Another Pair Of Eyes

Inauguration

I spent a while waiting for someone else to post something so I could comment on it, before realising I might as well write my own blog. That’s what this is for, after all!

Along with what must have been an audience of tens of millions worldwide, I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama to President of the United States. I found the prayer beforehand a little hypocritical, especially the part about diversity of religion. Hmm. It still concerns me that religion takes such a central role in politics and, indeed, in life in the USA – politics should be free of religious, financial and racial influence of any kind. Sadly, humans are not perfect.

Obama’s speech, on the other hand, was a work of art expertly delivered. I had then and I still hold now a hope that the US can finally be that force for good in the world that it’s been trying to be for a while now. This is the first time since I have been truly aware of politics that I have thought that things could get better, not stagnate or worsen, under a new administration, be it American or British. I also truly spent the whole time worrying that he’d be assassinated before my very eyes and that would be the end of that. He’s a brave man to stand up there, the eyes of the world on him and pinning everything they hope for to him.

I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Let’s hope it’s for the better, and that President Obama lives up to the dreams he paints so prettily in his speeches. And, indeed, that nobody kills him before he has the chance.

Patientline

HAHA! Take that, Patientline!*

*Patientline being the overpriced bedside telephone, radio and television system in the SGH, which also prominently display the “no mobile phones” icon, and are basically extorting money from people who can’t use an alternative. The SGH is within a trust that have relaxed mobile bans, but hopefully this will end their remaining attempts at monopolising patient communication with their families.

Term Time

Tomorrow is the start of term, I’m back in Southampton, and I’ve spent the last two hours writing about bile.

Lovely.

Exams are looming heavy and oppressive on the not-so-very-far-away horizon, and I do not know anything close to everything I need to know. And yet, here I sit, bored out of my skull, and just seemingly incapable of working – a feeling I’m sure you all know all too well from past experience at some point or other. I’ve spent the last two hours writing (about) bile, but it should have taken me half that time – it is not so very complicated. I should be churning through pharmacology by now, antimalarials or something, but I just can’t seem to bring myself around to doing so. At the start of term, this is not a particularly good omen.

Otherwise, I’ve been very productive. Today, I have:

• Slept in until 11:30 (last night became late-night cards – we’re so cool)
• Watched 2 films
• Played through the first minute or so of toccata and fugue, and gotten around to working out the next few bits of it.
• Lamented the mess in my room.
• Written this entry*

I just realised – this entry has given me the answer. I need to tidy my room, and therefore my head. Funny how those two reflect each other. Once I feel in control of my life then I’ll be able to work.

Ready, go.

*which I considered not publishing, but I figure it’s as accurate a reflection of my life atm as any.

Resolutions?

I am told that making new years resolutions, along with so many other things these days *wistful old-voice* is bad for your health (psychological health, in this instance). In the interest of my psychological health, I decided to pop back a year into the blog-that-was and glance at just what I hoped to achieve in 2008.

“1. I must not try to force romance and related things into my life – I just need to wait and be patient.

2. I have to fulfill my potential, whatever I believe that entails; being a good student, a good doctor, a good friend, or being able to let things lie.”

No cringing please. I’m supposing that while I’ve not failed at either of them, I’ve not been brilliant at them either – number 1 especially. They aren’t things which you can mystically complete, though, so I’ll just slap a ‘work in progress’ note on those and copy them across for 2009.* In the interest of my psychological health, I’ll not make any new ones: well and good, considering how broad the remit of the second resolution above is!

Good luck for the new year, all. Remember to write the correct date, and I hope the year it records treats us all well. Anyone risked making any resolutions of their own this year?

*I might also reinstate my new years resolutions for 2007, which were particularly succinct:

• Enjoy self to the full
• Try not to be a git