Wheel of LIFE

LIFE and DEATH...

we see it everyday at work
we battle it everyday at work
we rack our minds to puzzle it out
it's no wonder we seem to live more than others
feel more than others
frustrate more than others

sometimes i wonder
do we ever not feel anymore
get so drained that it doesn't matter anymore
there's just no more to give

i love the pp i work with
they teach me to care more
to not give up
to give more even when i think i can't
to have empathy
to be better

i wish we had more time to play or hang out tog other than work
i wish no one would leave
i love all the pp i work with and would like to thank them for it :)

wed turned out nice after the rocky start
i love my work pals

where we are
in a single day
the world can fall apart unexpectedly with a sudden unforeseen death
and be all sunshine again the next moment when something u did actually had a positive response...
we ride the emo roller coaster so closely we feel every bump and lift
with all the trauma and stress
how long is the life span?

intricate lines of comfort we weave a safety net for ourselves
a net of subtle comfort on an awlful crazy day
we send out waves of comfort to those around us
as we reach out ourselves
we need more fluffidos and leias for our soul's sanity and a moment's peace
i am blessed with lemonades, choc chip cookies, yan yans, snickers and mars bars

in our little area
we're a whole world universe
of life and death...

My Adventures Today...

scurry here...
scurry there...

how come i'm still in the same place???

A peek into this week's work...

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Definition : Insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to achieve therapy and homeostasis.
Based on a holistic concept of diagnosis and treatment.
And the acknowledgement of the body’s ability to repair itself.
In addition to needles, acupressure, moxibustion, electrostimulation, gold beads, aquapuncture and laser can be used to stimulate the points.

NEEDLES
Needles are rounded at the end, not cutting.
Separate skin and muscle rather than cut tough tissue.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
Modulation of neuronal conduction - inhibits pain transmission
Humoral theory - release of endogenous opiates resulting in self induced analgesia (endorphins/serotonins etc)
Localized vasodilation - eliminates pain producing substances & speeds tissue healing
Autonomic - modulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous stimulation

Known Effect of Needling
Analgesia - stimulates the release of endorphins.
- the effect is reduced after excessive treatment due to depletion of
neurotransmitters
Sedation - increases levels of dopamine in the brain
Homeostasis - affects the autonomic and endocrine system
- thereby regulating respiration/ HR/ BP/ Temp/ Metabolic rate/ sweating/ electrolyte balance etc.
Immune System - effect the reticuloendothelial system increasing wbc
- increase AB titre by 2-4times
- can also increase interferon levels for viral dz
Psychological - opiate release Þ calming effect
- regulates metabolism of serotonin, noradrenalin, acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters
Motor Recovery - been shown to stimulate regeneration of anterior horn cells in spinal cord for nerve paralysis.

All these effects occur simultaneously; reinforcing and complimenting each other, to bring the body back to normal homeostasis, thus promoting continued life of the organism.

ACUPUNCTURE POINTS
Qi flows around the body along specific pathways called the meridians.
14 main Meridians (12 named after organ to which they are connected)
They influence structures on their pathway and are predictable in the symptoms they produce.

Meridians : LU LI ST SP HT SI BL KI PC TH CG LIV CV GV

Acupuncture points are points located along these meridians.
Points act as “amplifiers”, modulating flow of Qi along the meridian when stimulated.
Inserting a needle into a point can regulate, tonify or dampen Qi flow within the meridian, thereby restoring normal flow and homeostasis.

Disharmonies of Qi :
Deffiicient Qi - weakness, lethargy, inappetance, pale tongue, weak pulse
Sinking Qi - manifests as hernias and prolapses
Stangnant Qi - results in distension and pain
Rebellious Qi – Upward movement of St Qi results in vomiting, nausea, hiccoughs

Alarm Points/ Associated Effect Points : specific points of the body that becomes painful when an organ or meridian is diseased. Can be used as means of diagnosis and treatment.

Points to note :
Nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics need to be intact for acupuncture to work
Acupuncture can be blocked by LA

Circadian clock
Energy in the channels flow in specific sequence around body spending about 2hours in each channel so that whole cycle completed in 24hours.
Specific symptoms may occur only at a particular time of the day – useful in terms of diagnosis.
Symptoms of excess is usually worse at peak of time eg heart attack at noon
Deficiencies are worse at the low ebb time eg weak heart, usually stops at midnight.

WHAT IS FELT? (De Qi)
Common sensation of De Qi :
Soreness, Numbness, Distension, Electric shock, Cold, Warmth, Heaviness, Tight drawing sensation around needle.
Animals may move or bite at needle.
TCM states that there is no therapeutic benefit without this sensation.
Therapeutic result is better if Qi sensation reaches the site of disease.

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED AFTER TREATMENT :
No obvious change in symptoms, but animal may be “brighter”
Symptoms improve for 24-48hours then slowly worsen
Symptoms get worse for 24-48 hours then improve

Possible complications : Bent/ broken needles – rare
: Injury to vital organs especially around chest region – rare

Contraindications :
1. In absence of differential diagnosis (Conventional/ TCM)
2. After use of corticosteroids - DEBATABLE
3. During pregnancy (restricted pts)

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED :
Best/ more obvious effect : Musculoskeletal system
Others : Skin, Urinary tract, Respiratory tract, Cardiovascular, Nervous disorders, Gastrointestinal dz, Reproduction, Eyes, Ears, Geriatric conditions.

MOM?

No la..Heh heh!
My dear long time fren who always gets mistaken for my mum.
Although we're not related, she's the closest to an elder sis i'll ever have and i'm lucky and thankful to her for putting up with my nonsense, tantrums and wilfulness, to still be there to care for me and chide me when needed :)
And i love her very much, like a sister.
So i'm adopting u whether u like it or not!!! hahahaha!!!

One of my favouritest photo of the trip!!

I dream a dream...

of R A I N B O W S...

More "PRESENTS"

Well...
U think u've seen it all...
the GORE... the BLOOD... the PUS...

WAIT till u find a couple of petrified bodies...
On the floor...
In TWO of your bags...
UUUGHHH...
Resist the urge to GAG!!!
YUCKS!!
Thanks FiFi!!

Princess not-so-fat-legs

Las Meninas

This is The Infanta Margarita María from the Las Meninas of Velazquez... It is so cool. The exhibition at the Prado had several paintings, and vis a vis was the original from Velazquez.
Wikipedia has a great explanation of it -- Though the english version lacks some information in the german version, so here is a translation. I should consider entering into Wikipedia...

Durch das Gemälde wurde Oscar Wilde zu seinem Märchen The Birthday Of The Infanta (1891) inspririert. Es wurde mehrfach vertont, unter anderem von Franz Schreker als Tanz-Pantomime Der Geburtstag der Infantin und durch Alexander von Zemlinsky als einaktige Oper Der Zwerg. In seinem Buch Die Ordnung der Dinge zieht Michel Foucault dieses Bild heran, um Prinzipien der Repräsentation in der Epoche der Renaissance zu beschreiben.
-- Oscar Wilde was inspired by this painting for his work The birthday of the Infanta (1891). It was also the inspiration for several musical works, eg the Dance-Pantonmine "the birthday of the infanta" (Franz Schreker) and "The Dwarf" by Alexander Zemlinsky, the latter being a one-act opera. In his book " the Order of things", the author Michel Foucault uses this painting to describe the principles of represntation in the renaissance epoch.


1957 malte Pablo Picasso 58 Variationen der Meninas, die im Museu Picasso in Barcelona zu sehen sind. Weitere Variationen des Themas stammen von Yasumasa Morimura, Prinzessin A, 1990 und von Yue Minjun, Infanta, 1997.
-- In 1957, Picasso painted 58 Variations of the Meninas, and these are exhibited in the Museum Picasso in Barcelona. Other variations ...



The Picasso versions showed the development of his works over time. The first being the most similar to the original, and further works became more and more abstract.

Also, Picasso was the director for the museum Prado for three years *i think:

Will spend some time to write up more...

LAMenEsS

Becos...
I allow early bookings, I shall be super busy
And I'm only here once weekly

Therefore...
You're incharge of all the hosp cases

Becos...
I am ever so busy with my very full apptmt
And pp whom I allow to walk-in despite my oredi full schld
Plus since I'm only here once weekly, I will not be able to follow up on cases
Hence I only wanna see my apptmts and not walk-ins

Therefore...
You are not to over book surgeries as you should be on standby to deal with walk-ins
Eventhough they are walk-ins and should wait
Your Sx can be booked in another day

Becos...
This might possi req surgery
And your surgeries (like my current consults) are not life-threatening emergencies
I shall send them to you with no typed up history or any prior prep (despite my usual preachings)

Therefore...
You shall attend to it immediately
And postpone your lunch and surgeries as they are of lesser imptance
And you are never as busy as me

Becos...
Unfanthomable reasons
I need your nurse to hold my cat
So I can perform teachings

Therefore...
You are left nurseless in the middle of a surgery
To lower the isoflo and monitor the animal yourself
As watever you do is always of a lesser imptance
And you should be independant enuff to handle it

Becos...
Cleaning ears, clipping nails and weight of cats from someone spoilt & irresp
Trumps helping out at a sx for smallies

Therefore...
Help has to be requested several times b4 they're relinguished
Despite the fact that there's a higher risk of smallies under GA and would require close monitoring with a free hand to hold the mask...
Hence the need for 2 pp preferably...

Becos...
I am always doing my best for everyone
I am wiser, I know better
And I am always working harder than anyone else (becos I choose to)
No one is to be trusted (except my favs) and allowed to make their own decisions
I can alawys explain my actions anywhich way -- I trump everyone else -- do not bother to argue with me or share your point of view as you will lose

Therefore...
Everything should be as I dictate
And I am always right regardless
Everyone should be like me if not they are worthless
And their judgement is usually wrong
Hence I should treat them like idiots and just implement my ideas
And I can never trust their word

PUCK'S SONG

Over hill, over dale,
Through bush, through brier,
Over park, over pale,
Through flood, through fire,
I do wander everywhere,

Swifter than the moone's sphere,
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coat spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckless live they savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And go hang a peral in every cowslip's ear.

William Shakespeare

Baby loves u

If i could name you

little one...

i'd dub thee Rudolf

and kiss ya on your little red-pink nose.

Stay strong little one,

for we've all grown to love you.

Ah LIAN...

Came home one late nite to find this marvellous flower, half opened and proped in a vase...

Took some pics then but nite pics are NEVER as good (as Twisstii wld say... )

Hence the morning shots by the backyard...

Full in her glory!

Sushi-Friday

On Friday, we had a nice sushi night out, since especially, I had this great voucher that gave us fish at half price...! The tactic is to be in-charge of something that doesnt happen during the meal, ie. either be incharge of slicing the stuff, or be incharge of cleaning up... Because the rollers have to roll, while the rest eat.

But, so there was some competition between Ila and Florian (our sushichefiflori), but Ila definitely won on artistic talent :). So now, we are all dumping Florian for Ila! Ila! Ila!

Of course the evening ended up with quite some drunk people... (this is Flori-jugie)

tOdAY

COMEX 2006

After an Arduous JOURNEY...

DO NOT EVER DRIVE!!!

MRT is the ideal mode of transport...

FINALLY!!! MY NEW TOY!!

Virgin Pic of my Nikkon L3!!
(by Twisstii)

Shrooms in Orchard...
As Twisstii & I roam the streets...

after a meal of peanutbutter condensed milk...

and carrotcake pork floss eggwrap...