All aloooown...

I haven't posted anything lately.

I haven't gotten around to doing those reviews.

I've just been sleeping and moping around the house. Eating cereal. Watching Fringe and Once Upon A Time. Writing in my journal.

I can't seem to function properly until it's 8:00 PM and John gets off from work. Then I have my first and only  real conversation of the day. I get to tell him what I haven't been doing all day. I tell him that I miss him and I don't think I can last until June 15. I have to find a way to get to where he is. See him. Even for just a day.

Until then, I won't have the energy to do anything else. No reviews. No long posts. No new links. :(

Listening to Chopin and RainyMood. ♥

Summer Readings

Starting on the fourth week of March this year, I've had a lot of time on my hands since that was when my summer vacation began. To keep myself busy I resolved to read as many books as I could. So far I've finished these seven:

Kushiel's Dart

Author: Jacqueline Carey 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153008.Kushiel_s_Dart

Kushiel's Chosen

Author: Jacqueline Carey

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/395962.Kushiel_s_Chosen

Kushiel's Avatar 

Author: Jacqueline Carey 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40223.Kushiel_s_Avatar

Kushiel's Scion

Author: Jacqueline Carey 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153007.Kushiel_s_Scion

The Hunger Games 

Author: Suzanne Collins

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games

Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6148028-catching-fire

Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7260188-mockingjay

I'm currently juggling between Kushiel's Justice (the fifth in Jacqueline Carey's series Kushiel's Legacy) and the book I mentioned in an earlier entry, Young Miles. I'll be doing separate reviews of these books before classes start in June.:)


To explore other books I'm interested in, check out my Goodreads account at http://www.goodreads.com/lauriemcc.  


Or share what your current literary faves are and leave a comment here! :)

Memories

Haha! While exploring my email, I found my old blog which I completely forgot about. I will blame this on my near-full brain. Honestly, I wish scientists would invent an external hard drive for the brain so I don't have to keep deleting memories. So here's one of my posts from February 2010, before I decided to pursue a medical career. I can recall my dilemma back then and the same questions still plague me. Read on!

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a doctor. Always.

Now, though, when I'm staring at the opportunity to realize my dream in the face, I begin to have doubts. It's not because of the formidable reputation that medical school has with regard to the infinite studying, memorizing, and endless case presentations. I know I can handle it. I'm a nursing graduate so I know what lies ahead in a medical career. But, considering the long and tiresome hours that interns and residents spend on their shifts, I realize that it might not be for me. I want to be able to settle down soon, maybe raise a family, and I don't really see that happening if I choose to stay in the hyperactive world of the medical profession.

My only other option (since I really don't want to stay a nurse) is law. The idea came to me during my last year in college when my parents asked if I wanted to proceed to medicine. My father had hinted at law instead because according to him, I had spunk. My freelance writing career which started a few weeks ago reinforced this idea. The problem is I don't really know much about law. My concept of a lawyer's work comes from movies [cue clip from Devil's Advocate] and other people's definitions. I have no personal experience with law matters and my Philippine Government and Constitution class bored me to death. Although the ideas of speaking as eloquently as ancient Greek senators and of performing impassioned deeds to defend a client are appealing, I'm not really sure that I have enough gut to pursue this kind of career. But the interest is there. I feel drawn to it the way a kid is drawn to a candy bar he is yet to get his first taste of. That's where my real dilemma lies. I'm afraid I might just be wanting this career change at this moment then later on live to regret a major decision in my life.

So here are the facts:
1. My desire to be a doctor remains. However.......

2. The confines of the hospital, the looooooong shifts, the blood and guts, that are omnipresent in the life of    doctor have diminished my passion for that kind of career. Also......

3. I've already gotten into a good medical school. I just deferred from enrolling for a year. Basically, it'll be easier for me if I go ahead with the original plan since I wouldn't have to go through the tedious application process. But.....

4. I'm really, really, interested in taking up law.
5. I'm not completely confident that I can pull this off in the long run.

Those are the factors I have to consider.

By the way, I only have 3 1/2 months left before the school year begins so I need to make up my mind fast. Lightning fast. Help!

It brings a smile to my lips to read about my old self. So self-conscious.haha In the end I did proceed to medical school. I lost my interest in law. Every day I approach my internship and it's something I truly look forward to. But it also fills me with dread that maybe this isn't the life for me. How can that be?, I wonder. Oh well, I'm already here. I might as well finish it what I started. :)

The Woman in Black - A Review

As a summer tradition that started when we were in grade school, my brothers and sisters and I would stay up 'til the wee hours of the morning and talk or watch a movie. Our youngest is already 16 years old but we have continued with the tradition, when it allows. This week we watched "The Woman in Black" featuring Daniel Radcliffe. 

The actor plays Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer haunted by the memories of his wife who died in childbirth. He takes care of his son Joseph (Misha Handley) with the help of a nanny (Jessica Raine). He is assigned the case of Alice Drablow, the owner of a large estate called the Eel Marsh House situated in a distant village in the marshes. In this small village he encounters an ominous presence that stalks children and casts a shadow on the entire community. 

On the way to Eel Marsh House (that's on the little island up ahead)

The movie was fairly entertaining. It elicited a few squeaks and one good scream from me and my sister.:) I thought the plot unfolded at just the right pace. Radcliffe, though not one of my favorite actors, delivered a strong performance. You can really see the longing in his eyes when he remembers his wife. He makes the fear and terror that underlies the entire movie come alive. The only letdown to his portrayal of the character was that there were a few instances when I thought he was waiting for Voldemort to emerge from one of the old buildings in the misty village. It was too reminiscent of the wizard boy who rid the world of said evil noseless creature.

Don't call me Harry!

Nevertheless, it's a good movie to watch in the middle of the night with the lights off (which is what we did exactly) with people you're comfortable enough with to admit you're scared of the dark. In fact, there were several scenes where, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had one eye covered as if that would keep my heart from stopping whenever the ghost showed itself.  I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. :)

Trivia! 

• The movie is based on a novel of the same title written by Susan Hill. 

• Eel Marsh House is actually Cotterstock Hall. It sits in the village of Oundle in Northamptonshire in central England. 

Pictures aren't mine. Sources:
http://www.filmofilia.com/new-the-woman-in-black-poster-and-uk-quad-poster-86027/
http://borg.com/2012/02/05/opening-weekend-review-the-decently-creepy-woman-in-black/
http://theshakespeareblog.com/2012/02/daniel-radcliffe-and-the-story-of-child-actors-young-roscius-comes-of-age/
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37034.The_Woman_in_Black
http://www.dicamillocompanion.com/Houses_detail.asp?ID=4553
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=232612

Sparks

My husband John and I have been fighting for several nights in a row. One over a chess game and my ridiculous need to win all the time. Another because I had to wait for a few minutes for John to go online. Petty, I know. It was a real downward spiral and I'm almost tempted to blame it on the supermoon. So I felt really low. I know it's my fault. I have this thing where I become cruel and heartless when I'm sad. It's a horrible attitude.

So there I was. Standing in the MRT amid the throng of women on their way to work and this song came up on my ipod and just slapped me in the face. What have I done?, I thought.

Relationships are hard. Made even harder by distance. A few weeks, a few years, for me it makes no difference how long you're separated. But no matter how difficult it is, two people in love must always find a way to hold on to their relationship. Through facebook, through skype, through online chess games (no matter how botched up they are in the end). Whatever it takes. Most of the time you have to swallow that lump in your throat called pride and admit your mistake/s. It's not a sure ticket to relationship wonderland. But it's a big step.

Thanks Coldplay.

A dose of insomnia

It's amazing how a person can get by without any sleep. I have been awake for a little more than 18 hours. I had planned on going to bed early to set my sleep-wake cycle right again after several nights of staying up til 4am and snoozing 'til noon. I was quite successful for the first hour or so until my sister started shifting around in the room as she prepared for bed. We're bedmates for the week since I'm just visiting while my husband is away. As the muffled sounds of things being moved around pulled me out of unconsciousness, I became vaguely aware of the other side of the bed sagging slightly and knew my sister was about to settle in. I grasped at whatever dream I was having hoping to regain that quiet solitude but it was too late. It took me a good half hour to realize I wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon. As I listened to my sister's even breathing, I contemplated. What is there to do at 2 in the morning?  I gave up. I swam out from under the pillows and sheets and approached the only thing I could communicate with at such a ghostly hour: my laptop. 


My early-morning sojourn in cyberspace turned out to be quite productive (by my standards haha!) since I was able to explore the world of Blogger. I found new blogs to follow. Blogs by artists, writers, moms, preachers, atheists, and even entomologists. 


I found it very interesting to note that mom-blogs can be enjoyable with the right perspective. A few years back, I would have found them dull and monotonous since they always mentioned children and whatever developmental milestone they were currently experiencing. Diapers and baby-vomit are things I would rather not read about. But now that I'm married and planning on starting my own family, they turned out to be very informative. :) Yey for moms! (Next Sunday is Mother's Day!)


Preacher- and atheist-blogs were insightful. I am a Christian and I was raised in a Christian household. Still, I  like to read on the views of those who do not share my faith. It makes me reassess (and in most cases, reaffirm) my beliefs. Some comments and posts I found deeply disturbing but the many blogs by Christian pastors were enough to set the balance. 


Artists' blogs will be a constant among my favorites. Never really having any firsthand experience at art, except for the occasional painting or sculpture needed to pass certain (wholly unnecessary!) courses back in high school and college, I have always marveled at the way artists can take a ribbon of lace, a small palette of three colors, a 5" x 8" sized cardboard, or a pebble for that matter, into an expression of an inner fantasy. It reminded me of a younger version of myself whose only ambition was to be the country's next prima ballerina, a dream which I worked on for nearly three years before setting it aside for more academic aspirations.  In those blogs, I was mesmerized by the poems, the watercolor paintings, the handcrafted dolls, and wondered if I could still nurture whatever artistic talent lurks in my bones. In the end, I decided to pursue this "talent" and I shall blog about the outcome at a later date.


Aside from Blogger, I was also able to update my account at Goodreads. More books have been lined up for me to finish. Hooray!


So, after four hours of blog-hunting and traversing along random pages of the internet, I ended up following more than half a dozen blogs. It was a small adventure in its own way, one that I plan on expanding on in days to come. 

My Summer To-do List

Summer. The season of everything that's bright and cheerful. For many, it's the time to whip out the most daring bikinis and flaunt the figures they've been working on for months. It's the perfect opportunity to dress up once more in those loveable sundresses, wide-brimmed hats, and perfect pair of sunglasses. For others, the grueling sun and humid outdoors is just too much for the day to even be bearable. For everyone, aircon and sunblock are two things you absolutely can't do without.

Being a medical student, summer for me is all about relaxation. Doesn't even matter if it's indoors or out. As long as I get to release the tension my mind and body accumulated over the past ten months of exams, practicals, recitations, and daily quizzes. I have another month to savor it before it all ends, so here is a list of things I've been doing and should continue to do until June.

1. Read a good book.

Or two. Or 20. :) Right now I'm reading Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's science fiction, one of my favorite genres. It sets my mind flying and many sci-fi books I've read really kept me at the edge of my seat while I flipped through their pages. So far, Young Miles is enjoyable with a far-from-perfect hero who makes me thank God for blessing me with a better, yet less exciting, fate. 

Doesn't look exciting. But it's a Hugo and Nebula Award winner, and in the world of sci-fi , that's a big deal. :)

2. Go for a swim.

A few weeks ago, my sister came home from Poland for a two-week visit. While she was here, we went on a trip to the Waterfront Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan. Beaches have always remained close to my heart since as a child, I spent my summers at my grandparents' beach hideaway in Taft, Eastern Samar. So when we got to Morong, even my husband couldn't tear me away from the water. It took four hours for us to get there, but it was so worth it.

The Waterfront Beach Resort.

3. Download and watch all sorts of stuff.

So far, I've downloaded everything from books to music to movies and episodes of my favorite TV shows. I can't watch them during the school year since I have to read my med books every night (boo!)

4. Shop!

One of the disadvantages of summer is that there's NO ALLOWANCE!:( So if you're family isn't filthy rich or you weren't smart enough to save up before the season started, then you're stuck at home, like me.haha! Don't worry though. It's not as bad as it seems. There's tons of fun stuff that you can do that doesn't require money! Trust me...:) I only included this item on this list for those who have the means. For many medical students, you don't really get to do much shopping while you're studying for exams so this is the perfect opportunity. 

5. Have a blast with the family.

I'm married. That means, I don't get to spend as much time with my family as before. I still get homesick sometimes but that's just normal. Still, I make it a point to visit my family at least once a week. Usually this falls on a Saturday or Sunday when we do our weekly family devotion. It's a good practice that I recommend for all families since it brings the members together and gives each a chance to speak up about any private issues that should be discussed.

6. Plan for the new school year.

Yes, I plan out all my activities to the minute. I don't always follow the schedule since I get pretty lazy most of the time but it gives me a sense of control over my actions.haha OC much. Since I only have about a month left, it feels right to me that I should start planning on which books and medical equipment to buy, where to look for good deals for them, decide on the theme for my school supplies (yes, I really do this), blah blah...

Remembering caffeine-loaded days. And looking forward to more of them. :)

Remembering caffeine-loaded days. And looking forward to more of them. :)

7. Finally, enjoy it while it lasts!

This should be a no-brainer, but for me, being the nerd that I am, I sometimes actually miss school. Many of my classmates would probably tut-tut at this, but it's true. I have to constantly remind myself that this is my last summer vacation. This time next year, I will be a medical clerk at Ospital ng Maynila and all the fun in the world wouldn't be able to squeeze in to my hectic lifestyle. 

Soon, I'll be starting a countdown until June 4, when all (or rather, most) of the fun ends and work begins. Until then, I'll be doing all of the above with as much gusto as I can muster. :))) I hope you enjoyed this list and maybe make one of your own! HAPPY SUMMER!