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...