I can smell the sweet scent of summer. Despite the goings-on around me: the death of two close buddies, the unstable condition of another close friend and the recent involvement of yet another batchmate in a freak accident yesterday, I’ve realized how there’s still a lot of reasons to see the world in a better light. The second chances that life dishes out on us are more than enough reasons to celebrate life itself. It doesn’t have to be grand. Perhaps it’s as simple as snagging an expensive top on a weekend sale at 50% off, or it may be as life-changing as surviving an accident unscathed. It doesn’t really matter as long as they’re second chances for us to live our lives anew. Life is short and being grumpy just makes it shorter. So if there’s anything that I’ve learned while riding a rollercoaster in the past month: it’s to smile. And then the whole world just gets brighter.
I want you to meet Kaiser, my new love.
Yes. This baby is mine. And the best part of it? I got him for F-R-E-E. I always join raffles but I never expect to win any of those prizes. I am one of those many, many unlucky souls who always end up as “thank you, patrons” because my name always doesn’t land in the winners’ list. But in a sudden twist of fate, my name was handpicked from hundreds of those who contributed for the FRIC (fellows, residents, interns and clerks) Party last weekend. That’s how I got Kaiser. It seemed as if the heaven was listening to me when I told Mela how I wanted an iPod for myself. The next thing I know, I was a giggly girl on stage ready to get precious Kaiser. I haven’t had the chance to tinker with him since I got him. If only I can get hold of the online backup of my MP3s from an old host, then I’d instantly fill up all 2GB-worth of memory that Kaiser has. Too bad some online hard drives aren’t exactly reliable. Sometimes, it pays to pay. =)
Finally, a Miss Philippines bags the crown after eight years since Miss Earth’s conception in 2001. Over eighty-five ladies from all over the world paraded in their swimsuits and evening gowns tonight at Clark Expo Amphiteater in Pampanga.
Her court are as follows:
Miss Tanzania Miriam Odemba (Miss Earth - Air)
Miss Mexico Abigail Elizalde Romo (Miss Earth - Water)
Miss Brazil Tatiane Alves (Miss Earth - Fire)
The last time a Miss Philippines went home with a crown was in 2006 when Catherine Untalan won Miss Earth-Water. That year, Hil Hernandez of Chile won as Miss Earth 2006.
Congrats Karla Paula Henry! You deserved the title!
Mark your calendars (or probably not!): October 11 was the very first time Bee brought home a girlfriend for his parents to meet, and, the very first time I was introduced as someone’s girlfriend. I know how it sounds weird coming from someone whose present relationship is not exactly the first; but I’ve also never imagined how meeting the parents for the first time can really be so nerve-wracking. It was a lot easier the first time since my ex’ parents knew me even before we got together so there was but little adjustments to be made on my part. This time around, there were butterflies all over my stomach and my throat was running dry no matter how much I spoke. They were really nice and very accommodating though, and I must say the experience was great overall despite the jitters on my part.
My friends and I have agreed how planned excursions never really get through the planning stage. The unexpected Meet-the-Parents-Part-II was another proof to that. It all started with a suggestion for him to bring home some flowers for his mom’s birthday; then, the flowers were dissed and the next thing we know, we were arguing over what cake to bring. I don’t really want to generalize but guys really have the tendency to lack taste when it comes to gift-giving. He wanted to bring home Brazo de Mercedes while I argued we get her some more special cake instead. So if you happened to see us with the box of cake from Conti’s, you’d know who won the argument.
Needless to say, the (muy delicioso) Mango Bravo cake, didn’t let me down. Perhaps next time, a candlelit dinner would make her mom feel even more special. Votive candle holders anyone?
We’re down to the last stretch of exams before we officially bid goodbye to the first semester. I can’t wait!!! I looked forward to the first semester with much delight because this would be - theoretically - my last year of having classroom lectures before the “baptism of fire”. But it turns out, and as my friends from the upper batch warned me beforehand, the final year spent in the classrooms was not (and never will be) grandiose. The last four months went by like a breeze. It’s feels like June started only yesterday but before I know it, here I am just a few days short from officially closing the first semester.
If there’s anything to feel at the moment, it’s perhaps this very surreal feeling of nostalgia as I look back to the days when I was just starting out… It’s only been two years and a half but a lot has changed from Day 1. From around 94 doe-eyed doctor-wannabes, we’re down to 53 and that’s inclusive of some people from the higher batch who didn’t quite make it with their peers. A few nights ago, I browsed through my videos at youtube and chanced upon one of the videos I made for school.
What made me really sad about this was the fact that only 6 of those featured in that video have remained to be my classmates. Some transferred schools, others have decided med school wasn’t for them while a few had backlogs. Back when we made that video, we were all hoping that we’d bump into each other in the hospital as we do rounds in our fourth and fifth years, sadly though I guess the streets are the only place we’d hopefully bump into each other.
It’s another cold night. I need a hug, but all I have is this electric blanket. =(
