My Winter of 2015-2016

I am so happy to be coming out of the Winter of 2015-2016. It was a very mild winter in the Midwest... Thanks be to God.  Chicago missed so many major storm systems.  If I am correct, the Chicago Public Schools never closed due to weather related issues.  Now, that is great!!!

I do not like having to hibernate during winter, so I try and carefully plan out my events to ensure an active fun winter season.  This is what I did this winter...

Travel:
Fun getaway to fabulous Las Vegas when I stayed at the Mirage.  This was right after Christmas. Later in the season, I went back with a stay at Planet Hollywood.

Fine dining:
Many dining out opportunities as I continue updates on nursing/pharmacology: Wildfire, David Burke Steakhouse, MK Restaurant, Flemings Morton's and Ditka's.

Colleagues:
Glad to connect with colleagues at Rosebud, MK and Flemings!  It is always wonderful to connect with former co-workers in relaxed venues. I have a long-time friend who travels to Chicago once a year for an educator's conference.  We now connect at the ChiBar in the Chicago Sheraton.  What a wonderful way to connect with good friends!!!

Work:
Speaking on work, I am approaching the one year anniversary at my workplace where I really enjoy teaching Community Nursing clinicals.  I am part of a wonderful team. I really appreciate the opportunity to interact, influence and develop future registered professional nurses. 

The clinical that I teach is the last faculty-led course for students. Hence, my impact is crucial, I have to make a difference and I therefore take this responsibility / calling very seriously.  My class is an expedited clinical that delivers the required hours.  So, I am extremely busy at the onset and at midterm.  By the short time that I am concluding, I am already preparing for the upcoming session. The good aspect is that my students achieve their required clinical hours before others, so I do get a couple of weeks to exhale between sessions.  I love this schedule.  My 1 year anniversary will be in April.  I continue to enjoy!!! I attended a fun Frozen-themed holiday party at work!  Mainly for families, but I enjoyed anyway.

Family:
I love this stability!  I am with my son every weekend, I see my sister and niece every weekend as well.  I see my brother and nephew in church. Not too many holidays in the winter, but we have a nice Group MMS for texting! I do a whole lot of cooking in the other seasons, so the good thing about the winter, it gives me a change to take a respite from holiday cooking.  I was happy to connect for lunch with one of my first cousin's at Pappadeaux just for chat and catch up.  It is just so important to remain connected to extended family members.

Church:
I am a very busy deacon at my church.  I go as often as I can, but, I manage and operate the full electronic outreach, social media and communications from home... almost 24/7. This is a lot of work as I observe how a little church website has evolved into a huge system over a fast seven (7) year period.  So many wonderful wonderful wonderful events take place and the delivery of the Word is outstanding!!!

Professional:
I completed two major recertifications which takes a lot of work.  It is the culmination of portfolio building over a 5-6 year period of time.  This is known as continuing nursing professional development. I also renewed my nursing licenses.  No more reminders by the State of Illinois, so I had to keep checking everyday for one month.  All is well.  Got to stay current and competent!!

Fitness:
I was rather active at LA Fitness.  But, once the weather got mild, I prefer to do outdoor powerwalks.  I continue to enjoy my VivoFit band. Yes... I upload my goals to Facebook practically everyday.  Important to engage in fitness activities as often as possible. 

Okay... that is it for my Winter 2015-2016 blog.  Today being the last day of winter... glad Spring starts later today!!!  Enjoy the photos!!

Thoughts on the Current Issues with Chipotle

Chipotle is a wonderful and popular Mexican-themed restaurant chain.  The food is fresh, simple, tasty and delicious. The popularity has resulted in a significant increase in the number of franchises. Chipotle simply had to follow sensible business practices and meet the growing demands for good Mexican fast food.

Here are a couple of reasons for Chipotle's popularity:

• Chipotle uses fresh produce, and non-GMO meats.

• Chipotle caters to the younger generation X and millennial generations. Hence, their workers and servers or course reflect their targeted populations.  

I am a Baby Boomer teacher and I know this younger generation... believe me!  These knuckleheads know nothing about common sense and are oblivious to the science of safe food handling!!

Here's are three significant issues...

• #1- McDonald, Wendy's, Burger King, and  fried chicken joints does not encounter food handling problems, because they do not use much fresh produce and they grill or fry out any possible bacteria in their foods!

• #2- Chipotle has to hire intelligent food safety specialists to educate, observe and enforce safe food handling of their precious, customer preferred fresh produce.

• #3- Because of extensively use of fresh produce, Chipotle customers must be educated and empowered to ensure that the young stupid Chipotle workers who handle the food handle food the right way.

I have definite specific quality details to offer.... call me! Let's talk and get Chipotle back on the right, SAFE track!!

Chi-Raq: My Movie Review

Being a Black American, born, raised, educated and living in Chicago, of course I went to the first showing of Chi-Raq today! Chi-Raq was the very first Spike Lee movies that I have ever seen.

Spike Lee has always taken an ethnocentric approach to movie writing. Being a Black American, he writes about his passion and insight into this culture. The Black American culture is very complex, complicated, unique and rather painful.  Chi-Raq is such a movie, but to lessen the painful nature, Spike Lee presented Chicago through a satirical approach. Spike Lee always seems to present an awesome depth of every movie that he has written.  There is nothing shallow about Chi-Raq!

As a director, Spike has created very promising careers for Black actors.  Hence, for Chi-Raq, his actors are high esteemed, A-listers.  Consequently the acting was absolutely excellent.

I highly recommend that adult Black Americans, especially those living in Chicago, go view the movie. It is "R" rated. See the movie first hand, form your own opinion.

Competition is GOOD- Especially with Local Grocers

Yes!  COMPETITION IS GOOD!  Especially with local grocers.  Here's my recent experience...

FairPlay Foods has lost out in the competition of grocers. I had been going to FairPlay Foods for many years.  It is near my home, however, it can be rather "iffy", in this food desert where I live.

I am always at FairPlay Food when the store first open. But, recently, one day this spring, the produce section was topsy-turvy.  Bosses were super busy in the produce section and fruits / veggies were EVERYWHERE.  After a few minutes, I could not tell if produce was being discarded and I felt that I was in the way of bosses, and stockers.

I said, fuck this... me outtie!  I got the fuck out of there.  Then, I remembered there was a Food4Less down the street. 

It was ironic, but when I arrived at the Food4Less produce section, bosses were greeting me.  They were pleasant and folks were nice.  Prices were competitive with FairPlay, so, I figured, this is my new place.

This week, I returned to Food4Less and everything I needed (big shopping day) was there... except chicken gizzards... sold out... LOL! Yes, this is my preferred local grocer.

I really liked FairPlay's meat section, but Mariano's, Walmart and Jewel's can fill that void.

I prefer Food4Less over FairPlay for the following reasons:
     #1- Nice large roller-able shopping carts.
     #2- Competitive prices
     #3- No baggers... I know going in, I am going to bag and pack my own stuff. At FairPlay it was
     "iffy".
     #4- Large produce section.
     #5- Real Golden Delicious and sweet apples.

Walmart has been good about filling a major void, but the prices are not too competitive.  Target also sells food items, but they are too high.

So, for now... Food4Less is my preferred grocer.

My Summer of 2015

Through the good and loving grace of God, I had a wonderful summer for 2015. Summer is over.  My pool closes today.  When I return home from work, the pool will be drained and covered.  School starts today, my lessons plans for the full session is complete, have a small cohort of students this session- the smallest number ever since I have been teaching ANYWHERE!  YES!!!!  I deserve a break!

But, let me reflect on this summer.  It was a wonderful summer.  A very wonderful summer of 2015.  In as much as possible, I plan my events very CAREFULLY. I am not spontaneous. I do not like haphazard and poorly planned events on my life.  I am detailed and cautious.   It makes for a good time.

For me, summertime consists of the months of June, July, August and September up to Labor Day.  Here's what I did:

• Birthday celebration at Marcello's.  I decided not to do the big thing.  Too much work for one person at my age,  Alas, those types of birthday celebrations are over.  Events should be fun, not exhausting.

• Las Vegas birthday celebration at Monte Carlo

• Las Vegas- conference at Mirage in July.

• 4th of July cookout

• Spent 2 months researching new cars. Finally research paid off with new car purchase after 12 years.

• Finally time available for home repairs/upgrades- for the year new stove, refrigerator and blinds.

• Enjoyed Sally's party for Don Cephus.  Very nice fish fry and lovely home.

• Damita's place for small gathering... really really nice and fun with former co-workers.

• Gwen's mom 99th birthday.

• Fine dining every single month, with careful planning:

                                   Chicago Hilton
                                   Four Seasons on Wacker Drive
                                  Gatto's Restaurant and Bar
                                  Morton's Steakhouse
                                  Mr. Benny's Steakhouse
                                  Ritz Carlton
                                  Ditka's
                                 The Clubhouse
                                 Shaw's Seafood
                                 Joe's Stone Crab and Steakhouse

• Spent a lot of time fine-tuning lesson plans and teaching.

• Lot of powerwalking on when not teaching. Outdoor and not too many days missed.  Nice weather in Chicago this summer.  Committed to fitness!  Two full days powerwalking in the River North area.

• I purchased a Vivofit band to count my steps.  I am exceeding daily goals!!!!

• A lot of good church work and deacon's retreats.

• The biggest plus of the summer is that I retired from a wonderful but extremely rigorous national volunteer service after over 15 years.

• In April, I started teaching with a new employer. I really enjoy the arrangement and clinical.  After about 5 years, I finally have arrived at a true work-life balance.  WHEW!!

Yes, I am thankful for a wonderful summer of 2015.  I am planning for a nice Fall/ Autumn.
                                                      Thanks be to God!

Here are some photos.  But, all of my photos are in my Facebook.  Enjoy! 

A New System to Expedite Air Travel

Yesterday on my way home through McCarran airport, a new vendor kiosk was at the security checkpoint entrance.  This was strange, but legitimate, because they were well inside the airport so high level clearance had been granted.

This new vendor will expedite a secured escort right to TSA scanning.  Hence, their customers will not have to wait in the very long security linse or even the usually fast TSA Pre line. Keep in mind, even with TSA Pre, one is NOT guaranteed to have this each time.  Please note that there will be a MONTHLY fee for this expedited service.

So, movement through airport security will be longer because TSA will be improved to ensure better safety and security. Keep in mind that the role is TSA is NOT to expedite travel, instead, it is to ensure safety with travel.

Is this new type of security escort needed?  Yes!  Due to the recent TSA breach discovered in May, that department will be changing!  The U.S. government is not going to tolerate breaches in this security, safety and commerce entity.

The new vendor is high tech.  I signed up for the trial period.  They performed finger print, retina check and background for clearance.  That process was extremely high tech and in-depth!

Consequently, customers will go to the kiosk, get cleared, then be escorted right to the TSA scanner without waiting in the long lines. 

So, the decision is, how much time does one have to spend waiting?  In order to have the wait time lessen, one is going to pay.

TSA will NOT be rushed.  They MUST become more professional with screening. So expect a longer wait at the airports.

I am actually happy that a vendor will be in place to expedite travel. I want TSA to do a thorough job in ensuring air travel safety. 

Green Technology

I just finished teaching my first semester at Chamberlain College. I am so proud that I have made the full transition into Green Technology in teaching! 

Green technology is pretty much an instructor's option.  But, for me, I have been moving into this important genre for about 5 years.  My iPad has made the transition successful.

Chamberlain is an educational setting that promotes green technology.  As soon as I was hired, I got my email.  From that point, all document exchanges with me and my students have been electronic.  There are times, when I will print off a document for myself, when I do not bring my iPad to clinical.  But, that is a very small amount of paper.

Students were required to submit weekly journals, and three additional projects.  All were managed electronically.  From the syllabus, to the assignments and finally to evaluation, the full process was electronic.

As a matter of fact, practically all of my work document management is electronic.   Beyond work, folks know to reach me by email, text or Facebook instant messaging.  DO NOT CALL ME!!!!