Someone tried to poison me yesterday...it was me! In all the time I have been preparing my own meals, this is only the second time I have poisoned myself...this time with a piece of fish... (the first time was back in 1999, with a chicken I refer to now as "Sal" like Sal-monella). So, the lesson learned, which was painfully (very much so) obvious as I ejected "mr. fish", was always prepare and eat a piece of fish on the day you buy it... But , not to worry... after a prolonged "abdominal workout" (which you won't find in any exercise manual) I awoke this morning weak but feeling better. In the immortal words of KC Flood, "I worked ab muscles that I didn't even know I had!"
But on to better subjects... Monday night went to see "Benjamin Button" at a dinner theater in Scottsdale. Movie and cuisine was good...(I actually managed to see an Oscar nominated film before the Oscars...) Hung out with my new E&A buddies...(a couple of my "harem" girls from bowling event last week were in attendance). Played golf Tuesday at the local municipal course and still haven't found my groove, although I hit the ball much better...(need to hit the practice range more)... Playing Saturday afternoon with Mary Ellen at Talking Stick in Scottsdale (another Troon layout) so we'll see if my abs can handle a round of golf...
Thursday night was Phoenix Coyotes vs. Atlanta Thrashers at the Jobing.com Arena...(across the parking lot from Glendale Stadium (Cardinals home). Nice arena, exciting game (three periods, overtime and a shootout) with the home team winning on the seventh shootout attempt (by that time my voice was exhausted). Too many empty seats at the game though...(not too much support for ice hockey in the desert, even with "the Great One" Gretzky as the coach) but the noise level was impressive. Alice Cooper in attendance also. I think the PBR event this weekend (bull-riding) will draw a bigger crowd. As will the NHRA Nationals at Firestone Park in Chandler... With President Obama's visit on Tuesday, it's been a busy week in Arizona...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Jim and his magic "wand"
I arrived early to park (they let us park for two bucks--security discount) and wandered over to the "block party" and signed in... They assigned me to a crew and off I went to find out what the heck I was supposed to do... Our crew was working Gate 1 entrance and Harry Chapin (that was really his name) the crew lead showed me what I needed to know and do for the day... We were bag checks and "wand" people... I was given a metal detecting "wand" and had to scan everyone coming in for weapons and such... The gates opened at 2pm and the sea of people started coming in... When the masses finally ebbed to where I could check my watch, it was already 5:30!! The lines continued to come and my wand finally gave out around 10 pm...(dead battery). I then moved over to "exit watch" (nobody leaves with drinkables...alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and did a few bag checks to relieve my crew mates... No weapons were detected and almost everyone was a good sport about assuming the "arms out to the side" pose...( a couple people were jawing about removing their hats, but the police presence in the party and on the streets was pretty overwhelming and there were no incidents (thank you very much!)).
The time flew by, vendors were bringing us Red Bull (awful!) and Coke Zero (even worse!) and like I said, there were no incidents, so a successful debut as "security man". The gates closed at 10:15 and we walked around asking people to leave and by 10:30 the only people left were the police, the vendor crews, and us... I signed out and walked back to the parking lot... (the restaurants on the block were packed, the police were everywhere, mounted on horseback, motorcyle and patrol cars)...
So my 10 hours of duty netted me some green fees and now I have to exchange one of my uniform shirts for a "security" uniform shirt... Dinner and a movie Monday with the E&A crowd...(Benjamin Button) and golf on Tuesday... Hope all is well with my blog buddies... See ya soon.
The time flew by, vendors were bringing us Red Bull (awful!) and Coke Zero (even worse!) and like I said, there were no incidents, so a successful debut as "security man". The gates closed at 10:15 and we walked around asking people to leave and by 10:30 the only people left were the police, the vendor crews, and us... I signed out and walked back to the parking lot... (the restaurants on the block were packed, the police were everywhere, mounted on horseback, motorcyle and patrol cars)...
So my 10 hours of duty netted me some green fees and now I have to exchange one of my uniform shirts for a "security" uniform shirt... Dinner and a movie Monday with the E&A crowd...(Benjamin Button) and golf on Tuesday... Hope all is well with my blog buddies... See ya soon.
All-Star Jam Session--Saturday
Saturday morning, up at the crack of 7am (my eyes popped open and I couldn't fall back asleep, even though I didn't fall asleep until after 2 am), dragging my arms on the floor from bowling abuse, in the shower and out the door around 11 to drive into downtown Phoenix to the Convention Center and the "All-Star Jam Session." We met at Starbucks (no Dunkin Donuts in the area) and got on line to go in... Two complete floors of the convention center covered in NBA and WNBA stuff and kid play areas and autograph stages and interactive games and hoops and clinics and a laundry list of events...(I think the "jam" in Jam Session was the fact that they "jammed" so many people into the convention center--to say it was packed is truly an understatement)... I wore my Kevin Garnett Celtic jersey and when we finally got in, missed a chance to get his autograph by about 3 minutes...(by the time we found where he was at, he was gone)... The lines for the autographs and everything else were worse than lines for rides at Six Flags or Disney...
We decided to hang at a clinic teaching youngsters fundamentals (Grant Hill was supposed to show) and he did come in... No chance to even ask for an autograph (he signed a ton of stuff for the kids, which is cool and took some pictures with people). He was then swept away by security... Also saw Darryl Dawkins and Sharif-Abdur Rhahim doing a little kids clinic...(too funny seeing 5 year-olds up to Chocolate Thunders knees!) The rest of the venue was like a trade show with sponsors booths and the charities that the NBA and WNBA both sponsor. We went upstairs and caught most of the second half of the D-League game (developmental league). Then I went to check out the "block party" (outside free admission fair in front of the US Airways Arena). Lines were around the block to get in...(I am working there Sunday as my first "security" assignment--1pm til 11 pm). It had games and concession stands and the ESPN motoer home was there, live music and such... Went home around 5:30 and crashed...
We decided to hang at a clinic teaching youngsters fundamentals (Grant Hill was supposed to show) and he did come in... No chance to even ask for an autograph (he signed a ton of stuff for the kids, which is cool and took some pictures with people). He was then swept away by security... Also saw Darryl Dawkins and Sharif-Abdur Rhahim doing a little kids clinic...(too funny seeing 5 year-olds up to Chocolate Thunders knees!) The rest of the venue was like a trade show with sponsors booths and the charities that the NBA and WNBA both sponsor. We went upstairs and caught most of the second half of the D-League game (developmental league). Then I went to check out the "block party" (outside free admission fair in front of the US Airways Arena). Lines were around the block to get in...(I am working there Sunday as my first "security" assignment--1pm til 11 pm). It had games and concession stands and the ESPN motoer home was there, live music and such... Went home around 5:30 and crashed...
Friday night at the bowl-a-rama
"Extreme bowling" was name given to the event on Friday night... I knew in the back of my mind that it was still just bowling with some "bells and whistles" but I went there with an open mind...and came away with this assessment. It was just bowling with some "bells and whistles"... For those of you who don't know, I was a bowling league participant when I lived in New York... Every Thursday night we would meet and roll our games (I was terrible), but it got me out of the house and hanging with my "buds" during the long cruel winter when there was no golf... I never quite got the appeal of bowling... in golf, when you made the same stroke the resulting shot is the same... in bowling, you hit the pins in the same way and the results are NEVER the same! The frustration factor is way too high for me... When I left New York and moved back to New Jersey, I swore I would never bowl again... And I kept my promise until Friday night...
32 people signed up for the event and we met at the alley and just picked lanes at random (we had 5-10)... I picked an optic orange ball (they also had purple, pink, green and yellow--bell and whistle colors) and dropped in at lane 6... the 5 other players on the lane were all women...(luck of the draw). The lights went down, the laser light show began, the music was cranked up and then we bowled til our arms fell off (unlimited games from 10pm-1am)... The girls on my "team" called themselves "Jim's harem" (believe it or not, I had nothing to do with the name) and we laughed and bowled horribly (nice to see all that crappy bowling I did in NY wasn't a fluke!)... After three games 2 of the girls had enough and took off so I decided to roll two games and Jill rolled 2 games... We rolled one game regular (me-righty, she-lefty) and the other game with our opposite hand. Needless to say, I can now officially bowl badly with EITHER hand!!
At 1 am, the lights were turned up and we were turned out... As I drove off into the night back to Chandler and a tube of Icy-Hot (for my abused shoulder joints), I vividly remembered why I had sworn off bowling in the first place and re-issued my vow not to attend another "Extreme bowling" event ever again... Or any other event having to do with bowling.
32 people signed up for the event and we met at the alley and just picked lanes at random (we had 5-10)... I picked an optic orange ball (they also had purple, pink, green and yellow--bell and whistle colors) and dropped in at lane 6... the 5 other players on the lane were all women...(luck of the draw). The lights went down, the laser light show began, the music was cranked up and then we bowled til our arms fell off (unlimited games from 10pm-1am)... The girls on my "team" called themselves "Jim's harem" (believe it or not, I had nothing to do with the name) and we laughed and bowled horribly (nice to see all that crappy bowling I did in NY wasn't a fluke!)... After three games 2 of the girls had enough and took off so I decided to roll two games and Jill rolled 2 games... We rolled one game regular (me-righty, she-lefty) and the other game with our opposite hand. Needless to say, I can now officially bowl badly with EITHER hand!!
At 1 am, the lights were turned up and we were turned out... As I drove off into the night back to Chandler and a tube of Icy-Hot (for my abused shoulder joints), I vividly remembered why I had sworn off bowling in the first place and re-issued my vow not to attend another "Extreme bowling" event ever again... Or any other event having to do with bowling.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
You always hurt the one you love...
Body inventory taken today... Everything is still where it should be and back to normal from the adventure of volleyball on Sunday... Anyone who compliments me with "you look like you're still in good shape" I know now is a liar...(I have a long way to go to even "say" I'm getting back into shape)...But the reward of getting somewhere is in the journey itself... Setting goals are great and achieving them are great, but there are more memories made in the actual journey to those goals...
Picked up my paycheck from "the Stand" yesterday... Talk about organized chaos... The company is moving into a new building and they had two people set up at a table outside handing out paychecks for everyone... The parking lot was a zoo, the line was long, but I managed to get what I came for... 87 total hours for the "king of parking lot 4". Leslie called me later that day and asked me if I got the right amount of money (they shorted her 15 hours--apparently she wasn't the only one), but my check was correct... Then I got a call from them today and they told me that my security guard card is in and I can pick it up Friday morning... so I am now officially in "security". I can start calling each week and maybe get security jobs with ASU or Macayo's Bar in Mesa... (as long as they're not in a parking lot).
Next "adventure" for the single man is "extreme bowling" (Bob, I can't believe it myself!) on Friday night... It starts at 10pm and goes until 1am and is not regular bowling...(they play music, have a light show, the pins glow in the dark, etc, etc.) I swore I would never bowl again, but hey, life is all about change and the idea here is to test the limits of my comfort zone (and believe me, bowling again will truly test not only my comfort zone)... It's all about meeting new friends and getting out and having some fun... Then on Saturday, its off to the All-Star Jam Session at the Phoenix Convention Center to watch a practice, get some autographs and "hang" with the All-Stars... (will try to get some photos)... So, its a busy weekend for the Arizona Kid...
Want to wish a Happy Valentines Day to all the ladies out there in blogger land... (I truly believe that it's an invention by Hallmark to bridge the gap in card buying between Christmas and Easter, but who am I to deny the ladies a well deserved "holiday"). If I had someone significant in my life, I would be out there buying gifts and cards, also... (I may believe a conspiracy is at work, but I'm not a stupid man!)... So, for all of you who have husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends or both, (just kidding) enjoy the Hallmark Holiday...
Picked up my paycheck from "the Stand" yesterday... Talk about organized chaos... The company is moving into a new building and they had two people set up at a table outside handing out paychecks for everyone... The parking lot was a zoo, the line was long, but I managed to get what I came for... 87 total hours for the "king of parking lot 4". Leslie called me later that day and asked me if I got the right amount of money (they shorted her 15 hours--apparently she wasn't the only one), but my check was correct... Then I got a call from them today and they told me that my security guard card is in and I can pick it up Friday morning... so I am now officially in "security". I can start calling each week and maybe get security jobs with ASU or Macayo's Bar in Mesa... (as long as they're not in a parking lot).
Next "adventure" for the single man is "extreme bowling" (Bob, I can't believe it myself!) on Friday night... It starts at 10pm and goes until 1am and is not regular bowling...(they play music, have a light show, the pins glow in the dark, etc, etc.) I swore I would never bowl again, but hey, life is all about change and the idea here is to test the limits of my comfort zone (and believe me, bowling again will truly test not only my comfort zone)... It's all about meeting new friends and getting out and having some fun... Then on Saturday, its off to the All-Star Jam Session at the Phoenix Convention Center to watch a practice, get some autographs and "hang" with the All-Stars... (will try to get some photos)... So, its a busy weekend for the Arizona Kid...
Want to wish a Happy Valentines Day to all the ladies out there in blogger land... (I truly believe that it's an invention by Hallmark to bridge the gap in card buying between Christmas and Easter, but who am I to deny the ladies a well deserved "holiday"). If I had someone significant in my life, I would be out there buying gifts and cards, also... (I may believe a conspiracy is at work, but I'm not a stupid man!)... So, for all of you who have husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends or both, (just kidding) enjoy the Hallmark Holiday...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
No pain, no gain...
If the title of this installment is true, then I am a truly rich man... The feeling has returned to my hands so that I may type this and may I say that my prediction from the last blog has come true in a BIG way...(forecast was for intense soreness on Monday and Tuesday).
There are muscles in my body that I didn't know I had that are hurting... Monday I had trouble reaching over my head because it felt like my shoulders had been ripped out and put back the wrong way... I had sand abrasions and small cuts all over my feet and knees and elbows... (how come you don't feel these things DURING the game?)... Let's just say that I feel like the survivor of a first-class beat down and move on to the game recap...
Originally, 21 people signed up for this event... the weather was threatening rain on and off all day... and the address the people gave E&A was bogus...(the volleyball courts were about a quarter mile from the actual address). There was road and parking lot construction in the area and I luckily made a wrong turn (I thought) and ended up in the right place... The courts were right on Lake Tempe with a great view of Downtown and the lake itself... By the time we started playing there were only 8 of us, so we split up 4 on 4 and started playing a game to 15. That ran into another game...and another...and another... until we stopped at 2-2 after 4 games... Then somebody said, "We need 1 more game to decide the winner. You can't put a tie on the website!" (That somebody was yours truly, already feeling the effects of 4 games plus about an hour of warm-up waiting for people to show up... adrenaline is a cruel masker of pain...). So we played one last game (our team won) and we all collapsed in the sand... such athletes!... It rained for about six minutes during the 3+ hours we played... I managed to make it back to the car and home, but had trouble getting out of the car...
Yesterday was difficult, to say the least, but all the pain was muscle soreness, bumps and bruises, nothing major... I may lay off the strenuous stuff for awhile, but we'll see... Another "adventure" (this one into the realm of pain) in the books...
There are muscles in my body that I didn't know I had that are hurting... Monday I had trouble reaching over my head because it felt like my shoulders had been ripped out and put back the wrong way... I had sand abrasions and small cuts all over my feet and knees and elbows... (how come you don't feel these things DURING the game?)... Let's just say that I feel like the survivor of a first-class beat down and move on to the game recap...
Originally, 21 people signed up for this event... the weather was threatening rain on and off all day... and the address the people gave E&A was bogus...(the volleyball courts were about a quarter mile from the actual address). There was road and parking lot construction in the area and I luckily made a wrong turn (I thought) and ended up in the right place... The courts were right on Lake Tempe with a great view of Downtown and the lake itself... By the time we started playing there were only 8 of us, so we split up 4 on 4 and started playing a game to 15. That ran into another game...and another...and another... until we stopped at 2-2 after 4 games... Then somebody said, "We need 1 more game to decide the winner. You can't put a tie on the website!" (That somebody was yours truly, already feeling the effects of 4 games plus about an hour of warm-up waiting for people to show up... adrenaline is a cruel masker of pain...). So we played one last game (our team won) and we all collapsed in the sand... such athletes!... It rained for about six minutes during the 3+ hours we played... I managed to make it back to the car and home, but had trouble getting out of the car...
Yesterday was difficult, to say the least, but all the pain was muscle soreness, bumps and bruises, nothing major... I may lay off the strenuous stuff for awhile, but we'll see... Another "adventure" (this one into the realm of pain) in the books...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Raindrops keep fallin on my head
At least that is what the forecast calls for today... (Could any job be easier than weather forecasting in Arizona?-- "Sunny today and everyday!"). But today is overcast with chance of rain. So beach volleyball may be a little wet today... (it's a rain or shine game because it was canceled twice already, once for weather and once for the football playoff game). Either way, I'm showing up and I'm predicting major soreness in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday...
The Cardinals are facing adversity already...(As if losing the Super Bowl in spectacular fashion wasn't tough enough)... Their offensive coordinator left and is now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, they dismissed their defensive coordinator and now Anquan Boldin is grumbling that he may not re-sign because he has "problems with the organization"...(translation: I want a lot of money). Anytime you hear a ballplayer say it isn't about the money you can bet that's ALL it's about. How about a little honesty? Everyone knows that you want money, so admit it. "I love the city and the fans and my teammates, but I love the cash more!" The division the Cardinals are in is very weak (Seattle and St. Louis just hired new coaches and the 49ers will in the first full year with Mike Singletary so they shoulfd win the division again, if they sign Kurt for one more year).
Friday night was dinner at Fogo de Chao... a Portugese restaurant that specializes in "rodizio" which is the skewered meat feeding frenzy... There were 24 of us in all at one long banquet table is a separate section... The restaurant was nicely decorated, had a full salad bar and the meat selection was fabulous...(Parmesan Pork and the filet mignon were the consensus favorites)... They had a coaster set-up (red on one side and green on the other) and if you're coaster was green the "skewer men" kept coming. So you had to flip to red every once in awhile so you could finish something... But the service was great, the Brazilian lemonade I had was great, and of course the "skewer men" wore out the carpet to where I was sitting! Met some very cool people at my end of the table... (Out of six, none were "native" Arizonans. Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Ilinois and of course N.J. (me)). Prices were a tad high but it was worth the trip (it is Scottsdale, after all). The restaurant was about 2 miles from where I stood all last week...(it was nice to sit down in Scottsdale for a change)...
Saturday turned out nice and we played golf. Mary Ellen made all the arrangements at Troon North (resort course in guess where? Scottsdale, of course). Green Fees are $295.00 for visitors, $195.00 for Arizona residents and $0.00 for our group yesterday! (literally, priceless). Mary Ellen works at another Troon course in Scottsdale and as an employee gets free rounds at any Troon owned course...(which I didn't know until we signed in yesterday)... What a gorgeous course! Meandering through the desert with gorgeous scenery and very tough holes... The driver didn't cooperate so the score was in the mid-80's... Played with Mary Ellen and Mark (E&A members) and Garth (not Brooks) who worked with Mary Ellen... Enjoyed it immensely and will play together again... (It was good to get back out there after last week... being that close to a course and not playing was like torture). On the way back, I showed them "my" parking lot...
My prayers go out to Uncle Charles and his family and all who know him and wish him well... He
is recovering from some medical problems and at this writing he is getting better...
The Cardinals are facing adversity already...(As if losing the Super Bowl in spectacular fashion wasn't tough enough)... Their offensive coordinator left and is now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, they dismissed their defensive coordinator and now Anquan Boldin is grumbling that he may not re-sign because he has "problems with the organization"...(translation: I want a lot of money). Anytime you hear a ballplayer say it isn't about the money you can bet that's ALL it's about. How about a little honesty? Everyone knows that you want money, so admit it. "I love the city and the fans and my teammates, but I love the cash more!" The division the Cardinals are in is very weak (Seattle and St. Louis just hired new coaches and the 49ers will in the first full year with Mike Singletary so they shoulfd win the division again, if they sign Kurt for one more year).
Friday night was dinner at Fogo de Chao... a Portugese restaurant that specializes in "rodizio" which is the skewered meat feeding frenzy... There were 24 of us in all at one long banquet table is a separate section... The restaurant was nicely decorated, had a full salad bar and the meat selection was fabulous...(Parmesan Pork and the filet mignon were the consensus favorites)... They had a coaster set-up (red on one side and green on the other) and if you're coaster was green the "skewer men" kept coming. So you had to flip to red every once in awhile so you could finish something... But the service was great, the Brazilian lemonade I had was great, and of course the "skewer men" wore out the carpet to where I was sitting! Met some very cool people at my end of the table... (Out of six, none were "native" Arizonans. Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Ilinois and of course N.J. (me)). Prices were a tad high but it was worth the trip (it is Scottsdale, after all). The restaurant was about 2 miles from where I stood all last week...(it was nice to sit down in Scottsdale for a change)...
Saturday turned out nice and we played golf. Mary Ellen made all the arrangements at Troon North (resort course in guess where? Scottsdale, of course). Green Fees are $295.00 for visitors, $195.00 for Arizona residents and $0.00 for our group yesterday! (literally, priceless). Mary Ellen works at another Troon course in Scottsdale and as an employee gets free rounds at any Troon owned course...(which I didn't know until we signed in yesterday)... What a gorgeous course! Meandering through the desert with gorgeous scenery and very tough holes... The driver didn't cooperate so the score was in the mid-80's... Played with Mary Ellen and Mark (E&A members) and Garth (not Brooks) who worked with Mary Ellen... Enjoyed it immensely and will play together again... (It was good to get back out there after last week... being that close to a course and not playing was like torture). On the way back, I showed them "my" parking lot...
My prayers go out to Uncle Charles and his family and all who know him and wish him well... He
is recovering from some medical problems and at this writing he is getting better...
Friday, February 6, 2009
All quiet on the Western Front
As the title suggests, all is quiet this week on the Western (Arizona) front... It took a full 2 days to recover from last week...(now to be referred to as "The Stand", no offense to Stephen King of course). My exercise class Tuesday night was cancelled due to the school's Science Fair (god bless the little children) so I was able to mend my weary bones and muscles...
As of this writing, I am back physically and mentally(as well as can be expected mentally, of course) and am ready to go out to dinner tonight with the E&A club to the Portugese inspired restaurant...(hoping to score some "rodizio" which are skewers of roasted and grilled meats served over and over until you cry "tio!" (uncle)). Then tomorrow I hope to have a tee time with Mary Ellen (new golf buddy from E&A) which she is setting up at a course in Scottsdale... She runs the maintenance department at a resort course in the Scottsdale area and we have been to a couple "events" together... Will probably have a foursome with other E&A golf friends...
I get paid next week from the company I worked for during "The Stand" and hopefully my guard card will also be in so that I can start working some different venues as security...(can't work them until the card comes in)...would like to work some ASU basketball or D-backs games if that's at all possible... Spring training is right around the corner, also... The Chicago Cubs are in Mesa and the Angels are in Tempe and the D-backs are in Tucson...(all fairly close but Tucson is 2 hours away)...I may go see a couple games.
Haven't seen a raindrop since the week before "The Stand". They are predicting sprinkles for Sunday but temps have been near 80 every day... (no, it is not getting boring in the least)... I'll be in touch.
As of this writing, I am back physically and mentally(as well as can be expected mentally, of course) and am ready to go out to dinner tonight with the E&A club to the Portugese inspired restaurant...(hoping to score some "rodizio" which are skewers of roasted and grilled meats served over and over until you cry "tio!" (uncle)). Then tomorrow I hope to have a tee time with Mary Ellen (new golf buddy from E&A) which she is setting up at a course in Scottsdale... She runs the maintenance department at a resort course in the Scottsdale area and we have been to a couple "events" together... Will probably have a foursome with other E&A golf friends...
I get paid next week from the company I worked for during "The Stand" and hopefully my guard card will also be in so that I can start working some different venues as security...(can't work them until the card comes in)...would like to work some ASU basketball or D-backs games if that's at all possible... Spring training is right around the corner, also... The Chicago Cubs are in Mesa and the Angels are in Tempe and the D-backs are in Tucson...(all fairly close but Tucson is 2 hours away)...I may go see a couple games.
Haven't seen a raindrop since the week before "The Stand". They are predicting sprinkles for Sunday but temps have been near 80 every day... (no, it is not getting boring in the least)... I'll be in touch.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Mr. Jim gets a job--Day 7
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice!" Finally, the last episode of "The Longest Day"... (my apologies to any WWII veterans who were there on June 6, 1944). Today is probably the toughest day because I just want it to end and hope we get out in time to see some the Super Bowl... (People can get free admission if they wear their Cardinals jerseys and they did today...but they don't get in MY lot without a pass!) Arizona is in a frenzy over the Cardinals and rightly so...(1st ever Super Bowl appearance for the franchise)...
The morning and afternoon are filled with many surprises... The Thunderbirds stopped and personally thanked Leslie and I for the great job we did all week and for making this the best event that they can remember...(the friendly way we greeted them each morning made them feel better and they had a better time)...They all hope that we come back next year...(I might, but only if they let me work the same spot again). For all the complaining I have done in these blogs, I really had a blast working this event...I received so many compliments and thank yous today (from patrons, workers, and the people I work for) that it made the tired feet and the sun-blasted face, arms and neck almost worth it...(repeat---almost!). I met so many people and made some contacts that may pay off down the road... I impressed my company with the job I did (not bad for a rookie, huh?) and my supervisor has me listed on his security crew to work events once I get my guard card... The owner and the manager of the valet company personally thanked me for all the help I gave them by keeping the "passless" from getting into their lot... I have gained a new respect for the people who work these events (for I have stood a week in their shoes) and will treat them well from now on...(not I didn't before---that's a LIE!)...
So it's around 3 pm(and the kickoff is scheduled for 4:28 Arizona time) and the pickup truck (literally) comes by and scoops up everyone from our lot...(everyone that is, except Andy, Leslie and Jim) and drives away... A voice comes over the radio saying it's time to pack it up around 4pm but "Sorry, Andy, you're crew has to stay". So, I whip out my running radio and tune the game in... I start giving short play-by-play bursts over the radio until the boss calls me and stops me...("thanks for the updates, but stop them"). They call a halt to the madness around 5 pm and we go back, I turn in my radio, "clicker", vest and jacket, shake hands all around, drop Leslie off for the last time and make it home just in time to see the BOSS and the halftime show...
Congratualtions to my adopted team for making this Super Bowl a memorable one... They have no reason to hang their heads...(Maybe now they will get the respect they deserve, like the Giants finally did last year)... I was upset at all the penalties and they were mostly good calls but I was really impressed the way the "D" held Pittsburgh out of the endzone TWICE at the end of the third quarter and made them kick a field goal...(also because I had Pitt-0--Cards-7 in a pool and won the third quarter!)... The end of that game was so exciting and big props to Big Ben and MVP Santonio Holmes for a great "Dave Bing"(Victor knows what I'm talking about) catch at the end of the game... The Cards need to sign Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin in the off season and maybe add a running back (Sorry, Edge---hit the road!) and football should be exciting in the "valley" for a while under Ken Whisenhunt...
Some personal things I had to do during the week---had to mail my rent check so it would get there by the end of the month...(don't know if there's a drop box-will find out Monday when I pick up my oversized mail at the office...) My car is now tan thanks to the dirt and dust from the parking lot I was parked in...(may have to run it through twice at the car wash... Took me almost an hour every time a went in my inbox to clear my messages... Also got a personal phone call from my doctor's assistant...(she wants me to bring info about E&A--Events & Adventures, she and her friend might join...I told her she could be my guest at an "event" to check it out).
The week is over...Monday is a "do-as-little-as-possible" day (except blogging and I have a doctor appt. (no worries--just a check-up)... Oh, yeah and miniature golf tomorrow night with the E&A crowd...(I signed up for quite a few events this months so I'll have blogging material--like a need help!)
Thanks to all the people I met this week who treated me with respect and not as a sub-human worker-bee...Thanks to all the beautiful girls and women for the smiles and waves and friendly flirting we engaged in... Thanks for all the thanks and hand shakes and "good jobs"I received from so many people... Thanks to Leslie, my partner, for all her help and "having my back" in the "parking lot wars"... and especially thanks to Andy, my crew chief, for letting me "man" that spot all week...(the other people just directed traffic into the lot all day...I would have cracked if I couldn't talk for a whole day or seven! And I would have had nothing for my "blogger peeps" to read...
The morning and afternoon are filled with many surprises... The Thunderbirds stopped and personally thanked Leslie and I for the great job we did all week and for making this the best event that they can remember...(the friendly way we greeted them each morning made them feel better and they had a better time)...They all hope that we come back next year...(I might, but only if they let me work the same spot again). For all the complaining I have done in these blogs, I really had a blast working this event...I received so many compliments and thank yous today (from patrons, workers, and the people I work for) that it made the tired feet and the sun-blasted face, arms and neck almost worth it...(repeat---almost!). I met so many people and made some contacts that may pay off down the road... I impressed my company with the job I did (not bad for a rookie, huh?) and my supervisor has me listed on his security crew to work events once I get my guard card... The owner and the manager of the valet company personally thanked me for all the help I gave them by keeping the "passless" from getting into their lot... I have gained a new respect for the people who work these events (for I have stood a week in their shoes) and will treat them well from now on...(not I didn't before---that's a LIE!)...
So it's around 3 pm(and the kickoff is scheduled for 4:28 Arizona time) and the pickup truck (literally) comes by and scoops up everyone from our lot...(everyone that is, except Andy, Leslie and Jim) and drives away... A voice comes over the radio saying it's time to pack it up around 4pm but "Sorry, Andy, you're crew has to stay". So, I whip out my running radio and tune the game in... I start giving short play-by-play bursts over the radio until the boss calls me and stops me...("thanks for the updates, but stop them"). They call a halt to the madness around 5 pm and we go back, I turn in my radio, "clicker", vest and jacket, shake hands all around, drop Leslie off for the last time and make it home just in time to see the BOSS and the halftime show...
Congratualtions to my adopted team for making this Super Bowl a memorable one... They have no reason to hang their heads...(Maybe now they will get the respect they deserve, like the Giants finally did last year)... I was upset at all the penalties and they were mostly good calls but I was really impressed the way the "D" held Pittsburgh out of the endzone TWICE at the end of the third quarter and made them kick a field goal...(also because I had Pitt-0--Cards-7 in a pool and won the third quarter!)... The end of that game was so exciting and big props to Big Ben and MVP Santonio Holmes for a great "Dave Bing"(Victor knows what I'm talking about) catch at the end of the game... The Cards need to sign Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin in the off season and maybe add a running back (Sorry, Edge---hit the road!) and football should be exciting in the "valley" for a while under Ken Whisenhunt...
Some personal things I had to do during the week---had to mail my rent check so it would get there by the end of the month...(don't know if there's a drop box-will find out Monday when I pick up my oversized mail at the office...) My car is now tan thanks to the dirt and dust from the parking lot I was parked in...(may have to run it through twice at the car wash... Took me almost an hour every time a went in my inbox to clear my messages... Also got a personal phone call from my doctor's assistant...(she wants me to bring info about E&A--Events & Adventures, she and her friend might join...I told her she could be my guest at an "event" to check it out).
The week is over...Monday is a "do-as-little-as-possible" day (except blogging and I have a doctor appt. (no worries--just a check-up)... Oh, yeah and miniature golf tomorrow night with the E&A crowd...(I signed up for quite a few events this months so I'll have blogging material--like a need help!)
Thanks to all the people I met this week who treated me with respect and not as a sub-human worker-bee...Thanks to all the beautiful girls and women for the smiles and waves and friendly flirting we engaged in... Thanks for all the thanks and hand shakes and "good jobs"I received from so many people... Thanks to Leslie, my partner, for all her help and "having my back" in the "parking lot wars"... and especially thanks to Andy, my crew chief, for letting me "man" that spot all week...(the other people just directed traffic into the lot all day...I would have cracked if I couldn't talk for a whole day or seven! And I would have had nothing for my "blogger peeps" to read...
Mr. Jim gets a job--Day 6
"Saturday, at the FBR, I think it was the 31st of January" (my apologies to Chicago...the band not the city, for screwing with their lyrics). I finally got through to right person and they announced on the radio that all checkpoints must turn away anyone without a pass from coming down to the parking area where I am... It's now feeling like this is just one long, continuous day instead of a week, but I guess I'm lucky because I get to home and shower and sleep in my bed. My supervisor and a skeleton crew worked parking til midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and were back at 5 am the next day! Some of the associates working this event were camping in a "shantytown" near the employee parking lot all week and the girls working the sign-in and sign-out tent were there every day from 3 am til the last employee left (except the crew til midnight). The "Bird's Nest" must have been hopping because a lot of people were returning today to pick up cars they left at valet last night (smart people--I, on the other hand, was never that smart...but where I went to drink there was no "valet". But, that was another lifetime ago and it's water (or beer) under the bridge).
The announcement worked and today was much smoother than it has been all week...I'm liking the afternoons better because I get to play "traffic cop" with the people leaving the lots... They exit from the valet lot, Lot 4, Lot P (where the valets and police and fire personnel park) and the courtesy carts and vendor carts and pedestrians are always coming and going... But everyone is used to seeing me everyday and they actually watch and pay attention... Plus, their vehicles are so nice they don't want to do anything to "hurt" them...(that's probably the real motivating factor). The guy I thought was the "boss" of the golf course is actually the boss of the park surrounding the TPC complex...(there are 3 golf courses plus a huge sporting facility with soccer fields and such)... I told some of the carloads of women (and there are many b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l women coming to the course) that this was national "Take your parking attendant to dinner" day, but unfortunately there were no takers...(there were, however, some interesting "favors" offered if I would let them in without a pass...)
Some of the people who have seen me all week are imitating my hand gestures when they come and stop and talk now...(who wouldn't stop and talk to the friendliest parking guy this side of Tucson?) I met a "sports imaging" photographer who told me he was going to miss coming here because I was so pleasant and friendly and the guys at Torrey Pines (San Diego, his next job) were surly and arrogant... I also met some drivers from DD 24-7... They run a designated driver service available for a set fee... I got a business card and am going to check it out...(help some of my drinking peeps avoid some of the mistakes I made).
T-minus 1 day and counting... Actually watched some of the re-broadcast of the tournament on the Golf Channel tonight (15 minutes and I was nodding off in the chair). The FBR is absolutely the rowdiest tour stop of all... especially the 16th hole. It's a short par 3 with stadium-like seating all around it...(they have skyboxes and a huge gallery every day...) If the golfers hit it close the fans erupt and it's as loud as a football game. They chant, scream,and even boo a player if they make bogey! I would say there are more DPSI at this hole than anywhere on the course...(DPSI--drunks per square inch)... they actually have to turn away fans it gets so crowded...I've never wanted a weekend to end so bad in my entire life...
The announcement worked and today was much smoother than it has been all week...I'm liking the afternoons better because I get to play "traffic cop" with the people leaving the lots... They exit from the valet lot, Lot 4, Lot P (where the valets and police and fire personnel park) and the courtesy carts and vendor carts and pedestrians are always coming and going... But everyone is used to seeing me everyday and they actually watch and pay attention... Plus, their vehicles are so nice they don't want to do anything to "hurt" them...(that's probably the real motivating factor). The guy I thought was the "boss" of the golf course is actually the boss of the park surrounding the TPC complex...(there are 3 golf courses plus a huge sporting facility with soccer fields and such)... I told some of the carloads of women (and there are many b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l women coming to the course) that this was national "Take your parking attendant to dinner" day, but unfortunately there were no takers...(there were, however, some interesting "favors" offered if I would let them in without a pass...)
Some of the people who have seen me all week are imitating my hand gestures when they come and stop and talk now...(who wouldn't stop and talk to the friendliest parking guy this side of Tucson?) I met a "sports imaging" photographer who told me he was going to miss coming here because I was so pleasant and friendly and the guys at Torrey Pines (San Diego, his next job) were surly and arrogant... I also met some drivers from DD 24-7... They run a designated driver service available for a set fee... I got a business card and am going to check it out...(help some of my drinking peeps avoid some of the mistakes I made).
T-minus 1 day and counting... Actually watched some of the re-broadcast of the tournament on the Golf Channel tonight (15 minutes and I was nodding off in the chair). The FBR is absolutely the rowdiest tour stop of all... especially the 16th hole. It's a short par 3 with stadium-like seating all around it...(they have skyboxes and a huge gallery every day...) If the golfers hit it close the fans erupt and it's as loud as a football game. They chant, scream,and even boo a player if they make bogey! I would say there are more DPSI at this hole than anywhere on the course...(DPSI--drunks per square inch)... they actually have to turn away fans it gets so crowded...I've never wanted a weekend to end so bad in my entire life...
Mr. Jim gets a job--Day 5
I hope by now you realize that the only way I'm remembering which day I'm writing about is because I'm writing these blogs after the fact... The leg soreness is down to dull ache and I'm more determined to not let my sore dogs ruin the experience for me... I continue to get compliments on my smiling face and pleasant attitude from the people I see who also have to come here every day... (volunteers, tournament workers, course workers, etc...). I'm getting more return smiles and waves as the week goes on so I must be doing something right... And I'm feeding off that to keep my mind off my poor feet...
Fifth day of perfect weather...(if you're not standing in it from sun rise to sun set, that is...). It's so nice that even though it's very chilly in the morning there hasn't been a frost delay at all during the tournament and that keeps things right on schedule... I continue to meet a lot of interesting characters (their stories of how they need to get into the parking lot are so comical and too numerous to relate them all...) But I will give you my winners... "My boss is waiting for his tickets and if I take too long to get them, he'll fire me"..(sorry, Jobing.com is a great website...It's where I got this great job!)... "I was here yesterday and the guy let me in" (sorry, I'm the ONLY guy and I didn't let you in yesterday and I'm not letting you in today!)... "I live in the complex across the street. Can I park over there and walk home?" (sorry, but the residents can go anywhere on the streets surrounding the venue...Go park at home and walk back to the tournament...) And my favorite happened 3 separate times... (I actually let them all in) "My tickets are supposed to be waiting for me so I need to park in the valet lot"... 1. Scott Williams (former NBA player with the Chicago Bulls). Recognized him, he shook my arm (huge hands) and I let him through... 2. Terry Porter (former NBA player and current coach of the Phoenix Suns). Probably the only person who recognized him and shook hands without trying to tell him how to "fix" his team... and 3. "Excuse me, they told me they left some parking passes for me in the lot up ahead." My reply: "What, just because you're Malcolm in the Middle I'm supposed to let you into MY parking lot?"(Freddie Muniz laughed and was a great sport about it)...
Busiest day of the tournament so far. Counted 848 cars on the trusty "clicker" and that's just Lot 4... But my colleagues at the checkpoints are still letting people without passes into this parking area...(not that I don't love the stories or love turning them around). Every car that doesn't have a pass holds up the line and it backs up fast and the pass people make their own lanes and block the exit for people I deny and it gets kind of crazy... I bitched to my supervisor and anyone else that I talked to on the radio to have the checkpoints deny access for the "passless". Got off around 6, got home around 7-7:30, ate something and was out cold by 9...
Fifth day of perfect weather...(if you're not standing in it from sun rise to sun set, that is...). It's so nice that even though it's very chilly in the morning there hasn't been a frost delay at all during the tournament and that keeps things right on schedule... I continue to meet a lot of interesting characters (their stories of how they need to get into the parking lot are so comical and too numerous to relate them all...) But I will give you my winners... "My boss is waiting for his tickets and if I take too long to get them, he'll fire me"..(sorry, Jobing.com is a great website...It's where I got this great job!)... "I was here yesterday and the guy let me in" (sorry, I'm the ONLY guy and I didn't let you in yesterday and I'm not letting you in today!)... "I live in the complex across the street. Can I park over there and walk home?" (sorry, but the residents can go anywhere on the streets surrounding the venue...Go park at home and walk back to the tournament...) And my favorite happened 3 separate times... (I actually let them all in) "My tickets are supposed to be waiting for me so I need to park in the valet lot"... 1. Scott Williams (former NBA player with the Chicago Bulls). Recognized him, he shook my arm (huge hands) and I let him through... 2. Terry Porter (former NBA player and current coach of the Phoenix Suns). Probably the only person who recognized him and shook hands without trying to tell him how to "fix" his team... and 3. "Excuse me, they told me they left some parking passes for me in the lot up ahead." My reply: "What, just because you're Malcolm in the Middle I'm supposed to let you into MY parking lot?"(Freddie Muniz laughed and was a great sport about it)...
Busiest day of the tournament so far. Counted 848 cars on the trusty "clicker" and that's just Lot 4... But my colleagues at the checkpoints are still letting people without passes into this parking area...(not that I don't love the stories or love turning them around). Every car that doesn't have a pass holds up the line and it backs up fast and the pass people make their own lanes and block the exit for people I deny and it gets kind of crazy... I bitched to my supervisor and anyone else that I talked to on the radio to have the checkpoints deny access for the "passless". Got off around 6, got home around 7-7:30, ate something and was out cold by 9...
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