Scalpel- Lash Curler Metaphor

Last weekend, I have lived in seclusion once again to do marathons of the Grey's Anatony Season 1 and 2. I have finished LOST and i'm still lost. I screamed at every episode that my flatmates often knock at my windows wondering what's happening. LOST is so eerie that I don't recommend watching it alone for fear of losing your mind. I lent my dvd copies to my cousins Michelle and Jason and told me they were sleeping at wee hours in the morning. You just can't stop watching until your questions are answered. We are gearing up for season 3 which we plan to watch weekly over the local UHF channel. I could also feel that the Desperate Housewives Season 2 being shown on Studio 23 is on its last two episodes. I heard they will start Season 3 in November at ABC (US).

Just as I thought I am through with hospital drama, here comes Grey's Anatomy which is a story about 5 surgery interns making a mark at Seattle Grace Hospital. I have learned the levels of doctors in an American hospital namely: the chief, the attending, the fellow and the lowly interns. Terms such as scrubs, shrink, stat and even the "call " ("time of death is 1257H") makes the series very interesting to the viewers. I especially like the character of Dr. Miranda Bailey, an African-American fellow who is often referred to as the Nazi because of her strict stewardship of the five interns. Dr. Izzie, the blonde intern reminds me of "Phoebe" and Dr. George O'Malley reminds me of "Joey" of friends. The series' central character Dr. Meredith Grey reminds me of the lovestruck character of Bridget Jones. I pity her during the entire duration of the series. But the character I like most is Dr. Derek Shepherd's wife, who he refered to as Satan and refered to by Dr. Grey as "the woman as pretty as Isabella Rosselini". Given the chance to know her, I'll ask her to marry me!

Grey's Anatomy is a mix of the wit of "Ally Mcbeal", the comedy of "Friends", the secrets of "Desperate Housewives" and the drama of "E.R.". I usually freak out at the sight of blood and surgical procedures but in this series, it became bearable (I even eat my lunch while watching it). The oddities, drama, excitement of hospital scenes are very interesting that you'll never stop watching. The creativity of how Shonda Rimes came up with mixing romance and hospital humor in a series is unimaginable (lash curler-scalpel/ dextrose-vodka metaphor). I just can't get enough of it. Maybe I should call a shrink, I'm going gaga over these series.

Happy Birthday Louie

I already mentioned Louie, Egay’s (my cousin) first-born child, which I already considered my own in the other blog (Grace Amid Adversity). She’s the kid we are talking about that kept me going amid my ordeal. Well, our little angel turned one last Saturday, 16 September 2006.

In the Dora the Explorer theme, guests were treated into an afternoon of puppet shows, games and fun. I bought a Chicco electronic toy turtle as a gift. Guests trickle down by 4 pm and everyone was happy.

I remembered a year ago when her father, Egay, called and sought my help when her mom, Arlene, was rushed to the Manila Doctor’s Hospital that only turned out a false alarm. When the real thing happened I was in the middle of an event at work. So, I just arrived at the hospital after Louie was born. When I saw her in the nursery, she was so meek and beautiful. After two days, I took her picture through my phone and never erased it ever since. I was reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gardner then. Then I learned they are naming her Sophie Louise. I hope she grow as smart as Sophie.

Anak, I hope you read this one day and I hope that you’ll realize that Daddy Ninong is so proud of you. You are the one who encouraged me to rise up from my illness and continue to live again. I hope to dance with you on your 18th birthday and who knows, even give you the European tour, that your mum is wishing for you.

Desperate Housewives, Lost and the Scramble for RC

I already said I was with my doctor last September 4. My doctor called me up at midnight just to tell me that my prothrombin time soared high (14.0! normal is 1.7-2.9). He advised me not to go to work. And that I be careful not to accidentally bump my head or trip at any rate. He told me to go to the hospital the next day and stay within the hospital premises.

So there I was the next day scared as hell as I wait for results of my yet another protime test. When I decided to stay at Tita Leony’s in Cubao than die of boredom at the Heart Center. I found Tita Leony’s daughter-in-law, Kat, addicted to the Korean telenovelas compressed by season in one dvd. She offered the Desperate Housewives Season 1 dvd. When I got home I immediately started it. And I never came out of room that week.

Desperate Housewives lets you have a feel of being omnipotent, a god who knows all secrets and the dirty laundry of the neighbors of Wisteria Lane, Fairview County. I only went out of my room just to eat, that my mom became so worried. (I even peed in an arinola in my room!) It is that addictive and will make you and anti-social freak.
(We had a family gathering Sept 6, and all I did at the party was to eat and go back to my room afterwards). My first encounter with the Desperate Housewives started one Sunday when Orlee asked me to watch the Studio 23 telecast. I vaguely understood my first episode because it was already the Season 2 then. I asked Orlee (through text messages) the circumstances every time a scene came up and totally understood it after Season 1.

The character of Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) totally amazes me. I freak out at her totally Stepford way of life and how she lives a cheerful lifestyle in spite of problems besetting her family. The accident prone Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) reminds me of my stupidity sometimes. The drama, murder and mysteries of DH makes you watch for more.

That Thursday (7 Sept) I got hold of Lost Season 1 and 2. I watched it per Orlee’s advice. It looks very boring at the first episode. How will a story of 48 castaways in an island progress into two seasons of 17 episodes each? But I totally freaked out when the castaways found out the French woman on the island. I wonder how the writers of that series ever think of twists and turns of the story. I told Orlee that if I was one of those writers my nose would be bleeding right now.

I went back to my apartment yesterday, 11 September 2006, when the greatest catastrophe happened in my life. I forgot my dvd player’s remote control in Bulacan! I felt so helpless that I even broke a few buttons. I’m in the middle of LOST season 1 and my dvd player cannot operate without the remote! Thank God, my cousin Au is an angel, she brought the remote just now, all the way from Bulacan. And I don’t wanna be disturbed tonight.

Drama Fest on its Second Week

I'm writing this in an internet cafe at about 10:15 pm.

I went undertime from work today because I had a check up. It's my second week at work. I'm beginning to feel lazy shuttling from hospital to hospital for my check up. I've been to San Juan De Dios hospital for the prothrombin time test, got the results at 4 pm and went to Heart Center for a check up. The doctor said I have to repeat the test since he did not trust the findings of the other hospital. I stayed at the hospital till about seven pm, got lost riding jeepneys along Timog Avenue, then I started to curse while riding the MRT.

I still remember what the doc told me about my meds:

Coumadin - it makes the blood thinner and would prevent stroke , I should have the proper dose or else I'll have bruises and bleeding (that is what the prthrombin time is for)

Cordarone - it would prevent sudden death -- creepy

Lanoxin - would regulate the heart beat

Lifezaar- is an ace inhibitor -- whatever that is

Aldizide - a diuretic.

Do you feel that you're reading medical transcriptions everytime you read my blog? I'm sorry guys but this is my outlet. I just feel like I have to tell someone of my misery. Kayo lang ba ang nagsasawa? AKO DIN SAWANG SAWA NA!

Of course after the consultations the drama begins. While riding the MRT, I realized that everytime I go to my doctor, I am reminded that I would eventually die. Maybe not that soon but in the near future. Tears suddenly fall from my eyes and started to tell my cousin Egay through text of what I feel. What I need is a miracle. Everytime I see a new horizon, I fear death. Whenever I lose hope, I become ready to embrace mortality.

Anyways, Orlee and I are supposed to watch the "Devil Wears Prada", but the traffic and the extra time in the hospital didn't permit us. He asked me how was my consultation. I told him that we should shun the topic and talk about happy things. But he'll be informed of the significant findings once it surfaces. We had dinner instead and had coffee at Shangrila just like the old times. Again, let me remind you that it's been two months since I lived alone or had dinner and coffee or movie with Orlee. Too bad he's now based in Cavite.

Will you still remember me after a this blogs? If I stopped doing this, will that mean something happened to me? Only God knows. And I need your prayers for courage, even if it will not entail a miracle.