Wamsel's Blog

Label me

2011-03-09T21:25:00.003+01:00

I am just four years old.

I have reached all my developmental milestones, slowly but surely, I am globally slow to develop.

I also have a low-average IQ.

I haven't yet learnt how to properly hold a pencil and write, crayons however are my favourite.

I definitely need a Learning-Support Assistant and Mommy is in denial.

Get me one: Label me. For life.

Medical Cliques

2011-01-25T13:04:00.002+01:00

when you come to choosing your speciality, think what each clique is called:

a slumber of anesthesiologists, a slash of surgeons, a rash of dermatologists, a brace/cast of orthopedists, a hassle of psychiatrists, a dribble/pool of urologists, an aerie of ophthalmologists, a gaggle of laryngologists, a stiff of pathologists, a clot of hematologists, a push of obstetricians, a family of GPs, a warren of gynecologists, a beat of cardiologists, a shadow of radiologists, a cavity of dentists.

Anaesthesia Student Survival Guide - A Case-Based Approach

Public Place

2010-11-19T13:24:00.003+01:00

you feel a pair of eyes looking at you. shh, try concentrate, this subject is important and needs to be finished in the next ten minutes. the eyes focus on you again, you do a mental squirm.

if you saw yourself sitting at a table would you do a double take? would you sit next to yourself to have a coffee?

who knows.

he clears his throat, you feel his need for a random conversation with a stranger..you catch him looking at his watch for the second time, and you wonder who he's waiting for. you're curious.

why did you choose to come to study here again.

i need your grace, to remind me, to find my own.

2010-11-19T12:50:00.002+01:00

Brain Wave

2010-11-11T10:52:00.003+01:00

The feeling of an outrageously great idea which comes into your mind at the least moment you expect it.

The brain is a wonderful thing, you spend a whole day musing about a particular subject and what decision to take. After a day of this, you give up - consciously or not. And you go to sleep.

The first thought which comes to your mind as soon as you wake up in the morning is brilliant. It's a solution! Who did the effort?

The human brain is a wonderful creation.

The Rome Criteria

2010-05-20T20:28:00.005+02:00

In the course of studying it is natural for one to become particularly attached to certain books and not others. The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (OHCM), or 'Cheese and Onion', never ceases to amaze me how on how uncannily strange it makes its' metaphors.

Apparently constipation should be something glamorous,

The best way to make something glamorous is to associate it with somewhere beautiful, immortal, and seductive, so now we have the famous Rome criteria-named after 'the eternal city'.

I shall never look at Rome the same..

2010-04-12T19:59:00.001+02:00

if you could do just one thing, today, now, with no thought of the future, knowing you wouldn't regret it even if it could potentially be the biggest mistake of your life - what would you do?

Identity

2010-03-14T12:38:00.005+01:00

You look at your mobile and it lights up: New Text Message. "Come party", it says, too good an opportunity to miss. You spend half an hour at the mirror trying to fix your hair. And off you go.

Everyone's smiling, hugging, kissing, dry humping, just enjoying the moment - seems a very alcohol-driven night, "Sure, why not!" Let's go get a beer, hey can you get me a beer please, just a lager, *fshhhh. Thanks!
Let's move everyone agrees, Kristal or Creme? Creme's definitely nicer. Your ID please. Riverside motherf*****...and everyone moves in synch. It starts getting hot so you take off your jacket. Someone orders shots and after downing you place the jacket on the pile on the bar. When I see you baby I just don't wanna let go...you look for your jacket, and it seems to have been misplaced. Patiently you go down from the box, but the black jacket has disappeared. You frantically look around you, disco lights ain't helping your vision, at least you're sober, but where is it? Three tap touch, crap, they were in the front pocket. You go round asking, no one seems to know, no one can help. It's getting cold with just your t-shirt now, all thoughts of party have gone now.

You feel lost. No identity.

Wallet. Gone.

Key. Gone.

Mobile. Gone.

Jacket. Gone.

You take a deep breath in, somewhat relieved? Honestly, yes, no baggage, nothing holds you back - you can take over the world - what's gonna stop you!

People around you are worried, or bothered, or helpful. You look around you, attempt a smile, and then a grin forms, shake your shoulders and let loose. Why not?

You're just gonna blog about it and that's all? Yes, I just did.

My identity card lost Me.

wash it down with water

2009-12-21T13:03:00.003+01:00

My body wanted food. Thoughts of it made my mouth water. I made up my mind and started walking. My mouth continued to water. As soon as I entered, the smell filled up my nose, now I knew I couldn't resist, it was impossible.
Then I saw it! and gently picked it up, it rustled the paper bag. I wanted to get out of there now, I couldn't wait no more.
I looked at it for one last time and then sunk my teeth. It tasted good. No, not just good - I felt as if everything was perfect and whole again, the pieces all fit. For those few minutes, I felt in heaven.
It ended, as quickly as it started, leaving the savory taste in my mouth. I liked my lips.

I should do this another time I thought.

And washed everything down with water.

2009-12-14T19:03:00.002+01:00

The happy surgeon is smiling in the theatre. It's his birthday today. The green scrubs look a better shade of green. The mince pies taste oh so sweet and he passes them round, happy his birthday is such a joy to all those who greet him. He's getting old, he realises, but he doesn't have much regrets, surgery and family are his life. Random holidays with his son abroad, a training course in an exotic hot country, a long weekend with the wife in the most exquisite local hotel. The day is perfect for a birthday, sunny and chilly, a good day to save lives? The patient is asleep, her last thoughts were about her dear husband, if she's gonna see him again. The doctor's face looked big before she fell asleep, but the voice was reassuring, albeit highly accented - like some horror movie.
"Take deep breaths". And that's all she can do. Until she opens her eyes again.

The surgeon is happy.

Lethargy

2009-11-23T21:29:00.001+01:00

inanition: weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy.

A good doctor first asks - Why?

Eccentric

2009-05-30T14:03:00.001+02:00

I read this on the my iGoogle 'Quotes of the Day' gadget:

Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the man of genius and the aristocrat are frequently regarded as eccentrics because genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd.
Edith Sitwell

I like eccentricity
:)

W

How to end the day

2009-05-22T23:35:00.002+02:00

After having studied or whatever it is my feeble attempts at remembering biochemistry can be called i am tired. It's too late to start watching a dvd..coz tomorrow is back to physiology..so i just made some toast, cheese and ham and decided to write this blog :)
The way i see it - my brain needs glucose to process and save all the stuff i've read today - it is the least i could do.

And now I go to sleep

Pink

2009-05-16T16:22:00.006+02:00

Blog title does not refer to the colour nor to the american singer, sadly it refers to monthly magazine pink which is distributed with The Times newspaper.

Why sadly?

I frequently glance through the magazine because one or two articles are interesting - but i was disgusted, no that s probably too harsh, anyway the may 2009 issue is not a good magazine to read while having breakfast.

The front page depicts a 'muscular' woman sitting on a trolley in the grocery aisle of a supermarket wearing an O'Neill Bikini and Pepe Jeans shoes. When i say muscular i mean she had defined abdominal and calf muscles - i don t know what was the deal with that but she wasn t particularly attractive.
Enough with the front page.
From the articles printed it seems that the editor or whoever seems to have some issues regarding the presence of women in the working world (or whatever it s called). One article, funnily and even surprisingly (i thought men were barred from contributing to this issue) is written by a man was titled 'where have all the women gone?' and it lamented about the fact that no females were elected for european parliament in the last election..what s the deal with that? PINK then asked 'ladies in the street' whether they would vote for women mep candidates more than the male ones..hmm isn t that sexism at its worst? Another article talks about prostitutes, drugs, pimps and whatnot..seems such a pity that most of the prostitutes were 'pushed' into it by males.

The whole idea of the issue was promoting women being professionals and having a job etc..however it seems that even the connotations used referred to intrinsic things within a girl's mind - i am referring to the article titled 'married to the job'. why the hell do you have to marry anything? (note: i am not saying anyone, just anything). A photoshoot titled 'shoplifting' followed with a series of women in bikini posing next to various stands in a supermarket: cereals, salad creams, washing machine soap, toothpaste, juice, ice-creams - i ask..what was the point of all this..? doesn t it project the image that 'women go shopping and not men' - or am i just stereotyping?

Apart from what i already mentioned there are a couple of adverts on slimming, a couple of articles on slimming..and that's all - i consider this a waste of money ;s

So yet again, the media is bombarding us with gender equality issues and it seems to me the solution is being sexist - in favour of women - to make up for the slavery and crap men have put women through the ages..riight

(Disclaimer: i know pink is a women's magazine, but as a guy i have a right to read what i want and comment whatever i want)

W

Burn Out, or is it?

2009-04-28T13:45:00.002+02:00

About a week ago I received an email from the Anatomy Head of Department, he had sent it too all the students. In it he first reminded us that summer is so very near (we finish our finals in less than two months), and then told us that he would be available if we wanted to talk to him about problems in our studies etc, even suggesting the university counseling service. It was sweet :) I think it shows that like most of our other lecturers he cares.
Last February our psychology seminar discussed stressed and burn-out - quu big word; in my opinion dealing with exam stress is very healthy and should be part of the study schedule. That's why I thrive to make my life more enjoyable and I'm going to list some fun stuff one could try to do:

- go for an early jog in the morning
- go out to party on a saturday night (or any other night for that matter)
- go for a drive in the country
- drink some good coffee
- study
- play geochallenge on facebook
- go watch a film
- watch a dvd
- follow a tv series (or two or three or four)
- eat healthy food (the list of healthy food is endless and includes chocolate)
- watch random videos on youtube
- go to university with a different mode of transport (e.g. car instead of walk, walk instead of car, bus instead of car, bike instead of walk etc.)
- read the newspaper while having breakfast (ideally should include toast)
- watch the football team that you support win
- play mybrute's daily 3 fights
- listen to good music

anyway..I'm going to be late for a lecture
happy burn-in (not out)

of sun and rain

2009-04-20T22:33:00.002+02:00

i once read somewhere that 'the weather' is the most spoken about topic between strangers, meeting on the bus stop, talking with the hairdresser, small talk with a former friend etc.

it rained a lot today - and i enjoyed it, walking slowly to my car while the rain wet my hair, avoiding the puddles, the cold wind nipping my chin and the overall freshness i saw around me. last weekend you wouldn't have said it was going to rain, on friday i even went on a beach and got a bit of sun tan, and i enjoyed resting on the sand allowing the sun to heat up my body. what s my point - several quizzes or whatever you wanna call them ask 'what is your favourite season'. my reply is - i don't have - i enjoy the rain, i enjoy a nice storm with lightening ripping the skies, i enjoy the scorching sun and the lizards basking in its heat, i enjoy cold autumn with the breathtaking colours nature turns into and i enjoy all the insects which come out in spring after surviving through the colder months, and the colourful flowers which appear almost everywhere.

i ask myself now..is this an epitaph to nature..?

W

procrastination?

2009-04-16T11:56:00.003+02:00

Since i started (around 0600) this day (16-04-2009) i have been musing on the right way to end this blog-less period in my life, how to start this blog. i'm still not convinced on how to begin though - this is as good a beginning as any, so here goes..i'm seeing myself recently as a big procrastinator, and blogging is just one example, it's probably mostly affecting the way i'm studying..in the himym episode i saw last tuesday Ted says, "i'm not procrastinating, i just want everything to be perfect", this didn't help..well it helped me procrastinate more.

As in neuroscience, dna synthesis and a whole lot of other physiological functions, the most difficult part and the one which requires most energy (in terms of ATP - obviously), is the initiation stage..so i'm hoping that this will be reflected in my blogging (which i want to be a whole new experience), studying for the dreaded MDII finals (D-Day 25th May) and well other stuff which i need to change in my life i guess.

Amongst the thoughts running through my mind while i was running this morning, one thing struck me particularily, why do i blog if nonone reads it? And i got the answer right here (in my mind), i blog for fun, to express myself constructively (as opposed to for example Facebook..i once actually read a blog where the blogger mentioned his blog in his CV and during interviews while applying for Residency Programs), and the list stops there i think..

mental note: blog more and hard, 'coz if i'm gonna do something might aswell doing it good.

I like reading people,

2009-03-09T20:29:00.000+01:00

and the more pages the better.

2009-03-08T18:29:00.003+01:00

and with a million thoughts swimming through his head he fell asleep with the sound of the wind and the songs of the birds in the background...

..i break this drought of posts

2009-03-02T21:30:00.001+01:00

..with a small quote I feel I should apply more to my life:

Whatever I do, I want to either do it well or not at all

W

of fungus and rain

2009-01-22T11:25:00.003+01:00

Surprisingly enough I woke up on time for my 8am lecture with zrinzo (yes during test week). Instead of going to univ with barb I took a lift..I'll walk back home I thought..well now it's raining and I'm stuck in ITS lab B (which is half empty thankfully)..how lame of the rain..(I think it rhymes).

On a positive? note, tony our anatomy project specimen was attacked by fungi during the month we didn't care to look out for him, so I spent yesterday morning scraping it all off him..can't say it wasn't fun and I didn't feel satisfied when I saw the result of our efforts..
-posted two pics on facebook too if you wanna see the before and after

bored-out
W

I think about that first week in New York, you know, us 22 years old...

2009-01-03T00:47:00.001+01:00

...i had my whole future ahead of me, i guess i just kinda thought that if i could have that burger one more time, and feel that way for one more night, that i might be able to check that off the list and grow up and go work for the student bank and be happy...

How I Met Your Mother - Season 4

W. Out.

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"

2008-12-26T10:33:00.006+01:00

Ok this article is such a Christmas cliché, but for those who've never read it or heard of it before, here goes.

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.

Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church wrote The Sun's response to Virginia.

ara, mela llum kien il-Milied?

2008-12-25T21:42:00.002+01:00

Dik hi l-mistoqsija li tistaqsi fl-aħħar tal-ġurnata. Setgħet tkun jum għeluq sninek ħa, jew ġurnata oħra bħall-oħrajn, qlajt xi rigali, kilt u xbajt, dħaqt, inħraqt ġewwa fik, rajt n-news u smajt l-eġakulazzjonijiet tan-nies fuq att vandalu fuq ċimiterju IEĦOR, naddaft il-ħmieġ ta' l-għasfur msejjaħ Willy Mango min fuq it-TFT eċċ...ċertu affarijiet aħjar nħalluhom għal jum il-Milied biss jew ma tagħmilx differenza? U Kristu fej telaq?

Nsomma..
Wara kollox jin illum xorta naddaft id-desk fej naħdem, qed inħoss xi riħ ta' bidla tgħid?

toffees and sweets

2008-12-17T20:20:00.005+01:00

Yesterday, while waiting in bed for Sleep to come upon me, for no particular reason I'm aware of, my thoughts led me to remember the lone toffee my grandpa would give me when I used to go visit him. The sweets he would have bought from the Sunday market (il-Monti) would be one of the highlights of my visit, a young boy's happiness - too bad I'm not satisfied anymore by just a toffee..

Black Coffee

2008-12-01T13:44:00.003+01:00

A cup of black coffee in the morning - an acquired taste!

"hekk ħa nibdih il-blog, bir-riħa tal-larinġ"

2008-11-27T14:06:00.007+01:00

(UPDATE: żieda ta' l-aħħar ħaġa fil-lista fuq talba speċifika)

lista tas-seminar 20+

trid issib barranija biex tiftaħlek il-bieb - pff!
cojones, cojones, cojones u xi daqsxejn camel-toes ukoll
louise tinħaraq u taqbżilha l-vina ta' għonqha hi u tgħajjat mal-kuġina għażiża
nixxutjaw iż-żarbun roża ta' trudy - nistaħbew lil joe - u nġgħaluh jixxutja tnejn magħna
ġenoveffa - l-ewwel lejl!

fil-għodu ġiet waħda mis-sissies u għamilnilha ħajjitha nfern,
filwaqt li l-cojones reġgħaw issemmew
ninnutaw il-camel-tails speċjalment ta' l-'għarus' ta' marija
logħba tan-nejk fuq il-mowbajl il-ġdid - għax biex tkompli tilgħabha trid tniżżel it-tieni parti x'ħin tlesti l-ewwel parti
"dak il-fann jagħmel ir-riħ ukoll?"
nitkellmu ma' joe il-bono, u jisma' lil sarah tiftaħar fuq l-għarus
translazzjoni tad-diska mill-franċiż
marquita bil K (li nikteb hekk huwa biżżejjed!)
ġenoveffa tara' xi ħaġa għerwiena għall-ewwel darba (maggie u trudy jafu xiex)

"lee mhux dal-flokk għax mhux taż-żak!" (ton agressiv)
niċċassaw lejn petra u ngħejnuha tħossha klawstrofobika bil-mod il-mod
l-avventura ta' zanzu u veffa fuq l-ajruplan
christianne il-logħob tal-bews biss tkun trid ħal tarxien, apparentament
miskina rosanne kif taret

spiċċa

(tajtu daqsxejn ta' kulur ukoll)

ċlup ċlup "jaqq kemm hu ħoss antipatku"

water-spout off malta

2008-11-10T19:08:00.001+01:00

how cool!
too bad I missed it :(

2008-11-10T11:16:00.001+01:00

Life, is the most fragile, unstable, unpredictable thing there is

Grey's Anatomy

leli ta haz zghir

2008-11-05T20:22:00.001+01:00

W: leli ta haz zghir aqrah l iskola
M: xizki jin ha noqod ngorru mijaj l iskola
W: em dude, leli ta haz-zghir. is like zghir.

assignments

2008-11-05T19:56:00.003+01:00

Anatomy - Wrist Joint
Behavioural Sciences - Teamwork
Physiology Long Essay - Psychoactive effects of nicotine

And people think we waste too much time, hmph!
Any help appreciated ;)

Some positive notes:
Barack Obama won the presidential election in the US.
I got my car licence - this cost me around €600 and around 9 months - thanks Brian, you rock!
I'm looking to buy a second hand car - please leave a comment with the details if you have one - due to the budget they should be cheaper though :D

I hate.

2008-10-27T23:30:00.002+01:00

I hate students who think that having a TFT in front of you in an PC lab or the library gives you a right to chatter and make as much noise as you want. Some people actually go to the library for the peace and quiet. The library is NOT a modern canteen without the food, the stufiness and the heat!
Makes you wonder if this is the reason for many of the student shootings in foreign universities hahaha :p

W

what a wonderful weekend!

2008-10-27T00:33:00.002+01:00

sibt sturnell

2008-10-23T22:52:00.003+02:00

jiena hu miexi lura d-dar ghajnejja jaqaw fuq ghasfur ckejken li kien donnu mitluf, ghedtlu, "x'qed taghmel sabih" u mort biex naqbdu. pero tar ghal fuq bicca hajt, ma nketajt xejn u xxabat ghalih. komplejt miexi bih f'idi niprova nahbih mis-sindikajri ta' mat-triq.

qajjimt daqsxejn ta ecitament fid-dar meta ghajjat, "ara x sibt!"

identifikajnih bhala 'Sturnell' jew 'European Starling' - ghasfur komuni li jpassi.
jidher naqa' mghaxxex miskin - jew qala' xi xeba' jew kien ta xi hadd - miskin thassartu - tghid awrofak u skalora jikolom? willy ma tantx ha gost bih qisu - ghajjur l'hu!

Confused

2008-10-20T14:07:00.000+02:00

So much to do, so little time - I don't wanna let down the people I love.

Chief Webber Speech

2008-09-30T17:05:00.000+02:00

We used to be the best surgical program in the West, an upstart program that no one ever heard of, blew everyone off the wall, then overnight we got old, entrenched and sloppy just like everyone else. We've been resting on our laurels, you have all been failing - failing to take initiative, failing to ask the tough questions, failing to practise your skills, failing to give opportunity to practise skills, and i let it happen, so you have not failed, we have failed. All that stops, and it stops now. People sliding over General Surgery as though they will never see anything but a heart or a brain through the course of their career, as though blood from the heart doesn't make it's way through the whole body, or the nerves don't travel past the brain stem. It's shotty teaching and it makes for shotty surgeons. We failed. Get it. We all have, and it stops now. The surgical training protocol is officially changing people, the bar's been raised. Consider yourselves on notice.

Reality, it's so much more interesting than living happily ever after.

first mater dei experience?

2008-09-25T21:14:00.003+02:00

after i slammed brian's car (ok not really slammed) i walked through the hospital's main entrance and found myself at the reception - fab hadn't arrived yet and i had around 45mins to kill. first i hung out at agenda bookshop :D looking at newspapers and books. gordon's picture seemed to be on every english newspaper's front page. seems agenda have turned from bookshop to perfumery - 'coz they even have perfumes grin.

dreading the mousey curse i then went to the cafeteria, had a sausage roll and a cheescake, after i sat down i realised i needed some caffeine to wake up - so espresso it was xD

i went to the atm and got some money from my ever-dwindling bank account..and finally fab arrived - we found the outpatient's department on the first floor and walked to the orthopaedics clinic. magically security just let you through when you mention you're a student - at least heh! some nurses indicated where we should go and we decided we'd first talk to Dr. Xeureb as he seemed..well Maltese-er. he told one of us could stay with him, i went to the room next to his and stayed with Dr. Malnar. patients had already started coming in and he patiently started explaining to me each case as soon as he read the patient file. (grin patient alliteration!)

i sat on for around 18 cases during the whole morning - and well to be honest - it wasn't that bad. actually some of the old patients are cute in the way they react to what the doc tells them - one of them told him she could punch him if her hand wasn't hurting :D she was kidding ta lol. off all the cases only around two were relevant to our anatomy project though but i think it was still worth going as it gave me a taste of how outpatients work.

quu last thing - i saw Mr. Zammit an orthopaedic surgeon - he looked cool - gah i feel so immature-y

grape picking by dawn

2008-08-07T09:57:00.006+02:00

WALL·E

2008-08-07T01:09:00.006+02:00

A robotic love allows the discovery of plant life on a rubbish-covered earth to let a human space home which has been in space for 700 years to return back to planet Earth. Kind of cute :)

wiki wall·e

W

HOT films this week

2008-08-04T09:07:00.003+02:00

The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger's last contribution to film's. Termed by an Embassy Cinemas employee as 'the best film of the year'.

Mamma Mia
An enjoyable 2hrs15mins of ABBA music and of course the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. Awesome atmosphere created on a Greek island, Aphrodite's love fountain, which truly makes you wish for the blue sea and sands. The three middle-aged, or slightly beginning to age women really play their parts well and project their friendship in a great way :)

dah summer

2008-08-04T09:01:00.005+02:00

the sea!
leadership module 3
results disappointment but relief
english lessons at nsts
films at embassy (where else?!)
fifa-ing my joypad away
the heat
fishing wit da sis
the 10 days of boredom
the sun
the sunblock
mamma mia!
wishful car thinking
mdina treasure hunt
beer fest
gathering grapes for bertu tal-haxix

think you're gonna switch on the fan in your room..

2008-05-25T15:46:00.005+02:00

...wait!
If the fan has been there for the whole winter culminating dust as soon as you swtich it you will end up with a dusty room and probably won't be able to breath easily for quite some time.
One would think of cleaning the dust with a wet sponge - but this may not be good enough since there may be too much and you would still spill some on your desk or whatever is found beneath.

What to do? Cover the fan with a large garbage bag, see picture below switch on your fan at the highest speed and let it clean itself. When you think enough time has passed or the sound bugs you too much switch the fan off and let the dust settle in the garbage bag. Remove the garbage bag and your fan should be definitely cleaner :)

P.S. for next summer you can prepare before hand and cover the fan at the end of this summer and then just remove the garbage bag when you feel like the weather is getting too hot ;)

Wonder Drug: Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin

2008-05-14T21:58:00.003+02:00

Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin - Amateur Transplants
- with thanks to andrea for the link :)

on abortion (2)

2008-05-09T12:03:00.003+02:00

In april, in the wake of a debate on abortion by the Council of Europe I wrote a blog asking if as a surgeon/doctor etc on has to do abortion if it becomes a right.
J. Zammit wrote a Times article 'For members of the medical profession' highlighting the legalities in our Criminal Code, and it does make an interesting read.

W

new on blogger

2008-05-06T02:01:00.003+02:00

great guy - and it looks to be a great blog ;)
http://abeljcdg.blogspot.com

I'm a chronic sleeper...

2008-05-06T01:55:00.001+02:00

...and I need help!

eating more while studying?

2008-04-28T20:05:00.005+02:00

Are you eating more while you're studying for important exams? a study shows that you cannot contorl this - ok it's not really a study but my thoughts on the subject :)

According to my knowledge of physiology the brain uses glucose for metabolism. It cannot synthesise glucose for itself from sources. So while studying alot of brain work should be going on (should is the keyword) and the brain would be using a lot of glucose found in the blood. This results in a hypoglycaemic state (lowered blood glucose level) which activates processes mainly going on in the liver (using glucagon and maybe epinephrine for glycogenolysis). Other pathways which may be used would be: increasing free fatty acids and glycerol in the plasma (controlled by glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone) and increasing the level of amino acids in the plasma (controlled by cortisol). Cortisol also stimulates the appetite.
- I would say that apart from pathways to increase the lowered plasma glucose level the CNS increases the appetite to ensure that if no glucose stores are present in the body, the food eaten would definetly have - and hence you find yourself eating more.

I would suggest finding time everyday for about an hour for exercise if you think you're eating too much, it should also help decreasing your exam stress!

happy studying

Disclaimer: The content above is the author's theory and doesn't necessarily reflect what happens in the body

heart attack in malta

2008-04-16T16:13:00.003+02:00

Seems Dr. PSW's remark that it is very 'healthy' for someone to have a heart attack in Malta due to the good Cardiac and Cardiology personnel working at Mater Dei.

Even Kuwaiti's wanna come here :)

W

a new right ?

2008-04-16T12:21:00.003+02:00

If I understood the article: "Bid to stop abortion debate narrowly defeated" correctly then the debate aims to make abortion as a women's right..so those that mean that as a doctor (and i mean to include those who are GPs and on to surgeons etc) I have to provide help and even do abortion because it is her right..?

Hmm..

explaining today's heat

2008-04-08T15:38:00.003+02:00

No i'm not referring to Fabian.

It seems some desert heat is coming this way. We should be having a temperature of up to 27ºC till Friday. See the times article.

summer-time

2008-03-29T11:13:00.004+01:00

Summer time will start at 2 a.m. tomorrow when the clock is put forward by one hour. It will end at 3 a.m. on October 26.

source: timesofmalta.com

for those who didn't know

willy mango and a plant

2008-03-27T21:01:00.003+01:00

willy mango lovebird photo in my room - 27th march 2008

plant photo - ghar hasan malta

today is a day of reflection...

2008-03-07T09:33:00.002+01:00

Today is a day of reflection on the general election tomorrow. So I'm taking the time to reflect on what has happend to me these past weeks, afterall I don't have a vote so it doesn't matter if I reflect or not!

I haven't blogged for more than a month, but I have been busy - I've started working at Embassy Cinemas :) I'm still awaiting my first paycheck! I just scraped passes in my two exams, anatomy and physiology and this was a lightbulb warning me not to fall behind in my studies, now I'm trying to revise what I'm doing, trying doesn't mean I'm successful..

Last weekend I attended a ZAK activity, consisting of an long walk from Red Tower Mellieha and sort of making a curve towards Popeye Village and Manikata and arriving at Belle View Mellieha. My bag still smells of the fires we started where we slept, a scout fort.

Malta has been going through an electoral campagin which ended yesterday.....I have to go for a lecture - I'll continue blogging when I'm back

internship means..?

2008-02-02T23:19:00.000+01:00

Never really understood how becoming a doctor in the USA really works, call me dumb but whatever, this blog by Graham really helped clear things up though :) sounds real challenging...

W

of deaths and tests

2008-01-30T10:29:00.000+01:00

I've been lacking in inspiration what to write about...

Probably most of you know about the death of Heath Ledger, yentl has posted some nice pictures. I didn't feel like writing about it because frankly everyone was writing about it :)

Last Thursday saw me (probably) failing my anatomy written test..I hadn't studied as much detail as I had to on cell biology, embryology or histology (not quite my fault as I didn't know). On Monday we had the spotting test which wasn't so hard so maybe my marks in it balance out the written.. And that's it as regards semester 1 examination session, apart from a one-hour test next wednesday on cardiorespiratory.

As a "break" I read 'The Hidden Man' by Charles Cumming, a book situated in London/Russia about MI5, MI6 conspiracies and two brothers who are dragged in it all. Quite a good read :)

I have to do a little something called physiology..so..bye!
W

'mouse' - acronym?

2008-01-19T22:44:00.000+01:00

I've spent the day revising the thorax anatomy for the upcoming test next Thursday. Now I'm taking a well deserved break :)

Following Dr. Stabile's comment on the computer mouse, of it being an acronym to something in a recent lecture..I saw a letter on the Times of Malta claiming that:

The computer mouse was invented by Douglas C. Engelbart around 1964 who named it for its resemblance to that rodent with its long tail.
"Mouse" is not an acronym because the description was devised later and though there are variants it is generally accepted to be "manually-operated user-select equipment".

This letter was part of a series of letter regarding Maltese translations, one suggested that the Maltese should use the word "ġurdien" to refer to the comupter mouse as other countries, including France (souris) and Spain (ratón) do. Then someone else claimed that "mouse" is actually an acronym so it cannot be translated. I beleive Dr. Stabile read this and cited it during an anatomy lecture.

I leave it to you readers to choose what to call the thing with which you move your pointer on your computer screen. Is it gonna be "mouse" or "ġurdien"?

W

thorax test and upcoming mid-year tests

2008-01-15T21:26:00.000+01:00

As my thorax test result confirmed, merely reading an anatomy chapter just once and working some MCQs isn't enough to truly grasp the concepts. This is a lesson learnt which I will keep in mind during the preparation for the anatomy test which basically covers all that I've learned since October. One problem, the departement hasn't yet published an official date for the test leaving us students wondering if next friday we will be informed that it will be held on monday - so much for preparation huh!

W

blood donation

2008-01-10T21:00:00.000+01:00

It seems that there is a low blood supply at the NBTS (National Blood Transfusion Service) and there have been several articles about it in the local news papers. I urge anyone who is eligible to donate to do so immediately :)

So I went to donate today, my first time actually, had been meaning to do it since MMSA organised the last blood drive but I was sick and couldn't donate at the time ;/ I was gonna faint just after I finished but they gave me biscuits and coffee and I was soon back on my feet :)

So..what you waiting for, save a life!

W

things to-do in the 2008

2008-01-09T22:59:00.000+01:00

1. maintain this blog
2. get a driver's licence
3. get a car
4. get my EFL permit
5. become more "fizikali" fit (Madagascar pun)
6. become more spiritual
7. get a good job
8. get promoted to second year in MD
9. start thinking in €
10. enlarge my room
11. study more
12. attain self-control
13. donate blood
14. become less messy
15. become more organised
16. (due to popular demand) not take any notice of anonymous comments

Do Doctors Make Too Much Money?

2008-01-08T09:56:00.000+01:00

I stumbled on this blog post and saw that it was dealing with a hot topic.
A good read.

What do you think about it?
Following the rise in doctor's pay in Malta I would say they have now become more fair..

the new year?

2008-01-02T18:45:00.000+01:00

I had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year, the days and the eves :) Now it's back to university next monday...I'm really behind as regards studying and exams start in about two weeks time, that's not a good sign pf!

2008 has brought a big change, and that's the euro! Now I have a month to get rid of my Maltese money and change to euros..till now the changeover has gone smoothly, well for me anyway heh!
Haven't really decided what resolutions I should make for the new year..any suggestions?

santa's coming to town

2007-12-25T13:59:00.000+01:00

In the spirit of Christmas and in line with a christmas carol

Santa's not coming to town but the Euro is!

From January we change to the euro currency and for all those who keep their money at home to evade tax or just for the fun of it...better change them now or you'll lose them ding ding

Happy Christmas

merry christmas!

2007-12-24T15:27:00.000+01:00

wishing a merry christmas to all the bloggers out there and to all my friends!

stem cells' role in cancer

2007-12-21T09:37:00.000+01:00

I found this article on the New York Times which is a great follow-up to the discussion we had with Dr. PSW a few weeks ago on the cell cycle :)
Says that treatment of the cancerous stem cells may have a big role in what were previously uncurable cancers where treatment only targeted the actual tumor and not it's "root".

What do you think?

Anaesthetists Hymn

2007-12-20T18:48:00.000+01:00

haha I recently saw this really cool song from kevin m.d. 's blog so I decided to post it here aswell as it's really good. I think I wanna become an anaesthetist :D

cornflakes

2007-12-14T18:50:00.000+01:00

I eat cornflakes to pass the time..right now I'm busy eating cornflakes in front of my desk.. :) and I'll soon leave for a night hike with my friends at the south part of Malta, it's gonna be a long cold night brrr..

I've been kind of busy with some studying the past few days, trying to understand renal physiology and read the long chapters from Boron (I'm mental, should have bought the small renal book and studied from there..) On the plus-side I finished the behavioural sciences assignment we had and handed it in today - a few days before deadline.

I'm currently doing ETSI interviews to some selected Maltese speakers..a project I'm participating in :) - their aim is to standardise voice-recognition software to the phrases the people use.
Cornflakes's finished..think I'll soon leave for zak then off to Zabbar

- Sarah's gonna be at a zak live-in this weekend :-(

W!

Why the Flu likes winter

2007-12-05T17:22:00.000+01:00

Recently we've been having some cold windy days. It's really annoying grr. But I guess wintertime has really started.

I saw this intersting article on a study as to why we get the flu in winter and not during the summer months. It makes sense (wouldn't have been published if it didn't hehe). The only thing we can do is get vaccinated with a flu shot and hope we build an immunity for the year, maybe we don't such a sever flu..

for whoever reads the article: good thing we have guinea pigs afterall :p

W

becoming an adult

2007-12-05T17:10:00.000+01:00

Last Monday was my birthday.. i.e. I turned 18, finally! I had been waiting for this birthday more eagerly than other birthday because I couldn't help not feeling jealous of most of my mates who had their birthdays earlier than me.

It does have it's pros you know..I can start learning how to drive, I had my theory test today :) which I passed (obviously..so easy). I think I may garner some respect from my elders..also in the eyes of the Law, I am now an adult and I can be responsible for myself without needing consent forms and permission slips from my parents to attend stuff. Being 18 also means that breaking the law will have more repercussions than when I was younger..so that would be a disadvantage. I can now get a VISA (which BoV didn't offer to 17-year olds!). I can get a real job which entails a responsability. I can get an EFL Permit. And loads of other stuff I guess :p

The actual day was nice too mind you. I had universtiy in the morning, I only missed my last lecture which isn't so bad :) Then I spent the rest of the day with Sarah and in the evening we went home so my family could celebrate with me - the onset of my adulthood (sounds big right).

Guess having your 18th birthday doesn't mean you're an adult though..it's more of a process and mental growth
Pshh

on efl, live-in, thorax test, assignment

2007-11-29T09:51:00.000+01:00

Last weekend was a busy one, I had an EFL proficiency exam on Saturday, while being at a live-in. (Which was by the way, totally good. - or 'happening' as Luke would say.) A test on the 'Thorax' was also something which I was really looking forward to, not, for the following monday. In my free time I had to grab my MCQ questions and my Gray's Anatomy for Students and with either Marija or Louise (IHC enthusiasts :p) try to get the answers right. On monday Mr. Casha had an emergency at Mater Dei so the test was postponed to wednesday.

Hope I did pass my test..I didn't do so great but hopefully that's just me being pessimistic. I answered all the questions, even though grading was negatively marking of 0.5..wise choice ? Who knows..I wanted to get full marks lol..I'll just learn from the experience when in around two weeks time I receive my result.

Right now I'm busy doing an assignment, my first univ one, and the subject isn't nice...it's about a seminar I had around two weeks ago on Behavioural Sciences. Should have started earlier, can't seem to remember most of the stuff we talked about. Deadline is on the 18th December, I should finish it by the end of this weekend, that's my target anyway..

the times of malta (2)

2007-11-20T21:44:00.000+01:00

I have fixed all links from september 2007 onwards. Other articles it wasn't possible to give the good link as I hadn't written the actual article title and hence couldn't search for them

W

Hollywood Writers Strike

2007-11-20T21:20:00.000+01:00

No end to writer's strike(Reuters)

Is this the end of my favourite tv shows?
MSN.com shows some good pictures aswell..we'll just have to wait and see how it ends

first lecture with zrinzo

2007-11-13T13:35:00.000+01:00

Today, we had our first taste of Lawrence Zrinzo, a senior anatomy lecturer and neurosurgeon..

He first silenced us by saying that he doesn't have time to lose and so do we..so we all had to shut up to listen to what he had to say :) What followed was about 20 minutes of the "Zrinzonian" Philosophy that science and knowledge are what we need to become doctors. I must say most of the class were entranced..lol

Some notable quotes I took note of:
"Have knowledge, not to have power but for people not to have power over you"
"I don't think. I know or I don't know"
"Learn how to dissect, to learn how to build"

Looks like we're gonna have a good time learning under him ;)

W

the times of malta

2007-11-13T13:31:00.000+01:00

As was brought to my attention by keith, all links linking to the times of malta do are not currently working..they recently change their website. that means I will have to search for each linked article and put in a new link..when I have the time of course.

Sorry for any inconvenience

World Diabetes Day - by SCOPH

2007-11-11T10:57:00.000+01:00

Yesterday at City Gate Valletta, SCOPH (the Standing Committee on Public Health) as part of MMSA (Malta Medical Students Association) organised an awareness day on diabetes, a large group of us first years took part as well as 2nd, 3rd and even 4th year students.

-See the sunday times report - Shoppers tested by medical students
-See TVM News on di-ve On-Demand Player (Time 17:20)

Good work everyone!

See you at the Global Diabetes Walk in Republic Street, Valletta, on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

dr debono's physiology slideshow

2007-11-10T16:47:00.000+01:00

can be downloaded from our class server as a split .rar archive

:)

Medical Books

2007-11-09T15:07:00.000+01:00

The following are the books I have bought throughout this month of universtiy..gotta be a personal record of book buying for sure!

- Clinical Anatomy - Richard S. Snell (8th ed)
- Pocket Companion to Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology - John E. Hall (11th ed)
- McMinn's Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy - Abrahams, Marks Jr, Hutchings (5th ed)
- Principles of Biochemistry - Horton, Moran, Scrimgeour, Perry Rawn (4th ed)
- Master Medicine: Physiology - J. G. McGeown (3rd ed)
- Instant Anatomy - Whitaker, Borley (3rd ed)
- Clinical Surgery - Cuschieri, Grace, Darzi, Borley, Rowley (2nd ed) [for future refernce]
- MCQ's in Anatomy - J. S. P. Lumely, J. L. Craven (3rd ed)
- Wheather's Functional Histology - Young, Lowe, Stevens, Heath (5th ed)
- Gray's Anatomy for Students - Drake, Vogl, Mitchell (1st ed)
- Basic Histology - Junqueira, Carneiro (10th ed)

(to buy (or not to buy): Medical Physilogy - Boron)

I'm sure I won't read half of them...

ZAK B'Kara Safari Hunt

2007-11-07T07:38:00.000+01:00

Safari Hunt at Buskett on 7th December
for all zak members aged 15+

of life - and women - at all ages

2007-10-31T21:58:00.000+01:00

Searching for 'Pierre Schembri Wismayer' on Times Of Malta Online gives two recent articles of interest to whoever was following Dr. PSW's debate on Bondi Plus.

'Life without fertilisation' - Martin Schranz

Re: 'Of life - and women - at all ages - Pierre Schembri Wismayer

Thanks Gabriel for mentioning PSW's article from yesterday's edition ;)

cheerleading is dangerous

2007-10-31T21:30:00.000+01:00

cheerleading is dangerouss! no wonder noah bennet doesn't want his claire bear to cheerlead hehe

pay rise!

2007-10-29T08:01:00.000+01:00

To all prospective doctors and doctors...check out this di-ve article

smart card

2007-10-28T00:18:00.000+02:00

I logged on to www.smgbonline.com again, thinking that it's a waste of time...but the rumour that our first year smart card had been finally opened was true, and there I saw my topped amount, and grinned with joy :D

As a celebration, during the morning I went to buy some much needed stuff from Scan (Their annual sale ended today..just in time I guess!): Logitech Speakers (to finally replace the headset I had); a Memorex 1GB Pendrive (to replace my measly 256MB one); and some CD-Rs as my stock had finished.

Cheers to the smart card!

On a more serious note though, Stipends Office should be ashamed of themselves for opening first-year university students' smart cards after about one month of school! The most important month to buy your books and other essential stuff. Now I have to go around exchanging receipts for cash and paying invoices.
Jeez what a waste of time!

my first univ blog

2007-10-26T10:20:00.000+02:00

Due to some timetable arrangments, as I arrived at university I got to know that my 10.00 lecture had been cancelled. I decided to see what the library is like, and when I saw its pc's I forgot the main reason I had come here to do some work and logged on :) Having nothing to do I decided to blog hehe.
..But there isn't anything I really wanna talk about so..

ps. Last wednesday was Sarah's birthday...appi bday :) xxx

cheerio, I now go and do some work

Testicular Cancer

2007-10-15T16:34:00.000+02:00

According to Dr. PSW during last Thursday's anatomy lecture, all males of our age, i.e. in their late teens or twenthies..(even thirties I would dare say), may be diagnosed with cancer of the testes. The media doesn't cover such type of cancer so much as there is no money to be made in it, as opposed to breast cancer where mammograms and/or ultrasound may be needed to fully diagnose it (expensive stuff :P).

So all males should periodically check their 'balls' for a significant change in Size, Texture and Shape :)

Females shouldn't be worried about breast cancer until after thirty years of age.

For further info check wikipedia

Welcoming a new member in da house

2007-10-07T21:10:00.000+02:00

This week, first week at university wasn't really that exciting, I had no lectures, so all I could do was wander about campus to try and not get lost when I start lectures (tomorrow). The only eventful thing which happened was friday, I had to pick up a pile of bones from our Faculty :) This pile of bones now called Monsier Pantalon (in honour of a character of the tragic-comedy I saw yesterday at Notte Bianca) is currently residing in a black plastic bag, in an empty closet in my room.

Monsier Pantalon consists of the following bones:

Cranium (known as the skull)
Mandible (jaw)
Clavicle
Scapula
Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Vertebrae (2 pieces)
Ribs (3 pieces)
Sacrum
Pelvis
Femur
Tibia
Fibula

Apparently I should have a total of 18 bones, including 3 vertebrae pieces and 2 rib pieces...which means that tomorrow I have to run around the faculty to get my (or rather Monsier Pantalon's) missing bones :P

--
for those interested see the List of bones of the Human Skeleton at Wikipedia's

items collected in school bag

2007-10-01T17:35:00.001+02:00

The following items were collected during my first day at University, Freshers' Week Means loads of stands 'cluttering' up Campus ;p

- KSU Active Planner
- NSTS magazine
- NSTS flyer
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Anatomy Department Application Form
- Loan of Bones Application
- Printed Timetable from Anatomy Website
- MD 1st Year Time Table and booklists pack from 'Papier Plus Studio'
- 'The Insiter' University's Official Newspaper
- Receipt of MMSA Seminar
- Oral-B Brochure
- 50c Off Gilette Fusion Voucher
- Axe Vice Deodorant
- Gilette Fusion (x5) Shaver and one extra blade
- GO Mobile Flyer
- Vodafone Flyer
- MKSU Broucher
- MKSU Livein Flyer

Hah! Quite a good list right? And I'm sure I haven't discovered everything there is to discover...we'll see tomorrow

'U-900': A Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion Production

2007-09-29T22:37:00.000+02:00

The following extract is one which gives the most information about the film which was shot partyl in Malta during the last two or three weeks:

08 Sep 2007 - Telepool works on new comedy from Lives Of Others producer
Munich-based Telepool has boarded U-900, the third feature by The Lives Of Others producer Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, as a sales agent and co-financier.

The comedy about a submarine on the run in 1944 Germany is being directed by Sven Unterwaldt (7 Zwerge) and features Atze Schroeder, Oliver K. Wnuk, Yvonne Catterfeld, Goetz Otto and Maxim Mehmet.

Backing for U-900, which will be released theatrically in Germany by Warner Bros Entertainment in September 2008, came from the Bavarian regional fund FFF Bayern and the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).

The first two weeks of principal photography were spent at the Bavaria Film studios outside of Munich and the production will now be shooting on Malta and in Rome until the beginning of November.

Wiedemann & Berg's first film after the Oscar-winning The Lives Of Others, the military comedy Kein Bund Fuers Leben by Granz Henman, was released theatrically in Germany two weeks ago by Constantin Film.

Producers Max Wiedemann and Quirin Berg are now in the final stages of preparation with Grave Decisions director Marcus H. Rosenmueller on a TV movie reworking of the story of Mathias Kneissl who was the last robber to be caught and executed in Bavaria at the turn of the last century.

"This is the ideal project for 'Rosi'," Max Wiedemann suggests, "because it will give him a chance to show his own particular style. Our approach to the story will be more in keeping with the present times, it will have more power and be very Bavarian."

Go to source

being a film extra: entry c & d

2007-09-29T22:26:00.000+02:00

Wednesday 26th and thursday 27th were my last two days as a German soldier. On wednesday I had to be at Rinella at 10.45 so the hour wasn't so harsh, while on thursday at 08.15, better than 05.00 like last week. Change in time may be due to the fact that the scenes weren't being shot on sea but at the Malta Drydocks so travelling time which usually took more than an hour was less. On wednesday we spent a whole afternoon talking away in a hall they told us to stay and the only 'work' we did was a rehearsal for a scene being shot on thursday. So on thursday after taking breakfast we spent the morning shooting this scene which involved standing straight, saluting and shouting the German equivalent to 'Aye aye captain!'

Funnily enough the food this week was worse than last week, the probable explanation to this would be that the actors weren't eating with us extras so whoever was preparing didn't make as much effort. Also they gave us no dessert :(

All in all these two weeks were a nice experience, you get to meet new people from different walks of life and of different ages, all who will tell you what life is through their own point of view. Socrates in his time would have had a hell of day asking questions to so many different people..i was kindof reminded of an agora with so many merchants and foreigners stuck together :)

being a film extra: entry b

2007-09-20T16:10:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was another long day, less hard but still long!

I arrived at Rinella at around 6am. Changed into my uniform, had my hair done by the usual gay guy, and was made to look as dirty as heck with makeup. 'The Hornblower', a boat, then took us from M'Scala to Delimara where shooting was gonna take place. Our makeup was removed again..as in the scene which we were supposed to be shooting we had just come out of the water, hence clean. (What a waste of time we all muttered!) But the scene never came, we had breakfast, we chatted in the shade and noone told us that the extras were needed..and so the morning passed, chatting about anything from the economy to a guy's love life to two others' married life and anything else we could think of.. :) We then ate lunch, lamb's ribs in gravy with honey, potatoes and salads and choclate gateau, I have to admit the meal was delicious.

We were taken on the sub at around 2-3pm. In the first scene we had to clap, yell, shout and wolf-whistle at our captain who was imitating a girl dancing 'erotically' (not lol). Then we discover he wasn't our captain as he had both toes on his feet, our real one apparently had a large toe missing. That took about and hour, with various shots taken. Second scene consisted of everyone jumping in the water and call out to our captain to jump naked (only around 10 though were the naked lucky ones haha) with us. We learned a useful German expression, telling someone to strip..but I forgot what it was pff. Then another shot, all the non-naked extras in the cold water, while those naked had to jump in all together as the director wanted a shot of their asses...disgusting stuff, good thing I didn't have my glasses on. After that they needed to record some sounds of the extras shouting etc and we obliged happily..or nearly, we were cold and tired by that time.

That was all for yesterday, things were much more relaxed and I could say I actually enjoyed the parts when we weren't really doing anything of course :D

being a film extra: entry a

2007-09-19T05:00:00.000+02:00

I am a film extra in a German film which will probably be called 'U-900'. Yestereday was my first day of filming.

I woke up at around 04.30 and by 05.30 was at Mediterrenean Film Studios (MFS) at Rinella. During the following hour around 40 extras had to dress in their costume, have their hair done and make-up applied. Then a coach took us to Marsascala where a ferryboat took us to somwhere near Delimara. Breakfast was served to those who were hungry: scrambled eggs, jam scones, bread and bacon. And then we waited...for nothing, just plain staring at the sea. Once the actors had arrived on the prop submarine nearby a small boat took us to the sub. We spent the rest of the morning shooting a single scene involving all the extras and actors, so it was quite a tedious repetition..including the shots taken at different angles! We had to imagine we could see New York at the horizon..I only saw the sea! The sun was out and it didn't help our tempers.

Back at the original ferryboat we had a small break to eat: chicken or fish, salad, potatoes and pasta, + a choclate gateau for dessert. Quite satisfying, if you have low expectations ;p

Another scene was shot, though not with all 40 extras and then the rest of us were called back to the sub to shoot a 'party scene' with beer bottles and all the while shouting and making lots of noise: quite an easy concept for us Maltese. After that it was just plain staring and sleeping for us extras, another scene in which we had to be in the water will be probably shot today as there was no time yesterday. This part wasn't met with much enthusiasm with lots of the extras it was plain waste of time till around 18.30, interrrupted only by the occaisonal joke among us or some doughnuts which were passed around. We were taken back to Marsascala and then to MFS, changed into our clothes and wearily made our way back home.

A tiring day..let's see what today has in store.

weak stomach ?

2007-09-15T10:19:00.000+02:00

Last thursday, me, pierre, oliver and jeanpaul organised a cook-in at oliver's parents' flat in Mellieha. We cooked drumsticks and pork on a bbq :) Of course we had bought alcohol beforehand..vodka and jack daniels, and being the irresponsible teenagers we are, we got drunk.

Minutes of bliss followed
and then convulsions in my stomach started
and i vomited.

Once, twice, I don't really remember...I know I woke up with a splitting headache.

I threw up the glass of water I drank..and we caught the bus for Valletta. My stomach was still rejecting anything I put in it so what acid I had, I threw it up aswell during bus rides till I arrived home. I spent a whole day in bed feeling sad of myself, reflecting on my immature actions the day before..

I don't think I will get drunk so readily next time..I will surely not drink so much!

Kamp Sajf: Watts' Ur Source

2007-09-10T11:42:00.000+02:00

I'm back from nearly 10 days of constant fun, laughter, playing loup-garous, jumping up and down and a lot of things which would take too long to write down.
I went to De La Salle on saturday 1st September, no participants where present yet, but we had to prepare the place to accomodate over 100 youths all at once. Preparation (which had begun from thursday, continued on till Sunday evening. On monday (3rd) the first sleepover began, ending on tuesday, on which the second sleepover started to end on wednesday evening. The experience was great, you get to know a lot of new people and form stronger bonds of friendships with others you already knew.
I cannot imagine a better way for the Weekend to be, I was a participant and the experience was different than the sleepovers where I wa a leader.

I would like to thank everyone who made this year's Kamp Sajf so amazing, starting from the youngest participant and ending with the oldest leader :)

Some links of note which may better explain how Kamp Sajf was:
- Reubens account of Kamp Sajf Weekend as a leader
- ZAKmalta.org info and photos
- Yen's Account

I'm also dreaming of flying over the rainbow in the sky.. 'Rise Up' was the theme song for Kamp Sajf and I heard it so many times it's coming out of my ears (Maltese expression). On the van after leaving DLS, the radio was playing Rise Up..and a melanchonic feeling came over me as KS ending, what I was dreading since it began came to pass..I miss the atmosphere, I miss the people, most of all I miss Sarah!

fuel prices

2007-08-31T15:12:00.001+02:00

How does anyone expect someone to pay more money to help the environment. Unleaded fuel is much more expensive than diesel and the prices keep on getting higher. Is this really the way to conserve the enviornment?

I'm complaining now, what will I do when I get a car and car fuel payments will empty my wallet?

A solution must be found in using renewable sources of energy fuels..and with Malta having such a dense car 'population' our problem is bigger :S

two must reads

2007-08-30T21:28:00.000+02:00

Taken by the film Eragon I recently saw, I decided to read the two book by Christopher Paolini. And that is what I have done during these past three days. I was really taken in by the story of Eragon and The Eldest and Paolini has done a real good job, as I'm sure he will do in the last book of the Inheritance Trilogy. What I found really appealing was the whole relationship which is found between each Rider and his Dragon..hmm wish I had a dragon :D Also I'm a suck-up to new worlds especially those containing elves, dwarves, forests and epic battles...all this kind of gives me the feeling of reading The Chronicles of Narnia or The Hobbit a few years ago, or playing World of Warcraft much more recently..

If you need a good read, these two books should help ;)

in my room

2007-08-27T22:37:00.000+02:00

This is my first official blog from my room :)

I will just say that everything looks much more user-friendly when you wake up and see your TFT looking at you. Sigh. One little drawback, except for the heat that is, food. When I want a simple drink or something to eat I have a longer walk to the kitchen, and it isnt' very nice actually. Reminds me of a Simpson's Episode where Homer got two 'fridges' which could teleport you to where each one was..he did it out of lazy-ness so he could take a beer out of the kitchen without moving from his sofa in front of the tv. Bart happened to use the teleport-machine and his face got switched with that of a fly which happened to buzz in at the same moment as he did..kind of gruesome.

I'll just have to but a portable refrigirator or something... :p

doing the wiring

2007-08-24T23:08:00.000+02:00

This afternoon I started fitting LAN Wiring. Wires start from my room, exit through the ventilator too the yard (bitha lol) enter the kitchen through another ventilator and then straight along the ceiling to the modem in the living room. It was pretty hard work and took some time, but the worst part, fixing the LAN Box is over and making sure the wire is clipped everywhere, is over. Hopefully my PC will move tomorrow and then I can work online from my room :) I'm so excited!
The only drawback is that I think the atmosphere would be better in the living room as I don't have any AC in my room...temperatures this week are going to be around 35C.

Good night

Sleeping (after an exchange)

2007-08-23T19:51:00.000+02:00

Have slept from 15:30hrs to 19:30hrs...4hrs in all. Pretty good time I guess considering I didn't get any sleep last night. We stayed up playing 'Loup-Garous' (a mafia-ish card game but using wolves) till around four in the morning and then we went to the beach to look at the sea while the sun came up. Sunrise was hidden though...so that was kind of disappointing.

I feel sleepy again.

I'm a prickly pear

2007-08-15T19:56:00.001+02:00

Received a hi5 invite from Chris LG and found a link to his gallery. I actually liked his photographs, and here's a sample :) Click on it to go to the actual page.

Keep it up Chris!

List of dvds i saw this weekend

2007-08-12T20:30:00.000+02:00

Eragon
Domino
Art Heist

Yep, life was pretty boring this weekend. But now that's nearly over and I can look at the new week knowing we'll be hosting a Slovak group for a whole week :) It's been over a year since we last saw them so things are getting pretty exciting. I just need to figure what energizer games I have to prepare and we're ready to go! (Right now 'Ruby' is playing in the background...it might explain my 'excited' mood, hah!)

The Eighth

2007-08-08T22:33:00.000+02:00

'T was a pretty full day today. But I discovered the easiest one-to-one tefl lesson one could ever have regarding preparation: grammar focus; the student just wanted to work out grammar exercises. Cool huh! :D

In the evening we had a meeting regarding the exchange starting next thursday, we're gonna host a Slovak group. (We refers to a few Zak B'Kara members and others). I thought everything was pretty rowdy considering we met at McDonalds.

Quu I discovered a tune one could play on the flute: Twinkle Toes..went to buy a flute music book with Sarah aswell. Tsk.

:)

ps Title of post refers to the date.

back to blogging hopefully..

2007-08-07T15:13:00.000+02:00

i had given up blogging a long time ago..but today i saw a friend's first blog and it sort of came back to me..that i should start blogging again..so here goes :)

two big pieces of news..(since my bday that is..):
1. i start university next october
2. i'm teaching english to foreign students as a summer job

sounds cool doesn't it
cheerio