Monday, October 20, 2008

Visit with Jan and George!

10-20-08: Some of us who were under former Health Ed Director Jan Hall's tenure had a chance to have lunch with her and George today, who are visiting from back East. Had a nice time catching up over lunch at Panera Bread. As you can see, they haven't changed one bit! It was good to catch up with them.

Lynda also told us of their trip to the East Coast and Canada, and how they are now getting ready for their next trip--this time to the Antartica! World travelers indeed!

Maria filled us in on her position, while I gave them an update on Health Ed.


Monday, July 21, 2008

Director Kayla's son on ice!

Check out Cam's first ice skating competition. Can you say, "Scott Hamilton" in the making?!?! Man, he can do things I wouldn't even dare try on ice. Wow! Congrats to Cam and the proud parents. ;-)

Sunday, June 29, 2008

New camera works on 1st day retired!

6-28-08: Check out these pictures that Lynda sent, taken with her new camera on her first full day of her retirement! No slowing down this grandma!!! ;-)

Friday, June 27, 2008

The final countdown...Lynda has left the building!

6-27-08: Though it wasn't Friday the 13th, some of us dressed in black and wore a mournful face, because this was Lynda's FINAL FOUR hours with us. Here are some pictures as we close out an era within our dept. She will be missed, but we wish her all the best in this newest phase of her life of hiking, travel, taking care of family, and most of all, spending time with the grand kids. We will always treasure the memories and work ethic Lynda brought to our dept. these past 8 years. (Not once did I ever catch her doing her nails on a Friday afternoon!!! LOL!!!)

Someone posted up a saying and countdown as Friday drew near....

Drew says goodbye before leaving on her vacation (she missed the yummy lunch but we're sure she's making up for it on her cruise.)
Lynda poses with yet another huge cake. Good thing she's climbing Whitney in a few weeks!
Check out that OC cake...it was goooood!!!
Jennifer A. Smith, Byram rep, brought in all this wonderful food and when she learned about Lynda's last days here, she brought in the cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and a special box filled with gift soaps! (Unfortunately, no male-oriented bubble bath for all us guys in the dept. :-(
Lynda leads the way into the huge food spread--it was like a banquet! She plans on just "dropping in" on certain Thursdays every month....

Lynda poses with Byram's Jennifer Smith, her final drug-rep-sponsored lunch!Patty gets ready to leave so their last pose together.
Tammie V. allows us to take her picture as the last patient Lynda zapped and then made an appointment with me for the last time.
Lynda giving her replacement, Angelica, last minute instructions on this and that.
I gave my next-to-final present (collage frame) and a CD with all of our dept. pictures and told her that she had to put pictures of our dept. in this collage frame so she will remember us!
Meg is now the "highest ranking, most senior" administrative assistant in our dept. She'll be the one that Christina and Angelica will be calling from now on. Good luck, Meg!!!

As the 12:30 PM hour drew near, Lynda was sitting less and less, seemingly ansy to get going. Pam is seen here trying to block her exit.
As the time came closer, Angelica, newly trained by Lynda, starts to get nervous and pleads with Lynda to stay a bit longer. Lynda just keeps grinning bigger and bigger while giving the 2 thumbs up sign.
Soon, Christina starts to feel the panic and joins Angelica in trying to hold Lynda from leaving, but to no avail. Remember, Lynda can leap...ok, climb (in 3 days) tall mountains so there's no holding her back!
When they realize the futility of their efforts, both administrative assistants resign themselves to the fact that they will be the voice that patients hear when they call 335-4131 from now on. All Lynda can do is grin and give 2 thumbs up.
Alas, the moment really sunk in when husband Barry came in to take away Lynda's fridge.

He loads it up in their pick-up, never to be used at a workplace again.And so the Lynda years have ended. Lynda is now free to gallivant around the world, climb the tallest mountains, shop at all the REI stores in the US, and visit her grandkids anytime.

Meanwhile, back in the office...there's a moment of "emptiness" in memory of Lynda's years of service.
For a moment, Director Kayla is overwrought with emotion as she realizes that Lynda is gone. (Note the tissue box.) Christina and Romina try to console her, but to no avail. Kayla was inconsolable, but at least they tried.
Like other memorable Health Ed staff that have left in the past, we go through the grieving process of our loss, bask in the memories (we can now come here to the blog anytime, day or night, from anywhere we have an Internet access!), dry our tears, pull up our britches, grit our teeth, and with a smile on our faces, we soldier on for there are patients to help and sign up for appointments and classes.

Like a phoenix, the Health Ed dept. will rise from the ashes and sail to new heights, buoyed by the legendary work by past staffers such as Lynda.

All the best in your new phase of life and don't be a stranger!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Visit from the snake's wife

6-24-08: Lynda rec'd a visitor today--the wife of the snake doctor! A'me and her 2 kids, Jude and Camille (aren't they cuties?), came in to see Lynda during her last week. We all had a good visit, and if you think A'me's looking thin, it's because she's in a "biggest loser" type contest with Sean and they're bound and determined to win!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Lynda's retirment party - Kids' videos!!!

Here's what Lynda's new digital camera can do!!!

Lynda's retirment party - Kids!!!

6-22-08: What would a party be without kids? Check out how these kids enjoyed her party.

Lynda's retirment party

6-22-08: After this Friday, an era will come to an end in Health Ed. Lynda will be officially retired! Here are some shots from her party we held for her on Sun, yesterday. Thanks to Pam and Don for hosting it!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Great Wall Challenge Dinner

5-18-08: For all those who participated in the 9th Challenge--the Great Wall Fitness Challenge, we had a dinner to celebrate their accomplishments, hear about China, and pass out some prizes. A special thanks to Dr. Thomas Makowski and Kayla Pelletier for presenting on their trips to China.

I'd also like to thank CSUSB intern Kristin for all her help with this Challenge, and for her boyfriend, Todd, for helping out with the dinner. Also thanks to the Makowskis and Keri for helping to set up and clean up after the dinner.

Thanks to Summer for adding some of her pictures to the slide show below.

Everyone was asking when the next Challenge will be--stay tuned!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Team Cycle Fit rides again!

1-13-08 After a hiatus of at least a couple of years, Team Cycle Fit gathered to ride again. It was quite windy, even though the picture looks like it was nice a calm, day.

We rode the bike path starting in Loma Linda and went as far as we could go (Redlands Blvd) before turning back and going on surface streets back to the cars.

No major mishaps--flat tire, small odds and ends--so that was good! Had some patients and folks from church riding together. 

All in all, a good first ride for our group! Stay tuned for our next ride in Feb.!