"Katinka"

Here is our new addition to the clan, our new 10 week old kitten Katinka.

Job so far and the spare room

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted on here. I have just been so dang busy!! The job is going really well. I had my training on Monday and then worked at the Women's and Children's clinic in Silverdale. It is gorgeous!!! It is at the back end of Harrison Hospital and we get the end with the best view. The entire side wall is windows that overlook the sound and mountains. I'll remember to take some pictures, the ones above are of the hospital and one of the views...yes costco too. So far my manager has said I've done a great job and she knew I would be perfect for the job. The second day I was there scanning files I realized how frustrating their program is compared to the one I used at the medical billing office. I decided to spend some time searching the program settings to try to make it for time efficient. My time paid off.

Originally when we scanned a certain section of documents within a file we had to break that section up by single sided and double sided forms while keeping them in order. Meaning that I would scan single sided, switch the setting to double sided, switch it back and scan single sided. Basically it took a lot of unnecessary time. I found a setting that allowed me to plop the whole section in the scanner and it would automatically remove any blank pages in the system. That way I didn't have to take the time to sort them. I played with the pigments to find the setting that best read all the forms without accidentally deleting an important form. Also, I set it so that after you scanned a section a pop-up word pad would tell you which pages had their backs deleting. That way if it deleted one you need you would know right away and would be able to correct it. I know....confusing. Anyway, I about jumped out of my seat when I finally got it to work and could propose the switch to the clinic manager, CEO, and I.T. manager. I first explained my little discovery to the clinic manager. She was completely overjoyed. She kept saying, " I knew it from the day I met you in the interview that you would be perfect! I can't believe you found this...holy cow! This is huge! I have to call every clinic manager." She couldn't stop saying how excited she was. She left and went to her office to call everyone to let them know. I was ecstatic! Only my second day on the job and I already had my name known to all the clinic managers and the head honchos! Then yesterday my manager came to talk to me after she attended the manager's meeting. She said that she proposed my idea to everyone and they were jumping through the roof. They were exclaiming that I should get a raise and were praising my name basically. I don't mean to brag, but I was just smitten to hear that all the managers knew my name and decided to approve my idea on my second day!! So yeah...I kicked butt this week!

Enough about me, Mike had a great work week too. He had his review and his manager gave him an excellent review and said that most guys in that position never get as great of praise as he got. Then yesterday his manager said that he fought with another manager over who gets him. It looks like he will be getting a nice bonus for his work at the end of the year. Also, the other manager won and gets Mike I believe sometime next week for some work on one of the battle subs. Mike's being very humble as usual, but he is doing outstanding. I am so proud of us both. We finally finished the spare room and it looks great. We have been enjoying reading and listening to classical music every night. We both are very busy, but looking forward to a muddy bike ride tomorrow. I'm very excited to get out and explore this great area. I'll make sure to take pictures of that too.

Mike's vw

Here's Mike breaking in the new tires.

Job update and new pictures

So I got the job!!! I am so very excited!!! I will start my training on Monday and then I will be working at the women's and children's clinic here in Bremerton, which is about five minutes away! My position is a Health Information Technician which basically means I'm the person who comes into the offices and updates all medical files and records into the computer system creating electronic files. The plan is to bring all clinics to be on electronic files only. I am very excited since this is exactly what I was doing at the medical billing office. It will be such a relief on Mike and I financially to have that extra cushion to put into savings and towards paying off bills and debts. Wish me luck on my first week! I have added some pictures from this weekend of me dressing the girls up in sweaters since they were a little chilly, Isis getting a bath, the enormous spider found in the bathroom, and my first drawing for my art class.

tree climbers

Who knew they had it in them to climb trees? We were playing frisbee and one landed in the tree and they went right after it.....hilarious! Here is also Mike and Isis enjoying breakfast and coffee. With Mike's new bike lights he will never ride in the dark again! We tried them out the other night riding to get some groceries and they were brighter than most car headlights! Now he wont have an excuse for hitting anything on his bike rides.

A beach in Silverdale

Here's some pictures from a beach we had lunch at in Silverdale today.

Driving around

Here's some pictures from the freeway driving to Silverdale. See it doesn't always rain!

Fish taco night!

Thanks to Mike's Aunt Wendy and Uncle Chris we got some great halibut and a fish taco recipe. They came out very delicious. We were stuffed and the dogs too....from their mutt chunks that is.

frisbee with the girls

The girls playing with the frisbee.....little did we know that Annie had the coordination.

new stuff

Hey all here's a picture of Annie holding the tennis ball away from Isis so she can destroy it. Mike is holding a chicken and roasted veggie on roasted garlic mashed potatoes dinner that I made last night with our new crock pot thanks to Kathy and Jeff. The last three are from my drawing class.

girls play time

House tour

Hey all! Things are going well with us. Just wanted to post some videos for entertainment. Hope you enjoy! Sorry the house tour is sideways!

Bark Park Adventure

Yesterday we took the wild ones to the local bark park. They were a little beyond excited for the trip. After being cooped up in the house all week they had a lot of energy to burn off. The second they were released from their leases we expected them to sprint out in all directions. Instead they walked a couple feet and smelled all the left-over scents from previous doggies. Then we brought out the chuck-it. To put simply, they went CRAZY!! We had them sprinting all over the field for a good couple of hours. They got to meet another German Short hair that was much more normal than Annie. Meaning it actually behaved! They found the first puddle of water and immediately decided to lay down in it to cool off. Then after a long play time we drove home and they snuggled and took a nap together.

Bremerton So Far

Hello all!
I still can't believe that I live in Washington! So far the weather has been outstanding ranging between 75-80 with clear skies. Annie is enjoying herself as well. Her and Isis had quite an exciting reunion that consisted of wrestling and chasing with hyper wagging tails. We are probably going to have to invest in an invisible dog fence for Annie since we have found her in the neighbors yard chasing the numerous squirrels found here. That way when she feels the need to chase them she will get a nice zap to remind her to stay in her yard.

I signed up for my classes yesterday and am thrilled that I only have to be on campus for one since the rest I can take from the comfort of home! That also gives me the day to be working my booty off to make some money. I have posted my resume on numerous jobs and it's looking like the navy civilian jobs are going to be the best paying jobs as well as have the best benefits plan and health insurance plans (kinda a necessity when your boyfriend continually injures himself!).

Mike was talking to his supervisor yesterday and it looks like they might be offering him a huge job in Japan for five weeks! They will be paying him a big chunk of money as well as pay for his meals, flight, and numerous hours of overtime. He is getting his passport together and waiting anxiously for their response. That and the air miles he flies he gets to use towards another flight, which means that they would pay for our tickets home for Christmas! I'll keep everyone updated on this venture, until we have a final answer it's up in the air.

Right now between job hunting and not getting lost in this town I am in contact with a coach for a local masters swim team. Hopefully I can join so I can continue to swim and compete in some races. I just hope they are in a pool and not with the sharks...yikes! Although the fear of jaws chomping me to peaces would probably make me swimmer than I ever have. Anyways, hope everyone is doing great! Feel free to leave comments here or call us at any time!

Bremerton trip

Here are a few pictures from my trip to Washingon in August. We will be posting more once we get a chance to take some!