"~Victorian Symphony~"

Tlc

2012-02-13T03:02:00.000-06:00

Samantha brown has the best job ever! And she's seem so sweet!
- random thoughts from being a couch potato

Jap proverb

2012-02-13T00:52:00.000-06:00

We learn less from victory ;
Much from defeat.

Sandakan

2012-02-06T15:55:00.000-06:00

'twas the last day of Chinese new year. I went to the temples with my grandma and aunt like the old days. My gramps is near 80's. She will take off her shoes in all temples even when it's not required. She will worship on the floor and not the benches provided. Old habits, old traditions.
Cultures are dissipating...

Jetlag

2012-02-04T11:53:00.001-06:00

Dang...

Home

2012-02-04T08:55:00.001-06:00

"selamat balik the tanah-air." the air stewardess greeted. A sense of warmth burst in my silent heart. I smiled.
Stepped off the plane with heavy raindrops pouring from above, as it Malaysia is greeting me in tears.
Spotted the old familiar faces with wider smile of content.
Back into the arms of family.
Every article at home sparks a memory. The old sarong a friend gave me in National camp, my old imu t-shirt, that old pair of slippers, the street where my high school friends had an illegal car race...
The new made me feel uneasy. Not knowing my way sound my hometown, how much the kids have grown, how my grandma have difficulty chatting with me in my broken hokkien which my mom and aunts would interpret my words, how impolite that I thought of some Chinese antics, how I can't sleep till I grab my sweater from the states which provided me a sense of home.

I belong here , but I belong there ( The states ) too.
Maybe I don't belong anywhere...

Lost in transition

2012-02-02T18:48:00.000-06:00

Survived 15 hrs of flight! So exhausted...

Superbowl

2012-02-02T01:11:00.000-06:00

'twas hectic @ downtown. The ER physicians are preparing for the casualties ( mostly drunkards ) that will be drowning the ER on Superbowl weekend.

Flying

2012-01-31T21:30:00.001-06:00

Never fails, night prior to any flights, my heart always sank with the thought of leaving my comfort zone.
Nope, not caving in!

Mondays

2012-01-30T13:51:00.002-06:00

The lady in the store asked: no school today?
-" I'm working ma'am ..." -

PS: We learnt about Medical Murders today...gave me the jitters.
PSS: Noted a lacy rash on my skin...from the cold weather!

Brian Goldman: Doctors make mistakes. Can we talk about that?

2012-01-28T10:11:00.001-06:00

and i sure do remember the mistakes...

Bjarke Ingels: Hedonistic sustainability

2012-01-28T10:07:00.000-06:00

Brilliant!
Can't wait to visit the building in NYC in 4 yrs!

Sunshine

2012-01-27T16:51:00.002-06:00

We watched silly YouTube videos and laughed so loud. Then went to the zoo and play: spot the toxic snakes- which I got really good at :)
:) I love today :)

and i love "hart of dixie" :D Such a country girl!

Picturesque

2012-01-25T16:53:00.001-06:00

Random thoughts

2012-01-25T09:28:00.001-06:00

Catching up with my article readings in the toxicology work room and it occurred to me-
Maybe in the future, dermatology patients may just Skype/ FaceTime with a dermatologist and just show them their rash through the webcam! That saves a clinic visit and the hassle of traveling .
Maybe it can be applied to ophthalmology too!

Of skirts and...

2012-01-24T20:07:00.000-06:00

can't wait for warm weather!!

Dragon year!

2012-01-23T20:17:00.001-06:00

Quiet and Chinese new year sounds awkward indeed! Friends have all flocked home and sharing stories of their indulgences during this season... Makes me wanna grab my already stuffed up luggage and head home now! 1 week seems so far away!

On a different note, have you ever have food cravings that you really make out what exactly you're yearning for?
It's one of those days...

Snap shots

2012-01-22T22:45:00.001-06:00

Moments

Meatlove

2012-01-22T21:39:00.001-06:00

Home made meatballs! 1st time!

Happy Chinese new year!

2012-01-22T21:38:00.001-06:00

Year of the dragon !:)

Mad as a hatter

2012-01-22T21:34:00.000-06:00

Music

2012-01-21T16:58:00.001-06:00

Columbia club

2012-01-18T20:35:00.001-06:00

An all exclusive club which I tried to enter in the past. Only to be denied :/
But hey, i got in tonight !!:):):)
So vintage in there, reminded me of the old sinatra age. This club probably was dominated by men in the past.

Columbia club

2012-01-18T20:30:00.000-06:00

Happy as a clown :)

:)

2012-01-18T10:14:00.000-06:00

Superman :)

Ronald Dahl

2012-01-16T19:50:00.000-06:00

Road not taken.

sweat pea :)

2012-01-14T13:02:00.002-06:00

Loving lazy saturdays :) with my keyboard and guitar while the rest of my friends act all redneck watching soccer. Ok they call em Football here .

sweat pea :)

2012-01-14T13:02:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhydGhIHo4c&feature=related

Loving lazy saturdays :)

Tis snow!

2012-01-12T20:13:00.001-06:00

While month of feb:
Indianapolis- Phoenix- LA- Hong kong- kota Kinabalu- sandakan - kuala lumpur - Singapore - kuala lumpur - sandakan - kota Kinabalu- LA - Phoenix- Indianapolis

I'm thankful I'm still young.
I should get my own plane- reminder to self-
Might need a holiday after this one!:)

Oh I just can't wait to see everyone!!:)

Would love to

2012-01-11T23:35:00.001-06:00

Be isolated and dig my feet deep into sand
With the orchestra of waves
And fragrance of nature
With a blue warm blanket and a good read
- happiness comes in the simplest form -

Leadership

2012-01-10T18:19:00.002-06:00

IBM 100 THINK Forum is a good reminder.
It's amazing listening to different big wigs' talk about their definition of Leadership.

I miss being around kids.
I miss telling them : The world is at their feet.

One day...:)

When the plane crash...

2012-01-10T17:54:00.002-06:00

I don't try to be right,
I choose to be happy

Reminder

2012-01-09T20:22:00.000-06:00

Badminton

2012-01-04T08:40:00.000-06:00

An Asian affair :)

1/1/12

2012-01-01T12:29:00.001-06:00

Great year ahead!
A bouquet for Jan :) absolutely stunning !

Flights

2011-12-29T16:53:00.000-06:00

Catching up on my reading

Plane ride

2011-12-29T16:52:00.000-06:00

Moleskine, pen and a drink in hand - best companion on a flight :)

Some days

2011-12-27T20:09:00.001-06:00

I wished we are all Kids again :)
I'm grateful that I have cousins I can keep and walk with through out life :)
Missing the hugs already!

Cozy

2011-12-27T09:33:00.000-06:00

Negotiations...

Cozy

2011-12-27T09:32:00.000-06:00

Model favis ( aka Mona lisa ) attempts to dominate the couch with no success :) my aunt Jackie is the sweetest :)

Christmas

2011-12-26T01:11:00.001-06:00

Was exhilarating :) especially during gift opening! :)
That's favi who fell asleep with my new jacket on.

Cousins

2011-12-25T16:17:00.000-06:00

Chris, favi and I went on our long car rides. We started talking about earthquakes and word demolition. It proceeded to after life...
What a weird Convo...

Christmas

2011-12-25T01:36:00.000-06:00

I heart my family to bits!:)

The view

2011-12-24T00:40:00.000-06:00

Landed! The sea of lights was a spectacular view from our plane. All passengers shared a common euphoria for a moment.
I was so enchanted I couldn't peel myself away to snap a picture...
Oh well.
In my room with a view of the valley :)
So good to see chris and favi.
It feels cozy to be with family :)

MI

2011-12-21T20:59:00.001-06:00

Mission impossible 5 on IMAX was amazingly trilling! We gasped, got stunned and even screamed :D
The state museum is beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Christmas spirit kicking in :)

Before

2011-12-20T22:04:00.001-06:00

After

2011-12-20T22:03:00.000-06:00

Now I'm ready for Christmas!:)

So mellow :)

2011-12-19T13:45:00.001-06:00

Americanized

2011-12-19T12:11:00.002-06:00

At five guys

Lines

2011-12-19T12:11:00.001-06:00

There's something attractive about bridges.

Tinkle

2011-12-18T20:50:00.001-06:00

Buble's performance on SNL puts me right in the Christmas spirit :)
Have a holly jolly Christmas!

Anticipation

2011-12-17T13:05:00.001-06:00

Waiting for snow flakes to shower down the panes while I let my fingers dance on the piano keys.

Heart of the matter

2011-12-16T21:12:00.000-06:00

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

Louis De Bernieres

Sent from my iPad

Play

2011-12-16T18:55:00.001-06:00

At times

2011-12-15T19:59:00.000-06:00

I cannot differentiate between right or wrong.
Bravery or impulsivity.
To be thoughtful or thoughtless.
I wish I have a life-coach to correct me.
Having only own opinions can lead to overconfidence and blind sightedness.

Studious

2011-12-14T17:25:00.000-06:00

As Nate would chime : twas a good day :)

Vineyard

2011-12-14T04:47:00.001-06:00

Addicted to catcha phrase :)

Star light star bright

2011-12-11T12:22:00.000-06:00

Heart snow flakes!:) hand made!

All things round

2011-12-11T12:19:00.000-06:00

Above me head when I study

Merry Christmas Charlie brown

2011-12-09T19:09:00.000-06:00

My little tradition each year - absolutely adore Vince guaraldi pieces for this movie.
Love it since I heard it in Philly eons ago!

Ps: isn't charlie' sissy the cutest? :)

A better place

2011-12-08T22:07:00.000-06:00

Married for 40 plus years. Understanding futility is reached, holding back tears like any man would, he said : I know she will be in a much better place. When I lay my head on the pillow, I allow myself to grieve. It is not easy to let go.
For once in my whole life, I understood what my patients spouses felt when separation is inevitable.
Everything happens for a reason. My journey has taught me to be more human than a bystander.

Winter

2011-12-07T22:14:00.001-06:00

Let's be friends since autumn left :)

Christmas

2011-12-06T10:39:00.000-06:00

Can't wait to see snow patterns on my gloves!!:) ah the warm feeling of christmas:)

Girls' night out

2011-12-05T10:12:00.001-06:00

Sushi

2011-12-04T17:12:00.001-06:00

Craving satisfied :)
Need rest, sleep, water, laughter and tlc :)

Peace of mind

2011-12-02T08:55:00.001-06:00

After a rough night, this is what peace looks like :)

2 weeks in icu- it was heart wrenching. 4 deaths in one long night. Saw too many tears. Trying to manage the others who were walking the fine line between life and death.
No wonder some collected took a long break after this rotation. It really humbled us.
Thank goodness my icu boys are there and we are a great close knit team.

So here I am having my cup hot Choc with whip cream ( they gave me a cherry on top today ) just watching people walking. Healthy people going somewhere to do something. While silently praying for the lost souls.

Deviation from norm

2011-11-29T14:56:00.000-06:00

Nate and I decided to ultrasound ourselves. We squirted some goo on our necks and tried to see our carotids and veins- nil, none!
We knew we're odd but not with missing carotids !!

Dreamers and realist

2011-11-27T18:49:00.000-06:00

Dreamers need realist to keep them grounded.
Realist need dreamers' encouragement to fly.

The Ocean

2011-11-26T22:09:00.001-06:00

Calms my old soul

Thanksgiving joys

2011-11-25T21:58:00.000-06:00

List: art Grateful for...
The 5th viral cold I caught this year, this time from my icu boys- all of us are now ill but still showing up for work everyday ! Kudos!
The awesome friends here close by!
My patients that crossed my path- every face shares a story that paints millions of emotions.
A gift, from the big guy above :)
Family in LA who spoils me like a child. I never felt grown up there :)
This journey that will bend and break me at times, will tickle and chuckle at times. This journey that I walk- has been amazing thus far! :D

New York

2011-11-20T11:52:00.001-06:00

These are the days when I miss prowling through every angle of a new city. Today's new York - thanks to Friends :)
Loving Sunday mornings with arts and crafts!

2011-11-20T09:53:00.002-06:00

space and lots of sunshine!

Fear not

2011-11-19T11:40:00.002-06:00

On Call for ICU in IU - Sickest patients in Indiana.
Did a paracentesis and arterial line insertion on a patient with an INR of 9.
- personal record - :)

Grateful

2011-11-15T19:52:00.000-06:00

A med student from several months ago called to say thank you :) it's lovely to be remembered:)
A patient's mom remarked: she's so adorable! :) it's lovely to be complimented.

It's about time I compliment someone. My turn tomorrow :)

All things

2011-11-14T18:22:00.000-06:00

Happen for a reason.
And the reason is good :)

Friends

2011-11-12T05:54:00.000-06:00

Blessed with friends I can keep since high school:)
They're my homies - we all have a green pass to tease and joke without hard feelings. :)

Had a girls dinner and movie night. It was fun having two older sisters... Till they found out you're very ticklish...><'

Buckle up! Chicago in a few !

Carl Jung

2011-11-08T18:56:00.001-06:00

INTP vs INFP

Mornings

2011-11-08T10:35:00.001-06:00

Best morning ever:) had a run then breakkie at my fav spot: taste cafe. It was quiet with so few customer. Of course we had our usual Belgian waffles :)

Home of Superbowl 2012

2011-11-07T12:24:00.000-06:00

5 mins drive away from my apt :)

Autumn in the midwest

2011-11-06T06:48:00.003-06:00

Captivating :) we explored a new town - Bloomington which reminded me so much of Halifax! It's a university town.
Then took a hike at brown county state park- famous for it's colorful fall leaves:) yes we took a detour and got lost. We had to walk through thorns to get back on the trail- tinge of fear but more of adrenaline. :)

On a side note:
- My persevering hiccups are back! They were gone for a long while till today...the best cure so far was sho's : "look vic, your fly is open!"
- Completed my Journal Club presentation! Love it when your crowd understood and appreciated the education :) Thanks Ben for the silly claps!
- Up next: Stage presentation:" Sick Euthyroid Syndrome : Is it a misnomer?".
- Nate my ICU buddy will be the 1st presenter. We got each others back covered :P
- Getting dark early since Daylight Saving ( or reversal ).
- Went to gym early in the morning for a run on the treadmill for the 1st time.
- Colts game on Sunday ( my 1st ever )was awesome. Felt the electrical trills of fans screaming and all leaped up at the same moment when Colts stole an unexpected touchtown! Thanks for the free tix CK :)
- Blessed with free tix to the Symphony Orchestra to hear Mendelssohn :)
- Church on Sunday was marvelous. Serene and graceful.
- Had breakfast for dinner for the 1st time.
- The Big Dude listens, oh yes He sure did. And grants my mini-wishes here and there unexpectedly :)

Leo Tolstoy

2011-11-03T16:49:00.001-05:00

Everything that I know...
I know only because I love.

Flash back

2011-10-31T20:38:00.001-05:00

Buddy from yonder years, send me this pic of this nerdy self.
I've absolutely forgotten about me being nice.
Am reminded buddy :) and what are you doing digging into old photographs? :)

Tis hard to understand

2011-10-25T20:01:00.001-05:00

What a dying man is going through.
When he sees blood each time he coughs
When he saw 2 liters of fluid drained off his chest
He tries to think of a reason
What do they mean
Deep down his subconscious mind tells him
The end is near
The end is near
Whether he is prepared or not
He has to live with reality.

Tis hard to comprehend
What a dying man...

Beauty

2011-10-21T20:21:00.001-05:00

We see things not as they are, but as we are.
Emotional functionality.

I get a kick

2011-10-20T22:48:00.000-05:00

Out of you~~
Bought the last Sinatra off the rack!
I got the world on a string~~

Ps: hip hop dance class felt so good :)

Ideas

2011-10-20T13:04:00.000-05:00

- he ain't heavy pictures
- room decor
- what is this all about?!
- 2 younger brothers and a sister I met today.

Faith

2011-10-18T18:53:00.001-05:00

He is never late.

A good morning

2011-10-17T18:44:00.001-05:00

Kyla spotted me making a pout in front of the computer. I was just creating a vacuum intraorally that sunk my cheeks. Her attending Dr G walked up behind me and say: it came to my attention that dr k is worried about you making kissing lips in front of the computer.

Me and my imaginary thoughts

2011-10-16T19:54:00.002-05:00

I am concepts and thought and feelings and outfits. No I am neither.
To some I am known as The shy one. And these people usually wear white coats or try to get me to a party. To others I am known as buddy.
I am what I eat. And I am this especially when I am biting my nails.
I have been called Hey you!
I am my own worst critic. I'm sure you get it.
I am the silent majority.
I am a loud majority.
I am friend. I am fo'sho'. What's up y'all ?
I am sorry about that.
I am bravery. I am courage. I am a valor. I am daring. I am holding a thesaurus.
I am waving at you. Right now.
I am looking right at you.
I am sensing that you don't know me. I am starting to feel awkward.
I am getting out of here.

Sat night

2011-10-16T18:04:00.001-05:00

Korean BBQ- no one dared to try the beef tongue :P
Ambriosa- delicious Choco and tiramitsu cake! Took a sip of some fruity alcohol drink. Nah.. Still don't fancy alcohol, Dan :P

Another pic from H's adventure... Still waiting for that pic u promised bud...of David ...:D

From buddy

2011-10-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

Verdi verci...

2011-10-13T17:14:00.001-05:00

Tell us something we don't know about you:
V: I screech on the violin.
B: ( our attending ) I have tattoos on my back.
H: I karaoke in my car every morning.
C: I Was a music major before I'm a pharmacist.
J: I got kicked out of choir in college.
J: I killed two fishes.

Our team needs more positive things to say :P

H in Venice- here's a snippet .

Unwell

2011-10-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

How many times can one person contract viral cold? I have my 4th thus far this year ..

Yellow

2011-10-09T18:01:00.000-05:00

Queens bridge heading toward Big Apple

Yellow

2011-10-09T18:00:00.001-05:00

A church in Manhattan @ NYC

Yellow

2011-10-09T17:57:00.002-05:00

Glitters in trees. Fall colours in Indiana

Yellow

2011-10-09T17:57:00.001-05:00

Fontana de Travi @ Rome ( courtesy of H who is frolicking in Europe )

Yellow

2011-10-09T17:54:00.001-05:00

Metrocards for subways@Boston

Yellow!

2011-10-09T17:53:00.000-05:00

@Harvard :)

Sunrise

2011-10-08T15:22:00.000-05:00

Taken from resident's lounge. A peek out of the window before a start of another hectic day.

Sunsets

2011-10-05T17:58:00.001-05:00

Funny: while KT peeks at his friend chatting away.

Trapped in the elevator twice and made a met a new face :) elevator buddies!:)