I'm Out of Your Life

Well Christmas is upon us and clinicals are well and truly behind me.

Nothing much to report on, except I'm loving my new computer. Well, boys will be boys right?
I don't think I'll be leaving the house unless I have a real good reason to lol. There's still a NYE party with friends, and I might just venture out on Boxing Day. I do need some new books. I could probably get copies of the net, but there something...comforting...about holding a book in your hands. It makes the story seem more real, if that makes any sense.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight

4 DAYS OF CLINICALS REMAINING!

So I took the plunge and ordered a new computer. I was playing around my different builds, trying to squeeze an component here and there. It was made a bit easier when when my dad offered to get me a 22inch LCD monitor for Christmas. Dunno which one to get yet. I'll probably be hitting the net for reviews and maybe a quick visit to MSY to see their pricelist.

Computer specs
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0Ghz
RAM: 2Gb DDR2
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L
HDD: 500GB
VID CARD: ATI Radeon HD4850
CASE: Antec 300
PSU: Antec EarthWatts 500W
OS: Vista 32-bit
Total cost: $1284

I probably could have stretched for Vista 64-bit to use the full 4Gb, but my budget was as flexible as a rock. I might chuck another gig of ram in at a later date. The total cost was a bit high, although I could have lowered it if I bought and assembled the parts myself. But I'm a bit lazy to do that, and finding all the cheapest parts on the net and buying them. Meh. Still, I think it's a nice well balanced computer. The salesperson didn't know if they had the mobo in-stock, and said they might replace it for a similar spec'ed mobo. Well as long as it doesn't cost much more, I'm fine with that.

As for clinicals, I'm so happy that its almost over. Time for a real break soon. The Cabramatta place was not bad and I did quite a variety of x-ray projections so my meagre knowledge has increased.

Now to start backing up my files...

The Fear

With the end of clinicals in sight, all I'm trying to do is to survive and get all my stuff signed off. A mere 10 days remain, and then I'll truly get a break.

So I started reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, the first book in the series. I was browsing on the internet, and read a lot of good things about it, even though it was a young adult romance novel. There was a comment somewhere that compared it to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Since I didn't have much to do I decided that reading it would at least numb the boredom of clinicals.

So I started reading it only knowing that it was a romance between a human and a vampire. I've read about just past halfway, and so far my reaction to the book is a meh. The book is like pure chick-lit. I don't think the characters are very well done, and the plot is so far non-existent. The only thing it does well is the whole 'dark, forbidden romance' between the two characters. Well it actually does that very well, but besides that it's pretty meh overall.

One of my acquaintances was somewhat surprised that I was reading it and even more surprised that I thought the romance was done well. I have nothing against romance done well. I do have a problem with romance done shit, because it usually extends to the author's shit writing. For this book, the overall writing is borderline between good and bad. At times, it rises about the material and almost reaches the sunlit levels of fantastic writing. Then it flirts with what reads like a fan fiction story, like the ones where fans pair two characters who don't suit each other and in process almost completely rewriting the character.

I'll finish the book off, since it's a personal rule that once I start reading a book, that I must finish it, not matter how terrible it is.

Other than that, there nothing much going on. I really want a new computer since my current one is getting slower, and occasionally just reboots out of the cold and then carries on like nothing major happened. Of course, with the Aussie dollar gone to the shits, and it highly unlikely to shoot to record highs before Christmas (I'm going out on a limb here, since the finer details of economics escape me) I might just have to settle for the PC and hold off on a new monitor. I've been using a 22" widescreen monitor at the clinical, and I marvel at its ability to have two A4 documents open at the same time. Would be nice for assignments. Or maybe I should just get a 19" non-widescreen. Hmmm...the decisions....

She's So High

Second week down, four more terrible weeks left.

@Nam: Clinical work keeps me from being bored. It just tires me out.

Clinical is falling into a somewhat familiar routine now. Wake up, go clinical, work for free, go home, check email then sleep. Rinse and repeat for another 20 days. I've still got assignments to do this, but it still doesn't change the tediousness of clinical.

6 weeks is a fairly lengthy time for clinicals. The argument for this was that it took students around 6 weeks to become acclimatised to the working environment. Well that may true for your first clinical, but after you have a bit of theory in you and aren't limited to just chests and hand x-rays, you don't need that long. 4 or 5 weeks would be slightly better I think. Still lengthy-ish but not too long.

Actually clinical this week has been a bit frustrating. There are times that I seriously consider enrolling in a Mandarin or Cantonese language course or just screaming (screaming would actually be cheaper). Let me give you an example. Working in Cabra, you mainly get Vietnamese or Chinese speaking patients. Now my Viet is alright, enough that I can get my point across no problem. So there was this guy, Asian person, no Viet, so was either Chinese or some other Asian ethicity. I told him, in English, to take off all his clothes except his underpants and to put on the gown opening to the back. He quietly replied "My English not good." No problem really, I repeat the instructions again, including hand motions and then wait for him to change. So he then walks into the room with the gown put on the wrong way and he's buck naked underneath. So he keeps trying to cover himself up, kinda hard when you have to do a lumber spine x-ray. Now that's one example.

This week I've encountered multiple examples of the above. A good deal of the patients barely understand English, which usually leads to the above stuff happening or me having to manhandle them into position, and them resisting because they can't understand me. Why can't they just learn some basic English? I'm not saying that they should be able to recite Shakespeare or be able to explain the difference between a bare infinitive and a nomical predicative. They just need to be able to understand some basic stuff. Immigrants do a basic English course or something don't they? But fair enough, immigrants have only been here for a short time. So they're going to have trouble with the language. But if you've been living here for upwards of 10 years, then dammit, if I tell you to take all your clothes off except your underpants then you should be able to understand it. I've been lazily studying Viet for maybe 10 years or so and if I was stuck in Vietnam, had an accident and they told me to take off all my clothes except my underpants then I would have no problem understanding that.

Maybe I'm just being impatient or not understanding enough. Maybe it's like an Asian pride thingo, speaking in your own tongue except English, since there's a connection with Vietnamese/Chinese/etc. But since English is the unofficial official language of Australia, with pretty much all your important business conducted in English, isn't it important to be able to communicate on at least a basic level in English?

Seriously I was browsing through some Mandarin language courses during clinical. It might actually better if I get some basic knowledge of another language since it would just save time overall. I've heard this story that some guy basically misunderstood what the radiographer was saying and walked out of the changing cubicle totally naked. Now that is something that you don't want to happen, especially at a private practice with other patients looking on.

At least there's a NYE party being organisied by my uni friends. So there's something to look forward to when clinical ends.

Streetlights

So first week of clinical has finished, and it felt like 6 weeks already.

That's the bad thing about doing your clinical at private practice is that you end up doing more work than learning. After a week or two you know how to fill the paperwork, what projections and where to put stuff, so the last 3 to 4 weeks is just grinding through the work. So for the past 2 days I've pretty much been going through the motions in automatic, like chest x-rays I can do them blindfolded (metaphorically speaking, of course). On Wednesday, it was all me holding down the general x-ray fort for an hour and a half. The general radiographer had to go help in CT, so it wall me by my lonesome. I think that was the hardest I've ever worked on a clinical.

Now I'm procrastinating over making my costume stuff for my friend's 21st tomorrow. It's just a bit of cutting and pasting, which is probably why I'm procrastinating since it's fairly easy to do. I'm planning to dress as a Navy Admiral, like this:
...since it's less work than trying to do this:
...and cheaper over all as well.

Far out I'm tired. Working 8 hours a day for no pay is pretty tiring. At least the full radiographers are getting something for all their hard work. Experience can only go so far. I might just go to sleep early. Here's a little movie trailer. Looks pretty awesome.

“Life isn’t divided into genres. It’s a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you’re lucky”

- Alan Moore

Advice for the Young at Heart

Finally, my OSCE is over. Basically a practical exam. It was tough in its own way, having to remember quite a bit of stuff.

The areas that I had to know the projections and pathologies were facial bones, including mandible and TMJs, cervical, thoracic, lumber spine and hip and pelvis. I'm pretty fine with everything except the facial bones part. I didn't do many facial bones, simply because it was usually easier to stick the patient in the CT machine. So I was hoping that I wouldn't get facial bones, but unfortunately I scored a mandible. Pub brawl, query fracture mandible. I did that whole thing on theory, and since I've never actually done that view I couldn't really offer any extra information.

The shitty thing was that the examiner asked me what projections I would do. I gave an answer, then he asked me if I would do a lateral, the side on view. I told him that I felt meh about it, since it doesn't offer that much information due to superimposition of all the facial bones. I'd guess I'd do it, but I'd prolly skip it. Then he tells me to do a lateral projection. So I blank out, since technically there is no specific projection for a lateral mandible. So I did a lateral skull, but centered to the jaw instead. I wonder whether he deliberately asked me about the lateral projection, then ask me to actually do it to see whether it threw me off.

I think I did alright. The examiners were also marking the way we introduced ourselves, patient care and all that jazz. So even if I mucked up the projections, I'm pretty sure I did alright for everything else. So now all I have is the two final exams, and to prepare for my clinicals. Actually my clinical ends a day early now, but the tradeoff is that we have to show up to uni the next day to hand stuff in. Not that bad for me, since I live close.

My brother has got me playing World of Warcraft. It's a private server, not the official ones, so I don't have to pay a monthly fee (yes, Asian stinginess strikes). So I'll do a bit of playing in between studying for finals. And I can play a few hours every night during clinicals.

So I was browsing the internet and I found this:
That's actually not a bad form of alternative transport, if you don't mind looking like an idiot. You can use it to get to the shops and carry your grocercies. Space and power might be a problem. They should add an electric motor or something to help out.

Back on the Rocks

I tried to study for my upcoming MCQ exam but it just got too boring. Couldn't bear to read through the bloody notes, so it was back to the old stand-by of procrastination.

Friends have been bugging me about the next road trip, although you could argue that it's not really a road trip since we're never really travel that far, so with the free time I had I decided to some pre-preliminary planning. I still refuse to do any proper planning until after my 3rd block of clinicals, but I started playing around with locations and budgeting. One of my friends was so excited by the prospect that she sent me some accommodation options. They definitely look good, but everytime I look at the prices I feel a sharp pain shooting up my spine.

The current financial crisis have put my PC plans on hold. The prices for everything have decide to shoot up and my planned build was thrown out the window. So I'm back to waiting, although at this point it seems that I will be cursed to forever wait. I don't need the Aussie dollar to achieve parity with the US dollar (now that is a different can of worms) but getting it back to the old times of about 80-85cents would be welcome.
Yeah, that's my reaction to carrots as well.

Shoddy weather

Spring is probably the season I hate the most. Well maybe not hate, that's a bit too harsh. But one moment, it's as hot as summer, then out of the blue rain pours down and the weather goes chilly. However, luckily the weather held up every time I went out.

There was my friend's 21st where the theme was iconic figures from music or film, but generally any fictional character worked. My costume of the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail went over pretty well.
I'd finally spray painted it silver. I was going to cut out the black squares as air holes, but that was too difficult; wasn't sure the bucket would stay in one piece. And to cover the eye slot I used a spare sheet of x-ray film. The boar emblem on the tabard was sewn by my aunt, since sh'e pro-sewing. The weather actually stayed pretty warm so it was a bit stuffy in the costume, even worse was that I put my gloves, which was sprayed painted black, in the bucket so everytime I put it on I was inhaling the leftover paint fumes.

Also a quick day trip to Bronte Beach during the semester break. Nothing major just a break from the uni grind and forgetting for a moment about our research projects. The weather was a bit murky in the morning but got a lot better just as we started out. As always there was food left over and that was auctioned off at the end of the day. I just find that hilarious for some reason.

"Sausages...8 of them, never been opened. Who wants it?"
"Me! Me! Me!"
"Damn it I was too slow"

It always happens at my friend's place in Strathfield. Any trips start there as well, since its a really central place for everyone to meet. Also I'm beginning to be amazed at the amount of people who live relatively close to where I live. On that beach trip I drove a friend of mine home to his place in Auburn. He happens to live across from a park, where my dad would take my brother and I to play on the swings and equipment. And all this time I thought he lived in the distant regions of Auburn, not borderline to Granville.

And here's a little pic that I think is seriously funny:

Run before you can walk

So basically I thought I was going to Nepean Hospital. Then I get an email from the coordinator, saying that due to overlap of students from Charles Sturt University (damn you!) there were too many students at Nepean and someone had to pull the short straw and that was me. I raged a bit here, calmed down and read on to find that for now I would be in limbo with no clinical placement until he could fine me another place. Insert more useless raging.

Anyway, the coordinator got back to me and told me that he has found me a place in Cabramatta. I raged a little since parking is impossible to find in Cabramatta and would have to suffer more training, but its a new place with new shiny equipment. Can't say no to a place with new equipment.

Managed to get a bit of shopping done, my list was clear and definite as I needed a plastic bucket or similar, and two cans of black and silver spray paint. This is for prepartion of my friend's 21st where you have to dress up as a character from music or film or anything really. So I chose the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The plastic bucket was going to be my helmet and today I decided to make a start on it. My inital plan was rather...enthusiastic...yes that's the right word. I was going to cut all the holes and everything would be fine. Except I didn't realise plastic would be that hard to cut. Have a few pictures.

Finished cutting the eye slot, note the jagged edges

The plastic split, so I used super glue to hold things together

Black mark outlines for the overall designYou can see the small black squares I wanted to cut outMassive jagged edges

Long story short it was harder than I thought, and now I might not cut out the 18 smaller squares. I would need to start drilling small holes, then work my way up drill sizes until the hole would be big enough for the jigsaw. And the jigsaw causes the plastic to shake badly and split. I still might drill a bunch of holes for air supply, but it will be groups of small holes. The 'helmet' still requires a paint and extra strips of metal and bolts, but I might leave those out if its too difficult. The important thing is I have the iconic image rather than every single detail correct.

With a bit of luck, it'll come out good. I've never used a jigsaw and my experience in cutting plastic is zero. That's the problem. you don't know what to expect so you come up with an enthusiastic design and think everything is going to work out. Now I'm scaling back already.

When I finish my costume, I'll post more pics.

Get Ready to divide by zero

Been back at uni for 2 weeks now, and have nicely settled back into old routine. Being back with friends, there's nothing better that that I reckon.

New clinical placements have been released and this time I'm being shipping off to Nepean Hospital. Not that far away, but still a bit of a train trip. I don't really mind though since I can still commute there every day and not have to worry about living and surviving in a place far from home for six weeks.

Much shorter uni semester for me this time. I've only got 7 weeks to cram information into my brain before exams bludgeon me. The course only has two subjects this year, so its pretty good being at uni for 2.5 days a week. The exams will be tricky, but I've passed before so I'm half certain that I'll pass again. The practical exam has me worried though. There's always luck involved whether you get an easy projection or a harder one or a easy or hard examiner. It's gonna be tough.

Ohh and LHC went live today, although they just did a test run, not the massive proton smashing to find the Higgs boson. So the world ends in October if all the science nutjobs believe so. During my prac class, the lecturer asked if anyone knew about LHC and its objectives and I was the only one who piped up. My friends sitting next to me were like "Woah! You know this physics?". I always had an interest for physics. It just seem to explain the reality I lived in so well. Probably started when my dad bought me A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. I miss physics back in high school. Those were some fun times right there.

Man I need a drink.

The Fire Still Burns

So basically I have 5 days of clinicals left, before going back to uni. I like to refer to the whole uni experience as the 'uni grind', but I've never been happier to get back to it. Maybe because this time I was alone for this clinical. There's no one else at my place and I hardly run into the other students at Gosford Hospital. Meh...

Right now I'm typing up a case study. It about one procedure I've done and you have to justify what you did and reflect on it. The limit is 1000 words, but my first draft barely made it past 250. So now I'm making some stuff up, and using longer phrases instead of simpler ones. It's actually a bit of a challenge. I used to write a lot and in detail, but my English tutor noted that I was beating around the bush most of the time and that I'd never be able to write everything I wanted in the HSC. So we spent some time cutting out the bull and focus on making my writing more concise. It worked, but sometimes I wonder if it worked to well. The first draft was very concise, almost dot-pointish in style, if that makes any sense.

I really want a new computer to replace my old one. It's like 4 years old now, and its starting to choke even in normal tasks and I don't have much running in the background. Can't play some of the games I want, and any video that is remotely HD lags really badly. Price is the deciding factor as always. I really want to get some part-time/casual job of some sort, but this year has been ridiculous because of all the clinicals getting in the way. Might see if I can find some short term casual work just for a bit more money.

Blargh...might as well get this case study over and done with.

I listen to my mp3s at 100 kVp

So it was my 20th birthday around a week ago. It didn't really register with me until I was out with dinner with uni friends celebrating someone else's 20th. That's not to say I forgot my own birthday, but it was more in the back of my head rather than hammering about in my mind. Basically, I get myself a cake, take a few shots of a suitably strong alcoholic beverage and celebrate the fact that I've survived another trip around the Sun. I have no idea what to do with my 21st, because I actually have to do something. I don't like the idea of hard partying, but I'm partial to the idea of having some straight drinking. Meh, I'll worry about it next year.

So only 8 days of clinical left. Every day seems to pass so much faster now. It's almost over, it's so close I can taste it. Clinical is fun and informative as always, but the commute to Gosford, being alone at the practice and the fact that it is a private practice does wear me down. I'm pretty confident at doing pelvis, hip, thoracic, lumbar and knee x-rays now, not to mention the usual deluge of chests. But clinical just reminds you that actual work is pretty tiring. I get up before the sun rises and get home after the sun sets. Maybe it'll be more tolerable when I'm actually getting paid something rather than nothing.

Thankfully, the train trips aren't that bad since my trusty iPod keeps me going with music and podcasts. The time flies by especially when you're listening to something funny on a podcast and having to start having a cough fit to cover your laughter, which some people may interpret as you laughing at them. Seriously though, since I started clinicals I've had transit police check my tickets numerous times. In all my years of using Shittyr...I mean Cityrail, I've never had my ticket checked. I even had my ticket checked twice on a single trip. They probably never check the peak times since there is too many people.

I've been adding music on a semi-regular basis. Listening to the same playlist for a week bores you quick. Kate Ryan does some decent tracks, Ludovico Einaudi's composing so awesome that I obtained all his music from 1988 onwards, Regina Spektor's "Us" has me hooked, some awesome piano work from David Sides, an older track with the Foundations and a great anime track from Tokyo Brass Style. Actually, that last band is pretty cool, since they play their music with brass instruments (trumpets, saxophones etc), it's a girl band (which is always a plus) and they do some anime music as well. Clip of them working on and playing 'Sora iro Days' the OP for the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann



That's some awesomeness right there.

International Dateline

Been watching the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, but bloody channel Seven ruins it, by putting ads in the way, so we're not getting an uncut, full version. I doubt other countries are any better off. It's definitely very good looking, I mean China has thousands of years of history to draw on, so plenty of source material so to speak. But I'm skipping the rest of the opening ceremony now. It just doesn't seem to click with me, probably since I'm not Chinese. The Sydney 2000 was the best, but I'm biased since Australia is my home and Australian is who I am. The whole opening ceremony thingo just has me thinking.

Even though I'm Vietnamese in origin, I can say that I have any special affinity for Vietnam in general. It's an alien place, that I've never been too and only heard the stories. I can speak Vietnamese, I can eat the food, I know the culture, but with my parents being refugees, escaping the Communist government and settling in Australia, I don't feel any strong connection to my country of origin. Even if Vietnam was to host an Olympic games I'd probably walk out halfway during the opening ceremony, like the Chinese one, not because it is bad, but simply it doesn't click with me. But I'm glad at least that a whole bunch of people are thrilled and moved by it. China wants to show the world what it can do, and despite the political situations, it's a successful and powerful country. It'll get there.

Three weeks of clinical down and another three to go. I'm so glad that the halfway point has been reached. Clinical is awesome in the sense that it puts theory to practice and you get much needed practice and advice, but it's not all about lounging about . It can be tough going sometimes, especially if you're short on staff. And the assignments don't really help either. They are more of a nuisance rather than a help. It's just too short and restrictive to write anything meaningful about them. At least reflective journals or articles allows me to through some truthful musings in all the bullshit I pull out.


I think someone wanted to see a picture of my room a long while back, and here is most of it. This was a few days ago when I was doing my assignments, so it's pretty messy with all the papers, radiographs and books lying about.

At least there's a birthday dinner happening tomorrow. It'll be funny talking with friends and swapping radiography war stories and whatnot. Makes me wonder what I'll do for my birthday. Probably have a cake and a drink to the fact that I've lived for another year.

Still Marching that Turkish March

To Phu: Yeah, I'm much better now. Thankfully, I got better just before clinicals. Having diarrhoea during clinicals would be pretty tough. Doctor Who season 4 was pretty awesome I enjoyed it heaps. The crappy thing is that next year there's no season 5, just 4 specials, cos Tennant is off doing Hamlet or something Shakespeare. Road trip was awesome fun, but I was pretty much the only heavy drinker. Do you have a Facebook profile? Prolly easier to catch up that, make blogging a little bit redundant sometimes I think.

Two weeks of clinical are over, and that means I only have to endure another month. Endure, I make it sound bad. It's not bad, it's quite enlightening to learn more about radiography, to put theory into practice and in some case ignore what the book says and use amazingly helpful shortcuts.

I have to do a few reports for this clinical, and I managed to work out how to use their archaic computer program. Oh the computers run on Windows but the software that ties everything together is some custom job that while is very stable is a little bit old. You have to select the option you want, then press enter to access it. But it's not that bad. Had to do a couple of interviews with patients asking about their current and past history. Probably something more on the doctory side, since radiographers don't usually take patient histories.

Still, I managed to print copies of the x-rays and the radiologist's reports. The radiologists are basically doctors who have undergone specialised training to better interpret x-rays, CTs, ultrasounds, MRIs and all other sorts of medical imaging. Their reports make it easier for me to type my assignments since I don't have to guess at what I'm seeing, and the technical terms are already there. And future doctors have a look at "encopresis". Had to x-ray a 3yo with that. Wasn't to bad, but it's a pretty shitty condition to have I reckon. And yes, pun intended.

The daily train trips to Gosford and back are still pretty long, but with podcasts, music and other uni radiographers to talk to, it's actually not that bad. Talked to a 3rd year physiotherapist and it was quite interesting to learn about it. They have 15 weeks of clinical, stringed together in three 5-week blocks with a week break in between. Which is kinda sucky.

But TGIF, eh? There's a BBQ on tomorrow with family friends, although I had no idea until an hour ago. Well that will be some fun.

The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Clinicals has started and I've recovered from my sickness just in time as well. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the flu or cold, probably more likely to be food poisoning. Let's recap.

Last Sunday, ate some KFC and was the only one to touch the coleslaw (I love KFC coleslaw). An hour later, I started feeling really cold, couldn't stop shivering. So I do the sensible thing and put on my thermals and winter clothing. Still felt cold. I decided to take a lie down in bed. Next thing I know, I'm running a fever, I feel like its back in summer with 40+ degrees. Throw in blurry vision, muscles aches in my legs and back and a headache.

For the next couple of days I fight off the chills and fever, taking Panamax for the pain, and basically staying on a diet of warm water, toast with honey or jam plus the one time I had pho. So the chills and fever start backing off, only now I can't stray more than an arm's length from the bathroom. Basically, hardcore diarrhoea every hour on the hour. I miss out on outings with friends, basically dinner in Parra and watching Dark Knight. I feel weak, even walking the hundred metres to the doctor from the carpark had me exhausted.

The last day before the clinicals started on Monday, I was starting to get much better. I wasn't tied to the bathroom, except for the occassional spontaneous visit. By Monday, I was pretty much back to normal, although the train to Gosford did have a toilet that I took advantage off once.

So clinicals at Gosford aren't so bad. Mainly chest and extremties. Using the good old CR system, which is only slightly harder in having to make sure the desired anatomy is captured on the plate. DR is easier and faster and you could be a little more sloppy. Nothing much to do between x-rays which can be quite a while. CT and MRI are more busy, but I know shitall about them imaging methods. Oh I know the basic principles, but I don't know how to run the machines.

So these first few days have been getting used to protocol, the different machines and the paperwork. The 3 hour train trips are a bit of a killer, but as long as my podcast subscription keeps updating them I'm fine.

I'll keep throwing out the odd post if I have the time and energy. I go to sleep at like 9 or 10pm now, bloody early, even by my standards.

Spin the Wheel

Tragedy strikes! I've been struck down with the cold (or flu) for the first time in a several years, and clinical is only a week away. Bugger. Also some of my uni friends are watching Dark Knight followed by some dinner, and I might not be able to attend. Double bugger.

Seriously it's been so long since I had the cold or flu that I don't remember how shitty it can be. I'm tired, aches and pain. With luck, it should be gone in a week or so, so I don't have to go to Gosford everyday with cold symptoms.

Nothing much since the last post. Just mainly spending time with friends before clinical. Had an awesome hotpot a few days ago.

Fuck it, I'm not even thinking straight right now.

Are You With Me?

Got back from Anna Bay yesterday, spending most of today packing stuff away, cleaning out the boot of the car and uploading photos to facebook.

Trying to give a synopsis for the entire trip is pretty much impossible. There were so many moments, so many details and some emotions that words can't describe adequately. Overall though, it was an awesome trip. My friend Mike D bought some much entertainment it was almost ridiculous. I think the entire group would have been happy just to sit inside and watch movies or play Xbox. I'll try posting some memories, because there are some things I don't want to forget.

• Taking early morning showers because we kept running out of hot water (16 people in a house only meant for 8 or less)
• Finding out that Fi's dad has saved up some XO (a very expensive and very good alcohol) for her wedding, and making plenty of jokes about it
• The awesome views of Anna Bay and Nelson Bay
• Fi running into a clear glass door and knocking her head real good
• The awesome food that was served up, props to Andrey for being a hella good chef.
• Intense Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart Wii battles
• Me drinking copious amounts of alcohol (14 shots of vodka on the last night) and still on my feet and moving around. Everyone else either abstained, didn't drink as much, turned blood red or woke the next day hung over on one shot.
• Me, Jen, Mary and Andrey writing our names on the beach in huge letters
• Finding out about Black Label Johnnie Walker whisky from Andrey, excellent taste and extremely good at warding off the cold
• Apparently on the second night I snored loud enough to that the entire top floor could hear. This was after 9 shots of vodka, although on the last night I didn't snore that badly after 14 shots.
• All 15 of my awesome friends for coming along and making it a good time.

There's probably more that have slipped my mind. I guess I'll add them later, but now, a selection of photos.

This isn't the end

Blogging has changed
It's no longer about original content, user interaction, and epic win
It's an endless series of reposts, perpetuated by frauds and failure
Conformity - and its consumption of blogging - has become an unstoppable cancer.
Blogging has changed

This is my final message. This blog must die, to erase the meme.

Gone fishin'...
Forever...



LOL JUST KIDDING

Nah, this blog isn't going to die just yet, though you have to agree that blogging has become mainstream now. I don't think that it used to have the same mystique as before. Anyway, I'm off on a trip with my DR friends to Anna Bay. A few days of relaxation after the exams and before the dreaded clinicals. I'm bringing a camera this time, so expect a few pics here and more on FB.

And now, please ignore the intro I've written. I'm busy with organising and packing for the trip, so I whipped it up with the good old "copy, paste, edit" technique and as a result is pretty shit.

Everything is Everything

OMG! It's the ultimate bear fight. Check it out!

Youtube prevents me from embedding it, but it's basically a fight between two grizzly bears. It was filmed in the wild by this couple who were sadly killed by grizzlies in Alaska in 2003.

My musical tastes float around alot. I don't like any particular genre and if the song sounds good to me, then it's added to my playlist.



Just an example of a song that I really like: "Shine" by Alcorus. A remixed form of it appears in a trailer for Mirror's Edge, an upcoming PC game. But the original is pretty close and its like pure emotion. Everytime I hear this song, I just think of blue skies, with some white clouds and green fields, like pure colours. You might laugh, but it keeps me going during the exam week I have. Just finish a particularly nasty one, not as bad as Jimmy's accounting exam though. I have exam tomorrow at 9AM. 9AM! If it was in the afternoon, then I'd have a few more hours to procras...I mean study.