Happy blog birthday!

This is what I found in my search for a birthday cake to post in this entry. Now I love penguins more than anyone I know. But this is kind of freaky, even for me. Kind of like eating a live penguin. Imagine if it were red velvet cake. Haha.

Today marks my blog's first birthday/anniversary. I didn't anticipate this date much, I just happened to be browsing through my old entries and saw that my first entry was on this day, one year ago. Back when the things I was concerned with included organic chemistry and med school applications. Last week I performed a neurologic physical exam on an actual patient. And just yesterday, the list of this year's applicants who qualified for the interview was released. Amazing how much happens in a year's time.

If you liked it then you shouda put a ring on it (LSS of the month!)

Another weekend post. And what a weekend it's been. In fairness to me, I was able to refrain from blogging prior to my chem exam. Not that I spent all that time studying. Haha.

Friday was UPCM interview day. I got there late and therefore rather panicky, since I knew I had an essay to write. But everything turned out rather okay, I think. There were a couple of surprises. :) It was over in about an hour, but it felt like fifteen minutes. I'm so so relieved, yet scared as well, knowing that there's nothing more I can do and my fate is no longer in my hands.

Funny though, I realized only when I got home that I was wearing one pink pearl earring and one white the entire time. Hahaha. :) Mom didn't even see it, and she was seated across from me throughout lunch. She treated me to Secret Recipe in Shangri-La "to ease the stress." Their lamb stew was to die for, and the phad thai was quite perfect as well. I also ordered the marble cheesecake, which was their bestseller. It was really good, rich and creamy and everything, though I wasn't a big fan of the oat and nut crust. I'm definitely going back to try their other cheesecakes. Here are a couple of pictures. These were taken using my Nokia 6500c, so forgive the quality please.

This is the phad thai, before they mixed all the ingredients together. The noodles are wrapped in a little egg package. :)

Marble cheesecake. So good. I would've preferred a graham cracker crust, though, instead of the oat and nut. Or an oreo crust. Yay for cheap taste. :p

Next was dinner at Dencio's Rockwell to celebrate Ats' and Tito Popot's birthdays. As if Mom and I needed any more calories! Food was good; I especially enjoyed the chocolate truffle and sans rival from Sugarhouse. Bonding was great, as usual. I will upload pictures in my multiply. I missed Mr. and Ms. Psych though, which I rather regret. It was my last chance to attend, too. Oh well. Family first.

Saturday was study day with Ruari. We met up at Starbucks Temple Drive at ten. I love how we're so at home there. We each have a round table, and so many chairs for all our stuff. Then when we bought sandwiches for lunch, we moved to another table. Parang lumipat lang from the office to the dining room. :P I didn't get to study as much as I would've liked, because I started feeling sick and had to go home at around four. Not the best state to be in two days before a chemistry exam.

I didn't spend Sunday with the family; I was at Melay's for for PMHS deliberations. I missed a day in Tagaytay, including lunch at Tootsie's. But at least delibs finished earlier than expected, which was a relief. I was able to stop by Bea's before going home. Anything to delay studying! I still felt quite sick all day, and I fell asleep studying at around eleven.

And today was Oscars day! And yeah, chem exam day too. Until this morning, I was still hoping for a reply from Sir Sumera, saying that the exam will be postponed. It was a holiday, after all, and it's really against the rules (of the UP admin, or whatever) to hold exams on holidays. Sadly, no reply. I tried my best (I really did!) to finish memorizing all the reactions and physical properties and stuff, but the Oscars were such a beautiful distraction. Hugh Jackman is Mom's new idol, or so her Facebook status reports. Right after the chem exam, Lee-Ann and I went to Starbucks Katipunan. And because it was so, so full, we decided to just drink up in Cantina with Mara, Perry, Josh, and Caloi. It was just what we needed to forget about the horrid exam.

It was also today that I found out that I made it to St. Luke's College of Medicine. :) Yay for having a future, and keeping my med school dreams alive! The initial list of accepted applicants can be found here.

It is almost two, so I must be off. Tomorrow will be 135 powerpoint-making day. Hopefully I don't just sleep all day again.

I surrender to the strawberry ice cream

Three-hour afternoon nap + coffee after dinner + reading people's panicky blog entries (re: UPCM interview) -- definitely not good for my nerves, nor my studying for org chem, nor my goal to finally get my body clock back on track.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN TO LOLA KAREN! Thank you for the ice cream; Long Island's strawberry-filled is my new day-maker. :) Dungis pictures for the win!

Please watch this video. It gave me goosebumps, even the second time around. It's something we all need to think about, especially in these times.

[EDIT 11:56] I really really really want Sanuks. Ruari and I check them out every time we see them in a store, and every time we get disheartened by the pricetag. Stupid overpriced shoe sandal.:(

It's easy to tease me

It's been a good weekend. Almost a four-day weekend for me. Friday after class was spent with Ruari in Shangri-La. We bought each other our Valentine's gifts. We initially agreed on a budget of P500 but quickly realized that that amount can't really buy much these days. Sad. He ended up choosing a bag (that can fit his laptop, yay!), and I got a pair of flats. Both above the said budget, but not by much. In fairness. :)

On Saturday I was in UP for PMHS interviews. Mom picked me up at around 2 and we headed straight for Tagaytay. We met up with Papa and Monch who had gone earlier because Papa had a lunch at his friend's house there. Mom and I (and Yaya Arlie, too) got there at around 5. The weather was just lovely, still cold and windy.

Our overnight in Crosswinds (only our second ever!) was definitely the highlight of my weekend. All four of us love going there now; there's just something about the weather and the novelty of the place I guess that is just so relaxing. I had actually brought my computer in the hopes that I would be able to get some work done. I ended up reading the new book Mama got me, Surgeons Do Not Cry by Dr. Ting Tiongco, and falling asleep before midnight. Oh, we had a delicious dinner at Teriyaki Boy before that. It's available in Manila, I know, but everything just tastes and feels different in the cold of Tagaytay. We were all in a pretty good mood, too; hardly any of those petty little arguments we have at home. Good family bonding time. :)

We went home too early on Sunday, because Papa had a dinner to attend. We had another heavy meal, this time at this Filipino restaurant in Sta. Rosa. I can't remember the name, but it was Rose something. Haha. We had bulalo, lechon paksiw, fried chicken, fried tilapia, laing. We were all so full afterwards, but we still managed to have dessert in Starbucks along SLEX. I introduced Mama to white chocolate mocha, and she loved it. Not surprising, since she likes her coffee much, much sweeter than I do.

I was at St. Luke's this morning (Monday) for my interview. After a short psych test, Ruari kept me company while waiting for my turn. I was interviewed at around 11:30, and the whole thing was over in around 20 minutes. The doctors were really very nice, and my blockmate who was next in line said he could hear us laughing from outside. They said I should expect to hear from them in about a week or so. :)

I slept so much after the interview, both on the way home and upon arriving home. Needless to say, I barely got to do any work until after dinner. And so my body clock is all screwy again, which is why I'm awake and writing this now, at two a.m. I am also very, very, very hungry.

I think have a hunger problem. I remember taking up this disorder in Psych 155 that was described as the uncontrollable desire to eat. I think I have a mild form of that. Because seriously, I'm never full for more than an hour. Two at most, if it's really big meal. What's more, a meal for me isn't complete without dessert. I need the last taste in my mouth to be sweet, preferably something chocolate. Fruits don't count; they're usually just the preliminary to the real dessert. The result of all this eating? Flabby arms which I absolutely hate. I'm actually avoiding wearing any sleeveless tops these days, because I hate the way my arms look.

I'm looking forward to the Lenten season because then I'll have more incentive to fast and lose weight. It's so wrong. I'm such a sinner.

One, two, three, four, tell me that you love me more

When a sort-of bad day turns good.

It was another one of those mornings. I think the PMS is starting up again. Blah. But there were some high points too. Like Ma'am Mendoza screaming in the middle of the lecture, out of nowhere. Orientation reflex daw, haha. Winner!

I had time to kill before the Phi interview orientation at 5:30, so I met up with Ruari. There were some technical difficulties in getting there, but I think we worked it out. :) Since he wanted to have Wicked Oreos at Flaming Wings, I finally decided to try the linguine with clams. It was really good, and they're really generous with the clams, too. There was just a bit too much oil though. Then Starbucks for an hour--my first visit this week! What an accomplishment. :P Ruari found the signature hot chocolate, non-fat, no-whip, way too chocolate-y. Haha. I guess one chocoholic is plenty for any relationship.

I was glad I attended the orientation. I had some apprehensions about it, but in the end I think I made the right decision. I think I now have a better grasp of just how I need to prepare. Also, I realized how much I really, really, really want this. The fact that I attended is proof of that. I'm going to take every opportunity I can get to ready myself. So that when I finally get there, I have the assurance that I did everything that I possibly could.

It was nice also to see and talk to PMHS alumni. And sell keychains. Haha! Thank you. :)

Another winner today was XKCD. :D Nerdy gets me every time.

It feels just like I'm falling for the first time

What a week it's been. Every day seemed so long. It's amazing how there's so much to be done this semester, for only three subjects. Last sem's 16 units was heaven compared to my nine now.

It feels good though, looking back on everything now. 135 exam on Wednesday, 135 paper, Chem 31.1 postlab and prelab on Thursday, and St, Luke's essays today. I didn't get more than four hours of sleep on any night. It was a week of coffee, Extra Joss that is becoming less and less effective, naps at Lola's when I could, and entire days feeling like I would drift off at any moment.

These past two days were also particularly memorable, for they included glimpses of my possible futures. Yesterday after Chem, Lee-Ann and I went to UERM to submit our applications, where I found out I was applicant no. 696. So many people applying to med school this year, a lot of them from UP too. I saw an entire table stacked with applications, each with the familiar pink transcript.

In the middle of 135 this morning, I received a text that rendered me unable to listen to Ma'am Mendoza's lecture for the rest of the period. Hehe. Thank you, Jo. :)

Then this afternoon, I was off to St. Luke's. The building's already quite familiar. Hehe. They gave me a choice of a Monday or a Friday for my interview. I chose the Monday, because Friday will most likely be the date of another one of the eight experiments we're required to conduct for 135. I can't imagine missing an experiment. Last na eh. I really want to make the most of my remaining time in psych.

There. My applications have been sent. Two of three interviews have been scheduled. The reality of it all grips me.

SLCM: 09 February, Monday, 10 AM.
UPCM: 20 February, Friday, 10 AM. Why oh why was I placed on the last day?? Interviews are until the 27th pala. So I'm not the last. Yay.

O, that You would bless me indeed.

I'm off. Waking up at 4:00 for my last ever free clinic as a member of the UP Pre-Medical Honor Society!