Team Work Does Pay Visit To UNCC

Last week we had to travel in between storms for a speaking gig at UNCC. It snowed the night before we left on Wednesday, so there was no telling if we would get the early start as we wanted. Dena and I were on the road by 9 and did make any stops until NC.
About 2 hours into our trip, we saw a Volvo station wagon towing a plywood wonder breadbox. As we past him the back was full of puppets, so one could figure he was a clown. We honked our horn and gave him two thumbs up. The next thing we knew he putted on a clown nose. He could not keep up, so we went on our ways.
About 2 hours from our “hotel” we started to see signs for a big discount store and one sign is for cosmetics, so we decided to stop. I could tell Dena was disappointed with the selection, so we were back on our way. As we past one rest stop Dena sees the wonder bread wagon. To reach him we had to make a mile circle getting on and off at exits. Dena thinks what if he already got back on the road. He did not; he is a puppet master on his way to Martigra from Maine. We made his day catching him 4 hours later.
This engagement was a year in the making from the office of Student With Disability Service to their adviser committee. It sounds as is the student on the committee did most of the legwork. They did multiple fundraisers, even on the day of the presentation they were putting up signs to promote the presentation. They also set up the reception after ward and planned all of public relation before hand.
It just goes to show you what can be accomplished when people work together for a commond goal. I had one moment where one says I’m not the old, am I? The student that did the introduction said she watched King Gimp at the age of 10.
Dena and I what to stay another day to relax, but we had to race the storm him. In the pictures you can see what we had for breakfast. Ah the life of road worries.

Trip To AZ SILC and NAU

It was one of those trips that we went to work as soon as our feet/wheels hit the ground, so we had a 5 a.m. ride to BWI. I always say to myself time to make the donuts.

Our first engagement was at the AZ SILC in Phoenix, from the outside it was a modern new building mostly glass. What surprises it had waiting on the inside. Like on any other trip I did not go to the bathroom until we arrive. Yes my friends, it was gimp heaven, all stalls were accessible, clean and slick. There was even a family room in side with the 10-gimp stalls.
You know how some buildings only have one, maybe two automatic doors? The empowerment center had them at every door; I have been to our mother ship.

This is what happens when people can build from scratch and do not have to retro fit. The real reason that this place is called the empowerment center is that it house 5 different organizations.

Our next gig was at NAU, in Flagstaff. We did a presentation for disability awareness month, typical deal. Screen the documentary and then do Q&A. but the faculty had a great idea, they past out note cards. So the viewers could right down their questions, so nobody knew whom it is was. This system worked so well that we went 20 minutes past the lowed time. In fact I already suggested this to the next places that I am appearing.

Our last full day in AZ we had no commitments until that afternoon. Flagstaff is only 80 miles from the Grand Canyon, so we had to go. This is where the D&D adventure begins. We had no car, so we tried to rent one. Nobody would rent to us since we were from out of town. To remind you it was 9:20 and we had to be somewhere by 2:30.

We went to the hotel desk to see if there were any shuttles from town to the park, no! There was the taxi, but big bucks. It turns out the service had a taxi going to the park anyway and because we worked with their schedule the rate was cut in half going, but full price on the return trip. The next thing was he dropped us off at the park, not in side. So before we took another cab into the park we went to the Imax show. We spent about 20 minute at the rim itself, but it was worth the magical view as you can see!!!! It took magic to see mother earth at her best.