[ the sound of one hand clapping ]

New Playstation Network Signature

2011-08-02T19:11:00.004-05:00

'really haven't been posting a lot to use the new signature, but while checking out the playstation blog, i found this tasteful image from "the drop" and thought it would make for a new signature. may have to visit the playstation forums and give it a test run.

Playstation Plus Signature

2011-01-31T11:45:00.004-05:00

This is part Playstation Plus wallpaper and part Corel clip art, add the text and voila! Insant forum signature!

Purchased: Sony DSC-TX9

2010-12-27T12:47:00.008-05:00

christmas came early for me this year, about a month ahead of schedule. right around the time everyone's had their fill of turkey and stuffing, i'm out hunting for the perfect christmas tree at lowe's. yup, that's the tree taken with my new digital camera - a sony DSC-TX9 to replace one that's won the international forum design in 2006 and best digital ultra compact camera in 2005 by the technical image press association, the DSC-T7.

i'm not a pro-photographer by any means but consider myself more of a hobbyist who enjoys some technical aspects of picture-taking. most of the pictures on my flickr page are taken with the DSC-T7 and you can see that it's been pretty much everywhere - well, almost.

in 2011, i'm looking forward to putting more stamps in my passport and taking my new camera out for a test drive. so far, it's done pretty well this holiday season, low light, subjects moving referring to my wild nephew who couldn't stay away from the christmas tree, and face-detection. my favorite feature actually is the self-portrait timer that triggers when your mugshot enters the viewfinder. it's handy when you want your picture taken by the christmas tree but feel too awkward for someone else to take because you're in your socks and jammies. hahaha!

the electronics market is abuzz with 3D! 3D this! 3D that! while i don't have a 3D tv, yet, the DSC-TX9 has a 3D sweep panorama feature which i have yet to try out. everyone at the christmas party was impressed with the intelligent sweep panorama feature, that i had to tell them to not move because i could take everyone's picture in the room with a single shot. for the solo shots, my boss couldn't believe that it was taking 8 shots for one picture. i told him that was the "intelligent" mode recognizing the scene, light conditions, and faces while adjusting the settings for a clear picture. yup, the "wow-factor" was definitely there!

the camera has loads of features and you can check them out here on sony's website at sonystyle.com

so, goodbye to you my old camera. thanks for the amazing memories and great pictures!

playstation rewards

2010-12-02T11:51:00.006-05:00

certainly different and got me excited is this new program that really taps into my rpg-loving gamer core! still in beta, the program basically rewards participants with cool stuff, and who can refuse cool stuff that's free?! aside from the bragging rights for being in the program that's by invitation only, the perks are endless!

Playstation recently started a new membership program called Playstation Plus which requires a yearly or 3-month membership, and recently made available in retail stores as a membership card that can be purchased for you or be used as a gift.

i signed up as soon as i was able and signing up early extended my membership for an extra three months! so far, i've enjoyed being a member! lots of free stuff from the network, and like i said before - I LOVE FREE STUFF! i can go on about how awesome the program is, but what's extra awesome is the new Playstation Rewards program and below is just a sample of what Sony had been doing to make its loyal fans get giddy like little high school girls, if they aren't yet.

being a member of the rewards program gives you access to participate in amazing sweepstakes with amazing prizes! before this LBP ad, the prize was a special invite to the Consumer Electronics Show in vegas and for any tech afficionado like myself, that's like the mother ship calling! i hope sony is reading this and gives me the grand prize!

it really is like playing an rpg game where you level up the more you play until ultimately, you're this souped-up character with legendary powers! yup, the program has a tier set-up that goes from select, pro, then legendary and as you can see, i'm not that far away from becoming legendary! to level up and this from what i've read in forums, one has to essentially show true playstation love! for me, that's easy! there's not a day that goes by without me visiting the playstation network to check out the new games and new videos to put in my pspgo and with the MediaGo software, i'm able to upload over 1000+ songs into my pspgo to keep me jamming from the gym or on the drive home from work and maintain my playstation lifestyle. lastly, my pc's default homepage is the playstation blog to keep me up to date on new games, betas, patches, and everything a gamer needs to be in the know including where to pre-order the must-have games to receive exclusive in-game downloadble content!

a member since 2006, i've enjoyed the cutting edge technology that sony constantly develops on its electronics and gaming consoles and it's always exciting to be on the receiving end of that process. it's good to be a gamer and made moreso with the new rewards program! thanks Sony!

next post, my new sony DSC-TX9 digital camera!

playing: just cause 2 and god of war 3

2010-03-30T10:27:00.003-05:00

yes, i know! awesome huh?! you can close your mouth now. this is how far video games have come. endless worlds of open exploration is given to us by the guys from eidos, the makers of tomb raider with just cause 2. i got this game because i was left wanting more after playing the demo. the biggest treat for me was after getting the game aside from the free bonus truck and signature gun, the super agent is named after me! "rico!" how cool is that?! what's also another surprise was, you can hear the non-playable characters speak filipino! "may nagbabarilan!" which means "there's guys shooting!" then there's "dali! dali! dali!" which translates to "hurry! hurry! hurry!" my favorite is, "hoy, ano'ng ginagawa mo diyan?! bumaba ka diyan!" which is what a guy says when you hijack his car and or boat, "hey, what are you doing?! get down from there!" i was tickled! some of the camps too i think have filipino derivatives like "kampung lima batu" which is "camp of five stars" and the game is littered with white stars which helps our hero "rico" identify his targets. below is a clip, a very small portion of what the game has to offer - from sky diving to hijacking and flying to sabotaging! yay me, i mean rico!

here's a couple more treats for your eyes, i give you gameplay from god of war 3! yep, it pretty much lived up to the hype and then some. it's so well done, you can't tell where the game begins and the cinematic ends. it's "that" good! our hero kratos returns to us once more with rage and vengeance in his eyes. gotta love a good guy turned bad guy who's out to get other bad guys! these clips are from the first boss battle with poseidon and if these are any indication of how good the fights are, i can't wait to finish the movie, er, game! plus, i'll be able to use a different costume from pre-ordering it at ebgames! so, enjoy!

i'm going to go back grapple some snipers off towers or just blow something up in just cause 2 or maybe do some old-fashioned butt kicking in god of war 3.

dante's inferno black forest

2010-03-05T18:12:00.006-05:00

just finished playing the black forest - two extra trophies from dante's inferno available on the playstation network, or a code comes with the game if purchased. i've enjoyed the game very much and i got the platinum trophy after finishing the gates of hell. i found it easiest to do in maleblog 3, air kills. my count was 1,321 after which i got bored and decided to check the new content. below are short clips to help you get both trophies, "dark forest - complete the dark forest in any difficulty," and "clear path not lost - complete the dark forest without getting lost once."

"the moon shines from the north, head east..." just notice where the moon shines from and enter the door east of the glow. keep heading east until you reach a new clearing.

"head west if you want to avoid the lion's ravenous hunger..." to begin, turn the lion statue with the light pointing west. use the moon's glow as a point of reference; it points from the north. this basically lights the path heading west, away from the "lion's ravenous hunger." the beam from the lion's mouth will cross over the gate and simply follow it will lead you to the next clearing. just turn the statue to make a straight light, essentially, a guiding light pointing "west."

"use the moon as your guide, intercept the murderer!" this took quite a bit to figure out, i thought i needed to jump "on" the moveable tower. then i realized as i tested going through the gates, i ended up in the same place. voila! block one gate! i chose the middle one, top of the screen, for this level. once that's in place, wait till the moon shines "from" either left or right. i chose the left gate, waiting for the moon's glow to cycle. as soon as you go through the gate, you will come out the one unblocked gate, and quickly turn around to intercept the murderer. phew! finally got the bastard!

after killing all the baddies from the last clearing, follow the path and it will lead you topside overlooking a valley. the end? i can't wait to try the "trials of st. lucia" since she was mentioned in this dlc. love a good sidekick especially an angel! yeah, it says she's a saint but in the extra content, they showed her as having angel's wings. oh, sorry for the "extra" background noise. i got the sniffles and the camera is on a tripod in front of me, under my nose! hahaha!

thanks visceral games for a fun game! can't wait for dante's inferno 2!

got modnation beta & limited theme!

2009-12-18T09:31:00.006-05:00

how cool it was to wake up and check my e-mail this morning and find this message waiting in my inbox! thanks sony for keeping this loyal fan very happy! i love the playstation network and i'm looking forward to more cool stuff in 2010! it's through playstation network that i also got to play the mag beta in it's very first phase! keep up the good work guys! let's play!

assassin's creed 2 review

2009-12-04T12:58:00.004-05:00

i've had my eye on this game as soon as the news and trailers started coming out! i was excited to play it since day one. also, so as not to miss on all the assassin's creed 2 goodies, i went ahead and pre-ordered the master assassin edition with the ultra cool ezio figure and extra gameplay content.

ubisoft has always been a game developer i trust. got my first platinum trophy for prince of persia, and pretty soon for assassin's creed 2! it's hard to walk away from the game with its lush backdrops and stunning visuals of renaissance italy. a time when everyone was into the arts and sciences and society's genius was flourishing. assimilating this in the game through leonardo da vinci was a great idea! it allows the main character to take on new challenges and accomplish new moves, from throwing sand into the eyes of the enemies to the triathlon-style swimming and free-running! melee combat is top-notch! i'm never afraid to blow my cover, but of course one can't really be an assassin if you're not incognito.

sequels to the original usually fail to deliver, but assassin's creed 2 outdoes its predecessor. i'd give this game 2 daggers up!

assassin's creed ii - invitation

2009-11-17T15:12:00.001-05:00

MAG - RAVEN PMC

2009-10-20T09:57:00.008-05:00

RAVEN
"Precision in training and battle, above all else."
"Provides military services using cutting-edge
equipment and tactical coordination."
STATE OF THE ART, PRECISE, ELITE.

MAG-Beta, baby!

2009-08-18T10:14:00.004-05:00

imagine my surprise when i got an e-mail saying "You're in: Join the MAG beta!" from Playstation Network. i immediately got on Home and shared the good news with my friends. after putting the code, the download process began. first, it was a 298MB file upload. after that, a 30MB-something install, then finally a 2GB update! needless to say, i was up all night waiting to test drive this baby and next thing i know it's 9:20 in the morning!

tried to sign on to the server but it looks like the game universe is only active a few hours in the day - 10:00am to 1:00pm and 5:00 to 8:00pm PDT. great, more waiting. already noticed a few bugs - no sound when cycling through voices on character creation between Raven and Valor.

this is acutally the second beta i was picked to test drive. first one was the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves but i had to do an online hunt for clues and submit them on the Playstation Network Twitter account. it was a blast - i even got a swag bag that was only available to E3 conventioners. sweet!

thanks for the beta Zipper Interactive! looking forward to this game in january!

kojima countdown!

2009-05-27T21:03:00.017-05:00

okay, metal gear fans! if you haven't visited the konami website, now's a really good time! our friends in nippon are counting down to something and if images from the metal gear series are involved, you know it's a fanboy's dream come true! i nearly wet my shorts when i saw the trailer! oops, too much information!

yup, that's big boss! so, you wet your pants too huh?! hahaha! well, reading the kojima interview in famitsu, he mentioned to pay close attention to the emblem on the cap of big boss. it's an entirely new emblem and it has something to do with the game design.

also, in the teaser trailer, big boss appeared sporadically and sometimes with static. kojima mentioned that he will "appear" in the game just the same - intermittently. it's hard to say but i found six characters that flashed as the trailer played. they are "E", "S", "e", "P", "R", and "3". i watched the clip twice to see if the characters would appear in the same order and they did. but succeeding visits proved that idea incorrect.

i'm sure you have your own ideas. meanwhile, go change your shorts! tsk!

my love of... bracelets

2009-01-19T20:13:00.008-05:00

i actually don't know how it happened or when it happened, but i suddenly ended up having a collection of bracelets. i think it's because in my travels, it was the easiest thing to pick up at souvenir shops or from street vendors. each one with a story to tell, and each one, very special. if i have to pick one, it will be very difficult because i like all my bracelets. i can probably pick two, but even that is a challenge. thinking back, i think it started when i was in college. my first bracelet was a gold chain link from my mom - which i still have. it's not pictured because it's kept in a safe place mostly because of it's high sentimental value. the bracelets pictured above are the ones i use daily whenever i'm out and about and have the day off from work. at the hospital where i work, i only wear a wristwatch and nothing else. i constantly wash my hands so rings are out of the question though i've been known to wear them on occasion. i used to wear a mala bead bracelet made of sandalwood with a red tassel but everytime i washed my hands, it got drenched. at that point, i've decided to just leave my mala bracelets at home to spare them from unnecessary washing - hahaha!

i'm sure you're curious what the stories are behind the bracelets above. okay, okay, i'll tell you in a second. don't you want to know which "two" are my favorite?! i thought so! well, mentioning the first one doesn't mean it's my numero uno favorite so keep that in mind. looking at the image above, topside, with the shiny gold piece is one of my two favorites. i got it for my birthday just a few years back. it was a present from me actually, and the beginning of a tradition. it was one of those "i've-worked-hard" kinda thing and "i deserve this" bit. hahaha! i think everybody gets a moment like that and that was my moment. that's what makes that bracelet special.

the other bracelet that i like is the one pictured on the left of the bottom group. i got it for christmas - it was a present from a very good friend. it's a custom piece made of items i've picked out. it was designed by a girl named kelly from virginia who actually designs jewelry for a living. check her creative work at xogallery. after a few e-mails back and forth, i received a bracelet that's one of a kind. now how cool is that?! in all the bracelets in the world, there's one that's actually all my own! i told her how happy i was getting the bracelet simply because someone thought about me on christmas day and got me a gift that's a real treasure!

so those are my "two" favorite bracelets. the 3 mala bead bracelets above are from ebay , san francisco, and the philippines. the one from san francisco is korean and has an inscription that says, "where you place your heart, there you will be." the one from the philippines is made of tiger's eye. hopefully, no tigers were harmed in the making of the bracelet.

the black one is from a trip to rome that i found exploring the many shops that surround the pantheon. it's made of traditional black murano glass with silver spacers. the ones to the right of it have "catholic" images given to me by a co-worker who's originally from columbia who had visited family and got me the little memento.

bottom one with the turtle is made of koa wood that i got from a summer visit in hawaii where my friend lives. it jumped at me as soon as i saw it in a quaint shop in maui. right away, i knew i had to have it!

the all-black one with the key, cross, and crown is from a boutique in tokyo. i think it's a takeo kikuchi design. it came in black and white; i opted for the black. it's a bit big around my wrist but it works well when i wear it with my other bracelets.

lastly, the leather cord is from banana republic . what makes it special? i got it for $5.00!

so next time you're travelling and would like to bring a little souvenir for family and friends, go for a bracelet!

released: metal gear solid 4 - guns of the patriots

2008-06-12T10:30:00.006-05:00

today, a lot of cash registers are busy as die hard fans of the metal gear solid franchise flock to their favorite video game store. i was up early today despite having just slept a few hours, filled with excitement as today drew near. june 12th, june 12th, june 12th - it was all i could think of! it almost felt like it was my birthday, that special day when you know something good is going to happen!

i actually didn't have to leave the house today because my PS3 bundle is coming straight from konami north america. i was just curious to see what the mood was like at the stores. first stop was best buy where i picked up a copy of the standard game. i was shameless when i pulled out the cicruit city sunday insert and asked if they price-matched. there was no price to match really, but at circuit city, the game guide was free! the girl behind the counter at customer service was more than happy to oblige.

my other pit stop was at ebgames where i had pre-paid for a copy of the limited edition version of the game. there was just one other guy standing outside the store waiting to go in. i was a couple of minutes early. as soon as the doors opened, i handed the guy my receipt from a month ago and as soon as he got my copy of the game, i swear i heard an angels' choir...

to sum, today is indeed a happy day. it's not my birthday, but it feels like it. it's someone else's birthday though - metal gear solid 4! looking forward to many more!

play hard!

june 12: metal gear solid 4 - guns of the patriots

2008-05-18T20:25:00.018-05:00

four words: limited edition ps3 bundle. everyone knows that june 12 is the release date for metal gear solid 4: guns of the patriots, and everyone also knows that sony is releasing a very special version of the ps3 bundled with the game. i read a thread somewhere that the bundle is sold out in japan, and it hasn't even gone on sale yet! yes, pre-orders sold out! this leaves me a bit worried, because i really hope i can pick one up at best buy on june 12th.

i only took this long to talk about this very much anticipated game, but i've already been riding the feeling since i got the metal gear solid 4 snake eater action figure from medicom a couple of months back. i wouldn't call it a toy - it's a work of art! definitely worth keeping for years to come for my nephew to appreciate so i can make him a true metal gear solid fan!

i'm just as excited about the metal gear solid 4 raiden action figure that's also available for pre-order online.

speaking of pre-orders, i already reserved a copy of the limited edition metal gear solid 4 game at gamestop . i went home with a copy of the metal gear saga volume 2 and a code to access the beta version of metal gear solid online. i haven't inputed the code yet and i've heard that several people are having problems with the codes, not to mention that the heavy traffic on opening day of the beta caused the servers to crash. bummer.

before i forget, i just want to metion about the rumored metal gear solid 5. if kojima is really considering to pursue this endeavor, i hope that he would place the same amount of interest in reviving the also popular zone of the enders game. now "that" i would be truly excited about! don't get me wrong, that doesn't downplay my passion for the metal gear solid series!

meanwhile, better start saving up! june 12 is around the corner!

in memoriam: dominic vincent amato

2008-03-14T19:23:00.006-05:00

"i wanted to be there the day your dad hands you over to me with my arms wide open ready to hold you and protect you. i was filled with joy when i heard the news a few months back that you were going to be joining our family. your cousins alex and aiden would've been tickled to have met you. today, i'm thinking about you playing with the other kids in heaven, and making new friends right away. your mom and dad are sad that you're not here with us instead. me, i'll be okay because i know you're in a better place. rest in peace my dear nephew."

purchased: individual eleven

2007-12-29T20:53:00.001-05:00

Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX takes viewers to a futuristic society where technology has saturated citizens' daily lives. Along with the new technology comes new types of crime that exploit it, but female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team of police, Section 9 , devote their lives to chasing criminals, both on land and in cyberspace. In this collection, the elite team must face off with a terrorist organization, going by the name of Individual Eleven , and their diabolical plan for destruction.

purchased: the laughing man dvd

2007-12-03T19:39:00.000-05:00

The year is 2030 and six years have passed since a criminal known only as The Laughing Man swept through top medical nanotechnology firms committing acts of cyber-terrorism, kidnapping, extortion, and corporate espionage leaving no known suspects. New information is revealed to Japan's top homeland security force, drawing Major Kusanagi and Section 9 into the hunt for a suspect capable of hacking the eyes of every operative, obscuring all details of his appearance and leaving behind a trail of copycats and hacked cyborg citizens.

The Laughing Man tells the story of the entire first season of Stand Alone Complex as a 2-hour film.

I didn't realize Best Buy carried it until I stopped by for a visit to see if any of the games that have come out months back are any cheaper! Hey, whaddaya expect, I'm on a budget! Actually, I can't justify to pay $50.00 for a new title unless it's Metal Gear Solid!

I sauntered on to the anime dvd's section and while perusing some of the titles - side note, first season of Trinity Blood is now available in a boxed set! I got giddy when I saw it, the same time i got giddy when I saw the complete set of Samurai 7 and Godannar! But that's another story!

It was the single copy of The Laughing Man dvd and i grabbed that thing like there was no tomorrow, or expecting some jerk to come up from behind me and snatch it from my hands!

I also was happy to get a copy of the add-on for the Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops Plus which I've searched around town for and didn't even know it was available! I really have been out of the game network and hopefully, this will give me the impetus to get back to blogging again about the things I like most!

vaction: montreal, canada -- 08/01 - 09

2007-08-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

arrived in montreal mid-afternoon after a slight delay in connecticut. it was the second time i had to board the plane where it was sitting! i counted the windows - 17! it was a very small commuter plane by comair, with one flight attendant! the other time i boarded the plane like that was last year on my way to phuket from bangkok.

it was hot when i got to montreal. it was a hassle getting to the hotel by bus because i had 3 luggages and the bus had to stop at grand centrale and i had to switch buses! arriving at the hotel, there wasn't even a bellhop to help with my luggage to take upstairs after i checked in! talk about finding good help these days!

the good: wifi internet access in my hotel room, breakfast delivered to my room the next day to get me into vacation mode, vasco cigar shop where i found this super cool cigar punch encased in carbon fiber, eggspectation restaurant -- everything about eggs -- excellent for breakfast, energie flip flops from stonebridge shop, expensive belt loop accessory from simons - $135.00, provigo grocery store, and meeting cool people -- hi to mark from toronto, sean from vancouver, luc from quebec, roger from puerto vallarta!

the bad: heat, a/c out of order in my room for a night, burnt burger from le monde bistro restaurant downstairs and the manager didn't make any effort to resolve the issue -- see picture below, and not enough places to eat!

the ugly: discover card is not accepted anywhere in canada, pedestrians who smoke, heavy crowd at parking friday night, no organic milk at starbucks for my triple grande caramel macchiato, and having to use a fan the night the a/c in my room wasn't working! the horror!

now, for some cool pictures!

graffiti on the side of, yup, a sushi place!

more graffiti!

a student taking a break from his studies at mcgill university, located 3 blocks from the hotel i'm staying in.

merci montreal!

purchased: laughing man stickers

2007-06-08T18:18:00.000-05:00

it's official, i'm a total nerd. i ordered a bunch of "laughing man" stickers from www.hlj.com that arrived a couple of days ago, and i couldn't wait to put them on my locker at work, and possibly elsewhere in the world during my travels when the fancy strikes.

from www.wikipedia.com, "Laughing Man proves to be the ultimate hacker, capable of such feats as hijacking multiple video streams simultaneously, taking over someone’s cybernetic brain entirely, or even editing his own images out of someone’s cybernetic eyes, and all in real time." The character's name is taken from the title of J. D. Salinger's short story, The Laughing Man. The Laughing Man logo is an animated image of a smiling figure wearing a cap, with circling text quoting a line from Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, which reads: "I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes."

secret to happiness

2007-05-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

the secret to happiness and well-being is no mystery. all it takes is the ability to do the following:

forget.
apologize.
admit errors.
avoid mistakes.
listen to advice.
keep your temper.
shoulder the blame.
make the best of things.
maintain high standards.
think first and act accordingly.
put the needs of others before your own.
forgive.

seem like a tall order? then try slipping as many of these "secrets to happiness" into your day as possible. you'll soon be rewarded with a more positive outlook on life.

completed: ipod video ultimate playlist

2007-04-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

music

top rated: 200 of my favorite gym-tracks to get my cardio going.
asian pop: 107 tracks of asian pop goodness; from asian kung-fu generation to shinhwa!
chilled lounge: 56 songs of utter chill-out bliss; deep forest and enigma.
dance revolution: 140 beats from dance cd's i'd occasionally buy.
easy listening: 67 pure moods for those long-distance flights across the pacific.
made in italy: 13 tracks from one cd, still under construction.
ritmo y pasion: 155 songs of latin tunes; sorry, no lambada.
rockin' guys: 172 beats from green day to the fray and papa roach in between.
rockin' girls: 137 sultry songs from chrstina aguilera to madonna; sorry brit didn't make the cut.
trendy eastern: 76 trendy tunes while lounging from hong kong, tokyo and shanghai.
zen meditation: 17 tracks to help me find my center -- in case i lose it.

movies

discovery atlas series 1: china, italy, brazil, australia revealed in utter grandiose.
more to come!

pictures

13,304+ and adding: images of family, friends, and travel!

i've finally managed to complete my playlist, not to metion all the pictures i've accumulated from my travels are finally archived in the ultimate gadget made for the ultimate tech lover, the ipod video. i'll admit, it's up there with my psp as far as managing my songs and pictures in removable media like the memory stick pro duo's, but i'll be the first to say that it doesn't have nearly a tenth the capacity of my 80GB ipod video. my psp does serve one purpose though -- games. i don't think i can be without my portable games especially when i travel. let's not forget the internet connectivity of the psp which has allowed me to check and send short messages overseas via wi-fi at any starbucks or hotspot. together, my ipod and psp make me the ultimate portable geek.

i don't see my new vaio crashing anytime soon but in case it does, everything i consider very important is backed up in my ipod video, which saves me a lot of worry and grief from any future losses from either an electric surge or virus infection.

triskaidekaphobia

2007-04-13T18:52:00.000-05:00

it means fear of the number 13, commonly associated with friday the 13th. specifically, fear of friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia -- i had to look that one up. yes, the thought occurred to me as i was out running errands today, that it was friday the 13th. i couldn't help but get a heightened sense of awareness as i drove in traffic, thinking that there's always that idiot on the road that's out to screw someone. i think that's usually the case any given day but seeing that it's a "special day," i surmised some people shared the same thoughts i was having.

well, the day is almost over and nothing really bad happened to me. actually, i had an awesome day! i got up at a good hour, even though i wanted to sleep in a bit more. 830am, i am usually taking my pre-workout vitamins and by 900am i am chugging a glass of protein shake. 930am, i'm out the door and on my way to starbucks for my morning indulgence: a triple organic caramel macchiato, upside down, extra hot, light caramel -- grande! yeah, yeah, i usually splurge on one on my days off, kinda gets me going as i run errands. after i pick up my cuppa joe, i usually walk over to panera bread for a tasty french toast bagel with light cream cheese, but lately, i've been binging on a croissant with ham and gouda cheese, steamed then grilled on the panini. reminds me of a summer spent in europe when all i had for breakfast for 8 days was ham and cheese in a croissant at the hotel! now, every time i bite into one, it takes me to a very happy place. hahaha!

so far so good -- didn't burn myself with the coffee i had on one hand as i tried to cross the busy traffic under the "walk" signal. no rampaging 4x4's or semi trucks either, so i thought i was generally safe.

1130am, i made it to best buy for my bi-weekly pit stop to see what new games are available for the psp or the ps2. i also peruse the new dvd's for the month and i never leave empty-handed. $15.00 later, i picked up a copy of shinobi which i've been wanting to get since i heard about it or saw it in some magazine.

by 1230pm, i was back home having lunch. got on the computer, checked my e-mail, and bought 10 bottles of the aveda reviving mist which has been officially discontinued by the company. it's the one hair product that i use a lot to keep my long hair in place. maybe i should just cut it off and save a bunch on hair care and hair products.

300pm, i was at the gym working on my shoulders. i think it's the best part of my workout routine every week, going to the gym to build my shoulders. it reminds me of how much i still have to do to build them up, and as long as the impetus is there, i will probably never stop going to the gym. that is a good thing.

430pm, i was in downtown orlando going for a quick run around lake eola. it was a nice day -- sunny, slight breeze, typical spring-like weather. i had a great run -- i stopped less and ran more, certainly an improvement from the last 4 friday's i've been running, reviving an old love for aerobic exercise before i began weight-training to build up some muscles a few years ago.

it's now 800pm and it's time for dinner. i'll probably watch some cartoons then call it a day as i have to work tomorrow and sunday. it had finally slowed down at work -- less patients are being admitted and that means more downtime -- wahoo!

so, i don't get what the big deal is really with friday the 13th. today was a good day.

purchased: perfect piece tachikoma

2007-04-10T16:57:00.000-05:00

another online purchase arrived in today's mail and i was very happy to get it straight from japan! i've always loved the tachikoma character from the anime hit series, "ghost in the shell: stand alone complex." i've been waiting for the industry to produce something worth collecting, and this baby here meets my expectations. coloring is amazing, and the detail is superb. definitely worth putting on display under the soft glow of spot lights. hehehe!

Here's a brilliant offering from Mega House that no Tachikoma fan should be without! True to its "Perfect Piece" title, this Tachikoma figure is perfect in every way, with accurate sculpt and meticulous detail, tons of cool playable features, and a carefully-painted glossy blue-and-silver finish. Made of high quality ABS, POM, and PVC materials, Tachikoma is highly articulated with ball-jointed limbs that allow for a wide range of movements, articulated fingers to hold the included accessories, functional wheels, and a front camera eye that can turn in all directions. The abdomen hatches can be opened to reveal a highly-detailed cockpit where you can insert the included Motoko Kusanagi figure! The 50mm grenade attachment is removable and can be replaced with a ball-jointed gatling gun, and pressing the button on the right side of Tachikoma's front camera eye will pop out a small tray for inserting an oil bottle (included) to "recharge" it. Other included accessories are a wrench, book, and an oil tear to recreate those comical scenes as seen in the "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" anime series! Truly a "Perfect Piece"!

purchased: ghost in the shell 1/7 motoko kusanagi pvc figure

2007-03-31T19:12:00.000-05:00

straight from japan, my order finally came in a couple of days ago. still shrink-wrapped, probably for the entirety of my young life. hey, i'm still 12! well, mentally! haha! the toy - if you call it one - is well done. detail is stunning and of course, extra attention was given to the major's behind. gotta love those sex-deprived toy designers! it's fully painted and ready to display! mostly sold out at major online stores! get one if you can!

from an online store: "What some feel is the best-ever PVC figure of Public Security Section 9's Major Motoko Kusanagi is finally here! Brought to you by collaborators Alter and Vice, and sculpted by Tsuyoshi Takahashi, this masterpiece likeness of the Major is made with stunningly accurate detail and exceptional paint application. Based on the second season of the hit "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" anime series, Motoko Kusanagi comes dressed in her combat suit as she appeared in the show and holds a pistol, ready to protect Japan against any form of cyber-terrorism. A custom display base with the anime series title imprinted on the base is included for stability. Better hurry!"

my new baby!

2007-03-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

my computer is 4 days old -- it was long overdue! i caved and finally got a sony vaio VGN-FE880E/H series.
very basic laptop, no bells and whistles, but i had been raving about windows vista at work. i've had to endure the suffering of owning an old and beat-up dell inspiron 4000 whose specs aren't even worth mentioning. i should've never been allowed to own such an obsolete tech this long -- it's criminal! i should be fully operational the next few days with my new blog up and running. haven't decided if i should keep my existing blogs with google, but i think i'll give wordpress a whirl. i'll probably make this my very private blog to log every noteworthy and not-so-noteworthy event in my life. after all, zen is life as it unfolds.

stupid things

2006-12-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

i know we all do stupid things when we think we're invincible and nobody can touch us. we even do stupider things when we're drunk on a saturday night, out with friends partying like there's no tomorrow. then, you get behind a wheel, and decide to go for a drive and make donuts. stupid, real stupid!
i'm not talking about me, i'm talking about the jackass driving the car below who decided to crash into my fence on a saturday night at 230 in the morning! he made the mistake of leaving the car behind for the police to tow away. stupid, real stupid!

i woke up to the noise of a car running on loose gravel and hearing brakes squeal on sunday morning. my room has thin walls so i can pretty much hear anything outside, even crickets chirping, especially in the dead of night. my heart started to race and i began to get nervous as i woke up to a very familiar noise -- the sound of a wild car in our neighborhood driving about in the middle of the night. it had been the third time i had heard that kind of noise. the first couple of times, the car usually drives away after waking up the whole neighborhood. this time, it had a different ending.

minutes later i heard the loose gravel and brakes squealing, i began to think the worst possible case scenario -- that the idiot outside was either going to hit my car in the driveway, or crash into the house and kill me instantly! then wood started to snap and i knew that instant, something bad had happened.
see for yourself below.

fast forward to the florida highway patrol officer that came to the scene, ran a report, and said that the car wasn't stolen and that the owner was an elderly gentleman. i guess he was out living his last few days on earth, huh?! kidding -- we figured, it's a relative who took the car, drove it around with his buddy -- see passenger side open -- crashed it into my fence, spooked my dog, causing me unwanted stress, and make miss work the next day!

luckily, the vehicle was insured so i called nationwide and told them what happened. the property adjustor was out today and assessed the damage and suggested that they'll just probably cut a check for the damage. i'm thinking moolah for a PS3?! hahaha! nah -- i just want this thing resolved and my fence back the way it was.

to the jackass driving the car -- shame on you, ya loser!

the dawn of a new day...

2006-11-18T12:03:00.000-05:00

[ back blog ]

you know where i'll be tomorrow -- at home playing final fantasy xii! yep! you wont find me huddled in a tent in front of best buy while torrential rain pours. i also wont be in line with the rest of the hardcore gamers who just have to have the PS3, because frankly, i'm not a hardcore gamer. there, i've said it, "i'm not a hardcore gamer!" we all know there's going to be a shortage, 20 units of the 60GB pack and maybe 10 of the lesser unit. but why on earth would anyone want to subject himself/herself to that maddening race to own a PS3!? i'll never know, because i'm not hardcore. if i were, maybe i'd understand the mentality behind it.

i think i'll wait for the day when i can casually walk in best buy and find a pile of PS3's and walk out in 15 minutes -- well, 30 minutes, after i peruse all the new games and sifted through old ones that are selling for $19.99 for the PS2. yup, i'm not hardcore and i'm cheap! your point?!

i never got in line on release day for the PSP, but somehow i still managed to own one. the PS3 is not going to be any different. besides, the life of a video-game console is about 5 years isn't it?! so i guess i have that much time to own one!

to all you hardcore gamers out there -- relish this day, it's yours! :]

a broken promise...

2006-11-17T13:41:00.000-05:00

it's been a crazy summer, and typical virgo-fashion, i've started a lot of projects and cant seem to finish any of them! i'll skip the boring details and jump right to what's really important.

i still dont have a new computer, so i'm having to use the terminals at work to post, and i dont feel comfortable using company time for this. i'll keep it short, as that explains the very long absence. my laptop at home is old, and the processor, well, doesnt process well. so, i'm never motivated to log on to 1up and start posting away. the gauge of a good post is one with hyperlinks and pictures -- well, when you have a slow computer, you have an idea of how daunting that task is, and often, you resort to the easiest way of just not even bothering.

okay, enough belly-aching. the PS3 is coming! a while back, i said you will find me among the drones lining up at best buy the night before the day of release. well, after a lot of introspection, i think i'll just spend the night at home, in the comfort of my bed and let sony catch up with the demand for the PS3 and that will allow me to save enough for the march re-release.

the one thing that's really keeping me from going berserk at the idea of a new console is -- there are still a lot of games on the PS2 that i havent finished and new games that i still would like to play. the list is a long one but i hate to admit it, i still dont have a copy of okami . final fantasy xii came out and i'm still holding out. then there's valkyrie profile lenneth which i'm really eager to play after falling in love with the PSP title. of course, let's not forget the naruto uzumaki chronicles that's coming soon!

also, i'd much rather spend a few more bucks on games for the PSP especially with the metal gear solid portable ops coming out and my favorite, yu-gi-oh! gx tag force! i see myself travelling a lot each year, and i want to be truly portable. it's comforting to know that while my PS2 just sits at home, it still has some good games that i might even hold on to it for a year before i truly succumb to the new console fervor. by the same token, i dont think i can go anywhere without my PSP. the wi-fi capability allows me to check my e-mail anywhere in the world, be it the lobby of a 5-star hotel in bangkok or the local starbucks in hong kong. that's where the true power of portability of the PSP comes -- you really have to be OUT there!

that's how i feel about the PS3 -- i know it will be there even when my love for my PS2 and PSP wanes, which i really doubt. sure it's new technology and better graphics, but i'm not eager to jump on the bandwagon. i want to savor this last year or two with my current game gear.

then there's the XBOX 360 which i'm considering to purchase in 5 years -- maybe.

in memory of toots... rest in peace, friend.

2006-07-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

it was friday afternoon and it's been raining the last couple of days. coming from work, i usually head to the backyard to feed the dogs -- toots and tiffany. i got them both settled in the toolshed because they have more room to play and sleep in there when it rains. it was feeding time as usual, and as i looked to one corner where toots bowl was, i noticed her food was untouched. the treats were still on top of the bits -- those are usually gone as soon as i put them there. i looked at her, more sad-looking than normal. i figured something was up, just seeing her plate still full and she hasn't been wagging her tail of late.

i got down to a squat until i was looking at her eyes. she immediately inched her way to me until she was breathing on my face. that's odd, i thought. she never used to come to me right away. she just stared at me, and sniffed my hand as i extended it out. "it's okay, toots. i know, you're tired. why haven't you been eating?" i really wasn't expecting a response, but the way she just looked at me, it was like... "i'm sorry, i'm going to leave you soon. thank you for taking care of me and loving me..." it started to pour again so i hurried back in the house. before going in, i turned to look toward the toolshed and there she was sticking her head out, as if saying her last goodbye. i told her to get back in but she kept watching me as i walked away. it was the last time i saw her alive...

the following day, the sun was out. i decided to feed the dogs outside so they can get some sun. as i poured the food into toots' bowl, i noticed she had been laying in her usual spot. i called to her and when i noticed she didn't move, i began to cry. i couldnt stop the tears from gushing out of my eyes. i walked over to her and she had her eyes closed and she wouldn't budge. i kept calling her name, "toots! here's your food!" nothing. my heart felt heavy that day, when i realized that she had finally left me.

this if for her... rest in peace, friend.

and the wiener is...!

2006-07-06T19:49:00.000-05:00

sure, the japanese soccer team may not have made it to the second round of the fifa world cup this year, but nippon's strongest has dominated a sport that's purely american -- hotdog eating! dubbed "the tsunami," takeru kobayashi claimed his 6th consecutive win in the annual coney island hotdog-eating contest, obliterating the competition! you gotta respect a man that can down 50+ innocent, harmless dogs in 12 minutes and try to keep it down without trying to regurgitate his innards! the worst part is, if the puke leaves your mouth, you're disqualified! but, it's perfectly okay if you barf and HOLD the barf in your mouth and swallow it back! gag! no animals were harmed in the making of this blog.

below are some pictures... humbling, isnt' it?

tony leung

2006-06-28T12:27:00.000-05:00

my friends say i look a lot like hong kong celebrity, tony leung. he was in hero, infernal affairs, and 2046.

world cup 2006

2006-06-28T12:26:00.000-05:00

anyone watching the world cup? particularly the elimination round? my therapist told me that it would help to talk about it. yeah, talk about how japan was eliminated in the first round, and korea, with a good chance of advancing, lost momentum and lost to switzerland! i had to up my dose of depression meds because of that! hahaha! wait, why am i laughing?!

anyway, i hope they do better in south africa in 4 years where world cup 2010 will be held! gooooooooooooooal!

DS lite and XBOX 360

2006-06-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

today was the release of the DS lite stateside! i meant to get one last month in hong kong, but it was still sold out at most major electronic stores. there wasn't even a demo that i could get my sticky fingers on, so with much chagrin and reluctance, i held off on the purchase and ceased on my search for the elusive porcelain DS.

good things come to those who wait -- as evident when i was ready to buy an xbox. microsoft had just relased a halo xbox edition in green at the price of $150.00! i actually didn't even know that there was that special edition. i was really set on getting a unit because there were games i wanted to play on the microsoft console. it was sheer coincidence that the halo edition was available at the time! score!

today, meet the newest member of my handheld family. picked up at best buy without hassle -- well, maybe just a little. had to wait 5 minutes for the store to open, and there was a bit of a crowd but as soon as i was inside, i had one goal in mind!

i can finally play yu-gi-oh! nightmare troubadour!

was making my usual morning rounds on my day off -- starbucks, bakery, barnes and noble, then best buy -- and on my last pit stop, i stumbled upon this! a pyramid of xbox 360 core units that nobody seems to be rushing to get! i was under the impression that during the re-release of the 360, there'll be bloody mayhem on the gaming aisles of best buy! instead, you can hear the defeaning sound of NOTHING! no buzz, no commotion, no banter among employees and buyers, NO NOTHING! i guess that really says a lot about the much hyped 360 -- ABSOLUTELY-FREAKING NOTHING! wow, this xbox bashing is a new level for me! look, even my hands are shaking!

i guess people have moved on, or are just waiting for the release of the true absolute king of gaming platforms -- the PS3! ::hears angels' choir::

sony ux180p

2006-06-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

my computer is so slooooooooooooooow!
yeah, it takes 15 minutes to boot up -- seriously! it takes 15 minutes before i can click on any of the icons on my desktop! how unreal is that?! if there's anyone out there who wants to give me a brand new sony vaio notebook -- yeah, that's my dream notebook -- i'd be happy to take it from you! i want the ultra portable ux series coming out in july! so sweeeeeeeeeet! pictures coming soon too! makes me want to pee my pants just oogling at it!

that's the main reason i'm unable to post as often as i'd like to -- my computer is a slug!

hong kong, sar, china

2006-05-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

i know, i know, you're probably thinking about the SARS that was identified in march 2003 that afflicted several citizens in hong kong with "severe acute respiratory syndrome." the letters following hong kong actually stand for "special administrative region" set up in 1997, which basically allows hong kong to have a high degree of autonomy from mainland china, and have a separate political system. macau is also considered a s.a.r.

that's where i was the last few days; about same time last year, i was meandering through the busy streets of tokyo for my spring vacation. it actually didn't feel like spring in hong kong when i arrived. it was very warm, humid and muggy. add to that, rain was sporadic which actually didnt help to cool things off. you would think, hong kong being an island, would have a cool climate in the first months of the year. now i know to pack cargo shorts instead of denim jeans next time! also, tank tops as well! apparently, it's a common thing for hong kong residents to wear tank tops, not the kind that americans wear under a shirt and a tie, or the type that a wife-beater would have on. the tank tops are usually made of the same fabric and have the same stitching and piping on the arms and collar as a regular t-shirt. but hey, you're not really interested in tank tops, are you?! you're here for the pictures! well, it took me a while to upload them on to photobucket.com but here they are!

this is the the immaculately clean metro, where eating and drinking is not allowed! you can see, the station is covered from wall-to-wall. the doors only open when the train arrives. it's the first metro i've seen that has shielded terminals.

here's a warning sign for those who want to test the schizophrenic mood of the hong kong police. you can park, but your car "MAY" be towed. hhmmm... MAY?

this granny is practicing her morning tai-chi. although, she looks like she can kick your butt with her feathered fans! you can see the silhouette in her back pocket. be afraid!

the popular bank of china tower, which has an observation deck on the 47th floor that's open to the public. it used to be the tallest building in hong kong, until the international finance center was built. don't you hate when that happens!?

the same building at night, looking more impressive than it does in the day.

this is the view from the observation deck, looking out the harbor. that's the international finance center on the right.

this is the typical housing in hong kong. watch out for falling a/c units!

more housing dilemma.

the view from the hotel's restaurant. i think it's on the first level, but that's usually considered the second floor in most of asia. first floor is considered "ground floor."

if hong kong was a british colony, wouldn't you think they'd have a strong command of the english language? well, how do you explain this?!

the popular jade market -- i got to sharpen my haggling skills! got a few knick knacks to bring back home as presents. after you ask the price on an item, say, "hyah!" look disappointed, start walking away, and be ready to give them your price when they call you back! works all the time! hahaha!

this is typical diet in hong kong. while i gorged on sushi in tokyo last year, this time, i gorged on noodles and dumplings! definitely way better than the instant ramen noodles!

the one item i wished we had here in the states -- haagen dazs green tea ice cream! yum!

this is hong kong at night. the city is lit up in neon signs from shops and restaurants. if you look closely, this one shouts profanity -- fuk yuen! hahaha!

the following images are not for the squeamish. i dont think you'll ever see this in the states, unless you work in a meat factory. well, this one is just out in the open -- literally! so, dont tell me i didnt warn you!

then there's also fish...

and of course, chicken doesnt get any fresher than this! slaughtered on the spot -- these chickens are counting their last few hours on earth!

lastly, there's me inside hong kong's museum of history.

this is my last breakfast as i prep for my departure back to the states. i'll be suffering from major jet lag hours later...

home sweet home...

2006-05-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

sorry for the absence, but i was out of the country on vacation. i was in hong kong, china for 11 days and just got back in town yesterday. still majorly jet-lagged, but hopefully should feel "normal" again in the next few days. good thing i dont have to work 'till saturday. trying to post some new pictures too -- enjoy! details to follow!

flora

2006-04-12T21:09:00.000-05:00

i walked by these on the way to the bakery this morning, to have my morning coffee and bagel... it was nice and sunny, with a morning, mildly cool spring breeze... bliss!

i'm alive...

2006-04-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

yep, sorry to disappoint those that wished me otherwise, especially the guys i've killed on metal gear subsistence online! gwah-ha-ha! haven't had to play much really; i switched hospitals, and i'm in the process of finding my way around a small community-hospital, with 171 beds, serving the west orlando area. what's nice about it is, it's 15 minutes from the house; 10 minutes if i get on the freeway! i even have time to swing by -- shameless plug here -- starbucks, to pick up my favorite guilty pleasure: a triple, grande, caramel macchiato with organic milk, extra hot! yup, it's the one starbucks store i know that opens at -- drumroll -- 5-freakin'-30 am! and i thought i woke up early for work!

haven't seen much of my newborn nephew lately either -- i am "that" busy at this new job. as for my old job, i've left a 250-bed facility that's about 40 minutes from me. i'll admit, i wont miss the drive, but i'll miss everyone there. there are some nice people that i've had the chance to work with, learned from, and shared ideas with -- priceless.

also, i'm leaving for hong kong on april 26th! it's my early "summer" vacation. same time last year, i was touring the streets of tokyo: from ginza to harajuku to shinjuku to asakusa. i'm excited to experience how the hong kong people go about their daily ways...

stay tuned!

subsistence..

2006-04-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

yep, that's metal gear solid 3: subsistence. no more god of war, no more onimusha: dawn of dreams -- just metal gear in my ps2.
there has to be a name for this condition i have -- i am quick to pull out the game in my ps2 as soon as a new one arrives, and never finish it. it's a persistent ailment i've been made to suffer since evergrace. yep, i have a copy of the game, also unfinished.
you'll probably notice the regular copy of subsistence; well, i can explain. when my pre-order copy came in the mail, my eyes welled up when i gazed upon the burning red color of the limited edition set, paired with a luminous white copy of metal gear saga. i couldn't bring myself to rip the shrink wrap, so i went ahead and got a copy to play.
i'm mostly playing the online game -- which is a really nice breath of fresh air. i've already finished the game "snake eater" and while i was tickled to see the other face paints and camouflages available in this new version, it wasn't enough to pull me for another round. i hated battling "fear" and "big boss" was tough.
so, if you see me online, make sure you're on my team. otherwise, prepare for a humiliating headshot! hahaha!

an intimate look...

2006-03-06T23:13:00.000-05:00

here's an intimate look at the actual desktop in my room, with all the essentials to daily living a few inches from my connection to the world wide web. my game boy advance currently houses yu-gi-oh! gx duel academy, and i'm taking my time playing it. it is way better than the original, and it's so good, all the best buy stores in town have sold out of copies! good thing i got a second one that i'll put aside as a collector's item!

you can also see my sony mini-disc player. yeah, yeah, it never really took off but what's great about it is, i can archive my music into one portable media! picture 5 cd's of papa roach, green day, lifehouse, fall out boy and james blunt packed into a credit-card sized media! i mean, do people really still walk around with cd players around their hips?! yeah, yeah, they walk around with ipods -- boo, hiss! tech-wannabes! i've already have an mp3 player even before the first ipod came out! breathe in... happy place... breathe out... happy place... here's what it looks like.

Sony's new Water Resistant Sport Style NW-S4 Network Walkman Digital Music Player will make the perfect addition to your workout. The Arm Strap will keep it in place as you work toward fitness, and its Skip Proof Design will keep your music playing smoothly. Utilize 64MB Embedded Memory to hold up to 120 minutes of music, and Transfer Internet Downloads and Recordings of your CD's via the High Speed USB Connection for maximum music on the move. Taking a cue from last year's innovative VAIO Music Clip player, the new Sports Network Walkman player has a sleek pen shape and sports style, water-resistant design. It measures 5.2" x 1.1" x 1" and weighs 2.1 ounces.

let's not forget the samsung smart phone that i absolutely had to have after my previous cell crapped on me. this "toy" is amazing -- it has a slot for an SD card so i can take a few mp3 files on the go. it has a built in browser and let's me google medical info at a moment's notice! oh, it also has msn messenger which lets me talk to my friends all over the world -- really! from tokyo to hongkong to beijing and kuala lumpur! pretty snazzy!

and of course, my pride and joy -- my psp -- named "chopsticks!" well, that's what i registered it as when i got the psp media manager today at best buy. now, i can finally manage my videos, photos, music and games at the click of a button... or... at the drag-and-drop of a cursor! wow -- can i be any more tech-dependent!? you can see the memory sticks neatly organized in a sony memorystick holder; what a geek! can you tell i love sony?! i oughta get paid for endorsing them like this!

i picked up "god of war" today -- finally! yet another product from sony. i'll talk about this game next time -- it's currently sold out at all the best buy stores, and at ebgames, it's on back-order! it's still $50.00 at toys 'r' us! details! details!

it's a boy!

2006-03-03T08:13:00.000-05:00

meet the newest member of the family -- aiden erik! he's what kept me busy and sleepless the last 48 hours! it was 300am tuesday, when my sister called telling me that she was in labor! i had to rush to her house which has a half hour away from me, to watch her eldest as she slept, oblivious to the fact that she was about to have a baby brother! i finally got to the house and dozed off on the leather couch. 2 hours later, i heard screaming from the bedroom. "mommy!" it was alex waking up and finding out that mom wasn't next to her! so i jumped out of my skin thinking there had been an accident then realized it was just my niece needing some consolation. i rushed to her and talked to her and told her that mom will be home soon and that she should go back to sleep and have good dreams. i couldnt sleep for the next hour or so, because i wasn't used to having a child thrash about in bed with me! every few minutes or so, an arm or leg would land on my face and i would have to gently put it aside to avoid the risk of waking her up.

i had finally gone to la-la land when my cell phone rings at 8am, and there was my brother-in-law on the other line telling me of the great news! mom's had the baby by c-section -- see previous blog on delivering babies -- and that her and the baby were okay.

running on a few hours of sleep, i got up to help alex brush her teeth as i gathered some clothes for her to wear to the hospital to see her little brother! it was 830am when i got on the freeway, in the middle of the morning rush hour commute! even that wasn't going to dampen my spirits.

in the midst of all this, i get a text message from my friend frances telling me that she was getting married that day! i didn't forget really, and my sister wasn't supposed to have her baby until today! sadly, i had to tell fran that i wasn't going to make it to her wedding. i had planned on going, but didn't plan on babysitting my niece at 3 in the morning, and have to bring her to a hospital to be with her family while mom had her baby!

it was a happy day indeed! my friend was getting married, and i was about to welcome the arrival of my nephew! when i got to the hospital, there he was -- 7 lbs, 7 ounces! pink, rosy, healthy and quiet. my happy place...

biceps, legs, abs, and late dinner!

2006-03-01T21:15:00.000-05:00

tonight, i'll just have a late dinner because i've put this last blog too long. i went inline-skating the other day and fell on my butt! had to break my fall by extending my wrist-guard-less hand and almost broke it in half! well, i actually didn't break it, but bruised it big time. now, i have to take probably a week off from the gym because i can lift a single dime with my right hand! i never really fall while on inline skates; i've been doing this sport since college. i've been doing it too long to fall; heck, i can probably even compete if i wanted too, though i doubt i'll beat apollo ono on ice. btw, kudos to the kid!

this is the last series of the exercises that have long been overdue. biceps, legs, and abs. biceps are my least favorite exercises -- you can tell, huh?! well, i've been psyching myself up to get bigger arms this year, so i can beat the "competition" -- literrally! yeah, i'm talkking about Phu Diep, aka, STEEL_ONIMUSHA. though i may not have good arms like him, notice how i said good, cause i've seen better arms on a guy -- hahaha -- it gives me something to work hard for at the gym. i mean, these guys that compete at bodybuilding do this sort of thing day in and out, but at what point really do you stop? at what point can you say, "yep, my guns are big enough." i guess they only stop when they get the title mr. olympus or sumfpin; oh wait, that's a camera. hahaha! and what if they never win?! oh well, none of my concern.

standing barbell curl: sets: 5; reps: 10, 10, 8, 6, 6; pyramid up weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

ez-bar preacher curl: sets: 3; reps: 6, 8, 10; start heavy, pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

dumbbell hammer curl: sets: 3; reps: 10, 10, 8; pick same challenging weight for all. mass-gaining exercise.

dumbbell concentration curl: sets: 2; reps: 12, 12; same weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

leg exercises come easy for me. aside from being a conditioned runner and inline skater, i can power on through the most demanding last rep, and really feel the exercise like it's second nature. below are my favorite leg exercises. calf-raises are a different story. like my biceps, it think they're another muscle group that i find hard to build. but, i love a good challenge and as long as i have muscles to grow, i'll keep coming back to the gym until i get the results i want!

barbell squat: sets: 5; reps: 12, 10, 8, 6, 6; pyramid up weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

leg extension: sets: 3; reps: 8, 10, 10; pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

lying leg curl: sets: 2; reps: 10, 12; pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

standing calf raise: sets: 3; reps: 15, 12, 12; pyramid up weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

lastly, the abdominal exercises. while i see most at the gym struggling with these exercises, i find them to be a walk in the park. i think it has much to do with my strong lower body and the years of low-impact aerobic exercise like inline-skating that has help strengthen my core and allow me to do continuous reps in my abs regimen. i usually do abs everyday after i've completed the majority of exercises for the day; ie, chest, triceps, abs.

decline crunch: sets: 4; reps: 15, 15, 15, 15.

hanging leg raise: sets: 4; reps: 15, 15, 15, 15.

cable crunch: sets: 4; reps: 15-20.

v-up: sets: 4; reps: 15-20.

back exercises...

2006-02-03T20:11:00.000-05:00

training your back requires you to use a variety of grips, arm positions and exercise choices in your routine. typically, you can divide back movements into rows, which effectively target the middle-back muscles and build thickness, and pull-ups/pull-downs, which help build width. you'll also want to target your lower back as well, both to complement your ab training and strengthen your core.

keys to effective back training are to ensure you use proper form to best isolate the back muscles, selecting exercises that work the back from several angles, and choosing weights that cause muscle failure in the muscle-building range, 6-10 reps.

below are my favorite back exercises, with 3 exercises to gain mass and the last for definition. bicep exercises usually follow this routine, which i will post next time i get a chance. it's my least favorite body part to work on, that's why i have such scrawny arms -- but, i will quit that attitude and learn to like bicep training and watch my guns grow! booyah!

bent-over barbell row: sets: 5; reps: 12, 10, 8, 6, 6; pyramid up weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

front pulldown: sets: 3; reps: 8, 8, 10; heavier sets 1 and 2, lighter set 3. mass-gaining exercise.

seated cable row: sets: 3; reps: 8, 10, 10; pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

one-arm dumbbell row: sets: 3; reps: 10, 10, 12; heavier sets 1 and 2, lighter set 3. muscle-defining exercise.

triceps exercises...

2006-01-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

training a small body part like triceps should be done after you work a larger muscle group. it's commonly paired with chest and/or shoulders as they all require a pushing motion, working many of the same muscles. keys to tricep training: do it after your shoulder or chest training, choose exercises in which you can push the most weight at the beginning of your routine, and mix up the exercises so that your arm position and grip allow you to focus on different areas of your arm.

i see a lot of guys who go berserk on their biceps training, but looking at the backside of their arms, you'll see flat triceps! good arms should look balanced and equal. it's like the goons at the gym with massive upper bodies, but cover up their chicken leg calves with baggy gym pants! gwah!

i do 3 triceps exercises in my routine, but often do a 4th one to define my triceps. below are my favorite triceps exercises, pictures courtesy of online sites available through google.

close-grip bench press: sets: 5; reps: 10, 10, 8, 6, 6; pyramid up weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

bench dip: sets: 3; reps: 10, 10, 10. mass-gaining exercise.

rope pressdown: sets: 3; reps: 8, 10, 10. pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

dumbbell kickback: sets: 2; reps: 15, 15. same weight both sets. muscle-defining exercise.

chest exercises...

2006-01-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

i find chest exercises to be the easiest, i think. though, the flat-bench barbell press is by far my least favorite. i just have this fear of dropping the bar on my neck and asphyxiate myself to death! yeah, yeah, ask someone to spot me -- but then, you're not really challenging yourself when you know someone's there to bail you on that last drive! feels like cheating! to build a really good chest, pressing routines form the backbone of my chest exercises, and the flat-bench press is the king -- i still hate it. i've only listed the chest exercises i typically do in my routine, the first three being the "mass-gaining exercises" and the last two as my "muscle-defining exercises." i typically just do four exercises, but try to squeeze in a 5th one whenever i'm really psyched up! i prefer dumbbells over barbells because in periods of failure, i can always let the weight fall on the side instead of on top of me. haha! mostly, it's because it allows me for a wider range in motion and dumbbells work each side independently.

a good chest routine should target the pectorals in all angles. the decline dumbbell press focuses on my lower chest and it's for "mass-gaining" and the incline dumbbell press concentrates on my upper chest and it's for "muscle-defining."

flat-bench barbell press: sets: 4; reps: 6, 6, 10. pyramid down weight each set. mass-gaining exercise.

decline dumbbell press: sets: 3; reps: 8, 8, 10. heavier 1st and 2nd, lighter on 3rd. mass-gaining exercise.

cable crossover: sets: 2; reps: 12, 12. choose 1 challenging weight. mass-gaining exercise.

flat-bench dumbbell press: sets: 4; reps: 12, 12, 10, 8. pyramid up weight each set. muscle-defining exercise.

incline dumbbell press: sets: 3; reps: 10, 10, 12. heavy sets 1st and 2nd, lighter on 3rd. muscle-defining routine.

3-day split workout

2006-01-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

i was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday after working two 12-hour shifts at the hospital this past weekend. i got up and i wouldn't quit sneezing! my nose kept running and i had to constantly blow it until it was raw! with the constant exposure i get at the hospital from sick patients, i figured it wouldn't take long till i came down with something serious -- a cold that wouldn't quit! yowza! i had to take a tablet of zyrtec which is an excellent choice for an allergy medicine. allegra has nothing! pfizer makes zyrtec, the same pharmaceutical company that makes viagra! so you can say those guys know how to mix good pills! hahaha! thing is, viagra was an "accident!" it was meant to be a medicine for chest pain or to treat angina commonly associated with a pending heart attack! but that's another blog... usually, zyrtec is a fast-acting drug but it's been an hour and still nothing! i checked the bottle and it turned out that the medicine's expired! hwah! it probably would've been wise if i checked it before taking it! it's been a while since i took a pill for anything, and medicine usually just sits in the bathroom cabinet! there's really no harm in taking expired medicine -- it just not going to do what it's supposed to! ha!

with every bit of strength i had, i grabbed my car key and drove straight to the pharmacy and picked up a box of tylenol allergy complete but instead of the actual box on the shelf, there were these "cards" with the picture of the medicine on it. i was a bit surprised when they carded me too at the pharmacy registry! wow, they're really taking measures to make sure over-the-counter-drugs don't get abused by "delinquents."

one hour later, i was back to my old self again -- but different. i felt "disocciated" and i felt like i had cotton-mouth! my nose stopped running, and my eyes didnt water one bit. the best part was, i stopped sneezing! i guess that medicine worked, and i guess i was just really having a mild case of the allergies!

i haven't been drinking much green tea at work because it's become relatively busy between patient rounds. in a nutshell, no more long downtime! no time to read the current medical journals, no time to spend extra minutes with patients, no time to goof-off with my peers, and no time to drink green tea, which was the whole reason why there's such a thing called "the way of tea." it's meant for you to sit down, take time in preparing it, and enjoy the solitude and quietude that drinking a cup of tea brings.

today was a better day, and i had to modify my workout into a 3-day split since i missed a day at the gym yesterday. i didn't want STEEL_ONIMUSHA to think i was slacking off! we're warming up to the beginning of our battle royale -- to see if we can both put on 20 mean pounds of muscle in time for E3! dont tell him i said this but i think he's got the advantage -- he's "big boned!" i really didn't start lifting weights until a couple of years ago, so i'm still a novice! maybe i'll just let him win... hehehe! i wonder what would buddha do?! lol!

my 3-day split will include:

MONDAY: day off.
TUESDAY: chest, triceps, abs -- 3, 2, 5 excercises for each.
WEDNESDAY: day off.
THURSDAY: back, biceps, abs -- 3, 2, 5 exercises for each.
FRIDAY: legs, shoulders, abs -- 4, 3, 5 exercises for each.

i will post next time the exercises i'm doing for each muscle group. i'm still trying new routines, warming up my muscles for the intense training, and lubricating my joints so i dont injure myself, before i up the ante in february. that's when i'm going to really pump the iron. i'm hoping my muscles would be able to memorize the "motion" of each exercise, and "shock" em into bulging up in a few weeks!

i think my biggest problem is my caloric-intake. i happen to have a fast metabolism which is why no matter how much i gorge myself with bad food -- i never gain a pound! it's the same with muscle-building -- it's hard to replace the calories i burn when my body is using them up faster than i could replace them! if you read the label on any food product, you'll see that the american dietary association's recommended daily allowance of calories is 2000! i think i need to be consuming 3000+ and have 5 meals a day!

well, it's a new year and i'm excited about this project. if they can have "The Biggest Loser" as a reality show, why can't they have "The Biggest Winner?!" get all the skinniest guys around the country and force feed them until they loook like Ah-nold! you girly, girly man you, we gotta pump you up! hahaha!

workout log...

2006-01-18T22:12:00.000-05:00

here is a breakdown of my workout for the next few weeks, concentrating on problem areas like deltoids, arms, chest, and legs. in short -- my whole body! i'm going on a 4-day split to maximize my gains and re-evaluate after a month. i'd like to include some aerobic component in my regimen, but when to do it is another story. maybe i can go on a 3-day split and make the 4th day my cardio day. well, for now, i'll start with the 4-day split and take it from there.

MONDAY: chest and triceps. 4 and 3 exercises for each.
TUESDAY: shoulders and abs. 4 and 5 exercises for each.
WEDNESDAY: day off.
THURSDAY: back and biceps. 4 and 3 exercises for each.
FRIDAY: legs and abs. 4 and 4 exercises for each.

1-hour photo

2006-01-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

is it really 1-hour photo if you get it after more than 60 minutes?! and why do they charge you for $7.96 at sams club for double prints 1-hour processing, when the dork behind the counter says he has to flush the machine and add chemicals and it won't be an hour. "how long?!" i asked. "i really don't know, but it'll be more than an hour." "do i get a pro-rated price?" "no. it'll be $7.96 plus tax." eat my shorts!

happy new year!

2006-01-11T16:56:00.000-05:00

hope everyone had warm christmases and that your new year kicked off to a good start. this is also the time of year when everyone makes promises to themselves -- the thing we call a "new year's resolution." while some promise to play more games, and others to love their psp's more, or visit their video game store often, i have made 5 resolutions for 2006. they're all actually very realistic, but i think no. 5 will be the hardest for me.

1. stretch more -- so i'm less prone to injury at any sport i play or when i'm at the gym weight-training.

2. learn tai chi -- for that overall good well-being and peace of mind. it'll help me cope with the daily stresses of work and video-gaming. hehe!

3. spend more time with my niece and nephew-to-be -- they grow up so fast! you blink and next thing you know, they're as tall as you! hahaha!

4. travel more -- to truly appreciate a culture, you have to physically immerse yourself in their practices, language and behavior. you tend to learn more about yourself when you realize people are different from you and that's always exciting!

5. gain 20 lbs. of muscle! yep, 20-freakin'-pounds! while i doubt i'll receive the title "mr. olympia" anytime soon, i'd really like to gain a few more pounds before summer! i'd like to improve on my calves and shoulders and arms. while i'm physically fit and lean, i'd like to gain a better musculature. i've always had weight-issues as a kid, and being in better shape has been my constant life-goal. i already took the "before" pictures today, and it'd be interesting to look at them months from now. i also got the training logs from musclestuff.com that'll help me reach my goal to a better body!

wish me luck!

need for speed most wanted -- black edition

2005-12-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

picked up my copy of need for speed most wanted -- black edition -- from best buy a few days back, and all i can is, "i'm hooked!" i've been finding myself playing till 2 o' clock in the morning, even after having worked 12-hours at the hospital! i think it's my way of coping with the stresses that work brings. it helps me forget a miserable day and allow me to unwind as i escape in the make-believe world of reckless driving! hahaha!

i'm currently about to challenge earl who's number 9 on the blacklist. my past races have included obtaining several pink slips from my rivals, which i think is the sweetest accomplishment after a race! below are screen shots of the cars from rivals like sonny's volkswagen, vic's lexus, big lou's eclipse, izzy's mazda, and the baron's cayman s! my car is the fiat -- it was kinda all i could afford at the start of the game, but after putting in several hours into it, my cash is $170,000 with over a $1M bounty on it! wahoo! i really haven't spent much of it on upgrades -- mostly visuals. i like to play with the color and the body and the spoilers. i even added a roof scoop and hood vents; feels like a scene from mtv's pimp my ride! hahaha!

after i win the race against earl, i think i'll upgrade my nitro and thanks to a cheat i've found on the web, i can go to the back room in the car shop and upgrade on the engine and suspension courtesy of the junkman!

i'm thinking the game gets harder as i go through the blacklist, which is why the upgrades are there. the cops are harder to evade though i've yet to see them deploy wire traps or send the choppers to get me! the sprints are easy in the beginning and also the toll booth races. i'm having to do the challenge series when i get bored with challenging the rivals, especially after having to restart the game a bajillion times because i seem to lose my lead after hitting a sharp corner! thank EA for the speed break which comes in handy when you think you're about to hit a tree or a fence!

the only glitch i've encountered is during a roadblock where i "ghosted" through a cop car and the roadblock didn't count on my challenge. also, the markers to hit to evade cops are sometimes tricky like the gas station or scaffolding in the mall -- you sometimes dont see the cinematic so you're not sure if the cops are still on your tail or not. besides that, the game seems polished and the cars feel "natural." you can even get into an option where you can "tune" the performance of your car ranging from handling, steering, aerodynamics, etc.

i've never been a big fan of racing games until need for speed most wanted. the only other racing game i have in my collection is smuggler's run and let's just say i wont mind it being smuggled from me.

christmas wish list

2005-12-23T18:01:00.000-05:00

stop the madness! i cant believe it's the 17th already -- that's 8 days left before christmas, or 194 hours, or 11640 minutes or, well, a lot of seconds ticking away! what's really shameful is, the 2 boxes of greeting cards i got at the hallmark store, are still in the boxes! i cant believe christmas crept up on me again this year! it's brutal! having to nurse a wound -- see post below -- i've been limited as to what i can do as far as physical activity. sure, i got to use my digits playing video games, but i couldnt go to the gym for days, i couldn't cut the grass in the front/back lawn, i could wash my car, and it's a bee-yotch putting socks on! that's just at home! at work, it's hard to carry patients' charts that are as heavy as martha stewart's rap sheet! it's equally tricky maneuvering between patient rounds because someone always accidently hits me on my elbow! yeow!

so, instead of talking about my dentist who'll be getting his card late, or my lawyer who'll suffer the same fate, or my family who will be getting gift cards from crate and barrell to use on housing items, we'll dive into the great topic of "my" christmas wish list! hehehe! it's really not a big list, and i'm never one to get anything big during christmas time either, because you'll almost always find me having "christmases" throughout the year; ie, going on an overseas vacation, upgrading obsolete electronic gadgets, getting the psp on the launch date, blah, blah, blah!

10. bosch barino espresso machine! yup, besides green tea which i am absolutely passionate about -- see club link above -- i'm also a big coffee drinker. not the drip kind but how it's normally prepared -- either using a french press or running it through an espresso machine as it's ground up to the finest bit that allows for the release of the great flavor that is in the bean. cool beans! the thing's about $250.00 but it should complete my kitchen counter, which holds a stainless steel-front microwave, a chrome/black toaster, a henckels cutlery set from japan, a few bottles of wine, and of course, my tea accoutrements. my mornings in 2006 will never be quite the same after i acquire this espresso machine. just think of the money i'll save when i stop going to starbucks for my java!

9. saeco burr grinder! of course, how can i have an espresso machine if i dont have the grinder to grind the coffee down to the precise bit to properly brew it?! i've already asked my older sister to get this for me, so i'll have to e-mail her a picture and the link to the website she can get it from! sweeeeeeeeeeeet!

8. frothing pitcher w/ thermometer! well, i could probably do without the thermoter, but i'll definitely need this one to make great crema to go with my morning java. i only use organic 1% milk because i've found it sits better in my gastric tank. any other kind usually sends me running for the john. yeah, moving on...

7. espresso cups! sure, any mug will work but what's a coffee experience when you dont have the right cup?! maybe i'll get some capuccino mugs as well. i mean, would u drink hot coffee out of a glass or a soup bowl?! didn't think so!

6. car alarm! i've had my celica -- see rig picture below -- for just a few months now, and i still haven't gotten an alarm for it. best buy has a unit for about $500.00 with extras and all, so hopefully by year's end, i can find the time to head over there and get it installed. heck, i cant even manage to find time to write/send christmas cards, let alone sit at best buy while they pimp my ride. :D

5. nintendo ds! i'm not at all a big fan of nintendo but i own a few gba titles and they're mostly yu-gi-oh! i want to get the ds because i want to be able to play the yu-gi-oh! nightmare troubadour. really havent read a single review about the game, but so far, i've been pretty pleased with the games; ie, 7 trials to glory, sacred cards, and reshef of destruction. plus, with the new yu-gi-oh! gx coming out in january, i'll be surely busy playing that game! if only they can have yu-gi-oh! games for the psp, then i'd be one happy anime fan!

4. ps2 titles! shaolin monks, fullmetal alchemist 2. recently picked up genji, nightshade and nanobreaker! all for $19.99 each at toys r us. glad i waited to get genji! short game, but not worth $39.99!

3. psp titles! darkstalkers, ghost in the shell, tokobot. the few titles i have for my psp are sitting on the shelf collecting dust. wipeout pure gives me major eye-strain. never did like racing games. i eagerly picked up death jr. on release, but was totally disappointed by konami. the controls sucked! i'm still liking my lumines and i cant get past the yellow turban rebellion in dynasty warriors! lastly, letal gear ac!d is still shrink-wrapped! i'm in need of a game or games that would make me use my psp more! okay, enough with the psp bashing. while the unit is still suffering through a major drought, with no killer apps that can bring back the hype of when it was first released. i hope 2006 will be a better year for the psp, but i think with the ps3 coming out, it'll probably just sit in its shadows. it's kinda sad for a unit that has so much potential to be treated as an undersized portable dvd player! by 2006, the ratio of psp movies to psp games will be 100:1! it was like the release of the mini-disc a while back, which never caught on because people still prefered the compact disc. if you own a mini disc, you'll know what i'm talking about. also, the mini discs are no different from the umd's -- different packaging, same format. while i'll leave the dvd-playing to my portable dvd-player, the next time i'll whip out my psp will probably be in the summer of 2006 when i'm crossing the pacific on a plane to get to tokyo to pick up my ps3! wahoo!

2. xbox titles! mainly, ninja gaiden black. i still have ninja gaiden shrink-wrapped! i'm working on fable: the lost chapters but i think i'm just going to forget about that one as well. it's no different from the first game -- same ending. the bonus material really doesnt affect the storyline one bit. just gives you more "stuff" to do. again, corporate re-packaging of the same ole tired stuff, but since we're in a constant state of consumerism, we fall for it!

1. a new laptop computer! my dell is about 5 christmases old and it's crashed a few times but managed to get back online after a "system restore." i'm so cautious of crashes that i regularly back-up most of my files. i can also recall once or twice, it was infected by a virus that i had to re-install the operating system from scratch! while it was really easy, popping discs in and following prompts on the screen, it took freakin-forever! i'm aspiring to acquire a sony vaio. sonystyle.com allows you to "customize" a notebook and when i was done, mine was going to be $3000! holee cow! i figured i'd wait to get my tax refund and get it then! unless something else comes up, and i might end up using the money on something else instead!

so there, that's my christmas wish list. if any of you want to make any of 'em come true -- dont let me stop you! hahaha! meanwhile, from my family to yours -- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

road rash

2005-12-06T20:56:00.000-05:00

it had finally warmed up again after a couple of weeks of cool/cold weather in the sunshine state of florida. it was yesterday -- i had just gotten home from a 6-hour class in neonatal resuscitation. needless to say, my mind was fried and i was happy to be finished with the class. it's something that i have to do once every two years; the american heart association actually makes me do it.

instead of going to the gym, i thought i'd grab my inline skates and go for a round or two in downtown. it was only 400pm when i got there, so there wasn't much traffic to contend with. that meant, i could get on the road instead of the sidewalk to inline skate. i had finished my second lap around this man-made lake in downtown, and i figured i'd go at it again. 20 minutes into my second trek around the lake, i got into a little accident. i was trying to maneuver a right-turn corner, so with enough momentum as i tried to get my left leg in front to make the turn while tucking my right leg behind it, one after the other, my right front wheel either hit the back part of my left skate or it got caught in a crack on the road that sent me airborne and got me intimate with the pavement. i made like a spring roll from a chinese restaurant and rolled onto the sidewalk as i was inching for it from the road because traffic was coming, then finished rolling on the grass after gashing my right elbow and left shin. ouch, that's gonna leave a mark!

that actually wasn't my first accident. i've had several in the past, with the scars to prove it. there was a time when i landed on my left elbow, and another when i landed flat on my butt that left me limping for days.

not to show any weakness or any signs of distress, i immediately got up from on the grass, brushed the sand off of me, looked at my gash and went, "aw crap!" and continued to skate the sunny afternoon away...

uh, i hope the pictures don't make you puke... :D

shooting stars... fable: the lost chapters... xiaolin showdown

2005-12-04T16:54:00.000-05:00

it was a typical drive on a saturday morning, early morning -- 530am! a handful of traffic as usual, with the occasional stragglers from out of town reaching as far as georgia to bama to louisiana and even to the lone star state of texas! you see, i have to get on the florida turnpike to get to work. takes me about 40 minutes to get to the hospital, which is located north of orlando. hickville town called "leesburg" where the most exciting thing people see is the construction of a best buy store on the main drag! 10 minutes into the drive, the road becomes eerily quiet and empty. tree line as far as your eyes can see, and a road that never seems to end when you're driving it at an ungodly hour. the night/morning sky was visibly clear, afforded by the vast expanse of cow pasture that line the pike. not a lot of stars were out, but you could appreciate the few ones that were twinkling above. you can really see the exchange of gases in the solar system that causes them to shine so brightly like that. i had just quickly taken my eyes off the road to look up and all of a sudden, from my periphery, was a shooting star! i knew it was a shooting star because it had a bright tip and it streaked through the sky and then disapeared. immediately, i had made a wish. i'm not telling you what the wish was -- it won't come true if i did! i guess i was really meant to briefly look up the nightsky and catch that momentary release of a celestial body and with absolute faith and trust, make a wish!

when i heard about fable: the lost chapters, i thought it was an expansion pack. i thought, i could pop it in my xbox and be able to continue playing the first fable, and use the mighty sword i picked up at the end of the game. a few seconds later after powering on, the title screen shows up and all it said was, "new game!" so, i guess i had to start the campaign over!

13 hours later, i've finished fighting in the arena and am now about to break the siege at knothole glade. i started with wanting to be evil in mind, but after the arena, i saw this circular glow over my character's head, and some butterflies hovering about! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! i think the repeated arena battles did me in. i thought, by doing it 5 times, i would gain enough experience points -- you know, collect the green orbs, and then level up. i realized, there were hobbes and zombies and balverines and thieves in the arena, that by killing them, is doing a good deed! well, i did get to level up and got to pull out the harbinger sword by the temple of avo, but now, i have to get rid of this halo over my head! good thing i bought enough crunchy chicks from traders that eating them is a major evil deed! so i'm saved from being good! hahaha!

the image above is actually my character but the only difference is, he doesn't have the corn rows or the worker beard. my guy, named "buddhist punk," of course, is sporting a warrior stripe that's turned white now coz he's 66 years old, and regular goatee.

spring 2006 is when the action figures for the kids wb faux-anime show xiaolin showdown becomes available. i'm excited! i'm a big fan of the show, and i love the mix of characters! from omi's messed up cliches, to kimiko's costume changes, to raimundo's "homey" feel and clay's country-accent! dojo the dragon is a good add-on. he's loyal and comical and cowardly, but when the going gets tough, he seems to come through for the chosen monks. you can always count on him!

the trading cards are available; still debating whether i should get a box or not -- we'll see. you forget, i'm a collector!

duty calls!

phoenix rising...

2005-11-28T12:29:00.000-05:00

3 months, and i'm back!

yeah, remember me?! you don't?! well, neither do i. i did kinda lose myself for a little bit actually; that explains the absence. but i'm here now, so that's all that matters. like the great buddhist monks would preach, "return to the present." and returned i have!

before i forget, happy turkey day!

i guess this is where i recap?! well, instead of trying to back-blog, i'll just go with whatever comes to mind...

idea: pick a day, and document the sensory experience to use for blog-material. i'd actually thought about this before, but it ended up being blog-shorts. like one entry, i talked about having my morning coffee at starbucks, then that's it. another entry, i had mentioned how i'd gotten into a rut in my gym regimen. then there was the entry when i'd be at work stuck in the intensive care unit with patients on mechanical ventilatory support. exciting, huh?! blah... blah... blah. i think that would make a great entry in the coming weeks -- consolidate a full day into one exciting blog-fest!

there's also my two clubs which are in bad need of major updates. green tea club and yu-gi-oh gx! on cartoon network. i'll try to contain my excitement for now -- all i can say is, i love the show!

random thought: xbox 360. what's that?! sorry, not interested...

enhancements to come later -- ie, bold face, images, and color.

of course, let's not forget about the games! i have acquired several titles during my absence, and more importantly, finished the ones i started playing months ago! yeah, kinda embarrassing! hey, some of us have to work, you know?!

new car, new gear! sure it's not the new year yet, but why wait?! i mentioned i was in a car accident in june and i got a new rig last month -- see picture below. i also picked up a new digital camera -- sony dsc-t7. one word: sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! taking it for a test drive soon! funny how i said that about my camera instead of my rig. hahaha!

okay, it's getting late... almost 1030pm. you insomniacs are probably saying, it's just dinner time! i'm so used to turning in at 1030 at night, that my body just shuts down around that time. it's the same when i wake up, even on my days off, i'm up at 730am! sleeping in would be until 830am -- yikes! it's just the way my body works. at work, it's usually the time i start patient rounds -- 730am! so even while i'm in bed on my day off, my body is charged up at 730am!

blog again soon!

my 1up.com greeting

2005-11-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

i've scooped the valley's pine winds for you -- have a sip!

"ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans ONE by ONE to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show the steps people can take, ONE by ONE, to fight global AIDS and poverty."

enter in peace... the way of tea...

YU-GI-OH! GX

the simple things...

2005-08-12T18:35:00.000-05:00

it's friday, and it looks like rain -- again. mornings are hot and humid, and as soon as noon time comes, the skies take on that dismal color of impending storm. people hurrying about to get to their destinations, some showing disregard for traffic and crossing/changing lanes indiscriminately, while others take their sweet time causing gridlock on the already congested roads.

i was smart enough to run my errands in the day, when there's less people on the streets. at the grocery store, i had to pick up some fruits because the fruit tray on the dining table was looking kinda, well, not a fruit tray. it had 3 apples on it, and that was about it. so, i figured i'd pick up some bananas for that much needed potassium; kiwi fruits have more potassium than bananas -- side note. i also picked up some california plums, aka, prunes outside of a bag. the plums from california are somehow different -- they're sweeter. i never used to pay attention to what kind of plums i'd pick up, though i did like them firm. one time, all they had were these big ones, and almost rose-colored unlike the ones i used to get which were darker, almost burgundy in hue. reading the tiny bit of sticker on the top of the fruit, it said "california plums." after helping myself to one during lunch time at work, i was surprised at how sweet it was! from then on, i'd only pick those plums at the grocery store, and nothing else will compare. now that i'm thinking about it, i also happen to like the california oranges as well, which we seem to get on occasion. i know, i know, the florida orange farmers will have a coronary if they hear me say, "i love california oranges!" and i'm a florida native! yikes! apparently, unbeknownst to me, i have a predilection for fruits growing on california soil! hahaha!

on my list of things to pick today at the grocery, it included some volvic bottled water for work because i never drink enough water. but if i see that i have a bottle, i'm forced to pick it up and chug it. it some mechanism i have to make me drink more water -- weird, i know.

the last item i picked up was a quad-pack of italian white wine; pinot grigio. i have some bottles at home, but i can never finish one -- even if i tried. no one to share it with either because the roomy does not drink wine. so, i figured, to enjoy an occasional glass of chilled white wine, i thought i'd get the small bottles and pour myself one when the mood demands it.

on the way out at the cash register, "lola" -- not her real name, had rung up most of my stuff and rang the wine last. when she asked for my ID, i thought i heard a choir of angels fill the grocery store! it's been a while since i got carded, and when i heard her pop the question, i smiled and obliged! with my birthday just around the corner -- 24th of this month; send presents -- moments like that are what i call the simple things in life. hahaha! i think the cash register made her do it, because it "beeped" when the wine was rung. hearing the beep probably "defaulted" her to ask for my ID, even if she could gauge that i was over 21. but, she probably didn't want to lose her job if it turned out i was under-age and was buying wine! no matter the reason, i was glad she asked for my ID. bliss! they say the secret to staying young is lying about your age, but i dont think that's what would buddha do! hahaha!

it's almost 8pm now, and i think i'm going to see what's in the fridge to eat and then call it a day. have to work this weekend, you know. i hope to be able to post tomorrow at work; helps to pass the time. it's also a sign that it's not too busy enough that i manage to sit down and play on the hospital computer. days like those, i welcome with open arms!

like it was yesterday!

2005-08-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

i don't think i've ever had a bad night. i mean, i always seem to sleep well, and often never find any trouble going to sleep. i would go to bed the same time every night, and as i lay, i would meditate and calm my thoughts. most people lose sleep at night because as they lay in bed at the end of the day, their minds race in an exhaustive effort cataloguing the day's event, even make plans for tomorrow and the next day that's not even promised to them.

my secret to a good night's rest is usually just a dose of conscious meditation; ie, counting my breath. breathing in , i know i'm alive, breathing out, i smile to life. inhale... exhale... just like that. mostly, i try to be conscious of where i am. sounds easy, huh?! it is! when you tune yourself to your environment, you become aware. basically, once you've begun to accept that assimilation, you dont feel separated from anything. now, you're just one. a part of a bigger whole; just one.

translation: as i count my breathing, i also allow my other senses to open up. the clock ticks, the whir of the ceiling fan, the sporadic engaging of the central a/c, then you try to listen "more" and suddenly, there are new sounds that you've never heard before. you're probably saying, "how then are you able to sleep with all that noise?!" well, it's not really noise. it's "natural." i mean, they're just "there." totally out of your control when you lay in bed, so you just "accept" them and realize they're a part of your sleep.

there's also the sense of touch -- soft cotton sheets rubbing against my skin, the light weight of down feather perched on my ankle, the ultra soft blow of coolness coming from the fan, and the feel of the pillow as your head sinks in it. it's what they mean when they say, "return to the present." placing yourself in the present, keeps your mind still. consciously acknowledging that you're in bed wrapped in soft fabric instead of allowing your mind to race and fill up with random thoughts makes the difference between a good night's rest and a rough one.

i'm happy to say that i finally got through the 2-day mandatory training in pediatric advanced life support required at work. to sum the experience, it was painful. it started last thursday and finished the following day. it rekindled bad memories i've had in the emergency department when i had to be a part of a resuscitation team that was trying to revive a 16-month old baby who had drowned in an in-ground pool with warm water in last year's hurricane season. police reports following the incident mentioned that it was a freak accident. it was a case of a sibling watching the other sibling, as the parents scrambled to prepare for the hurricane. i can imagine that if you're part of a big family, you tend to think that 1 out of the 8 siblings is capable of watching the youngest. though i would've hated to be the one to call mommy and tell her that my brother's floating in the pool face down. how will they treat me after that accident? will they still look at me the same way? they'll be constantly reminded of that one bad day every time they see me, and forget all the other hundred good days.

that's why the training was painful. it's always different from what they teach/tell you in the confines of a classroom than what happens in the real world. it's never easy, and some times, despite your skills, you still feel helpless when you stare at a heart monitor and notice the solid line indicating the lack of a heartbeat.

i cound't sleep prior to those 2-days of training. mostly, it was because i was ill-prepared. i didn't have time to read the book which had 17 chapters, and i managed to answer 8 out of the 32 questions in the practice test. i showed up for class and i had admitted to the instructor that i was not prepared for the class. she was nice enough to tell me that as long as i go through the case scenarios, i'll be okay. yeah, sounds easy huh?! i still wasn't comfortable, but seeing that i was already there, i decided to just have a little bit of faith in my years of work.

24 hours later, not continuous, i managed okay. i was just glad that it was finally over, and that i have 2 years to prepare for the next one! hahaha! yeah, it's part of the job. i think i've mentioned that there are other mandatory classes besides the pediatric one. there's the advanced cardiac life support for adults and the neonatal resuscitation program for newborns. i'm scheduled to take both classes in october. i'll probably have to re-schedule the adult class and take it in september, so i don't feel overwhelmed and lose sleep!

that kinda explains the long absence. add to that, i've had to work this past weekend, and by sunday night, i was a walking mindless zombie. grr! nash! yesterday, i had to take my roomy to the dentist and wasted a whole morning sitting in the office. i didn't realize it was going to take that long. that afternoon, it rained so i never got to do any yardwork.

today, i managed to run a few errands before it started to pour. the fridge empty so i had to go get some groceries and food. i'll admit, i've made a few pit stops at bestbuy and circuit city because the sunday paper had some ads that got my eyes all twinkly!

kung fu hustle is out on dvd, and also 2046. both foreign films, so i definitely had to get those. i had to check out some of the games as well, and catch up on the ones i'd missed early on in the year. i also picked up fullmetal alchemist and while i know the second one is out, i'll hold off on it. i hear that the third inuyasha movie comes out in september, so i'm super excited about that! i love inuyasha! it's been kinda tradition for me on monday mornings as i eat breakfast, to sit in front of the tv and watch the shows -- mostly cartoons -- that i'd missed from working over the weekend. can't really stay up late saturday night to catch inuyasha, so i just make sure to have the vcr ready to record it. i do stay up to watch justice league unlimited, then i hit the sack after the show since i have to get up at an un-godly hour the next day.

i've also mentioned several "projects" in my previous posts -- practice calligraphy, joining peace corps, blah, blah, blah! if you have a friend that's a virgo, one true hallmark of their sign is that they enjoy taking new challenges, but often leave a trail of unfinished projects. it's disgusting, i know! i have a project for the yard, a project for the house, a project for the rooms in the house, a project for the kitchen, a project on this, a project on that, and the project on my body to keep it rockin! hahaha! it never ends! though, i'm glad that i can sit down and talk about it and feel that i've accomplished something after managing to post a successful blog!

deep field

2005-08-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

it's raining outside; typical of the florida weather this time of year. i had just finished cutting the grass in the backyard; took me 3 hours to finish instead of 1! the tractor mower's been out of commission the last couple of weeks, and with the constant rain we've getting, the growth of the grass has been relentless! it's grown past my thighs, and every time i needed something from the shed, it was like i had to wade through it -- literally! i wasn't really afraid of snakes hiding in the grass because i think they like it where it's warm. seeing that the grass hasn't had a chance to dry up, it being so tall that it traps the moisture and the soil stays drenched, and even with the few hours of sun we get in the day, it's not enough to dry things up. snakes are ectothermic, which means they get their heat from an outside source like the sun.

i can actually see the yard again, after getting the tractor mower serviced. it's been a couple of years since i bought it, and i don't think i even changed the oil or the filter, or even checked the blades! besides, i couldn't use it the last few weeks because one of the tires is busted, and i've had to charge the battery before i could even get it started! i finally caved and had a tech from sears to come out to servie the mower today, and $250.00 later, i'm back to being a landscape artist! hahaha! got new battery, replaced the blades, new filter, changed the oil; i was so inspired, i even cut my neighbor's front lawn! seriously! i figured, since i'm already cutting the yard, might as well ride the tractor over to my neighbor's and do them a little favor. we have good neighbors -- jesse and theresa. jesse works as a plumber, and he's come to the house on more than one ocassion to fix our plumbing problems, free of charge! yep, he's super nice! theresa has diabetes and stays home to tend to the house and their many pets -- a wolf, 2 doberman's, 3 cats, some birds. you'd think they're running a petting zoo!

it's been over 6 weeks since my car accident, and i'll be honest, while it sucks having to share one car with the roomy, i've finally settled into the idea of not having a car for a few months. everything is spread out here in orlando, and it's a pain getting around if you don't have your own wheels. since i'm entertaining the idea of joining the peace corps in september, it would probably be feasible to not have any financial responsibilities. it's a good thing i had held off on getting a new car. i probably will end up getting one by the end of the year, definitely an SUV. i know, i know, they're bad for the environemnt, but i hear ford has a hybrid suv in the making. i just really see myself spending a lot of time with my niece -- see previous post -- and my future second niece or nephew?! yep, my younger sister is pregnant! that's why i need the vehicle space. wouldn't mind playing soccer-uncle for a bit. we were all excited when we heard the news! i really hope it's a boy, so i can teach him how to play video games! hahaha!

i'm sure everyone's heard the news about the shuttle launch getting scrubbed. while many complained for missing a chance in a lifetime opportunity, having used up vacation time just to see the launch, and driving from great distances to witness history in the making, has it occurred to them that their petty, insignificant complaints are minute compared to the risks the astronauts were taking?! how insensitive is that?! you can regain vacation time, you can refuel and drive back home for a few bucks, but you can't replace lost lives! i hope this kind of attitude isn't across the board. the space program does so much for people that affect their lives, yet their concerns are as trivial as vacation time and driving cross-state.
cleansing breath...

to put things in perspective, read on... fourteen years ago, nasa's orbiting observatory, the hubble space telescope, began wowing us all with its celestial snapshots of exploding stars, colliding galaxies, and nebulous clouds of solar systems. the real stunner though, came in january 1996, when a team of astronomers unveiled their masterpiece -- the hubble deep field.

during the coarse of a 10-day exposure, particles of light traveling at 186,000 miles per second -- and streaming our way for the past 13 billion years -- were compiled into a remarkable image of some of the most distant objects ever observed. i'm sure there are hundreds of galaxies, many dating back to within one billion years of the big bang, were revealed in a patch of sky the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.

imagine, taking a single piece of an uncluttered night sky and finding thousands of galaxies hidden there? each galaxy, a community of perhaps a billion suns, and each sun a potential home star to a dozen worlds! imagine the stories! looking at this picture, i'm viscerally reminded that there are other worlds out there, billions and billions of them! and i wonder, on planets around stars in the galaxies found in this picture, are there lifeforms contemplating the universe the way we are? or are they not paying attention because they are just looking for shelter, food, and sex, as does most life on earth?!

a quickie!

2005-07-31T12:34:00.000-05:00

busy day in the emergency department; been damnably busy the last few days. wow, it's been over a week since my last visit -- i'm a failure! aside from work, i've kept fairly busy with some major projects around the house. some pre-hurricane prepping, cleaning the yard, organizing the crap in the tool shed, just in case some storm blows everything away, there wouldn't be a lot of mess to clean up!

have several mandatory classes that i have to go to for work. some training to be a better health care practitioner. i need to keep my card current, you know!? haha! so, next week, i have to re-learn how to provide pediatric advanced life-support. then next month, i get busy with a neo-natal resuscitation program. then the month after that, i dive into adult cardiac life support. wow, my cup runneth fulleth!

i have to mention about this hobby i have, which i've been talking about in great detail with a friend in seattle. familiar with "shodo?" basically, chinese calligraphy. long story short, i think i want to get into the business of making handmade asian prints. been doing it for a while, like make cards for friends and stuff. then my brother-in-law says that i should make a business out of it. where i am -- orlando -- there's not a market of it, so he says i'd do well. he actually has the website running for me -- www.abladeofgrass.net. i came up with the name "a blade of grass." there's something zen-like about a single blade of grass, that's why i was inspired. i'll get into more detail about it next time, and hopefully be able to post some pictures too.

i wish i could sit here the rest of the afternoon, but people just keep coming in the hospital and it hasn't stopped! yesterday, some drunk guy walked in and we had to call security on him because he was getting antsy waiting! yikes! you could smell the alcohol coming out of his pores! gag-atrocious! that's a word borrowed from a friend, steel onimusha! hahaha!

okay, i have to go -- really! besides, i think my bladder's going to burst from this tea i'm drinkin! nothin' uglier than a bladder in pieces all over the wall in an emergency room! haha!

alex

2005-07-15T23:28:00.000-05:00

i promise, i'll write a substantial post next week! just been busy with a bajillion things! i have to mention about the scrubbed launch at the kennedy space center, the summer movies i've been missing, being able to get back into a regular routine at the gym after a rut, shoppin' for new summer clothes -- mostly t-shirts; whaddaya expect, it's florida! i also have to mention about x-men legends. i'm a sucker for cheap games; at $19.99 at bestbuy, i couldn't resist! video games live in lax in june; while i won't make it, i'll see if i can catch it in boston or phoenix or san diego or texas! i'll be updating my two clubs as well -- the way of tea, and yugioh! gx. did i mention i'm thinking about joining the peace corps?! i'm almost finished with the application! more on that soon! also, my younger sis is pregnant with her second child -- yep, i'll be an uncle, again! below is a picture of my niece; she'll be 3 in september! this is my favorite picture of her, though she's much bigger and all grown up now! isn't she sooooooooo cute?! we were having lunch at the mall, and i'd make a face at her and this is how she responded!

hurricane dennis

2005-07-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

yeah, so i didn't get to post yesterday as intended. rounds in the intensive care unit kept me sufficiently busy, and i didn't get the downtime i was expecting. i had high hopes the day was going to be benign -- maybe some acute problems in the post-op surgical floor, or perhaps some routine work in pediatrics. oh no, none of the sort! mrs. jones -- not her real name -- kept me occupied in ICU bed 12. she was alert, awake and oriented and was hooked up to a respirator. this is the machine that kept her breathing while an endotracheal tube came out of her mouth and hooked up to the end of this contraption. picture christopher reeves without the wheelchair.

this machine costs about the same as a car, say, a luxury sedan from nissan. not super expensive, but really up there. mrs. smith was in pretty bad shape, and having that tube down her throat while she was fully conscious didn't help. imagine having a garden hose stuck down your airway and you're level of consciousness is as clear as day! she's actually getting some form of sedation to keep her comfortable, but it gets tricky because when patients are overly sedated, they lose all their drive to breathe on their own. sure, the machine can do all the work but the less a patient stays hooked up to a machine, the better. we like patients to come of the respirator as they are able, but sometimes, that never happens. i had attempted some weaning parameters on mrs. smith -- i had her do a couple of breathing maneuvers, to see if she can breath on her own -- but she didn't fly. her negative inspiratory force is -20cmH2O. ideally, a score of -30cmH2O is preferred. the "NIF" is a measure of how much you can draw air voluntarily, like when you're about to blow your birthday candles. a second parameter i tried was measuring her lung vital capacity. this measures how much air her lungs can hold. her score was below normal, and all the while i was doing these tests, her breathing got labored within minutes. a sure sign that she was not ready to come off the respirator. her lung muscles would tire out and she'll end up in respiratory distress and sometimes, that can lead to a cardiac arrest and it's never good.

as if that wasn't enough, i had to admit a patient who's had a bypass surgery last thursday -- see previous post on the subject -- after having a few complications. he's developed an infection and had to had to be put on mechanical ventilatory support. his weakened heart couldn't handle the work and add an infection that raises your body temperature outside normal limits, troubles are bound to happen. his case, we needed to keep him fully sedated and let the respirator do most of the work. we don't want to tire his cardio-respiratory system just yet especially since he's just had a surgery.

i have to mention mrs. jones who's had some hip work done. i'm not sure if it was the drugs, but i couldn't understand a word she said! trying to make an assessment was very difficult; i couldn't even figure out if she was in pain or not! all i could understand were the words, "peanut butter." oh, she's about 350 lbs.

it's now 845pm, friday. just vegging out, having a light dinner before bed time. i'm back to work tomorrow -- hopefully, the weekend will be more forgiving.

had to wait for the orkin man to come inspect the attic today. i would wake up in the middle of the night from the screeching and nail scratching overhead, and it's hard to sleep when you have that going on! thought maybe some mice decided to take up residency in the attic-penthouse.

it's all over the news -- hurricane dennis. it's only the 4th letter of the alphabet and it's only the beginning of july! for those of you that don't know, hurricanes are named in alphabetical order. certain years, it's alternating male-female names.

it looks like it will miss orlando/central florida, but the panhandle looks like they got some preparations to do. last year was really bad; i think i'm still making repairs and clean up around the backyard. i hope this year we'll get a break from the storms, but forecasts say it'll be worse -- 5 major hurricanes projected to hit florida.

i'll keep this short as i need to write a few e-mails to some friends. i'd hate for them to think i fell off the face of the earth. i'll need to update my clubs as well; if you haven't checked them out yet, scroll up to the greeting.

'till next time!.

intensive care unit

2005-07-07T22:07:00.000-05:00

it's been over a week since my last post and i need to catch up. i'll write more later during downtime; i'm doing rounds in the intensive care unit today. hopefully, the day should be benign and if i'm lucky, just might be able to read a book that i've picked up months ago but haven't seen a single page of it! "selected writings of daisetz teitaro suzuki."

so, that kobayashi-guy won again for the 5th time in the hotdog eating contest, eh?! how can anyone eat so much hotdog?! ugh! makes me wanna hurl thinkin' about it!

got cabbage?

2005-06-28T23:50:00.000-05:00

do you have a grandparent that's undergone a bypass surgery in the past or recently? if you have, this blog will probably take you back to that time you had to visit gramps as he sat on a cardiac chair sporting a bajillion staples on his chest! eww, gross! with maybe some tubes coming out of his chest to drain the excess residual fluid from the operation, and the bag that hung on the bedrail with a golden liquid in it. if you must know, it's called the "pee bag!" otherwise, if someone you know is about to have a CABG, yeah, pronounced like "cabbage" but short for coronary artery bypass graft -- this will prepare you for what's about to come!

first, an overview. a coronary artery bypass graft is a major surgery that's performed over 300,000 times per year in the united states! yeah, thanks to those big macs and bk fries! maybe you'll think again next time you chow down on that burger! it's usually done on people with narrow or blocked arteries that lead to the heart, usually the coronary artery, which is the main artery that feeds the heart, hence, the term CABG.

repair is usually done by stenting the artery with "body-friendly" wires to allow for passage of oxygen rich blood, or replaced totally by harvesting or grafting a blood vessel out of your body to replace the bad one, usually from your legs.

how does it all start, you wonder?! easy! ever see the commercials for drano and plummer? same thing happens to your arteries when you don't put the right stuff in your body. the gunk that collects in your arteries is from cholesterol. you tend to collect more of that gunk when you smoke, have high blood pressure, diabetes, or mom and or dad just happen to have it too! yep, it's hereditary! by the way, if you're 45 to 55 years old -- you're at risk as well! me, i've got a long ways to go! whew!

so how do you know if you have it?! this is where you can possibly save someone's life! read carefully! you really wouldn't know unitl you have an attack! wouldn't it be too late then, you ask?! well, sometimes. but sometimes, the first attack is very mild. it's usually what brings your gramps to the doctor, and gets the news! of course, if you already know that it runs in the family, you can make an intelligent guess that you probably have heart disease.

there are several ways to diagnose for heart disease. first, they put wires on you and they measure the "electricity" in your heart. it's called en EKG or ECG, short for electrocardiogram. a bad heart will show abnormal waves on the printout of course, and your doctor should know this!

if it's confirmed that you have a bad heart, that's when they look "through" you by "imaging." yep, enter "echocardiography!" basically, like an ultrasound of the heart. like when you look in a pregnant woman's tummy.

lastly, the really best way to look is by going in there! yikes! they insert a wire through your groin and they go up there and have a looky-look! from there, the cardiologist can visually confirm the damage and go about a treatment plan for you, usually surgery like mentioned above. sometimes, certain medications can improve how your heart beats, but really, medicines can only do so much. of course, there are complications as with any other surgery, like the new grafted vein could get blocked. yeah, that would hurt. or, if you're diabetic, it would take longer to heal. and so on...

this blog was inspired by spending a day in the cardiovascular intensive unit today. i got to spend time with patients who've had several bypasses done. sometimes, patients who have bypass surgery get new valves too because often, on top of bad arteries, the valves get affected too. bummer...

moral of the story -- petition mcdonald's to serve tofu burgers! hahaha! or, you can always turn vegan!

normal v. breech birth

2005-06-25T11:39:00.000-05:00

okay, before i start, let me talk a little bit about ceasarian sections, or c-sections. this is the follow-up blog about last thursday, when i had to work in labor and delivery during a c-section where the baby didn't look like she was going to make it.

a c-section is a method used to surgically deliver a baby, and is considered major. this happens when the baby cannot be delivered the usual way -- you know, through "there!?" i know we're on the topic of science and medicine, and while "vagina" -- oops, i said it -- is an actual medical term, we'll use it for the purpose of this blog.

a c-section is often planned but more often, it is performed as an emergency procedure when complications arise during a vaginal birth, such as a breech, or when a baby's feet are near the "exit" instead of the head.

before birth, most babies are in a head-down position in the mother's uterus. that's why most babies are born head-first. sometimes the part of the baby that is head down is not the head, but the buttocks or the feet. when a baby is in that position before birth, it's called a breech birth or breech baby. many babies are breech early in pregnancy, but most of them turn to the head-first position near the end of the pregnancy.

a baby who is breech may be very small, or it may have birth defects. breech babies may also have accidents during delivery that can damage the umbilical cord or cause asphyxia, or even cause death of the mother or baby.

last thursday, the baby was in breech. the mother, 22 years old, has a history of delivering breech babies. i was worried when i heard that, and looking at the mother, she didn't look like she was in the best health. she was very skinny and her tummy was tiny. i expected the baby to weigh no more than 5 lbs. minutes after the surgeon had made the incision, blood and amniotic fluid came gushing out of the mother's belly, and i saw the coiled up cord wrapped around the legs of the baby as she came out. i was expecting to hear a loud cry, but nothing came out from where the action was taking place.

in seconds, the baby is on the warmer and i had to administer oxygen right away. i had rubbed the babies feet, but still, no cry. usually, the little bit of touching stimulates a baby to cry, but not this one. i kept on rubbing her, wiping off the excess blood, putting a rubber bulb syringe in her mouth to get snot out -- no cry. the most that she could do was a weak whimper. it actually sounded like a cat's meow, but almost a whisper.

the nurse had prepped her to go to the nursery, and as i left the operating room after i'd done all i could, i had overheard them talking about apgar scores -- you know, the numbers that determine how healthy a baby is? well, her scores were sufficiently low. no cry, poor muscle tone, respirations were unimpressive; low scores were expected. she didn't have a good color on her either. we learn in school, blue is not a good color, pink is. well, the baby looked dusky.

later that day, i had to go back up the nursery to run a capillary blood sample on her, to see if her acid-base balance is normal. she was getting 50% of oxygen, and in the same room were 2 flight paramedics who were there to pick her up.

my thoughts were with that kid that day, and now i wonder how she is. she weighed 4.6 lbs!

moral of the story: don't have babies at a young age, or if you are going to have babies at a young age, eat right and stay healthy -- for the baby. it's not about you anymore.

wrong place... wrong time...

2005-06-01T23:10:00.000-05:00

it was friday, may 27th, 330pm. i had just left the mall and was on my way home after running a few errands. 5 minutes into the drive, it started to pour. in my mind, i was happy because rain meant the plants at home will get some water, and that i'll finally get to give sally -- my car -- a much needed wash. i never did like driving in the rain -- the roads get wet, visibility becomes poor, add rush hour and heavy traffic, accidents are waiting to happen. so they did, and i was in one of them.

i was northbound on orange blossom trail, and traffic ahead started to slow down. i realized, 2 vehicles had collided and traffic slowly moved around them using the turn lanes. minutes later, the same scene was happening and this time, it involved 3 vehicles. at that point, i put on my defense-mode and heightened my awareness of traffic until i got home.

i always thought that if i were to ever be in an accident, i would be the one getting rear-ended. my rear bumper would probably get displaced, maybe a scratch here and there on sally's worn out polish, maybe just a minor crack on my turn lights, or maybe just a soft dent.

i had found myself in an entirely different situation, one that's totally the opposite of what i had fabricated in my mind. thanks to the driver behind the wheel of the rural metro ambulance number 140, who suddenly decided to just turn his lights and siren on when he got to the intersection of kaley and orange blossom trail. i never saw him coming and neither did the other car on my right side. he had hit the car in front of him, and before i know it, my car skidded and in a flash, i was immobilized in the turn left lane, and the bags deployed after i hit the car in front of me. i cranked up the a/c, rolled down the windows and opened my doors as far as they can go, to let the smoke from the bags dissipate. i thought i was going to pass out from the stench of the smoke! my upper lift started to sting as well, and my right forearm started to feel funny. when i looked, i had suffered some minor burns from the heat of the airbag.

it wasn't my fault! i was driving less than 15mph and could see the green light in front of me, and i was the second car in traffic. even in the rain, i would've seen the ambulance from a distance as it approached the intersection, IF he had his lights on and the sirens blaring; but he didn't! i was angry, and still shook up from the incident as i maneuvered sally onto a nearby business parking lot.

as you can see from the images, the damage was mild. headlights are still in one piece and the hood is in good shape. someone from work had told me that once the airbags deploy, your vehicle gets filed under "totalled."

this morning, i saw sally for the last time as the tow truck came to pick her up. i had just heard from the insurance adjustor that the vehicle is considered "inoperable" and will be taken to the impound lot; it was very emotional for me. i had hoped to drive sally for another year, and i was really looking forward to not having car payments. she even needed new struts and shocks that would've cost over $2000; i had planned on getting her those.

i keep telling myself that this fiasco will soon be behind me. tomorrow, i got to the orange county court house to pay off the traffic violation i incurred. yep, the good-hearted state trooper expressed, "you really expect a state trooper vehicle to just roll into the scene of an accident and leave? we gotta get something" he was rubbing his thumb and index finger to suggest that he was there for the money, after i pleaded to not get issued a ticket. i was still reeling from what happened to my car, and after waiting for over 3 hours for the state trooper to get there, he leaves me a ticket!!!

tomorrow, i go car shopping. i can't say i'm excited about it...

stay tuned...

2005-06-01T23:05:00.000-05:00

rural metro #140

2005-06-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

sally

2005-06-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

sally: front right

2005-06-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

sally: front left

2005-06-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

goodbye sally...

images from nippon

2005-05-21T23:02:00.000-05:00

out of the 600+ images i obtained during a 16-day vacation in japan, these are my favorite. of course, i have other favorites but these are well-suited for this blog. sure, there are the images of the goth-maids in harajuku or the shibuya girls with the fake radioactive tan or the guys sporting the tina-turner do; i just want to keep it clean! hehe! besides, what would buddha do?!

red foliage

2005-05-21T19:47:00.001-05:00

green foliage

2005-05-21T19:47:00.000-05:00

yokoso, japan!

2005-05-21T19:46:00.000-05:00

mmm, wagashi...

2005-05-21T19:43:00.001-05:00

daibutsu

2005-05-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

bamboo

2005-05-21T19:42:00.001-05:00

slurp-fest!

2005-05-21T19:42:00.000-05:00

fujiyama

2005-05-21T19:41:00.000-05:00

sakura flowers

2005-05-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

love

find your center...

2005-04-19T16:50:00.000-05:00

this image -- and one in left/profile -- taken from the
metropolitan museum of art in san francisco in september 2004.
third floor has amazing displays of japanese culture and religion.
very enlightening...

amitabha

jade empire

2005-04-19T16:05:00.000-05:00

recently picked up my copy of jade empire, and games really have grown up!

jade empire

monk zeng

2005-04-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

playing the game as "monk zeng" -- special character from the limited edition copy. ohm...

monk zeng

return to the present...

2005-04-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

i've scooped the valley's pine winds for you -- have a sip!

-- sayings of the masters.

9 days and counting...

2005-04-16T13:10:00.000-05:00

weekend, mid-afternoon. i'm trying my darndest to mentally recharge my batteries, as i try to power on through today. morning got off on a bad start, and i was late with my patient rounds. i had to scramble just so i can make it down in time for breakfast before the cafeteria closes. "everything" bagel and cream cheese, some hot chocolate... ambrosia.

yeah, 9 days 'till i take off for a 16-day vacation in the land of the rising sun -- japan. hope to catch up with friends, make new ones, and make the trek to kamakura to take a picture of the statue of the "great buddha."

i'm also ready for the long flight. 5 hours from orlando to los angeles, a 2-hour lay over, and then a 10-hour trans-pacific journey to the west!

10-inch dvd player -- check!
md player -- check!
sony psp -- check!
reading materials -- check!
gum -- check!
decongestant for the descent -- check!

yeah, i think i'm ready!

duty calls!

2005-04-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

wednesday, april 13th, year 2005. leesburg regional medical center, emergency department. alicia keys playing in windows media player, drowning out the incessant noise from triage where a 10-month old baby is crying his heart out. i can't stand children that are suffering -- it pains me. it's worse when death clings on to them with his bony fingers, and no amount of cardiopulmonary resuscitation will do, especially when they've been under warm water for 30 minutes. yeah, that was the worse day of my life. today, it's actually still pretty benign. heck, i'm posting a blog!

duty calls!