My 2010 - Life, Medicine & Magic

Here's another year end...time for a quick recollection:This is my 2nd year in Medical department, and I enjoy working here a lot. I think I blog less this year, as most of my time is tied to the exam preparation. Something that I shared:Interesting AXRThe Perfect Drug?Are We Really Bad?Nephrologist's NightmareA Simple Thought?Interesting ECG (5)Cause of Ascites?CPR Guideline 2010And some light

USMLE Step 1 Prep

Dear readers, this is it - my sharing post on preparation for USMLE Step 1, after receiving quite a number of enqueries for this exam.Disclaimer: This post is neither a guide nor a suggested study plan. Instead, it is just my own opinion based on past experience. Please take note that I did this exam in '05 (during my 4th year), hence the information may be very much outdated. ;)The United

where did december go?

And come to think of it November and October, too!
Now, just a few days from New Year's I haven't quite found the time for quiet reflection I'd hoped for. Nor for the pile of projects that seems to multiply by the moment. Fur coat repairs, sewing, ORBS, fetishes, Sacred Art Burial Site and shelves that need planing, and hanging await.
My Year of Letting Go isn't fixed like the calendar. So the psychic and material cleansing continues, too. Often in micromovements. Two different friends from Omega lost everything in fires, and while I collect basic necessities and little luxuries for them, I find myself clinging still. Gathering, still. But with small victories like a trip to the local resale shop where I fell in love with a vintage pink beaded glass case and coin purse. And left it behind.
I have always dreamed of having a studio/gallery/store/coffee shop where I might have time and space to make and sell my jewelry, art, vintage clothing and collectibles. Where people come from all over to visit.
I've been reading Eric Maisel's Creativity Book, and one of the "assignments" is to spend everyday, 2x a day, staring out the window and dreaming of things like these...
That's just one of the rational reasons I am drawn to lovely things and stash them away in boxes and drawers for another day.
Years ago I visited a woman named Venus somewhere in the Catskills whose attic was a vintage clothing wonderland. Our upstairs is starting to look a little like that these days. But as I move things around, organizing and reconfiguring, I've found a perch where I can sit and write, stare out the window and dream.
It's just started snowing again. My snow shoes and the quiet of Buttercup Sanctuary call.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of contemplative quiet, the call of the wild and the wind.

My PACES Experience (2)

Ya, as promised, this post is about case presentation in PACES exam, in my humble opinion. There are more than plenty of resources on approaching this exam, hence I won't really elaborate too much. I'd just like to share a "format" that I think is "safe" and can be used even when you're in a panic state (Well, at least it works for me).Let's just take an abdomen station as an example, and renal

Department Event: Sentosa Villa Dinner

Had a great dinner on one of the last Fridays. It's basically a day prior to our CSI Conference, and thanks to the organizing committee, it's held in Sentosa Villa, a nice cozy place indeed.Food is in buffet style. Just a snapshot of what the food was like. Now you know how good is our boss treating us. Hehe..Time for magic performance. To the table of VIP: Dato Chandran the Perak State

Hemichorea--Hemiballism after Diabetic Ketoacidosis

celebrations

My mother and father's 80th birthday celebration was the perfect occassion for an family portrait. An almost complete family portrait. My nephew was stuck in the Midwest selling Dead Sea products at a mall. And somehow without even trying, we were all color coordinated!

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of milestones and celebrations.

My PACES Experience (1)

Finally I received my formal result. A pleasant surprise indeed. I scored 93/100. The passing mark this time is 75%, and the passing rate for this diet is 38%, for UK/Non-UK candidates. I'm glad that the hardwork did pay off and in my next few posts or so, I'll be sharing some of my thoughts about this exam (a.k.a my worst nightmare of the year, really!).If you ask me what is important in the

Case Presentation Skill

I've received this email from a medical student, Alan, who asked me about how to improve the presentation skill during ward rounds. The two questions that he has:1. In what way do you think I can start building up my presentation skills?2. What would your recommendation be in the format of presentation?I guess these are also the questions for many undergraduates. I once had these queries as well.

HO, MO and Specialist (5)

Specialist is doing a quick round, and HO is documenting down his words in the notes.Patient #1 - Middle-aged man with uncontrolled hypertension.Specialist: "The BP is still poorly controlled despite 3 anti-hypertensives. He looks acromegalic, do the hormone workup later."*HO quickly wrote down*Patient #2 - Lady with food poisoning, stool culture grows Salmonella.Specialist: "So this is

revolution

A TED talk. Magic Medicine for the day.

To The People Who Have Inspired Me

I have been receiving wishes for past few days and I must say that I really appreciate it. I'm glad that I've come to another milestone in medicine. Looking back, I'd also very much like to thank those people who have inspired me along the way.The first is Dr Leong WS, who made me decided that I want to do Internal Medicine (I bet he didn't know this). The history traced back to the time I was

Finally!

Yesterday night, I was sitting in front of computer, with mixed feeling. It was a similar night few months ago, which then I had my confidence crisis.This time, I have with me S/L GTN (for unstable angina), antidepressant (for acute major depression) and IM Haloperidol (for acute delirium) - to standby for any unwanted serious reaction after knowing the outcome.And yes, the moment has come. It's

Random Jokes

I'm sure some of you do read MMA's monthly journals. I actually quite like the "SP's Korner" - it always gives me good laugh. Just picked 2 randomly:#1The skydiving instructor was going trough the question and answer period with his new students when one of them asked the usual question always asked:"If our chute doesn't open; and the reserve doesn't open, how long we would have till we hit the

what we repair/what we throw away

Dashing this off before dashing off.
I dropped the deer bone horse head I'd posted about a while ago. After finally spending an hour or so tying horse hair around it. It really has become a treasured fetish for me. So my heart sank when it broke in two and I set out to find the unfinable crazy glue.
All of which got me thinking about what we repair and what we throw in the trash. In the context of the Year of Letting Go, it's a loaded question for me.
Still pondering. But in the meantime, here is a little something to inspire you in the art of repair.

Mottainai is a traditional Japanese custom of never wasting anything that can be repaired instead.


Kintsugi originated 400 years ago as a method for mending broken pottery with a lacquer resin glue,

repeatedly polishing many layers of lacquer for a seamless join. Artisans decorated their repairs by

adding gold dust to the lacquer, and kintsugi gradually developed into an art formin which the repair

actually added beauty and value. Old ceramics mended in this way can be extremely valuable, and

the art itself is becoming popular again.
 
 
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of peaceful mornings spent writing in pencil before running out the door.

My Birthday Campaign

On 22nd Jan 2011, I'm turning 29.But this birthday will be a little different.Let me give a short intro about myself. I'm a practising medical doctor in Malaysia as the full-time profession. In other time, I perform magic as a hobby, as I like seeing people entertained, and laughter is always a good medicine.While I'm thinking of helping more people, I came across Charity: Water, founded by Scott

Charity: Water

Dear readers,Please spare your few minutes to read this.I might be kinda late to get to know this, and some of you may be already aware of, the Charity: Water. It's a non-profit organization founded by Scott Harrison (Read his story here), aiming to bring clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. How did he come out with this idea? Have a look here,That's the story - everything

Repetition as Meditation

Uploading some pics of this lovely and intimate show Dan Mack curated. He'd like to continue developing the project, with new work, new venues, etc. I'm so proud to be a part of it. Now on view at Vastu in Warwick, NY. The light was low in the sky making for a beautiful drive, but not great photography. So showing just the best of what I was able to capture. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good shot of my own work, but you can see one of my pieces here on etsy. There is one other artist in the show whose work and statement I wasn't able to get. Marilyn Dale at Warwick Pottery. More info here on Dan's website, too.

A Need for Clean Water?

Imagine you're like her, in a place with no access to clean water.How would you feel?Do you think you can do something to help them?

sacred burial site photos

return to the sacred art burial site

I've posted on Facebook and put out a call to the 14th Colony, a group of artists working in NY, Connecticut and Massachusetts. I've even tweeted it.
No takers. But no worries. I trust the universe about these things.
I've got no further pics to share with you right now because my computer died (a long slow horrible death, not untimely at all) and I can't figure out how to upload from the camera to my husband's computer.
Sometimes that's just the way things are.
All of which didn't make the light any less golden while I sat at the site for the first time in 2 weeks and listened to the creak of the trees, the chatter of the birds and the sound of solitary leaves still falling.
The decomposition has started. Things are breaking down. And other things, like chalky white mildewy things, are growing.
Did I post a link to the YouTube vids? Be sure to look at more than just the first one. It's a story told in short clips. More to come. Stay tuned.
And pass it on. The invitation is open. If you've got art you'd like to put to rest, the Sacred Art Burial Site is going on now. Bonfire next Saturday night. No art burning. Just s'mores.

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of peaceful returns to sacred personal places.

the long and winding road

I’ve driven over a thousand miles in the last week and a half. And even further in my heart and soul.

At the Creativity Coaching Association conference in Lake George, NY I was overwhelmed with business inspiration. At Squam by the Sea in Nags Head, North Carolina, creativity, sea and sky filled me up and over.

Both trips were stunning. Here in the north, fall color was just past peak, further south more muted.
I have to say the high point was driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with the top down, a sensation I can only describe as blue and flying.

ORBS took their first road trip with me. I need more road trips in my life. And more beach retreats.

I never seem to be able to catch up with myself after experience like these, but here’s my topline for you. Take what you like and toss the rest.

Beverly Down, president of the CCA was a brilliant speaker. Fun, inspiring, honest and true. She shared a lot of wisdom, but the thing that stuck with me most, the thing I most needed to hear was this. It’s only a business if you make money from it. If you’re not, it’s a hobby. Simple but true, that.

Mary Beale Alder, social media maven, CEO of Georgetown Bagels, had great advice: just have fun.

Paula Chaffee Scardamalia took us into ritual territory with tarot.

Celia McBride, Brecia Kralovic-Logan, Tina Games, Denise Laurin and more wonderful coaches shared best practices, tools, tips and inspiration for all of us who are on a creative path.

ORBS soaked up a little inspiration of their own before our sunset cruise on the shores of Lake George.

Fast forward to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Sarah Ahearn shared her Mix It Up techniques for great little gessoed boards! What fun for me, since I’m usually 3d girl and have been pining to paint lately. Here’s what I made!

McCabe Russell got us all spray painting, stenciling and layering on repurposed children’s books. Amazing! It was kind of like doing graffiti on a tiny wall.

Jen Lee nurtured us with the Care and Feeding of the Creative Soul. It was one revelation after another. Top takeaway: pay attention to what makes you feel really good. So you can build those things into your life mindfully. Whether that is relishing a lovely cup of tea, a walk in the morning sun, or a bath. Find your soulful treats and make sure you treat yourself.

Oh! And there was full moon fire dancing, and a bon fire on the beach! Elizabeth McCrellish, Squam founder and her Squam by the Sea co-creator, Michelle Smith made magical things happen at every moment for all of us from food to new friends and the fire of inspiration.

For some reason the drive home was much more difficult than the drive down. I made it back to NYC in about 12 hours straight, just in time to see my dear friends from LA for their last night in town. Then got back in the car the next morning for the final few hours home.

I am always so glad to be here after any kind of travelling, even if it's just a trip to the grocery store. I pull up  and just sit in the car soaking up the trees, the peeling paint on the house, the birds. I unlock the door and step into this sacred space, an oversized altar, filled with the bits and pieces of the world that have touched me in my travels, down the road and around the world.

May your day be filled with Magic Medicine of journeys that bring you back to yourself.

tons to tell you about but...

Until I have a moment to catch up with all that's happened the last week, here's a little treat I just stumbled upon a few moments ago.
More delights to come. In the mean time, have you had your Magic Medicine today?
If not, make a little something. Even if it's just a scribble.
Please, don't wait til you're retired to get creative. Check out this article at WSJ. Everyone else is sharing it. Why not you and me?

Patch Adams is Coming to KL!

No not Robin Williams. I mean the "real" Patch Adams.Read this from MMR - that he's coming to KL on 26th Nov.But 26th Nov is a Friday...why?! Too bad I'm just gonna miss this opportunity...my annual leaves are finished! I think it'll be great to see him in person, and share his concept of "joy and laughter are an integral part of healing process"...just like magic? XDBut I also found out

CPR Guidelines 2010 (NEW)

AHA (American Heart Association) has just released the latest CPR guidelines on 18th Oct. This is undoubtedly something very essential in our daily working life - so make sure you are aware of the new changes.Some of the highlights in the guidelines:* "Look, listen, and feel for breathing" has been removed from the algorithm.* A change in the recommended sequence for the lone rescuer to initiate

Cause of Ascites?

Think this is an interesting CT scan of abdomen.A lady was admitted to medical for "Ascites for invesigation" - as usual, everything under the sun will be "for medical to find out". She complained of progressive abdominal distension and discomfort, and there was a vague mass felt on abdominal palpation.What do you think the CT (circled area) shows? (You can click to enlarge)

X-File (2)

Time for true story again - happened somewhere (location is confidential ><).One young lady came to casualty, complaining of "bleeding down there" - in her own words. She was asked a few routine questions, then was examined (abdomen no remarkable finding). Urine pregnancy test was negative. So, she was admitted to gynecology ward for "PV (per vaginal) bleed for investigation".In ward, HO saw her

Funny Vid (Samsung Commercial)

This vid (Samsung Commercial) has been on youtube for quite sometimes...nonetheless, it's a good one! It "teaches" you on tips of taking self-pictures a.k.a camwhoring - a popular trend nowadays. See it, and probably you'll learn some techniques - and why we shouldn't trust the pictures too much! ;)

Interesting ECG (5)

You were asked to examine this gentleman's cardiovascular system. By only inspection, you should have gathered two possible diagnoses in mind.Got it? If not, then have a look at the ECG (not his but just to give you a hint): (ECG from askdrwiki.com)Now shout out the answer! ;)

A Simple Thought?

Recently there's a case of severe anaphylactic shock requiring intubation for respiratory distress. It was secondary to severe allergic reaction to honey consumption. Surprisingly, according to family members, the patient is fully aware of the fact that he's allergic to honey, and would develop allergic reaction (pruritic urticaria and wheezing) each time he takes it. However, he still continues

success!

I often struggle with how to display my work as it isn't traditional 2d media. And although sculptural, it's not like a bronze or ceramic piece you can just plop on a pedestal and be done with.
At home in my studio, I simply lay pieces like treasures around the house. But when it comes time to put something in a gallery show, I have challenges.
Especially when I can't be there to help install. Which is exactly the case for the upcoming Millerton Fall for Art, October 24th, 5 to 8pm in Millerton, NY.

Thanks to a little woodshop instruction from my dad, and some hardware store detective work, I have finally made a perfect display stand for my small relic-like pieces. It's something I've been wanting to do for ages. And while I could have ordered these my work really requires wood vs. plastic display.

Scrap from my father's workshop, wooden dowls, a little wire and voila! I've got some fine tuning to do, but am on my way to a whole new way of displaying small works.

Of course, we found the key to the display case I originally intended to use but couldn't open, shortly after my display-making aha! moment. So now I've got options. I love options, don't you?

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of exploration and discovery.

Ann and Riva Have a Great Idea

We both crave community and get giddy at how a little soulful conversation between artists can clear the clouds that sometimes descend on our artistic process and practice.

So let’s lunch together Thursday, October 28th for community conversation around our creative challenges.

Riva will guide us on our creative journey with small steps for uncommon results. She is a certified Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach whose series on Part Time Art/Full Time Life is featured on CreativityPortal.com. She leads an ongoing, online coaching conversation with the Artist Marketing Resources community on linkedin.com. She is an assemblage artist and author of Magic Medicine: Rx for Creativity.

Ann is a Hudson Valley Painter who shares conversations, musings, realities and generalities about the artist's life on her website and blog, The Paint Box.

Time and place to come. Please drop me an email or comment for more information.

May the Magic Medicine of community nurture you in all of your creative dreams.

magic_studio.mov

Baskets are ORBS too

My lastest ORBS adventure involves orbs of a different sort. By weaving the strips instead of rolling them a container is born.
This isn't the first time I've been obsessed with containers. Or weaving. Potholders anyone? Some basket forms are made in essentially the same way.
I didn't want to use duct tape in making these and tried at first to use only strips of the aseptic containers. But I didn't love how it worked so ended up using sterling silver wire at the top on this one, and hanging a few metal washers from the closures. (Nothing like diving into my found object collection!) More embellishments to come.
On another note, since I have been spending so much less time in the concrete jungle (aka New York City), I thought I might start showing ORBS at more local venues. I miss their celebrity appearances. There are plenty of museums, galleries and other places of note in the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. And I've been trying to get up to Mass MOCA all summer.
On it.

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of time honored echniques and fabulously fun and functional forms.

Full Diagnosis?

A classic referral again.HO: "Hi I'm calling to refer a case, this patient is a known case of Parkinson's disease on oral Flecainide..."MO: "Wait, she's on Flecainide? Why? Do you know what is that?"HO: "Hmm...it's one of the Parkinson's treatment..."MO: "No it's an antiarrhythmic agent. You sure of the drug name? And you're calling from which department?"HO: "I'm calling from obstetric ward..the

Go where the energy is

A number of weeks ago I wrote a blog post for a website and got so many notes back on the content, my head was swirling. Fast forward to this week. I wrote and submitted 2 blog posts to Creativity Portal and got back a note of gratitude and accolades. So I ask you? Which blog should I write for? The one that loves my work just as it is? Or the one that wants a laundry list of revises?
While I hate the idea of being an instant gratification junkie, I do believe I've spent enough of my life unlocking doors with tricky key holes. Why not walk through doors that swing open?
My Svaroopa yoga teacher at Half Moon Yoga Barn in Millbrook says, "You've already done all the work." And I love how that idea applies to much more than a restorative pose. It's good to let all the work we've already done take us to new levels, without exerting so much effort.
May your day be infused with the Magic Medicine of ease.

Nephrologist's Nightmare

Have you encountered any patient who just can't keep any line/cannula in his/her body? I've met a difficult one, and I must say that I'm really amazed.This is a patient with advanced chronic kidney disease, came to us with acute on chronic renal failure needing hemodialysis. Her caretaker revealed that, she used to be followed-up in another hospital, was planned for CAPD as long term RRT (renal

bone

This was my first bone carving project. It started as a shard that broke off a larger piece. I spent 2 days grinding it against a rock to create the needle like shape. The bone is about 2 inches long. I added the found feathers and semi-precious stone beads. This is one in a series of embellished found objects I've been working on for the last several months, all of which incorporate 18 gold threads.

At left is another bone shard that I am working on making into a needle form using jewelry files. It is thin, flat and getting pretty sharp. At right is a complete piece of bone (not a shard) that I am grinding using only a stone. It has more dimension is very rounded particularly at the point and gets flatter nearer the thicker end.

This last image (at top) is a piece of bone that broke off in a shape that suggested a running horse head to me. I have been using jewelry files and saws to tease out the form. The piece below it was a similar shape so I am working to do the same in a mirror image.

What's amazing to me about this process is how I am circling back around to skills I haven't really used in years. When I was living in Los Angeles I took fine jewelry making classes, and learned basic filing and sawing and solderning skills. The tools and skills are coming in handy now. And bone is softer than metal.

my newest obession

Bone needles. Made by hand. From the deer bone I've been collecting for years. Still working on my first one. Gives you a real appreciation of primitive peoples and the time it took to make things. The unique and special quality of each object made. And the gift of taking one's time.
http://www.gourdsofthesouthwest.com/bones.htm
http://www.abbemuseum.org/pages/collections/curator-features/bone-needles.html
http://housebarra.com/EP/ep02/18bone.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK6U5CXJROU

Speech Mistake

Came across this clip..just listen to what the guy said at 0:10 and you'll know..and it has become a joke now. I actually quite pity him, he must be lack of sleep the night before!

Sacred Art Burial Ground

I’ve been feeling the onset of autumn for weeks now, with cool mornings and nights, dropping apples and touches of color in the leaves.


Most of what I imagined I’d accomplish this summer remains of course undone. I now plan projects that will be more easily done when things in the garden, yard and woods die down. Tying up the wild blackberry and rose to make arches will be a thorny affair, and there is always the threat of that poison ivy. But longer sleeves and heavier clothes will make it less dangerous.

In concert with the Year of Letting Go, I have been dreaming and scheming a project called Sacred Art Burial Site for old art of mine that I’d like to clear out, in hopes of making room for new ideas as well as opening up space in the house.

Across the road, we own a piece of property that is unused, but for the woods it keeps, the deer trails, wildflowers and dappled shade. I go there a few times a year just to sit. It’s not far enough away from the road to be quiet, but it is a kind of secret place perfect for a tree house or a club house if you were a kid. And a cemetery for art if you are me.

I have been collecting things from around the yard all summer. A kind of clean up of the rusted things I have over the years scattered about to create interesting though decrepit focal points. They’ve never quite amounted to what I’d intended anyway. But will be perfect in setting the stage for art burial.

I sometimes chastise myself for all the things I collect. It’s a compulsion really. But whenever I am around other artists who work with natural materials as I do, I realize we are a band, a community. Not so much hoarders as sensitive souls who connect with the processes of decay and the wabi sabi of cast off, found and decomposing things.

When these odd findings I’ve been saving for seemingly no reason suddenly become useful and not only that but essential to the creation of a work of art, I am secretly triumphant.

I am planning to videotape the creation of the Sacred Art Burial Ground and perhaps even a sacred ritual event on Halloween or Dia de los Muertes. Certainly I’ll take photos as well.

If it seems a kind of gruesome project to some, to me it’s more about natural processes again, a constant theme in my work. Transition, transformation, transmutation. Seasons in nature, life and art.

Creating with Nature

On Saturday I spent the day outdoors making things. A simple sentence, a simple notion, a watershed experience.


How often do we spend an entire day at the computer? And how do we feel afterwards? Inspired? Dreamy? Full of new ideas? Hardly. But spend a day outdoors and something catches fire in your heart, your mind, your spirit.

There was nothing fancy about the Woodlanders Gathering in Warwick New York this weekend. But everything imaginal and wonderous. Rustic makers of furniture and art, curious creative souls who shared ideas and materials under two tents at a camp site on the grounds of the Warwick Conference Center. It was the middle of the woods, and the heart of the world. A campfire, a tarp filled with goodies for swapping: books, branches, bones. For natural material enthusiasts, it was a candy store for heart and mind. And so much more.

Dan Mack is the founder and fire behind the Woodlanders Gathering, now in its 18th and 19th years in the Midwest and here on the East Coast. His imaginal wood carvings from found Hudson River driftwood, furniture building expertise and generous spirit of sharing, have created an event that is as much, if not more, about community as it is about being introduced to new skills and ideas. It’s radical in gentler way than Burning Man. Complete with its own Wicker Man.

I’d been lurking on the virtual site for years and finally found myself there in body. I reconnected with Lynn Hoins a poet I’d met some years ago at a workshop I gave on making time for art. Lynn opened up worlds about journal writing for writers and non-writers alike, in the space of a short hour.

Others showed us how to make Maori healing tools and systrums (an ancient egyptian rattle form). Dan’s driftwood was on hand with small carving knives, as were boxes of blank cards and Stanley tool boxes full of small nature finds from which one could begin to make personal Tarot.

There was a flute making workshop and mead-making botanical walk.

But mostly there was an atmosphere of love. Of earth and art, of people and process.

Lynn Hoins put it beautifully when she said: “It’s like finding your tribe.”

The Woodlander’s Gathering is on my calendar for next year, but for the whole weekend next year, camping gear and all.

Flourish Vid: My Museum

It's been sometimes that I last posted about magic stuff. Nothing much actually, just to share this flourish vid by Jeremy, the "apprentice" of Huron. Nice and elegant..I think he has grasped the essence of The Virt's style!This is Smoke & Mirrors - Green Edition. According to D&D, Green means Retro & Eco-friendly. Nevertheless, beside the excellent quality of the deck, the flourish is always

the long slow languid reveal

it's another beautiful day in paradise.


i think this may be my most favorite time of year with hot days, cool mornings and nights.

and now that i've found a rhythm to my days, all is well.

it takes time to find a routine that works for us. especially when we are used to a day job, complete with commute, our days and our schedules are pretty much decided for us.

but when the day is our own, with no expectations other than those we set for ourselves it can be a challenge. given the blank space of time others load up on doctor's appointments, but that's the last place i want to be when the time is my own. so i struggled through a week or so of unsettled, what do i do with myself today, not even realizing that the rhythm would create itself out of nothingness, if i just gave it a little time.

did i mention i'm not good at making plans, appointments, and the like? i prefer an organic revealing. i like to see what happens. it's not that i'm not self directed or motivated. i am. but not in the obsessive compulsive way of our western society. i've been there. done that. to do lists, checked off methodically. it's just not my way. i don't find any joy in it, because it feels like a grammar school assignment given by a bad tempered teacher to keep kids in line and on their toes.

i want joy. it's that simple really. i don't see any reason not to enjoy life. so i find that even the tedious can become pleasant if approached in a gentle embracing way. which by the way, is not my way naturally. i have to work a little at it. i was raised to be anxious on dictims like: not to decide is to decide.

i am trying more and more to trust in the cycles of the seasons, the days and the self.

i'm just not always patient with them. the yard is a mess, the house is peeling inside and out. my husband, jokes that the porch often looks like appalacia. but there is creative energy to it all. a wabi sabi of natural process, and the beauty of decay.

i love old things. the patina. the cracks and the chips. the use. the love. the wonder.

when larry and i were recently married by ram dass in maui, larry asked him if he had to meditate, and what if anything he had to do. he was asking student to teacher for guidance and ram dass said he didn't have to do anything, he just had to live his life.

this is how we develop our patina i imagine, our cracks and chips. but more importantly, love and wonder. tears well up in my eyes in a moment of grace, a glimpse of how everything is exactly as it is meant to be and the overwhelming beauty of this and every moment. the ladies sitting chatting at the table next to me. the loud mouthed man with the huge pot belly speaking too loudly on his cell phone, storming out the door to find the phone number of the local pharmacy, and now more quietly walking back in, just as his order arrives at the table.

in this small cafe in this small town just miles from home i have found my pace. a morning cup of coffee, a delicious croissant, and my little fashion accessory, this bright red vivienne tam hp net book that i type away on happily, reconnecting to words, to myself, to the universe.

and so another pattern begins, a day falls into its thrum, and life unfolds in its own time.

i am reminded of a note i wrote to myself in the first days of a job i loved terribly and hoped would last forever: this is not a race, this is not a test.

may your day be filled with the magic medicine of your own true rhythms, rhymes and revealings.

the year of letting go

back in january when i deemed this the year of letting go, i had no idea how true that would come to be. literally, let go of my day job at the end of february, the letting go is an organic process, filled with sudden insights, and lingering questions.


last week in preparation for a yard sale, i had to clean out the garage of years of collected debris. we use the garage as a dumping ground for all sorts of unwanted objects and debris. yesteday, taking 2 construction bags full to the town dump and tossing them into the bulk waste was a revelation. i actually felt myself lighten and lift.

for the last several days i've been rolling around the thought of taking the next year to clear out, and clean out the 1840's eye brow colonial we call home. to lighten our load of the possessions we bump into at every turn, or can't find when we come to need them. and of course to blog about the process.

my husband spends most weeks commuting on an airplane. and until my release from full time work, home was a place we rested our heads only 2 nights and 1 full day a week, leaving little time to edit and downsize our ever changing collections.

mostly with that kind of schedule one has to shut down to the ever growing list of things needing to be done and just accept things as they are. accepting things as they are is a great spiritual practice, but shutting down isn't. and when reality finally comes to rest it can be overwhelming.

the plaster ceiling in the living room is like the hachet in the basement stairwell of a hans christan anderson story that prevents a girl from descending the stairs in fear it will fall and kill her. my reading chair is just out of range of the inevitable crash. the plaster is cracking on the walls, mold is growing, paint peeling, wood rotting.

and still i shop.

two days ago i needed a little thrift therapy and as the bill tallied up a clutching feeling gripped my stomach. not over the money. i'd gone in with a mission: to find interesting ways to organize jewerly and art supplies, but of course i got side tracked. i am not exactly sure what it is that grips me so about old, used objects. of course if i ponder it long enough i can trace back the want to a memory or even another object i have just like it (another compulsion!), but the overwhelming desire to own confuses me. my head clouds like a cramped closet, an overstuffed attic.

a few days ago a friend who cleans houses recommended to start at the top and work your way down. when cleaning. which brings up interesting thoughts in relation to mind, intention and how we make our way in this physical world, our bodies and our lives. meditation comes to mind.

as we don't have a basement in the house, my studio and most of my clothing are relegated to the upstairs 3rd floor. a kind of attic, it often becomes another kind of dumping ground, the polar opposite to the garage, for things i treasure and can't find a place for. this includes everything from the deer bone and feathers i use in my art work, to jewerly making tools and supplies, a lifetime's collection of postcards and vintage clothing, and way back in the closets, larry's and my collections of pooh and simpson's memoribilia from years of yard saling when we lived in los angeles.

in boxes since we moved back to new york almost 10 years ago, i have been wanting to move them down to the kitchen and out the door for years now. and having just last night tackled my studio to make room for this summer's yard sale finds, i think there is a clear path from their place in the closet, down the stair, and out. and it occurs to me that often the biggest obstacle to clearing out the boxes - in our homes and our minds - is having a path of access that is clear and easy. the fact that these things have made their way to the back with so much protection packed around them, is a side fact of interest. are we saving them or stuffing them away? and how can we lightly lighten our loads, without torturing ourselves? how can we be gentle with a process that is cumbersome?

i'm always astonished at my mother's ability to simply get rid of things. her seeming lack of sentimentality over objects that seem so dear to me. but dearness changes. and as i sink into the year of letting go, i wonder how i can keep myself from acquiring more new possessions as the old find their way on.

just this weekend at the yard sale i had, a man reached into a container of detritus metals i hadn't bothered to look through and before i knew it an old vintate hose nozzel that may have been my grandfather's was gone for a quarter. that night, beset with regret i bought 3 from a seller on etsy for $10.

letting go means letting go of self judgment too.

so stick, or bear with me as i continue to process and blog about possessions, obsessions and the year of letting go.

interesting side note? i just finished reading the romanian: story of an obsession by bruce benderson. winner of france's prestigious literary prize, the Prix de Flor. It is an autobiographie erotique.



post script. 4 boxes of pooh memorabilia, and a box of video and 1" tapes of ad commercials made it down the stairs to the living room. i separated the boxes into thrift store donations, donations to a children's hospital and a box for friends with children. i kept a handful of the books. now to get them out the door and into the car!

Quintessential Summer Moment

It is a cloudy sleepy Sunday morning. I woke with the thought that if I were vacationing in Maine, I might get up and go to town, buy a cup of coffee, some muffins and bring them back to eat outside. So I got up, drove into town and pretended I was on vacation.


Now I’m sitting on my front porch, lemon poppy seed muffin in hand, thinking about the elusive quality of summer and vacations.

It always seems the quintessential moments don’t happen until just before time is up. This week, autumn hangs in the air. It has been feeling imminent to me for weeks. The newly cool nights, the too early apples dropping to the ground with a thud, an idea looming in my head that September is not months away, but less than weeks.

Still. This past Friday night, the bon fire I’ve been dreaming about for years lit up the yard and my heart. The fire pit has lain in wait all that time, slowly filling with sticks from spring clean up. Now a circle of ash, a clean slate.

And this weekend the yard sale I’ve been thinking about for just about as long finally popped up in the driveway as if the seeds had just taken all those summers to sprout. This happens in the garden too. Mostly with newly distributed weeds, but sometimes from old seed packets thrown willy nilly to the wind with a wish.

Both are quintessentially summer. And as I write those words, rain drops start to fall in what I hope won’t mean a mad dash to get everything in the garage before a quintessential summer storm.

Still. This moment, even with the threat of rain, feels like summer in a way that is hard to to put into thoughts, harder still, words. It is a long ago feeling that lives in my marrow. No where to go. And despite mounting piles of dishes and laundry, to do lists that never end and dreams that need tending, there is nothing to do. The moment feels full just as it is. Riper than ripe. And yet not ready to pull from the vine.

My muffin too is dwindling and the closer it gets to crumbs, the more heightened my desire. I think of the Arthurian tale of a weaving that unravels even as it is woven, and wonder how my muffin might spontaneously regenerate, and my coffee become a bottomless cup. How life itself is always unraveling and reweaving itself at the same moment. There’s no use trying to catch the fast fraying edges. There is only the moment at hand. Its quintessential nature changing even as we note it.

I check the weather online, for an hour by hour accounting, the chance of precipitation in percentage. But when I look at the sky I know the truth. I feel it in my bones. For the moment at least, the yard sale is over.

Post Script. 10:42 am.
Since it looked like rain was going to foil the yard sale anyway, I cleaned out the garage and set it up for a Year Round Yard Sale. So now, throughout the remaining moments of summer, the imminent Autumn and into next summer it's a change of venue at the same address, Yard Sale in residence in the garage. And, I think ORBS are planning a visit today.

Where's the SA Node?

Just heard this story today.One houseman is not happy that he was being extended in Orthopedic posting.Medical MO: "Why did it happen?"HO: "This is totally unreasonable. They were asking me something unrelated to orthopedics and they failed me just because I answered wrongly!"MO: "Oh that's bad. What did they ask you?"HO: "They asked me where the SA (sinoatrial) node is!"MO: "Oh...that's like

ORBS on hiatus

ORBS are on summer break, relaxing at home in the hammock. We were not able to take them with us to Maui for our wedding and all-too-short honeymoon. (Too many clothes, too little time.)
Earlier this summer, in late June at my Omega residency I was able to collect bags full of cartons from the Omega Cafe and dining room. All are now on the front porch awaiting their meditative turn at rinsing, cutting, and rolling into their next incarnation as ORBS.
As Larry spends so much time travelling and we have a weekly commute to the NYC airports, ORBS will be popping up at LaGuardia and JFK sometime soon. And they will be with me at Menla Mountain for a Labor Day retreat with Sharon Salzberg and Robert Thurman.
In the meantime they have meditated on the meaning of their life, and have determined that small is better. So rather than focusing on becoming the World's Largest, they are multiplying in various sizes, colors and shapes in hopes of going forth into the farthest reaches of the world.
And coming home to rest in your corner of the world to inspire and delight you. Stay tuned for more info on how to purchase ORBS and make your own!

Morning "Live Show"

Ward rounds are usually a 3-level thing: Earliest round by housemen at 7am, then by medical officer at 8am, then specialists will come at around 9 or 10am.If the ward MO/ Specialists are nice and friendly, the HOs are blessed. But more often than not, if HOs are placed (or abandoned) in a ward with "malignant" superior, then, good luck to them.The morning round will become a torture, a daytime "

PACES Case Sharing

I've been receiving comments and msgs which are comforting and I really appreciate it. Come to think of it, although the outcome is not the satisfactory one, the UK trip is nevertheless very rewarding in terms of learning experience. Here I'd just like to share a few "tricky" cases that I've seen during my attachment/ courses:#1In station 5, you're asked to see a lady complained of lethargy and

The Perfect Drug?

I'm not sure whether you're aware of this drug, it's really powerful. (I guess you might have heard of it somewhere)It's basically a "magic drug" for practically everyone.For children, it enhances the immune system. Be worry-free of infection. You know, some even said that child who takes this drug will never need to visit a doctor!For teenagers, it's good for brain development. Want a smart boy

London Trip

I'm back!Spent a month in London and Edinburgh for exam as well as exploring with my another colleague. We enjoyed the trip, and really like the beautiful cities! (If we're not talking about the exam - brought us madness and suffering in first 3 & half weeks!)Pic 1 (Top left) - took in front of the A&E and their ambulancePic 2 (Top right) - Very classical british building..Pic 3 (Down left) - The

Edinburgh Trip

Went for exam in Edinburgh in Scotland and spent 4 days there. The first 3 days were under hyper-intense stress (with sleepless nights), followed by the exam (I've selectively erased this part of memory) and a half-day trip around Edinburgh. We decided to go to the Edinburgh Castle, one of the world-famous historic landmarks here.Pic 1: Main entrance of the castle.Pic 2: Nice view on from the

"Arterial Blood Gas"

In UK, I met a few other Malaysian candidates from different hospitals. During casual conversation, we mentioned about HOs in our respective hospital - Don't get me wrong, we're not like particularly interested in talking about this, it's just one of the topics among many others ha. So one of the stories is this:One new HO (House officer) was asked whether he knows how to take ABG (Arterial blood

Will be Away

Date: 29th May - 29th June 10Venue: London + EdinburghTwo nervous men with one mission (hopefully the last mission).It took us one year to prepare since last part of the story...Wish us luck!

ORBS

Working on proposals for funding and materials donations for ORBS. The project keeps morphing... and beautifully. While its first public installation will be at FIGMENT NYC on Governor's Island, June 10 thru 13th, and I have a proposal in to ART IN ODD PLACES for October along 14th Street in New York City, it seems the beautiful spheres would like to be making public appearances all over the city for the next several months. It's becoming a kind of celebrity guerilla art project. So I'll be tweeting its whereabouts and uploading videos in the coming months. As always, if you are using TETRA PAKS, please rinse and save for me. You can also donate via PayPal to support ORBS. Shoot me an email, or leave a comment for details.

art/craft/life

The most amazing bird is chirping outside my window. In contrast to the cars that are also zipping by. I just recorded it on my phone. Thankfully the chirping took, the cars didn't.
Yesterday was a high art day at the Park Armory. Today, I got wowed by this.
I spent the morning in bed with the windows open, working on my laptop and taking care of some long overdue financial stuff on the phone. And then, before the sun took a dive this afternoon, got out in the yard, planted some chamomile seeds, moved some furniture around so I can take better advantage of the screened in porch off the kitchen. Okay, so the screen is full of holes, but it's a sweet spot. And now it has a table and chairs.
I love a little constrast in life. It makes things stand out.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of joyful juxtapositions.

A (Scary) Joke in Ward

The story actually began few days ago when a new HO came to the ward. As usual, he was welcomed by the ward Sister in a friendly manner. At the end of the orientation, the ward Sister told the HO, "Dr X, please pass me your passport-size photo to me in these few days so that I can put it on the ward organization board."Few days later,Sister: "Dr X, I'm still waiting for your picture. (Sound a bit

sew happy

The last several Saturdays I took a beginner's sewing class with Cal Patch at Wing & Clover in Rhinebeck, NY. I have this amazing old Singer Sewing Machine that was my mom's. And have struggled with it over the years. But love the thrum of it.

Over the course of 3, 2 hour sessions we made the most amazing reversible tote bags. And I learned how to use the zig zag attachments I bought on e-bay a while back!
Now, the challenge is to find space in my always over-crowded studio to keep the machine set up and accessible. Or maybe just make sure I sign up for another sewing class soon.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of peaceful thrums.

linkety link

Sacred bottlecap art

Couple Jokes (5)

#1Husband said to wife, "You know what, woman with natural beauty really doesn't need any make-ups."Wife: "Wow, I'm flattered! You hardly praise me..."Husband: "So I think you'd better put up some make-ups."Wife: "......"#2Wife: "Dear, I notice that you always keep a photo of me in your wallet. May I know why?"Husband: "Oh, it's very important. Whenever I face any difficulty, I'll look at it and

wild gardening

My garden is a wild one. Not exciting or thrilling. Just overgrown.
I mostly let nature have her way with things. I toss seeds into the wind and hope they'll take. I pull weeds only to watch them return with abandon.
This year I seem to be getting ahead of the Butcher's Broom, a strawlike weed was used in mattresses long ago. Its tiny burr like seeds are impossible to get off clothes and scatter everywhere, not so much choking out other blooms, but hiding them. Pulling it becomes an instant visual reward, revealing miniscule miracles of nature.
Yesterday I was treated to a pitter patter scatter of tiny seeds from a beautiful little wildflower/weed I seem only to have noticed for the first time this year (but will certainly see more of next year.). The sound was delightful: delicate and whimsical, like the tiny blooms that produced them.
My garden will never be a neat cultivated one. But as my partner says when I get anxious filling out forms, "You're not a formal, Riva. You're a casual."
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of delightful surprises hiding under the weeds of life.

H1N1 Vaccination?

Today I heard an interesting conversation.Patient: "Doc, there's a H1N1 vaccination campaign going on. Should I go get it?"Dr: "No need la..."Patient: "Why?"Dr: "Why you need to get it? You thought you'll be 100% protected from getting H1N1? It's not! And somemore there are some side effects..."Patient: "Side effects? Media says it's safe..."Dr: "You'll get fever after injection you know? Some

time warps and wonders

One of the challenges of making the transition from a day job to a life's work is creating the texture of the days. For me, every morning has begun to feel like a weekend. I don't feel the urgency to get out of bed and get going. And yet, there are things to be done. The question is.... where to start? There are so many more options now that I don't have to head to an office.
Do I jump headfirst still sleepy into morning meditation, a walk, or my ORBS project? Check my Bberry or ignore it? Send that invoice? Call Fidelity? Take a bath? Tackle that proposal?
It takes a little while to settle into the day. Establishing a routine can be helpful, but I enjoy the slow start. I like waiting for what bubbles to the surface of importance. It's that touch of discomfort until the right thing reveals itself that is difficult. But with practice and patience that process itself will become an essential part of my ever changing daily routine.
I keep loose TO DO lists. I don't so much procrastinate as lay in wait for something to arrive at its natural moment of must be done. And then it is. With surprising ease.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of natural rhythms and the life sonnets that may be composed of them.

artist derick melander

Recycled clothing becomes sculpture.

not working. living.

When I first got downsized, I had visions of running off to India, getting lost in the swirl of a country I've been wanting to visit for years. The reality wasn't quite so dreamy. But is turning out to be a different kind of adventure.
My first day back from a trip to Yuma, AZ, where I'd been headed before I got the ax, I landed a fast and furious freelance gig that set my head spinning. Mindful of the $$ that my bank account would appreciate, I managed the meltdowns and did some great work under pressure.
Then the doldrums set in. I set up lunches. Made a few new connections. Updated my resume and website. I entered the "Catching up on Doctor's Appointments" phase.
It's almost 2 months now. The Visa applications for India seem to be in a perpetual state of almost done. But I'm just about finished with a knitting project that I had to completely unravel and start over. I'm somewhere in the middle of an art project for FIGMENT on Governor's Island June 11, 12, and 13. And I just started my application for an MFA program I've been looking at for 10 years.
This is the amazing blessing of losing your job. You get to live.
At first, the quiet is a little deafening. Or more accurately, anxiety producing. But then, as the mind starts swirling, forgotten things bubble up. And life becomes your work. Which begins to feel more like play.
It felt a little funny at first. Like I should be doing something more productive. But what's more productive than living?
I still have those moments where I go into a silent panic about money and am gripped by desperation about the house and yard that will never be House Beautiful. But on rainy Monday mornings like these, I have no where to be but where I am. And no one to be but myself.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of reimaging and reinventing your life.

Perfect Voice!

Got very impressed after watching the latest episode of Xing Guang. Her voice really get ppl addicted. Did some searches regarding 黄龄, and this is what written in her album:"- 不听黄龄是你的损失华语歌坛已经许久没有出现抢耳好歌。因为我们的耳朵已经很久没有兴奋的感觉。当市场上充满两个月八个星期“完全成长”的快餐音乐和流水线艺人的时候，基本顺耳竟然成了音乐创作的境界标准。人们甚至开始怀疑花费时间来培训艺人、抵抗浮躁专心琢磨音乐的作法是否值得，人们渐渐淡忘音乐曾经如何感动人心，何其悲哀。..."I think this is very true. Now new singers are popping out

Just Change the Diagnosis?

Real conversation between 2 MOs.MO 1: "Hi XX, it seems that you just admitted a patient with obstructive jaundice and fever to medical ward..."MO 2: "Ya I did. Anything?"MO 1: "And your diagnosis in the admission clerking is ascending cholangitis..."MO 2: "Yup...any problem with that?"MO 1: "In that case, the patient should be admitted to surgical ward instead of medical ward. Is there a mistaken

linkety link

http://cargocollective.com/

Overwhelm is just upside down abundance

Spring can be overwhelming. Welcome, of course. But overwhelming just the same.
Everywhere I look there's something else to be done in the yard. Raking the leaves I didn't get to last fall. Redefining outdoor spaces so I can enjoy coffee in the morning sun, lunch in gentle shade and star gazing at night. Pruning and weeding out the overgrown. Planting seeds in hope of fresh grown vegetables.
I've owned this property for over 20 years now, and I'm afraid I haven't done much to improve it. Deer have all but decimated the beautifully shaped juniper at the front door. As well as the old roses and lilies. The fence that protected the bee balm and blackberry last year finally came down in a tangle.
But, there is progress. I freed two old wire fences from the tangle of thorns in the now abundant wild roses, and plan to reuse them for the protection of lettuce. And I see signs of the lilies' return in a fenced off patch. Old cement blocks I've moved every year from one pile to another, are finally neatly stacked to create two seats under the magnolia where I can rest in dream between leaf raking relays.
The lilacs are a promise away from blooming. So too is the bridal wreath and magnolia. And I know that somewhere under the matted leaves, poison ivy is waiting, hoping to catch me off guard.
But right now, there is nothing to do, precisely because there is too much to do. And the gift of being overwhelmed with it all, is taking a step back, taking a day off, watching the breeze in the pine needles and listening to the not so distant trickle of water running down the hill into the swamp that could be dredged into a pond. If only there wasn't so much else to do. And not do.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of doing nothing.

Guest Article by Su R. Rollins

How Type 2 Diabetes Patients Benefit from ExerciseIt is quite easy to manage diabetes when you incorporate a program for exercise in your daily routine. Such exercises have been shown to have positive effects for people who are suffering from diabetes, especially those who have low glucose levels. One example is exercise being able to channel muscle energy, convert it into glucose and then using

H.R. 3590- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The health care bill has passed.  Though some would argue that it is not the health care bill but more a legislative vehicle that will carry the heath care bill in the future.  So what does the passage and signing of HR 3590 mean?  As the bill's title states, it aims to protect present and future patients and provide affordable health care.  Simply--and this is coming from Subpart 1 of the bill, titled "General Reform", sections 2701-2708--millions of Americans, who up until now could not get insurance because of the great expense or because an existing health condition made them an added liability, and therefore a greater expense to the insurance company can now consider health care for themselves and their families without fear of bankruptcy.  It's more complex a bill than I've simplified here.  It's not a socialized health care, but with this bill there is promise that we're heading toward a system of care in this country that aims to help all people and not just those who can afford it.

I received a letter yesterday, as did everyone else subscribed to their posts, from AAAOM regarding the bill's passage and what this means for AOM practitioners.

Unfortunately--and I say this prematurely--HR 646 Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY22] was not included in this bill.  It was naive of me to think that HR 646 might be included with HR 646 considering that getting a bill signed by the president is a 6-part process that begins with its introduction, then its referral to committee before it goes to the House for vote, then after amendments it moves to the Senate for vote before Obama's signature.  HR 646 was introduced January 22, 2009.  What is fourteen months for the 111th Congress of the United States?  A week, maybe two?  Presently, it remains referred to the following Commitees: 

House Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on

House Ways and Means, Subcommittee on

House Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on  

Since the introduction of HR 646 in 2009, AAAOM has sent 40,000 letters from practitioners, students and patients in support to the House and Senate, and gained 37 co-sponsors and it has been referred to committees.  The 2010 goals of AAAOM re: HR 646 is to introduce a companion bill and to steer HR646 from committee to hearing and finally to vote.  Yes!

Let's return to the letter and AAAOM President Deborah Lincoln's question, "What does this bill bring to the AOM community?"  She continues, “Beyond our efforts to gain support for HR 646 over the past twelve months, the cornerstone of many meetings with congressional members have centered on sustaining the non-discrimination language present in this just-passed bill. AAAOM’s efforts, alongside those of other CAM professions (including that of the Integrated Health Policy Commission [IHPC]) have prevailed, and the non-discrimination clause was sustained."

SEC. 2706 of the Subpart 1--General Reform:
SEC.2706. NON-DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE: (a) PROVIDERS  A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law.

Here's the rest of letter:
“Two other key platforms of leadership activity have been served by this political outcome,” states Rebekah Christensen, AAAOM’s executive director. “And this strongly fortifies achieving the vision of the National Joint Strategic Planning Committee: ‘By 2014, acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM), an independent, licensed profession, will be fully accessible to the public through American healthcare.’" She further adds, “The synergy of this effort combined with AAAOM’s co-sponsorship of the 2011 World Conference on AOM and Integrative Medicine, is extraordinarily fortuitous in that the underlying purpose of this event is to lead the U. S. in defining the role of AOM in integrative care.” Scheduled for May 13-15, the World Conference 2011 is co-sponsored with the University of Maryland School of Medicine - Center for Integrative Medicine.
Jeannie Kang, LAc, and vice president of the AAAOM states: “This is the best outcome we could have anticipated. Politically, the door for the AOM community has now opened wide, setting the stage for our relentless pursuit to assure that AOM is fully recognized in U.S. health care delivery.”

AAAOM works hard on our behalf as AOM students and practitioners.  HR 3590 is a political door opened to the future of AOM in the US, but it is only the beginning.  If we can continue to make our voices heard through--and this includes practitioners, students and patients--in Washington, the future of AOM as an integral part of US health care can not be denied.

www.opencongress.org/senate_health_care_bill 

Medical Night 2010

Late update for the Medical Night 2010! - The night before I flew to Taiwan, hence the delay. This is the annual major event of my Medical department, and as you can see, "Ravishing Red" is the theme this year!It's basically a night of talent-showing by staffs, and the recognition for excellent service. The performance started off by Mangai with her cultural dance.Tay could sing really well!In

Will be Away

(Pic from Taiwan tourism board)Date: 15th - 21st Mar 10Taiwan, here I come! ;)

Top 10 Amazing Diagnoses

Over the years (actually not many years), I've come across some really interesting diagnoses, which I think I can now make it a "Top 10". Some have appeared in my posts before, and some are newly encountered. Let's have a look: (List not in any particular order)#1Failure to ThriveComment: Looks quite normal, except that this is diagnosed for a 53 year-old man.#2Acute urinary retention secondary

Bye, Grik!

A historical day. This is the last day of my last rotation of in Hospital Grik! After this, we will officially "terminate" our "service". (Full story pls refer to the very beginning). Gosh it's been 5 months, time flies! (reminded me that I have not studied much for my Paces yet=p)I think this last week is quite of a memorable one. First of all, they put me on 4 calls in a week. A WEEK. The

袁咏琳-很旅行的爱情

I thought I wasn't going to listen to chinese songs for quite sometimes (not much of good songs lately), but this song really got my attention. A talented new Taiwanese Singer, songwriting and the piano-playing is all by herself! Listen to the song and you'll like it! ;)

Happy CNY 2010!

Dear all,I'd like to wish you all happy Chinese New Year! May the year of Tiger brings you and family abundance of happiness, health, wealth, success and prosperity!Yours sincerely,Darren Lee

Beautiful Song & Lyrics

Though this song has been there for sometimes..still quite addicted to it. And love the lyrics! ;)Smile (playing now)You're better than the bestI'm lucky just to linger in your lightCooler then the flip side of my pillow, that's rightCompletely unawareNothing can compare to where you send me,Lets me know that it's ok, yeah it's okAnd the moments where my good times start to fade*You make me smile