It was one of those mornings, where you woke up enveloped in this unexplainable yet welcomed sense of serenity and joy. It was 5.45am and the morning stillness was the only thing I heard (apart from the my shuffling about the room) as I got dressed and geared up to get to the hospital. As I sat in the train, the rising sun was slowly beginning to show her radiant face...ray by ray, until finally the sprawling fields along which the train whizzed passed were ablaze. I sat there completely taken by this unfolding miracle of nature. So many times we are surrounded by little occurances like these and never fully grasp the magnitude of its glory, so this time I decided to actually consciously be present in that moment.
It was one of those days, where you couldn't help but smile and this smile was real because you could feel it surfacing from within and not just the opposite ends of your mouth stretching outwards. Suddenly smiling to one's self didn't seem so crazy.
These days, when joy and happiness have no underlying cause and you feel like that just because, are days to treasure. That kind of elation is sincere, independant of any rhyme or reason, and not answerable to any earthly influences.
These are days when life is magnified, our senses are heightened and we get to experience a little bit of perfection.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
another terrific song
Anyone can loose it all
Anyone can loose it all
If you don't heed your warnings call
Anyone can loose it all.
Anyone can make a mess
Anyone can make a mess
Just take so much and make it less
Anyone can make a mess.
When you got time and streets making saints & sinners
Ink on sheets makin' losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
Anyone can be a saint
Well anyone can be a saint
Well you just forget that you ain't
Well we can go and be a saint.
Anyone can be a star
Well anyone can be a star
We'll just get in your car
And we can go and be a star.
When you got time and streets making saints & sinners
Ink on sheets makin' losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
You know I wish we had more time
You know I wish we had more time
You know I think it was a crime
The things we waste trying to not waste our time.
When you got time and streets making ends for beginners
Shuffling feets all these losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
-saints and sinners-
by
paddy casey
Anyone can loose it all
If you don't heed your warnings call
Anyone can loose it all.
Anyone can make a mess
Anyone can make a mess
Just take so much and make it less
Anyone can make a mess.
When you got time and streets making saints & sinners
Ink on sheets makin' losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
Anyone can be a saint
Well anyone can be a saint
Well you just forget that you ain't
Well we can go and be a saint.
Anyone can be a star
Well anyone can be a star
We'll just get in your car
And we can go and be a star.
When you got time and streets making saints & sinners
Ink on sheets makin' losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
You know I wish we had more time
You know I wish we had more time
You know I think it was a crime
The things we waste trying to not waste our time.
When you got time and streets making ends for beginners
Shuffling feets all these losers and winners
Well it's not what your dreams should be.
-saints and sinners-
by
paddy casey
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
intermission IV
1. Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
2. Expert : Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
3. Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
4. Headless Body Found in Topless bar
5. Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
6. New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test group
7. Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
8. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
9. Expert : Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
10. Heat Wave Linked to Temperatures
These are supposedly actual headlines that were printed in actual newspapers. There's a whole list of them.........check it out for yourself: http://www.keepersoflists.org/hof.php
2. Expert : Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
3. Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
4. Headless Body Found in Topless bar
5. Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
6. New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test group
7. Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
8. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
9. Expert : Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
10. Heat Wave Linked to Temperatures
These are supposedly actual headlines that were printed in actual newspapers. There's a whole list of them.........check it out for yourself: http://www.keepersoflists.org/hof.php
Monday, February 20, 2006
for you
"The heart does things for reasons that reason cannot understand."
That line is from the movie "Frankie and Johnny".
Sadly though, sometimes we don't have enough courage to let ourselves do that one thing that our hearts so want to do.
I'd love to ask you to have coffe and caramels, but I wouldn't know how to ask.
I'd love to ask you to dance, but you might say no.
I'd love to sit and laugh with you, let the hours burn away, but I am too shy.
I'd love to watch the sunrise with you, but I'm afraid that the sun might set on our friendship all together.
I'd love to do a great many things with you, but I don't know if you would too?
...and because of this great reservation of mine, I guess we might never know!
That line is from the movie "Frankie and Johnny".
Sadly though, sometimes we don't have enough courage to let ourselves do that one thing that our hearts so want to do.
I'd love to ask you to have coffe and caramels, but I wouldn't know how to ask.
I'd love to ask you to dance, but you might say no.
I'd love to sit and laugh with you, let the hours burn away, but I am too shy.
I'd love to watch the sunrise with you, but I'm afraid that the sun might set on our friendship all together.
I'd love to do a great many things with you, but I don't know if you would too?
...and because of this great reservation of mine, I guess we might never know!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
its a case of ....
Preface
In medicine, when a patient comes through the doors complaining of a headache, or
chest pain, the doctor takes a full pain history which involves a specific series of question regarding the discomfort they feel. Then a provisional diagnosis is made, and investigations are carried out (X-rays, CT scans, blood work etc). Subsequently, the diagnosis is confirmed and they deliberate on the prognosis of the case.
What follows is a case history of heartache. It is not based on any one person..its more of a generic example....plus I was bored. In the interest of ethics, the names, times, dates and locations have been fictionalized.
Time: 3am
Date: 1 February 2002
Attending Physician: Dr. I . Mainline Caffeine
Location: Manhattan Institute for the Brokenhearted
X walked into the doctor's room, and crumpled into a heap in the chair.... the chair where the healing supposedly begins. Dr. MC (as he was affectionately knownto his colleagues), who had seen too many of these casualities was weary and was beginning to wonder if in fact misery had become the condition rather than the exception and that happiness, had dissolved into a modern day myth. Anyway, he did a complete work up of the patient. A verbal catharsis and a couple of cups of coffee later, this is the case report that transpired from that midnight repartee between doctor and patient.
Presenting Complaint: Pain
Onset: 3 months ago
Frequency: Constant
Site of Pain: Left side of chest (patient pointed to heart)
Radiation of Pain: Everywhere
Etiology (cause): Y
Character of Pain:
Dull and boring pain.
"Like a heaviness that is weighing down on me".
Severity: 11 (on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most severe)
Aggravating factors: Thinking; memories; music; idleness
Relieving factors: Alcohol; sleeping pills
Associated symptoms: Insomnia;loss of appetite;nausea;fatigue;tearfulness
No other remarkable findings
Investigations carried out:
Full blood count
Toxicology screen
Echocardiogram (checks the functionality of heart)
Mini Mental State Examinantion
Diagnosis:
Amorous insufficiency , secondary to relationship failure.
Management:
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Social support
(As this disorder is usually self-limiting, no medication was indicated,
instead, the "watchful waiting" method was employed)
Prognosis: Fairly good
General comments:
This is a fairly common problem, possibly a rite of passage even, for most of us. Some people handle it better than others; it is variable from person to person. The outlook for this condition is usually a good one, and is very very very rarely terminal. It predominantly depends on individuals' coping strategies and will power to get better. They have to understand however, the course of healing is a protracted one and there are no instant results. Supplementary to the
fore mentioned management suggested, forgiveness of the cause, who/whatever it may be, is found to bring considerable relief and closure to the patient. Closure is paramount in cases like these, otherwise, the risk of a relapse is high.
I am positive that with a little help from X's friends, the patient above will make a full recovery.
In medicine, when a patient comes through the doors complaining of a headache, or
chest pain, the doctor takes a full pain history which involves a specific series of question regarding the discomfort they feel. Then a provisional diagnosis is made, and investigations are carried out (X-rays, CT scans, blood work etc). Subsequently, the diagnosis is confirmed and they deliberate on the prognosis of the case.
What follows is a case history of heartache. It is not based on any one person..its more of a generic example....plus I was bored. In the interest of ethics, the names, times, dates and locations have been fictionalized.
Time: 3am
Date: 1 February 2002
Attending Physician: Dr. I . Mainline Caffeine
Location: Manhattan Institute for the Brokenhearted
X walked into the doctor's room, and crumpled into a heap in the chair.... the chair where the healing supposedly begins. Dr. MC (as he was affectionately knownto his colleagues), who had seen too many of these casualities was weary and was beginning to wonder if in fact misery had become the condition rather than the exception and that happiness, had dissolved into a modern day myth. Anyway, he did a complete work up of the patient. A verbal catharsis and a couple of cups of coffee later, this is the case report that transpired from that midnight repartee between doctor and patient.
Presenting Complaint: Pain
Onset: 3 months ago
Frequency: Constant
Site of Pain: Left side of chest (patient pointed to heart)
Radiation of Pain: Everywhere
Etiology (cause): Y
Character of Pain:
Dull and boring pain.
"Like a heaviness that is weighing down on me".
Severity: 11 (on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most severe)
Aggravating factors: Thinking; memories; music; idleness
Relieving factors: Alcohol; sleeping pills
Associated symptoms: Insomnia;loss of appetite;nausea;fatigue;tearfulness
No other remarkable findings
Investigations carried out:
Full blood count
Toxicology screen
Echocardiogram (checks the functionality of heart)
Mini Mental State Examinantion
Diagnosis:
Amorous insufficiency , secondary to relationship failure.
Management:
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Social support
(As this disorder is usually self-limiting, no medication was indicated,
instead, the "watchful waiting" method was employed)
Prognosis: Fairly good
General comments:
This is a fairly common problem, possibly a rite of passage even, for most of us. Some people handle it better than others; it is variable from person to person. The outlook for this condition is usually a good one, and is very very very rarely terminal. It predominantly depends on individuals' coping strategies and will power to get better. They have to understand however, the course of healing is a protracted one and there are no instant results. Supplementary to the
fore mentioned management suggested, forgiveness of the cause, who/whatever it may be, is found to bring considerable relief and closure to the patient. Closure is paramount in cases like these, otherwise, the risk of a relapse is high.
I am positive that with a little help from X's friends, the patient above will make a full recovery.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
the doomed dreamer
Was she asking to much when......
She dreamed of a world where people weren't taken at face value; where one didn't form unjustified assumptions and prejudices towards the guy next to him.
She dreamed of a place where people were free to be who they truly were, that they didn't have to suffocate themselves and pretend for the sake of being accepted and loved.
In the place of jealousy, condemnation and hatred, she wished for acceptance, warmth and love.
Where people said what they meant and meant what they said. No smoke-screens....no facades.
She didn't want societal perfection, but merely for some sense that the world wasn't free falling into an abyss.
She wasn't perfect herself, not even remotely close.
She was trying to get life right the first time round, maybe she tried to hard?!
She believed in a love that was infinite and divine, an unparalleled feeling that shouldn't ever be taken for granted.
She dreams of these ideals as a meditation.
She dances this dance alone.... sometimes its hard to hear the music and she goes out of step.
Is there anyone who will dance with her and always keep her in time?
She lives in dreams with the naive belief that someday....just someday, the dream might transpire into the living.
As for now, she walks this earth, not expecting, only hoping.
She dreamed of a world where people weren't taken at face value; where one didn't form unjustified assumptions and prejudices towards the guy next to him.
She dreamed of a place where people were free to be who they truly were, that they didn't have to suffocate themselves and pretend for the sake of being accepted and loved.
In the place of jealousy, condemnation and hatred, she wished for acceptance, warmth and love.
Where people said what they meant and meant what they said. No smoke-screens....no facades.
She didn't want societal perfection, but merely for some sense that the world wasn't free falling into an abyss.
She wasn't perfect herself, not even remotely close.
She was trying to get life right the first time round, maybe she tried to hard?!
She believed in a love that was infinite and divine, an unparalleled feeling that shouldn't ever be taken for granted.
She dreams of these ideals as a meditation.
She dances this dance alone.... sometimes its hard to hear the music and she goes out of step.
Is there anyone who will dance with her and always keep her in time?
She lives in dreams with the naive belief that someday....just someday, the dream might transpire into the living.
As for now, she walks this earth, not expecting, only hoping.
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