Archived Glimpses of Ephemeral Thoughts

Relocating or Mirroring?

2009-04-20T07:06:35Z

Hmm. That’s a good question.

I think friendster is losing ground and I wish my blog to be independent. Still, the wordpress format of the blog is so good. Blog-friendly.

The problem is, i want to earn a little on the side via adsense. Hmm.

So blogger it is.

blogging + hardwork + luck = money; really?

2009-04-13T06:47:46Z

More money, more problems.

No money, well you got a lot of problems!

Does adsense really pay? Hmm…we will see.

Conficker worm

2009-04-01T07:14:45Z

Conficker worm? I didn’t know that this is a very dangerous worm.

Thank God, Yahoo gave some relevant information and I was forced to research on it. The worm has been powerful enough to attack infected computers for months by exploiting weaknesses in Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

And supposedly, it will attack on April 1 rather, it attacked today. And experts are still assessing the damage.

Well, as long as the damage done is not done on my computer. That would be great for me.

You may read it here. This is the Microsoft’s FAQ. It’s good for starters.

Anyway, here’s an illustration on how the worm works, courtesy of Microsoft.

thank you Microsoft for this.

Last Day in Tzu Chi Eyecenter

2009-01-31T04:16:19Z

Good Memories!

What a day! Patients can be so rude and demanding sometimes.

To the bitch that was so rude earlier when we were dispensing a medication. Respeta tambien canamun! Pakshit! Hinde yo animal.

Another chapter begins in Ward 5. Yey!

An incident

2009-01-29T05:32:26Z

I have a number of experiences while working in the Tzu Chi Eye Center. Some are facile, others are burdensome and at times annoying. Let me share one of my experience.

A stranger who appears to be in distress and in a hurry proceeded to the consultation room without approaching the nurse station for briefing whatsoever.

Ellery, thinking that the person is a client and is unwilling to follow the queue immediately asked the person how he might help her.

Stranger: Tali si Dr. U? (Is Dr. U in?)

El: Hello ma’am, para cosa ehra kel? (Hello ma’am, what is the purpose of your visit?)

Stranger: Ah, si Dr. L yo. (Oh, I’m Dr. L!) [ said in a condescending tone, the way I understand it she said, I'm Dr. L and that's you need to know.]

El: Ah, Ok.

Ellery unable to respond appropriately, simply retreated and sulked. Fuck!

There are two reasons why this incident is so memorable that the need of blogging it is necessary. Firstly, sadly, I answered the question poorly. I could have answered otherwised. I could have asked if he/she is expected. Dang it. I simply frozed and surrendered. So sad!

Secondly, the incident begs the question, am I so insignificant that I don’t need to be informed or even addressed by this doctor. Unbelievable. So people can be assholes sometimes.

It’s a good thing that this is only an isolated case. From my experience, most would greet and inform us of their needs and how we could help them.

Oh well, shit happens!

Useless Days

2008-12-30T05:35:40Z

Holidays! What a great season to relax, chill and spend some freakin’ cash.

All of these I simply can’t do. I can’t relax and chill because, I have my volunteer duties here in ZCMC. Well, not bad, except sometimes it gets boring especially if you’re assigned (floated) to the Main OR.

Before you say, that I’m crazy to waste that opportunity. Let me first explain. First off, we, the eye center volunteer were floated to the Main OR operating on the assumption that emergency cases might surface and presto, the staff would be ready to assist.

Ah yes, that sounded like a noble plan.

Unfortunately or fortunately, what happened was we simply folded throngs of operating sponge, towels, sheets, towels, and linens. What a waste of time. I could have learned more if I read some material on Ophthalmology.

To top that off, where were the volunteers of the Main OR? They were busy chirping since there was little activity. Yey! (Please note the sarcasm!).

Let now move to the second reason why this is a great season. Money. Moolah. A reason to spend our hard earned cash.

What I absolutely hate and detest about nursing here in the Philippines is how the exploitation continuously occurs. Well, you can’t blame the hospitals. Nurses are a dime a dozen and there’s always some nut willing to work for free. What complicates the system, people encourage this lunacy. Work for free and you will gain valuable experience in our institution, that’s the catchphrase of most hospitals here.

The hell. Can’t I gain that same experiences while earning a little or even an allowance perhaps? Shit!

I’m tired of asking for allowances and earning shit. Makes me feel like a loser and an insignificant part of society. God, I need an epiphany!

Conclusion:

Tell your little brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, sons, and daughters to avoid nursing if their only plan is to immigrate. It’s not about the job, it’s about your skill on your job.

At the end of the day, it’s about fulfilment and happiness and right now, I’m not getting any.

Thursdays…

2008-12-15T01:20:50Z

I hate Thursdays. Not the day itself but rather the functions that have to do during this day. It’s the fourth day of my rotation for the week and by this time my energy level drops significantly. You simply can’t function well, when you are faced with nagging patients and the sheer number of patients for consultations.

A three day 7 to 3 shift really can take its toll. Kansaw despierta na ahora. Now, I understand the rationale of placing a day off after a three-day duty rotation.

Too bad, I’m assigned in the Out-Patient Department.

Word for today’s entry (courtesy of dictionary.com):

soiree \swah-RAY\, noun:

an evening party or social gathering

Rose was reminiscing at a

soiree I hosted on a recent sultry evening on Chicago’s North Side.
– Laura Washington, World still watching — but now it’s a love fest, Chicago Sun-Times, August 10, 2004

The power of repetitions

2009-01-16T07:07:10Z

Today would be my 22nd day as a volunteer at the Tzu-Chi Eye Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center.

I must say I’m enjoying it but I also find it tiresome. My work week is always on the weekday and on some occasions include my Saturdays. Tiresome because there is no break or day off during weekdays. The plus side is Sundays are always my day off.

Yes, you guessed it right. I look like I work in an office though a nurse. I volunteer in the Out-Patient Department.

The experience is great because while it sounds boring and looks like repetitive job, I do receive exposures to the Operating Theater. Of course, the surgical operations concern the eye. Yey!

Lately though, I feel the repetition to be bothersome. Albeit, I find helping people especially those that are illiterate or underprivileged to be satisfying. The repetition does not challenge my capacities. And I hate stagnation.

Probably, the most I could do is learn through research and reading. Or maybe pretend that I’m stupid and ask questions. I might learn something new. Hopefully!

so fun to be with!

Our New Word for today’s entry is otiose.

otiose \OH-shee-ohs; OH-tee-\, adjective:

1. Ineffective; futile.
2. Being at leisure; lazy; indolent; idle.
3. Of no use.

* definition is courtesy of www.dictionary.com’s Word of the Day.

2008 Col. Salipsip Debates

2008-09-20T15:53:08Z

Sept. 20, 2008

6:00 AM

I feel tired. The moment I woke up, I felt the sudden urge to skip the day. I’m tired of preparing for the competition. Damned Magis!

6:30 AM

A friend of mine who is a nurse sent me an SMS and informed me about the CCNAPI outreach event. I so want to be there right now. God, why do I love debate?!

7:35 AM

I’m in AdZU and as expected the ever energetic Ma’am Ruth is early. Now, usually, I’m one of the last people who would arrive especially when its Col. Salipsip. Henry and Espi are still missing. What was commendable was, certain debaters were already there. Damn! There are debaters already and the convening time is 9:30 AM. Bueno pa sila…

9:30 AM

We readied and briefed the participants. Motions were released. The motion I contributed was “THBT the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has lost its usefulness and should be dissolved.” I do hope everybody is excited. I learned that allocating adjudicators is stressful especially if there are many adjudicators. Probably the most debating teams and adjudicators for the Col. Salipsip Debates in all the years it existed.

9:35 AM

There was a late debate team. I hate headaches.

11:30 AM

It is the end of Round 1 and where is my mamon? Oh, well, I do hope it’s a heavy lunch. The motion I contributed was “THW explore and drill for oil in the Arctic Circle”. I liked this motion. Kansaw man research and man create kuneste. Yey!

12:50 PM

Joey called and I wasn’t able to answer. Well, if I did hear the cellphone tone, I still wouldn’t answer because I’m in a debate. Still. Too bad, I didn’t have load and I wanted to send him an SMS. I wonder why did he called?

1:10 PM

The debate was short. I got too many undertimed speakers. Well, I’m hungry and I miss my girlfriend. And I suddenly thought, “I’m working right now instead of enjoying the game. This is so weird”. Maybe I’m getting old for debate or maybe my peers are just so young that I just can’t seem to understand my fashion is an element of debate. Hmmm. Lunch! Munch! Munch!

2:20 PM

Motions were released. My contribution was “THBT a female prime minister won’t make a difference in Israel”. For this particular motion, I was a bit hesitant to release. I wanted to rephrase it to “THBT a female prime minister won’t make a difference in the Israel-Palestine relations.” I think this will be an unpopular motion. Oh well.

Around 3:40 PM

The Semi-finals. At last, less headaches, less teams to worry, less adjudicators to allocate. Ruth looks haggard already. Poor Ruthie, overworked. Wait, I remember, poor Ellery, no food. Damn it, somebody ate our, este, my share of food. I can’t believe it, sin verguenza, as if the person really deserves it. Yes, I’m evil. By the way, the person didn’t contribute whatsoever to the success of the competition. The person just ate. Fantastic, isn’t it?

4:10 PM

The Semis started. My panel consisted of Dr. Clare, Allen, Mycer, and Merryl. This would be my first time to adjudicate with all of them. This would be interesting.

5:10 PM

It’s already dark and I fear that it might rain because of the thick nimbus cloud formations I see. Time to deliberate.

5:15 PM

Its a split decision 4 - 1 in favor of the opposition, I was a member of the majority. Woo! Serka ya man putuk. After an attempt to persuade the other party, he was still adamant and belligerent. Oh, well, democracy rules. It’s a good thing it’s still on our favor, 4 - 1.

6:00 PM

I wanted to be with my girlfriend but I still have responsibilities. I can’t believe this. Where are the ADU people? They simply banished, they didn’t even help in arranging the chairs and tidying up the place. Poor Ruthie, she had to carry everything. At least it was a time for Ma’am Ruth, Ma’am Clare, Henry, and I to unwind and talk about the day.

7:00 PM

I so exhausted. I need to be home. I’m hungry and I need to call my sweetheart. And I also want to play Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. I think I’m an addict.

Prelude to volunteer life

2008-09-26T16:00:35Z

While I was preparing my requirements for volunteering in Zamboanga City Medical Center, I was able to make some notable observations. Some are quite mundane while some are notable.

First off, every hospital worker works hard in the performance of their duties although some are grumpy, probably because of the stresses of every day work.

Secondly, people/clients in the hospital don’t know the concept and the value of the queue. At the cashier section, I personally experienced people cutting in on my line. The insanity. Every part of my veins cried for foul and the people behind were apathetic. This made it worst. As if the actions were commonplace and ordinary. The shame.

Being the good guy, I am, I didn’t do anything. Again, that was downright wrong. I should have complained. I should have lectured that woman. Alas, I was too tired parading the grounds to comply with my volunteer requirements.

Thirdly, I had my chest x-rayed (please allow me to use this neologism). The bad thing was, no lead protection was offered to me. The radiology students instructed me and such but no protection was offered, as if it was cumbersome for them to do so. When I had one of my tooth x-rayed, my privates were protected. For the love of God, what happened here. I’m pretty sure, the excuse that Government has no money and budget to buy lead protection is crap. Considering that this is a safety precaution and I payed good money for the diagnosis. Goodness!

Lastly, I saw the staff and volunteer nurses. Some are my batchmates while the others where my schoolmates, that said, I think they are happy with their life here. Or at the very least, it appears that way to me. Still, I am hopeful.

Ellery as a nurse? Hmmm. Yes. Soon.