want vs need

Things I WANT but don't NEED (right now)
1. Running shoes
There's a hole near the right toe of my current running shoes that almost lends credibility to my running efforts. Truth be told the hole is probably due more to poor shoe quality than the wear and tear of running. I think I'll postpone buying new shoes until I actually earn the mileage.









2. Earphones
The earphones that came with my iPod are almost 2 years old. More gray than white in color now it's exposed wirings have been taped over many times (with Micropore!). I can barely hear anything from the right earphone. I tend to compensate by increasing the volume which is probably bad for my left ear. I don't get to use them very often now since I have started running without music. However, I am looking forward to using them when I go on duty in the hospital. I'm over caffeinated and on an adrenalin high during my 24-hour hospital duties. When I do have to time for a nap I need to listen to soothing music that can lull me to sleep.

3. Laptop Sleeve
A nice laptop deserves a good laptop sleeve, one that allows me to just chuck the whole thing in my bag and not worry about damaging my laptop. My old sleeve is way too big for my (relatively) new laptop. It does not really offer that much protection. I need one that is light and fits like a glove.






4. ER Season 15 Box Set
Yes, DVDs of the full season 15. After going through season 1 to 14 since med school I'm determined to see the whole series to its end. I once considered going into Emergency Medicine but I decided I wanted more patient contact (and follow-up) than an ER stay of 24-48 hours can give.



5. Tree bookshelf
Just because it's so damn nice to look at. But I'll probably need a forest to shelve all of my books.

Tree Bookshelf from designer Shawn Soh.









Things I WANT and actually NEED
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 17th ed

I have the 16th ed all highlighted, bookmarked and covered with notations. That's not to say I have read the entire 2 volumes. I still need to get the updated 17th ed though. I actually have the pdf of the new edition but there's nothing like the feel and smell of a new book to inspire me to study.



Yup, that's all I really need right now (and maybe a little less rain so I can run).

heartbreak music

Walk Away
Ben Harper

Oh no- here comes that sun again.
And (that) means another day without you my friend.
And it hurts me to look into the mirror at myself.
And it hurts even more to have to be with somebody else.

And it's so hard to do and so easy to say.
But sometimes - sometimes,
you just have to walk away - walk away.

With so many people to love in my life, why do I worry about one?
But you put the happy in my ness, you put the good times into my fun.

And it's so hard to do and so easy to say.
But sometimes - sometimes,
you just have to walk away - walk away and head for the door.

We've tried the goodbye so many days.
We walk in the same direction so that we could never stray.
They say if you love somebody than you have got to set them free,
but I would rather be locked to you than live in this pain and misery.
They say time will make all this go away,
but it's time that has taken my tomorrows and turned them into yesterdays.
And once again that rising sun is droppin' on down
And once again, you my friend, are nowhere to be found.

And it's so hard to do and so easy to say.
But sometimes, sometimes you just have to walk away, walk away and head for the door.
You just walk away - walk away - walk away.
You just walk away, walk on, turn and head for the door.


for the 24th

run/walk + music

I had a bad run/walk day today.

I was only planning to play ball in the afternoon to loosen up but since the ball mysteriously disappeared from the garage I was forced to run instead.

I hadn't primed myself for a run so early in the day. After two days of not running my muscles were tight. I was starting to get bored with my usual "house" run and was planning to take a different route. But as I started with my warm-up walk I kept getting phone calls about a relative's medication changes. In the end I decided to forgo trying out the new route.

An hour after the cool down my knees started aching a bit. As if the bad run was not enough, I had to make the mistake of having an inadequate pre- and post-run stretching. I hate to wake up tomorrow with sore thighs and knees.


There is one good thing about today's run though. I found new music to run to!

For some weird reason Uh Huh Her's brand of indie electropop is just right for my easy runs.

Too bad I couldn't find good videos of the electropop and synthy album versions. Here is the acoustic version of "Common Reaction" and a stripped down version of "Say So" instead.