Recent Events
Posted on October 19, 2015 by Ching under Events.
Brian and I had the honor of attending the 184th Intelligence Wing Change of Command Ceremony a few weeks ago at McConnell. One of my Leadership Wichita classmates who was a Kansas Air National Guard captain was promoted to colonel. No kidding. I now know a real life wing commander!
Here are some photos from the Change of Command.
McConnell is a very secure facility. We were actually checked three times going to the event. We felt pretty darn special.
The ceremony was very formal and impressive. Col. David Weishaar is amazing so I know the promotion was earned and well-deserved. Congratulations Col. Weishaar!
That same week Brian and I attended the dedication of the newest YMCA Farha Sport Center in Andover. I’m not sure how we got invited to it but we did. Anyway, it was really cool. It’s my first time attending a YMCA dedication.
This one also happened to be an annual celebration where they recognized several people — volunteers, coaches — with awards.
I often hear how we have the best YMCA facilities in the nation. It’s because the people of the Greater Wichita Area are amazing. Period. I am beyond thrilled for all of the awards recipients who were recognized at the event.
Speaking of events, we are kicking off the YMCA Annual Campaign. I was told that only 7% of members actually donate/support the campaign. Please be sure to stop by the front desk next time you’re at the gym (or click this link) to find out how you can help. It’s donations from people in the community that enable the YMCA to provide services to everyone. You’re the reason our YMCAs are great!
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CPA Update
Posted on October 10, 2015 by Ching under Community.
Brian and I had our ride alongs with WPD last Saturday. Last year when I did my ride along, I was going to buy dinner for my police officer but we were so busy that we didn’t have time to stop and eat. I figured it would be more of the same this year so Brian and I decided to stop at Panda Express before heading to the police station.
We both like Panda Express fine but it’s not really high on our list of our favorite places to eat. We just went there because it was on the way to the police station and it was quick. Brian actually made a comment that if he got shot that night, and the meal at Panda Express turned out to be his last, he would be really pissed.
Brian and I both choose WPD Patrol North on the same day and the same shift so that we could carpool to the police station. He really wanted to do Patrol South, where all the action is, but I did that last year. Also, it’s not like he’s completely unfamiliar with the South side of town. That’s where he grew up. We figured North would be the second most active so we chose it.
I rode with a patrol officer on 41 beat. Brian got paired up with a traffic officer. Other than a few interesting calls, Patrol North was so boring that night. It was not nearly as exciting as my ride along last year on Patrol South. Our friend Bill, who is also in CPA training with us, opted for Patrol East. He rode that same Saturday night and he got to see way more action than we did. I’m thinking my next ride along will be out East.
Brian seemed to have a lot of fun observing all the traffic tickets. He really liked his police officer. I liked mine too. He let me listen to my Zumba music in the rhino. Our police officers were really nice. They would both let us know each time we passed one another on the street. Brian’s officer would go, “There’s your wife” or “Your wife’s in that car.” Mine would go, “There’s your husband” or “We just passed your husband.”
We responded to several interesting calls including an unconscious young female who was dropped off at Wesley and was left there. We also had to assist animal control with a dog extraction and issuing a ticket. There was noise complaint about a party that was out of control. The police officers actually called the two neighbors back who complained about the noise to tell them the outcome. And then there was the double hit and run, which was a first for me. Two vehicles were involved in a traffic accident and both drivers called to report that they were involved in a hit run.
We were Northbound on Oliver looking for a clean restroom. We passed the QT on 13th and Oliver and was surprised that we didn’t stop there. Apparently, not all QTs are created equal. The police officer explained to me that this particular QT was probably the worst in the city. They always have shootings and you never want to be at the first gas pump because it’s the worst. I don’t think I’ve ever pumped gas at that gas station and now I don’t think I ever will. LOL.
So anyway, we were heading North looking for a restroom (I’ve never met anyone who had to pee so frequently) when we passed the location of the hit and run call. The driver pulled into the Tall Oaks parking lot. I asked the officer if we were going to take that call and he said someone else had already picked it up. I wasn’t sure if that was truly the case or if he just didn’t want to take the call because he really had to pee.
At any rate, were free to continue our quest for a restroom. We ended up at the QT on Oliver and K-96. As luck would have it, the officer couldn’t go the restroom straightaway because he got flagged by a citizen needing assistance. The citizen reported that he was just in a hit and run. The officer I was with skipped the hit and run call but had to deal with a hit and run call anyway. What a coincidence! The craziest part is that this guy is in the other vehicle that was involved in the hit and run with the driver who was being interviewed by another police officer at the Tall Oaks parking lot. He’s saying that the other driver fled the scene of the accident while the other driver claimed that he fled. Both drivers were both in a hit and run with one another. While neither were at the scene of the accident, neither of them really fled because they both reported the accident to the authorities. It was strange.
One of the interesting calls we responded to was a man who was stuck around the 1500 block of Topeka because his motorized chair stopped working. He was on his way home to his apartment located at the 200 block of Topeka, which is quite a distance. When we arrived at the scene, there were four firemen already trying to get the chair to work. After several minutes of tinkering, they were able to get it to move a few inches only to die again. The fire fighters could have given up at that point and said, “Sorry, guy. You’re not on fire. See ya later!” and left the man to inch his way home. He had a long way to go so he might not have gotten home until the morning.
Rather than just leaving him there to fend for himself, the patrol officer I was with worked with the firemen to come up with a solution to get the man safely home. There weren’t any agencies we could call on a Saturday night to assist. I know because I called the 211 hotline. We were it. The patrol officer called for one of the WPD vans. While the driver was a bit cranky because he felt this was not appropriate use for the van, he obliged. There was no one else to help this man.
The officer and the firemen helped the man into the patrol officer’s SUV and then hoisted the heavy motorized chair into the police van. We all drove to the man’s apartment. Once there the firemen unloaded the chair and helped the man back on the chair and then all four of them helped him get up to his apartment. Fortunately, the building has an elevator so they didn’t have to carry him and his heavy chair all the way up.
I was really impressed at the kindness that WPD and WFD showed the man. I had profound respect for law enforcement before and after both of my ride alongs, I have an even greater respect for them. Overall it was a slow evening on 41 beat. I guess North has been pretty quiet while East has been really active of late. Brian and I have decided we will probably do a couple more ride alongs because we want to see what goes on in Patrol East and also Patrol West.
Last Tuesday’s CPA session was at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility. We got a tour of the jail, the 911 dispatch center, and judicial. We did a lot of walking that day and my feet were screaming before the evening was over, but it was totally worth it.
The timing was perfect for Brian because the traffic officer he rode with booked a man for a DUI the Saturday before so he got to see the booking area. On Tuesday we got to tour the rest of the jail so he got to see the back and the inside in the same week. The tour was more extensive this time than the one I had last year with my Leadership Wichita class. We even got to see the shower area and Cpl. Torres, who was an excellent tour guide by the way, even told us about the extensive cavity search to prevent the smuggling of contraband into the jail.
Incidentally, my first tour of the jail and my first time tasting jail food was exactly a year ago today. I was grateful for the educational jail tour but I hope I don’t have to taste that food ever again. Last year we had beef stroganoff for lunch that was really salty. This year dinner was some kind of meat patty that tasted like a pencil eraser, powdered mashed potatoes that had no flavor whatsoever, canned green beans, and canned fruit that looked like peaches but didn’t really taste like them (maybe they were pears, it was really hard to tell). I suppose you’re not there to enjoy the food.
Anyway, the 911 facility is really nice. Everything looked modern and high tech as opposed to judicial where everything looked ancient. Lots of walking overall. The jail is like a city in itself, and then we had to do a lot of walking to and from buildings. It was so educational though, and so worth it. I’m not sure how you sign up to tour these facilities outside of CPA but if you can, I highly recommend it.
If you have a few evenings to spare, I actually recommend going through CPA because you learn so much more. We’ve learned about meth labs and the different ways people “cook” meth these days. We learned about the force continuum and use of force by law enforcement. We got to tour the Wichita Sedgwick County Joint Firearms Training Facility and do “shoot, no shoot” scenarios. Brian even participated in a live simunition scenario. We’re about halfway through the program and the list of topics we’ve covered already is so long I can’t list them all.
We’re back at the training center this week and then Brian and I will be doing our ride alongs with Sedgwick County Sheriff. I’m looking forward to the coming sessions and am really glad that we signed up.
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My Office Makeover
Posted on October 10, 2015 by Ching under Things to Do.
Brian and Molly worked hard at converting the office from a two-person office (though it had been looking more like a junk trap of late) into a single-person office. He wanted me to have a nice office to work out of when I’m at home.
He did a great job. It actually looks way neater than my desk at work.
He snapped this pic of me when he came home on Thursday. He found me slaving away in the office. I don’t mind. It’s such a nice space. I feel like working all the time now – after work and on my days off.
Speaking of offices, I was told I may have to move offices at work so I can be closer to the project work area. While I don’t really mind leaving my fabulous view of the brick wall of AT&T, I am dreading having to move. I’ve accumulated a bunch of stuff over the years. I guess I better start downsizing. Time to “Konmari” my office at work.
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My New Favorite Lunch Spot
Posted on October 8, 2015 by Ching under Things to Do.
Since it opened a couple of weeks ago, the ICT Pop-Up Urban Park has quickly become my favorite lunch spot. I ate there four times last week! On one occasion I even made a new friend (Jimmy Vo, Kan-Grow Hydro Farm, pictured right).
Naturally, I had to share the park with Brian (because I share everything with him). We grabbed Thai House food one night and decided to eat dinner there. It was too chilly, though. We caved and brought our takeout home instead.
Determined to share the magic of the Pop-Up Urban Park with Brian, I dragged him out there again before our Citizen Police Academy session at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility. This time the weather was better. We got to play some ping-pong.
I’ve been to busy this week to walk over there during lunch. I’m hoping that I’ll have some time next week. I’d really like to enjoy the park a bit more before the weather starts getting colder.
If you haven’t been to the park yet, I highly recommend it. If you go, holler at me so we can meet up (if I’m free). I may even play a game of ping pong with you.
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Fun Times at the Alley
Posted on October 5, 2015 by Ching under Free Stuff, Things to Do.
Brian and I had a crazy idea to complete September reward cards in one visit to the Alley. We had to complete two hours of bowling, two hours of billiards, and eight go kart rides. Though the task seemed daunting, given that we only had a couple of hours to spare, we were up for the challenge. It didn’t cost us a dime and we got free soda to boot!
First up was bowling. So, we kind of cheated a little bit. Rather than spend two hours bowling, we decided to take one lane each for an hour. We asked for adjacent lanes so that we could cross-bowl (league style) which is what we prefer anyway. We completed four games and still had plenty of time to complete all of the other items on the list before closing time. It was brilliant.
For our go kart rides, the attendant allowed us to take the remaining rides in the form of coupons so we didn’t have to actually complete all eight rides. Brian and I raced one time. Since it was a slow night and, it was just the two of us, the attendant cranked the go karts up to the top speed. Not being much of a daredevil, one race was enough for me. Each race lasts four minutes so it would have taken a bit longer to complete four races, and we still had to play some billiards. Neither of us really wanted to be there all night so we cheated at the go karts part as well.
We didn’t even last an hour when we played billiards. We played a couple of games and we were done. Brian lost both games but he didn’t care because he bowled a 252 that night and he was still euphoric from that. Anyway, they signed our cards anyway so we could turn it in at the front desk for the raffle. We didn’t quite finish the task but at least we gave it our best effort. And, we had a blast!
As for the remaining go kart tickets, we ended up using them with my little sister Nickira on Thursday night. Nickira said she wanted to eat somewhere she’d never been before so we took her to Cheddar’s right by the Alley.
After dinner we raced go karts a couple of times. It was perfect because we had exactly six rides left so the three of us got to race twice. The best part was that we were the only three people there so we had run of the track.
Brian and I had to take turns taking pictures. The first time we went in the following order: Nickira, me, then Brian. Brian was able to pass me but he couldn’t pass Nickira.
The second time it was Nickira, then Brian, then me. I was able to pass Brian but, again, I couldn’t pass Nickira. Who knew that my little sister was such an expert go kart driver? She knew exactly what to do to keep us from passing her.
Anyway, I can’t believe that school is several weeks in and Nickira still doesn’t have any homework. I’m beginning to wonder about her teacher. LOL. Kidding aside, I’m glad we got to do something fun last week because I have a YMCA dinner this week and won’t be able to get Kira this Thursday. We’ll just have to make up for it next week. I’m hoping that we will have some homework to do by then!
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