Since I moved to Gillette a few weeks ago some pictures and and account of my doings is in order. Work officially started on January 22, 2007, but I really have not done work until today. I got my first claim this morning, and had an estimate done by noon. The previous seven weeks have all been training. I completed two two-week sessions training in Phoenix, as well as three weeks doing online courses in the office. The training has almost been a two month vacation. While there have been tests and certifications the training has not been that intense.

While in Phoenix it was nice to have someone make my bead, prepare my breakfast, take care of all the cleaning, and have time to sit in a hot-tub. This time round I did take some time to do a little hiking. There is a park just across the street from the training center full of great hiking and biking trails. I was surprised to also find an area with mountain goats on it. It was surprising to find goats essentially in the middle of the city. The area was fenced off, and they must feed and water the goats since there is not really nothing there but rock. That is kind of my opinion of Phoenix. Nothing there but rock, and then this crazy city that certainly does not belong. I wonder why a city like Phoenix grows, yet others don't.

Well, it is nice to be home. I like Gillette, even though my apartment stinks. When I got home late Friday night I opened my door the the smell of cigarette smoke and mildew. I was greeted by a leaky water heater. The carpet in the extra room was completely soaked. It really smells terrible. It turns out that a hole rusted through my water heater and the drain that is supposed to prevent a flood was plugged up. Amazingly the people downstairs did not get any water. Still it is just drying out tonight and getting rid of the mildew may require replacing the carpet.

Luckily I have a pretty good apartment owner so replacement of the water heater was quick, and the carpet should be taken care of soon. The rest of the post will just be some pictures of things I have done.

HERE THEY ARE

Me in the batting cages. If you look close you will notice that I am hitting a softball. The baseballs were to fast to photograph well.

The only picture of me in class. As far as I know I am the only one to take a picture in class. Perhaps I will take a picture of our Casualty class picture.

Here is the goat. I had to take the picture facing the sun so I only got the silhouette.

Picture of the Training Center. It is the white building.

Flying over Colorado

Moving in with Jon and Kanien. I could not have done it without their help.