[M.B.E.]

First a quibble about the way you phrased something:

[ QUOTE ]
I raise it up to 2,000 (I think this may have been my first mistake, I'm out of position, but have a strong hand and want to try to either pick up the pot right there or get it heads-up.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you implying that being out of position is a factor militating in favour of just calling rather than raising? If so, I disagree with that. I think that generally, if you're going to play the hand, being out of position militates in favour of raising. The reason: the bigger the pot (in relation to remaining stacks), the less position is an advantage.

As for the flop decision, you want to push, to protect your hand.