Good morning! I'm sure you get something special for your spouse/partner on your anniversary. I am curious though, do you ever buy your house/apartment anything for it's anniversary?

Growing up my parents would always pick up a toaster or sprinkler - something  to celebrate the day we had moved in.  

We've done the same here at the walk. Kind of.  

Every Jan 4, we hang up a different 36' x 48' poster size photo of me. They were all taken in various get-ups - like the Mr. Winkie Calendar. In one I'm a fighter pilot, one a rodeo clown (that was a difficult shoot), scarecrow - you get the idea.  They cover our office. 

Anyway, coming up on our fourth year in this space, we wanted to give Walk with a Doc something a little different for 2013.  

We wanted to pilot those sign flipper guys in 10 of our cities (drive awareness, increase attendance, etc).

A long, long time ago, my uncle worked with the actual founder of Sign Flippers Inc., (based in Fort Wayne, IN).  

There's the family connection, but we were still blown away to hear he was willing to drive to Columbus for a meeting!

So, yesterday shortly after 10 a.m., Mr. Brock Tuamaluga entered Walk with a Doc HQ with his driver, Wellman, obediently at his side.  

It was just as you would imagine meeting any celebrity of that status.  Floor length fur coat (chinchilla), cane, top hat, monocle, and dripping with diamonds. Kathryn and I had never been in the presence of anyone who had achieved such dramatic success. We were awestruck. I could tell Kathryn was stuttering as she offered to take his coat and his gold studded cane. He politely declined, sharing that Wellman would handle it. He looked kind of like the Monopoly dude only he was 6'4"; #270 (easily). He shared he was of American Samoan descent.  

As we all sat down at our best WWAD Conference Table, Liz came over to offer some coffee. Fine.  But then she blurts out the ask for his autograph, after I had instructed her not to do this until the deal was inked.  

UGH!  Young Liz just cost me an a couple of extra G's.

Anyway, the three of us were seated around the table with Wellman standing attentively at Mr. Brock's side. As Kathryn and I began to share the concepts and ideas surrounding Walk with a Doc, Wellman handed Mr. Brock the most beautiful, gem-encrusted gold pen we had ever seen. Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies that were blinding!
Mr. Brock took copious notes, and as he did, it was obvious his size was taking its toll on his health. His breathing, even with this minimal activity, was mildly labored.
Nonetheless, what a site he was.
Each time he paused to think, he'd start flipping that pen around through his broad fingers like something you'd never seen. Our jaws literally dropped watching that pen do dozens of flips, twists, and turns at a mind-numbing speed.
It was like a mini-Cirque du Soleil.
Every move was absolutely mesmerizing, right up until he...

(To be continued in next week's newsletter)

A little action from behind the scenes...

She's young. We know it. But her overwhelming positive energy...it captivates us, it drives us, it's the way we begin Every Single Day.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the first video footage of our newest team member - Elizabeth 'Jessica' Mace.

*Please don't freak out and call Children's Services - Liz is of course not this young (her parents shot the video in 2009).

I read this week that 37% of candidates for the Flu vaccine have received it this year. What?!
Do you know how sick these people with the flu are getting?
You know the autism stuff is cr**, right?
We care about you. Don't wait. The flu is coming and it's bad - no excuses - get it now.

There's only one thing worse than dealing with the whole body aches, pains, and 103 fever (this newsletter?); it's dealing with the smarta** in the cubbie next to you after a week home sick.

"So Sandra, heard you had a horrible week. I'm curious, had you gotten the flu shot?"

Everyone in our cardiology office is mandated to receive the shots. It's the right thing to do. So, our hospital system sends over a couple Employee Health RN's to spend the day with us. If you have a similar situation, these are my recommendations.

Make sure you are the first in line and stall until the room is full of your work colleagues. When they invite you to sit down and extend your arm, instead (and you will have to move quickly at this point) stand up and start to unbuckle your pants. While pretending to fumble with your belt, ask in your outdoor voice, if you can have the left cheek this year.
People will duck for cover as if someone yelled GRENADE! - trust me.
Once you rebuckle and tell everyone you were just kidding, there will be a lot of nervous laughter.
Wait for things to settle down.
It will get eerily quiet, but don't worry, all eyes will still be focused on you.
Now, as soon as Nurse Ballbricker  deplunges that syringe, it's go time.
You let out a blood-curdler that they'll hear 2 counties over. You have to go loud, like uvula flapping in the wind, LOUD.
From there you can improvise,
(e.g. "WHAT IS THAT? QUAKER STATE!")
Before you go home, stop in an ask if the whole shoulder should be green or just where they injected. Before they can look, pretend you get a call and duck out.  It keeps 'em guessing all night.