stolen colours

I’ve just finished reading “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult. (Thanks for the gift, my previous CG!) A short summary: Kate was born with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Her parents had a designer baby for the purpose of bone marrow transplants; named her Andromeda, or Anna for short. Kate’s kidneys start failing and Anna has to donate a kidney – at which point Anna decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation. She seeks out an attorney she read about in the papers; the mother represents herself in the trial.

Jodi Piccoult’s language is beautiful and piercing. (Yes Addie, I think you’d like it.) The story is told from the points of view of different characters, thus showcasing the memories and feelings of each of the family members – firefighter father, lawyer-turned-housewife mother, delinquent elder brother, leukemia sister and donor sister.. It was painful but compelling to read. The pain of suffering a disease and its treatment; and then the suffering of the family members. The change in family dynamics resulted in the two healthy children being neglected, the elder brother more so since he wasn’t a compatible match.

I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted so much to know the outcome of the trial and Anna’s final decision. Kate’s doctors were divided on whether she should have a kidney transplant: half thought the risk of the operation was too great considering her present condition, and half thought that since she was going to die anyway, any treatment would be beneficial. Then add the risk to the donor, due to the operation itself and in the long term. Then confound that with the psychological benefits, that Anna will not regret not donating a kidney in the future, and that the family as a whole can take comfort that they’re trying their best to save Kate. Further confound that with Anna’s internal dilemma: she wants to save her sister’s life; but she wants her own life apart from being Kate’s lymphocyte, platelet, marrow, whatever donor.
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I had a sort of psychotherapy session with Father, who implemented the biopsychosocial approach:

Bio – medication not indicated yet.
Psycho – one line “you’re not fat”. one philosophy “the law of diminishing returns”.
Social – he dug out dumbbells and old exercise gadgets.

I used to think that the “S” size was for the best and slimmest and most beautiful; the winners. Settling for “M” was resignment, and “L” absolutely shameful. Now, I wonder, perhaps “S” is for the shorties.

The birthday party! It was really quite a day.
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I think, maybe I’ve been feeling empty since the handbell concert. I haven’t taken part in any non-academic activities after that. There’s been nothing else that I define myself with; so I just sink back into being a colourless student.
I need to put back something into my life; maybe start working again on my websites? My Saikano site T_T probably the best one that I have out there, and there’s even a new OVA to update with.

Birthday gathering at my place today. I HOPE people will be able to amuse themselves with well, themselves, cards and mahjong. Harass my piano if you want. It won’t be a stylish affair (not like what I’ve seen on the blogs of some others around), just a home-y thing, no decor except for maybe balloons. On hindsight, perhaps I should have imposed a Halloween theme, but that’s way too troublesome. Alright guys, when you arrive at my place, say “Happy Halloween” instead of “Happy Birthday” – for my birthday’s long over five days back.

Yesterday I went to the army market from the hospital. The shopkeeper thought I was a teacher. Well, I guess that means I’m dressing appropriately? -_-;;

I think I have an inferiority complex.

Well, well, I’ve finally won something in a phone-in contest: Sheryl Crow’s Wildflower album in a The New Paper contest. I haven’t listened to it yet as I spent all of yesterday watching Honey and Clover – 8 more episodes to go!

Oh, and there’s a Trigun movie coming out:
The October issue of Neo magazine (A UK Anime magazine) includes an interview with Studio Madhouse’s founder, Masao Maruyama. In it he says the studio is working on a Trigun Movie that should be released in a “couple of years”. The November issue of Anime Insider also confirms this news.
–Source: Anime News Network

Today’s my 21st birthday; not that I feel any wiser or older.

Thanks all those who SMSed me, left a comment, or called me all the way from San Diego to wish me happy birthday!

Today’s celebration was modest. I went out window shopping in town after lectures with Penance. Alas, nothing caught my fancy; there’s this shop, Belle de Lis (I think) in Far East with pretty stuff that I’d never have an occasion to wear to.
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This is a tagged post, which will remain on top for some time to come and will be edited occasionally. To read more entries, scroll down.
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Morning, people. It’s another cloudy day, which I’m spending lazing around in Anansi Boys.
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Finally! A new layout. Minimal editing done because I’ve -gasp- forgotten how to use Photoshop. Never mind, I’ll get myself a guidebook and pore over it and my laptop one day. Somehow I don’t really like online guides because I can’t stand switching between windows, it makes me disoriented every time I perform a switch.

Fish Leong’s 丝路 grows on me the more I listen to it.
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