Our New Way of Life

OK. As you can tell from the photo of our family (taken in 2008), my husband and I need to lose a few, OK, more like, lots of pounds. It has been a real trial for us to get healthy and fit. But we do have a goal in mind. In 2014, we are having a Bruce and Mary Johnson Family Reunion at Disney World. We will be using the time between now and then to get healthy and fit. It may take some doing as I have 100 lbs to lose and Peter more than 300, but we are going to do it. I'm not stating how much we weigh, but you get the general idea. We have our work cut out for us. I had made a goal that I would start or already have started doing something about my weight and lack of exercise by the time my birthday (#40) came. Well, my 40th birthday was on the 5th, and I'm happy to say that we, Peter, myself and the kids, have been exercising in one form or another for the past week. We have alternated walking and swimming as a family. It has been good for us as the kids need to build this habit before they have this rather "large" problem. Unfortunately, genetics is not on their side. So, we have just about 4 years to really make a difference in our lifestyle habits and have a great family reunion at Disney World.

My new carrier at DOC.

Well, my life changed around March 22, 2010. I'm no longer a bus driver, although I have kept my bus driver status. I am now working for the Department of Corrections at Coyote Ridge Correctional Center here in Connell. I am an OA3, or office assistant. I'm the one that makes sure that everything is in working order and everyone knows what's going on in the unit. Of course, there's not a lot to do if nothing is happening, but then that's government work for you.
I went through 6 weeks of CORE training. CORE is all the "necessary" information you need to know to do you job and so you can go home alive at the end of the day. I had to learn policies and procedures, self defense, how to do a cell search, a pat down search, hand cuffing, and interaction with inmates. It's all very intense stuff for an office assistant, but well worth it. It really opens your eyes to all the games that get played, so it helps to understand the players.