A short history of medicine

Patient complained "I have a pain.."

Doctor/pharmacist says:

2000 B.C "Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C "That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer."
1850 A.D. "That prayer is superstitious. Here, drink this potion."
1940 A.D. "That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D. "That pill is carcinogenic. Here, take this new antibiotic.
I do not know for sure what will happen if you take that root also."
2000 A.D. "That new antibiotic is ineffective. Here, eat this root."
2050 A.D. "Let me see your genome, and properly genetically modify you and your food.
Your problem will be solved forever." Or will it??

Blue aura

Yup, my aura is blue too...matches today's weather. =) The weather was so sunny earlier on today..but the wind was freezing! I made a mistake by wearing only a t-shirt and a polar fleece jacket out to lectures. By the time i came back, i think i was half frozen, if not for the dash that i had to make home to finish off the Pharmacology assignment.

Ahhh....the freedom as i dropped the 10-pages-weekend-spent-on assignment into the drop box on 6th floor of Adams Building. It was celebration time...heheh...by taking a walk to the gardens. Fortunately, i was enticed by the emails that i had to reply that i thought,"hmm..i'll go after i reply them." An hour later, Mother Nature decided to wash any leftover spew from the weekend's drunkies off the pavement and it started pouring cats and dogs! *phew* If i'd gone out for my 'celebration walk', boy would i have 'celebrated' it with a drenched self and probably a cold to top it up.

Was listening to NSync as i did my quiet time. NSync's Christmas CD is one of the best CDs i own. *chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, youltide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like eskimos...* I reckon Christmas is the best time of the year. It doesnt just hold the significance of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, but just the atmosphere and the love all around. *sigh* I cant wait.. The thought of sitting in front of a fire, warm and content with the people you love, never fails to put a smile on my face. The purrrfect KODAK moment! God's blessing in people..

The "good thing" that you desire will become the "best thing" when you allow God to give it to you in His time.
~Roy Lessin

A part of me that's gone, not quite there anymore. I try to reach out and take a hold of it, but my attempt is futile. Have you ever wondered why i'm even trying to hold on. Just let go. Afterall, i asked for it.

I feel like a song without the words, a man without a soul,
a bird without its wings, a heart without a home.
I feel like a knight without a sword,a sky without the sun,
cause you are the one.

I feel like a ship beneath the waves, a child who's lost its way,
a door without a key, a face without a name.
I feel like a breath without the air,and everyday's the same,
since you've gone away.

I gotta have a reason to wake up in the morning.
You used to be the one that put a smile on my face.
There are no words that could describe how I miss you;
I miss you, everyday.

~Never Gonna Leave Your Side - Daniel Bedingfield

The Alphabet Love Song

I was looking through some photos and this song popped into my head. I hadn't sung it for ages... It's one of the most relaxing and upbeat songs that has been with me since my childhood.

"A," you're adorable,
"B," you're so beautiful,
"C," you're a cutie full of charms.
"D," you're a darling and
"E," you're excitingAnd
"F," you're a feather in my arms.
"G," you look good to me,
"H," you're so heavenly,
"I," you're the one I idolize.
"J," we're like Jack and Jill,
"K," you're so kissable,
"L," is the lovelight in your eyes.
"M," "N," "O," "P," I could go on all day.
"Q," "R," "S," "T," alphabetically speaking, you're OK.
"U," made my life complete,
"V," means you're very sweet,
Double-"U" "X" "Y"
"Zee."It's fun to wander through the alphabet with you
To tell you what you mean to me.

Where are you? You're adorable!

Don't you just hate it when you have a great conversation and so many things strike you, you want to go home and post it up on your blog, but by the time you do log in, you've forgotten what it was that you wanted to write about? Argh... Met up with E this evening and talked over a muffin and mega choc shake. =) So good to talk and share stuff. It's funny how so many things have changed since we first knew each other and yet, after all these years, there we were sitting in a food court miles, miles from home, talking, laughing, complaining, sighing and confiding in each other. God bless this friendship! =D

I'm yawning and it's not even 9pm yet. So much work set aside for tonight...plus it's a Friday night! Hmm... If i could do anything right this very moment, i'd go for a walk to the Botannical Gardens by myself or with a friend. Or even go ice-skating! It's one of those moments when your mind says YES and your body says NO. But for now, i think i'll settle in with my Social Pharmacy lecture notes. =) Interesting as always! There's so much to learn in social pharmacy, i think you can never learn it all. The lectures i enjoy the most is when we have panel of people from the public to talk to us about disease, caring, and lifestyle. So heartfelt, so touching, so real.

For the fun of it...

You matched the following traits:
Religious - Faith matters to you. It is the foundation that you build your life upon. You trust that God has a plan for you.
Liberal - Politics matters to you, and you aren't afraid to share your left-leaning views. You would never be caught voting for a conservative candidate.
Traditional - Modern culture does not move you. You hold traditional values dear to your heart.

Your date match profile:You match with men who have following traits:
Religious - You seek someone who is grounded in faith and who possesses religious values. You believe that a religious person can enhance your life.
Big-Hearted - You want someone compassionate, someone gentle and kind. A loving, nurturing person will fill that hole in your life.
Traditional - You aren't looking for someone who is sexually repressed. You want someone who is adventurous under the covers. ??????!!!

Your Top Ten Traits, Ranked
1. Religious
2. Liberal
3. Traditional
4. Big-Hearted
5. Romantic
6. Athletic
7. Funny
8. Adventurous
9. Stylish
10. Wealthy/Ambitious

Your Top Ten Match Traits, Ranked
1. Traditional
2. Religious
3. Big-Hearted
4. Practical
5. Adventurous
6. Romantic
7. Funny
8. Conservative
9. Shy
10. Athletic

Olfactory system

Walking by Albany Street Pharmacy, i caught a whiff of perfume that reminded me of a friend. It was just that lingering scent....and yet in that split second, it was as though my mind was brought back into its database of memories and thoughts started flooding my mind. Everything that reminded me of this person, just from a whiff of perfume.

I wonder what it is with people and scents. It's like tapping into a reservoir of memories from all walks in life. It's funny, how when you've not thought about something and that trace of a scent brings it all back and you think to yourself "Wow...i've totally forgotten about that."

I think it's about time i change perfumes. Caroline Herrera 212 has been with me for almost 4 years now. Hmm...Gucci Rush would be a pleasant change...

Dispensing exam tomorrow. 2 products to compound. One of which we will be familiar with, another that we've totally not heard of. I'm looking through all my notes at the moment, and reading up on the Dispensing manual. What makes me most nervous when it comes to dispensing is when the examiners watch your every move and look down only to write something in a notepad of theirs..and you wonder "Argh...did i do something i shouldnt do?" or "Should i be doing something else?" Pray for clarity of mind and quick thinking to pick up anything that's wrong on the prescription. Compound quickly and wisely since not having finished products at the end of the 2 hours is an automatic FAIL. Must ... pass .... aim ... for .... A ...

Mount Cargill

Mount Cargill...my first REAL tramp since coming to Dunedin 4 years ago. The sight was just be-a-u-tiful from the top and on the way up (though i spent most of the time looking down at the ground making sure i dont slip and pull Ruth down who was behind me =P) If it wasnt so cold, i think i would have been tempted to stay just a little longer up there by myself. It was on that trip that i learnt that little Marcus + camera = DANGER. You have no idea what has been taken. The only inkling clue that someone has just been caught on camera is when you see a flash coming from nowhere. But he's a nice lad! Even my sister thinks he's cute! =) Good on ya Marcus! Ahh....Mt Cargill....i'll tramp up the full track hopefully before the end of the year.

To be examined or not to be examined..that is the question

Exams are just around the corner...16 days left to the date until my first paper, Professional Pharmacy Practice. Amazingly, God has granted me the peace and i have embraced it so not too stressed at the moment.

There's that 15% Pharmacology assignment that i have to work on, and argh, finding the research papers that correlate to the experiment is just so .... . Going to spend most of the night in Hercus CAL tonight because i need access into Ovid. =( It's due on Monday, sure, can work over the weekend, but better to get it over and done with asap so that i can resume my revision! Oh no..i just remembered that i've got Pathology tutorial tomorrow and i havent finished the prep sheets! *taking a deep breath* Calm down...calm down. There's still time. =) *deep breath out*

I was supposed to wake up at 5.45am to go to the gym but my body just wouldnt agree with my brain to get up this morning. It was like having temporary muscle paralysis..haha..and the only movement i could make was to reach out and set the alarm at 7am, turn over and pull the duvet (not quilt) over my head, close my eyes and drift off into slumber again. Zzzz.... I'm beginning to fall in love with sleep....not good, not good...

Dont look for someone who's macho, or show off and full of testosterone. Just find someone who listens and cares for you as you are. Because at the end of the day, that's what's forever. That's all you are left with. ~LF

Happy Birthday UK

It's UK's birthday today. 21st birthday and he has to be cooped up at home working on his design. Not exactly my ideal way of spending a 21st, but oh well, it's not like he can help it. Anyway, i hope he likes the gift. Choosing gifts for guys aint easy. The only reason why i can easily get something for P is that i know what he wants or likes and so i dont have to worry about what he has or doesnt have.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UK!

If i was where you were, i'd bake you a 'cottage-pie' birthday cake. *Promise* It's not sweet. =P

bricks

There were stacks of bricks of different colours.
There were red ones, blue ones, green ones, and even transparent ones...like basic LEGO bricks. They were all jumbled up.
So messy, so disorganised, so disorientated.
I couldnt reach them.

Then He reached in and started rearranging the bricks.
One by one, yet in a matter of seconds, they were all neatly back where they should be.

"WOW, thanks. But can i ask, what are the transparent bricks?"

"They're parts of your life that you just have to learn to look through.
Dont worry about them, now your focus is on the coloured bricks, the ones I've put in your life to handle. Prioritise. I'll take care of you. You're not disorientated anymore, no more worry lines. Dont focus on the transparent bricks. I'm handling those. Come find the rest you seek. I'll provide. I promise. I will never ever leave you and i'm going to give you the very best. Dont settle for second best. You are my little girl."

"I love you".

I'm looking through you,where did you go?
I thought I knew you,what did I know?
You don't look different, but you have changed.
I'm looking through you, you're not the same.

Your lips are moving,I cannot hear.
Your voice is soothing,but the words aren't clear.
You don't sound different,I've learned the game.
I'm looking through you,you're not the same.

Je Souhaite

If you found a Jinniyah, what would your three wishes be?

My sister thinks i should be 'toughened up' by watching X Files. Sure, there is some truth to what she said. Well, my good ol' sister sat by me as we watched Je Shouhaite, about a Jinniyah. Patient as she is as when it comes to movies and me, i'd ask every 5 minutes "So what's going to happen?" "Is he going to die?" "Do you see his body decomposed?" But by grace she endured my fire of questions and i got to watch it until the end without driving her mad! =) It was a good series. If she'd 'endure' me some more, i'd ask her to watch some more series with me during the mid-year break....AHHH.....i cant wait!

3 months

It's been 3 months since i left home. Yet for some reason, it feels as though it's been so long ago and at the same time so recent.

If i close my eyes, i can almost feel as though i'm back home somewhere in the living room with Daddy at the computer, Mummy somewhere in the kitchen and my siblings all over the place.

If i close my eyes, i can smell the pleasant aroma of homecooked meals and Daddy and Mummy asking "Will one of you come and help take the food out??"

If i close my eyes, i'm back in the car going for rides and sharing life together about what we've been up to in different parts of the world.

If i close my eyes, i can hear the laughter of the children and footsteps as they run around playing tag and asking to play Mother Hen and Eagle.

If i close my eyes, i'm back in Wesley church, on the all-too-familiar hard wooden benches with familiar faces all around.

If i close my eyes, i'm secure in arms that wont let me go.

Only if i'll close my eyes....

LesMills

I went for BodyBalance at 6.30am at LesMills. Had to start walking at 6am. It got a bit scary as i walked down Princes Street, lights werent as well lit there and totally no one around. So i jogged quickly to LesMills....just in case. Man, slow movements but i was sweating profusely! I think i'll join up for Pilates if i have the time in 2nd semester. =) Then i went for BodyAttack after meeting up with E in the evening. *GREAT chat with E. Have to meet up more often. =P* WOW...intense workout. Sweating non-stop and my shoulder muscles were so sore! I think i have to vary my exercise routine more now. Aerobics classes have made me realise how raw and rusty so many other parts of my body are! My upper chest hurts the most from those blooming push-ups! =S

Courtesy of Ben C's email:

It was the year 2004, and God came unto Noah once more, who was now living peacefully in retirement in New Zealand, and said: "Once again the earth has become wicked and over populated with good for nothings, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another ark and save two of every animal and a few good human beings." he gave Noah blueprints, saying "you have 6 months tobuild the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard, but alas - no ark. "Noah!" he roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the ark?"

"Forgive me Lord!" begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the Inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbours claim that I have violated the neighbourhood zoning laws by building the ark in my yard, and exceeding the height limitations. They also said the sound of the ark being built would be too loud. We had to go to the planning appeal board to get a decision. Then the Transport Department and Power co demanded a bond be posted for future costs of moving power,trolley and other overhead obstructions to clear a passage for the ark's move to the sea. I argued that the sea would be coming to us, but no one believed me.

Getting the wood was another problem. There is a ban on cutting the local trees in order to save the Kiwi bird. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the kiwi in the first place.But no go! When I started gathering the animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They insisted I was confining innocent wild animals against their will. As well,they argued that the accommodation was too restrictive and that it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in one area. I tried to say it was more cruel and inhumane to let them die in a massive flood, but they would hear nothing of it.

Then Environmental Affairs ruled that i couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint to the Human Rights Commission on how many previously disadvantaged and non-white people i'm supposed to employ for a socio-economically balanced building team.

Also, the trade unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I can only hire union affiliated workers with ark-building experience. Before I had even employed them, they were picketing for a pay rise. To make matters worse, the Customs and Inland Revenue seized all my assets claiming that I'm trying to leave the country with endangered species and have been avoiding tax as a result of my supposed ark building business. So forgive me Lord, but it's going to take at least another ten years for me to finish this Ark."

All of a sudden the sky cleared, the sun began to shine and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked: "You mean you aren'tgoing to destroy the world?"

"No," said the Lord. "THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BEAT ME TO IT."

Gender X Sex

I learnt something new today. We had a lecture on the effects of gender on pharmacokinetics and Dr Momir Mikov began with a few definitions....

Gender "A person's self-representation as male or female, or how that person is responded to by social institutions based o the individual's gender presentation. Gender is rooted in biology (sex) and shaped by environment and experience."

Sex "The classification of living being, generally as male or female according to their reproductive organs and functions assigned by chromosomal complement."

....and to think that i'd always thought they were the same thing. =P

Will be burning the midnight oil tonight, i think. Pathology tomorrow...not fair...we've got a full 8am to 5pm day with the test at 6.30pm! Okay, i might as well admit it. I'm anxious. =/

It is more blessed to give than to receive

I saw PS today at Acquisitions. I've wanted to do this for a while, since last year actually, but today i summoned enough courage and guts to step out of my comfort zone. Muffin Break was open, so i went down to Meridian, got a large hot chocolate to takeaway and a Mars muffin. Went up, said "Hi PS, it's a cold today isnt it? *big smile* This is for you. *hand over hot choc and muffin in plastic bag* See ya, have a good week!" I walked back to the flat with the widest smile on my face in ages. It feels so good to be able to give.

Be blessed to be a blessing to others.

Let's do it....LEGO style!!

C recommended this really really REALLY cute site to me this evening. She was talking about it and i just had to check it out for myself. It's even better than i'd imagined! It has a collection of Biblical verses...LEGO style! One of my favourite ones, Garden of Eden, reminded me of how i used to coordinate all the colours of the flower petals when i started playing with LEGO 10 or so years ago.

I didnt have a lot of interest in other things, like TV or gameboys and computers werent exactly that developed yet. *kids nowadays....tsk tsk* I remember being fascinated by the computer in Daddy's office. It was like "Wow.....!"

Hehe...i'd spend afternoons working on a house plan and every single detail was totally UP TO ME. P sometimes made the cars and aeroplanes that came with my home, but i'd usually want to build just one small one for my 'Alice' and 'John' to go to work in. They had a friend too...MaryAnn. I forot what i called the other guy....something like Peter? Matthew? Ah....a simple name. That afternoon would be spent animating my characters and they'd go on adventures like mountain climbing, and fishing, and haha...i suddenly recall mimicking their voices. I'd stick to that house plan for a week or so, until Mummy told me to dismantle it because it took up so much floor space that the maid was having trouble cleaning the floor without knocking over some of my bricks. So...i'd dismantle it, put all the pieces back into the LEGO pail, and the next day, i'd think of another new house floor plan. Grandma helped me a lot, to pick the specific bricks i wanted. I'd build and build, until i got tired. Time for my afternoon nap.. I'd lie with my head on Grandma's leg and she'd lull me to sleep with a story or her rhythmic 'mm...mm...mm' and accompanying soft pat on the arm or butt until i fell asleep. I miss you Grandma.

"Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed. Yahweh God caused to sprout every tree that is pleasing to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." ~Genesis 2:8-9  

From my bedroom window at 7am. Reminded me of God's splendour and glory. "Red skies at night, shepherd's delight. Red skies in morning, shepherd's warning." 

it's your birthday!

It's Daddy's birthday today. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" I wish i was home. I know that Daddy and Mummy dont like celebrating their birthdays the way we do, but it's just nice to be around them. Daddy's in Kuching at the moment, taking care of Grandpa. I do pray he's gotten better. Mummy's running the household at home with little Daniel, who isnt exactly little anymore... I miss you guys heaps.

Daddy said that it's up to me whether i want to apply for the Student Summership or not. I thought that they were going to be here for like the whole of December...but no. D said just maybe 10 days to 2 weeks. I was disappointed. I would like them to stay longer...take a tour around the South Island and maybe visit friends up in Auckland as well as Christchurch. Go take neo prints just us 4 siblings at Time Zone..hehe...that would be fun. Dan would be as tall as us by then. I cant wait until they come. It's going to be soooo cool! Well, regarding the Student Summership, now that they arent staying for that long, maybe i should just go home and spend the rest of my 2 months plus of summer in Mukah. We'll probably still go to Sibu weekly and i'm going to see if i can go to KL and Singapore on my own or with Chia to do some shopping. I want to spend time with family and visit relatives and go out with friends...maybe i do want to go home more than i thought i did. It would be much lonelier here..if i'd stayed. Sure i've got J and A and Jo for December, but what happens after that? Lots of time for personal reflection and time by myself on a bench at the Botannical Gardens. If i do stay, maybe i should apply for PR there. Hehe... Ah....a little bit too long away to even be thinking about this. My mind should be filled with PATHOLOGY!!

Okies...so i'm back to Pathology now. U is 'online but on 'away' mode. OF course! It's only 4.30am in Melbourne. =P

super glue

Almost super-glued my fingers together just now. =P I was telling P about my day at the lab and how H, V and i were talking about how accident-prone we were when we were kids. Hmm...seems as though i havent changed that much after all..

Our beloved PHCY 256 lab, where we extracted caffeine in powder form ( no one was allowed to take them back by the way =P ). Brendan would go "I dont kno..ooo..ow, why is life...doing this to me..." or any other tune that would remain engraved in my brain for a fortnight before he changes another tune. Hehe...those were the good old days when Terry would play around with the ... and write texts on his hp so everyone would see on the screen. "I want to go home" And people busy copying lab books to make it home by 5.30pm on a cold Dunedin day... 

6.30am .. Dunedin hasnt woken up just yet... 

Vodafone

Vodafone's got an offer until May 2006. Free 021 to 021 texts from midnight Friday till midnight Sunday! COOL! I had to sleep with my cellphone on last night because i needed to wake up early and my alarm clock (after 6 years) has decided to call it quits. I had full intention to sleep early at 11pm and boy, i was woken up AT LEAST 12 times because of messages since midnight! Now that wasnt very cool. =S I couldnt put it on silent mode either cos i needed the alarm to go off. >.< But the sun is shining and the chill in the air is dissipating. Paul's at his HEAL test so i'm off to see him now. Have to go shopping for ingredients as i'm preparing supper tonight for cell.

Passionfruit marshmallow slice & Apple Vodka brownie. =D

Complementary cures

It was amusing..to see the contrast between the 2 2-hourly lecture slots we had today. First two were on anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. M was telling us about the drugs used, side effects, pharmacokinetics...and it all seemed so...... *sigh* depressing. There arent any 'wonderdrugs', no one knows what's really wrong, horrible side-effects. So many of us came out of the lecture feeling (........) blank *blink blink*.

Then we had S from Switzerland come to talk to us about complementary medicines. She's a herbalist and foot reflexologist. It was so promising and mood-lifting to listen to the future of complementary medicines and how effective they can be. Minimal side-effects and herbal meds have the longest clinical trials ever...withstanding the winds of time of evolving modern medicines. (Refer to time plot below) Afterall, modern meds DID branch out of holistic herbal meds. =) How interesting would it be to pursue a degree in herbal meds as a post-grad.

I'm trying to find where it says in the Bible that there are cures from leaves..ground..plants... Hmm...where is it??

Herbal Medicine has stood the test of change.. 

"If you do not stand firm on your faith, you will not stand at all" -Isaiah 7:9

Grieving without dying

It was so touching yet heart wrenching listening to the panel of carers. Especially S who's husband isn't the man she married after the MI. Maybe they were "lucky" he survived...but having to 'grieve privately' for so long...i wonder. To marry the man you love and still be together physically, but emotionally, mentally just a familiar stranger..

J said it the best. To have loved, courted and married for 45 years, you grieve without dying. Grieving starts when Alzheimers begins to wrap its tentacles around your loved ones...tighter and tighter as the years go by, until one day, you cant see them anymore...buried under the enveloping arms of dementia. The grieving never stops, even after death... The hurt gets less, but it never really fades.

Such courage to come and share with us. I wanted to do something for them, bake them a tray of cookies or make a card. God bless them.

Thanks

Thanks Eunice....for helping me find that user-friendly editing programme. It's been great and so much help to me. Convenient just to plug in the camera and just 'Batch Convert'. Hehe.... Thanks again! =)

Supposedly studying...

I'm on the highest level of celebrity squares...first time studying in the Central Library this year. *pat on the back* Well, supposedly 'studying'. I had trouble going online just now, so ended up spending the first hour in the library at the IT Helpdesk. Ah....threw me off my study mood. =( Well, i'm going to bury my nose in my books soon.....yes....i said "soooooon". =P It's great to see so many people studying, some watching movies, some taking their leisurely breaks.

Suddenly thought of home and how things were back in secondary school. BOY, those were fun days. Miss the school, the smell of chalk, the sound of familiar voices as students rush off to beat their teachers to class, shuffle of feet as girls catch that last bit of gossip before they continue during break time. I miss my classmates, the hard wooden seats and small table (with no drawer). I miss standing up to greet with the drawl "Se----la-----mat----pa-----gi-----cik-----gu----" as if they're actually one word. I wonder if any of my friends around the world are remembering those times... Am i the only one?

"Somewhere out there, if love can see us through, then we'll be together, somewhere out there...out where dreams....come true."

It's a-nuh-der blog...

As they say, it's never too late....to start blogging. =)