Doctor Patient (part 2)

Went to Dr. Fred again today for my follow-up consult. I got my PNS xray result from Radiology then went to his clinic. The xray was basically unremarkable, save for congestion in the L nasal turbinates.

At least there wasn't any chronic sinusitis. I was afraid I might have to undergo an OR..

Still, healthcare is expensive.. The Xray set me back around Php 750, and I bought my meds (antihistamine and proton pump inhibitor, both OD for 1 month) for around 2K... Good thing I'm a doctor, or I'd also be paying the consultation fee as well.. Hay.. mahirap talaga magkasakit... and to think that this is just for postnasal drip and probably GERD..

Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

I was able to watch the TF2 movie at the SM Mall of Asia IMAX theatre last night, however, it was kind of a dizzying experience since we sat at the second-to-the-front row. Oh well..

This new TF movie picks up where the first one left off. The Autobots are in cooperation with the world governments in hunting and destroying Decepticon remnants around the globe. I won't delve too much into the plot so as not to spoil it for anyone. ;) So... I'll just give my own assessment on certain basic points.

Visuals - IMAX or not, the CG rendered Transformers are a sight to behold. (Although I find them a little too "dirty" with too much transformation going on as compared to the original robots of cartoon lore)

Plot - pretty sketchy at best, but I liked it as it gives additional depth to the lore of the TF universe. Too much movie time is spent following Sam (Shia LaBeouf) running around, running away from Decepticons, etc.. I liked the critical plot twists though. ;)

Audio - Soundtrack? Well, it has what anyone would have come to expect from a "realistic" scifi movie, with lots of metal in the background. But it also has master soundtrack guy Hans Zimmer aboard, and that makes it cool. Voice acting was so-so at best, except when Peter Cullen's booming voice makes itself heard whenever Prime opens his vocabulators. :P Having the Transformers speak in Cybertronian (as in the first movie) is always a cool touch.

Acting - Nothing really extraordinary. Well, Megan Fox is hot.. :P

All in all, I give it a 4/5 only out of respect for the TF franchise. (should've been a 3) I grew up watching this stuff on TV, and it was great having seen real-life movie adaptations, although I'm thankful that Michael Bay is fed up with the Transformers and dosen't want to do any more TF movies. Will someone bring back the old-school robots please?... Oh, and Devastator sucked ass.. :P

Doctor Patient

I went to Cardinal this morning on an "errand" and decided to have an ENT consult for this on- and-off cough that's been bothering me for the past 3-4 years.. :P

At first my friends thought it was Pneumonia/TB (whaaaaat?), but CXR done during Clerkship was negative.

During a slow OPD day, an ENT resident checked me out and we discovered I had postnasal drip. Was prescribed Claricort but was unable to finish the entire course 'coz of my busy sked back then.

During Internship, caught the flu/pneumonia (?) from Nats which resulted in fever and caused me to cough like crazy. Thought I had Pertussis. :P Took Co-Amox TID x 7 days with improvement of fever and malaise, but still with cough (at that time I suspected it to be allergic in nature, occuring only when I was on duty at the DR).

Interestingly, coughing was minimal for the entire duration of my review for the boards..

Lately, cough began increasing in regularity, and exacerbations were noted during gym sessions (Naks!). Afebrile. Was able to finally complete a course of Claricort but had only temporary improvement. Sputum whitish, very viscous.

Developed reflux symptoms and took Omeprazole OD x 2 weeks, with minimal improvement.

Few weeks ago, began having difficulty breathing at bedtime due to feeling of occlusion of L nostril.

Consulted Dr. F. Leh. PE revealed L septal deviation & post nasal drip. Xray of paranasal sinuses was done. To follow up on Saturday with plates.

Alea Jacta Est

"The die is cast"

I've finally committed. and there's no turning back now. Wish me luck.. ;)

Finished Plants vs Zombies... what? :P

Lately, there was a lot of buzz around this new Popcap game called Plants vs Zombies, and I decided to check it out.

It's apparently a grid-based RTS similar to those Maze Defense games I've seen around (and I believe there's one on Facebook).The premise is simple. You use these plants available in your arsenal to stop wave after wave of the undead who are out to get your brains.. (hmm, didn't that Scarecrow guy from the Wizard of Oz lack a brain, and was on a quest to gain one?.. :P) In order order to prevent this grisly fate, you have to make your stand outside your house and prevent these pesky invaders from getting in. Putting up your defenses on your front lawn, backyard, and even rooftop, you encounter varied types of opposition, using an ever-expanding arsenal of the latest in botanical weaponry. :D

Gameplay itself is pretty straightforward. You're given a grid representing one of those three areas mentioned above, and are expected to put up different plants to prevent these waves of ghouls from reaching your home. A vast assortment of produce is at your disposal, from the basic pea shooters, to the defensive Wall-nuts and the Watermelon catapults.. :P Of course, as with any good RTS game, a form of currency is needed in order to acquire these weapons of plant destruction. The game uses "sun power" which is gained from sunflowers or the sun (during day stages), and a weird type of power-producing fungi during the night.

I'd say Popcap really outdid themselves with this one. Despite it's whimsical appearance, the game is really addictive. Although I finished it within a day, it still contains an entire slew of unlockable mini-games and purchasable weapons upgrades that keep you coming back for more.. Playing the game again is not as easy as it sounds. I started again at level 1-1 thinking that it would be a real cakewalk since I had all the weapons already. It was easy, but not as easy as I thought. The developers turned up the difficulty a notch to ensure replayability.

With solid game mechanics and the neat artwork that has been Popcap's trademark, Plants vs Zombies has taken the "casual gaming" revolution a step further.

Check out the game here -> CLICK ME!

What would you rather do?

While browsing the shelves of the local Powerbooks, an interesting question came to mind..

What would you rather do with your life?

Since libre lang naman mangarap, I ran through all these different scenarios in my head, and this is the one I like best..

> I'd probably have a simpler (non-medical) job, probably something to do with computers, with work responsibilities left behind the moment I step out of the office door. I wouldn't really be living a life of grand luxury, since my job wouldn't be that demanding (ideal nga diba? :P).

> I would have ample time to travel. not necessarily around the globe, but just locally and maybe regionally. Kaya tara na! Biyahe tayo! :P They say that travel makes a person wiser.. I want to be a really wise guy!! hehehe

> I would have a pretty extensive library, and thus would set aside regular "quiet time" to curl up and totally immerse myself in a good book.

> Ample family time is a must, with me getting involved in my kids' lives. I would teach them the right values during those early years and dispense advice as needed as they grow to adulthood.I would instill in them the values of simplicity, harmony, and fairness. I would make them appreciate the value of education and what it means to be good to your fellowmen. I'd enjoy the company of my wife (yihee!), having gone through so much together already, with us facing the furure hand-in hand (naks!).

There, that's it.. Pretty simple huh? :P Save for the choice in career, everything else is possible, and that's why I liked it. ;)  

Congratulations Jay and Kathy!

I know this is SUUUUPER late since they've married months ago, and I was only able to congratulate the bride last night. :P

It just got me thinking that among all my clasmmates in MedTech (AMT2003), these two are the only ones to have tied the knot.. although parang may nababalitaan akong hahabol pa.. *wink* :D It really just goes to show that despite all the apparent "coupling" in college, some things just aren't meant to be. (The second couple I mentioned weren't together yet during those years) Everything is truly just up in the air, and I guess there's an element of divine providence when one eventually finds the "right one" for him or her..

Congrats again to the happy couple! :D

*oh, and for those speculating na ako yung involved dun sa 2nd couple, di ko siya naging kaklase sa MedTech, kabatch lang :P