Next Year!

I used to hate when people asked me when my turn is at weddings. So when I have to accompany my mom to weddings, I avoid her friends as much I could by searching for food or other people who I know wont ask me that question.

To my relief, at the only wedding I couldnt get out of I wasnt asked that question. No. Not once.

Apparently people changed their tactic. After telling me to get some of the bathing water from Siraman ritual which I did to humor them, and steal the bride's flower which I didnt do, (both supposed to speed up my chance of getting married) now they just said to me, 'Next year!', or 'You are next'. And they still said the same thing a week after the wedding eventho I told them I am single. They said I have plenty of time, more than 400 days to go till the new year of 2011.

Grrrr

Sometimes I wonder why does people do that? Do they think it's helping by saying that? Seriously. Stop it!

On Breasts and doctors

It's October, it means breast cancer awareness month. There are lots of Pink Ribbon products in stores to raise money for breast cancer research. I dont know if kids these days learn how to examine their own breast, but back in the day, I didnt learn it at school/sex ed. I learned it from books/leaflet and from my doctor.

I really do think it's important to learn how to do it properly from a young age. I dont know about other people, especially other women, but I remember how scared I was when I thought there was a possibility that things were worse than it was.

Until then, I never thought much about how important my breasts to my being female. I mean I was, and still am, happy with mine, but that's just about it. However, facing the possibility of something really wrong with it, I couldnt help but to wonder about living without it. Would I still feel feminine without (part of) it? How would others, particularly men, perceived a woman with scarred torso. I didnt even think about losing hair due to chemo, or even death. All I could think of was lopsided chest! Yeah, I am that shallow.

This year I had another little scare. I guess that's part of the territory of having HMS, we, 'mutants', are more prone of having cysts. After waiting for ages and became angry for their service at the cancer hospital, and logging my complaint, I got to see an oncologist, who just said that I need to get pregnant to balance out my hormones. Thanks for your advice, doctor!

Being in that hospital and seeing that doctor made me miss my old oncologist and how she talked me through it and assured me 3 years ago. Not only this doctor didnt address my problem, instead of acknowledging that he's not in capacity to advice me about hormones, he was very condescending.

Maybe I met the wrong doctor, the one who just interested in cutting his patients up and not really communicating with his patients. I do, however, think, no matter how good you are at cutting people up, if your bedside manners and communication skills let you down, you are more prone to have dissatisfied patient. I wouldnt be surprised that one day someone would sued you.

Therefore, I was quite pleased to see this consultant Medical Oncologist at the other hospital. This handsome professor was so down to earth, took his time to explained things to me, and gracefully enough to refer me to another consultant endocrinologist who he thought could help me much better with my problem. And, did I mention he waived his fee because we went to the same med school? No, I didnt say he's good because of that, I've heard good things about him from my other friends too. I bet, if he did something wrong, his patients were more reluctant to sue him because of his bedside manner and communication.

I understand that seeing cancer patients day-in-day-out could get you. But treating them as human, not just as an object is a must. My father always told me that as a doctor you are also there to help them cope with their illness. I used to complaint to my father as he spent too much time with his patients and their families. Now, I wish I have such doctor of my own.

Thank You!

For (one of) the best gifts I've ever received,
For taking your time listening to my rambling,
For keeping me company and endured the 'abuse',
For every wise word of encouragement you've shared,
But most of all,
For every time you've been there for me.

You are awesome!

And I am so grateful to have you in my life.

My Son is Deaf, Finally!

Why is My Bed Moving?

At 14:55 I was typing on my bed, while waiting for the workers to finish putting up together my wardrobe. All of the sudden the bed was moving.

First thought was: 'a truck is passing'. Man, it must have been a huge silent one, as I didnt hear any sound and this morning when they delivered my wardrobe, the truck was huge and I didnt feel any movement.
I went out the room, and yelled out, "Earthquake". But it didnt really dawn on the rest of the house. So I told them to go out of the house. I saw one of the maids was sweeping the floor outside at the back.

This was my first big quake since ages.

After most of us went to the front of the house the tremor continued for several more times. The water in our fish pond was making a huge waves. I went back in looking for that maid that I saw in the back garden. She was still there, sweeping near the fish pond.

I went back and logged on usgs.gov, and turned on the telly. It was 7.4Richter according to USGS, 7.3 according to BMG, with epicenter off coast of Tasikmalaya. There's a possibility of tsunami. Not Good.

We tried reaching Yanto, a bloke who used to live and work for us, but now living in Pangandaran on that coast. We couldnt get through to both of his mobiles that we know off.

About half an hour after the first quake, Yanto called. He said his house has cracks all over, and he is afraid to get inside. People are afraid of tsunami, and they are expecting it. So I told him to go else where safe. He assured me his place is on high ground, and his family is safe.

After all the commotion, my maid came in from the back and asked us if there was any earthquake, since she didnt notice it!!!! I am sure it was at least 5Richter in Jakarta, so it was perplexing that she didnt feel/notice it. Oh well, at least she's ok.