Wednesday, July 16, 2008

My very first entry!

Ok, well I have finally decided to give in and do this whole blogging thing. I sure hope I don't waste too much time doing this! Also please excuse any spelling errors! I swear I'm not dumb, I am just a bad speller!

Well... I'm not really sure how to start, or where to start. I guess I will give a brief synopsis of whats going on in our lives. I am currently 23, Zac is 26, and we have been married for 11 months. We are living in San Jose, CA and we have been here since January. We really like it here, although it has been rather hot lately. Zac works at Stryker (it is a medical device company) his technical title is a "purchasing analyst," although due to a rather weird situation into which he was put, he has kind of been doing 3 other jobs including buyer. He is working in the Sports Medicine division, which was actually a division that was supposed to be moved to a branch in New Jersey at the end of last year. So they disolved the divison last year, and then brought in Zac in January to take over the transfer, but they had some complications and now the branch won't be completely moved for another two years. So after 3 months of asking for more people to help him, they finally put another person on his team, and just a couple of weeks ago they decided to even hire a few more people on. It's actually a pretty cool situation because Zac gets to create new processes and figure out how to put new systems in place. He's kind of pioneering the way to run the Sports Med division, which is rapidly expanding to a whole new stryker branch that will be based out of Denver; so there's some opportunity there. Especailly since Zac ran it almost single-handedly for his first 3 months at Stryker. Recently he figured out a new process that will save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's pretty exciting!

When Zac found out that they were finally bringing more people in on the project he approached his manager about switching to a new position within Sports Med that he enjoyed more. At the end of the discussion his manager saw it Zac's way (imagine that) and agreed to switch him. Now Zac's title is "Business Planner." It's a lot better for him becuase he gets to have his hand in a lot more stuff and gets to take a leadership role. It is really exciting! It was kind of a big deal that Zac was able to convince his manager to let him change positions. Let's just say that Zac and his manager dont' see eye to eye sometimes. Maybe it's because she's the type of person that uses manager jargon, for example she won't ever say there is a problem, instead, everything is an "opportunity." It could be because she says things like "have the best day ever!" or that she always has a quote for everything. Or becuase she's the type that covers her entire office in huge framed posters that have words on them like "determination" with a picture of mountains, and "attainment" with a picture of a moose by the lake. Basically a lot of things that she "is" Zac "is not." I actually want to mention here that although all of the above stuff is true, it is more for humor than anything. She was instrumental in helping Zac get more people in Sports Med which has been fantastic! I actually met his manager for the first time this past weekend and she is a very nice, fun, and caring lady. She'll always give Zac little cards and stuff to let him know he's doing a good job! Zac actually likes her, and just finds the above stuff funny. I think she has been good for Zac. There, I ended on a positive note!

Anyway, as for me, at the begining of the year I was still taking online classes, so I was working part time at a tutoring club, but I finally graduated in April (yeah!) This is a picture of us celebrating my diploma. Zac wanted me to mention here that in the picture I am pointing at my diploma, and not something else :)

So after graduation I decided to look for a new job. I am currently working at summer day camp for kids age K-6 called Destination Science, where I actually just got promoted to Site Director! We teach lessons and do hands on projects with the kids. Zac gets to play with all of the cool science experiments and toys that I bring home, so he loves my job! It has been fun and a good experience, but definitely taxing both physically and emotionally for me. It has also definitely confirmed for me that I definitely definitely definitely want to teach high school, and could never teach elementary school! Anyone that could do that on a full time basis is a saint!

So as far as what's going on in our lives, we have gone to Great America (an amusement park) a few times which has been really exciting and fun for us! We actually got season passes. This picture was from the first time we went. We actually went again this last weekend for Styker's employee picnic. It was soooo much fun! Our closest friends out here, Ryan and Kaylee were there because Ryan works at Stryker too. We also met two other Mormon couples while we were there. It was so nice to have other Mormon couples there! Pretty much everyone who works at Stryker is under 30 and with Stykers free open bar, it's basically like being at frat party at a college (other than BYU). But we had a lot of fun drinking our soda, riding the roller coasters and playing at the water park.

Oh and I have also decided that in addition to wishing I could have my cat Morteki here with me, I also wish we could get a pomeranian! Some of our other close friends Jesse and Cat let us watch their dog Pupface (yes, that's her name - Pupface Killer actually; since their last name is Wilson I guess her full name is Pupface Killer Wilson) over the 4th of July weekend, and it was the funest (and yes I know funest is not a word- but saying "most fun" just takes the excitment out of it) experience ever! I am totally hooked, and I desperately want a little Pupface! She was the cutest little dog ever, and was totally like my little baby, and even though this was two weeks ago, I am still having withdrawls! Even Zac, who said he hated "poofy" little dogs really liked her too. He convinced himself that she looked like a little fox, rather than a Q-tip so he could legitimately like her. She would always snuggle up to him at night and try to give him kisses. If only our apartment complex allowed dogs!


She is just the cutest little dog. We discovered that she gets really excited when she knows it's time to go. One time we put her in her bag to leave, but then we had to go get a few things, so I put her down in her bag and left, and when I came back like 10 minutes later, she was still sitting patiently in her bad waiting to go! Well we thought it was so freaking adorable we took like a million pictures of her just sitting in her bag waiting to leave.



Well I guess thats about it for now!












3 comments:

  1. Great Blog Kira: I now know more about what is going on in you and Zac's lives than I have for almost a year.

    To the dog: From one SOB to another. Don't chase your tail, you will always fall behind. Get it? Fall be-hind. That is the only dog joke I know. Although I do know a good elephant joke.

    How do I subscribe to your blog. Can I get notices as you update your blog? I'd like that very much.

    Love you,

    Verl

    Oh yea, I love you too Zac,

    Dad

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  2. I am so glad that you guys blog now, i feel a bit more connected, since your precious hubby never seems to return calls! Welcome to the blogosphere and i am excited to read yours. You can check ours out at leapsandspringsawayfromhome.blogspot.com

    Oh yeah, just to let ya know, we are moving back to utah in 2 weeks!!! boh-yaa.

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