who's soonger??

Superbowl Sunday

Sunday, Feb 1

It's been a busy week for me. Met up with pharmacy classmates last w/e who were in town. Nice to see everyone (together) after such a long absence. It's not often for people to come down to Windsor, after all. We all met up at The Keg for a late dinner. Fine food and drinks helped with the atmosphere.

The work week was rather uneventful. It was really slow, in fact. Guess it was due to the big "storm" we were supposed to get on Monday. Everyone stayed indoors and off the road, thus the relatively slow work days. Not that I'm complaining -- means that my per unit script/salary is at a good ratio. I like that.

This weekend, I attended the Chinese New Year gala at the Cleary. This was 'the other' Chinese association (actually, it's the first and more recognizable organization). Tickets were provided by Pfizer Canada, otherwise I wouldn't shell out the C$90 per ticket. After all, it was The Red Sail Restaurant that was catering the event! ;) Anyway, it was a nice night to be out with friends and be seen. Big people like the mayor, Eddie Francis, other political bigwigs also attended the fete. Lots of pharmacists there as well. Not that it surprises me because there are a lot of Chinese pharmacists in this city (me included!)

Today, it's been a rather quiet day. Went over to get JJ and went out for dim sum at Jade Restaurant. Met up with Vince & Mei. Lots of food! I was so stuffed ... aaahhhh. In the afternoon, I caught up on my current Playstation fixation -- getting back into Gran Turismo the video game. I'm down to one more track to unlock all the cars to the game. That makes me happy. Guess this fixation started about a week or so ago. Maybe the autoshow last month catalyzed this interest. After a few plays, I finally 'got' the driving dynamics to the game ... also learned a bit about how to advance in the 'hard' level of the arcade game: pick the car with the most horsepower/torque in its class is the first step. Then with driving any car, it's generally universal how fast you can whip around corners and when to hit the gas after the turn... I finally see 'the light'!

It's the Superbowl tonight. Actually, I'm watching it right now as I write, (boy, I love wireless Internet). Got the portable antenna from the kitchen TV and plugged it into my 27" Samsung in my room. It's not the clearest of receptions but it's good enough for me to enjoy the US commercials I've missed the past few years (stupid CRTC and Canadian content!).

What does the month of February have in store? I work quite a bit ... but I do have a couple of Thursdays off this month (and couple of weekends). I have to max out the number of work hours I have ... planning on going to Tasmania in March for a cousin's wedding. Do I have the travel bug? You bet! It's a tough life, I realize, but someone's gotta do it. ;)

Friday, Feb 6

Where does the time go? Unbelieveable how fast 5 days can go by ... rather unremarkable past few days. Working here and there ... trying to keep in touch with friends, near and far. At the same time, I'm looking ahead to March -- Tasmania! Looking at Expedia.ca has prices hovering around C$2200. Pricy but looks like I don't have many other options to get there. It does look encouraging -- down from C$2600 a couple weeks ago! Perhaps this bird flu thing has people scared to travel to Asia or thereabouts. Fine by me!

It was my cousin Ai Vee's b'day on the 5th. Happy belated b'day! Since you've moved, you haven't given me a current address, phone or even e-mail addy! Where are you?! How's AUS?!

Let's see ... what's been going on with me. I went for my first swim of the year over at the U yesterday. It was nice to be back in the pool -- this is part of my 'health kick' (aka New Year's Resolutions). Haven't been particularly successful in any regard, however, it's the attempt that counts. Have been using the quasi-eliptical machine my mom picked up a few months back in the living room (great to exercise while watching TV) as well as a trip down to the basement to do some weights. Cardio has been my achilles heel but slowly but surely, I can feel I have some endurance. I think back to my days at New College in Toronto ... man, was it easy to go to the AC and go for a swim. No excuses then ... so many excuses now.

The weekend ahead: catch up on work-related readings. Boy, am I out of touch with current trends in medication use. Goes to show you: you don't use it -- you lose it! My hospital days have paid dividends the past year but I know there's a lot more out there I haven't touched and reading journals helps some, but not enough.

Friday, Feb 13

Ooohhh ... Friday the Thirteenth -- scary! Hogwash ... it's just like any other day. I'm still a bit skeptical why this particular day would have people walking on eggshells. It was a really slow day at the pharmacy today. Not that I'm complaining but it was just slow. Particularly strange because the main prescribing MD is leaving for a week to go to Mexico. Guess the regular patients aren't aware of his departure, so they won't find out until he's not around on Monday!

Yesterday was also a slow day ... I was at this new place (new for me at least) in a part of town called Roseville. Working at this place called Roseville Pharmacy -- appropriate, don't you think? It was a last minute booking. The boss was in need to take time off (ie he had to visit the dentist) so he needed someone to cover for him. He got my name through the "pharmacy channels". I had the day off, so I helped him out. He later tells me he has to go back to HK to attend his father's funeral. Unfortunately, I am booked pretty solid at the end of the month and could only help out on an evening shift next week.

Also on the agenda ... have to earnestly look for tours to Australia for next month. My mom hasn't been doing her job (ie looking for places to go) so this weekend, it will be priority #1! Personally, if worse comes to worse, we can always rent a car and drive our way around eastern Australia. Just like we did through America, you can jump in a car, grab a map and see the sitse yourself! I'm cool with it ... people there all speak English so it won't be a problem. My only thing is the exchange rate -- it's at par with the Canadian dollar. Who would have thought their economy is so strong?! I'm glad I had the 10% premium when I went in 2001 ...

It's also Valentine's Day. Does everyone have a special someone to spend the day with? Honestly, it's a deliberate Hallmark holiday in my books. Not to be a party-pooper, but shouldn't every day be a romantic one? Isn't our loved ones supposed to be treated special every day? I hope so ... but then again, you're hearing this from a guy who's not particularly open with the idea of PDA (public displays of affection, not Palm Pilot - personal digital assistant). In my defense, I combed the mall yesterday and today ... and I came up with a panic buy of the new Norah Jones CD. Skimmed through the songs at Future Shop. It's got some good tunes but no real songs that will win Emmys like Don't Know Why. Sophomore blues ... how appropriate. But I still like her voice -- wow.

Tuesday, Feb 17

Not feeling so great the past couple of days. Kinda feeling blah. Have you ever felt angry and felt sacred by a person's reaction before? Guess that's where I am today. Must have done something wrong ... got this icy response and when I try to make amends, I get the silent treatment. I've gone through the situation over a hundred times in my head ... seems like a mole hill and it turned out to be a mountain. Even tried to see things on the other perspective ... all things considering (imagine being under stress, lack of sleep, possibly hungry) and when I leave the place for 15 minutes ... and come back ready to go ... BAM! I'm in the dog house.

Of course you don't have the big picture behind things but I think you can imagine where I'm coming from (guys will be very sympathetic to where I am right now) You have to factor in the 'pride' (on both sides). I've tried to reach out with the proverbial olive branch but it was silently shunned away. To top things off, I'm sick, I'm sleep deprived and hungry (haven't eaten yet) and JJ is mad at me. How much worse can this get? O woe is me!

What else is going on around in my world ... it's exactly 1 month before I plan on taking off to Australia. Everything appears to be "up to me" (there are 3 people in my party, including myself going). Seems like everyone else is sitting on their hands and expecting me to do something about it. Kinda frustrates me ... I don't know what people want yet they expect someone else to do all the planning. Money is no object (within reason, of course) but no one is giving me any feedback whatsoever. That sucks.

Was hearing through the grapevine about a job offering at the discounter, Costco. Went to a good friend of mine ... sounds like he got the short end of the stick but will try it and see. Worst comes to worst, he'll vacate the job and he happier for the experience. I'm doing a relief shift there. I do have qualms with the dispensing fee (ie below what the gov't will pay). I realize the economic need for some who don't have coverage but I do see a philosophical limit on the value of what a pharmacist does. Guess it's one of those 'moral issues' we read about but never sit down and dwell upon. I do have a problem with it but at the same time, I don't condemn places that do it. In fact, I will work a shift there to help out a colleague this month.

Got an e-mail from my cousin who recently moved to Australia. Guess I was 'the bigger person' and contacted her first (got vitals through her younger sister). She's doing great. I'm happy for her. Too bad she's going at a time when the Australian currency is so strong! I'm going to feel the pinch when I go over next month. First time I've ever seen the Australian currency stronger than the Canadian dollar. Sucks to be me!