Friday was a big day for my OLDER sister, she celebrated another birthday. I wanted to give her birthday shout out. I am not going to discuss how old she is or how much older than me she is or if this birthday was the end of a decade or start of a new one.
As many things, as I can think of about my sister because I am pretty sure I couldn't come up with enough for how old she is...
1. She is a Summerville High School graduate (They had schools back then? I can't tell you the year she graduated, because then you will figure out how old she is and I know she doesn't want that)
2. She was in the marching band for SHS
3. She played the flute and was in the color guard
4. She knocked one of her friends out with her flag pole one time...she said it was an accident (but let's be honest, Aubrey says everything is an accident too)
5. She tried to knock me out with a baseball (She said that was an accident, also. I don't remember to much about us growing up and playing together, since she was so much older than I was but I do still remember that day vividly)
6. I remember us having an imaginary line in the back seat of the car on trips..."Don't cross the line." (On second thoughts maybe it was mom and dad that established the imaginary line)
7. She went to the College of Charleston during the John Kresse era. Go Cougars!!!
8. She actually graduated with a degree in childhood education...I know shocking that someone from Summerville HS could graduate with a college degree.
9. She taught in Dorchester District 2 for a few years but lived in Charleston off Hwy 61...she must have been making the big bucks. Probably it was when she told mom and dad she wasn't coming back to this two bit town. It wasn't big enough for her....at least that's what I thought I heard, remember I was younger when she left for college and was just glad to have the house to myself and glad she didn't come back home and cramp my style (that carried on for a number of years in that house during HS, college and after college).
10. She always bought me and my friends alcohol (just kidding mom and dad - would have been a good idea if I would have thought or cared about it then - hindsight is always 20/20)
11. She now lives in Savannah, Ga. (home of Paula Dean, that's all that going on there right?)
12. She married her roommate from college husband's brother (they met at her wedding...guess it was love at first sight)
13. When she moved to Savannah, I vowed that I would never move her sofa bed again. It was the heaviest sofa every made because it was actually made in America and the bed frame was steel.
14. She has 3 great kids - Carter, Meghan and Katie
15. She still is a school teacher (25 years in Savannah - a quarter century, should give you a clue as to how old she is...that's a long time reporting to work - good job)
16. She has patience (see number 14 and 15).
17. She was mom and dad's favorite (until I was born - ha!ha!)
18. Everyone always thought I was older (and it made her mad...bet she wouldn't be mad now).
19. She is a recreational photographer...probably will be her retired career (which has got to be getting pretty close)
20. She loves "The Sound Of Music". I can't even count how many time I had to watch it but enough to know - Doe a deer, a female deer; Ray a drop of golden sun; Me, a name I call myself; Far, a long way to run; Sow, a needle pulling thread; La, an note to follow sow; Tea, a drink with jam and bread; which brings us back to Doe...
21. She does a great job creating scrapbooks (Hopefully, she will do our kids when she retires.)
22. She loves "Gone With The Wind" just a little bit less than than "The Sound of Music" but not much.
23. This birthday was a BIG one because she left town to avoid the heat. Chris took her away to the Georgia mountains for her birthday weekend. Not sure I would be going to the mountains this time of the year - bears and snakes are looking for their last meal before hibernating.
24.She is a fantastic mother and sister.
25. This is the halfway point to how old she is (and my stopping point - graduated from SHS in 79 and CofC in 83).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Your only as old as you feel. Unfortunately, your pretty old.
We love you!!! Hope you have lots more birthdays but you will always be my older sister.
Aubrey wanted to make you a couple of videos....Enjoy!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Singing Debut
Last Sunday Aubrey made her singing debut with the Cherub Choir at Bethany. Pretty sure she will be signing a recording deal any day now...just waiting on Simon to give her a call. We are real proud of her - especially since we were pretty sure she was going to run out of the sanctuary (every second the last song and longest benediction ever lasted gave her time to run for the door). All the kids did great. Here's the video....Madonna Carrie Underwood look out.
Title Defense 5 - UNC Reunion Weekend
A couple of shout outs before we get to the important Clemson football recap.
*To my wife who is the greatest and kept the kids on Saturday so I could go to the Clemson game with my long time friend from college, Walt (who is the only UNC fan I know - you don't want too many of them in your life). I love you, LA!
*To Stuart and Meg on their wedding (and giving me and a couple of others that I saw at the game a pass on attending their wedding). I hope y'all have many years of happiness together. I was able to make the end of the reception to wish them well and tell them Dabo said "Congratulations, this win is for Stu and Meg."
Title Defense Number
"In professional sports, Ric Flair 5 times the man"..."whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going, today!"..."(the 4 horsemen) compete at a level unknown to mortal man. We run all night, we run all day, 24 hours. We live, we eat, we think wrestling. We're the best there is"..."...diamonds are forever and so are the 4 horsemen"
*Note...if you don't want to watch the match (which I don't know why you wouldn't want to watch the best there ever was) skip to the 5:28 mark.
Our Life College Football Poll:
3 New Teams Received Votes
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Can't Hear You
7. Not A Big Deal
8. Insignificant
9. Your Team
The Good
1. Downtown Kourtnei Brown / Touchdown Kourtnei Brown / Kourtnei Bad Bad Leroy Brown
2. The offense 50+ points two weeks in a row - 35 points in the 3rd quarter
3. Nuk Hopkins (if you have a child the Nuk should should familiar, yep that's where his nickname came from)
4. The Chad
The Bad
1. NOON KICKOFFs (just bad, bad, bad for college football)
2. Big Plays - I place the blame on safeties and cornerbacks (poor tackling and poor coverage). We have got to stop the big plays for touchdowns and big plays that lead to touchdowns.
3. Kickoffs - Have to find someone who can kick the ball into the end zone (regular kickoff guy out for the year). I appreciate the effort from Zimmerman (our punter) but he doesn't have the leg for kickoff, punting yes. 18,000 students, Dabo, send the email for open tryouts. I wouldn't complain if it was a girl - whatever make us better and kicking the ball in the end zone consistently makes us better.
Summary
As I mentioned earlier, my friend from college, Walt, went to the game with me to continue a tradition that was started after college of attending Clemson vs UNC football games. The ACC expansion caused us not to get together quite as often since Clemson and UNC are on a rotating schedule. There's a long story behind this comment but now before I attend any UNC football game with him, I must see the ticket before getting in the car to go with him (something about a UNC vs Miami game when UNC was ranked probably Top 10 and I didn't have a ticket but unknown to me he had a ticket. Me and his wife ended up with tickets to get in but no assigned seat (they were student tickets and the student sections were packed early before we got in the game and thus my rule was established). I am glad Clemson has had the upper hand the past years in football because we don't have it in basketball. We were able to expose the weakness in UNC's defense - their secondary which Taj was able to pick apart and throw touchdowns to 5 different players. No one can say we are one dimensional or stopping player x will stop the scoring. The Tiger has lost 10 pounds this year from doing pushups after each score. The 35 points in the 3rd was crazy.
Title Defense 6 Preview
It was supposed to be a match up of top ten teams but Ga. Tech is now on a two game losing streak and looking to get back on track. If history has a say in the outcome then Ga Tech will derail Clemson's BCS plans and get back on track (Last time Clemson was 8-0 and defeated UNC to get to 8-0 they lost the following week to Ga Tech - 2000). BUT as Lee Corso says "No so fast"...this Clemson team is different from the 2000 edition coached by Tammy Bowden. We have Dabo, The Chad and cast of playmakers. It's different, right? Until a new precedent is established, I keep waiting for something like this to happen (finding a way to let a certain victory slip from our hands). I keep telling myself it is different but to prove it is different you have to get it done each week and I believe that's the message Dabo is preaching to the troops - finish the job. It will be another hostile (as hostile as engineers can be) environment and another night game. Hopefully, the Danny Ford and '81 team National Championship team that was in town for last weekends events was able to shed some light on taking care of business each week to the current players. If they weren't convincing enough then they should watch the video of Oklahoma and Wisconsin games and see first hand what happens to your National Title hopes when you don't get the job done. The ranks of the unbeaten are down to the Elite 8. I hope we can walk out of Bobby Dowd Stadium on Saturday night still unbeaten...one week at a time.
Misc
1. Clemson has run 626 plays to lead the nation and The Chad says "we can run more"
2. Welcome back to the blogging world, Jenn Williams - Courtyard. I hope she stays at it. It's always a good read.
3. Dizzy Bat Baseball at a football tailgate not a good spectator sport
5. Congrats to Meghan for being name PBC Goalie of the Week - This one goes with her (2) PBC Takedowns of the Week...evidently the word is getting around the conference not to mess with Armstrong's goalie.
*To my wife who is the greatest and kept the kids on Saturday so I could go to the Clemson game with my long time friend from college, Walt (who is the only UNC fan I know - you don't want too many of them in your life). I love you, LA!
*To Stuart and Meg on their wedding (and giving me and a couple of others that I saw at the game a pass on attending their wedding). I hope y'all have many years of happiness together. I was able to make the end of the reception to wish them well and tell them Dabo said "Congratulations, this win is for Stu and Meg."
Title Defense Number
"In professional sports, Ric Flair 5 times the man"..."whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going, today!"..."(the 4 horsemen) compete at a level unknown to mortal man. We run all night, we run all day, 24 hours. We live, we eat, we think wrestling. We're the best there is"..."...diamonds are forever and so are the 4 horsemen"
*Note...if you don't want to watch the match (which I don't know why you wouldn't want to watch the best there ever was) skip to the 5:28 mark.
Our Life College Football Poll:
3 New Teams Received Votes
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Can't Hear You
7. Not A Big Deal
8. Insignificant
9. Your Team
The Good
1. Downtown Kourtnei Brown / Touchdown Kourtnei Brown / Kourtnei Bad Bad Leroy Brown
2. The offense 50+ points two weeks in a row - 35 points in the 3rd quarter
3. Nuk Hopkins (if you have a child the Nuk should should familiar, yep that's where his nickname came from)
4. The Chad
The Bad
1. NOON KICKOFFs (just bad, bad, bad for college football)
2. Big Plays - I place the blame on safeties and cornerbacks (poor tackling and poor coverage). We have got to stop the big plays for touchdowns and big plays that lead to touchdowns.
3. Kickoffs - Have to find someone who can kick the ball into the end zone (regular kickoff guy out for the year). I appreciate the effort from Zimmerman (our punter) but he doesn't have the leg for kickoff, punting yes. 18,000 students, Dabo, send the email for open tryouts. I wouldn't complain if it was a girl - whatever make us better and kicking the ball in the end zone consistently makes us better.
Summary
As I mentioned earlier, my friend from college, Walt, went to the game with me to continue a tradition that was started after college of attending Clemson vs UNC football games. The ACC expansion caused us not to get together quite as often since Clemson and UNC are on a rotating schedule. There's a long story behind this comment but now before I attend any UNC football game with him, I must see the ticket before getting in the car to go with him (something about a UNC vs Miami game when UNC was ranked probably Top 10 and I didn't have a ticket but unknown to me he had a ticket. Me and his wife ended up with tickets to get in but no assigned seat (they were student tickets and the student sections were packed early before we got in the game and thus my rule was established). I am glad Clemson has had the upper hand the past years in football because we don't have it in basketball. We were able to expose the weakness in UNC's defense - their secondary which Taj was able to pick apart and throw touchdowns to 5 different players. No one can say we are one dimensional or stopping player x will stop the scoring. The Tiger has lost 10 pounds this year from doing pushups after each score. The 35 points in the 3rd was crazy.
Title Defense 6 Preview
It was supposed to be a match up of top ten teams but Ga. Tech is now on a two game losing streak and looking to get back on track. If history has a say in the outcome then Ga Tech will derail Clemson's BCS plans and get back on track (Last time Clemson was 8-0 and defeated UNC to get to 8-0 they lost the following week to Ga Tech - 2000). BUT as Lee Corso says "No so fast"...this Clemson team is different from the 2000 edition coached by Tammy Bowden. We have Dabo, The Chad and cast of playmakers. It's different, right? Until a new precedent is established, I keep waiting for something like this to happen (finding a way to let a certain victory slip from our hands). I keep telling myself it is different but to prove it is different you have to get it done each week and I believe that's the message Dabo is preaching to the troops - finish the job. It will be another hostile (as hostile as engineers can be) environment and another night game. Hopefully, the Danny Ford and '81 team National Championship team that was in town for last weekends events was able to shed some light on taking care of business each week to the current players. If they weren't convincing enough then they should watch the video of Oklahoma and Wisconsin games and see first hand what happens to your National Title hopes when you don't get the job done. The ranks of the unbeaten are down to the Elite 8. I hope we can walk out of Bobby Dowd Stadium on Saturday night still unbeaten...one week at a time.
Misc
1. Clemson has run 626 plays to lead the nation and The Chad says "we can run more"
2. Welcome back to the blogging world, Jenn Williams - Courtyard. I hope she stays at it. It's always a good read.
3. Dizzy Bat Baseball at a football tailgate not a good spectator sport
5. Congrats to Meghan for being name PBC Goalie of the Week - This one goes with her (2) PBC Takedowns of the Week...evidently the word is getting around the conference not to mess with Armstrong's goalie.
- 1st GOW award
- 5th Shutout of the season
- Conference Game scoreless streak 568:14 minutes (this sounds even better...her last conference goal was way back in September (9/24))
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Week 7 - Title Defense Number 4
LA and I went on the road for Week 7. We went to Lodge (just past BFE) and stayed with Wesley, Karissa, Wes, Garrett and Paige. I didn't realize they had cable that far out in the country or indoor plumbing. However, I forgot the Wesley is a BIG DEAL. The hospitality was superb (like staying at at 5 star resort), Wyatt and Aubrey had a good time playing with everyone. Since Clemson won, we might be back when Clemson is on the road when they play Georgia Tech, NC State and SC (leave a key for us since you will be in Ohio). We were in Lodge for Wes' confirmation on Sunday. Congrats to him for becoming a full member of the Lodge UMC.
I am a little late with this but better late than never. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUZIE. Wyatt wants to give you some kisses.
Clemson Vs Maryland - Title Defense 4
"...It belongs to me until there's a man that can walk the isle and do something about it....weather you like it or not I am going to be the Champ for a long time..."
Our Life College Football Poll:
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Your Team
Breaking League Expansion News
Clemson has been in invited and accepted to join the PAC 12 (where defense is an option). I said it in an earlier post, our defense might not be able to stop you but we can out score you.
The Good
1. The Deuce (Is there any question?) 345 all purpose yards breaking CJ's record (oh, and by the way, we needed every yard and point he scored for us)
2. 2nd half Tajh
3. Ellington (good running skills to get extra yards running angles to get away from defenders)
4. Never quitting - pretty sure Tammy's CU teams would have folded up the tent and got on the bus
The Bad
1. Run Defense
2. Run Defense
3. Run Defense
4. 1st half Tajh (I am not sure who the heck he was throwing the ball to for much of the 1st half...except for the one he threw directly to the MD defender)
Summary
After the first series, where Clemson scored with ease against MD, I was not worried about the offense scoring points and being able to do it quickly. I was concerned with how quick we were scoring and the defense that was getting schooled being too tired. I told you every week since we won the title belt that you get everyone's best shot (just like the Nature Boy did). We have got to get the defensive side of the ball figured out. We can't be a contender until that is fixed. We made their quarterback look like Michael Vick. It was exciting....maybe a little too much. The road isn't any easier from here on out...UNC, GTech (on the road), Wake, NC State (on the road), SC (on the road).
Chicago - The Windy City
I was in Chicago Monday night, Tuesday and left at 6pm on Wednesday for Motorola meetings. Just where everyone wants to be in October (I know the weather gets worse...which I hope I never see). For some reason when I travel with my sales team and we check in at the hotel they get the premium room and I get the closet. I am the one paying for the rooms and get the crapiest room in the hotel. For example, last year our meetings were in Ft. Lauderdale and the hotel was beachfront. Their rooms were facing the oceans with big balconies and huge glass doors and I couldn't even smell the ocean from my closet sized room facing the beautiful convention center. This year, we had all requested a king bed. Jim got his room first - king bed. We were joking about me getting the closet and I told the gentlemen helping me "no worry, he is going to upgrade me to the presidential suite". He sure did double beds "just like you requested". I said "no, I requested a king". He checked the computer and told me I was out of luck - double beds or no room. Chris was next guess what kind of bed he had - king. It wasn't a big deal but it was funny. Chris insisted we switch rooms so we were rebels and changed rooms.
When we were leaving on Wednesday, the weather had turned pretty crappy (normal for them) - 20-30mph winds and rain. I was concerned that we were going to get to stay an extra day but we weren't delayed and got of town. I would have preferred having my buddy Travis flying the plane because to be honest, it was probably the worst weather I had ever taken off in (except for the 10 degree morning trying to leave Jackson Hole, WY and the weather was good but it was cold and we had to deice 3 times.).
Misc
* Down to 10 undefeated teams
* RIP Dan Wheldon
* Get Well Soon Marcus Lattimore (crappy way to blow you knee out)
* Did you see this video? It's everywhere so I figured I would add it also. Jeremy what are the odds of this happening?
I am a little late with this but better late than never. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUZIE. Wyatt wants to give you some kisses.
Clemson Vs Maryland - Title Defense 4
"...It belongs to me until there's a man that can walk the isle and do something about it....weather you like it or not I am going to be the Champ for a long time..."
Our Life College Football Poll:
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Your Team
Breaking League Expansion News
Clemson has been in invited and accepted to join the PAC 12 (where defense is an option). I said it in an earlier post, our defense might not be able to stop you but we can out score you.
The Good
1. The Deuce (Is there any question?) 345 all purpose yards breaking CJ's record (oh, and by the way, we needed every yard and point he scored for us)
2. 2nd half Tajh
3. Ellington (good running skills to get extra yards running angles to get away from defenders)
4. Never quitting - pretty sure Tammy's CU teams would have folded up the tent and got on the bus
The Bad
1. Run Defense
2. Run Defense
3. Run Defense
4. 1st half Tajh (I am not sure who the heck he was throwing the ball to for much of the 1st half...except for the one he threw directly to the MD defender)
Summary
After the first series, where Clemson scored with ease against MD, I was not worried about the offense scoring points and being able to do it quickly. I was concerned with how quick we were scoring and the defense that was getting schooled being too tired. I told you every week since we won the title belt that you get everyone's best shot (just like the Nature Boy did). We have got to get the defensive side of the ball figured out. We can't be a contender until that is fixed. We made their quarterback look like Michael Vick. It was exciting....maybe a little too much. The road isn't any easier from here on out...UNC, GTech (on the road), Wake, NC State (on the road), SC (on the road).
Chicago - The Windy City
I was in Chicago Monday night, Tuesday and left at 6pm on Wednesday for Motorola meetings. Just where everyone wants to be in October (I know the weather gets worse...which I hope I never see). For some reason when I travel with my sales team and we check in at the hotel they get the premium room and I get the closet. I am the one paying for the rooms and get the crapiest room in the hotel. For example, last year our meetings were in Ft. Lauderdale and the hotel was beachfront. Their rooms were facing the oceans with big balconies and huge glass doors and I couldn't even smell the ocean from my closet sized room facing the beautiful convention center. This year, we had all requested a king bed. Jim got his room first - king bed. We were joking about me getting the closet and I told the gentlemen helping me "no worry, he is going to upgrade me to the presidential suite". He sure did double beds "just like you requested". I said "no, I requested a king". He checked the computer and told me I was out of luck - double beds or no room. Chris was next guess what kind of bed he had - king. It wasn't a big deal but it was funny. Chris insisted we switch rooms so we were rebels and changed rooms.
When we were leaving on Wednesday, the weather had turned pretty crappy (normal for them) - 20-30mph winds and rain. I was concerned that we were going to get to stay an extra day but we weren't delayed and got of town. I would have preferred having my buddy Travis flying the plane because to be honest, it was probably the worst weather I had ever taken off in (except for the 10 degree morning trying to leave Jackson Hole, WY and the weather was good but it was cold and we had to deice 3 times.).
Misc
* Down to 10 undefeated teams
* RIP Dan Wheldon
* Get Well Soon Marcus Lattimore (crappy way to blow you knee out)
* Did you see this video? It's everywhere so I figured I would add it also. Jeremy what are the odds of this happening?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Tale of the Tape - 3 Years and 18 Months
I am a little late posting this information but here's where Aubrey and Wyatt are after 3 years and 18 months, respectively.
Aubrey
40 inches tall (3' 4" - 75 percentile)
38 pounds (94 percentile)
Wyatt
Height: 33.5 inches tall (2' 9.5" - 77th percentile)
Weight: 28.5 pounds (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 19" (72nd percentile)
This was the doctor's appointment on Thursday before Wyatt decided he didn't like (actually his body didn't like) amoxicillin.
Both are healthy and provided laughter, shaking of heads and enjoyment every day. We are blessed beyond measure with two healthy kids. We are just about out of the weeds with these two and beginning to prepare to get back in the infant mode. In the last 3 months, they are beginning to start interacting more and playing more with each other which has been fun to watch - actually it is Aubrey getting Wyatt to play dress up.
Aubrey
40 inches tall (3' 4" - 75 percentile)
38 pounds (94 percentile)
Wyatt
Height: 33.5 inches tall (2' 9.5" - 77th percentile)
Weight: 28.5 pounds (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 19" (72nd percentile)
This was the doctor's appointment on Thursday before Wyatt decided he didn't like (actually his body didn't like) amoxicillin.
Both are healthy and provided laughter, shaking of heads and enjoyment every day. We are blessed beyond measure with two healthy kids. We are just about out of the weeds with these two and beginning to prepare to get back in the infant mode. In the last 3 months, they are beginning to start interacting more and playing more with each other which has been fun to watch - actually it is Aubrey getting Wyatt to play dress up.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Two Tech Giants Pass Away
In a matter of 7 days, we have lost to technological giants - Steve Jobs of Apple and Robert Galvin of Motorola. One with much press and another hardly mentioned but without the vision of both of these men no telling where we would be....don't believe me click the links and read about them.
Bob Galvin while leading Motorola lead the way for them to invent the first radios used by the military, the equipment NASA used to communicate to astronauts, the first celllular telephone system and phones (just to mention a few) that we all depend each day. Without Bob Galvin's leadership at Motorola years ahead of Steve Jobs no telling what Steve would have been able to create. Steve Jobs was pretty successful in his own right by creating everything starting and "i" in front of it that you and I have to have. I don't have an iphone but I do have an ipod and I bet you would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn't have something Apple or Motorola in their house. Both pioneers in their field and great leaders at different times.
Bob Galvin is the reason businesses like mine today are around and how Motorola has and still is able to set itself apart from it's competition because of his creation of a quality standard int the 80s that challenged America's companies to meet/exceed their overseas competitors. It was called Six Sigma. He also realized early on at Motorola that he needed a nationwide group of independent service centers to provide the service and support to Motorola's customers after the sale. The combination of local high quality service and the best products put Motorola on track to beat their competition, be the leader the communications industry and is something that continues today because of Mr. Galvin's leadership and vision.
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Galvin at a friend's 50th business anniversary which he made a point of attending even after retiring. He understood the invaluable benefit of the service shops and there contribution to the overall success of Motorola.
Rest in Peace
Bob Galvin while leading Motorola lead the way for them to invent the first radios used by the military, the equipment NASA used to communicate to astronauts, the first celllular telephone system and phones (just to mention a few) that we all depend each day. Without Bob Galvin's leadership at Motorola years ahead of Steve Jobs no telling what Steve would have been able to create. Steve Jobs was pretty successful in his own right by creating everything starting and "i" in front of it that you and I have to have. I don't have an iphone but I do have an ipod and I bet you would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn't have something Apple or Motorola in their house. Both pioneers in their field and great leaders at different times.
Bob Galvin is the reason businesses like mine today are around and how Motorola has and still is able to set itself apart from it's competition because of his creation of a quality standard int the 80s that challenged America's companies to meet/exceed their overseas competitors. It was called Six Sigma. He also realized early on at Motorola that he needed a nationwide group of independent service centers to provide the service and support to Motorola's customers after the sale. The combination of local high quality service and the best products put Motorola on track to beat their competition, be the leader the communications industry and is something that continues today because of Mr. Galvin's leadership and vision.
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Galvin at a friend's 50th business anniversary which he made a point of attending even after retiring. He understood the invaluable benefit of the service shops and there contribution to the overall success of Motorola.
Rest in Peace
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Aubrey's Dermatologist Appointment - Another Adventure
You never know what you are going to get involved in with kids. It's only been 3 years and it's been and adventure. What did we do before kids and how did we survive without all these adventures?
At Aubrey's 3 year old check up, we questioned a couple of bumps that had appeared in the corner of her left eye. Her primary doctor referred us to a dermatologist practice in North Charleston (that will remain nameless, unless you ask me in person) at Trident Hospital complex. When I scheduled the appointment, I didn't know one doctor from the rest so I took who was available. It turns out I should have done some research in advance because LA had been to this practice and mom goes to this practice. As a good parent, I looked online quickly today to see about the doctor and found nothing bad and overall good reviews about the practice. I also found out we were seeing an experienced doctor of the practice with over 31 years of experience.
Let me tell you my thoughts about how this was going to go down and then I will tell you how it actually went down.
I naively thought the doctor would look at it, give us some topical medicine and in a few weeks the bumps would be gone and it would take about 15 minutes. However, most of that is correct...Well actually all of that is correct except there were a few other steps. Having an old codger can go either way...he is either glad he made it this far and is just seeing a few patients each week to keep active or he is a go getter and is still working 60 hours a weeks, taking new patients and has lost any bedside manner that he might have ever had. So the doctor comes in and say's "I'm doctor _____ (ask LA and I in person and we will reveal his name), who's got the bumps." - not exactly a people person entrance or an entrance for someone who potentially might have to perform a procedure on their child. Aubrey sits on the examining bed and he looks at the bumps, calls them some type of cyst and says we need to remove them and walks out the room. LA and I look at each other like "whoops, this is not quite what we expected". The nurse comes in with an ice pack (this will be the extent of the numbing medicine and where they were located it is difficult to get the ice pack on them) and the doctor is back in the room in a few minutes. Aubrey is lying down on the bed/operating table (doing pretty good at this point). Dr. Personality gets a small scalpel, Aubrey turns her head and he cuts them open (she starts crying). He makes some comments about "their going to call the police because of all the crying and screaming (to be honest, I don't think she is crying as loud as I would have been). He then gets a pick and takes both cysts out (more crying and screaming, more comments - he must not have any kids or grandkids) and leaves the room to examine them under a microscope. I am not sure exactly what he was expecting from a 3 year old that is having someone cut and dig in the corner of their eye and has made her bleed. He returns and tells us they were benign and not to worry. If they reappear, he tells us to let them work themselves out. The nurse puts on some Vaseline, Aubrey got a sucker(Clemson (orange) tootsie pop) and we were out the door. So, I was right....it took about 15 minutes and Aubrey got some Vaseline. I missed out on the minor surgery (maybe not minor surgery but if I think this is major surgery, then this qualifies as minor surgery) - probably traumatizing Aubrey for every doctors visit going forward and Wyatt (he was with us eating Cheerios and generally not interested but I am sure he was taking mental notes about what was going on). I feel sorry for the next doctor that has to do something to her. I think I will skip that appointment and let LA take her. Aubrey was a champ throughout the whole process and she had recovered in about 10 minutes. We were proud of her and how big she was and because she didn't kick him in his nuts for what he did to her (actually, I was proud LA and I didn't kick him in his nuts...jackass).
It wasn't what we expected when we walked in the door to say the least and it would have been nicer if the bed side manor would have been a little better. He must have been an ER doctor(see post from last week) before getting into dermatology. He probably is the best doctor in the area and an adult male would love him (this is the problem, this is the solution and were done - no small talk) but that method isn't exactly the best for a small child. Call us before you or your child go to the dermatologist.
As a side note to the visit, we brought the average age of patients (and doctor) to about 65.
What adventure awaits us this weekend?
Update - I will give him an A on the procedure. This morning her eye is not much worse color wise than an normal day. LA, me and the doctor was were pretty she was going to have a black eye from it - because she moved but she doesn't
At Aubrey's 3 year old check up, we questioned a couple of bumps that had appeared in the corner of her left eye. Her primary doctor referred us to a dermatologist practice in North Charleston (that will remain nameless, unless you ask me in person) at Trident Hospital complex. When I scheduled the appointment, I didn't know one doctor from the rest so I took who was available. It turns out I should have done some research in advance because LA had been to this practice and mom goes to this practice. As a good parent, I looked online quickly today to see about the doctor and found nothing bad and overall good reviews about the practice. I also found out we were seeing an experienced doctor of the practice with over 31 years of experience.
Let me tell you my thoughts about how this was going to go down and then I will tell you how it actually went down.
I naively thought the doctor would look at it, give us some topical medicine and in a few weeks the bumps would be gone and it would take about 15 minutes. However, most of that is correct...Well actually all of that is correct except there were a few other steps. Having an old codger can go either way...he is either glad he made it this far and is just seeing a few patients each week to keep active or he is a go getter and is still working 60 hours a weeks, taking new patients and has lost any bedside manner that he might have ever had. So the doctor comes in and say's "I'm doctor _____ (ask LA and I in person and we will reveal his name), who's got the bumps." - not exactly a people person entrance or an entrance for someone who potentially might have to perform a procedure on their child. Aubrey sits on the examining bed and he looks at the bumps, calls them some type of cyst and says we need to remove them and walks out the room. LA and I look at each other like "whoops, this is not quite what we expected". The nurse comes in with an ice pack (this will be the extent of the numbing medicine and where they were located it is difficult to get the ice pack on them) and the doctor is back in the room in a few minutes. Aubrey is lying down on the bed/operating table (doing pretty good at this point). Dr. Personality gets a small scalpel, Aubrey turns her head and he cuts them open (she starts crying). He makes some comments about "their going to call the police because of all the crying and screaming (to be honest, I don't think she is crying as loud as I would have been). He then gets a pick and takes both cysts out (more crying and screaming, more comments - he must not have any kids or grandkids) and leaves the room to examine them under a microscope. I am not sure exactly what he was expecting from a 3 year old that is having someone cut and dig in the corner of their eye and has made her bleed. He returns and tells us they were benign and not to worry. If they reappear, he tells us to let them work themselves out. The nurse puts on some Vaseline, Aubrey got a sucker(Clemson (orange) tootsie pop) and we were out the door. So, I was right....it took about 15 minutes and Aubrey got some Vaseline. I missed out on the minor surgery (maybe not minor surgery but if I think this is major surgery, then this qualifies as minor surgery) - probably traumatizing Aubrey for every doctors visit going forward and Wyatt (he was with us eating Cheerios and generally not interested but I am sure he was taking mental notes about what was going on). I feel sorry for the next doctor that has to do something to her. I think I will skip that appointment and let LA take her. Aubrey was a champ throughout the whole process and she had recovered in about 10 minutes. We were proud of her and how big she was and because she didn't kick him in his nuts for what he did to her (actually, I was proud LA and I didn't kick him in his nuts...jackass).
It wasn't what we expected when we walked in the door to say the least and it would have been nicer if the bed side manor would have been a little better. He must have been an ER doctor(see post from last week) before getting into dermatology. He probably is the best doctor in the area and an adult male would love him (this is the problem, this is the solution and were done - no small talk) but that method isn't exactly the best for a small child. Call us before you or your child go to the dermatologist.
As a side note to the visit, we brought the average age of patients (and doctor) to about 65.
What adventure awaits us this weekend?
Update - I will give him an A on the procedure. This morning her eye is not much worse color wise than an normal day. LA, me and the doctor was were pretty she was going to have a black eye from it - because she moved but she doesn't
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