#soppyloveshit

Sometimes it's a good idea to remember. Otherwise in the busyness of life (not that I am particularly busy... I just seem to create work for myself), you can almost feel it slip away. Imperceptibly.
You used to wake every morning and go to sleep at night with them in your mind. You used talk for hours.
Schedules mean you can't talk as often...
... so you only exchange a few words right before bed. Rushing from place to place and trying to remember concepts that you have to commit to memory. And before you know it, you're just together in name alone.

So I had to dig up the ol' E. shrine, find myself some letters, cry over a few memories and look at a few photos. I remember thinking that I wished I could return to that honeymoon phase. But I am happier with what I have. Okay, granted - I'd rather forget a few events that call into question the first two years of our relationship - but on the whole, even though we've spent the last three years of our relationship apart, I think it's a better one.
So sometimes, you just have to take the time. Reminisce. Take a breath. And breathe.

#pharmacyftw

Score. It seems that I was given the same lecture for valvular pathology in the third year of my pharmacy degree.
Also, had a pharmacology lecture on ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. The generalised look of confusion, followed by panic as people realised that had to learn the pharmacokinetics of the various drugs was P R I C E L E S S.


On a slightly random note, left the biggest poo-streak in the Hunter Centre toilets. Had to wait in the cubicle for ten minutes until the post-lecture wee queue had dissipated before I emerged. Nothing worse than leaving a cubicle and then making eye contact with the person who is about to use it after you. Because they WILL fucking know that you were the one responsible for that poo-streak.

#histologyshouldbehistory

Looking down the microscope and no dice. Skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle cells all look the same to me. Pink and stripy.

#snowsnowsnowsnowsnow

Walked to class today in the snow and it felt like I was on the set of some David Attenborough documentary exploring the arctic. Even though there were no polar bears to be seen, it was still pretty fun listening to the crunch of powdery snow underfoot. When I got to town, it had sort of turned into this brown slush, which was rather unattractive. And more perilous to walk on.
Only half the class turned up to our first (and only) lecture of the day. But it was worth it because it was a lecture given by Dr. J., who has a tendency to only have pictures on his slideshows and no words whatsoever. Which makes it supremely easy to revise his lectures afterwards.

Lingering around the Hunter Centre was totally worth it because
a) I got around an hour and a half worth of sweet OSCE practice in with my friends and
b) mainly this: some clinical skills tutors decided to give an impromptu clinical skills tutorial. Oh and
c) got palpated by one of the tutors, who has incredibly intense blue eyes. Note: he was very professional throughout the entire demonstration, during which I was a volunteer patient. But I certainly had a thrill of a time, but not an actual thrill - a thrill, which I have learnt, is a cardiac term where you can actually feel a heart murmur if it is bad enough. He also noted my respiratory rate went up during this practice consultation. My heart rate didn't betray me though because it stayed at a very normal 68 beats a minute.
So yes, I finally learnt how to use my stethoscope in a somewhat meaningful way and I know where to listen for heart sounds!

And I had pho for dinner. So now I am farting.

Also: cold day --> baking gingernuts --> sitting back and drinking a hot cuppa with some freshly baked gingernuts --> satisfaction

#netter'sflashcardsftw

My anatomy flashcards arrived! And I feel better about anatomy.
Also, it is colder than an icebox outside at the moment. If I were put an ice cube outside, it wouldn't even melt. It is that cold.

#howdopolarbearsdoit

My toes are emanating coldness. It is that cold right now. Or I just have shocking circulation and should probably put on some socks.

It is going to sleet tomorrow. I am not looking forward to walking half an hour down to class. Driving is not an option because icy conditions + me driving = damage to some part of my car/a lot of swearing (both are not mutually exclusive).

I should probably go to the gym or something. But it's honestly too bloody cold right now. So I'm hoping that by trying to keep warm, my body is metabolising more energy stores.

------

#ninetieskid

Home alone. Time to sing Backstreet Boys anthems at the top of my lungs.

#stethoscope

I honestly could've skipped this afternoon's lectures and made it more productive. Instead, I spent the two hours negotiating with E. over when to come to Christchurch. And then I purchased my tickets. So yes, one could still say that my afternoon was still relatively productive.

Also, I FINALLY laid hands on my stethoscope. Ooooooh yeaaaaaaaaaah. It's mine. And it's sitting in its little box in the corner. My preciousssssss.

#moresoppylovestuffkids

Why I'd like to get married sooner rather than later, despite your protests that "Five years is nothing in the scheme of things because we'll be spending the rest of our lives together": I'd like to wake up each morning and see you. And I'd like to go to sleep at night and see you. I don't want to have to miss you everyday.


LOL. Also, just realised that when dad emailed me, he would have seen mum's prior email to me exhorting me to "keep my purity" when I next see E. Oh, that is AWKWARD indeed. My poor father cannot unsee what he just read.

#doublelabcoatsdoublerainbow

Well, that's awkward. Not that I'm particularly surprised.


And E. is a good boy for understanding my fear of germs. And for overcoming his fear of spiders to dig into his box of unused clothing and to fish out his lab coat so that I can have two alternating lab coats.

#ovariesexplosion

Time to hit the gym tomorrow. I feel like I've just eaten my entire body weight in food this weekend. Dinner/lunch with E.'s parents consists of his mother piling my plate with delicious food. And I don't have the self control to say no.


Also, I want children. Badly. We spent this weekend playing with this cuuuute eight month year old girl and she was absolutely adorbs. I was thiiiiiiis close to kidnapping the cutie and taking her home with me. Except I don't know how to look after an actual child, aside from making funny faces and googley noises at it. I'm definitely not ready to have an actual child. But I'd like to have one as an accessory.

#jumpstartmyotomes

I have an excuse to dance like an idiot around the room to music... I'm just revising the myotomes.

Also, my friend J. just came back from elective. And he just swung by to collect his car which has been parked at my house. Unfortunately, both of us hadn't realised prior to this that his car battery was probably dead because no one had started it in three months. And J. was adamant that his car would need to be jumpstarted... at 9:30pm. And no, AA was not going to be called (which was my natural response... probably because I am a woman). After a lot of screeching and swearing on my behalf (also, sparks! were! seen! and he! hadn't! turned! his! car! engine! off!), we actually (well, he actually) managed to restart his car. So now I've realised that my voice actually jumps in pitch by several megahertz when I am stressed. And I have a tendency to swear a lot. But I already knew the latter.

And then after he left, I saw a hedgehog on our lawn. And the poor cutie started in fright every time I took a photo.

#anewlow

Learned my myotomes. Shit yeah. Surprisingly, Flo-Rida's 'Low' is a great song to dance to when learning the myotomes.

#pervert

I don't understand why all guys in med are smart AND have amazing bodies. We had a tutorial today where we had to palpate each other and naturally, the guys had to take their tops off because girls have boobs. I'd say the majority of the male members of the class have ripped bodies.

Also, managed to learn the myotomes for the upper limbs during an epidemiology lecture. A good use of time, methinks.

#highthree

Weighed myself today. Three more kilos until goal weight (note: I have lost five since June last year). I then proceeded to consume a massive burger for dinner. Niiiiice work.

Also, the pharmacology lectures are a bust. Literally. And side note: where the fuck is my stethoscope?!

#myeyesarebleeding

I have to write this down before I forget. I have slaved over this ONE lecture for the whole day.

FOREARM
1. Anterior compartment
(a) Superficial
- pronator teres: pronation. Duh. I can't believe that I had to look that one up.
- flexor carpi radialis
- palmaris longus: accessory flexor of the wrist
- flexor digitorum superficialis
- flexor carpi ulnaris

(b) Deep
- flexor pollucis longus
- flexor digitorum profundus
- pronator quadratus: pronation. The word is turning into pornation. Time to rest my eyes, I think...

2. Posterior compartment
(a) Superficial
- brachioradialis
- extensor carpi radialis longus
- extensor carpi radialis brevis
- extensor digitorum
- extensor digiti minimi
- extensor carpi ulnaris

(b) Deep
- supinator
- extensor pollucis longus
- extensor pollucis brevis
- abductor pollucis longus
- extensor indicis

AAAAARGH.

INTRINSIC MUSCLES OF THE HAND
1. Hypothenar eminence
- opponens digiti minimi
- abductor digiti minmi
- flexor digiti minimi

2. Thenar eminence
- opponens pollucis
- abductor pollucis brevis
- flexor pollucis brevis

3. Lumbricals

4. Palmar and dorsal interossei muscles

5. Adductor pollucis




I have much respect for people who decide to do a BSc in Anatomy. Because right now, I feel like all these muscles have melded into one gigantic Harry Potter-esque spell.

#poordrp

I saw a certain lecturer at the supermarket yesterday after class. He had just finished shopping and was sitting by the taxi stand, clearly waiting for his ride. And as much as I dislike his weekly diatribe of how "You should all be getting 16/20 for the pop quiz. You all need to try harder", I'll admit - I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. He looked so tired and there's just something poignant about an elderly man sitting on a bench at night, looking world weary and waiting for a taxi.

So there you go, Dr. P. I'll try not to roll my eyes too much the next time you try to tell me that my 15/20 is substandard. But I still dread doing your lecture this afternoon because let's face it... the forearm muscles and intrinsic muscles of the hand are just waaaay over my head.





... few hours later at 10:36pm: dfslkjkjlfs eeeeethelumbricals. myeyesarebleeding.

#iwanttobelizzybennet

Addicted to 'The Lizzie Bennet Diaries'. I've been so sleep deprived for the last week, but it's all been worth it. I was in love with Bing Lee but nope, Mr. Darcy still wins. Each and every time.

#thevoiceaustraliamakesmewanttobeanaustralian...almost

Harrison Craig is fantastic. Every time I watch youtube videos of him singing, it always surprises me how smooth and rich his voice is (even though it shouldn't because I've watched these videos a million times). Also, he is a prime example of why men look dapper in well tailored suits. Such a cutie and so polite! I wish I was eighteen again so I didn't feel like such a cradle snatcher.

sidenote: Seal looks like a happy seal when he hears Harrison sing.

#motherftw

Progress test win. No seriously, win.


Also, mother trying to give me dating advice is double win. Context: One of the Three Deadly Sins (TDS) stayed at E.'s place during the weekend. E. had asked if this was okay with me a few weeks ago and I had said that it was fine by me. I had also warned him that if anything happened, I would ruin him. Anyway, the weekend passed by without a mishap and today when mother asked if I had recently talked to E., I said that he had one of the TDS over for the weekend, so I didn't really get that much time to talk to him.

"Isn't she your height?" I shit you not, that was my mother's first response.
"Uh, she's like my height. Yeah, I think we're the same height."
-silence on the line- "... well, I don't like it very much." Was my mother's next statement. "Were you worried?"
"He asked if it was okay and I said it was. I suppose if I had a guy friend, E. wouldn't have an issue. TDS and E. are quite close and they talk a bit."
Mother: "I don't think it's very proper. You should tell E. to tell TDS to back off and find some girls to talk to instead."

YES, THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT. THANK YOU MOTHER FOR VOCALISING MY INTERNAL THOUGHTS.

Instead, I said "Oh, I can't tell him who he can and can't talk to."
"Yes, but what business does TDS have calling boys up and talking to them? Why can't she talk to girls?" There was a hint of vehemence in that.
"Culture's changed... boys and girls talk like friends." Was my feeble reply.
There was an emphatic humph on the end of the line. "Well, in Chinese culture, girls talk about personal problems to girls. TDS is a *bitch."

*I use the word 'bitch' because it is the only word that I can think of that corresponds to the Cantonese word my mother used.

Life is amusing.

#whyiseveryonegettingengaged?

Asdjksdfkjlsdfjkdsfljksdfkjldsfjksdfkjdfs. Harrumph. I don't know if I can wait another FOUR FREAKING YEARS.

#phipiPHOphum

Pho makes me ph-art.

Also: Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle
S - scaphoid
L - lunate
T - triquetrum
P - pisiform
T - trapezium
T - trapezoid
C - capitate
H - hamate

Also, it's almost been a year since I started going to the gym. And I finally fit comfortably into my motivation jeans :)

Next goal: slim down that stomach and get that gap going between the legs!

#realdoctortime

I love clinical demonstrations. They are reminders to me of why I chose to give up another five years of my life to study (and potentially the rest of my life).

Le sigh. To get through the dregs of second and third year first. I cannot wait until fourth year.