The Little "+"s

Kudos to K & R for this idea.

+ Two shifts on Surgery this week. Smiling like an idiot, because it's what I'm supposed to be doing.

+ New standalone Starbucks. 

+ Sleeping in this morning.

+ Late night cuddles & laughs with the siblings.

+ Going to watch Oz The Great And Powerful with Sister. Realizing it's a kid's movie.

+ Sunny weather and spring.

+ Hanging out with 1st & 2nd & 3rd year nursing students. Unite!

+ Dressing up for a banquet.

+ Fun lifeguarding shifts. 

Life has so many pluses. Why focus on the negatives???

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Letters

Hand-decorated mini jar to hold my chalk collection :)

Dear Weather: I am 100% for no jackets, no tights, no scarves, and no boots. Bring it on! Dear Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" Goat Edition: Funniest thing you will ever watch, ever. No seriously, go watch it here. Harlem Shakes begone! Dear College Tuition/Fees: Why? Why? Why? Beginning to think we should go back to the trading & bartering system. Dear IV Medication Administration: Please go smoothly during clinical and don't give anyone speed shock or mix incompatible drugs. Dear Lifeguard Training: I really don't want to swim 400m in 10 minutes {I know, I know, that is not difficult}. Why am I still training? Isn't 8 years enough proof that I know my stuff??? Dear Saturday Night Banquet: So pumped to dress up and do my hair and makeup! Gonna be a good time. Dear Reading: I haven't touched a fiction book since Christmas. Feel free to make a re-entry into my life at anytime! Dear Blog Commenters: I kinda sorta really like your input. Thanks!

Happy Friday!

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No. 287 - Shout Out

At work, we have a whiteboard where the guards can write little notes to each other.

It's a way to notice someone else's hard work or effort.

I got my first shout out this week.

:)

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No. 278 - The One In Which . . .

. . . I clean the pool deck with style.

Be safe, everyone!

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No. 263 - Lifeguarding 101 & OUAT

Alright, so as I wrote last week, I am back on the pool-front scene as a Lifeguard/Instructor at MacIsland. However, the general population's view of a lifeguard is somewhat misconstrued (thanks, Hollywood & Baywatch). So, I'm here to give you a crash course on what it means to be a lifeguard in a community pool.

• Training: There are a minimal of 4 certificates you must get in order to be viewed as a lifeguard. These come from the Lifesaving Society, and each province has its own branch. The four courses are as follows: (1) Bronze Medallion - you can get this when you are 13, and you learn tows, carries, defence and release methods, stroke efficiency and endurance in a timed swim and CPR A; (2) Bronze Cross - you can get this when you are 14, and this is more advanced training including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities; (3) CPR-C - this is your first aid course and can be combined with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) component; (4) National Lifeguard Service (NLS) - you can get this when you are 16, and this is the final course that says you are in fact a certified lifeguard. It is a two week course filled with first aid, simulations, fitness, and principles. Then every two years, you must re-certify your NLS in order to continue lifeguarding. 
• There is also separate training that will certify you to teach swimming lessons. The Canadian Red Cross offers these courses and there are two requirements: Assistant Water Safety Instructor and Water Safety Instructor (WSI). Like NLS, WSI has to be re-certified every two years.
• Now, after you spent all that money and all that training, as a lifeguard, you actually spend very little time in the pool (unless you are teaching swimming lessons or aquafit). The majority of your job is spent scanning and reminding patrons of the rules, or in other words, prevention. In my 7 years of lifeguarding, I have had to "jump in" twice. 

Now for some fun facts:

• We don't use pen tips during CPR (thanks, Boone, from LOST). 
• We don't sit in our chair and yell at kids (well, hopefully we don't). For the majority of the time, we are actually standing or roaming.
• We don't run in slow motion.

Haha, anyways, just some information. As for my first week, it went really great.

It is going to be a good summer!

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Awesome episode of Once Upon A Time last night, because we finally found out who August W. Booth is!
I can't believe we only have two episodes left. Here are my thoughts on "The Stranger".

• Best Moment: Not only finding out that August W. Booth was indeed Pinocchio (way better than Rumplestiltskin's son), but also finding out that he went through the wardrobe (Narnia reference) with Emma and was supposed to lead and help her.
• Lovely Moment: When August W. Booth went to his father's wood-shop at the end and asked to be an assistant. Kind of a tearful moment.
• Worst Moment: Regina seducing David? What the? Good on David for saying no.
• Worst Pick-Up Line: "If I told you [where we were going], you would never come." Seriously, guys, this doesn't work.
• Worst CG: Fake whale.
• Crossover Moment: I loved all the flashbacks to the pilot, and the way they incorporated the storyline there. 
• Riveting Moment: When August W. Booth took Emma to the tree. Their banter was incredible. I wanted Emma to believe, but it would have been to easy if she did. "Then you're all screwed." - Yikes.
• LOST Moment: Apparently the plane that flew over Pinocchio's head when he exited the tree was Oceanic Flight 815.
• Cliffhanger: Emma is leaving Storybook with Henry?
• Next Episode: Snow White eats the apple.

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No. 257 - Back To The Water

Alright, so some of you know, but here is my summer plans announcement . . .

I am going back to lifeguarding/instructing!

To be honest I never thought this day would come. When I resigned at the YMCA last June, I figured that was the end of my aquatics involvement due to the direction school and nursing is taking me. However, as March rolled around, I realized that I still need a summer job and one of my fellow-lifeguard-classmates convinced me to re-certify my NLS and then apply for a job at MacDonald Island, which I can now say I have received. My first day was yesterday. Although at first, I was really resistant to going back to the chlorine, I can now say that I am happy with how things worked out.
All in God's timing. 

(No picture of the pool, because I figured it would be creepy trying to take the shot.)

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P.S. Happy April 24th :(

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