Nurse Joc, Not Jackie

Moms of daughters in the Parksville area, please be careful and warn your daughters. Get them a safety whistle or a cell phone to carry on themselves if they must walk alone. If possible, encourage them to walk with friends.

Yesterday, my MIL's friend's daughter was followed by a man described to be in his 40's or 50's, dark brown/black hair down to his jawline, dark spot on the front of his neck (like a burn), tattoo of a barbell or dumbbell on his upper right arm, greasy/dirty looking hands, a smoker, very freckled face... Driving around in an older black, light-duty truck with a black tarp in the back covering something "bumpy", no lisence place on the front, rusting around the wheel wells, large scrape down the front of the truck, passenger-side headlight is cracked, and an airfreshener or a photo of a woman in a short red dress hanging from his rear-view mirror.

The police are on the lookout for this guy, so please give them a call if you know anything. He was offering a ride to the daughter of MIL's friend, she declined and walked quickly away, so he followed her inside of his truck, even following her down the one-way street in the main area of downtown parksville. She started running once he actually followed her down the one-way street and managed to get to her mom's work safely, though very shaken up. Police say this is the second report they've had of this guy in two days. Please be careful and pass on the info!

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. That makes tomorrow a day where many people world-wide are choosing to remain completely silent for a full 24 hours. Normally, I would jump at the chance to do this, however, I am currently on the job hunt and am awaiting a few important phone calls tomorrow... Maybe I'll post-pone the event for myself.

So what is it about? By not talking, texting, typing, writing, etc. for 24 hours, we send our thoughts out to children world-wide who have no one speaking for them. Whom have no voice of their own. Take the day to research children's rights across the globe. See what you really know about children's issues and find out what you should know.

Take the vow, yourself.

I've been pretty relaxed since I finished school. I'm spending most of my days writing out resumes and cover letters and applying for jobs here and there. I actually just started applying for jobs yesterday and managed to land an interview which went quite well. I hope that I can get that job since it is with VIHA!

I'm thinking about writing up a resume tips and tricks page... One of the most common questions I've heard from newly graduated nurses is "How I do I get work/write a resume without any experience?" Well, the answer is pretty simple... Write a skills-based resume, not a chronological one. Always write a cover letter - call the place ahead of time and get the name of the person you're aplying to. "To whom it may concern" isn't a very nice way to start a cover letter -- it shows that you haven't put any time into your application and you're there for the job alone, not for the actual facility.

Anywho! I am going to be passing out my applications all day tomorrow, so wish me luck!

As of 11:00 PM/2300 last night, I am a Practical Nurse. I'm undecided if I'm licensed or not... I received a registration card from the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia which gives me the authority to practice as a licensed practical nurse... LPN or PN, I'm all done with school! Pop open the bubbly.

It was a long hall... Even though it was only 12 months long. 12 months without any breaks sans the winter break. I see why grade schools have summer breaks. by the time you make it to the summer, your brain is fully fried.

The time passed quickly though it seems like I've always been in school. It seems like just yesterday I got the call that a spot opened up for the class I had just recently added my name to for the waiting list. I had two weeks to get ready, which ended up perfect.

I carefully composed my two week notice letter for my boss and handed it in feeling guilty -- I had only been there for 5 months. Then was the subject of parking passes, text books, financing, daycare issues, and so forth. I was so excited to start school that I had everything dealt with by the next two days. Then was the longest wait of my life.

I sat in the classroom for the first month asking the dumbest questions since it had been 7 years since I had sat with a teacher in front of me. This time, I was completely enthralled in all that she was saying. Taking notes that would make little-to-no sense to anyone else. Highlighting full paragraphs in my text books... I definitely won't be able to resell these, but why would I? They are filled with information that I still find interesting.

I think I've invested my time very wisely... I have enjoyed all of my practicums and all of my preceptorship. I've learned life stories I wouldn't have otherwise. I've experienced pain second-hand while administering a PRN morphine subcutaneously. Been up to my elbows in someone else's poop without flinching. Changed pus-filled bandages. I enjoy every second of it without a second thought.

Odd how after the first or second time, poop just becomes another normal part of the job. I don't see changing a brief or helping with a post-toilet clean-up as any different than helping someone brush their hair.

I'm really going to miss rehab. I hope I can land a job on the unit eventually :)

Feeling a little stressed out? Take a look at this super cute puppy. Aww!

I had to share that one, haha

On my old blogs, I always did a yearly Geeky Christmas special blog post filled with geeky goodies that I would love personally as a geek. I share it to give everyone some ideas on what to buy for the geeks in their lives. Posting this well more than a month in advance so if you are so inclined to make online purchases, it will get to you on time. If you are a geek, make yourself a wishlist at my favorite geek store!

The List

Power Plant Herb Garden :: Make your own mini-herb garden with this fool-proof garden. Basil, cilantro, parsley, nom, nom, nom! It is a Desktop hydroponic herb garden that comes with dirt pellets and nutrition for your soon-to-be plants.

Space Invaders Cutting Board :: Oh em gee... Who doesn't remember Space invaders! Heck, I still play it on seedy looking flash-based gaming websites! This cutting board gives a true pixilated feeling with an invader on it. Hand made, if you can believe it.

Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste :: A great bathroom reader for anyone in your family who's hard to shop for. A book that explains common chemicals found in regular household items.

8-Bit Oven Mit :: Not only does the title rhyme... ha. This 8-bit hand picture is on an oven mitt. I would love to have one of these myself, not going to lie! I might just find a knitting pattern... Make some gloves or something haha

Cat Play Houses :: If I had a cat, I would definitely, definitely have one of these. They are cute and awesome! There is a firetruck, an airplane, and a tank.

I could make this list go on forever, really... Even since my first order from ThinkGeek about 7 years ago, I have been a loyal customer. I love all the things they carry and just wish that they had a Canadian shipping location so that customes wouldn't charge me so darn much... Keep checking back, I'll likely make more Christmas lists for runners/athletes, nurses, etc.