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Sunday, 15 November 2009
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Just got back from Thailand on Monday. I am still a little jet lagged. Maybe not jet lagged but readjusting. Last night I slept at 0400 and got out of bed at 1100. I haven’t worked out in more than 2 weeks. Time to get fully adjusted and get back to my normal routine. Yes I did have fun but if I were to go back, I would not do a tour group. I don’t think I am the tour group kind of person. If I were to go back, I would spend a little more on accommodations. Some of the places we stayed at were rather shabby. Some of the hotel rooms/bungalows had the toilet and shower in one space - there was no division between the shower and toilet area. So I can do #2 and wash my hair at the same time. But I thought it was a great deal when I booked it. I think it was geared towards 20 year old students on a budget.
Here is the itinerary: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/ATSS&itinType=dossier&yr=2009#
The whole point was to see Thailand, and I got to do that. Got lots of R&R and even a traditional Thai massage. Could have done without the leeches, bugs, and a lot of wasted time (waiting for delayed trains, etc). And there was the motion sickness in the catamaran on the way to Koh Tao. I took a motion sickness pill but I had a big breakfast and I think the medicine did not absorb fast enough. I was trying so hard to hold it back. The crew on the boat walked up and down the aisles handing out tissues and barf bags. The catamaran was going, it seemed like 200 mph over 3 foot waves. It was just like a roller coaster. Everyone was throwing up, even the crew. At one point, we were up in the air and that’s when I think I lost it - everything I had for breakfast.
We had to take another catamaran to get back to the mainland from Koh Tao. All I had was a granola bar for lunch and I took the medicine 2 hours ahead of time instead of 30 (which the tour guide instructed us to do the first time). Before I got on that catamaran, I was pretty drowsy and went to sleep 5 minutes after I sat down. I was dreading that second ride, our tour guide said it would be just as bad as the first, but this time no motion sickness! I was asleep and couldn’t feel anything.
Tubing down the river was the best part. Second was swimming in Koh Tao where the water was this light green color and warm. Oh, and getting a massage.
I get back to work and people are telling me that I can’t believe I went out there by myself. That I am “so brave!” What is the big freakin deal??? I don’t understand. When these people go to the bathroom - do they need an entourage or someone to go in there to hold their hand??? I think as long as you use common sense, do research about the place ahead of time and be aware of your surroundings, you will be okay. And if you need help then ask for it. I wasn’t completely alone anyway, just for 2 days after the group tour ended. People will come up and talk to me or I talk to the people. I was never lonely, it was no different than being at home. If you’re a lonely person at home then you will be lonely anywhere.
And then they ask me: “did you meet anyone?” or “did you find a husband?” Oh yeah….that was the whole point! Not to see Thailand, not to take a break from a stressful job and relax. Absolutely ridiculous!!!
Time to plan the next one! Maybe Australia or Europe, I don’t know.
Thursday, 08 October 2009
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Getting Old
My Thailand trip is only 3 weeks away!!! Few more things to take care of like parking, packing, holding the mail, etc. It feels like it’s a year away - not 3 weeks! But I am excited!
So I went to the DMV on Monday to renew my license. The lady behind the counter did an eye exam. She had me read the chart behind the counter (about 10 feet away) while covering the right eye. I was totally unprepared for this. I couldn’t believe it. ALL THE LETTERS WERE BLURRY. I thought maybe….it was early in the morning, my eyes needed time to adjust. I tried to focus my left eye…but just couldn’t. I was so embarrassed. The lady was like, “how did an L turn into an M?” Okay shut up lady!!! She asked when the last time I had my eyes checked, and I told her I didn’t remember - but I don’t think I had. They didn’t do an eye exam in my last check up/pap smear a month ago. She says, maybe I need glasses and what would happen if something happened to the good eye (right). The right eye, I can see everything crystal clear. I think it’s been compensating for the left eye. I was afraid that she wouldn’t renew my license but she did anyway.
I thought maybe this lady was tricking me, making the letters blurry in that little machine that tests your eye sight. I had to sit on a chair and look into this box with a little chart inside - where I saw the senior citizens sit. I told her - this machine is out of focus! She’s like - no. I think that machine was covering up the good eye.
When I was in the car I wanted to see for myself. I was looking at a sign across the street, covered my right eye and she was right - my left eye was weak. I can’t believe this. I am falling apart. I am deteriorating. I know it’s not the end of the world, most everyone I know wears glasses. This is kind of a big blow though.
With my left eye - I can still see things up close clearly enough but details from far away are fuzzy. One of my coworkers says that it usually starts with one eye and distance vision is affected. I was thinking, aren’t there any eye exercises I can do to make it normal again? Did I sit too close to the TV? Not enough light? Too much time in front of the computer?
I have an appointment next Wednesday with an optometrist. My coworker, C recommended him. Their office is really close by. I have a lot of questions - glasses or contacts - both? Do I have to wear them all the time? Is there any way to halt this process? Anything at all I can do about it? Now that I am aware of this, I have been getting this pain - not really bad pain - more like pressure, behind the left eye. Who knows how long this has been going on. I could have been having this “pressure pain” for a long time and just ignored it. I need to be more in tune with my body. Maybe I could have sensed that something was wrong. It feels like I’ve been slapped in the face with this thing.
Everything else is okay though, lost weight, lab tests - cholesterol, BMP, thyroid, LFT’s were normal…but they said my white count was high. I had to have it redrawn. They haven’t called me back yet - I hope it’s nothing. Not the end of the world. Everyone ages. I’m going to make a commitment to do what I can stay healthy. Perhaps, slow things down.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
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I haven’t felt like updating this thing regularly. I’ve been lazy and neglectful. I’ve become addicted to this game called Farmville on Facebook. When I’m online I’m always checking my crops and animals. If you don’t harvest your crops they will wilt. Almost everyone in family is on Facebook. I’m competing with friends and family to see who can get to the highest level. This is what I do to relax. Helps to stay connected to everyone.
Work is work. Those people are always annoying. I’m glad I only work 3 days a week. When people ask me why I don’t do overtime or work extra hours I just look at them and think, are you kidding me? The holidays are coming up and I’m sure there will be Christmas parties. Just like last year, I will not be going to ANY of them. One of my coworkers is going to have it at her house. She wrote on the board in our break room what date it was and for us to “save the date.” This coworker is one of the most annoying ones there and is a big time gossip. We will know everyone’s business - her relatives, distant relatives, the neighbors, the neighbor’s children, her own children and even the neighbor’s dogs. Her husband is creepy. He’s always flirting with us.
She’s one of the leaders of the Filipino Nurse Mafia at work. They are so old school it’s funny. I think they believe that the sole purpose of a woman is to get married and have babies. The only identity a woman can have is “mom.” I made the mistake of going to one of their get-togethers (they only invited the Filipinos at work). I have been a few times before but this would be the last damn time. She was trying to get her husband to set me up with one of his doctor friends (her husband is a Jewish anesthesiologist). Then they tried to match me up with the ugly guy from work with the f*cked up teeth --- who was there. Ugghhh!!!!
Seriously, that guy needs to get his teeth fixed. I think even a paper bag would be an improvement. On Friday I went into the break room to take my morning break and I saw him there. I sat down & then he sat down at the same table. I tried to ignore him but he tried to make small talk. Whatever, I was just drinking my coffee and watching tv. He tries to tell me about another xmas party. I didn’t say that I would go or anything. It’s not that I don’t like parties, I just don’t like parties with annoying people in them. If I go, I’d just be asking for it.
I just don’t know if I even fit in with those people at work. There are a few singles and childfree married people there. The majority have families and are family-oriented. They are not open to different kinds of people or different ways of thinking. Can you live your life a different way? Does everyone have to have the same life?
A few weeks ago I went to my cousin’s wedding. And then yesterday, a get-together at my grandparents’. Yeah…..I got the stupid questions, the “When are you getting married???” It’s not going to stop. I’m at that age. You know what? Instead of giving in to pressure and conforming, I’m just going to keep doing what I want to do. I’m going to live my life the way I WANT. They want a battle of wills, they will not win. Anyone who gets disrespectful gets cut out of my life. And even if I do decide to get married, these people are not invited.
Hard to be the odd one, but I could not have it any other way. I’m glad I can think.
He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice.
~Albert Einstein
Monday, 10 August 2009
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Yesterday I went to my grandfather’s birthday lunch at Seafood Village in Rowland heights. I love that area, there’s so many Chinese restaurants and they’re cheap too. Some of my aunts and uncles were there, so was my dad +1, my brother +1, and some cousins. I got to take home some chow fun noodles. There was so much food! We had crunchy noodles, lobster, duck, & shrimp. Very yummy.
I’m off to Thailand in a few months. I’ve always wanted to go but could never find anyone to go with. If I don’t go now, I’ll never do it. It’s only $429 (+200 local payment), but it doesn’t include airfare which I found at $738. The one that was $666 had an arrival time to Bangkok at 1 am. I would have loved to save money but what am I going to do there at 1 in the morning???? I’d probably be wide awake at that time because of the time difference, but where am I going to hang out? I’m going to be gone for 9 days but I’m debating whether or not to stay there for another day or two. Maybe I could go back and see the things I missed during the tour or just chill and get a nice massage.
So I’m going to be a bridesmaid at another wedding, this time my cousin’s. Her wedding is in September. They’re already married though. They went to the court or city hall to get it done. Years later they want the nice ceremony. Good for them! Their sons are the ring bearers. This is the last time though! I thought about becoming a professional bridesmaid since it seems like I’ve been in everyone’s wedding. I should get paid for this.
She said we can choose whatever bridesmaid dress we want as long as it’s in lilac. We had to go to Alfred Angelo for our dresses. I had the lady at the store check my cousin's accout to see which dresses the other bridesmaids got. There was no one listed. The others probably had their dresses made somewhere else, which is smart. These dresses are so expensive, I chose the least expensive one, but I still ended up spending close to $200 on it, with shipping fee + rush delivery (my fault). That doesn’t even include alterations. They don’t make petite sized dresses so I had to take it somewhere else to get altered. I didn’t want to get it altered there because their seamstress charges $65 + rush fee of $35. I took it to this lady I found online, who only charged me $50. She runs her business out of her home. I hope she does a good job.
Have to take the trash out, take a shower, study for ACLS, then tomorrow it’s back to the minefields.
Monday, 06 July 2009
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4th of July Weekend
I was off for four days, I have to go back to work tomorrow. Yes, back to the minefields. This is my motivation to retire early.
Last week a coworker was discussing the Michael Jackson death at the nurses station with another one of my coworkers. She was talking about all the memorials and how people were lined up 9 blocks to attend a tribute at the Apollo Theater. Her tone was like, “who cares” and “why is it such a big deal?” She kept going on and on about it, not paying attention to who might be in the vicinity listening. Another coworker of mine, who is African American got offended and mentioned something to the charge nurse, who asked the department director to mention it at the staff meeting the next day. The one coworker, who was spouting all these things about MJ (the “Michael Jackson hater”) knew that complaint was about her starts going off about it that day and even has the nerve to ask me if it was me (that complained). She was acting weird that day & just I ignored her @ss.
I was thinking: honey, that was not me and don’t worry…I am not the only one who doesn’t like you. She’s stupid, all she does is run her mouth. She’s one of the most annoying ones there. And she looks like a MAN. It doesn’t matter how blonde she dyes her hair and how much make up she puts on.
On Saturday, I went to my grandparents’ to enjoy some barbecue & some home cooking. Watched the neighbors set off fireworks. Got to spend some time with the family. It was two of my uncles’ birthdays, one of them just flew in from NY. My grandpa, who is about 85 or so doesn’t even know who I am anymore. Some cognitive functioning is impaired but he still gets around. When he stands up and tries to sit back down he almost misses the chair.
I was so surprised to see my childhood best friend and her family there. I didn’t know that my aunt had invited them. They were/are friends of our family. Good to spend some time to catch up and get reacquainted. We found each other on myspace & talked about hanging out again but never happened. This one was my best, best, best friend & if I ever got married I would ask her to be my maid of honor.
It was weird, even my youngest brother & my dad now have girlfriends! My dad was like “Come here I want to show you something.” He was acting weird, I thought he was going to show me some money, or was going to give me money. He introduced me to this Asian lady with curly hair. She was sitting in the living room by herself. He hardly said anything and just pointed me to her direction, she did most of the talking. She introduced herself. My dad, like me, is a person of few words.
When I first got to the party, I saw her. I thought that someone else had brought her. An Asian lady with curly hair. Then I remembered what my mom had mentioned a while back, that one of her friends saw him at the club with a Chinese lady with curly hair. She seemed nice, told me I resembled her daughter. Before I went home, as I was walking to the car, she put her arm around me & told me that I should call my dad every once in a while. She says he gets depressed and misses his daughters.
So I see that they have both moved on. It doesn’t bother me as long as they’re happy. I won’t pass judgment if they don’t. We’re all adults. Just as long as they don’t interfere in my life, I don’t care.
Better go to bed. Need my energy for tomorrow. I’m glad I’m off so many times a week. If not I would probably burn out quickly.
MSRN2004
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- Name: MSRN2004
- Birthday: 1/1/1930
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 5/8/2004
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