Two for One Deal

I went to Denver and came home to my son needing some summer shoes. We went to Academy. First we tried flip flops, but none fit. They were all too small. Then I spotted these shoes but the size I needed was the very top box. We got an employee to get it down for us and guess what? They didn't fit either! The employee said the next size up is in the men's. Gulp! Did she say men's sized shoes for my precious little 8 year old? This automatically made Jayden's chest pop out and swell with pride. Something is just not right about my baby wearing men's shoes! Of course, this was the topic most of the day. I kept saying "this just isn't right" and Jayden just laughed.

I am so excited that Moore is becoming pedestrian friendly! This is news to blog about! Jayden and I took advantage of the new sidewalks and the great weather on Saturday and rode our bikes to the snow cone stand, then we took it a bit further to Blockbusters. The entire time Jayden kept saying "this is so much fun". I think he said it like 20 times and it was fun plus great exercise. I did wake up a tad bit sore. It was great fun and I am so glad that I took the time to take a ride with Jayden on Saturday, because obviously he is growing up fast! After all he is in men's shoes! Gulp...Sniff...sniff...

Jayden asked me, "Mom, why did you marry dad? Was it because he is funny?" I told him, "No I married your dad because he loves Jesus so much and it shows in his life every day. And yes because he is funny too." Jayden said, "Oh kind of like a two for one deal? Like when you go to a garage sale and get an item for free?" Yeah, that is exactly it! How was your Saturday? Mine was full, fun and refreshing.

7 Pound Burrito, Nuggets & Puberty...Oh my!

Last week was a long week, a good week but long. It begin with a surprise passenger on my flight to Denver. Here is a young man that I have seen stand in front of many with a child floatie for a hat and sing crazy, funny songs. Today, he is a grown adult man in the professional category of Engineer. He still sings crazy, funny songs that make others smile, plus songs from the heart about the worship of our Father.

Beware of the woman with a camera and a photo organization
system that allows her to pull photos out quickly.

Then a kid with a floatie for a hat. Today a man...with a job!

Have you ever seen the disturbing murals at the Denver International Airport? Why would you put something so disturbing up? A gas mask solider with a machine gun and sword piercing a dove which represents peace? With the weeping mothers holding their dead children?

I realize that this mural is next to the one above  and is to depict children dreaming of peace. To me it is disturbing but in all actuality has alot of truth to it, because one day there will be world peace, but it will be a false peace and followed by tribulation according to the Bible, which has been 100% accurate on hundreds of prophecies. I know there is a conspiracy theory out regarding the Denver International Airport with the New World Order and many people dismiss these items, but one thing that can't and won't be dismissed is Biblical prophecy.

Last week in Washington, DC I saw more homeless people than I have ever seen there before, maybe it is where I stayed, I don't know. Same story again this week in Denver. I snapped this picture from my taxi cab window on my way from the airport to my hotel. Every day I walked four blocks to my meeting site, I passed lots of homeless people. Many that called out for help, for attention, just to be noticed. It is easier to keep your eyes straight ahead and keep on walking, to ignore those in need. It can even be scary to reach out and give some money, a tract or food, but in doing so you are like Jesus. Even if you just take a moment to look them in the eyes and notice them, to show that you care and they are not forgotten or invisible I am certain matters. As I looked into their eyes I saw emptiness and hopelessness. My heart aches for the homeless.

For me these images are hard to look at, but I don't want to forget and get comfortable in my little world. As you pray, if you pray - pray for our homeless people and how you might be called to minister to them. After all Jesus says, "inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me." (Matt 25:31-46). I think of the homeless often, sleeping on concrete. I sleep on a nice comfy bed. They live out in the elements of the heat, cold and rain today. I can take shelter in a cool or warm house. Yes, it was still pretty chilly in Denver. They dig through trash cans in search of thrown away food to eat. I walk into my pantry and have more choices than ever. They face danger every day living on the streets. I live in a nice secure environment. They appear to feel unloved and invisible. They are alone. I am surrounded with family, friends and I am loved. I am blessed and I want to bless others.

Not sure why I am throwing up a C here.

So for the purpose of the trip to Denver was to serve as faculty at the Improving Patient Care Learning Session Two. At Learning Session One in Tucson, I spoke on Broadening and Strengthening the Improvement Process through the Development of Strong Community Relationships and shared the "napkin" story. I tied it in by illustrating how one word can have different meanings and when the teams invite community members to the improvement table that I recommend them to have a fact sheet prepared that gives information about the terminology as well as the aim and purpose of the process.

This presentation on Community Assessment, I begin with a button that Ann Lewis, CEO of CareSouth Carolina, developed to encourage her staff to seek new ways to improve and move past the "we've never done it that way before" syndrome. It says, "That's the way we've always done it." with a red line crossing that out. When staff adopted new behaviors that supported the future vision they were given a button. Ann said the button became like an award, a prized badge of honor to have.
  

I will tell you like I told the people in my session, if it weren't for my children I would have no real life application. Last weekend Jayden walked up to me, raised up his arm, pulled down his shirt sleeve and stuck his arm pit in my face and said, “Smell!”.  So I sniffed. Let’s just say I was unable to speak for a moment, in which he proudly proclaimed “I smell like Darya!” who we are currently running PDSA (improvement) cycles on regarding remembering to put on deodorant. I replied, “Yeah you do smell like Darya. But do you know what that means Jayden? That means your body is changing.” In which he pumped his hands up in the air and happily said, “You mean I’m in puberty!!?” So inspired by Ann’s future vision button and in honor of my children, I developed a new button it says, "Change is inevitable, Growth is optional" then the red line across the button says, "Except in Puberty".

Wouldn't it be great if we all embraced change with a hearty, "yeah!"?

Next, I was privileged to hear from this elder from Kodiak Island in Alaska, what a gem she is! She spoke to us from her heart sharing about a rough childhood and upbringing that she endured, but by God's grace she is a stronger person. She reminded us to be thankful for all the things we have.

Then Monday night after our Coaching Meeting was over, Cathy, Julie and I headed over to the Pepsi Center to root on the OKC Thunder. Yes, we had nose bleed seats, but we made it in and got to watch a great game. Yes we were surrounded by Nugget Fans, but overall they were pretty good and took to our teasing. In the end the Nuggets won that game, but we assured them the Thunder "threw the game" because they wanted to win it all at home on Wednesday night in front of the home crowd...and they did! I wished the picture below wasn't blurry, it is Julie and I wiping our mouths after eating some yummy "nuggets"!

This is Jerry Langley signing my Improvement Guide book - I know I am nerd, but I love that I am able to sit under the teaching of many great improvement advisers. I know many people say government workers don't work hard, but I am here to tell you the government workers I work with easily put in 10, 12 and 14 hour days.

The last night in Denver, we decided to take a few friends to check out Jack and Grill, who was voted #13 best place to chow down in the U.S. on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food and Extreme Places to Pig Out. Just so you know, no I didn't eat this gigantic cheeseburger alone, although many people do. The reason Jack and Grill was featured on these two shows is the 7 pound burrito shown below. Two 7 pound burritos went by my table and I got up enough nerve to go ask the guy getting ready to eat it if I could get a picture of him and the burrito, so here you go...

Kah-razy, crazy, huh?

I don't know if he finished it or not. I didn't wait around to see. For $15 you too could have this massive burrito! It has 5 lbs of grilled potatoes, 12 eggs, 1/2 pound of ham, 1/2 pound of cheese, onions, your choice of chile. If you finish it you get to eat there for life for free. I think it is like one meal a month, plus you get your picture taken for the Wall of Fame and you become one of the few, the proud, the FULL! Hmmmm, no thanks.

Finally, the last night of the week in Denver. The walk back to the hotel. Trying to keep a Paul perspective of what matters in this life, trying to strain towards what lies ahead, an eternal life rejoicing in the presence of my glorious Savior, desiring to take as many with me as God will allow. When I am weary, weak or down trodden, I want to remember that though my body and life are fading, I take confidence in the fact that this world is not my home. Once in my life I was homeless, blind and lost, but now I see and know of my eternal home. I am so thankful this world is not my home I am only passing through.

Huggers...Oklahoma's Version of Sluggers

This week presented me with a quick and short trip to Washington, DC & Rockville, MD to attend a couple of meetings, here are a few pictures and "postable thoughts" - if you are interested what I really think, let's have lunch!

One cool thing about Washington, DC is the cool
architectural structure and designs of /on the buildings. 

Just around the corner from my hotel. Love honest Abe,
sounds some what familiar to me, does it to you?

Guess who has their eye on you?
Can you name this metro stop?

It is not uncommon to see this scene outside certain Metro stops.
I really wished I would have captured a picture of this one guy's
bedazzled boom box, it was sparklin'! See those shoes laying there?
I couldn't figure out who they belonged too. A haunting mystery.

Isn't she beautiful? I really hoped and searched to eat at Chop't Salad
so I could cause Darya to drool; but I couldn't locate the place.
I was becoming famished so I stopped at another favorite place ~ Baja Fresh
for a yummy grilled fish taco! It took me back to Tucson when I introduced
my sister Gaye to Baja Fish Tacos! Did anyone see the Undcover Boss
which featured Baja Fresh? If you did you will know why this is beautiful!



I hope you can read the sign, if not the sign says, "Slug Pickup Use 14th Street & New York Ave."


Have you ever seen or heard of such thing? Slug Pick Up? When I think of slugs, I first shiver..twice..then I think of slugs that showed up on our porch as a kid and we would pour salt on them to get rid of them. Don't judge me, we were taught that is what you do when they show up.

I wasn't sure what "slug pick up" was in reference to, were there really a bunch of slugs laying on the street ready to be picked up by the salt truck? Or was it a lazy person? Hang on this is epic....Slugging is actually carpooling!

Amber, Tina, Jennifer does that make us Slugs? Absolutely not! Because slugging means picking up total strangers, that we are not! Slugging is a very organized system. I think we qualify for that, thanks to Amber. Slugging is complete with its own set of rules, proper etiquette, nah...we don't need rules or etiquette we live by Will Rogers motto, "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." Slugging has specific pick up and drop off location (hint: the sign) - we qualify for that! Finally, slugging is FREE for the passengers! I like that idea Amber, since I am the passenger! The reason it is free is the driver is seeking warm bodies so they can qualify to cruise in the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane. It is said to be the most efficient and cost effective form of commuting, but there is no relationships! That is one of the "rules or etiquette"; well that don't fly in Oklahoma. We are a friendly bunch of people. I would love to see the driver who would pick up my friend Pamela as a slugger, because she would talk to a rock. I don't know why slugging fascinates me but it does, I think CBS needs to do a reality show on this and call it Sluggers or Huggers? Our group could be the Huggers, because we are all about relationships, love, support and encouragment which is a must if you work for the federal government.

I find it odd that they call it slugging since slugs move slow and the purpose of slugging is to get in the HOV lane that moves faster; but it isn't based on that type of a slug. The term "slug" derived from passengers trying to fake out bus drivers with counterfeit coins (also known as slugs) in the coin collection tray. Aren't you glad you stopped in to read all this useless information?

I did only drive-by sight seeing on this trip and since
my first meeting was at the Humphrey Building, I got
to see many of the sights through my cab window. Too
bad they don't have slugging for cab rides or slugging for tourists.

Another drive-by of a cool, really OLD (1879) building.
Does anyone know what building it is? It is right next
to the Holocaust Memorial Museum.



I met my junior high/high school friend Dee for dinner one night at
Clyde's, my only "real" dinner  meal of the trip, not much fun eating alone.



Dee proved me wrong 7 years ago when she left Oklahoma to work at the Census Bureau here in Washington, DC. I remember teasing her that she was going to get tired of counting Indians and singing that song..."one little, two little, three little Indians...four little, five little, six little Indians..." I was pretty confident that she would only last a year here because she is a HUGE OU fan, plus most all her family is in the great state of Oklahoma. I will have you know though, I was not the only doubter! Other "friends" were placing their bets, "I give her two years....6 months....etc..." I think I recall Dee told me she used to be a "slugger", I know she was a slugger in softball growing up, but I think she has actually participated in slugging. I think she is pretty phenomenal! Did you notice my big biceps in the picture? The whole state of Oklahoma fits across my arm! Muscles, I tell ya!

This is the Metro Stop McPherson Square right across the street from
my hotel. There are about 7 homeless people in this picture getting ready
to settle in for the night. They each had pallets and sections they apparently
have claimed. One lady had her section roped off tied to her buggy and to
an iron fence area. Homelessness breaks my heart.

This is more my style than slugging.



This is the stop for the Reyes (just to the left of the sign)
and Twinbrook Buildings. Which is where Indian Health
Service Headquarters is housed. I am so blessed to serve
American Indian/Alaska Natives, it has been a very rewarding career.

Lunch for Tuesday was Qdoba! It was kind of a rainy today, so I tried
the Mexican Gumbo. I highly recommend it! As usual we ate lunch
and worked at the same time, talk about fast food!



Items found in the vending machine at The Reyes Building
I have never seen these kind of chips...Herr's Baby Back Ribs



Since I have never seen chips like this, I obviously
had to document it to share. Here is #2 - Ragin' Ranch


Utz The Crab Chip...Hmmmm that is weird.



I am a double screen addict! Soon I will be getting only a lap top with a
docking station and getting rid of my laptop and desktop. Apparently
according to our IT staff I have the oldest laptop and desktop in the federal
government. I am hoping to get them into the Smithsonian.
I loved this set up and I want it when I get back home.
It made me feel Star Trekkish'ee, like a Commander (oh, wait I am) but
it did make me feel special and sure made work move smoothly.

The reason the train was held up at Twinbrook was there were two
people apprehended at White Flint by six officers. The were seperated,
one to the left (out of picture) and the one sitting on the bench, which
you can't see because of my awesome photography skills, but I did
capture the event that should count for something and the lady
officer going through one of the detainee's bags.

 The train on the other track was held up because of this situation, I am sure that made their day. If you ever go to Washington, DC and ride the Metro, I would like to offer you a few tips about riding the train. First, get some ear plugs, even if you don't listen to anything, plug them into your ears, not only will you "fit in" but random wierdos won't say anything to you, such as vulgar shout outs. I can live without hearing those. Second, go to the bathroom before you ride, it is not always that easy to get off the train and locate a restroom and one that is clean and free. Finally carry snacks and bottled water with you in a bag. Although you are not supposed to eat and/or drink on the train, it doesn't say anything about carrying them with you. Sometimes the trains will stop, it could be a mechanical problem, something is in the way on the track, someone gets sick or in the case above someone is being detained. I have been stuck on a train for almost an hour before and I was famished and it was that fruit bar and bottled water that made it somewhat manageable for me. This is a must if you are traveling with children, but isn't always something you think of when it is just you. I have more tips if you care to hear just ask, but these I think are important.

But I am not in Brooklyn, does it apply here too?

My last evening I had to go try Five Guys Burgers & Fries. This place is said to be the Willy Wonkas of Burgers, voted to be the best burger by many different magazines, and their products are "trans fat free". I figured since I ate soups and salad the entire trip, and brought my own breakfast (Kashi Go Lean cereal) I would be bad for one meal! I had heard about this place and the fact that it was across the street from hotel, made it super appealing as I didn't leave work until 7 pm. So I marched inside with my Public Health uniform on and asked the all important question. "Is the Veggie Sandwich a veggie burger?" No, it is a sandwich stacked with veggies. So I said to him, "I guess it wouldn't have been voted "the best burger" if it was veggie now would it?" His face was priceless as I asked the questions. So living on the edge I ordered fried food! I thought this was an important adventure to mark off my bucket list before ordering fried food becomes regulated. Yes, Public Health Officers do eat cheeseburgers, on occassion - at least this one does. Here is another one word tip if you ever eat a Five Guys Burgers & Fries,...take an iron stomach and SHARE! The portions are way too big.

They even offer free peanuts, kind like Santa Fe,
but don't throw them on the floor. I don't think they like that.

Drive by on the Jefferson Memorial

Nice 3:30 am wake up call to a hotel evacuation

About 4 am, the DCFD Midnight Express cleared us to go back to our rooms.
They looked very tired too. Of course, I had a hard time going back to sleep.

I bet some heroes are coming in to this gate. Can you see all the flags?

Some really cool water fountains at the Chicago Airport. They were called
EZ H2O and provides filtered water with a little counter that shows
 "Helped eliminate waste from ____ disposable plastic bottles."
The best part? It is sensor activated! No touching anything.

Delayed in Chicago so I enjoyed a Pasta Salad.
Bowtie Pasta, feta cheese, cherry tomato, celery,
roasted red pepper, green onion, basil, and chipotle
with sun-dried tomato dressing.

So very thankful and grateful to be home sweet home, back on red soil, where most people are friendly and our Air Traffic Controllers stay awake.

Trampoline Shots of Jayden

I grew up having a trampoline, which I loved.

You will see Jayden loves our trampoline as well.

Check out our fence ~ It's vintage.

What form, and for a boy!

It was a beautiful day to jump!

And for my favorite shot of the day....