New Year's Resolutions - 2008

Pens up everybody, it's the time of the year where we all make resolutions, I never keep them but I do love making them and trying to keep them. It makes me feel that the year does not pass unnoticed.

I've bought my new diary, a light blue one, unlike a shiny red one that I dreamed about, I've bought new stickers to stick on, I am ready and good to go for 2008.

Now, Let's get creative:

1. Be healthy (aka wear an extra sweater, not placing dirty fingers in eyes)

2. Stop biting nails (combined with the above, not placing fingers in mouth)

3. Stop scratching forehead when studying (as in behaving my age)

4. Walking straight (no slouching)

5. Sitting straight (no backpains after the library)

6. Drinking more water (!- I mean in loo of hot/cold chocolate)

7. come to think of it- Less sweets

8. Lose 5 kg (I can't stress this point too strongly, there's a reason why the planner that used to be posted on the sidebar is off now-> achieve 55 kg goal and fast, no dinner or sweets in January)

9. Be more confident (truely confident, on the inside)

10. Be smarter (? - as in thinking before speaking and engaging into grown up conversations while circulating)

11. Read poetry (Whitman, Eliot and others)

12. Roast stuff

13. Learn how to make soups

14. Take more photographs of everyday events

15. Buy a small plant, take care of it, and help it survive well into 2009 (tough one)

16. Learn how to play some songs that I downloaded on the piano- or even better- all of them, let's not be modest...

17. Watch at least one desired film every week (- cinema, dvd, wherever...)

18. Accescorize (- even after February, unlike last year)

19. Make no excuses for the above

20. Always be well-groomed no matter what the occasion (even if I have slept for only 3 hours)

21. Keep playing tennis...

22. Play better tennis than now...

23. Kick that girl's but in tennis!

24. Buy nice clothes for tennis (meaning I deserve them if I'm rocking)

25. Keep in touch with the people I respect...

26. Stay away from people I dislike...

27. Stay close to the ones I love.

28. Be a better student, get higher grades, or at least try harder.

29. Don't get irritated over small stuff (especially small, petty people)...

30. Express anger when felt (don't keep it inside).

31. Travel (somewhere far away, like the North Pole or Panama)

32. Smile more...

33. Make regular appointments with tooth-doctor (so the above will be even prettier)

34. Learn stuff about different wines...

35. Taste different wines and learn to judge which is best and which one's better...

36. Learn stuff about liquid mixes for major wine-hang-overs (due to the excessive tasting mentioned above).

37. Take a few moments for myself each day...

38. Always do at least one thing that I like every day, even a small one (eg. listening to a nice song while dressing up)

39. Walk on the beach (at least once every fortnight).

40. Watch old movies in black and white.

41. Save money (Yeah like THAT's gonna happen)...

42. Spend above money wisely (yeah well duh!).

43. Spend more time with my friends, drinking coffee...

44. Spend more time with parents, talking about stuff...

45. Spend more time with my boyfriend, hanging out (...and finding new ways of playing poker).

46. Make hair longer...

47. Keep hair as blonde.

48. Be cool (not too stressed about running around between stuff)...

49. Be active (not just running around as if dragged)...

...and...

... 50. Be HAPPY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

May 2008 bring love and happiness to all!

Health, piece and joy to all the world

Memories from Praha

I'm back from my holiday in Prague...

Prague (or Praha- as the Czechs call it) is a very picturesque city with great archiitecture and beautiful scenery. Prague's castle, best described by Kafka, was a magnificent sight.

Day 1: I left my home for Athens and we spent the night on the top floor of a hotel in Plaka, with a great and very close view of the Acropolis. We walked in what I then thought of as cold and had a very late dinner in Plaka.

Day 2: We left for Milan and then for Prague. It was a very long journey with a delay in the first flight, just enough so I would have to run across the airport of Malpensa and not have enough time for original Italian pizza. Anyway, we arrived in Prague 10' minutes in advance and were soon to our hotel and out and walking in the city.

We walked downtown and it was so cold that I felt as if my ears would fall off. (I may as well have lost a bit of the left one- right there on the top far out part)

In my defence, the whole time I was there the tempature remained in bellow zero levels. So it's not just "me" and being used to the climate in Greece.

That's when I had my very first glimpse of the famous clock- it is extremely beautiful. Despite of it being rather late there where many people on the square- most of them Greeks. One can safely say that the Greeks have made some kind of "Christmas-tourist-invasion" in the city of Prague.


And you do know that Greeks are loud.

I'm fine with that, in fact I, personally, am very loud. But I do tend to blend in when I'm in Europe. I would never stand on one side of the square and yell:

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN??? I HAVE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR 10 MINUTES! MY *** IS FREEZING! NO- DON'T YOU DARE TAKE A PICTURE! GET AWAY FROM MEEEE...-echo- echo- echo-"

This is plainly behaving like a peasant. It is NOT by any chance included in the whole "Mediteranean passion/temper" profile. It's just plain rude and inconsiderate of the people forced to listen to you.

We had dinner at a restaurant near Charles' Bridge and then we went to a bar placed at Old town's square. Luckily we had the chance to listen to live music from someone in the next room with a voice exactly like Louis Armstrong's!!! I was so happy I had to go and take a peek of what he looked like-

-he was Japanese...! Wearing a realy boring sweater and really boring pants... Totally different from the "Louis" type profile I had made up in my mind...

Day 3: was spent in Prague. We visited the castle, Kafka's home and Charles' bridge again and took beautiful photos (which are still in the digital camera and that's why I am using my pathetic mobile ones).

We had lunch at a medieval restaurant and then we went to the Opera.

It was the first time that I was watching Opera and I absolutely love it. We saw Rigoletto. If you don't know which one that is, then I should say that it's the one with "La Donna E Mobile" in it... What? Still no clue? Here.

Well after that, we went for Pizza and for Jazz in a little bar below the ground. I love Jazz. But if the players lack any kind of talent it's not my fault. Excuse me but saying that you "play jazz" doesn't allow each member of the band to play anything they like and just plainly sit next to each other.

At least we had a good time, because that's when we figured that Opera+ Pizza+ Jazz do not match and would probably not fit into one night of any normal person... :-D

-Have you ever eaten Pizza while wearing a tie?!

Day 4: We went on a road trip to Cesky Krumlov. We booked in a group of almost 12 people, each couple from a different country and with different likings.

My likings rested on "see fast- take pictures fast- let's get inside and off this four story windy bridge fast because I am frickin freezing and it's -8 C..."

But this guy just had to ask when exactly the church was built. I guess if I was wearing sweatpants AND a fancy coat on top of it (GAWD give the guy a mirror!) I too would probably have the urge to ask about the exact number of the seats in the outdoor theater right in front of us.

*can't you just count them yourself?*

But then came lunchtime.

In a cellar. Warm cellar.

With the fire right in front of us... garlic soup and pork with roasted potatoes... yummy... We arrived a bit late so we HAD to sit on a seperate table from the group, one for just the two of us... :-D

When we came home, we had dinner in another cellar (notice a patern here?!) and this time the surprise was that they had live piano music... He played the Beatles, Elvis and Queen (yes, that's when I gave the extremely large tip-)...

Then we went to another underground bar where they played garage/punk/rock.

I have no idea what the name of the band was, nor what they were singing about, but the place was crammed and they stamped on my arm instead of an entry ticket, so I'm guessing it was some place wild!!! :-D

*For all I knew the stamp could have read "stupid cow to the slaughter" but since it was in Czech which I don't speak I don't care*

Day 5: We walked through Prague once more and bought gifts for everybody. I bought a new Mango coat for me which I found at 50% off and I am very delighted thank you very much.

Then we had dinner at another cellar (!) and after searching everywhere for a bar and entering some place that looked too much like strip club and exiting immediately, we sat down on a bar in the corner of Old Town's square.

It was pretty much okay, but then a band showed up (so I guess this makes 4 live music bars in 4 nights) and they played Charleston and sounds of the thirties... I love that kind of music, so it really turned out well for me... :-D

Day 6: We left Prague and stopped for an hour and somewhat in the airport in Milan and it was too good to be true- all the designers' stores and all the shoes and handbags oh God...

"I want it all- I want it Now"

It took a hold of my heart and I immediately went downtown today and tried on some high heels.

And I did not fall off!!!!!!! :-D Yay!

I did decide once again that I have absolutely no excuse for not taking care of myself fashionwise... And I also ate original Italian Pizza. Awwww...

So, this was my holiday, this was Prague for me and I enjoyed it very much... Very, very much...

Maybe we'll visit again sometime...

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

"You guys know what time it is???"

"It's Christmastime!!!"

Have you been good or bad this year?

I think I've been pretty good... Well of course I didn't write my letter to Santa like I used to as a kid, which by the way I made sure was read by my dad AND mum before I put it under the fireplace, you know, "just in case".

I remember writing "Dear Santa, ...", followed by a long list of stuff that I desperately "needed". I always felt guilty and added a small paragraph for the poor children in the world, who weren't as lucky as I. It was from the heart, I really meant it.

Indeed my parents more often than not were pleased with their daughter's sympathy for the less fortunate and, more often than not, presented me with most of the toys listed.

Oh the joy of x-mas morning...!!!

All the toys... I was a lucky kid. My godsister and I would call each other and get all excited about the presents we had gotten- we always played together, which meant that the presents were practically shared. If she got "Cluedo", she would play with me. If I got "Monopoly", she would play with me... It was a "win-win" situation.

So this morning I asked my mummy for a new pair of pyjamas (that means squat- all of my pyjamas are fairly new ones) but she said yes!!! So it being the Sunday before Christmas meant that all the shops in the city where open (usually on Sundays everything is closed, except caffeterias of course!!!) until 6 pm. And I decided that I should go "totally crazy" and go shopping at 2 pm (which normally means everybody's either at lunch or siesta).

I got all dressed up, got out and waited for the bus... for 20' minutes. Then I decided I'd walk. It was a very bright day, the sun was shining and I felt really good. Christmas is by far my favorite of all the Holidays and it being the 23rd of December means that last night's blues had lifted and I was good to go and get all excited and prepare for everything.

Plus, I was about to go and by new jammys!

And then it happened.

As I was walking I came across two immigrants. There must be a couple of thousands in my city and I believe the correct term would be "war refugees"... or "war immigrants". Anyway it doesn't matter: they are poor, they are hungry, and they've got nowhere to live. Nothing.

What striked me was that they were holding a nylon bag of loaves of bread, they were heading to their "place-where-they-have-made-dumps-out-of-cartons-and-they-call-it-home" probably to share the food and I felt really awful for them.

There I was, all "lucky", walking right past them, hungry people who could be much more clever and/or accomplished than me back in their own country, had they not been forced by war to leave.

It didn't take much thought, I just walked in the Super Market near by and bought 6 loaves of bread (that's all they had left). As I came out of the store, I came across two more and I handed the bag with the bread to them. They were shocked but happy...

As I walked on eating some of the chocolate I had bought as well, I came across two more (yeah they do tend to walk in pairs) and I gave them the candy bar. I spoke English and I moved my hands all around like a windmill trying to say :

"Do you want this? I just cut it in pieces and had one, I didn't nibble on it..."

Well I don't think they spoke English anyway and a simple "Take it" would have been enough. They just watched me do the Hokey Pokey all bewildered...

I watched them walk away and they turned back a couple of times smiling to me, a carefree smile.

I can safely say, it made my day!

I've always thought that I should help, my mum is always giving food and clothes, but it never occured to me just how simple it can be...

You know, buy food and then hand it over. It took two minutes and 3,40 €... Big deal... I should have done it more often. I will do it more often...

I went over at Marks & Spencer's and I bought pink striped pyjamas and I love them... I will be leaving on a short Holiday in a few days, but I will blog about it only when I'm back.

I've packed my stuff and I've made long lists of all the little unimportant things I should take with me... (eg. lucky black screnchy)

Christmas is really really close... You can smell it...

*sniff sniff*

My home smells of baclava, the tables for the x-mas party have all been laid and tomorrow my aunt and uncle are arriving to stay with us for a couple of days.

You see the thing is that x-mas in my house lasts for about three days. It's Christmas Eve when we hang out, Christmas Day where we all eat a LOT and people come over from wherever they are (Athens, Patras, Amsterdam)

-not strangers, just friends of my dad's from college...!-

and then Boxing Day, where we all go up in the mountain in a certain restaurant and eat lamb chops for lunch.

That's the rule... :-D

Then of course there are two matters, one concerning linguistics, because us "kids" (tradition started when I was 12) speak English because one of us doesn't speak Greek, the "parents" speak Greek, we all speak together, so you pretty much need subtitles to get along.

We can even mix them up in the same sentence... eg speaking in English but switching the name of the food being served and eaten to Greek...

It's beautiful!... :-D

Really, it's fun...!!!

The second matter is that of one's stomach being able to contain only some quantity of food, meaning that my mum constantly produces new dishes from the kitchen and tops everything with at least two deserts...

-Coffee, anyone?!

That pretty much sums up my Christmas celebrations...

On top of it all, I don't like turkey... I love the smell, but I despise the taste...

Oookay, I'm very sleepy, I think I'll call it a night... :-D

In the meantime, check this out, brilliant Lala found it... It's Jazz- Santa!!!

Christmas Blues

I wonder how many people out there are spending this Saturday night in, other than me that is...

Not only am I "in", but I am alone... and I am watching Bridget (I didn't watch it last time after all) instead of Rigoletto (like I really should) and all I can do is just drag myself around the flat and climb them walls...

I should probably take more care in keeping my New Year's resolutions next year. That's a heck of a cliche, but it's the truth. I really should take the time and effort to do things that really mean sth to me.

On your right, there is a pathetic little diagram of my weight which is yet- still- 58,5 kg... Thankfully when I made the resolution of "Losing 6 kg" on the 1st of January 2007 I was 61kg, so I guess I am almost half way there, unless I spend the year of 2008 trying to swallow all the croissants and chocolates in Greece... which isn't that impossible, I assure you...

It's really ungrateful, what I'm doing right now. Whining- that is.

I was actually invited to my Godsister's for dinner, but I declined. I am leaving for holiday too soon to be excited about it, but too early to pack my stuff and be happy.

So I should just shut up and live with my own decisions.

My favorite radio dj said that the holidays bring a sentiment of "non-satisfaction" to most people.

What do you reckon about that?

I think it's true... Well, there are some thoughts I've made on the matter but I am too tired to type them correctly, so I erased the whole of it and keep it at:

"People are taught and forced to believe that unless they do certain things on their holidays they can't feel happy."

So if you don't go away somewhere- you won't be entitled to claim you had fun on X-mas break.

If you spend the holidays with your friends- you won't be entitled to claim you had a blast, because you didn't meet anyone "new".

I don't believe in that... X-mas is about love, to me, not pretending to the people around you and racing on who had the most "Magic Moments"...

Ah, well.

I've bought my gifts for everybody and I've bought too much stuff for myself. (what? I needed those two sweaters... it's COLD in the library, I can't look like a RUG...)

Uh-oh... I burned my chicken fillets...

bye...

*this post should be deleted, but whatever... it's not like all the rest of them are any better*

Because the Three Tenors go really well with Christmas time

Something for Christmas...



Something for old times' sake...

(is that man Gene Kelly?)

-please don't answer with "no, it's Pavarotti/ Carreras/ Domingo/ maestro's name"



Something to get you up and going...



Something to make you think of Luciano Pavarotti, who passed away this year...



I wish I had had the oportunity to see all three of them live, perfoming together. I've only had the chance to see Jose Carreras, last summer, thankfully without a mike, at the Roman Theatre in my city. And he was great...! Unbelievable, to say the least...!

The second song of the next video, is called "All I asked of you", from the Phantom of the Opera.

The point where Domingo and Carreras sing "anywhere you go, let me go too..." at 2:15, that scene where they turn the page and sing with their beautiful voices, is timeless to me, invaluable.

The Days Before Christmas

Good Day Everyone!!!!!!!!!

I have been lost in space as of by Saturday... Somewhere between zombie-ing around the flat/ uni/ city-centre/ hospital/ Athens, well you name it- I've "haunted it"...

"Over exhausted" is the word that mildly describes my state of mind. After the Pediatrics fiasco I have been trying to get my act back on studying -not successful-, attending lectures -doin' better, doin' better- and communicating with the world...

I have forgotten what it feels like to talk about stuff other than medicine and/or school- let alone "useless" stuff such as spending 15 minutes trying to decide whether the blue-petrol scarf is more flattering than the dark red one in Accessorize and weather the "co-ordinating item" sticker hints that I "must" take the gloves as well.

Yeah, I did... the blue ones. :-D

It's amazing what a first-name basis may feel like in different occasions.

I went to see if the results of Peds where announced -they weren't, don't worry, no whining following in this text- and the Prof recognised me, called me by my first name (WTF?) and proposed that I had done "really well, right?"... okay:

1. He shouldn't know my name, he heard it only once.

2. I don't even like him for cryin' out loud!!!

3. I have screwed up BIG TIME in that exam... I actually turned the paper over and over again in the last 5 minutes, adding words to whichever question I thought they had "sth to do" with the referring matter.

I said a quick thank you and left fast.

Come today PF#5 (is it 5??) walks in our lecture hall, to talk about Gyn/ oncology... Before he started, he smiled to the previous speaker saying proudly:

"I know most of these kids, I've taught them again in OB/Gyn...!!!"

Ain't he a good fella' or what?!

In the middle of his lecture I sort of smiled about sth funny he said and using his (loud) voice- seeing as he is from Crete and they DO talk loud, anyone who's watched any kind of movie including a Greek from Crete knows this- he smiled at me and said:

"...and why are you laughing Ms Ellisa?!?!" -insert real first name articulately-

Oh Gawd. *schoolgirl grin*

Luckily he was smiling so I chose to receive it as a nice "Hello" comment instead of a "don't play with my nerves" one and I squeaked

"I'm not laughing"

but the girl next to me noticed:

"He knows your FIRST name????????!!!!" -insert stupid smirk-

*geek*

"Apparently...!"

*beat that!*

Well, this time:

1. He knows my name from the best oral examination I have ever sat

2. He is a PF!!!! (Personal Favorite for the first time -and last more likely- readers)

3. He gave me a NINE.......... -insert an exhausted smile of the biggest self-esteem of my lifetime... -

Yesterday's first name basis freaked me out-

today's made my day...

So, after that lecture I came home.

My mind is wandering to places far away, I am feeling a desperate need to travel and leave all this mess behind, at least for a while...

I am wandering around town shopping, buying gifts, feeling how life is supposed to feel like, for those who are not burried under a pile of books in a far away and forgotten library...

I have gone out THREE WHOLE days in a row for coffee with my friends.... *wow*

And I trimmed my hair and bangs...

I love Christmas and it's getting really, really, cold. The mountains are covered in snow and I hope it snows again (after 4 years) in the city as well- you see,

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" :-D

Take care, see you sooooooooooon....

I'm a shooting star, burning through the sky

My first and eternal favorite of all the songs, of all the artists, in the WHOLE WORLD!!!

Please... play it LOUD

"I'm driving at the speed of LIGHT"

Day Dreaming, Just Because I Can

Big day today... and yesterday as well... I've been working my *brains* off trying to sit an English examination and revise for Paediatrics at the same time.

The English thing worked out pretty well- I came up second with a score of 48/50, but unfortunately, when multiplied by 0.8 or even 0.6 it is... well... very low... Low enough to make me drop to second last. The whole thing was for exchanges over the summer months and unless 20 people or more refuse their own exchange oportunity, I am definitely NOT going... Anyway, fingers crossed, I shall wait and I shall see.

That was pretty much all the way to yesterday afternoon. Mind you, that I hadn't slept quit that well that night- in fact, I had this extremely weird nightmare, where I was singing for some people and then they were trying to hunt me down for some reason (no, not because of my singing talent, okay???) and I was running away from them terrified trying to hide and secure a precious box of chocolates...? (!?) Does this make the same sense to you as to me? Like- none?

So anyway, after the English examination I came home and I studied Peadiatrics... Then I went to my boyfriend's and I studied Peadiatrics... I ordered some chinese and got back to Peadiatrics... I slept from 1 am to 5 am, when I got up to revise again, and at 9 am I sat down on a very uncomfortable hard-wood, not-fully-functional, fold-up examination-hall chair- and I screwed up Paediatrics.

I think it's safe to say that I've definitely failed that one. My answers where only half right (at the best of times) and my paper looked like a shopping list.

Stuffed in a pocket.

The back pocket of a pair of dark blue jeans.

On a rainy day...

Where I should have written:

"The tests that are supposed to be run afterwards are blah, blah, and blah"

I wrote:

Tests: blah/ blah/ blgrfh-shmush-/blah

And if "blah", "blah" and "blah" were correct, it would be at least a bit okay... But they're wrong...

But I'm not sad either.

I mean, I would definitely and by all means prefer to have written super well, but I am way too tired to even... well care, really...

My strength is all gone. I have been constantly sitting exams since the 27th of September. I have been applying pressure to my brain to stay focused on books, I have been annoyed at the little noises because I'm used to the silence of the library, I have been neglecting myself (urgent nail polishing and hair cut needed) and I have been living under the state of exams. Meaning that every single little detail of my life is spinning around my studies. No time for fooling around.

So I guess I cannot stress this point too strongly:

I'VE FINISHED FOR CHRISTMAS.

Yep. Finito. "The End"...

Next exam due- NEXT YEAR.

I'm pale because I'm sleep deprived, my nose is red and a little bit runny, my lips are sore from the cold, my eyes have little red lines all over and my eye-lids are red from tiredness.

Don't get me started on my hands. I've cut myself about four times since Wednesday. Two paper-cuts, one by nail, and one- I don't know where but- somewhere near my door. It seems I keep bumping onto stuff.

Let alone the small colorfull spots, made by a large and wonderful selection of markers that I use to take notes, underline words, square titles and draw little flowers and/or hearts on my slides...

I got new Acsessorize stickers to use on 2008's slides...

I've got a brand new travel guide for my Christmas Hollidays, calling me to read it through and through since I bought it on the 1st of December, but have forbidden myself to even so much of opening it.

Now I can.

I have three beautiful neices and a wonderful nephew to visit, sth I have been wanting to do for a while now, but I couldn't because of the exams.

-Now I can.

I don't have to skip tennis lessons anymore,

I don't have to pick between DvD's, I can watch both of them,

I can sleep late and not wonder if I'll be sleepy the next day,

I can stick to a diet because I will no longer be counting on chocolate to keeping me happy,

I can walk on the beach wearing sweatpants humming "...everybody's dressing up, I'm dressing down..." (humming, because other people are walking on that beach too, I can't just scream uncontrollably just because I like to call it "singing" when everyone else calls it "sirene" and not the good, Ullisses type of way)...

But most of all, I can sit on my comfortable couch next to the Christmas tree in my living room, in front of the window with the sea view, watching the big boats go to Itally all lit up in the night's stary sky, reading best sellers by Marian Keyes or NewWoman or sth as girly and simply written (no offence to Marian over there, I am a huge fan, but all in all- it's no Shakespeare, nor Neurology for that matter)...

...just because I can...

Excuse me, but I must go off and day dream... :-D

Please, Christmas, Don't Be Late !

This is beautiful...

I could use a hula hoop, come to think of it...

100th post! Yay!

I MADE IT!!!

Quit it or I'll MAKE you

I have had enough.

Of people trying desperately to make me fear the thought of the exam of Pediatrics.

Okay man, I get it. You think that you don't have time. You like acting as if no one will make it. You think of 40 pages as a big deal and of the Apgar score as a difficult exam question.

Well I'm sorry but I just:

DON'T and CAN'T and WON'T RELATE to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LEAVE ME ALONE!

LEAVE ME IN PIECE!

LEAVE ME IN MY OWN FRICKIN' WORLD!

Because for what it's worth:

I want to study the way that I want.

-MY WAY.

BELIEVE ME- YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE WORST OF ME-

and I can safely assure you that you DON'T WANT TO.

Coming up to me while I'm studying and speaking to me with the purpose of freaking me out, only serving your own pathetic needs and crappy petty little ways, is NOT COOL.

I know about your "kind".

I ain't down with your funny little act.

It's not gonna work on me so CUT IT OUT or I'll start to answer back, and THEN we'll see who's shitting bricks. (*sorry*)

You are THIS close to unleashing my inner and not-so-polite sentiments-

one can only pretend to not understand for so long-

DON'T PUSH THY LUCK "FRIEND".

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

I'm so hungry right now.

I had half of my usual lunch and no desert. Just a cup coffee, and I am really contemplating making myself a cup of warm cocoa. Yes I will in fact make some, I quite deserve it.

It's a crazy Saturday night coming up, so my friend and I decided we should do the proper Saturday night thing and live it up by... staying in our sweatpants, ordering Pizza Hut at my place, while watching lonely Bridget Jones. (the first one)

It's been a heck of a week- I have been studying, and studying and studying Pediatrics. I hate the subject. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE children and babies. But I've had one too many of those clinical problems where all the little children suffer and die. And even they get cured, I don't want to see them suffer AT ALL. There. I admit it.

I'm sorry if it sounds unprofessional to you, but I just can't stand this misery. I love children too much, and I believe I'm great with kids. I can make them love me at once, all shapes and sizes, even if they don't know me. I don't know how, but I somehow manage to get them trailing me on the several occasions where there are children at dinner parties and stuff.

This said, I cannot by any chance watch them suffer in any way. I can easily imagine myself hugging every single child in the ward crying on their shoulder "whyyy-yyy... don't- sniff sniff...- worry...- sniff...- I'm here for you" (yeah, right on top of stuff, that's me!)

Anyway, Trauma lectures start on Monday, and I have spent the whole of last week ranting to my boyfriend about various stuff at school, and how much hard it is for me, and how tired I am after 9 months of exams and I guess that somewhere between my sniffs he sensed my doom and he presented me with a CD last night, one that he burned especially for me and he said I should listen to it whenever I'm gloomy. Isn't he sweet?... :-D

It's full of songs like "the loco motion" and "It's my party" and I love this kind of music... and some Motown songs as well...

I honestly tried to wear my new womanlike shoes this week but I didn't make it. Something about "matching pants" was my excuse, I think... either that or the cold weather... or could it be both?... OR could it be that I just won't take proper care of my looks, how about that???

-nah, I'll go with the pant thingy.

I'm really really looking forward to seeing my nephew and niece sometime before Christmas, I have really missed them. You see he is 6, a fresh first grader and she is 2,5 and I am her Godmother (if you want to add a "fairy-" to the "Godmother", who am I to stop you?)... I want to play with them and give them presents and teach them stuff... Last Easter I taught my nephew about the cracks in the skull and whenever he draws scary pictures he always places them too. (Did I break the kid?! I feel very proud of passing my knowledge on and he is very contempt with his achievements...)

I can somehow manage to play with both of them at the same time. Picture this: A dollhouse where the mother gets the kids ready for school, while the father fights off the flying dinosaurs attacking the roof.

Get it?! It's noisy but all three of us are happy...

Okay, I'm off to tidy up my room (aka make cocoa with almond scent and drink it while watching several episodes of "The Nanny" without being jealous of all the food they are consuming, especially the pastries- yeah like she sould stay in THAT figure by eating constantly!)

Bad to the bone

The days of my life are definitely a bit rough at the time, well, actually, for the last 9 months approximately. But brushing through my previous posts I don't seem THAT unhappy about it, so maybe that's the truth- my life's not that bad...

The secret of happiness in my opinion may lie in finding small things during the day, that you could be happy about. It could be a smile in the morning or at least focusing on the bright side of life.

eg:

-Sitting at a boring lecture vs a teacher who cares enough to jump around or/and uses photos of Anne Geddes and then lets us transfer them so I can use them in my blog (it's pediatrics- a big thank you for the pictures of this post to my teachers)

-Staying at the library until it's dark vs sitting amongst friends discussing which photo in the textbook is the most disgusting/"cute little baby awawaw"

-Coffee from the cantine instead of Starbucks vs DIY coffee in the cantine: "Please use fresh milk in mine/ only 2,8 spoonfulls of sugar not 3/ may I watch how much time you let the tea bag soaking so I can tell you exactly WHEN...?"

Anyway, I think you get the picture. It's all a matter of perspective.

So whenever my year is given the opportunity of choice concerning a date for an exam we go straight ahead at the time of discussion and scream on the tops of our voices to each other before the time to vote-

*huge crowd (or most likely: lone reader) begging "spare us the details"*

-and yes I will. The thing is that they set the date of pediatrics so as someone who wants to sit the exam will not be able to attend Trauma lectures.

I love trauma. I think that's what I want to be, more than a "sports orthopedic", I want to be a "Trauma surgeon". Cool huh?!

I can imagine myself running fast across the corridor, jumping over beds, to be the first to appear on the scene...

*"again, spare us!"*

They say that women can't do these specialties because they are not as strong physically as men. But recently I was told that this is a myth, because female surgeons choose strong assistants! Is that great, or what?!!!

Picture this:

*music of "Bad to the bone" playing in the background, the electric guitar playing dirty rock, for the ignorant...*

Dadadara dara...

-OR door opens and light beams in the dark room-

Dadadara dara...

-I ENTER

Dadadara dara...

-Macho assistants show up and frame me, one at each side, folding their hands

Dadadara dara...

-Curious "rest of the OR people" stare at each other

Dadadara dara drrrrrrrrrrrrr, dadadara dara drrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Yep that's it. Trauma surgeon. That's me. -will be, anyway...

I have found "virgin radio uk" through the internet and I am listening closely and I am really enjoying it... :-D

"oh it feels I've got no rythme-
I just keep losing my beat...
I'm alright-"

YEAH BABY I'M ALRIGHT !!!

So, I went to Athenes yesterday. I went to the huge mall called Attica which had all these little Christmas lights in front andit was so magical in the night...

I bought new Shooz! and I am very happy... real womanlike shoes with a little kitten-heel and all... But the difference this time is that I intend to wear them with casual clothing- you know, as young women do? Unlike overmature teens who wear sneakers and wonder why they don't like they thought they would in the mirror??? GEDDIT ELLISA OR IS IT TOO SUBTLE A HINT???

I also watched a movie called "El Violin"... And I ate a lot of pop corn so my diet's screw- But anyway,

I figured that I will not make up any more excuses of not being the person I want to be, and I will take care of myself from now on. I will lose those pounds, and I will dress accordingly to my age and TASTE.

I am about to turn 21 and I shall not be a pathetic person constantly complaining and not acting on it. Whoever wants to join in on this growing up thing, leave a comment.

Starting tomorrow I will become a better, shinier, happier version of myself. Yes that's it,

Take the bow- take it now...!

Christmas 'round the corner

Hey lovely people who clicked in accidentally or not !!!

December has only just kicked in, lovely month, and that is why? Because Christmas is on the 25th!!! Yay everyone, the time has come!!!!

-to decorate houses, balconies, porches and doors, and in MY frantic case- cars... so what do you recommend? I am thinking sth more like a little touch of holly and less like numerous Christmas flicking lights spread all round the interior- I gave up on that one because - how would you enter the car? Would you have to duck below the cord? Naaahh...

And so I guess the scented Christmas candles are ruled out too because they would probably melt and get the floor dirty or God forbid the seats... well, anyway, that and the fact that it would be frickin' dangerous to light a fire in a car!!! :-P and the fumes would get the beautiful driver (!) (-yes that's me- yes I AM that vain) all oozed up. SO, I will have to restrain myself to - ooh! huge stickers on the back seat windows! - I got it... that's it... Huge stickers.

moving on:

- to sing Christmas carols out loud. I know I'm humming them for a fortnight now already, and I do have them transferred to my i-pod since the day these flakes that are blocking your view came up, but, as of by 1st December aka TODAY, I am fully allowed to sing loud enough to annoy people who I-don't-know-why-but-they want to stay out of the Christmas spirit till it's like, what, 24th of December?? What's the deal with that? Anyway, I am NOT ranting today, I promised myself I would right a happy yet interesting (you judge that) post.

So dust those old tapes, LPs and switch that CD in your car to sth Christmas-y. Whether it's old fashioned carols or merchandise-products-(hinting: stay away from Britney begging Santa- Elvis did a much better job), do whatever you like. Personally I prefer the classics Dean Martin, Sinatra, Bing Crosby and so on.

But please, please please, REFRAIN from playing George Michael at least until the 15th. Or at the very least till a week from today. Because I hear him complaining about that last Christmas of his All. The. Time. It's been almost 20 years now and yet he is STILL not over it. Move on dude, get a life... Gees...

If however you really want to achieve the grand effect, buy the Three Tenors' Christmas CD, I personally guaranty you will love it. It's a classic.

-to spread LOVE to each other, reach out to people who are in need, but most of all, reach out to the people near you, don't be a stranger standing in front of the PC yelling "I'll be RIGHT there, no- HONEST...!". Get up and do stuff together with your family, call a friend over and just hang out a bit, Ask your parents about their life, you know they too are people... Anyway, let your attention span go a bit further than yourself, a simple "how's it hangin'?" may suffice.

-to eat special stuff. That's for you people, NOT me -still 59 kg grmfl-... I am waiting for my mum's baklava... mmm yummy :-D

Well, that's all for now, I am leaving for a small day/road-trip in 10' minutes and I will blog about it tomorrow.

This post is supposed to cheer you all up- but mostly my friend who is probably reading this to chill out, and tomorrow she is sitting a very important exam.... We all wish her:

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!! :-D

I hope my blog-English hasn't harmed you that much :-P

This post's for you :-D