean, and sporting longer-than-usual hair, he was clad in a slightly loose but still flattering dark suit with a white dress shirt. Very simple, with no further costume changes. The stage was equally no-frills -- just the band, giant speakers, and a 360-degree view of the audience ( yes, even the stands BEHIND the group were filled to capacity ).

No pyrotechnics. No elaborate attire. Just an ensemble of amazing talent and 2 hours of phenomenal music. And of course, the VERY HOT STING. :)

He opened with Send Your Love, then followed with a non-stop repertoire including ( just to name a few ) Fields Of Gold, Fragile, Shape Of My Heart, Brand New Day, Desert Rose, The Hounds Of Winter, If I Ever Lose My Faith In You and Never Coming Home.

The audience devoured it all and howled for more ( I kid you not ). 10,000 rabid fans were on their feet for most of the concert, some even head-banging ( to Sting! ), and EVERYONE efforlessly belting out lyrics to classics such as Roxanne and Englishman In New York. The latter, in particular, was very amusing. I was shouting at the top of my lungs, of course, but as I looked around the Stadium and watched my fellow concertgoers ( some of whom were dressed to the nines and very proper in all respects ) rabidly screaming "Whoa-oh, I'm an alien / I'm a legal alien / I'm an Englishman in New York", a huge grin crept across my face, and I joined those sitting around me in raising our arms and punching at the air. ( Shhh, don't tell people at work. :))

Sting's energy is infectious. And boy does he have tonnes of it. This guy hardly broke a sweat during his physically demanding performance, effortlessly carrying difficult tunes, even grooving to the music from time to time ( did you catch those gyrating hips on Desert Rose? Ack! ). Where he gets the stamina, I have no idea. ( Never mind reports about his abilities at Tantric... ahem. :))

For the encore, he obligingly did 4 songs ( but I can only remember 2, thanks to my brain becoming mush after the first 5 minutes, heh heh ) -- there was Every Breath You Take ( naturally ), then A Thousand Years. Personally, I would've loved to hear every single song on All This Time, but I was YEARNING for him to at least do Moon Over Bourbon Street, Mad About You, ( If You Love Someone ) Set Them Free, It's Probably Me, We'll Be Together and Love Is The Seventh Wave. I also have a soft spot for All Four Seasons from Mercury Falling, but it's a really obscure piece, so there's no chance of ever hearing that on a world tour.

Now for the HOT bits. :)

#1: Roxanne
#2: Whenever I Say Your Name
#3: Sacred Love

#1: He already exudes animal magnetism, but when he sang this, it just hit the roof. I was so overwhelmed I can't even describe any of it. :D

#2: A duet with his backup singer, Joy Rose, but matches ( perhaps even surpasses ) the original version with Mary J. Blige. Rose has a powerhouse voice, and her chemistry with Sting is awesome. During the intro, she stood with him and they swayed to the beat. Then, he took her hand and placed it on his chest, tenderly holding it there as he stared at her with a dreamy smile. Yow. Trudie Styler you lucky woman, you. :P

#3: "This song is about sex." -- that's his description of this piece. One of the best songs on his latest album of the same name, Sacred Love boasts lyrics that go: Take off your working clothes / Put on your long black dress / And your high heeled shoes / Just leave your hair in a mess.
With his flawless diction, there was no doubt everyone heard this loud and clear. Bet a lot of guys got some after the concert last night. :)

For a 53-year-old, Sting sure doesn't look it. All those pictures ( magazines, CD / DVD sleeves ) and TV footage don't do him justice. In person, he is GORGEOUS. Not in the conventional sense, but there's just Something there you can't deny, and you get swept up in it and it lingers sensuously like a cloud of fragrant perfume.

Last night's gig was Sting's very first one for 2005, and he told us how thrilled he was to be back here again, even apologizing a little sheepishly for not returning sooner. "I was 24 the last time I came here," he joked, and the crowd cheered for a prolonged period to indicate a warm welcome and complete, unconditional forgiveness.

Rock on, Mr. Sumner!

What I Think Of Tasmania -- Part 1

Yep, this is going to be serialized, heh heh.


The Bad

I'm talking about this first because it's my Pet Peeve. Tasmanian food SUCKS. And this is coming from someone who knows what good food is, but whose stomach is strong enough to withstand the sorry meals she has to wolf down in every single ER she's ever worked at.

#1: What oil do they use over there?!

It tastes funny, but in a horrible way. The cooked breakfasts, with their scrambled eggs and grilled mushrooms, made me nauseous. And I've eaten such fare in places ranging from the UK to NZ to Bali. Even the cooking oil used in Sydney and Melbourne didn't give me the urge to barf. Plus, cooked breakfasts at some Tasmanian hotels apparently don't come as a package with your accomodation. Which means you have to fork out AUS$20 per head if you want to eat eggs, some pieces of charred meat, veggies, maybe some toast, with beverages on the side, when all of this actually costs only a few dollars. Highway robbery! Which is why we made a beeline for the nearest convenience store, stocked up on bread loaves, peanut butter and jam, and cup noodles, and elected to stay in our rooms and have our own breakfast for 1/10th of the cost. Plus, it tasted much better.

#2: Nothing beats fritter-izing.

Okay, this appears to be a Tasmanian trait -- and it needs to be changed, pronto. They fry almost everything in batter. Even "sweet and sour pork". And it isn't even nice batter. It isn't the soft, flaky, melts-in-your-mouth, juicy thing. Instead, it's a hard, better-insure-what-remaining-teeth-you-have, impregnable iron-like shell, which may I remind you, TASTES FUNNY, THANKS TO THE HORRIBLE OIL THEY DIP IT IN.

What's worse, the seafood doesn't live up to its reputation. You MUST try their fish / prawns, etc, everyone says. I ate at more than 10 different restaurants while I was there, and only one -- the Me Wah restaurant in Launceston -- served up truly good ( ie. fresh and well-cooked ) seafood. Nothing's worse than chewing through all that yucky batter and getting equally yucky fish / prawns inside. Bleah.

#3: Even the Chinese food isn't up to par.

I've noticed how, no matter which ang-moh land I'm in, I can almost always chance upon really good Chinese eateries. But Tasmania is a virtual desert in this aspect, and I started feeling very deprived just 48 hours after arriving on the island. ( Yes, it's that bad. ) The cuisine is mostly home-cooked, and often drowned in soy sauce. Even my favourite among the group, the aforementioned Me Wah restaurant, can only measure up to some of our better HDB estate coffee shop establishments. Nothing quite beats the likes of, say, The Soup Restaurant at Paragon. Ahhhh. :)

#4: Everything costs an arm and a leg.

Meals approximate AUS$40-50 each for the 3 of us, and this includes the fact that we usually order only 2 main courses, and maybe one starter like a soup. And don't even step into their "food courts", mini-Kopitiams / Food Junctions but without the quality or low prices. Again, everything's super-salty ( to cover up the blandness of the ingredients ), and a simple plate of "Asian noodles" costs AUS$10. And did I mention their EXPENSIVE breakfasts? Yeesh!

#5: I hate sandwiches.

Sandwiches are big with Caucasians -- something I will never understand. I mean, they're cold, tasteless, and not very substantial. At least that's my opinion. I got a lot of sandwiches while I was there. As picnic lunches provided by whichever tour I was with that day, and as *sob* my Christmas Day lunch, since every single restaurant in Tasmania ( save for hotel kitchens ) was closed that afternoon. ( Thus my vow to NEVER spend the holidays overseas ever again. Unless someone gives me tickets to a Clay X'mas concert, haha. )

#6: You'll feel your cells aging.

OH...MY...GOSH...
Waiting for food in Tasmania is... intolerable! And it isn't even because the cook's busy! There's one place in Hobart where we had to wait 30 minutes before our RICE arrived, for Pete's sake. And we were the ONLY customers.

At all the other eateries, the same interminable wait was unavoidable. If there's a crowd, better give yourself an hour. Being used to the 5-minutes-and-4-dishes-are-on-the-table efficiency so typical of Singaporean restaurants, this change of pace almost killed me.

Enough of The Bad for now. ( Yes, there's more. Later. )

The Good

Tasmanian television saved me. Literally.

My first night there, I caught the 2nd season of Nip/Tuck. As a doublebill. In its uncensored glory. ( Let me take a moment to savour this. :))

My second night, I saw the final season of The Practice -- the one with James Spader in it ( for which he won a Best Actor Emmy ). Fantastic. :)

My third night, I saw the finale of The Apprentice 2. So yeah, I know who won. And he's absolutely adorable. :D

I also caught "live" telecasts of Carols By Candlelight, an annual X'mas concert held in Melbourne, and featuring luminaries in the Australian entertainment industry. One guy to watch out for is Australian Idol 2 runner-up Anthony Callea, who looks like Adam Garcia ( the hunk from Coyote Ugly and Bootmen ) but has a voice that rivals Clay Aiken's in terms of clarity and power. His signature tune, a cover of The Prayer ( previously done by Celine Dion / Andrea Bocelli, Charlotte Church / Josh Groban, and Lulu / Russell Watson ), is a solo effort, but astounding. Guy Sebastian can't measure up at all.


In Other News

I'm now at the SNEC, which is HUGE, with 80 doctors in just one department, 4 floors of clinics and OTs, an entire floor of clinical offices, and apparently, no five-day work week.

As one senior MO pointed out to me the first day: "People don't see us very much, so they may think we lead senang ( Malay for "easy" ) lives, but we actually work very hard." I've seen firsthand what goes on over there, and I can tell you right now that HE'S RIGHT.

Clinics, for example, start at 8:30am on the dot. Without exceptions. Not showing up on time will probably get you blackmarked in some significant way. Morning sessions last till 1pm, followed by a very hurried lunch, then afternoon clinics from 1:30 - 5pm. With 6 rooms functioning and close to 10 doctors fielding cases continuously, it's a mad flurry of activitiy from beginning to end.

But still, I don't think the intensity of these clinics matches that of the ENT department, with its patients complaining of tinnitus, giddiness, rhinorrhoea, and "throat discomfort". There are some extremely neurotic people attending ENT SOCs. Cannot tahan.

Thanks to some sick passenger on the plane I took from Sydney to Singapore, I've now come down with a viral infection, complete with sore throat, fever, and severe myalgia. But it's the lethargy that always gets to me. Still, better now than when I'm overseas.

My cat, who was boarded with a pet hostel for 2 weeks while we were away, has gone into affection overdrive since we brought him home. He's given himself a hoarse voice after meowing too much, and is practically glued to us whenever we're at home. So cute. :)

A friend of mine is currently in Aceh as part of his military assignment. Hope he's doing all right over there.

I have serious doubts about the handling of huge donations in the tsunami afternmath. Call me cynical, but giving money to countries like Indonesia, Thailand and India isn't a good idea. And the relief supplies aren't finding their marks easily either, whether due to ground conditions or warfare issues. I know they need the funds, but I just can't bring myself to write a cheque. Best to leave this to the respective governments, if you ask me.

Book reviews are pending, with apologies. Will try to do them when my brain clears up.


He Just Isn't That Into You by Greg Behrendt

Caught this on Oprah today. Quite an eye-opener, even though some of the things mentioned are mostly common sense.

Behrendt worked as a co-writer on Sex And The City. Yet although his views from a male's perspective appear simple on the surface, the more telling thing about this episode is how many women are in a state of denial, which is the true root of the problem. Sure, the guy is blowing hot and cold, unwilling to commit, etc, but the girl keeps making excuses for his behaviour, coming up with her own reasons to explain her insecurities away and keep the man looking good in her eyes no matter what.

I know this because I was guilty of it once, heh heh.

Anyhow, there're a few valuable lessons to be learnt as well.

1. If a guy doesn't make the effort to call or see or spend time with you, he just isn't that into you. Even Bill Rancic, who won on the first season of The Apprentice, made a short appearance via video, and stated that, "If a woman I'm into is on the phone, I'll put The Donald on hold to take her call." Awwww. :)

2. Let the guy make the first move. ( A man said this, so there. :))

3. It's okay if a guy doesn't like you as much as you like him, or if he's unsure. He has a right to be unsure. Just as long as he doesn't lie about it.

4. Sometimes a man will string a nice girl along, the same way author Behrendt has a closet full of shirts, some okay-looking, others really gorgeous, but he never wears the gorgeous ones, preferring to wait for the perfect time to put them on. But he keeps them around anyway, because he's hoping that The Right Moment will present itself, then he'll be ready. ( Funny analogy, but kinda works, no? )

5. If you know the guy you're with isn't a good person, drop him pronto. ( I'm with you there. If only I'd known better 5 years ago. )


More ramblings another time.