Tanned in Sepang

We are just two days away before all the cars roll unto Sepang track for their practice run on Friday, followed by the qualifying round on Saturday & the grand finale on Sunday. Tomorrow will be a long day for me & the other medical personnel as the FIA brushes up on the final details of Formula One. The track looks better today than the week before as the old paint has been replaced & lots of cleaning has taken place. We were in the middle of our medical inspection when Sebastien Buemi (Team Toro Rosso) jogged by my post. Let's hope I'll get to see Fernando Alonso or Felipe Massa jog by soon, haha. Today's weather was great. It was mainly cloudy & it only poured after 5 pm. Though I hope it will not rain during this weekend, I hope it will be cloudy. I am not really fond of getting a tan here in Sepang.

It has been awhile since I got tanned by our hot tropical sun. Hmm... let me see... I think it was most probable in Summer 2006 when we last went to Sematan beach. Faith & I may not know how to swim but we love the outdoors! We probably learn how to swim when our kids come along. For now, we still enjoy going to the beach, hiking up mountains (we done that for Gunung Gading), enjoying boat rides, & will someday attempt jumping off a cliff (paragliding) or a plane (skydiving). Someday we also hope we can go scuba diving once we learn how to swim so we can have a glimpse of the disappearing corals. We also plan to scale the Mulu Caves & Mount Kinabalu after Faith completes her internship. {S}

L.O.V.E.

This is day 2 being away from my Sweetheart & I miss her very, very much! I miss her kisses, I miss her cuddles & I definitemiss all the attention she gives to me. I was eating dinner alone tonight, while listening to the live band singing "L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole. It was the same song I sang to my Precious prior to entering her room to take her out during our Chinese wedding ceremony. The last time I sang in public was when I was eight at a Sunday School singing competition. I was horizontally challenged, out of tune & settled for consolation prize. My sister on the other hand, won first runner-up, which was awesome considering the fact that she never had any formal vocal training. However, on June 20th, 2010, I beat the world. Nat King Cole may be a legend, but I was greater than a legend. I was the man who was madly in love with Faith & going all out to marry her! Today when we look back on that day, we are filled with smiles. Oh yea, my singing to charm my Beautiful Wife hasn't stopped since then!

Today was a long day as I endured long hours of lectures. Not to mention, we were also well fed with lots of food though the yumminess wasn't there. By noon, most of my blood drained out of my brain & was centered on my tummy. Caffeine failed to sustain me. Good thing the room was dark, so I hope the lecturer did not mind me taking a snooze at the back bench. Otherwise, it was a relaxed day compared to the ER. I shall be heading down to the track tomorrow for on-track training & preparations before the FIA swings around on Thursday.

It has been pouring here in Sepang. Last year, the race was actually cancelled due to the heavy downpour. For me, as long as there are no casualties, that is a good thing. There will be lots of good teams this year & I am excited to be part of this year's race. Of course, I will be even more excited if I was one of those rich guys coming to Sepang with my Sweetheart in our Audi R8 coupé, chauffeured to the Paddock Club & enjoy the race from a level above. {S}

Away again

I have just checked in at the Concorde Inn, where I shall be spending a week here in conjunction with the 2010 Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix. I kissed my Honey this morning & promised her to be well, & I miss her already! I am glad that we are no longer separated by mountains & oceans as before, rather just an hour apart. Even so, being away from my Honey is heart wrenching. I look forward to the day that we don't have to be apart... ever again.

How can we ever have the freedom to be together wherever & whenever? My Honey & I are both doctors, but our work expectations & demands varies. I am so tempted to leave my work at times to be a househubby. If that is so, it will give me an opportunity to make sure our home is always well kept, my Honey getting delicious home cooked food & my Honey getting more massages too! In order for that to happen, my Honey will have to be the bread winner of our home. I have shared this idea with her, but she has commendably declined fame & prestige. She prefers being a rich housewife who is only bothered by the well being of her family, latest fashion & haute couture, spa & beauty treatments as well as the next exotic travel that she will be heading off with her Irresistible Hubby!

Honey, I look forward to the day that you be bestowed with this blessing. It is not impossible, so let us look forward! Our Love will strengthen & see us through, let's believe & enjoy its goodness! You are my Heartbeat & I love you only! {S}

Away for the weekend

I will start my training as part of the medical team for the 2010 Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang starting tomorrow. Though I won't be posted at the grand stand, it is still an exciting event to be at. However, I will be missing my Sweetheart dearly! How I wish she could come along with me... I hope that she'll be able to swing by on Saturday after her work. She'll be tired as she will be on-call the day before, so I'd prefer that she sleep at home than to travel such a long journey. I have our pictures uploaded unto my iPod, so that'll keep me company. I can look at my Beautiful anytime whenever I miss her (which will be a whole lot!). Of course, I'd still prefer to kiss my Sweetheart in person. {S}

My first dollar

I was having breakfast with a good friend today after a long night at work. As I paid for our iced milk tea, I was reminded of the first dollar I made. A millionaire once told me that the hardest thing to do financially is not how to achieve the first million dollars, but rather how to save the first dollar earned.

Six years ago when I fell for my Faith at first sight, I knew right away that I will someday marry her. Since then, I saved every penny I could so that someday, I will be able to propose her with a beautiful diamond ring. Inflation was never in my favor. When I started out as young doctor, I was even more determined than before to save that very first dollar I earned. I rented a small room on hospital grounds & shared bathroom with 3 other guys. I was fortunate to eat at least twice a day in view of my heavy workload, saving on that extra meal. Many at times, I savage the same food served to patients which was in excess. I hardly watched any movies & never bought a shirt for myself. When I eat out, I would just order the main course. Pepsi was the only affordable luxury when I ate out at Mac Donald's... occasionally.

During my first year of internship, I read a lot about diamonds during my free time. I visited several jewelers when I had the opportunity to. One day, I found myself at Tiffany's. My eyes rested on the most beautiful diamond ring I have ever seen. It was not huge, but it was the right size, the perfect brilliance and the one with Faith written all over it. The price was astonishing for a small guy like me, but I was determined to get that ring for my Sweetheart. I set my priorities straight, focused on my goal & labored for months. The day I bought the Tiffany ring for my Sweetheart was the day I felt most accomplished. That purchase may not be numerically significant, but it has taught me the impact of my first dollar saved. I continued on with that attitude & finally saved more than enough to give my Faith a fairy tale wedding. Today, as I look at my Sweetheart's Tiffany ring on her beautiful finger, I am filled with joy for making my Faith know how much she means to me; pride for achieving & gratitude for a priceless lesson learnt. {S}

Coffee... our affordable luxury

Faith & I enjoy coffee as much as we enjoy nature. I dream of the day that I wake my Dearheart with the smell of a freshly brewed cup of Espresso. She stirs as I give her butterfly kisses & rolls over with a huge grin on her lovely face. A hill of a thousand secrets stretches behind us, while a vast horizon of deep blue ocean lies before us with its waves producing melodies more beautiful than that of Beethoven's. Fresh gerberas bloom wonderfully in a vase beside our bed, greeting my Faith with grace. Yes, that is a morning that the both of us dream of waking up to... everyday.

So far, we are nowhere close to that dream as we are still trapped in a rat race that consumed much of our daylight time. I want to pack my Wifey off to work right everyday, so I make sure she gets her coffee right. She has always enjoyed my Cappuccino & craved for my Affogato (minus the Amaretto). She always chooses Cafe Mocha over Caffe Latte when we eat out till I started serving her some of my very own Mocha every morning. Now, she leans towards Cafe au lait when we go shopping. We just bought a new bag of Viennese beans. That's a new challenge for me as I shall start perfecting Viennese Melange for her. Apart from that, I am going to add Latte Macchiato to her breakfast soon! I may not be a barista (yet!) but it seems like I am working my way to becoming one haha! {S}

Beautiful are the feet...

My Faith has beautiful feet. These fair, flawless feet have walked many years & miles with me. They have gracefully walked down the dazzling wedding aisle of Borneo Highland, been soaked in the unadultered blue waters of Sematan beach, throttled through the virgin snow of Europe, stood painstakingly through the long hours of work at the hospital, lovingly caressed my rough feet whenever we meet & occasionally used as disciplinary act of chastise (mainly kung fu kicks). Yet, I am still in love with these lovely pair of feet.

I am going to give my Faith a foot massage tonight when she comes back from work. She deserves all the pampering she can get from me. I hope this will be a small reward for her endurance & persistence at work that she can enjoy. My Faith is such a wonderful person who does not demand much of materials. She craves for my attention , longs for me to spoil her & indulges in my affection for her. For me, I will make sure her cup (& satisfaction) overflows. {S}

Is the Cause worth the Cost?

I am an Emergency & Trauma Medical Officer. My Faith is an Internal Medicine House Officer. We are one of the many front liners in our profession. Patients regardless of their age, gender, race & backgrounds present to us with signs & symptoms in different pieces. We are responsible to piece a diagnosis together & make them better.

We work in an environment governed by office politics, fueled by emotional ties, equipped with incomprehensible workload & empowered by fear. Many times, we face the horrifying battles that wage against us alone, yes, alone. Patients in the 21st century are no longer the same as before. On one hand, they are more literate & knowledgeable. On the other hand, they are also ruthless & mannerless. This is not applicable to all patients, but having a few of these around is sufficient enough to paralyze the harmony of doctor-patient relationship. What is more hurting is how we are treated by our colleagues & superiors. I have a wonderful & charismatic boss. I am learning much from her & I am thankful for her support. However, there are many superiors out there who have forgotten that they were once House & Medical Officers. We have a vicious work ethic in our country. We love to compare. Here are a few examples:

"If I have done it before, so should you."
"I was all alone running a ward of a hundred patients by myself & I survive, you should be able to do it too."
"This is not too much work. I used to do ten times more & I never complained."
"When I was still a Junior, I used to sleep in the hospital every night so I can learn. You waste too much time."
"C'mon, you think all this work is too much? Let me tell you how much work I used to do when I was your age."

In conclusion, it is easier & faster to diagnose & treat a laceration wound on a limb, than a perforated gastric ulcer. Amid the frenzy we meet everyday, we just hope that we can find solace in our loved ones at home & in our team at work. We are still a long way from change. {S}

Financially free

Poverty is a curse. Being rich may sound cool, but imagine the hours spent worrying about where all that cash is going to end up to. I dream of financial freedom. In fact, I am working towards that goal. Financial freedom is about being contented with what I've got & able to achieve with the current financial state that I am, & better still, be at peace with what I have or own. I do not need a lot of luxuries in life, but money is an important precursor in our daily lives. I do not want to worry about being lack on cash, or have late night fights with my Wife on how we are going to settle our debts. I want to be able to give freely to those in need, to use my money at where its needed most, or even utilize it on the eldest son of a farmer in the next village who is trying to get educated in the best university in the city.

Many think that we all work for money. Well, on contrary, I want my money to work for me. I may not have much now, but I look forward to the day that I can give above my expectations. Financial freedom is a blessing. {S}