Second Place

David and I attened the 4th annual chili cook-off at our church today. I made a pot of chili and entered for the fun of it. I used the family's Christmas Eve chili recipie and doctored it up a little with some chorizo and some other things. The judges had to taste around 40 different chilis. I am sure they paid for that later! In the end I took second place! It was a fun day all around!

Entry for October 11th 2008

Since it has been some time since the last update, I decided it was time to update everybody on what has been going on.
To start with, LeAnn has been working and working and working. She has been running herself ragged working her normal 3 shifts. She had call last week and ended up working 4 straight shifts. It was hard on her, but she accomplished it. She is still working in the NICU and is enjoying it immensely.
As for me, I have interviewed with TUSD and Pima County. 2 weeks after I interviewed with TUSD, they offered me the job. The assistant principal worked on Sunday to get my references checked. I ended up telling him that I would have to wait until the following Monday to start, due to the Pima County interview. I went to the interview and they never called me back (after saying that they would call me the following Monday, when I was supposed to start for TUSD). After not hearing from Pima County, I went to new employee orientation and spent 3 hours in a freezing cold room filling out paperwork. I actually started on Tuesday.My first day on the job was busy. I met so many people, I don't remember most of their names, but I remember most of their faces. There are approximately 70 teachers at Rincon High School, which is where I am assigned as the School Site Network Technician. The first thing that happened as I got there was the server for the school went down. Since we can't access the server, we had to call the district technician to fix the problem (even though most of our problems can be fixed by us). A couple of hours later, everything was back online and our day continued (I work with another site technician for University High School, because we have 2 schools based at our site). Many teachers asked for help, and we were more than willing to help them. I had so much fun, I walked out of there with a huge smile.
The next day was much of the same. I was running around the school helping everybody. I was so busy, I didn't have time for lunch.
Thursday was the same.
Friday had no school. It was a grading day. However, we started with a meeting and I was introduced to the staff that was there. I also had the task of setting up my classroom/lab. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the lab didn't get set up. The lab consists of 1 side containing 30 computers(soon to be 32 or more), with a station for me and the teacher, and a second side containing 28 computers (soon to be 30 or more). I have a semi-large desk with a table on one side hooked up to a scanner and network printer. I also have taken control of LeAnn's PDA and am using it constantly. It helps me to keep track of everything going on, including email (which I am getting a lot of). If I can get permission from my supervisor, I am going to set up some servers to help with the networking classes and aid the school with email capabilities.
I am also looking at grant opportunities to update and expand the lab. I plan on (with enough money) to upgrade the entire lab and place computers in several classrooms, all networked. I am also asking my supervisor for more equipment, desks and chairs, so that I can accommodate more student in the lab and larger classes (the largest class I have is around 35). I am also planning on opening the lab during lunch with a pass and before and after school with a pass (as I am available). In the past, students would just walk in and use the lab. This is changing. The teachers and staff have been extremely helpful and very easy to work with. I also have 2 interns that are going to help me this year (one is going to do nothing other than the website, while the other is staying with the other site tech till the end of the semester unless I need him).
I am extremely happy to have a job once again. My normal hours are 7:00 to 3:30, which means that I get up at around 5 to leave at 6 to get there at about 7. Rincon is located at 5th and Swan, so it is about a 45 minute drive in the afternoon and less in the morning (no traffic). I am so happy, that I have been working from home at nights trying to answer emails and get simple things done (such as updating the website). LeAnn gets a little upset at me doing this, but understands. She is so sweet and understanding.
I think that this will be it for this update. I hope to hear from everybody soon and everthing is good where you are at.
David

Entry for July 17, 2008

Hello everybody.

Yes, I am currently nausiated and drugged up, but I can still type pretty good. My surgery was successful. I had a plica removed from my knee and am now in the recovery stages. I had my first physical therapy appointment yesterday and got the drain removed. It was painful up until then, but it is a little better now.

The people from our small group and church are helping us out. One of them is going to take me to physical therapy tomorrow. I really like them and our church. I am happy that they are able to help me out when I need it.

I am going to lay down for a little while to help to ease the nausia. Thanks for all of the prayers that everybody has given me.

Entry for July 04, 2008

This Monday Dad had a total knee replacement. Wednesday was the hardest day since it was the day he came home from the hospital. He and mom were understandably exhausted by the time we got them home. Dad began outpatient therapy on Thursday and he is up and walking with a walker and already able to bend the knee beyond 90 degrees.

David's knee surgery was postponed due to a death in the doctor's family. He will be having his surgery on July 15th instead. In the mean time his job search continues and he is working on getting the town house remodeled. The kitchen cabinets are in and he is in the process of doing some painting. The next step will be the counter tops and some new tile. Slowly but surely it is all coming together.

We spent the day at home for the most part. David's parents came over (My Mom and Dad were not quite feeling up to an excursion just yet) and we threw some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. We enjoyed the food and then watched a movie before moving to the driveway for a prime view of the fireworks. Our new house is just across a cotton field from where the fireworks are set off. It was the best seat we have had for a show in a few years. We could hear the whistle of the fireworks being launched.

Entry for June 27, 2008

Ok, so obviously I am not very good at keeping everyone up to date. :P Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes. My new job is going well and I am finally off orientation. I went to nights starting June 1st. I am enjoying the job, but still struggling to adjust to the night time schedule at times. Slowly but surely I will get all the wrinkles ironed out.

We found out this week that David has to have surgery on his knee...yes we did this about a year ago on the other knee. Same problem, different knee. He will have his surgery on July 3rd and is supposed to start therapy the following Monday. The doctor said that he wants him up and around as soon as the next day.

David is continuing to work on getting the town house ready to go on the market. He is hoping to get a large chunk of the work done before his knee surgery. He is working on it every day while I sleep.

Well babies are calling gotta run!

Entry for February 06, 2008

I am finally done with nursing school!!! I tested for my license last monday and had my license in my hand by friday. I will be starting my new job on Monday morning. It will be days for the first couple of months as I go through training, but then I will switch to nights. David has been very supportive through the whole thing. He is back to work and doing well. Our next goal is to get a new house that is big enought to last us for a long time and has a nice yard for the dogs. Hopefully we will be able to do that within the next year. We are both looking forward to having some more SPACE!

Entry for October 22, 2007

Wow! How time flies! David is recovering from knee surgery and doing physical therapy. Right now he is on light duty at work, but hopefully he will be able to return to his regular duties soon. I am plugging away at nursing school and will graduate in December. Maybe once things calm down a bit we will get better at updating this more often . For now our life continues to be busy and full! More to come later, but now I have to get some sleep.