3 - I have sharpened my skates 3 times this year (since September) and all 3 times have been FREE! hahaha. Sweet deal eh? First time, it was because I waited 5-10 minutes for someone to sharpen my skates. Second time, I applied for the Sport Swap "Score More Card" and they tossed in a free sharpeneing. And today, because they were having difficulties helping the customer ahead of me at the cashier, they let me go for free because it was taking too long to resolve! :P
2 - I received confirmation today by my optometrist that the contacts are a go for my 2 eyes. There has been no problems thus far and everything looked great. So, it is contacts from here on in... except for those days that I'm too lazy to poke myself in the eyes. :P
1 - My 1 day of Operating Room Practicum was scheduled for tomorrow but because they are not doing any surgeries that require my services (which would be to simply provide oxygen via a Bag-Valve Mask and inserting an Oropharayngeal Airway) I am not required to go in. Which means... I now need to reschedule my 1 day of OR Practicum another day. Good and bad there... I don't need to drive to High River under the weather conditions that have sprung up in Calgary all of a sudden, but I really wanted to get this out of the way. Sigh, oh well, another day.
Now that the countdown is done. BLAST OFF to go practice some more bass and then get back to interpretating some good ol' ECG readings!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Up, Up... and Awake!?!
Sigh... can't sleep. 3:38am. Wide awake. But tired... Listening to Switchfoot: 4:12. Almost there. Thinking too much. This quote came to mind again.
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin--real life. There was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
- Alfred D. Souza
It seems I keep sitting around and just waiting for something to happen. For things to 'fall into place' as it were. Why am I so lazy? Why am I so apathetic? Why is it so hard to STOP being so lazy... so apathetic?
I wish I was the type of person that reached out and grabbed something... anything by the horns instead of being who I am... which is the type of person that really sits there with his hands open until something falls into it before I grab it. Sigh. Not to mention... my reflexes suck! So... when the opportunity does land... I usually don't notice till it's long gone.
Doubts are back. Doubts about paramedics. I think it's because my Operating Room Practicum is on Thursday. Or the fact that I dropped the ball during class last time when I chose not to do a live IV start. Or the fact that I still don't seem to be thinking of this 'schooling' as my career. I keep thinking of it like I thought of HS or JH or even University. Go through school... pass exams... graduate... get a job then life will start. That's when you start to really work. Well... I wanted something more practical for schooling and I got it... and I'm still thinking the same way. Bad Habits are hard to break.
Contacts... cooler safety goggles. That doesn't make you a paramedic. Your mental state and preparation does. And I'm not ready. I'm scared. Choosing which paramedic program for next year has gotten me to think... do I want to be a paramedic? Or stay as an EMT? As an EMT for the city... I'll usually be paired up with a paramedic... so my job duties will be mostly... Spinal Immobilization, Bag-Valve Mask, Packaging, Driving. Those things I can do... cause the patients life will for the most part be in my partners hands... not mine.
My biggest fear. Is not bugs. It's failure.
Unfortunately... I'm the type of guy that's afraid of failure and doesn't try... that way I can't fail.
I'd rather be the type of guy that's afraid of failure and tries... tries so hard to be perfect to stay away from failure.
Oh Lord: Break these chains! Set this captive free!
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin--real life. There was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
- Alfred D. Souza
It seems I keep sitting around and just waiting for something to happen. For things to 'fall into place' as it were. Why am I so lazy? Why am I so apathetic? Why is it so hard to STOP being so lazy... so apathetic?
I wish I was the type of person that reached out and grabbed something... anything by the horns instead of being who I am... which is the type of person that really sits there with his hands open until something falls into it before I grab it. Sigh. Not to mention... my reflexes suck! So... when the opportunity does land... I usually don't notice till it's long gone.
Doubts are back. Doubts about paramedics. I think it's because my Operating Room Practicum is on Thursday. Or the fact that I dropped the ball during class last time when I chose not to do a live IV start. Or the fact that I still don't seem to be thinking of this 'schooling' as my career. I keep thinking of it like I thought of HS or JH or even University. Go through school... pass exams... graduate... get a job then life will start. That's when you start to really work. Well... I wanted something more practical for schooling and I got it... and I'm still thinking the same way. Bad Habits are hard to break.
Contacts... cooler safety goggles. That doesn't make you a paramedic. Your mental state and preparation does. And I'm not ready. I'm scared. Choosing which paramedic program for next year has gotten me to think... do I want to be a paramedic? Or stay as an EMT? As an EMT for the city... I'll usually be paired up with a paramedic... so my job duties will be mostly... Spinal Immobilization, Bag-Valve Mask, Packaging, Driving. Those things I can do... cause the patients life will for the most part be in my partners hands... not mine.
My biggest fear. Is not bugs. It's failure.
Unfortunately... I'm the type of guy that's afraid of failure and doesn't try... that way I can't fail.
I'd rather be the type of guy that's afraid of failure and tries... tries so hard to be perfect to stay away from failure.
Oh Lord: Break these chains! Set this captive free!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Blurry
Boy, it's quite... interesting learning how to wear contacts for the first time. It took me forever just trying to get my contacts on, lol. I think it's because my eyes are too small. :P Took me probably more than half-an-hour the first time trying to put my contacts on. Then it only took me one and four tries respectively per eye the second time. And then it it only took me one try for both eyes the last try. YES! However, taking them out is still difficult. Sigh. Also, because these are 'trial' contacts... they arn't my exact prescription... so things are a bit blurry at a distance and I don't think they have any corrections for my stigmitism so it's kinda funky. However... they are in and they work. I look strange... but hopefully I'll get used to it. You guys should be used to me looking strange already. :P Now, time to see how long I can wear contacts for in a day. So far... almost 2 hours and I'm still fine. :P Lets multiply that by at least 6 and I'll be extremely pleased!
If they do work out... I might look into Oakley Safety Goggles, lol. Cause I find these 'cool' safety goggles (as Tanya calls them) to be a bit on the 'chunky' side. :P Perhaps not Oakleys as those are expensive... but something a bit more stylish. Uvex has some nice ones. :P
Oh, and I keep trying to adjust my non-existent glasses because it is a bit blurry and because of habit. So if you guys see me reach for my eyes for some strange reason or push on the bridge of my nose or something, that's why. :P
If they do work out... I might look into Oakley Safety Goggles, lol. Cause I find these 'cool' safety goggles (as Tanya calls them) to be a bit on the 'chunky' side. :P Perhaps not Oakleys as those are expensive... but something a bit more stylish. Uvex has some nice ones. :P
Oh, and I keep trying to adjust my non-existent glasses because it is a bit blurry and because of habit. So if you guys see me reach for my eyes for some strange reason or push on the bridge of my nose or something, that's why. :P
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Rejuvenated
No... not so much mentally or physcially... or even spiritually unfortunately. But more so... blogging wise, lol. With the youth entering the blogging world, it has added a new element and I guess excitement back to the blogging world. Makes me want to blog more too!
Anyways... I booked my appointment for contacts next week. So... I most likely will be glassesless starting next Wednesday. Wonder how I'll look, lol. Well, either way, I still hope that contacts works out for me and that I can wear them for long durations at a time. Even if I don't look good... I can at least wear it for school and work and not look so horrible with my UGLY safety glasses. :P My classmates say I look like I'm going to go scuba-diving with them on, lol. And my teachers all gave me a strange double-take when I first wore them, lol. So... contacts, PLEASE WORK!!
Also... my mom made me apply for a job, lol. It's a terrible job and one I don't want cause it's telephone research. And really... who wants to be one of those jerks that calls you during dinner time to ask you questions related to the health profession? Sheesh, lol. BUT... it's casual and in the medical field. Hopefully they are flexible, cause I need to be able to work it around my practicums (which I don't have a full schedule for yet). Pay is... decent I guess and extra cash will always come in handy especially if I keep playing hockey every week, lol. Need money! Oh, and eating out every weekend is sucking me dry. :P
Listening to the new Jars of Clay and new Switchfoot... cause I commented on Jen Bongs blog and then realized that I didn't know much about both cds, lol. So far... Switchfoot is better then when I first checked it out at CP last week but I still havn't warmed up to it quite yet. Jars of Clay has been really good but it took a couple listens but still not as good as Skillets. :P
Anyways... I booked my appointment for contacts next week. So... I most likely will be glassesless starting next Wednesday. Wonder how I'll look, lol. Well, either way, I still hope that contacts works out for me and that I can wear them for long durations at a time. Even if I don't look good... I can at least wear it for school and work and not look so horrible with my UGLY safety glasses. :P My classmates say I look like I'm going to go scuba-diving with them on, lol. And my teachers all gave me a strange double-take when I first wore them, lol. So... contacts, PLEASE WORK!!
Also... my mom made me apply for a job, lol. It's a terrible job and one I don't want cause it's telephone research. And really... who wants to be one of those jerks that calls you during dinner time to ask you questions related to the health profession? Sheesh, lol. BUT... it's casual and in the medical field. Hopefully they are flexible, cause I need to be able to work it around my practicums (which I don't have a full schedule for yet). Pay is... decent I guess and extra cash will always come in handy especially if I keep playing hockey every week, lol. Need money! Oh, and eating out every weekend is sucking me dry. :P
Listening to the new Jars of Clay and new Switchfoot... cause I commented on Jen Bongs blog and then realized that I didn't know much about both cds, lol. So far... Switchfoot is better then when I first checked it out at CP last week but I still havn't warmed up to it quite yet. Jars of Clay has been really good but it took a couple listens but still not as good as Skillets. :P
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Fatigued...
Decided to work on one of my 'resolutions' for this year and actually work out today. It's been such a long time since I last worked out and my muscles just can't take it anymore, lol. Usually I feel alright when working out and feel sore afterwards, but now it's like the opposite. I don't feel sore at all right now... but when I try to lift again... my muscles just give out, sigh. It's a good thing I bought my own weights, cause it would be embarassing to work out at SAIT in the condition I'm in right now, lol. So, I'll work on getting my muscles toned-up again to get over this muscle fatigue stage and then hit the SAIT gym later this month or starting in February (after all the other people who are hitting the gym because of New Year Resolutions finally give up). That way it won't be AS embarassing (I'm still a weakling though, lol) but yeah... should still hit up the gym later because I can't hit all my muscle groups with what I have at home.
Otherwise... been playing some bass as well. Don't quite know what to do with it anymore. In the sense that I don't know what I can do to improve from where I am currently. I'm thinking I'll go over some of my old piano theory books and maybe practice that way to further establish where everything is on the fret board and to get my knowledge of theory back up to par. That way I can MAYBE transpose again, lol.
And it seems everyone is quitting Junior Church... and I'm leaning on not returning after this year either. Nothing wrong with Junior Church or anything... but I seem to be double-booked all the time on Sunday now. And at this point... I think I prefer to do sound and usher than to teach. Guess we'll see how things turn out after this year.
Oh, and Andrew and Jacklyn got me Need For Speed: Most Wanted for the DS. I got it on Sunday. I'm already done the game. Unlocked all the cars. Suped them all up. :P Finished Final Fantasy 3. Finished everything in Bomberman. Opened everything in Brain Age. Unlocked and Finished everything in Mario Kart. Guess it's time to go back to the Game Cube, lol.
And... probably going to schedule an appointment for contacts stuff next week. Lets hope contacts works out for me. Cause I REALLY REALLY detest (not hate) but detest, hehe, my current safety goggles that I have to wear for Paramedics. And honestly... I bought 2 pairs of safety goggles online that havn't been worn becuase of the stupid inserts not working out!! So yeah... lets hope it works out!!
Otherwise... been playing some bass as well. Don't quite know what to do with it anymore. In the sense that I don't know what I can do to improve from where I am currently. I'm thinking I'll go over some of my old piano theory books and maybe practice that way to further establish where everything is on the fret board and to get my knowledge of theory back up to par. That way I can MAYBE transpose again, lol.
And it seems everyone is quitting Junior Church... and I'm leaning on not returning after this year either. Nothing wrong with Junior Church or anything... but I seem to be double-booked all the time on Sunday now. And at this point... I think I prefer to do sound and usher than to teach. Guess we'll see how things turn out after this year.
Oh, and Andrew and Jacklyn got me Need For Speed: Most Wanted for the DS. I got it on Sunday. I'm already done the game. Unlocked all the cars. Suped them all up. :P Finished Final Fantasy 3. Finished everything in Bomberman. Opened everything in Brain Age. Unlocked and Finished everything in Mario Kart. Guess it's time to go back to the Game Cube, lol.
And... probably going to schedule an appointment for contacts stuff next week. Lets hope contacts works out for me. Cause I REALLY REALLY detest (not hate) but detest, hehe, my current safety goggles that I have to wear for Paramedics. And honestly... I bought 2 pairs of safety goggles online that havn't been worn becuase of the stupid inserts not working out!! So yeah... lets hope it works out!!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Final Fantasy 3
FINALLY COMPLETED!! My game file states that I logged 36:27:59 in playing time to complete the game. However, there probably was a couple hours lost from dying and having to go back a couple hours to my save point. So, it was approximately 40 hours. Which was what Philip predicted it to be when he gave me the game. For my first Final Fantasy game ever, it was great. Highly addicting, great game. Don't know how often I'll play it again, but really... 40 hours spent on it already, lol. I probably will play it again... at a later time. Not only because it was such a great game but also because this Final Fantasy game has the option of choosing jobs for each character. And since I only used certain ones... next time I'll try different jobs out and see how that works out. First time around... My favorite combination was Geomancer, Ninja, Sage and Summoner (Enjoyed using Knight as well - which I actually used in place of the Geomancer for the final dungeon and last 4 bosses and final final boss - problem with this combo is that Ninja, Sage and Summoner are in the last group of jobs opened for use, so you can't use them until near the end of the game).
I looked up the Final Fantasy game for the GameCube, but it wasn't rated very high. IGN Review, Press Review or Reader Review. Seems it's a decent Final Fantasy game for single play, but is built more around playing it as a multiplayer. Well... I don't think I'll be purchasing it and asking people to come play with me all the time, what a hassle!! :P
Okay, time for bed. :P
I looked up the Final Fantasy game for the GameCube, but it wasn't rated very high. IGN Review, Press Review or Reader Review. Seems it's a decent Final Fantasy game for single play, but is built more around playing it as a multiplayer. Well... I don't think I'll be purchasing it and asking people to come play with me all the time, what a hassle!! :P
Okay, time for bed. :P
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
New Year
New Year Resolutions?? I don't think I really came up with any specifically... but I know what I WANT this year.
1) Change my mindset. I really need to get into a proper mindset for paramedics. I need to get away from this Monday-Friday, 8-5 mentality. Also, I need to find a way to get past my irrational fear of needles and sharp objects... especially when they are in my hands. Ever since I stabbed myself in my thumb... I get so freaked out when holding anything sharp... but I need to get past it becuase I need to do IVs. And before you all freak out, I CAN DO IVs PROPERLY. Just when it comes to doing live starts (on an actual person) I start to overthink everything and get really scared and I even avoided doing a live-start during a scenario and my instructor was not happy... and neither was I. I was so disappointed by myself and my confidence level just crashed when I turned down that live-start... and I REALLY need to get past this mindset. Sometimes, I NEED to cause pain to others in order to help them. I CAN, and I WILL do this.
2) Work Out. One of my friends in class weighs about 200lbs and just trying to move him around on a stretcher was difficult. I could do it, but it was not as smooth as it could have been. So, I need to get stronger. I need to get fitter. Going with resolution number 1: I will be going to school to use the gym this semester, but because it's usually busy during the day, I will go during the night. So, getting past this 8-5 mindset, I'll start doing things I normally wouldn't do during the evening (like go to the gym or go to school for studying or tutoring).
3) Play Bass by Camp. Really starting to lean towards taking lessons. If anybody knows someplace good and not expensive... let me know. Or if somebody knows someone who can teach more towards playing Bass for Worship, let me know. lol... I think this was one of my resolutions last year as well. :P Sure didn't work out. Maybe this year. :P
Some other things I've been thinking about include... After I graduate from EMT. I have 3 choices.
1) Work for a year or so (probably with the City as a Basic Life Support Provider).
2) Take the paramedic program through SAITs day program (5 days a week, 8 hours a day) which starts in September (which makes it a lot more difficult to get into considering interviews for that program start NOW and I do not have the proper prerequisites yet as I'm in the EMT course still).
3) Take the paramedic program through SAITs outreach program (1 week on, 1 week off) which starts next January (but is not government funded so is double the tuition of the day program). I'm leaning towards this one right now.
Another thing: I want to get contacts. I'm so used to glasses and I don't mind them. But the safety goggles that I have currently that go over my glasses are UGLY! And the fact that glasses as a paramedic can become somewhat of a hindrance. So, I'm going to test out contacts. See how they work out for me. I know that my eyes are dry and that I probably can't wear them an entire day... but if they work enough for me to wear for a shift... then they'll be worth it.
1) Change my mindset. I really need to get into a proper mindset for paramedics. I need to get away from this Monday-Friday, 8-5 mentality. Also, I need to find a way to get past my irrational fear of needles and sharp objects... especially when they are in my hands. Ever since I stabbed myself in my thumb... I get so freaked out when holding anything sharp... but I need to get past it becuase I need to do IVs. And before you all freak out, I CAN DO IVs PROPERLY. Just when it comes to doing live starts (on an actual person) I start to overthink everything and get really scared and I even avoided doing a live-start during a scenario and my instructor was not happy... and neither was I. I was so disappointed by myself and my confidence level just crashed when I turned down that live-start... and I REALLY need to get past this mindset. Sometimes, I NEED to cause pain to others in order to help them. I CAN, and I WILL do this.
2) Work Out. One of my friends in class weighs about 200lbs and just trying to move him around on a stretcher was difficult. I could do it, but it was not as smooth as it could have been. So, I need to get stronger. I need to get fitter. Going with resolution number 1: I will be going to school to use the gym this semester, but because it's usually busy during the day, I will go during the night. So, getting past this 8-5 mindset, I'll start doing things I normally wouldn't do during the evening (like go to the gym or go to school for studying or tutoring).
3) Play Bass by Camp. Really starting to lean towards taking lessons. If anybody knows someplace good and not expensive... let me know. Or if somebody knows someone who can teach more towards playing Bass for Worship, let me know. lol... I think this was one of my resolutions last year as well. :P Sure didn't work out. Maybe this year. :P
Some other things I've been thinking about include... After I graduate from EMT. I have 3 choices.
1) Work for a year or so (probably with the City as a Basic Life Support Provider).
2) Take the paramedic program through SAITs day program (5 days a week, 8 hours a day) which starts in September (which makes it a lot more difficult to get into considering interviews for that program start NOW and I do not have the proper prerequisites yet as I'm in the EMT course still).
3) Take the paramedic program through SAITs outreach program (1 week on, 1 week off) which starts next January (but is not government funded so is double the tuition of the day program). I'm leaning towards this one right now.
Another thing: I want to get contacts. I'm so used to glasses and I don't mind them. But the safety goggles that I have currently that go over my glasses are UGLY! And the fact that glasses as a paramedic can become somewhat of a hindrance. So, I'm going to test out contacts. See how they work out for me. I know that my eyes are dry and that I probably can't wear them an entire day... but if they work enough for me to wear for a shift... then they'll be worth it.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Results from HK
Shopping:
- Clothes: A bunch (2 Zip-ups, 2 t-shirts, 1 collared t, 2 sweatshirts)
- Souvenir: Sword (only $30 - so cheap)
- Electronics: None... don't think I ever even saw a DS over there... so no Supercard.
Illness:
- Stomach Flu (myself, dad, sister, 1 cousin, 1 aunt, 1 uncle)
Events:
- Christmas Eve
- Uncles Wedding
- Mom's Birthday
- Sidetrip to Malaysia (bought absolutely nothing... oh well... nothing was worth buying)
- New Years
- Sister's Birthday
Accomplishments:
- 6.5 Modules out of 9. (meaning... I'll be studying tomorrow after church)
- Opened all characters for mini-games in Bomberman for DS.
- Almost finished Final Fantasy 3... but there are no save points in the very end chapter... so I died fighting the boss and have to do it all over again. Sigh.
- Applied for and got my Hong Kong Citizenship Card
- Applied for and got some card that allows entry into China for the next 10 years without a VISA
- Clothes: A bunch (2 Zip-ups, 2 t-shirts, 1 collared t, 2 sweatshirts)
- Souvenir: Sword (only $30 - so cheap)
- Electronics: None... don't think I ever even saw a DS over there... so no Supercard.
Illness:
- Stomach Flu (myself, dad, sister, 1 cousin, 1 aunt, 1 uncle)
Events:
- Christmas Eve
- Uncles Wedding
- Mom's Birthday
- Sidetrip to Malaysia (bought absolutely nothing... oh well... nothing was worth buying)
- New Years
- Sister's Birthday
Accomplishments:
- 6.5 Modules out of 9. (meaning... I'll be studying tomorrow after church)
- Opened all characters for mini-games in Bomberman for DS.
- Almost finished Final Fantasy 3... but there are no save points in the very end chapter... so I died fighting the boss and have to do it all over again. Sigh.
- Applied for and got my Hong Kong Citizenship Card
- Applied for and got some card that allows entry into China for the next 10 years without a VISA