Here is a list of the things I did today after I told myself it was time to focus and write a blog post about updating the CMEpalooza Archive:

• Called my wife, who is spending a few days in Maine, even though I just talked to her a few hours ago. Sad news: she is working on a sewing project and the hem of the skirt she is making is crooked. It’s a good thing I called to help her through it.
• Finished Wordle. Got it in four. Not my best work. (Side note: My opening word is always STARE and I never change it. Last week, finally, FINALLY, I thought my moment had come as S, then T, then A, then R lit up in green. Alas, the E stayed a soul-crushing gray. Curse you, STARK!) (Note from Scott: Apparently, Derek and I have spent wayyyy too much time together over the years. I could have written this same item almost verbatim, although I very rarely will choose a somewhat random starting word just for kicks)
• Took the dog for a walk. Was she staring at me begging to go out? No, but look at her. She clearly is full of energy and needs some exercise to calm her down.
  
• Had a staring contest with the cat. He won, as usual. I’m just glad he didn’t murder me afterward. You never know with him.
  
• Stared blankly at the laptop
• Put the duvet cover in the washing machine. Another urgent matter that could not wait another minute and had to be done right now!
• Scrolled through Spotify to find the perfect music to listen to while thinking and writing. I’ve been on a jazz kick lately, so it took me a decent amount of time to sample different albums that would be right for the occasion. I finally settled on the Bill Evans Trio’s live album Sunday at the Village Vanguard, but then put on The National because I always put on The National.
• Got a snack (Chex Mix) and refilled my water bottle

And here we are.

I did update the CMEpalooza Archive with all the sessions from CMEpalooza Spring 2024. Be sure to check it out if you missed any of the spring sessions or because we’re so dang cute that you can’t get enough of us. The archive contains every session from every CMEpalooza since 2014 — that’s a lot — and all for free.

Once we wrap up CMEpalooza Spring each April, Derek and I usually take a mental break for a month or so before we realize that, “Oops, guess it’s time to plan for the next one.” Consequently, we have our luxurious preparatory retreat on a remote island accessible only by water buffalo scheduled for next week, but we do have a few announcements to pass along in the meantime.

As many of you know, the CME community lost two of its most treasured individuals — Ron Murray and Jason O’Grady — earlier this year, so our first two announcements are associated with their memories, while the third announcement is more of a self-promotion kind of thing.

1. Two of Ron Murray’s former colleagues from his time in the Office of Continuing Medical Education of University of Virginia School of Medicine are working on a project to pull together memories and photos of Ron’s professional life and friendships that will be compiled and shared with his family. Anyone who would like to contribute can send information to ronmurraymemories@gmail.com, a special mailbox that has been created for this project. The goal of this project is to give Ron’s family a picture of his legacy and life as a CME/CE professional. They have asked that submissions be sent by early September.
2. Thanks to an anonymous donation in memory of Jason O’Grady, we will be holding our inaugural CMEpalooza Trivia Night in conjunction with the Alliance Industry Summit (AIS) later this year in Philadelphia. We’re still firming up some of the details, but this FREE event will be held from 6-7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 17. There will almost certainly be food and drink served at this event, and not just the bags of stale soft pretzels that Derek picks up outside of the Phillies game this weekend. We will share more details as the date gets closer. We are going to require advance registration as there will be an attendance limit, but we should be able to accommodate lots of folks.
3. Speaking of AIS, last year I led a special walking tour of historic Philadelphia for conference attendees. I have had a few people ask if I would do it again this year. While we’re going to be busy with another event (see #2 above), I am volunteering leading FREE walking tours throughout the summer as part of the Independence National Historic Trust’s Twilight Tour program. While I am only out there about once a week, there are tours every night throughout the summer. But if you really only want to find me and only me, here are the dates and times I’ll be out there for the start of these 1-hour tours (you do not need to pre-register for these):
   • Friday, June 7 at 5:15 pm
   • Friday, June 21 at 6 pm
   • Thursday, June 27 at 6 pm
   • Friday, July 5 at 5:15 pm
   • Friday, July 12 at 6 pm
   • Thursday, July 25 at 6 pm
   • Friday, August 16 at 5:15 pm
   • Friday, August 23 at 6 pm
   • Friday, August 30 at 5:15 pm
   • Friday, September 6 at 5:15 pm

Happy summer everyone!

(note from Derek: I truly was not going to say anything about #3 above because it is a nice thing that Scott does/is doing, but it is driving me slightly nuts that he left out the colons for every “515 pm.” What’s that all about? Does he want me to edit them for him? Is this a Gen Z thing and he’s trying to keep up with the kids? Is he just screwing with me? He’s probably just screwing with me. I’m going back on my CMEpalooza break.)

Thanks to everyone who participated in our fourth CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge last week! We had a great response and were happy to see so many of you taking up the challenge, even though the weather didn’t always cooperate.

Of course, a very special thank you to Talem Health for sponsoring the event and providing all the entrants with this sweet YETI water bottle. I bet the rest of you are jealous you didn’t enter now, aren’t you?

And now…onto the winners!

Winners of the $50 Amazon gift card drawing (one entry for each daily screenshot showing over 10,000 steps)

1. Adrienne C. Ross
2. Vanessa Gray
3. Christina Casanova
4. Jessica Rice
5. Jenni Binon

Winner of $250 Amazon gift card for most steps in one day

Rhona Fraser with an amazing 57,186 steps! It makes me tired just typing that number out.

Congratulations to all!