Goodbye Dr. House

House (also known as House, M.D.) is an American television medical drama that started on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (PPTH) in New Jersey.

House often clashes with his fellow physicians, including his own diagnostic team, because many of his hypotheses about patients' illnesses are based on subtle or controversial insights. His flouting of hospital rules and procedures frequently leads him into conflict with his boss, hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy. House's only true friend is Dr. James Wilson, head of the Department of Oncology. 

Critically acclaimed for much of its run, House was among the top-ten rated shows in the United States from its second through its fourth season. Distributed to 66 countries, House was the most watched television program in the world in 2008. The show has received several awards, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Peabody Award, and nine People's Choice Awards.

Gregory House and Sherlock Holmes

Similarities between Gregory House and the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle appear throughout the series. Shore explained that he was always a Holmes fan and found the character's indifference to his clients unique. The resemblance is evident in House's reliance on inductive reasoning and psychology, even where it might not seem obviously applicable, and his reluctance to accept cases he finds uninteresting. His investigatory method is to eliminate diagnoses logically as they are proved impossible; Holmes used a similar method. Both characters play instruments (House plays the piano, the guitar, and the harmonica; Holmes, the violin) and take drugs (House is addicted to Vicodin; Holmesuses cocaine recreationally). House's relationship with Dr. James Wilson echoes that between Holmes and his confidant, Dr. John Watson. Robert Sean Leonard, who portrays Wilson, said that House and his character—whose name is very similar to Watson's—were originally intended to work together much as Holmes and Watson do; in his view, House's diagnostic team has assumed that aspect of the Watson role. Shore said that House's name itself is meant as "a subtle homage" to Holmes. House's building number is 221B, a direct reference to Holmes's street address. Individual episodes of the series contain additional references to the Sherlock Holmes tales. The main patient in the pilot episode is named Rebecca Adler after Irene Adler, a character in the first Holmes short story, "A Scandal in Bohemia". In the season two finale, House is shot by a crazed gunman credited as "Moriarty," the name of Holmes's nemesis. In the season four episode "It's a Wonderful Lie," House receives a "second edition Conan Doyle" as a Christmas gift. In the season five episode "The Itch," House is seen picking up his keys and Vicodin from the top of a copy of Conan Doyle's The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. In another season five episode, "Joy to the World," House, in an attempt to fool his team, uses a book by Joseph Bell, Conan Doyle's inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. The volume had been given to him the previous Christmas by Wilson, who included the message "Greg, made me think of you." Before acknowledging that he gave the book to House, Wilson tells two of the team members that its source was a patient, Irene Adler.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_(TV_series)

And now, after eight long years, Dr. House will now say goodbye. I haven’t watched all the episodes. But every single episode I watched gave me goosebumps. He is really a good doctor. Kinda scary though. I wish all doctors are like him. Well not the House being the harsh one but the House being the intellectual, kind, and devoted when it comes to solving his patient’s case. 

House made a history. You will never be forgotten, Dr. House. :)

Anawangin Cove, Zambales, Philippines

If your idea of a beach trip is chillin’ out by the beach in a hammock, singing around a campfire with a guitar and climbing beach cliffs to wait for the sunset then you should definitely go to Anawangin. Anawangin Cove in Zambales was on my bucket list for 2011. But unfortunately, my schedules never cooperate with me.

The Beach Cove

Anawangin is a cove in the town of San Antonio, Zambales. It is a beach that has off-white sand and evergreen forest. Behind the forest is a small stream that flows out to the sea. There are also two beach cliffs bounding the beach, which you can hike up and enjoy the view.

How To Get There

Going to Anawangin will approximately take 4-5 hours. From Manila, you can drive or take a bus to San Antonio, Zambales. Upon arriving at San Antonio, you can hire a boat at Pundaquit that will take you to Anawangin Cove. Weather is too hot so I suggest that you leave Manila at night or early in the morning so it wouldn’t be hot while traveling.

I enjoyed the 30 mins boatride!

A picture approaching Anawangin Cove.

What To Bring

There are no modern facilities in Anawangin. There are only a couple of toilets and water pumps as sources of running water. It is a must to bring lots of drinking water since drinking from the water pump isn’t safe, and the weather tends to be too hot at around 12 noon. Also bring your own food, and your own cooking utensils. There are no hotels and resorts that could prepare meals for you. For sleeping, you have to bring your own tent, or rent a tent, and pitch it under the forest cover where it is much cooler than by the shore.

The Campsite.

Anawangin is definitely Boracay‘s exact opposite in terms of development, but that doesn’t mean you’ll run out of stuff to do during your stay.

1. Make a bonfire - gather fallen twigs and light up a fire for warmth and source of light during the night. Bring a guitar, sing around the campfire. NEVER FORGET TO PUT IT OUT WHEN GOING TO SLEEP.

2. Climb - the beach is bounded by cliffs. See a great view of the beach at sunset. Don’t forget to bring flashlights so you could see your way down.

The mountain.

A closer shot of the what's on top - a tree.

While climbing. It's hard to take photos while climbing.

I made it on top!

Me and the tree.

3. Trek - behind the evergreen forest is a stream leading to a large hill. You can trek your way to this hill. Just be cautious since there were wild animals in this area.

4. Try Skimboarding, and Frisbee too - beach is great for this activity since it has a fine sand and few rocks.

5. Arrange sidetrips with your boatman if you want to go island hopping. Nearby are Capones and Camara Islands. Capones Island is known for its centuries-old Spanish lighthouse while Camara Island is a rock climbing destination. Inform your boatman in advance and clear the details with him since there is no cellphone signal coverage in Anawangin.

Camara Island.

Unfortunately, we failed to do trekking due to lack of time. We also failed to go to Capones Island due to big waves. But I promise to return there SOON.

Bucket List


1. Stay at Nagsasa Cove - a cove farther than Anawangin.
2. Trekking at Anawangin Cove
3. Visit the Capones Island

Few more pictures at Anawangin Cove.

Sunset at Anawangin.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL THE BOATMAN WE HIRED. HE'S VERY KIND AND HUMBLE! COMMENT BELOW OR EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. :)

azodnemahyz@ymail.com

- Allyza M.

For The Love of Dog

When I saw this picture on facebook, my heart melts. I swore I'll make a blog about dogs.

Dogs communicate their moods, emotions, and desires in a variety of ways, from obvious to subtle. Fred Metzger theorized that dogs love us as long as we continue to reward their tricks and antics with treats and attention:

"Dogs probably don't feel love in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They stand something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. The more 'cute factor' they give us, the more we feel like they love us. This makes it more likely that we will give them more attention, food treats, outdoor access -- all based on how much of a show they put on for us."

"Their loyalty is unconditional - much like that between a parent and child. For the most part, our dogs would go to bat for us, even on our worst and most intolerable day. All parents have days when they may not really like their kid that much, but they always love them unconditionally; even parents of troubled or criminal children love them on some level. The love and the loyalty that drives that emotion is instinctual. I think dogs have a 'love' or connection with their humans that is free of preconceived perceptions."

- Burgard

Emotions underlie intraspecies communication, from barking to growling to the baring of teeth to show anger and aggression. So, are those "puppy dog eyes" signaling true love or a manipulation to get dog biscuits out of you? As long as science remains undecided, the meaning of your dog's "happily" wagging tail is up for interpretation.

12 Ways Puppies Show Love to People

(Source:  http://puppies.about.com/od/PuppyLoveBrags/a/Puppy-Love-Do-Dogs-Love.htm)

1. Puppies love with wags. Considered a “distance decreasing signal” a puppy tail wag often invites you to come closer begs for attention. 

2. Puppies love with licks. Slurping your hands or—even better—aiming a smooch at your eyes or mouth is a canine declaration that YOU are TOPS with him! This submission gesture often is used in greetings or as an appeasement gesture—a way to say I’m sorry—when you act upset. 

3. Puppies love with leaps. Jumping up looks cute in small babies but once he grows up, these love leaps can knock you over and break a hip in elderly visitors. He’s jumping up to aim licks at your face—that’s a proper doggy greeting after all. You can always kneel for a face-slurping greeting, or teach your puppy a better greeting like to sit when you come home. 

4. Puppies love by rolling over. Besides enjoying a tummy rub, showing the tummy puts puppies in a vulnerable position that declares trust and affection. Rolling over in front of more powerful dogs—or people—is how puppies show through body language they offer no threat and want to be friends. 

5. Puppies love by shaking paws. Dogs often offer a paw just before they roll over. Puppies paw your leg to ask for attention. 

6. Puppies love by crawling into your lap. They crave contact with you and a sign of deep affection and trust can be leaning against you or resting across your feet. 

7. Puppies love by napping with you. They show great trust by falling asleep on your lap, and sharing your pillow can be a great treat for you both. 

8. Puppies love by wetting the floor. This is different than urine marking. Even when pups understand potty training basics, they may squat and wet when you first greet them or raise your voice. Technically called submissive urination, consider this gesture your puppy’s way of crying uncle and declaring you to be in charge. 

9. Puppies love by chewing your stuff. Sure, it feels good for teething babies to gnaw, but they target certain objects because they smell like their most beloved person—you. 

10. Puppies love with crotch sniffs. They mean no disrespect, and to dogs, sniffing this (ahem) area is the equivalent to shaking hands in greeting. Older pups may even offer a return of the favor and present their butt for you to sniff. 

11. Puppies love with play. They invite owners to play, bring you gifts of their favorite toys, and eagerly join in your games—sometimes whether you want them to or not. 

12. Puppies love with smiles. Some dogs actually learn to "grin" by lifting their lips to show a fun toothy smile to show their happiness and affection. 

They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation. :)

The Little Things

You don't have to buy me all the gold there is in Rome, you don't have to surprise me with the most expensive home, you don't have to travel around the world for me at all. You don't have to be a movie star on the TV, you don't have to be a knight in shining armor to rescue me, you don't have to promise me the moon and stars above. I don't want much. You is more than enough. The hurried kiss I get from you when I'm leaving, the way you take my arm when we go walking, they way you hold my hand when we're at a show, the way your eyes say more than you when we're talking, and you know what tears me all to pieces? Is the way you tell me that you love me. The way you know just how I like a food. I don't want much. The way you smile at me is self explainable. I know it may sound funny but, really, they mean so much to me. Makes me feel secure and puts my soul at ease. Just keep sure you're there for me. Just say, that love, will always stay. It's just the little things, the simple little things.

For you. From me, Allyza. :)