Health. Fitness. Lifestyle. Debunked.

I am going to create a new blog.

This blog will be the product of my frustration with the number of myths about health, fitness and lifestyle that are misleading people in their own endeavours to live longer, healthier lives.

The blog will draw on my personal experiences and on my experiences in health care and medicine to educate and inform.

I will need the support of all of my viewers.

This is my plea.

Doc

A Question for the Dutch

Great Expectations? Nah... Not Really!

Baked goods and beardz

Let me just turn up my hearing aid...

The Way to THIS Man's Heart.

Beach huuurrrr

...because why would I shower BEFORE posting my face up around the world?

The Pedestrian Crossing Boogie

Last night when I was driving home from work I came to an intersection where a pedestrian, who was waiting to cross the road, was listening to his iPod.

This guy was not only listening to his music, but was dancing away while waiting for the little man to turn from red to green. There was shuffling, popping, air guitar, air drums... he was going for it like it was no one's business. Turns out, though, some people at the crowded, peak-hour intersection seemed to think that it was their business and chose to point and laugh. He danced on.

Music and dancing are great ways to express yourself. Humans are one of the only species that do it (can anyone educate me on any other animals that dance to music?) and it is a symbol of our cultural evolution which has placed us on a different plane of existence from other creatures on this planet. It is harmless, peaceful and just plain FUN!

I'm not entirely sure why it's so weird to want to have a bit of a boogie while you listen to your favourite songs, no matter where you are. I personally believe that singing and dancing in public are better than some of the other alternative behaviours I have seen in public (e.g. being aggressive, breaking shit and hurting people). Why not embrace?

While I bop away to Sufjan Stevens on this wonderful Friday morning, I give a shout-out to the guy who I saw at the intersection last night - you rock!

Dance on! I know I will!

Barcaldine to Bridge to Brisbane

Hello everyone!

Well, I'm back and lazier than ever! Here is a video blog that took me about 10 minutes to make. Yup. 10 minutes. Why did it take me 5246245 years to find 10 minutes in which to do this? Refer to words 7, 8 and 9 of this monologue.

***UPDATE***

I am very proud to announce that I completed the 10 km rum (approx. 6.2 mi) in 48 minutes 32 seconds. With this time I ranked # 1925, which doesn't sound too impressive in itself... but this was out of 45 625 runners, and so places me in the top 5%! Woohoo!!

Very proud!

A Great Idea

Click here.

please thanks bye.

What words cannot describe

Danger. Impending Doom!

Sunday May 31st 2009 - Captain's Log

Sorry for the nerdy-ass title. I just saw Star Trek last night as a sort of going-away hang-out session with my housemate. Great movie, by the way. 

So this morning I flew into Rockhampton, which is a sort of rural rendezvous point before they ship me out to the middle of NOWHERE! Fortunately, I randomly ran into one of my friends from Med School who happened to be catching the same flight back home, so at least I had company. Rocky is a nice little town. In it resides about 60 000 people, and they're just the country folk I imagined - friendly and humble. =D

Within the first half-hour of landing here, I managed to do two stupid things. 

1. When I left the airport, I jumped into the cab, engaging in conversation with my friend, and ignoring what was happening around me... and then I realised that my left arm felt sufficiently lighter than when I was at Brisbane airport for departure. Stupid me left my suitcase at the airport and had to run back. At this point I thought that I would lose my head if it weren't screwed on.
2. My friend and I took the cab back to his place and he was ready to hit the hay on account of a massive hang-over. I was about to walk out the door on an adventure when I recalled pulling out my wallet to pay for the cab, handing over the money to the cab driver, and NOT putting the wallet back into my pocket. The cab had driven away! Thankfully these country folk are humble, honest and friendly. I called the cab company and they had the driver return my wallet, cash and all, to me an hour later. I offered the kind driver a 50 for his troubles and he refused to take reward for his good deed. So nice =)

So four hours later, I am sitting at a cafe, sipping on my latte, waiting for my friend to come out of his coma so that we may chill and be merry, although I'm unsure that he is keen on the beers I offered him earlier today. 

Here is a horrid photo of me kicking back, updating BriefDialogue and avoiding completing this Community Health Appraisal on Rheumatoid Arthritis that I have been putting off since the start of the year.

I hate my big head.

Stupid big head.

Formal thought disorder?

Hello everyone!

Holy crud! It has been ages since I jumped on this thing and attempted to make my rather average reality, appealing to some avid readers.

So here is the low-down of the past two months.

Two months ago, I disappeared form the Blogosphere when I began my internal medicine rotation at our major hospital. I spent the first few days gaining my bearings and once they were gained, I decided to actually make myself useful. Every week was essentially six 12-15 hour days, not including my lecturing or tutoring job, so I trust you can imagine that a Blog was down on the priority list. Sorry.

I became obsessed with Antonio Tahhan's Olive Juice and have prepared some amazing Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern dishes. I have always been a culinary enthusiast but have now broadened my tastes to include some amazing international cuisine.

Upon the conclusion of Internal Med, I enjoyed some well-earned Grey's Anatomy-esque after-work drinks with all of the people that I would miss as I moved on. The next day, I was off to Melbourne. 

Melbourne was the place to be as we prepared for the weekend of a life-time to celebrate my big sister's wedding. Now, if none of you have experienced a Croatian wedding before, let me assure you it's like nothing you could ever imagine... or prepare for. The party began on Thursday night and concluded on the Monday as our livers pleaded for mercy. The Big Day, itself, couldn't have gone smoother, despite a wedding cake that collapsed in on itself, and a missing marriage certificate that wound up in the bathroom at the end of the ceremony... these were just little hurdles that we well and truly got over. (ZOMG Check out the stretch hummer - Me Want IT!!)

Oh, below is one of my two most recent hair cuts. I asked for 'funky yet professional', as I can't exactly parade a savage coif when dealing with people's lives. (P.S. The reason I wasn't smiling in that one, is because there was nothing to smile about)

As promised, in a week's time, I am moving away to a small town in Rural Queensland. Due to some administrative difficulties, I shall no longer be going to Calliope, but instead, I'm off to a place called Barcaldine (even more rural than the last one) where I shall spend two months without a cell phone signal or internet connection. I guess I'll have to scab off others if I hope to communicate with friends and family. I will stop over in a city called Rockhampton for a few days, so maybe I can give you final salute before heading off.

So there it is.

(I wonder if I can get a video or two published before I disappear)

Doc

Open Windows

This photo makes me look so submissive... this window needs to be closed before anyone sees!

Tough Decisions

I want to share a story so that you may see how lucky many of you are for the tough decisions you think you have to make in life.

So a woman rocks up in the Emergency Department, having been referred to us from a doctor somewhere in Whoop Whoop (definitions 2 and 5).

She has been diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia. With appropriate chemotherapy, if she decides to undergo treatment, she has a reasonable chance of surviving the next 5 years. Without treatment, she won't make it past a few weeks.

Here's the tough part. She is 19 weeks pregnant. With chemotherapy, her foetus will certainly die. 

On the surface, the answer seems obvious. If mother won't survive to term, then the foetus won't survive. Either way, the foetus will die... so... take the treatment.

Then I imagined myself in her shoes. It's not just a matter of deciding to take the treatment. It's also about making the decision that will kill your foetus. Your unborn child.

Sure it's obvious, but does that make the decision any easier? I hope that I never have to find out.

Harmony of Mathematical Precision

Nintendo Wii + Mario Cart + Projector + Vodka + Beer + Tequila + New Hat = What you see above

Ben Rama

Oh No You Di'nt!

Not...

the holiday that I was expecting.

I have merely put a halt on going nuts. LOL

I have found myself, scrotum-deep, in a mound of paper-work. I am getting through it slowly, but it is certainly pissing me off.

On the bright side, I had a fucking awesome time at the Sunny Coast on the weekend with my best friends who moved up there at the start of 2009. Sat in the sun. Tanned to perfection. Drank. Drank. Swam in the ocean. Witnessed surfing acrobatics at Noosa Heads... What a fine couple of days.

I hope to repeat the adventure at the conclusion of the week. I have to teach a lab on Friday, but hopefully that night I will re-live the 1.5 hour drive up to paradise.

Ooh! I almost forgot. The most recent of Steve's chocolates that I have ticked off my list are the crystallised ginger in dark, crispy blatternougat, 'Melissa' Javanese cacao milk, and French salty caramel balls. Not too keen on the ginger, but the others were to die for!

I have a list of video blogs that I would like to make, so if you lovely loyal Blogvakistanian followers wish me all the best, then I will get through this paper work and start filming. Who's with me?

Doc

Reward

Now I have told you all about how I feel about cheese... well here cometh the opportunity to tell you all about another passion of mine. Chocolate

When I recently shared my story of passion for all things cacao, a friend recommended a chocolate shop not far from where I live that would be worth checking out. With the advent of my week holiday, I decided to pay them a visit.

The store was tiny, and not all that impressive from the outside, but when I walked in and was overwhelmed by the decor of the place, the smell in the air and the mounds of chocolate in every which direction you looked. I was then greeted by a friendly smile, which belonged to my new friend, Steve.

Steve and I spoke for over half an hour about the passion that I shared with him and his wife. He told me of how he turned to chocolate when he realised that his work in IT was monotonous and dull. He told me that he needed a reason to look forward to waking up every morning, and a way to make people happy. He chose the right path, me thinks. 

After showing me through his range of delectable treats and asking what I was into - I chose to purchase some beauties. 

First on the list was - Seatonfire -

I had first read about Seatonfire last year and ever since then I have been determined to get my hands on it. They produce a premium quality dark chili chocolate. Now, I have tried chili chocolate numerous times, by numerous manufacturers and it is, by far, my favourite variety of chocolate. Seatonfire, however, promised so much more... and it certainly delivered. It was the most intense flavour I have ever savoured! It was a seductively piquant, unique and gourmet chocolatesensation. 

I then had recommended to me a violet praline (left), a mandarine creme  (right) and,  in the centre, the most inventive and delicious variety of chocolate I have ever encountered: A white chocolate, rose petal and grappa (that's right, grappa) truffle. Holy cow was it delicious.

The only (potential) problem with the whole experience, was the price tags that came with these treats. The block of seatonfire was AUD $14.90, for 80g (2.8 oz), and the three small morsels at the end were AUD$2.20 each. HOLY SHIT! If my mum ever finds out how much I spent on a very limited amount of chocolate, she would kill me.

Overall, though, the experience was awesome. I have already been in contact with Steve, and when I return for my next adventure, I have been assured that he will be ready to tackle my daring taste buds!

Totally worth a blog post:

To the guy who I just busted skinny dipping in the pool, you totally suck at scouting to see who is watching you.

Ya-huh...

... I totally saw your wee wee.

The runs

I'm starting to think about the things it will take to re-arrange my life to make it a little less intense. I was so over-excited by the prospect of 2009 that I bit off a bit more than I could chew... OK, a LOT more =(

I need to execute these adjustments within the next two weeks. If not, I may just go insane. I miss the old me. I want him back.

Poor dude at the grocery store. He was just trying to be friendly and do his job. All I ought to have done was whack my groceries on the check-out counter, so that he could scan the shopping, take my money and send me on my way. How was he to know that he would fall victim to my ticket-of-entry spray of verbal diarrhoea, when he simply asked how my day was?... I don't think I let the poor lad get a single word in.

I'm taking a week off in a fortnight. Hopefully it will give me a chance to hit the 'reset' button.

Miss you, too, Blogvakistan!

Doc

Thank you

Mama and Tata:

• You put your everything into getting me where I am today, and you always will. Your sacrifice is endless. I can only hope to be able to pay it forward to my children as well as you have yours.

Big Sisters

• You guided me through the years in which I was most impressionable and most vulnerable. I think I have made it through.
  

Little Sister:

• You are my best friend, and it kills me to live so far away from you. I am so flattered that I am the one you trust and turn to for advice. I hope I'm doing a good job.

Nephew:

• You may be two years old and don't yet realise, but not matter how sad and hard my day has been, the very thought of you brings a smile to my face.
  

Time to unwind

Post-wedding madness.

Late nights.

Early mornings flights.

Thank goodness for down-time and evening routine. *sigh of relief*

Progress - 1.13%

Greetings.

I will be out of the office for the weekend on account of my being interstate on account of my cousin's wedding day celebrations on account of out happiness that she has found somebody to lurrve.

Weddings are swell, especially Croatian weddings with the loud music and the rakija and the hundreds of people... can't wait! Anyhow, don't let me distract you from the video below. Please derive pleasure from your viewing of it.

Three things that suck

In descending order of how much they suck:

1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue and parotids.

2. Zac's departure.

3. The amount of money I find myself spending on cheese.

...

...

...

... i'm 'on go eat some cheese, now.

Weak at the knees!

Happy Valentines day, Blogvakistan!

I haven't one single someone to share the special day with, so I turn my attention to all of you spunk-rats out there!

While researching the history of Valentine's on the internet, I came across an interesting video which talks about a well-known Valentinian (made-up word?) icon, Cupid.

Apparently our old mate was a bit of a stud in his time... an old-school 'sex symbol', if you will and NOT the paedophile's dream-come-true that we have become accustomed to.

http://link.history.com/services/link/bcpid6555686001/bclid1672160848/bctid10492398001

I hope you find this interesting.

I guess this is the part where I wish you a whole lot of cheesy Valentine love... so... yeah.

Doc. x

.daP yM

My first video! Aaargh!

The quality is a little dodgy, but it's my first time so gimme a break, eh? I'm a little embarrassed... but here goes!

Things that people don't like about me

I would consider myself a VERY likable person. I have loads of friends and I am always socially 'comfortable'. I have no problems meeting new people and I tend to do this a lot. I am, however, aware that there are some things about me that people don't like. I figured that I ought to let you Blogvakistanians in on it, to get the full picture:

Things that people don't like about me:

• My need to break out in song with my sub-par vox
• My dress sense when in public
• I swear a lot. Fucking for serious, bro.
• My taste in music, in general.
• My 'middle-eastern taxi driver' CD in my car, specifically
• Kitchen nazi
• Patriotic towards Croatia
• I am double-booked, and as it turns out, I'll also be late
• I still turn to my parents for financial advice
• I'm 'fine' to drive after a night out on the cerveza
• My need to have an answer for most things
• My unpolitically correct jokes
• My religion
• Zoning out

This list will remain dynamic for as long as I can think of things, so please stop by whenever you can for updates.

Quote of This Day

While shopping...

Doc: "Dad, before we go, I just want to go and see some underwear"

Doc's Dad: "What? For... down there?"

GRAPHIC granulation

Howdy

Over the Australia Day Weekend, I went away with my sister to some friends' beach mansion in Coolum, Queensland.

On day 1, I went for a sixer (third definition). I was walking down their driveway when I slipped over some loose gravel, and I took out the side of my right hallux (big toe, yo).

Given the nature of my career path, I found watching the healing process fascinating. So fascinating, in fact, that I just had to document it. If you don't wanna see, then stop reading. The thumbnails are small to avoid a confronting encounter for the weak-stomached. Click them for high resolution images.

It's pretty fucking gross, and in case you wondered - yes it DOES hurt like hell!

(In case you're wondering, the thready stuff around the toe is from bandaging)

There is a lesson to be learnt here. The lesson is that I am an idiot.

Missed you!!!

Idiom for Courtney

Courtney was the 'one' for me.

She has been with me through thick and thin.

She had never let me down.

She cared for me and I cared for her.

At the moment I am working on several other blog posts, but this one takes priority on this day because... well... Courtney let me down.

Courtney is my car. The idiom in focus is - "when it rains, it pours"

I have never had a dull day with Courtney until a fortnight ago when I went back to Queensland after a lovely summer in Melbourne. Since then:

• Trunk latch mal-functions. It is now secured with rope until she can see a mechanic. The inconvenience of accessing the trunk via the back seat slowly drives driver mad.
• Courtney's clutch fluid leaks out, cannot get into 1st gear to begin moving. Courtney and her driver stuck in the middle of the road with cars flying past at 80 km/hr. Angry passers-by yell and swear at driver.
• Courtney's driver seat belt can no longer retract. Seat belt now loose. Driver forced to drive under unsafe and illegal circumstances.
• Busted tire on the way home from the Sunny Coast. Puncture too big to repair. Driver replaced the tyre with a spare, but now needs a replacement spare. Unfortunately the fuck-off rare tyres are proving impossible to find. Looks like driver might have to fork out $500+++ for a whole new set, soon. :(

(I must admit, changing a tyre makes you feel so manly and damn sexy)

All of this culminated into one of the worst series of unfortunate events that I could think of because last week I had friends visiting from Melbourne that I had to drive around. This weekend my sister is up from Melbourne and I need to be driving her around AND this weekend is a fucking public holiday (Happy Australia Day, bitches - woo!) so no one (i.e. mechanics) can help me.

What's next? 

Perhaps the law of Murphy will make true, this idiom - "everything that can go wrong will go wrong".

Oh Courtney. Why have you forsaken me?