On Vacation

Pictures of family and friends.

I officially declare my little sister, Julia, an embarrassing force of nature. Some (forces of Nature) are for good, some are for evil, Julia is a force of LOUD, mostly rude, but cleary delivered mayhem Nature with a lot of F BOMBS.

Illinois

Ike drove the first leg under the watchful eye of Hefner. He still managed to miss two major interchanges, but we're back on track and only 40 minutes behind schedule.

Detour?

Meanwhile Beaner, Jeffe, and Ruby are taking an alternative route for their Celoventure...via Myrtle Beach. Lucky!

New Business/New Logo

As some of you may know, we have the Woofables Bakery in Coralville, and a small retail location on the Peninsula in Iowa City. The foot traffic is a bit slow at our retail location so we're pivoting to become a local neighborhood grocery store.

So here is the World Primire of our new Logo for the neighborhood market. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. Special thanks to Sydney (Powell) Markel for taking concept to digital, and Robyn Hepker for polishing the digital for market. 

And so it goes...

Maggie's Bog from India

Here is a link to Maggie's summer blog from India.  Fascinating stuff. An amazing individual.
https://casistudentprograms.com/2017/06/14/a-working-description-on-the-interworking-of-aravind/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog

And so it goes...

Professional Highlight This Week

On Tuesday I was given the opportunity to facilitate a leadership retreat for the Coaching Staff of IOWA'S Famed Wrestling Program. I've never met a leadership team more intense, more focused, and passionate about EXCELLENCE than those seven men.

The coaches are dedicated to the athletes well-being and growth... clearly the shared number one goal. Second... was Integrity. They run a clean program, want their men to be excellent people when they graduate.

I'm was honored to help, and humble by their leadership.  Go Hawks!  And so it goes. . .

Slime...A College Education

Ok, Chalupa has ventured off to India. Periodic news...we'll keep you posted.

On the homefront, we have representatives from Boston College, Luther College, and the University of Iowa. Abigail, Addy, and Leah. They're making slime.

Help me understand... they could be downtown; they could be at an intellectual film showing; they could be playing cards, a board game, or something cerebral.

Instead... they made four batches of slime. $15.  Is this what thousands of dollars of college tuition pays for? 

Econ., Social Work, and Marketing majors... and this is what we get.  Sigh... I've been slimed. And so it goes....

Move Along People... Nothing To See

Why do I feel like a hillbilly?  This is legal de-crappifying. Two days a year, the city will pick up big garbage, above and beyond, normal trash. 

It accordance to forces out of our control we always seen to forget to participate.

HA! Not this time. The Taylor have unloaded and we're feeling purged.  And so it goes...

Dinner table

So... unopened "Titanic" video, Pentax Spotomatic...non-digital (old school - film!), laptop... and the rest. Who eats like this in 2017?

New Initiative for the University of Iowa

As some of  you may be aware. Padre is helping to spearhead a new initiative for the University of Iowa. This initiative is currently called the Office of Healthcare Leadership Education (OHLE for short).  Here is a reasonably good write up that appeared in Iowa Today (a University of Iowa online publication). 

As a side note, it's clear I wasn't interviewed for this article, or would have dissuaded them from using my full name, Alexander.  So it goes...

Turkey in the Field

Spring brings out the Turkeys, and the Big Dawg. It's great to be outside and enjoying the green of Spring. And so it goes.

The Tiffa

Our rescue dog ... A year-and-a-half later. Tiffs by name; as in "Queen La... " I call her Peefa...as in "I pee at will anywhere". The Pee.

Pivot Time

As many of you know, we own a Woofables retail location on the Peninsula in Iowa City.  It's a fantastic commercial property on a small block with three other businesses:  Dingo Cafe, Apres Bistro, and an exercise studio. 

While our Paw traffic is "ok", we would like to offer something a bit more practical for our 2-legged neighbors. So, we're changing the business from Woofables, to Peninsables (here is the first sketch of the logo). Only ONE "N", the lettering will be thicker, the river will be a bit wider and darker blue.  With those changes, we'll see if it'll be Officially adopted.

Next up... a simple web page with description and hours. 

Peninsables will be a mini-grocery store to serve the Peninsula neighborhood.  The nearest convenient store is more than 2 miles away!  So Peninsables will stock some of the basic supplies so residents don't have to trudge over hill and dale to get something simple such as toothpaste, dish soap, toilet paper, razors, eggs, milk, butter, flour, sugar, cooking oil. etc....

We hope to have this done by July 1, and then our pivot will be complete.  And so it goes...

Slow News Day in Eastern Iowa

It must have been a SLLLOOOOWWWW News Day if they have to scrape this tripe up from the bottom of the barrel. That, and/or Chelsea is a cub reporter and she got stuck with this assignment... or both.  

University of Iowa, Iowa Medical Society to teach business of health care

Course to use practical knowledge that can be used 'in the clinic'

Chelsea Keenan The Gazette More stories from Chelsea

Apr 10, 2017 at 2:39 pm

The Iowa Medical Society and the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business have teamed up to give the state’s physicians a crash course in business.

The two groups, along with the UI’s Carver College of Medicine and College of Public Health, have put together a curriculum covering the basics of how to run a health care business.

“We want to give them practical information and knowledge that they get on Friday and can apply back in the clinic on Monday,” said Clare Kelly, executive director of IMS, which represents Iowa’s physicians, residents and medical students.

Leaders for the groups plan to offer the education first to attendees at IMS’s annual conference in Des Moines April 28 to 29 to gauge interest and build the program from there. They eventually will offer online courses as continuing medical education — requirements for those in the medical field to help physicians and others maintain knowledge and learn about new areas in their field.

“The intent is for us to pilot this program, and survey member physicians on program needs and the desires they have,” said Alex Taylor, UI’s associate director of the Executive MBA program.
Tippie worked with the UI’s College of Medicine to develop a similar program for medical students, offering elective courses on accounting, negotiation, human resources and team work, among other topics.

The Distinction Track program is comprised of 12 topics, delivered in four-hour blocks, one Saturday per quarter, over the course of a three-year period. Students who complete the program are awarded a Certificate in Health Care Delivery Science and Management.

There also are possibilities to extend similar educational courses to the state’s dentists, nurses and pharmacists. Taylor said he’d like this to gain enough traction with IMS that it becomes a standard in the Midwest and the nation.

Medical professionals “don’t get this education, it’s so foreign to them,” he said. “We take for granted simple business ideas that they don’t get exposed to. ... They might be handed a budget and told to stay within this and they don’t know how.

“We wants to give them the tools to be effective, good stewards of our health care dollars.”
Teaching physicians — both practicing and those still learning — about the business of health care is becoming more important than ever, IMS’s Kelly said, as more physicians are being asked to fill leadership roles, use data to improve health outcomes and work with a wide-range of medical professionals to deliver coordinated care.

“More and more it’s important to be versed by the C-suite language,” she said. “You need to be able to speak the language, understand a spreadsheet, know where revenue comes from and pitch that idea or business solution.”

Big Dawg plays the Violin

Follow the link to watch Ike Taylor demonstrate his violin chops. He's improving every time he picks up the bow.  

Bravo!!! 

Weekend in Des Moines

Big Dawg crushed it on the field this weekend. They went 3-2, 1-3, 3-1. Not bad he looked good in the tea bag, and had a few good touches.

Meanwhile in Decorah, peanut was on the Dance Marathon Leadership team that raised over $72k for the Children's Hospital.

Now off to a violin recital with Big Dawg. And so it goes.

A Favorite OF Mine

Big Dawg is learning from The Chalupa. Study buddies. We can only hope some of her academic DNA rubbed of on him. So far so good. Next year when he starts HS (Liberty), the proof will be in the pudding.

BTW... the photo was three years ago. Chalupa was a Senior in HS. Wow!

Sisters?

They are only a "few" years apart.  I love 'em both. Wish they were home. 

Soggy Pitch

Soccer season opened in rainy cold weather to a nil-nil the. Big Dawg held his own against a few guys who were clearly bigger and faster.

Tonight we have the Heels tipping off against Gonzaga. Should be a game of deft finesse vs. The barreling brawn from the great North West. Go Heels.

Darn Hound

Ok... So much for the cute big dog on the very small chair. This damn hound!  As my father-in-law would say... "He has all day long to think about this."  Clearly... This dog thinks waaaay too much.

Tight Spaces

Buddha likes to be comforted by tight quarters . Snug as a bug in a rug? Or Mastiff on a chair?  Either way, I'd trade places.

Gray's Lake is Grey

Two quick miles between meetings. 8:24 pace... on stiff, out-of-shape, and aging legs. Better than no miles at all I guess. It'd be nice it was sunnier and warm.  But nicer than ice and blasting wind.  Glass half full...I guess.

Spring on Ped Mall

Great to see people out and about on the mall in Iowa city...73 degrees and diggin' the Spring vibe.

Besties

No comment necessary. We have awesome pets: three of them are in college, one in junior high; two on the couch, and one... huh? Where's PeeFah? Ugh... Peeeee Phaaaahhh!?!?  Ugh... so much for good pets.

Makes me wonder what they'd say about their owners?

Peanelgum Awefuls

So Peanut leaves for Duluth today on her way back to campus in Decorah. I told her there was a shorter way... oh well. I guess that's why she needs three days.

Before she left she made her version of Belgium Waffles. What you see here are (parental advice - may be inappropriate for younger audiences) ...

Now where was I?... oh yeah. What you see here are NAKED Awfuls... waiting for fresh cut strawberries and whipped cream sandwiched between and wrapped in tin foil like a food-truck taco. 

I'm gonna miss that gal. Safe travels Peanut. Write when you get work, or call when you get back to campus. 

Hi Ho, HI Ho...

Not sure if these guys are sad that we leave for work, or if they can't wait for us to go to work. Clearly they a a motley crew that shouldn't be trusted.

Luck o' The Irish

We got this clover plant from Laura's parents. At one point, the pot looked almost as barren as a desert floor with all but microscopic signs of life.

It's been blooming since last Thursday. I don't know why I didn't post the photo on St. Patrick's Day? 

St. Joesph's day will have to do. Better late than never...

A Busy Sunday Morning

Assuming the positions for a reckless, devil-be-damned Sunday of hijinks and mayhem. Watch out!

Mac November Cheese Heaven

When in Wisconsin....   ahhhhhh.

It's a Wrap

Packaging treats for our terrific friends at Pismo Beach, CA. 

Surf's Up in the Dells

Big Dawg hanging $.03. Cow O' Bungo...

Not Your Normal Walk in the Park

The poor hounds hate having Mamacita and Big Dawg out of town.  That means they have to take me for a walk every night...  No rest for the weary I suppose.    

When The Students Break

Someone has to cover the retail store when the crew takes their break. Today I'm on the Peninsula stuffing biscuits for one of our clients... this particular client goes through as many as 1,200 per week!  Ahhhh.. the life of a dog biscuit Barron.

Spring Breaking Baaad

Big Dawg and Mamacita are grabbing a bite in The Dells. Peanut, the photographer, is rumored to also be in the house... but there is no evidence. So until We have evidence... she is likely boozing it up in Decorah.

No Spring Break Picnic

Well it's Pi Day, and Taco Tuesday! But clearly it's not a good day for a picnic. Below freezing. March is in like a lamb, exists like a lion, and will go out like a lamb.  Is it April yet?

Spring Break?

Last month (Feb) we enjoyed 70 degree weather. Today a healthy dose of snow blankets the Monday of Spring Break. The irony is not lost on Iowans. 

Back by Popular Demand!

\

The Taylor Tabloid Blog is getting pulled from the moth balls, receiving a good dusting-off, and being resuscitated in lieu of other Social Media (Face Book).  

The unwanted ads, unsolicited commentary, and partisan proselytizing became a distraction from the simple FUN and messaging we (the Taylor's... more aptly me) want to share. And so without further ado and much excitement (as seen in this picture) we relaunch our Taylor Tabloid efforts. 

Big Dawg is even wearing clean skivvies (yes, that's a word... I looked it up).  

Looking ahead, the likely focus of this Blog will continue to be the ongoing adventures, exploits, travails, victories, skinned knees, laughs, tears, and gas as the universe expands around the existence of our far from exotic, but still entertaining family.   

And so it goes.... enjoy!