Daydream Nightmare

Imagine.

You are a nurse, and you happen to have a patient who contracted pulmonary tuberculosis. As usual, she exhibits classical signs and symptoms any patient with PTB would manifest, namely, blood stained cough (haemoptysis), fever, impaired lung function.

Your patient is started on the first line anti-TB drugs treatment (RHEZ). During the course of therapy, blood tests reveal raised liver enzymes which could worsen to liver dysfunction.

Doctors suspect the compromised liver resulted from the side effects of the anti TB drugs, thus therapy is halted immediately. Her condition deteriorates (sudden desaturation and persistent haemoptysis), is transferred to a higher level of care and categorized under DIL (dangerously ill list).

After stabilizing her condition, doctors decide to switch to IM Streptomycin, a 2nd line anti TB treatment. After some improvements, she is transferred back to the general ward where she resumes traditional 1st line treatment, together with 2nd line treatment under strict monitoring.
You would think that being saved from the verge of death calls for a celebration.

It largely depends on your patient’s nationality and line of work.

“How so?” You ask.

It is a sad day when the ugliness of humanity reveals itself.

Imagine again.

Your patient just happens to be an Indonesian maid and her employers (paying the brunt of the hospitalization bill) just happen to be Singaporean.

Then further imagine.

Her employers marching to the ward and screaming to everyone they see about the costs incurred and insist on sending their maid back.

Yes, on a flight.

Nevermind her still infectious condition (her AFB smears are still 4+). Afterall, the people on the flight don't matter to them.

Motherfuckers. *spits*

The doctor tries to reason out the situation, but no explanation can penetrate their thick skulls. Apparently, all auditory sensation is immediately rendered useless as long as the content does not appeal to their flawed logic.

“We've been to the MP you know!” they hack.

So what? Cheebye.

“Why must I pay?! Why must everyday take blood?! How much for the test?! I want a detailed report. You must inform me first before you do any test cause I'm paying!!!!” they hiss.

In short, they’re just concerned about the cash involved.

They even try to show off their largely googled knowledge by ranting off about what they think they know about PTB, treatments and their side effects.

"Why did you all stop the treatment when she has TB? That's why until now still got TB you know!"

It’s bullshit at its best.

Would you then favor possible chronic liver failure?

You exposed how ugly you really are.

You should thank your lucky stars for being born in a relatively affluent nation, with parents whom could provide opportunities for education, the chance to find work and afford a maid. Many others a left without much choice besides working as housekeepers or in menial jobs.

So as you complain about how they dent your finances, take a breather and think about how God has given you the opportunity to save another person's life. For without your assistance (no matter how unwilling you were), your money helped provide her resources to recover.

Now I’d like to imagine:
1. A Singaporean with more compassion.

2. A Ministry of Manpower that will bar fuckers like those imagined in the above from EVER, EVER employing anyone

3. Embassies that will help cover or at least co-pay treatment for their fellowmen

4. Karma, just Karma

Oh yeah, and I'd like to imagine slapping their faces til their teeth fly out.

To sock them in the eye til their eyeballs pop.
Let those aqueous humor flow!

And end it off with stepping on the abdomen.
I'm aiding gastric motility! Really.

Up In Smoke

The recent financial turmoil has wrecked many economies worldwide. Without a doubt, our sunny shores are also awash in the panic of recession. And with more financial institutions crumbling under the pressure, I do not believe the worst is over.

I empathize with the men-on-the-street, whom lost their hard earned savings in the wake of the Lehman Brothers crash. I too, suffered an agonizing 30% (and growing) loss of some savings resulting from the aftershock of a battered American economy.

My cash stocks are tied to the main players in the local market. However, that makes it a moderate to high risk fund to tap into because of an undiversified portfolio. I have faith that our economy will emerge stronger then ever. It better. And with the promise to guarentee our dollar deposits by the Prime Minister coupled with our 150billion dollar reserves, I hope I’ll be able to ride through this current predicament.

Investing requires a lot of careful study.

One mistake can cost your life savings. However, there are calculated risks involved in everything. For example, you may choose to just dump your savings in the bank. That bank may just collapse. Even if I were to hide my cash in a biscuit tin under my bed, it may get stolen or worse still, eaten by silverfish.

Do you remember the story in Bible about the master and his 3 servants? Each servant was given the same amount of money. The 1st servant squandered the money. The 2nd buried it, while the 3rd invested and made the money grow.

So you see, the key here is to invest wisely.

If you’re looking for short term gains, then note that the stakes are much higher and that it may not be a suitable playing field for all. If you have the guts and the brains, then it’s your call. And your money.

For me, investments are never a short term affair. Like plants, they need (a realistic) time to mature. I will be more cautious in the future and study extensively before I sign on the dotted line.

And perhaps this episode will bloom into a bountiful harvest? Well, I can dream can't I?

Last week, after finishing my 2 day Patient Education course, I had to attend the Professional Image for Nurses course.

Hah! And what a day that proved to be.

Our etiquette instructor was a (once upon a time) beauty pageant winner. If I remember correctly, she won the Ms Singapore-World title some time back. She was supposed to teach us how to project a good image and what-nots as my DN’s (Director of Nursing) dream is to have us nurses exude an air to rival Singapore’s pride – the SQ Girl.

(insert song here) What a great way to fly wipe ass

She spent a great deal of effort trying to hawk off her tear resistant stockings with a pearly sheen from Japan at $18/pair, hair accessories (bling clips and headbands) at $15 (that she insisted was also made in japan even though the items clearly stated made in China and Korea)and her self proclaimed “super soft” fox hair makeup brushes (quote-at a steal-unquote)$20/set.

You know how much time she spent advertising by the amount of mindless details I can remember.

She also handed out her brochure, which also had seen better (and more fashionable) days. It had the weirdest pose imaginable at the back!

Haha!

After that, she shared with us little snippets of her 'incredibly high flying' (by her own standards and tone of voice) life. Of the formal dinners she attends, of how much she prides her dressing as an act of courtesy and of how she considers flip flops some sin to mankind.

"You know how sloppy Singaporeans are?!"

And she continued to drone on and on about buying LV and Gucci, with comparisons of their service and pricing.

Enough already.

Although the instructor had very clear skin, it had a plastic quality (just like her personality!). Especially since her makeup appeared stuck in an episode of the dreaded “Masters Of The Sea”, Singapore’s answer to Dynasty. *Crush you like a cock-o-roach....*

It was all very 80s.

The final straw that broke the camel's back was when she taught the attendees how to ‘lift’ their hair in an updo using hairspray and a “back comb” technique, One Republic immediately appeared out from no where and started singing, "Stop & Stare". Yes, it was THAT bad.

Hahaha!

And during the hands-on makeup session, I was appalled to see people actually sharing the makeup strewn on the table. Expiry dates and a total disregard for personal hygiene made me nauseas. Some people have acne leh! And goodness knows how many rounds of training the products have been through.

My neurotic mind screamed, "Maybe the makeup is from the 80s too!"

I politely declined using the products (aka bacteria farms) and settled to watch instead cause I could see that she steered clear from using the shared goods herself.

I mopeng, can’t use. Wait infect you. Thanks hor.

She eyeballed me periodically but nothing could make me budge, though I remained the (handicapped) ever eager beaver.

Hahahaha!

Makeup rules to adhere to, hair to be washed in a certain fashion, walking and speech becomes calculated. To me, it eliminates the sincerity in all the activities and are reserved for ladies of leisure. Undeniably not suitable for me.

Who cares if you match blue and orange. Who cares if you burp like a frog calling out for the rain? Or issue fart bombs that is probably responsible for WW2 genocide? For sure, I'll bitch a little, but I'm sure to end it off joining in and having a ball.

If your world revolves around the infinately superficial, then it's your personal choice. I prefer to live mine with a little more emphasis on life itself.

Good news for all Majolica Majorca fans in Singapore!

The time when you could only buy this in Japan, HK, Taiwan or online (at ridiculous prices) is over! Watson's will be bringing in the brand to our very own shores in Nov 2008. Woohoo...!!

High time, since even Malaysia has been selling it in KL. Duh.

Stick Insect introduced me to this brand while we were in Taipei and I became instantly hooked! Some products were also recommended by the popular Taiwanese "Nu Ren Wo Jui Da" program.

Anyway, for the uninitiated, Majolica Majorca is a subdivision of Shiseido cosmetics, thus the cheaper pricetag. Most products hover around the $20-30 range. However, the packaging and quality rivals many high end cosmetics out there! I sooo like shiny stuff!

It's like Gollum to the ring. Precious...

With gold a predominent colour and filigree accents, the antique looking packaging lends an air of romance that is simply quite hard to resist. Its really quite pretty! Take a look!

Their cheek color (RD255) is said to mimic Nars Orgasm. And their fabled mascaras reportedly extends your lashes by up to 15Xs (yes, your eyesight is not failing) is just too tempting.


Help me. I'm wobbly with exhilaration already!