As I sit here on Sunday night thinking about the week ahead, I find myself exhausted form the thought process itself. Although I really do support the organization and what we stand for, this adjustment to the process is growing tiresome. The good thing is i feel like I am starting to find my "groove" in this and starting to understand the technical process fo the job....The paperwork, the reporting, the meetings, etc... I was hired in part with this job to promote a new grant to help emply foster youth in care and that have aged out of care. I know I have the ability to make contact and to make this program work.
I am finding that this job has really started to take me away fromt he direct care of people (which has its benefits and downfalls) and again, its a process I am adjusting to. I have been in managmemnet before and find in this job as well as the others I have had, managing people can be such a challenge. I have always found it hard to understand why people have to be so resistant to authority. I myself have struggled with positions of authority as well, but generally it is the resistance to those who want to remind me over and over again that they are "the boss" so I work hard to NOW be this type of person. I work hard to let people know that there are jobs at hand that have to be done and many times its things we dont want to do. My approach has always been one of empathy and understanding of this dislike, so I really direct the tasks in a way so the peopel I manage understand that I am willing to support and even take part in that process as much as possible, and yet, I still am et with resistance.
Another thing I have struggled with as a professional is when I am faced with accountability to things I had no idea I was accountable for....How can one be held accountabel for something they havent been properly educated or trained with??? It is a tiresome and frustrting part of "working." This is another thing I work hard to be different with my approach...I always work hard to explain, inform, support and educate those who I task witht he job so if there is an accountability issue, it is the person responsible for the tast that is accountable.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Cleaning up
Our Friends who had the fire here recently asked Donna and I to come an help her transport her horses to a trainer today and so we went over with our trailer to load them up and take them to Boerne. Danny wasn't able to go with us because he said he was waiting on a guy to bring him a snake. Apparently the guy has had the snake for 7 years and she has just gotten too big for him to manage anymore and called Danny to see if Danny could give him a good home. Of course Danny agreed!
So we left and took the horse to Boerne and spent the day with Debbie. We stopped and had lunch and just enjoyed the day....We spoke about the cleanup, a little about the fire and the plans fro reconstruction and it was good to hear the HOPE she had in her voice for the future... They really did lose ALOT in this fire and we know it has been emotionally, physically and monetarily draining for them both... Like I said before, I wish there was more we could do to help them!
Well, we got back from dropping the horses off and I asked Danny if he got his new snake...He said he had... I asked...
"So how big is it?"
"She is 121 pounds and about 12-14 feet long"
"Well lets go see her!"
"You bet, lets go!!"
Most of Danny's snakes survived the fire as they were in another building. As we walked into the warm, humid building, I was getting excited to see the new snake... He took me to her tank, and here she is....She is a Burmese python, and ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!
It was nice to see all of the animals that survived and it was good to see Danny smiling as he showed me around to re-visit his babies.... This is about a 15 foot albino, reticulated python....She is not quite so nice, so I kept my hands out of her cage!
He has spoken of his anaconda a few times and I had seen her once, but for some reason, Anacondas remind me of a big ass water moccasin and the creep me out. I didn't see her in the cages and I said...
"Danny, where is your anaconda?"
And I was standing right next to a large Rubbermaid trash can and he said...
"Oh, she is right here!
Pulled the lid off, and no more than 3 feet from me was a 14 foot anaconda in a trashcan full of water with her head sitting on the top....I got IMMEDIATE goose bumps!!
He explained she was shedding and needed to be in the water to get the skin off of her better.... She would roll around int he tank and these large sheds of skin would float to the top and it creeped me out to think about walking through some water somewhere and seeing a piece of skin like this floating...Man, that would freak me OUT!! And not sure why, but this girl gives me the creeps!
We walked around a bit and I snapped a few shots of some of his other "babies"
LOOK AT THOSE EYES!!!!! DAMMIT MAN!!!!
As i was taking pics of the Cobra, I heard Danny say...
"Here Brad, check this guy out!"
And I turned around and he handed me this guy....A blue tongued skink.... I tried to get a picture of his tongue, but couldn't catch it...it is sky blue!! He is too cool!!
The place is coming along pretty good but it is still just heartwrenching to walk around the place and see the destruction....But the damaged building is gone and they have plans to build a 60x65 foot, cinder block building to replace what they lost. They are hoping for 3500sp feet, all cutting edge stuff to house their reptiles. Like I said, it is really good to hear the HOPE in their voices and see the smiles on their faces!
As we started to leave, I asked about one of his large snappers that almost got caught in the fire....he said...
"Oh yeah, he is over in that blue tank...Go pick him up and check him out!"
I had not seen this turtle before because he has always been in "green" water and you cant see him. I walked up to this blue tank that was partially melted from the fire, looked into it, saw clear water and a HUGGGE Snapping Turtle....I will bet you this turtle is all of 5-6 feet long from tip of his nose to tip of his tail and he weighs about 80lbs....His head is about the size of a basketball, or maybe a little bigger....He is a MONSTER turtle and I have NEVER seen one in person this big....Hell, I don't know if I have seen one on TV this big!! He is HUGE!!
Danny says....
"just reach in there and pick him up."
I looked at him and said ....
"F%^K YOU, that a big ass turtle man, he could literally bite my wrist in half...You are outta your mind!"
He said...
"No, really, just grab his shell from right behind his head, and grab the shell right by his tail, and just lift him up...It will be OK, I promise!"
I know Danny would never put me in a position to get hurt (without warning me) but I gotta tell ya, this big ole boy is....well....a BIG OLE BOY!!
So I reached into the tank like Danny said, grabbed him like he said, he started to swell up a little and move his head, and I took a deep breath and lifted him out...
He was SOOOOOO Cool man....Moved really slow, didn't react at all to me....
I put him back in the tank and Danny said....
"yeah, he is an old guy....He is about 115 years old!!!"
Think about that...that turtle is 115 years old!! Can you imagine the life this old guy has seen? The people who have probably picked him up and had him as a pet when he was a baby?? The different places he has been!!??
And to think, Danny saves turtles this big and bigger from hunters who sell them to restaurants.... I just couldn't imagine killing a 115 year old turtle to put him in a soup...Sad!
So we finished up the day, helped out Danny and Debbie and headed home.... I always really do enjoy my visits to their home....Always something new to see and experience...We are blessed to have them as friends!
Thanks guys!!
So we left and took the horse to Boerne and spent the day with Debbie. We stopped and had lunch and just enjoyed the day....We spoke about the cleanup, a little about the fire and the plans fro reconstruction and it was good to hear the HOPE she had in her voice for the future... They really did lose ALOT in this fire and we know it has been emotionally, physically and monetarily draining for them both... Like I said before, I wish there was more we could do to help them!
Well, we got back from dropping the horses off and I asked Danny if he got his new snake...He said he had... I asked...
"So how big is it?"
"She is 121 pounds and about 12-14 feet long"
"Well lets go see her!"
"You bet, lets go!!"
Most of Danny's snakes survived the fire as they were in another building. As we walked into the warm, humid building, I was getting excited to see the new snake... He took me to her tank, and here she is....She is a Burmese python, and ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!
It was nice to see all of the animals that survived and it was good to see Danny smiling as he showed me around to re-visit his babies.... This is about a 15 foot albino, reticulated python....She is not quite so nice, so I kept my hands out of her cage!
He has spoken of his anaconda a few times and I had seen her once, but for some reason, Anacondas remind me of a big ass water moccasin and the creep me out. I didn't see her in the cages and I said...
"Danny, where is your anaconda?"
And I was standing right next to a large Rubbermaid trash can and he said...
"Oh, she is right here!
Pulled the lid off, and no more than 3 feet from me was a 14 foot anaconda in a trashcan full of water with her head sitting on the top....I got IMMEDIATE goose bumps!!
He explained she was shedding and needed to be in the water to get the skin off of her better.... She would roll around int he tank and these large sheds of skin would float to the top and it creeped me out to think about walking through some water somewhere and seeing a piece of skin like this floating...Man, that would freak me OUT!! And not sure why, but this girl gives me the creeps!
We walked around a bit and I snapped a few shots of some of his other "babies"
LOOK AT THOSE EYES!!!!! DAMMIT MAN!!!!
As i was taking pics of the Cobra, I heard Danny say...
"Here Brad, check this guy out!"
And I turned around and he handed me this guy....A blue tongued skink.... I tried to get a picture of his tongue, but couldn't catch it...it is sky blue!! He is too cool!!
The place is coming along pretty good but it is still just heartwrenching to walk around the place and see the destruction....But the damaged building is gone and they have plans to build a 60x65 foot, cinder block building to replace what they lost. They are hoping for 3500sp feet, all cutting edge stuff to house their reptiles. Like I said, it is really good to hear the HOPE in their voices and see the smiles on their faces!
As we started to leave, I asked about one of his large snappers that almost got caught in the fire....he said...
"Oh yeah, he is over in that blue tank...Go pick him up and check him out!"
I had not seen this turtle before because he has always been in "green" water and you cant see him. I walked up to this blue tank that was partially melted from the fire, looked into it, saw clear water and a HUGGGE Snapping Turtle....I will bet you this turtle is all of 5-6 feet long from tip of his nose to tip of his tail and he weighs about 80lbs....His head is about the size of a basketball, or maybe a little bigger....He is a MONSTER turtle and I have NEVER seen one in person this big....Hell, I don't know if I have seen one on TV this big!! He is HUGE!!
Danny says....
"just reach in there and pick him up."
I looked at him and said ....
"F%^K YOU, that a big ass turtle man, he could literally bite my wrist in half...You are outta your mind!"
He said...
"No, really, just grab his shell from right behind his head, and grab the shell right by his tail, and just lift him up...It will be OK, I promise!"
I know Danny would never put me in a position to get hurt (without warning me) but I gotta tell ya, this big ole boy is....well....a BIG OLE BOY!!
So I reached into the tank like Danny said, grabbed him like he said, he started to swell up a little and move his head, and I took a deep breath and lifted him out...
He was SOOOOOO Cool man....Moved really slow, didn't react at all to me....
I put him back in the tank and Danny said....
"yeah, he is an old guy....He is about 115 years old!!!"
Think about that...that turtle is 115 years old!! Can you imagine the life this old guy has seen? The people who have probably picked him up and had him as a pet when he was a baby?? The different places he has been!!??
And to think, Danny saves turtles this big and bigger from hunters who sell them to restaurants.... I just couldn't imagine killing a 115 year old turtle to put him in a soup...Sad!
So we finished up the day, helped out Danny and Debbie and headed home.... I always really do enjoy my visits to their home....Always something new to see and experience...We are blessed to have them as friends!
Thanks guys!!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Lost In West Texas
After my promotion at BCFS, I found that there are certain tasks specific to management. Above and beyond managing the case managers and grants specific to the different programs at our center, I am also on an emergency response team that answers to natural disasters, and also part of the team that assists with the openings of new buildings and centers for our organization.
On January 16th, 2012, we opened a new Transition Center in Lubbock Texas. I was one of the management staff that went up to help coordinate the opening and assist wit the details for the opening and the all the details associated with it. I have to say, It is a beautiful center that will serve youth in that area in monumental ways...An absolutely beautiful office and the Director, Kami did a fantastic job pulling it all together.
Remember, as you browse through these pictures, this was a bare bones building....Just an empty space that was basically abandoned... Kami, her staff and her youth came together as a team and created something MAGICAL.... It is definitely going to be a task to "one up" her on our new Transition Center we plan on opening here in 2 years. I cant give her and her team enough kuddos for this effort and cant be more proud to be part of such a driven team!
So after the opening was completed, it was time to take the 5 hour drive back to Kerrville. I originally drove up with a couple of other Directors, but they are from San Antonio. To avoid an unnecessary stop, it was decided that I would drive back with my Executive Director (Terri) and her Administrative Assistant (Tish).
So you understand this a little better, let me give you a run down of how MUCH of my "boss this lady is.... I am a Program Director and I answer to Kimber....Kimber is a Senior Program Director and she answers to Jeremy....Jeremy is a Senior Executive Program Director....He answers to Terri....Terri is the Executive Director over Teen and Youth Services....Terri answers to Kevin....Kevin is the CEO! Get it??
Also keep in mind, that up to this point, I have probably had 10 minutes of conversation with Terri in my whole time with BCFS.... So you understand Terri.... She is a driven, dedicated and accomplished woman. She has a very powerful presence and can be somewhat intimidating. She is very matter of fact, and to the point. Its her way, and that's the way it is....PERIOD!! However, she also has a good sense of humor and a huge heart but I really only know about this portion of her personality through what others have told me.
So when it came time to head back to Lubbock, I had it made up I would just listen and ride along....I need to feel this out before I let "Brad" out of the box. I have sat and talked with Tish quite a few times, so I was familiar with her and her personality. As a matter of fact, Tish had picked me up the night before from the center in Lubbock and taken me back to my hotel. When she did, we got lost...Its all of a ten minute drive to my hotel from the center and Tish explained that this was the third time that day that she had gotten lost.
I could not resist!!!
I started in on Tish and how she is "like my wife" and "how can you get lost in Lubbock" and just jacked with her the WHOLE trip to my hotel...I even jacked with her the next morning before the opening....I was brutal!! She was a GREAT sport though.
So, after the specifics of the opening were done, speeches given, accolades and praise to youth, tours, food, community interactions, etc.... It was determined that not only would I be going back to Kerrville with my bosses, bosses boss..... I would be driving! YAY!!!!!!!!!
So as we started on the trip home, Tish stated that we should take Hwy 84 from Lubbock to Kerrville. I explained to her that there was a shorter route and it was the one we took up to Lubbock. It was about 4.5-5 hours of driving. When Tish and Terri heard that, they said "OK, lets go that way!" and we took off.
Now if you aren't familiar with West Texas, no need to go get yourself familiar with it....Its flat, its full of red dirt and tumbleweeds, oil pumps, cattle yards, and stinky air.... And the other thing, is when the wind blows, you are in a "red out" which is like a "white out" in the snow, except its the red dirt of West Texas.... Its amazing the dust in those storms.
Another thing about West Texas is the tumble weeds....They are the size of cars, literally!! And on this trip, the wind was blowing hard, the dust was thick, and the tumbleweeds were rolling across the highway about every 300 yards....It was like driving in an "Asteroids" game....70 miles an hour and dodging tumbleweeds bigger than the car we wee in....It was going to be QUITE the trip home....
Little did I know!
So as I settled in for the drive South, Tish and Terri broke out their I-Pads and we all started to chat. I was realizing that Terri was not as hardcore as I had her made out to be, Tish is light spirited and easy to talk to, so it was going to be a decent trip. We had fun dodging the tumbleweeds and as one would roll out in front of us, they would scream like "girls" as I swerved past them, missing them by inches....It was a fun start!!
The dust was terrible and there were times I couldn't see anymore than a couple of hundred yards in front of me... We were making our way through the small West Texas towns and Tish and Terri slipped off for a nap. I continued to drive and took in the "windshield time" to reflect on the weekend and what I had experienced with the team, seeing an old friend from High School that I hadn't seen in 10 years or spent time with for 20 years....Just gazing out the windshield, taking it all in.
I was driving for about an hour, while they slept, and then Tish woke up and looked at her phone, she said....
"Why are we almost in Odessa?"
"What?"
"Why are we almost in Odessa?"
"Whatever.... Don't start on me because you get lost easy!!"
"No, I am serious, we are almost in Odessa!"
I looked up at about that same time and saw a sign that said...
"Odessa 54 miles"
My heart SUNK!!! Odessa is about Three hours OFF the track fro where we were going.... My heart was racing, I was stunned and I said...
"OH SHIT!"
That woke up Terri in the back and she said....
"What? What happened?"
I said....
"Nothing boss.... Just go back to seepy seepy.... Go back to sleep and when you wake up it will all be juuuuussst fine!"
And I hoped she would and then I would just start heading east.... But no way!!
"No, whats going on?? Did you scratch up my car with one of those tumbleweeds??"
"Oh I wish boss, I wish!!"
"What then? What is it!!??"
"Uhhhhhmmmmm, welllllllll.......How would you like to have a nice view of Odessa Texas?"
"Whhhhhaaaaattttttttt? What did you do? What happened? Where are we??"
"I dont know Terri....I guess I got the highways mixed up...We are on Hwy 82, and should be on Hwy 87.... We are about 50 miles from Odessa.!!"
Now be assured, Tish is snickering in the passenger seat, stirring the pot and LOVING every minute of this!! She is also looking for the shortest route to re-direct us back to where we need to be. And then she starts...
"Oh, I know a quicker wayyyyy......I can get us there fasterrrrr.....You don't ever get losssstttt!!"
And all I can do is hush my mouth and take it!
So we realize, we have about 15-20 miles to drive before we can hit a hwy that will take us East to where we need to be. We pull into a small West Texas town and stop at a DQ so we could all pee and get a snack....Terri is starting in on me...
"I cant believe this!! Your a program director?? I hired you to do THAT job and you cant even get us home?? Not only did you get us lost, we are almost in New Mexico!"
Tish is laughing and adding to it.... and there is NOTHING I can say!
So we get back in the car, and Terrie gets on her computer to do what we call a "Sit Rep" Which is a situational awareness report that goes out to all of the management staff of BCFS. Let me explain these a little...
What these reports are designed to o is to keep all of the Management staff in tune with what is happening throughout the organization. With over 800 employees and 60+ management staff, there has to be a way fro us to stay tuned in to whats going on in the agency. So, what we do is sent out "situational awareness reports" on incidents that take place, good, bad, whatever....Anything that could make the press or get accolades for, we send it out to all of the management staff.
So Terri decided that this was going to require a Sit Rep for us being lost (jokingly of course) so she sent one out...
"Please make sure you are tracking my I-Phone and I-Pad for location purposes as the new Program Director, Brad Golden has gotten me lost in West Texas and I am somewhere near Odessa. If for some reason I don't make the morning management meeting, please send out search and rescue"
And sent it out to all of the management staff....Then it started!
Through our organization, all of our I-Phones are connected to
our e-mail and we are all required to have our I-Phones with us at all times...From the CEO down!
So here come the e-mails.....
They are brutal....
"Just to think that could have been us...Thanks for taking Brad Terri"
"Bet the back of my van is looking like the better option now huh Brad?"
"That's exactly why Gayle and I made him sit in the back seat on the way to Lubbock. You should have trailed us. We are already half way home! Grab us a jar of oil from a pump jack there in Odessa!"
"Terri, can I have your San Antonio office furniture?"
"You didn't have that problem when I was navigating or driving. Brad's license should be suspended!"
And it went on and on for 2 hours!!
I was driving so I couldn't join in the game and respond....
Finally, we get to some place like "Tarzan" Texas and stop for gas.... It was Tish's time to drive...So I joined in the game....
"Heeeeeelllllllppppp me PLEEEEZZZEEEE!!!!"
"The trunk of this car is really small, dark and cold, and I am scared. I hope we are close to home."
All the phones are dinging back and forth..... Terri gets my response and responds with...
"Tish, I thought you took his phone. We need to stop and get it."
and I responded....
"I would call 911, but I don't know where I am"
And this kept on going as well.... And keeping mind, I am getting consistently reminded of my navigation skills and the extra time we have on the trip, how incapable I am.... It was 4 hours of brutal assault on me from the management staff as well as Terri AND Tish....What was supposed to be a 5 hour trip turned into a 7.5 hour trip.
I told my boss while we were driving...
"You know, I always like to make an impression Boss...Have I?"
"Oh yes Brad, this will be a trip I wont forget, that's for sure!"
It was funny as I thought back on the weekend and hearing the other management staff make statements like....
"I remember when we opened the center in San Antonio and......"
"I remember when we opened the center in Kerrville and.........."
"I remember when we opened the center in Abilene and.........."
So I looked back at Terri and reminder her of all these stories and I said....
"Just look at it this way...When you talk about opening the center in Lubbock, you have a GREAT story to tell about it!"
She laughed and then went on about how at the next management meeting, there will be a shirt specific to me and the story will be told.... We laughed and joked about it all the way home! I have to say, it was the highlight of the trip and was a great way for me and my boss to get acquainted.... As odd as it was, there really are no accidents right?
So we got home later than expected, we were all worn out, and then we decided to come up with one last email to sent out to the management staff, butt his time we added a picture....
"Situational Awareness update:
We finally made it back to Kerrville! Thought you may need some reassurance that Brad survived his ride in the trunk."
On January 16th, 2012, we opened a new Transition Center in Lubbock Texas. I was one of the management staff that went up to help coordinate the opening and assist wit the details for the opening and the all the details associated with it. I have to say, It is a beautiful center that will serve youth in that area in monumental ways...An absolutely beautiful office and the Director, Kami did a fantastic job pulling it all together.
Remember, as you browse through these pictures, this was a bare bones building....Just an empty space that was basically abandoned... Kami, her staff and her youth came together as a team and created something MAGICAL.... It is definitely going to be a task to "one up" her on our new Transition Center we plan on opening here in 2 years. I cant give her and her team enough kuddos for this effort and cant be more proud to be part of such a driven team!
So after the opening was completed, it was time to take the 5 hour drive back to Kerrville. I originally drove up with a couple of other Directors, but they are from San Antonio. To avoid an unnecessary stop, it was decided that I would drive back with my Executive Director (Terri) and her Administrative Assistant (Tish).
So you understand this a little better, let me give you a run down of how MUCH of my "boss this lady is.... I am a Program Director and I answer to Kimber....Kimber is a Senior Program Director and she answers to Jeremy....Jeremy is a Senior Executive Program Director....He answers to Terri....Terri is the Executive Director over Teen and Youth Services....Terri answers to Kevin....Kevin is the CEO! Get it??
Also keep in mind, that up to this point, I have probably had 10 minutes of conversation with Terri in my whole time with BCFS.... So you understand Terri.... She is a driven, dedicated and accomplished woman. She has a very powerful presence and can be somewhat intimidating. She is very matter of fact, and to the point. Its her way, and that's the way it is....PERIOD!! However, she also has a good sense of humor and a huge heart but I really only know about this portion of her personality through what others have told me.
So when it came time to head back to Lubbock, I had it made up I would just listen and ride along....I need to feel this out before I let "Brad" out of the box. I have sat and talked with Tish quite a few times, so I was familiar with her and her personality. As a matter of fact, Tish had picked me up the night before from the center in Lubbock and taken me back to my hotel. When she did, we got lost...Its all of a ten minute drive to my hotel from the center and Tish explained that this was the third time that day that she had gotten lost.
I could not resist!!!
I started in on Tish and how she is "like my wife" and "how can you get lost in Lubbock" and just jacked with her the WHOLE trip to my hotel...I even jacked with her the next morning before the opening....I was brutal!! She was a GREAT sport though.
So, after the specifics of the opening were done, speeches given, accolades and praise to youth, tours, food, community interactions, etc.... It was determined that not only would I be going back to Kerrville with my bosses, bosses boss..... I would be driving! YAY!!!!!!!!!
So as we started on the trip home, Tish stated that we should take Hwy 84 from Lubbock to Kerrville. I explained to her that there was a shorter route and it was the one we took up to Lubbock. It was about 4.5-5 hours of driving. When Tish and Terri heard that, they said "OK, lets go that way!" and we took off.
Now if you aren't familiar with West Texas, no need to go get yourself familiar with it....Its flat, its full of red dirt and tumbleweeds, oil pumps, cattle yards, and stinky air.... And the other thing, is when the wind blows, you are in a "red out" which is like a "white out" in the snow, except its the red dirt of West Texas.... Its amazing the dust in those storms.
Another thing about West Texas is the tumble weeds....They are the size of cars, literally!! And on this trip, the wind was blowing hard, the dust was thick, and the tumbleweeds were rolling across the highway about every 300 yards....It was like driving in an "Asteroids" game....70 miles an hour and dodging tumbleweeds bigger than the car we wee in....It was going to be QUITE the trip home....
Little did I know!
So as I settled in for the drive South, Tish and Terri broke out their I-Pads and we all started to chat. I was realizing that Terri was not as hardcore as I had her made out to be, Tish is light spirited and easy to talk to, so it was going to be a decent trip. We had fun dodging the tumbleweeds and as one would roll out in front of us, they would scream like "girls" as I swerved past them, missing them by inches....It was a fun start!!
The dust was terrible and there were times I couldn't see anymore than a couple of hundred yards in front of me... We were making our way through the small West Texas towns and Tish and Terri slipped off for a nap. I continued to drive and took in the "windshield time" to reflect on the weekend and what I had experienced with the team, seeing an old friend from High School that I hadn't seen in 10 years or spent time with for 20 years....Just gazing out the windshield, taking it all in.
I was driving for about an hour, while they slept, and then Tish woke up and looked at her phone, she said....
"Why are we almost in Odessa?"
"What?"
"Why are we almost in Odessa?"
"Whatever.... Don't start on me because you get lost easy!!"
"No, I am serious, we are almost in Odessa!"
I looked up at about that same time and saw a sign that said...
"Odessa 54 miles"
My heart SUNK!!! Odessa is about Three hours OFF the track fro where we were going.... My heart was racing, I was stunned and I said...
"OH SHIT!"
That woke up Terri in the back and she said....
"What? What happened?"
I said....
"Nothing boss.... Just go back to seepy seepy.... Go back to sleep and when you wake up it will all be juuuuussst fine!"
And I hoped she would and then I would just start heading east.... But no way!!
"No, whats going on?? Did you scratch up my car with one of those tumbleweeds??"
"Oh I wish boss, I wish!!"
"What then? What is it!!??"
"Uhhhhhmmmmm, welllllllll.......How would you like to have a nice view of Odessa Texas?"
"Whhhhhaaaaattttttttt? What did you do? What happened? Where are we??"
"I dont know Terri....I guess I got the highways mixed up...We are on Hwy 82, and should be on Hwy 87.... We are about 50 miles from Odessa.!!"
Now be assured, Tish is snickering in the passenger seat, stirring the pot and LOVING every minute of this!! She is also looking for the shortest route to re-direct us back to where we need to be. And then she starts...
"Oh, I know a quicker wayyyyy......I can get us there fasterrrrr.....You don't ever get losssstttt!!"
And all I can do is hush my mouth and take it!
So we realize, we have about 15-20 miles to drive before we can hit a hwy that will take us East to where we need to be. We pull into a small West Texas town and stop at a DQ so we could all pee and get a snack....Terri is starting in on me...
"I cant believe this!! Your a program director?? I hired you to do THAT job and you cant even get us home?? Not only did you get us lost, we are almost in New Mexico!"
Tish is laughing and adding to it.... and there is NOTHING I can say!
So we get back in the car, and Terrie gets on her computer to do what we call a "Sit Rep" Which is a situational awareness report that goes out to all of the management staff of BCFS. Let me explain these a little...
What these reports are designed to o is to keep all of the Management staff in tune with what is happening throughout the organization. With over 800 employees and 60+ management staff, there has to be a way fro us to stay tuned in to whats going on in the agency. So, what we do is sent out "situational awareness reports" on incidents that take place, good, bad, whatever....Anything that could make the press or get accolades for, we send it out to all of the management staff.
So Terri decided that this was going to require a Sit Rep for us being lost (jokingly of course) so she sent one out...
"Please make sure you are tracking my I-Phone and I-Pad for location purposes as the new Program Director, Brad Golden has gotten me lost in West Texas and I am somewhere near Odessa. If for some reason I don't make the morning management meeting, please send out search and rescue"
And sent it out to all of the management staff....Then it started!
Through our organization, all of our I-Phones are connected to
our e-mail and we are all required to have our I-Phones with us at all times...From the CEO down!
So here come the e-mails.....
They are brutal....
"Just to think that could have been us...Thanks for taking Brad Terri"
"Bet the back of my van is looking like the better option now huh Brad?"
"That's exactly why Gayle and I made him sit in the back seat on the way to Lubbock. You should have trailed us. We are already half way home! Grab us a jar of oil from a pump jack there in Odessa!"
"Terri, can I have your San Antonio office furniture?"
"You didn't have that problem when I was navigating or driving. Brad's license should be suspended!"
And it went on and on for 2 hours!!
I was driving so I couldn't join in the game and respond....
Finally, we get to some place like "Tarzan" Texas and stop for gas.... It was Tish's time to drive...So I joined in the game....
"Heeeeeelllllllppppp me PLEEEEZZZEEEE!!!!"
"The trunk of this car is really small, dark and cold, and I am scared. I hope we are close to home."
All the phones are dinging back and forth..... Terri gets my response and responds with...
"Tish, I thought you took his phone. We need to stop and get it."
and I responded....
"I would call 911, but I don't know where I am"
And this kept on going as well.... And keeping mind, I am getting consistently reminded of my navigation skills and the extra time we have on the trip, how incapable I am.... It was 4 hours of brutal assault on me from the management staff as well as Terri AND Tish....What was supposed to be a 5 hour trip turned into a 7.5 hour trip.
I told my boss while we were driving...
"You know, I always like to make an impression Boss...Have I?"
"Oh yes Brad, this will be a trip I wont forget, that's for sure!"
It was funny as I thought back on the weekend and hearing the other management staff make statements like....
"I remember when we opened the center in San Antonio and......"
"I remember when we opened the center in Kerrville and.........."
"I remember when we opened the center in Abilene and.........."
So I looked back at Terri and reminder her of all these stories and I said....
"Just look at it this way...When you talk about opening the center in Lubbock, you have a GREAT story to tell about it!"
She laughed and then went on about how at the next management meeting, there will be a shirt specific to me and the story will be told.... We laughed and joked about it all the way home! I have to say, it was the highlight of the trip and was a great way for me and my boss to get acquainted.... As odd as it was, there really are no accidents right?
So we got home later than expected, we were all worn out, and then we decided to come up with one last email to sent out to the management staff, butt his time we added a picture....
"Situational Awareness update:
We finally made it back to Kerrville! Thought you may need some reassurance that Brad survived his ride in the trunk."
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