Needles, Pain and Fun Times

Its 12:44 AM on a Saturday night as of this writing. What better way to spend it than to write an overdo journal? >3>

I’ve taken my IV Therapy classes two weeks ago. It was…horrible. I had fond memories of the IV Training course I took back on ’09- this was nothing compared to that. First of all, the hospital was horribly uncoordinated with the venue we were supposed to go to. We were supposed to have our training conducted at another hospital at 7 AM, so that means waking up extra early to get there in time. By the time I got there, there was already a group of students meandering at the front. Rather than stand there waiting (even though I knew they were there for the same IVT class), I went to talk to the security guard as best I could. From what I could make out, the hospital apparently received no notice that there would be a class there. No instructor or instructions from the host hospital, so there was no place for us to go to. So everyone was forced to wait until after 7 (because apparently the nursing office of the host hospital doesn’t open by then so no one was receiving phone calls) only to find out that the classes were actually being held –at- the host hospital. :/ So everyone crams into taxis and transfers there (fortunately it wasn’t too far off) and we find half the rest of the class sitting there. Apparently, at the VERY last minute (because I had been there to register for the class three days prior) they had sent out texts to students that the venue had changed, but only half the students actually got the messages while the rest were mad to wander out. >.>; Plus…since we were taking classes at the host hospital, we –had- to wear out white uniforms, which I hadn’t gotten prepared cause I figured I’d only have to wear it on the last day, which would be a week from then. Thankfully, I had a perfectly good one pulled out by mom so I was able to wear it the next day, though I had no time to dig up my white nursing shoes (if they were even still usable) so I had to go with my old, worn-out, kinda white sneakers, which made the getup look kind of stupid.

The second fail was the classes themselves. The instructors were BORING AS FUCK. They had absolutely no enthusiasm or rarely anything interesting to share beyond the templates on their projectors. I slept more in class than anything else due to their monotonous droning, and I commend those people that could actually stand sitting there listening for hours. The last day, which was the demonstration, was also a big disappointment. In the other hospital, they had the space, materials, and the instructors who patiently let you demonstrate, and guided you along when you had trouble, but mostly let you do it yourself. Here? They practically did everything –for- you! Even if you missed out an element of the procedure, they still mark everything with a checkmark and give you the highest score (which…prolly isn’t –that- bad if you sucked at it, but it only means that if you did, you’d still get away with a license). The last table I went to (for the blood transfusion demonstration) the instructor hit me with questions with rapid-fire intensity, and with the actual demonstration she was practically telling me what to do instead of letting me TRY to remember how to do it. I think it took me less than five minutes when it should have taken me at least ten.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the actual one on one IV demonstration. If it wasn’t bad enough I had a hard time looking for a partner, when came the time for us to actually perform, the fucking instructor was practically the one positioning and inserting the needle, pretty much making the point of us trying to do it ourselves moot. At least the last hospital let us do it- if we missed, then tough shit, you failed and had to reapply for the class again. Here, you don’t get to do it again cause –you were never doing it in the first place-…and the damn woman STILL missed the vein wtf. >:/ Neither me or my partner managed to get out needles in- we ended up having it shoved painfully under our skin trying to look for it before giving up. That part of my hand is still sore until now.

And to top it all off, the dates for completing my cases won’t be till March 22, two fucking months away. And getting your cases done within two days is very narrow. If I would be lucky enough to get them then, then I can rest assured I can get my license sooner…with a processing time of six months. :/ Oh, hey, since its not hard enough, lets remind you that your nursing license is going to expire in August. You won’t get your IVT card with an expired license. Sigh…time, it is not important.

Besides that, been sort of in an art slump. One week I was pretty stoked getting back to arting, and the next I fall into a slump again, but I’m slowly picking up, so hopefully I can get the things I need done in time. Because of all the different things I need to do in addition (trying to plan out a comic, looking for jobs in Guam- NOT fun), I don’t really have time to make my usual quick doodles. Instead, have a teaser shot of what I have been working on for the last few hours:



~Taddle

Year of the Rabbit

I was never one for astrology or horoscopes, glancing them on the paper from time to time when I was young simply because it was on the same page as the comics. But I can’t say that my astrological signs haven’t been an influence for creating certain characters of mine, the most striking being the Lapithian race (although that was more of a process in creation rather than a direct inspiration from the zodiac). Still, the Philippines is very much supportive of Chinese celebrations, especially in their New Years, and everyone is abuzz with this year being the one of the Rabbit, and taking special interest in it because it happens to be the zodiac I was born under.

Unlike my western sign Leo, the description for the Rabbit seems to be the one I identify with most:

THE FIRE RABBIT 1927 AND 1987
Fire adds an unspoken magnetism and mystery to the Rabbit. These creatures have a burning desire to get out there and live life to its fullest. They are active and adventurous and love anything that sparks their creativity or curiosity. They can throw tantrums here and there, if provoked, but most of the time they work very hard to avoid conflict or unpleasant confrontations. Fire Rabbits are charming and tend to push their emotions into the backs of their minds, but will speak up if necessary.

Source: Chinese Horoscopes – The Rabbit

To commemorate this occasion, obligatory New Year pic is in order! Naturally I would have just used Kalulu as representative, but then I remembered my best bro Luke was born on the same year. He also came up with an amusing idea: 2011 M&Ms to celebrate 2011. >3> So…

GRATITUOUS AMOUNTS OF M&MS! >8U

~Taddle

New Year and New Things

And so 2010 draws to a close. To this past year I cannot say much, but to quietly nod and say that I have indeed grown in the 365 days since. To me, a successful year is not measured by how much you’ve fulfilled your resolutions or your life goals, whether you have enjoyed much of the year or suffered…but how much you learned from it. It would be a waste to spend that much time and still be the same person as you were then, right? Even if only a little. Even if it were not as evident. Even if it was only a smidgen bit of knowledge that has opened your understanding a bit more. I’d feel it was all worth it.

The family and friends I have are not always perfect, but I’m grateful that they are all still with me. And the people I’ve come to know throughout the year, I hope we’ll still be bumpin’ shoulders down this route we’ve decided to share. And the people I’ve made important in my life…I hope will still be that way for as long as time permits.

So what comes next after all this. Who knows. I’ve never looked to the future with any sort of expectation, having a ‘come what may’ attitude in life. But maybe, for this year, I could decide to change that. Better knowing my strengths and my limits and setting up goals I know I could reach if I tried hard enough, I know now that I am capable of so much more than I previously thought. I don’t need to follow everyone’s shadow to find my way and I can use my own voice to speak what I want. And what I want, I can get on my own without having to ask permission for it. Its taken me this long to realize how to make these steps towards my own independence- perhaps far longer than it should have- but now that I know how to do it, I can finally base my plans towards my own future instead of worrying about how it would benefit others, as I had previously felt I was duty-bound to do. So hoping for the best.

Now, to less personal matters- I haven’t updated for over a month. XD; I’ve immersed myself in tasks throughout November and December, rediscovering my love for art and reconnecting with old friends and old hobbies. Yes, all the attention devoted to everything else after months of having to put it aside didn’t allow much time and patience to stop and write about it. I must thank my dear friend Luke for continuingly pushing me for updates. >3>

I realize there are still some things still left undone here, namely my Commissions and Portfolio pages, which I’m hoping to resolve as soon as my other tasks are done. I’ve been able to find many different websites courtesy of some helpful acquaintances that would be perfect for showcasing my works that I intend to build up and connect here. I’ve remained in DeviantArt to continue practicing my work, as I feel that’s my first and foremost important endeavor to complete, mainly through contests and tournaments and groups (the main one thus far being International Pokemon League). Right now I plan to enter The Grand Prix Tournament held over at the Global Battle Union (the tournament account for IPL), which would be a good workout on my sequential art abilities. Wish me luck. ^^; To add to that, I’m also helping out a developing webcomic that will hopefully be up and running as soon as I can finish the details on it. More information on that later.

Other things I’ve helped work on is a Pokedex for the IPL (a list of trainer-owned Pokemon) which takes a ridiculous amount of coding and has so far usurped a good portion of my time. I’m also intending on helping start a Wikia for the group, which, at the present time, I decided that would be too ambitious to pursue with so many other things needed to be done. ^^;

I’m also helping out with a developing tournament that will hopefully be up and running by summer. The premise behind it is a futuristic Earth where man has come to the edge of extinction and must rely on their mechanic creations (i.e. androids) to carry on the legacy of humanity. An interesting twist to the usual OCT where winners are judged not only for engaging storytelling and art, but for the level of character interaction which plays a major role in the tournament story. Keep an eye out for it: Terra II

And finally, spent the rest of my free time watching Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler. Since everyone is all “OMG GRELL SO KAWAII” and his damn face keeps popping up in my messenger *eyes a certain someone -.o*. So I’m like, “I should investigate this shark-toothed person. She’s really pretty-OH MY GOD IT’S A DUDE.” Nah, really, no matter how I look at him, I cannot see him as a woman. >3> But I sometimes need a constant reminder.


THIS WORKS.

On the RL side of things, I’m working on getting medical certifications for IV Therapy and Basic Life Support. For work I’ll try to find some meager paying entry-level job. The important thing right now is not the pay, but the experience. My uncle seems to be working on getting me something to do in Guam, while I have a few people who are willing to help me over in Ohio. Opportunities not yet set in stone, but they’re there and they’re something to work with.

I think I about covered everything.

~Taddle