Random Thoughts, Deliberate Gaffes

I’m rushing to work and back and back to work again. I’m rushing to sort out one patient, only to have another waiting for me. I settle the mounting bills for the months, only to receive more in the mail box the next week or so. I read one chapter of paediatrics, and end up forgetting it all the very next day. It sounds like fatique and burnout but ironically, I remain energetic and sleepless and alert.

In times like these, it’s easy to whine and gripe about life.




Random Thoughts, Deliberate Gaffes

I have so busy lately, rushing mindlessly through the days and still achieving nothing notable.

It has been tremendously difficult trying to sit still and think and ponder and write.

The world is evolving at such a dizzying pace but I’m seemingly still stuck in the same old mould.

Some things don’t seem to change very much though.

Our politicians are still mudslinging like children in a mud pool, hurling accusations against each other at the expense of our intellectual and economic time. It is for this reason why politics and democracy in the United States of America remains the benchmark for the rest of the world. There are rarely if at all, any silly allegations and counter allegations. Their debates are arguments are never about sodomy and clogged drains and uncollected trash. Republican or Democrat, Obama or McCain, white, Hispanic or black, they reunite as a nation after a presidential elections and move on with the core businesses of running a nation.

We simply do not witness such maturity among our politicians – both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat alike. The UMNO government led by the incompetent Abdullah Badawi is still obsessed with discrediting the Pakatan politicians instead of brainstorming for measures to resuscitate the ailing Malaysian economy. Meanwhile on the other side of the divide, the Pakatan politicians had a field day and quite literally in fact, at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on July 6th making a lot of noise but no waves of positive change. The sufferings of the people are real and imminent I agree, but I do not see how a rock concert and many fiery speeches can bring about any alleviation and reprieve.

In the silver state of Perak Darul Ridzuan, two UMNO politicians have successfully lived up to their tradition of racism and narcissism. One Hamidah compared Indians to serpents and implied in a less than subtle manner that Indians are more venomous than a slithering reptile with forked tongue. Pasir Salak’s member of parliament, one Tajuddin Abdul Rahman further reminded all non-Malay Malaysians that they will always be regarded as nothing more than immigrants in Tanah Melayu while debating on the 9th Malaysian plan recently.

Talking about immigrants and illegal immigration, the Filipino government provided what they deemed was a splendid and brilliant idea on tackling in the increasing Filipino population residing illegally in Sabah. Their smart alec proposal to the state UMNO government was to legalize all aliens and grant them permanent resident status. There, problem solved - no more illegals in Sabah! The Filipino government’s proposal is utterly stupid, to put it bluntly. It explains why the Catholic-predominant nation has remained for decades in such a perverted mess and unsalvageable wreckage. It also reflects badly on the Sabah state government. When a foreign government has the audacity to make such a brainless suggestion at one’s face, it speaks volumes about the respect it has for the sovereignty of the Sabah state government, or the lack of it.

The exploding population of illegal immigrants was the main point of contention for the Sabah Progressive Party’s much publicized no-confidence motion on PM Abdullah Badawi. As was suspected, it was all typical BN sandiwara and Sabahan cowardice. The SAPP’s parliamentarian for Tawau, one Chua Soon Bui has clarified that the no-confidence motion will be postponed indefinitely in view that the UMNO government has appointed Najib Razak to spearhead efforts of eradicating illegal immigrants from Sabah. Lest one forgets, the deputy premier Najib Razak has his hands full just trying to clear his own name from allegations of murder, corruption and the latest, sodomy. Illegal immigration falls very very low indeed on his of immediate priorities, if at all.

A mother of seven is dying very soon. She was a bubbly, jovial and remarkably pleasant lady just over two weeks ago. She underwent a major operation to a very important organ in her body and I am not talking about her great big toe, although that’s important too. The bulbous nose of her surgeon was fully exposed for a great part of the surgery with bits of hideous hair hanging out of the overly large nostrils. Perhaps that is why she developed a severe infection after the surgery? Her doctors are still at a lost over the source of her infection. I suggest they nab this self-righteous, tough-talking surgeon, swab his nostrils and see if the bacterial culture yields anything. It’s just a suggestion, my two-cents worth for whatever it’s worth. Is it illegal and contemptuous to make academic suggestions these days, or will I end up in Kamunting because I question?

So yes, I’ve been busy, overly busy and unnecessarily busy, truth be told.

I’m rushing to work and back and back to work again. I’m rushing to sort out one patient, only to have another waiting for me. I settle the mounting bills for the months, only to receive more in the mail box the next week or so. I read one chapter of paediatrics, and end up forgetting it all the very next day. It sounds like fatique and burnout but ironically, I remain energetic and sleepless and alert.

In times like these, it’s easy to whine and gripe about life.

Sometimes I forget the blessings and privileges that I do have because I am so affixed on those I don’t.

Sometimes I lose sight of what’s really important and precious while fussing over what the trivial and small.

Sometimes I neglect the beauty and wonder of life when faced with so much ugliness and horror.

Sometimes I inadvertently block out the innocence and simplicity of days past in the process of building a future from wishful thinking.

Gosh, I miss the days I can fish for tilapia and haruan till dusk, return home with a bucket of fish and a body of mosquito sting. I miss the moments of lying idly with a feline bolster just stroking her underbelly and listening to her spellbinding purrs of pleasure. I miss the years of cycling for errands, ignoring red lights and traffic laws and patrolling cops. I miss those times Brother was still talkative and dreamy and mischievous.

I miss a lot of the past although the past was never that sweet and glorious when it was the present.

Life and age call us to action and service when we’re least prepared for it.

Life is such, POTS, face it.