My Travels

Breast Cancer

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 09:22:25 -0400

My sister found out a few weeks ago that she has breast cancer. They found it very early and the prognosis is very good. She will need to undergo radiation therapy but will not need chemotherapy. She has asked that I convey this story and let people know that it is very likely that she might have not caught this cancer at such an early stage if she had not gone for a mammogram. She also wanted to let people know so that other women take note and get checked and so we men could remind the women in our lives that they should be diligent about getting mammograms and doing self exams. Something so simple could just save a life. Please keep my sister Debbie in your thoughts and prayers and share this story with your friends and family.
Funny how something like this can put life in perspective when it hits so close to home!

Week Two

Sat, 1 Apr 2006 19:32:44 -0500

This last week was quite interesting! This was the first week that our whole team was all together. Since our team is responsible for hospitals through out the United States our team is made up of people from all over. Two are from South Bend Indiana, One from Sioux City Iowa, One Living in Texas and the rest of us here in Michigan. When I was hired there were only 5 people on the team, Jackie, Karen, Emma, Susan, and Angie. These five people were providing support, program builds, and implementation for 9 hospitals! Of those 6 were brought up in 18 months time! I was one of four people (Carol, Myself, Kathy and Diane) that were added to the group. The team size has almost doubled and we were all in the same office this last week. I was interesting to meet the whole team and see the interactions. There really seem to be a diverse mix of background amongst the group. Some are very technical and have extensive computer knowledge while others have more of a clinical background and have a different view of things while I have both the clinical side of things, having worked in an Emergency Center for so long and also having a strong working knowledge of computers and networking. With such an interesting mix we should be able to work well with each other and really compliment each others strengths. I am so excited looking to the future of this team and I see a lot of good things to come.

Surprise

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 22:25:15 -0500

Today I went to work early to help teach one of the other new hires, Carol about the computer program that is the primary focus for our team. I spent most of the morning going through the FirstNet program and how to do certain things then went and grabbed a sandwich to bring back to my desk. As I sat there eating Emma said that she needed my help. Someone had called her and we needed to go to their office to look at a problem they were having on a computer. She lead me all over the building arriving at an empty office with not so much as a chair, computer or anything that would have indicated that anyone had occupied the room in the the last few months! By now I am thinking that Emma has totally lost her mind as we walk back to our office. As we walk through the door Someone says that Jackie (our supervisor) needs us in her office! I walk down the hall with Emma not realizing that the rest of the team that was in the office (Angie & Carol) were following us. I turn into Jackie’s office and there was a cake, balloons, and a card and a everyone started saying Happy Birthday! The 24th is my actual B-day but Jackie was going to be out of the office and she didn’t want to miss the cake and balloons! These are good, good people and I really felt today that I made the right move with this new job

All hail the President

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:13:30 -0500

After starting my new job as a Systems Analyst and basically changing my whole career path. I was elected president of my Civic Association. I am replacing a man, Stan Anderson who has been president of the association for 21 years and has become a huge influence in the city and how our local government has handled issues and dealt with problems, I can only hope that I can come close to being such an influence on the community. This was indeed an honor and I am thrilled to even be considered to take on such a roll. I am also excited with all the things that we want to accomplish in the next year and I am looking forward to what is to come.

New Chapter

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:01:23 -0500

Yesterday was my first day at my new job. I was warmly welcomed by the team (Jackie, Angie and Emma) that I am working with and went through the routine of getting my ID badge. pager and other job related stuff! This new job had some familiar parts to it. Things that I had been doing in my previous position before I left, but I felt kind of lost, overwhelmed and ignorant with all the new thing, that I will need to know and feel I have no clue about at this point. I do know that in just a few weeks I will be right where I need to be and have a lot better understanding of what I am doing and what my direction will be.