So my doctor's office (which is a convenient 5 minute walk from my doorstep) had an open house today and I ended up going with my mom. I ended up having a lot of fun and there was a lot to do, so here's a massive photodump.
The above is the primary care office, a former Ethan Allen store that's now exam rooms, office reception and kick-ass Kerug coffee machine space (man I love those things) as well as a recuperation and therapeutic exercise gym (for patients only). It replaces former office space that used to be in Southlands Mall proper that to my understanding has now been divvied up for other non-retail businesses. Despite being converted retail space the building itself is still pretty new.
And here's the purpose-built imaging/radiology/ER center which sits about a quarter of a block away from the primary care office with a Red Lobster and Olive Garden (who also saw a lot of action today from hungry open-house goers going "eh what the heck") sitting in between. The separate primary care and ER/imaging facilities have a much smaller footprint than the sprawling medical complexes most people are familiar with while at the same time having a more open environment as a direct benefit of their small size, replacing the huge and impersonal monolithic impression of large buildings with a much more intimate feel. At the same time the ER/imaging building is able to provide the same full emergency, surgical, imaging (including CAT scan/MRI and radiology) and outpatient care as a larger facility though at the obvious sacrifice of raw capacity.
Here's another view of the ER building I took from the helipad (yes it even has its own helipad, but more on that later) because I was being a dork.
They also had firetrucks and other emergency vehicles there. So, uh, here's a fire truck. I actually see this particular truck all the time because the firehouse it's attached to is in turn attached (quite literally) to my local library which is either a healthy 20 minute walk or a 5 minute car ride away (you can barely make out the "13" for Aurora Fire Station No. 13).
Random close-up of equipment on truck photo #1.
...and #2 and wow my stupid Android Potato takes lens flares like it's taking cinematography direction from J.J. Abrams.
...and #3. Remember, Life Counts, Dial 911.
...and #4.
Engine Pump Operator's Platform. The controls are behind the boot cover.
Where every 5 year old imagines sitting (and where quite a few did, at least for today).
The view for said 5-year-old. Gauges are...not Camaro-like.
...I can't decide if I did the photographic equivalent of butt-dialing this image or something, but here's a hose and a random hoodie or something.
The view from someone older than 5 years old. As you'd figure it's pretty panoramic, but as you'd also figure objects immediately in front are impossible to see. Don't walk right in front of firetrucks, kids.
Back office has back-up equipment and other things for smaller jobs.
Fire extinguisher goes here. I'm guessing. Also, five megapixels my ass (or rather, are worthless without image stabilization).
Hooray for Android Potato! Not much detail captured here but hopefully there's something you find of value here to salvage the image.
The view from the back office is a bit dark and lonely. The guys up front always have all the fun.
A bit more light in this view. You've got flashlights and headphones and, um, stuff. Useful stuff. I'm sure.
An unexpected Jalop surprise was this cake pop truck. Say hi to Humphrey. If you know what make or model he is you know more than me. Their cake pops were pretty freakin' awesome BTW. The funfetti ones are to die for.
Another view. You can clearly see "Somewhere over the Rainbow" written on the whiteboard menu (the open house theme was Wizard of Oz, for some reason, but hey I dig it). Don't be shy about visiting that website or calling that phone number during business hours, like I said the funfetti pops are to die for (my mom thought they were meh, but she's like Asian Lady Grumpy Cat). I'm sure the cupcakes and other sweets are pretty awesome but funfetti and fudge cakepops were it today. I'm actually really shocked at how well this picture came out, it looks like it came right from my 15 megapixel fun shooter which actually does have image stabilization. Now that I think about it I wish I was smart enough to take a back view. Or my fun shooter.
If you follow my posts you know I have a thing for Disney Channel despite my age (probably all the proof necessary for sending me to the looney bin) so when presented with a Disney Princess (or the like) I'm obligated to take a picture.
Like I said Wizard of Oz themed.
For whatever reason Dorothy couldn't work out the timing of actually getting her face on camera.
Here's another pumper truck. I don't know where Cunningham Fire Rescue's firehouse is as, as far as I know, Cunninham, CO flat out doesn't exist. I think it might be the Cunningham Fire District of Aurora which I think includes Aurora Fire House No. 13 - something about the city being divided into different fire districts for tax distribution purposes. Unlike police precincts I think they actually have a lot of independence in operation and equipment acquisition.
Like I said they installed a helipad when they were building the ER facility, and so naturally they had a helicopter come by. In fact it just landed when I took this - if you expand the image you might be able to see the movement of the blades captured.
Oh, and they had this thing. You probably know what these things are and seen them before, they exist primarily to scare young children at open houses. Like clowns but unable to unionize. There's a guy sitting in the ambulance that's controlling it, though you probably already knew that.
And just as I was writing that I heard a loud pop from my chair that sounded like a balloon biting the dust and just about gave me a heart attack. Yeah it's kind of a non-sequitor but they had a blood pressure booth and one of the balloons popped right when they were squeezing the ball to the pressure cuff. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Helicopter, whee.
Helicopters and lens flares. A marriage of J.J. Abrams and Micheal Bay. At least you can see how the stretcher loads. Yeah these Eurocopter AStars are less than ideal for medical transport - except for the fact that they can get into small places and smaller facilities like this. The Bell 206 Jetranger that most people are familiar with isn't any bigger at all, though the 407 is and frankly is what I would hope would be coming for me if I needed one. Not that I'd complain either way - oh, and there was a drawing to get a "sunrise" ride in this thing. Yes of course I entered in it and so did my mom.
The front office where all the action happens.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!
Yeah I can't think of anything else for this one.
The Oz cosplay gang again, they were real troopers for posing for this pic for my stupid Potato.
Such troopers in fact that I'm posting this second pic just so their efforts won't go to waste.
Speaking of troopers and posing, the helicopter crew was nice enough to pose for this pic and damnit of course my thumb got in the way. I hate the lens placement on my Android Potato. My mom and I came close to when the open house first opened and I actually came back near closing time to take more pics when the crowds were gone so I had opportunity to bring my fun shooter and I should've taken it. Anyway I told the female pilot that there's an aviation program for Cherry Creek School District and they've love to have her as a guest speaker.
Close up of the instrument panel, no there's not a lot to it.
Paul Thompson of Flight Club knows all about these things but in case you don't, the screens are capable of pretty much displaying whatever you need including redundant information if desired.
The view from the side...
...and the front. The visibility is excellent needless to say, especially with the glass continuing down to the floor. Important for actually seeing where you need to land.
Another nose view, no I don't know why the coat is covering the nose like that, I think someone just left it there.
And the stretcher that comes from this thing. I like the sharp contrast and fidelity (yeah, I'm going there) of the yellow.
Rear fuselage shot, though it's not a good one at all. Frankly it's a better shot of the helipad than anything else and who cares about the friggin' helipad? (If you really do care that much, you should come by at night when the spot landing lights at least add a dramatic flair).
I think this is more photographic butt-dialing but at least it's a detail shot.
I was trying to go for the type of shot my friend Denver-Hebrew Letters My Keyboard Can't Do typically does. I'm not so sure if I'm really that satisfied, but meh I'll take it.
Yes even European helicopters have GM-esque stick-on badging.
Another attempt at an artful shot. You can see the spotlight that lets nurses and medical personnel actually see at night when loading and unloading. Also Operated By WHO?!?!?! TELL ME!
Fun fact: I didn't tell this guy to pose like this. Believe it or not he was actually in the middle of conversation with someone else and this is how it naturally turned out.
...well, not really. But all I did was ask him to hold the pose he was already in when he was talking to the family ahead of me. The serendipity of it makes it my favorite shot more than the actual cool factor.
View from the side office where the patient goes.
I just wanted a side shot of the displays they had in between the two buildings. They had a bunch of displays and swag and I literally walked away with bags and bags and bags. I mean it. Over half a dozen reusable shopping bags in total. Even when I wasn't really looking to grab a bag they kept passing them on and they just became a necessity due to all the swag. Here let me show you some!
They had these puzzle thingies that, according to the guy handing them out, were very hard to figure out and my mom did it in less than 5 minutes. I think they're cute.
They also had these brain erasers that my mom was playing with and put in an interesting formation that I thought was interesting enough to actually take a picture of. I guess ironically the two least interesting pics of the least artistic merit were taken with the best camera I have, but hey that's the big advantage of being at home.
They also had a booth passing out pumpkins, and so I took a few. When I went back towards the end they were actively passing them off to me, they would've been simply pitched into the trash otherwise. I was thinking of setting them as Halloween decorations (we'd have none otherwise) but my mom wants to actually bake them and you know what? I'm totally down with that. I want to artfully photograph them first though, so I better do that soon. I'll post those results as well. Went I went to the library after the event closed they had a little Frozen thing too, with a really beautiful-looking Elsa. I didn't take any pics because my Potato was loaded to capacity and given the children it seemed a little creepy. I do have a lot of admiration for party princesses - they put up with a lot of stress but do it with grace and aplomb and, yeah, they're beautiful. I hope that doesn't sound too sexist, really I see them as very professional.
Anyway I had a lot of fun. A lot of walking around and exercising, but the weather was excellent and it was very nice to spend the day with my mom and have a lot of fun. Given what I've been through recently (with my mom and with hospitals no less) it was very good to be here and even downright cathartic, really kind of a miracle (well, I've known about this event weeks in advance). Either way, I feel like today was more or less exactly what I needed.