70 is Young

"I am more than 70 years old. When you study geriatric later on, you will find that 70-75 years is considered young elderly. So I am young, and let's forget the next word."

Prof. Emeritus Dr. Leila Kamel
Introduction to Public Health

She really looked younger than 70; her face wasn't shagging and her voice was clear with fluent English. The fact that she's also computer-literate boosted my spirit of learning.

Education is the number one socioeconomic determinants of health. It keeps you in high spirit and in order and despite growing older, inside you can be as young as you feel. It gives you a sense of control over life circumstances.

At 70, how do I envision myself to be?

Managing a Bad Case of Arse

We are both hot-headed people. The difference between us is that when I explode, I conquer everything and rule it my way whether you like it or not. But when she explodes, she'll drop everything and manage her own self.

Guess who's doing the cleaning up this time?

Today I got punched because I addressed her management issue. And because I had my back turned.

Ideal-ity

1- Know your position and function in this world. Act on it.

2- Be clear with the basis of whatever it is that you are, do, say, deal or stay firm with.

3- Identify the problem and the solution.

4- Why are you where you are?

5- The reason for outlining the ideality is to inspire and guide you as you go. But in every step you take, be sure to differentiate it from reality.

There are more, but my mind is still so and so jarred. It can't be described as an "intellectual orgasm" if the need arise for a painkiller and continuously have to discuss it in order to reorder the abused brain. That moment when you either work your neurons off or you let the idea die and risk damaging an already scratched image, it should have been aptly named a "brutal mind*uck".

An afternoon I will never forget. (the resolutions, I mean.)

Pyromaniac is Back

Because for the obvious reason that winter is here. We're playing primitive nowadays, heating up with the help of food and fire.

*cackles*

For the record, it helps to study Thermal Injury while singing hairs (clubbed coma-shaped, anyone?). The room is filled with charring smell.

It Takes One To Know One

Our doctor was revising Cocaine and she mispronounced "coke burn" throughout the lecture. I smirked and turned to my bench-mate. She called me a pervert and scooted away.

Well for one, it takes one to know one. And my proficiency in English is below average, but I still curse it nevertheless.

Coke burn is a manifestation of chronic cocaine usage in the form of localized necrotic ulcer at subcutaneous injection site.

But this is also a "coke", haha ;D

Three Days Before Forensic End Round Exam

Our friends in Abou Rish were having problems with their water supply, so when I went over there this evening, they dragged me for dinner at Kiwi, Maadi.

I had Pollo & Broccoli (rigatoni, they ran out of tagliatelle) and I must say, the portion they served me can feed three hungry Atiqahs. We finally left the premise after my friend helped finish off my rigatoni and I had the waiter to wrap up my delicious cheese sauce, broccoli and chicken pieces left.


They said I don't eat much and I eat slow, as opposed to a friend who ate as little but with gusto.

The price was reasonable considering the taste, serving size, varieties, service (12% tax and eye-candy, if you know what I mean) and ambience. Average pasta was LE40.

---

6.30pm at Metro Station of Sayyeda Zeinab. We were walking with our throat clenching at the familiar irritating sensation of tear gas. Ops Piramid was not a memorable event to be relived, but I don't want to be selfish when Egypt has been kind to me.

I hope all will end well for the people in Tahrir.

The Weekend That Wasn't

It could have been the perfect plan. Drop everything and just go. Perhaps as a courtesy to others, I would have called and rescheduled but I would still be gone.

And there, just me. And a new city to explore. A night to live and appreciate the view from this perspective before a small room to crash in. Morning comes and what little exploring I could before the score to settle with you and a group of people they would never approve of. We would have breathed with the same rhytm and pulsed with the same beat, and later I alone would have staggered back to my room to pocket what few hours I could.


Another morning of exploration and maybe a quick slide down the desert. I could kick sand on beaches and rest back to enjoy the blue sky shimmering down the blue waves. And pick up that purchase as a favour I should see to. Perhaps we'll meet again before I start back the reality I have paused on.

I would have flown 1500 miles for all this and spend two months' worth of allowance for a two-nights of ignorance. But above all, I would have dropped everything I cared for for this last opportunity for 2011 to meet up with you in full action.

But I didn't.. and I blame the exam for that. Although the real fault here could have been my overthinking capacity that ruined my chances.

Or it could have been divine intervention to stop me before I plunge way deeper into abyss and go beyond recognizable. A chance to help myself, to clear my mind as to what I want to achieve in this short three more years of my study. I am not saying I am glad I didn't go there nor am I lamenting the opportunity I gave up (deep down, I know a part of me does). There would be another this in the future and the same consideration to be made.

My life is scripted. I regret nothing.

I Understand Why House is Grumpy

Because she was in pain at class with no drugs to pop. Can't focus when focusing in class was her number one rule in studying.

Had taken her meds religiously that morning, had a good early start so she could be at ease walking at a snail's speed. Yet somehow the ankle is protesting, feeling exerted when really, what did she do wrong? It was not like it happened yesterday. And you can't tell her to stay put at home, she'd rather saw off her leg.

Had to hurry home for her meds and to get away from the Egypt Is Raining Moment aka Sky Cleansing From Eternal Dust which added to the exertion. Stupid ankle.

More like, stupid her for not being patient and for not sucking it up. People are in pain all the time but you don't see them posting aggression online.

>~< Let's take a time out and be with Allah and Allah alone.

Breakfast of A Champion

Tahrir
13th November 2011
9.00 am

Stray Cats of Alexandria

We went to the Citadel by the Mediterannean Sea and I approached a group of locals fishing by the waves. One of the man had a group of stray cats loitering by his feet and I wondered why, were they waiting to snatch his catch?


The man reeled in and at the end of the hook was a tiny fish the size of my thumb. The man unhooked the poor fish and to my surprise, handed the struggling fish to one of the cats near him. The tabby restrained the fish with his paws and gobbled it up.

I learned from reading Conan that it is a courtesy to the sea to release the fish back if you caught a small one, so that the small fish can grow up big and give new generations before it is caught again. But for the man to feed his catch to the cats instead is indeed the cat's sustenance for the day.

..for Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases, without measure.
Surah Al-Imran, verse 37

I looked to my right and saw a tourist couple, the lady mesmerized by the amiability of the cats. I greeted them and she asked me has the man been feeding the cats? I told her yes, and shared her my thoughts.

"Our cats in England eat mice and Friskies."

"And the strays in Alex eat fresh living fishes from the sea," I nodded. Her husband laughed. We agreed that they have got to be the luckiest cats of all places.

That it is He Who give wealth and satisfaction.
Surah An-Najm, verse 48

And with His sustenance, we are steps closer to Him.