Sunday started well. Craig diagnosed the problem with my car as a relay switch gone bad. AutoZone was open, had the part, and for 7 dollars and change plus a new battery, the Jeep was running again... (no thanks to "Larry the cable guy"). I didn't need a new alternator after all. So after breakfast at the "5 & Diner" (50's style eatery with poodle skirts and old fashioned booths with juke boxes) I decided to take Craig on an excursion up to Sedona to see the Red Rock formations and maybe some snow... (I thought it was a lot closer than it really was but it turned into the never-ending excursion). Not only that, I missed the exit for Sedona and had to double back, but we finally made it into Sedona and stopped for lunch in a local brewery and caught some of the Jet game. The Red Rocks were spectacular and the snow was cool to look at, but the game left a terrible taste in my mouth. The vaunted Jet defense just couldn't figure out a way to stop Peyton Manning and the Colts and the great playoff run was stopped dead. If we have any draft choices for next year left, I hope we can get a defensive pass rusher or another cover corner like Darelle Revis (my jury is still out on Mark Sanchez, but he looks like he can be a solid QB).
As we're driving back to Phoenix, the subject of a flat tire out here in the wilderness with no cell service and cold weather came up (I have no jack). Thank you, Mr. Doom and Gloom. But we made it back with all tires inflated and we stopped at my local hang out to watch the end of the Saints-Vikings game... (my Green Bay friends are happy Brett didn't make it to the Super Bowl, I'm sure). So the Super Bowl is not so Super for me but I'll be rooting for New Orleans.
Monday morning we were up early and I dropped Craig off at the airport for his trip back home. Had a great time bonding with the brother-in-law. My fountain of useless knowledge has been filled to overflowing with car information. Also, I ordered a jack and lug wrench from a used parts house... (should be here in a few days. I am taking no chances). Things are back to being quiet around here... That's all for now. Hope everyone in Virginia is feeling better.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday...
Saturday morning began with a dead car in the parking lot (from being towed) and Jim the adventurer pumping up the tires and pre-trip checking his bicycle for the 2.5 mile (one way) trek to AutoZone. Craig removed the old battery and we bunge corded it to the rear of the bike... (glad I didn't remove the small cargo rack). I then mounted up and away I went to AutoZone. I got there and they had a battery in stock and I bought a small tool kit to keep in the car. I strapped the battery on the back of the bike and carried the bag with the tool kit on one handlebar... (which managed to smack me in the right shin so many times that I went numb with the pain). But I managed to remain upright the entire time (Lance Armstrong doesn't have to worry about me), and deliver the battery to Craig who installed it and it fired right up. But the auxilliary fan kept coming on and Craig believed that this was what sucked the battery dry...(it wasn't my fault, after all. Felt better about that one). So we needed to remove the battery cable before we left the car and I would have it checked out on Monday...(Craig said at least they couldn't steal the car with the battery disconnected...What a guy!). So, we had lunch and off to Barrett Jackson we went.
We were able to find seats in the auction arena (see pictures) and watched as hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent on car after car... (they were auctioning the premier cars that were on display in main showroom). Listening to the auctioneers reminded us of Quagmire from Family Guy (20,000-20,000 giggity-giggity-giggity-22,000!). It was hard to sit there for too long before you started talking in fast bursts and your brain began to turn to jelly, but the cars were unbelievable. We were spotted by the Speed Channel girls and our picture was taken and we got some free tee shirts and some other swag. We made our way around the yard again and headed out to get some sushi that we missed on Friday night (due to the car dilemma) and then headed home. Craig believed he had the answer to the fan problem and he would investigate further in the morning. Nice to have a personal mechanic staying with me, but if he charges me by the mile from Virginia to Arizona, I am up the creek. We parked the car, disconnected the battery, and watched some episodes of "Bully Beatdown" on MTV2... (Find it and watch it. It's hilarious!).
Sunday was supposed to be a glorious sunny day (finally a real Arizona weather day) and I planned to take Craig to the diner for breakfast and to my local hangout for the football games. But first he was going to see if his diagnosis of the car fan problem was correct.
We were able to find seats in the auction arena (see pictures) and watched as hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent on car after car... (they were auctioning the premier cars that were on display in main showroom). Listening to the auctioneers reminded us of Quagmire from Family Guy (20,000-20,000 giggity-giggity-giggity-22,000!). It was hard to sit there for too long before you started talking in fast bursts and your brain began to turn to jelly, but the cars were unbelievable. We were spotted by the Speed Channel girls and our picture was taken and we got some free tee shirts and some other swag. We made our way around the yard again and headed out to get some sushi that we missed on Friday night (due to the car dilemma) and then headed home. Craig believed he had the answer to the fan problem and he would investigate further in the morning. Nice to have a personal mechanic staying with me, but if he charges me by the mile from Virginia to Arizona, I am up the creek. We parked the car, disconnected the battery, and watched some episodes of "Bully Beatdown" on MTV2... (Find it and watch it. It's hilarious!).
Sunday was supposed to be a glorious sunny day (finally a real Arizona weather day) and I planned to take Craig to the diner for breakfast and to my local hangout for the football games. But first he was going to see if his diagnosis of the car fan problem was correct.
Friday at the Barrett Jackson Auction...
After surviving the Heart Attack Grill ( Damn that burger was good! It's gotta be the lard), Craig and I arose Friday morning and set out on our excellent adventure. After breakfast at Jim's Coney Island Diner in Scottsdale, we headed to the auction. For those unfamiliar with Barrett Jackson, it is the most prestigious car auction around and is scheduled in Scottsdale, Az., Palm Beach, Fl., Orange County, Ca., and Las Vegas, Nv. this year. Classic cars, muscle cars, restorations, recreations and one-of-a-kinds (Ghostbuster mobile, Bat cycle and Batmobile) are all on display and auctioned off under a 14 acre tent for a week. I am not much of a car enthusiast, but the cars on display were gorgeous. And walking around with Craig (who is a fountain of vehicular knowledge), my appreciation of these machines was enhanced to the nth degree. The attention to detail and workmanship and the quality of the restorations were amazing and brought back memories of the days when these cars were actually on the roads in my youth... (yes, there were cars in my youth). My favorites are still the old "gangster" cars and the Chevys from the 50's (they were incredible). Craig went for a ride in a Corvette and Shelby Mustang (they zipped around a small track setup for 3 minutes) and we walked the entire venue and checked out all the cars...
Around 5 or so we decided to head out and boarded the luxury buses (they had these to shuttle us back and forth from the non-pass (free) parking lot) and got back to the car before dark... the lot was an empty field and they told us to find a landmark because they wouldn't help us find the car later on. We had no trouble... (we were parked by a cactus) but the car was dead when I turned the key... (of course I thought it was my fault, but I swore I had the lights off). I called AAA and they sent a guy to jump the battery. This guy (I will not reveal his real name), I called him Larry the Cable Guy, set up his battery charger and alternator tester on my engine and told me to fire it up. When I did, the tester cord was snagged and wrapped around my fan! ("That never happened before! Yuck, yuck!"). He yanked it out from around the fan and we tried again and he announced that it was the alternator that was bad and he called for a tow truck and left. Craig had suspicions about this guy and his work (well founded) and he reinspected under the hood and found that when the dude yanked his cord from around my fan he popped the serpentine belt off the pulley and hence the alternator wasn't "alternating". I called "Larry" and told him what happened, but he was already on another call (Oops, sorry, buddy!), so we waited for the tow truck guy. It had started raining again and Craig was struggling to reattach the belt but to no avail...(of course Jim had no tools in his car---he does now). So the flat bed showed up and we were whisked back to Chandler. We spent about an hour and half in the parking lot waiting for the tow truck... luckily neither service cost me anything. Dinner plans were ruined, but I whipped some steak and potatoes and green beans together and we re-watched some of the auction on the Speed Channel. Auto Zone for a new battery was first on the list for Saturday morning...
Around 5 or so we decided to head out and boarded the luxury buses (they had these to shuttle us back and forth from the non-pass (free) parking lot) and got back to the car before dark... the lot was an empty field and they told us to find a landmark because they wouldn't help us find the car later on. We had no trouble... (we were parked by a cactus) but the car was dead when I turned the key... (of course I thought it was my fault, but I swore I had the lights off). I called AAA and they sent a guy to jump the battery. This guy (I will not reveal his real name), I called him Larry the Cable Guy, set up his battery charger and alternator tester on my engine and told me to fire it up. When I did, the tester cord was snagged and wrapped around my fan! ("That never happened before! Yuck, yuck!"). He yanked it out from around the fan and we tried again and he announced that it was the alternator that was bad and he called for a tow truck and left. Craig had suspicions about this guy and his work (well founded) and he reinspected under the hood and found that when the dude yanked his cord from around my fan he popped the serpentine belt off the pulley and hence the alternator wasn't "alternating". I called "Larry" and told him what happened, but he was already on another call (Oops, sorry, buddy!), so we waited for the tow truck guy. It had started raining again and Craig was struggling to reattach the belt but to no avail...(of course Jim had no tools in his car---he does now). So the flat bed showed up and we were whisked back to Chandler. We spent about an hour and half in the parking lot waiting for the tow truck... luckily neither service cost me anything. Dinner plans were ruined, but I whipped some steak and potatoes and green beans together and we re-watched some of the auction on the Speed Channel. Auto Zone for a new battery was first on the list for Saturday morning...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Heart Attack Grill...
What an apt name for an eating establishment... This "gem" in beautiful Chandler, Arizona was an eatery I avoided like the plague until I saw it on "U-Tube", "Man vs. Food", and a show called "Extreme Pigouts"... (classy title). Brother-in-law Craig arrived last night and the weather did nothing to cooperate. A storm blowing in from the Pacific is wreaking havoc in Arizona. High winds and torrential rain are pounding the state here in the Valley, while snow is falling at record rates in the high country around Flagstaff (3 hours to the north of me). The possibility of 7 feet of snow was being discussed on the Weather Channel (yes, I said 7 feet). This is definitely the worst weather day I have witnessed in my time on the left side of the country. We decided to take a riding tour of the area. I took Craig past the Barrett Jackson Auction site in Scottsdale (we will be attending the auction on Friday and Saturday thanks to tickets provided by sister Sheryl), past Camelback Mountain and into Phoenix downtown (Chase Field, US Airway Center, the Convention Center and downtown buildings). Fog and wind and rain put a damper on the scenery but there is not much you can do against Mother Nature. So we decided to have lunch at the "Heart Attack Grill".
After several attempts to find it, I looked it up on the internet and realized it was at one end of a strip mall I frequent... (I told you that I avoided it. I must have blocked that building from my mind). The ambulance parked outside is the first thing you see. All the employees are dressed either as doctors or nurses (and the nurses are quite lovely). You are dressed in a hospital gown (I called it a body napkin) and given a paper bracelet and given a menu. Single, double, triple and quadruple bypass burgers are available (each patty is 1/2 lb of meat). There are endless baskets of "flatliner" fries (deep fried in 100% lard), all you can eat. A fixin's bar consisting of pickles, tomatoes, jalopenos, and onions was also available. If you eat a triple or a quadruple bypass burger you get a free wheelchair ride to the parking lot. If you weigh 350 lbs or more (and prove it on the scale in the restaurant) you can eat for free every day you are over 350 lbs. (now that's a worthwhile goal). The bun glistens with the lard used to "butter" it. There is also a blood pressure machine in the restaurant and "full sugar"Coke to drink. Craig played it safe with a single bypass burger while your intrepid author went with a double. Besides the obvious lard-soaked food, it was probably the best burger I have had in a long time. The owner's declaration that "it's all about making money" and not being afraid of the "fat police" is piped on the flat screen tv's over the bar while you dine. The motto is "The Heart Attack Grill--Taste Worth Dying For". It will definitely be added as a "must see and eat" destination for all coming to visit me in the Valley. I give it two thumbs up (and a couple of extra EKG spikes). Pictures are available on Facebook on both Craig's and my pages.
We waddled out and came back to the apartment and watched the auction on the Speed Channel in anticipation of tomorrow's excursion. Believe it or not, the culinary excursion to the "dark side" did not cause the gastric distress that I anticipated... (but tomorrow morning has yet to come). Early to bed and early up to get a decent parking space and see some sensational cars. I am recharging the camera batteries and will be taking a crapload of pictures. I will post them as soon as I can. Really looking forward to it... Hope Mother Nature cooperates.
After several attempts to find it, I looked it up on the internet and realized it was at one end of a strip mall I frequent... (I told you that I avoided it. I must have blocked that building from my mind). The ambulance parked outside is the first thing you see. All the employees are dressed either as doctors or nurses (and the nurses are quite lovely). You are dressed in a hospital gown (I called it a body napkin) and given a paper bracelet and given a menu. Single, double, triple and quadruple bypass burgers are available (each patty is 1/2 lb of meat). There are endless baskets of "flatliner" fries (deep fried in 100% lard), all you can eat. A fixin's bar consisting of pickles, tomatoes, jalopenos, and onions was also available. If you eat a triple or a quadruple bypass burger you get a free wheelchair ride to the parking lot. If you weigh 350 lbs or more (and prove it on the scale in the restaurant) you can eat for free every day you are over 350 lbs. (now that's a worthwhile goal). The bun glistens with the lard used to "butter" it. There is also a blood pressure machine in the restaurant and "full sugar"Coke to drink. Craig played it safe with a single bypass burger while your intrepid author went with a double. Besides the obvious lard-soaked food, it was probably the best burger I have had in a long time. The owner's declaration that "it's all about making money" and not being afraid of the "fat police" is piped on the flat screen tv's over the bar while you dine. The motto is "The Heart Attack Grill--Taste Worth Dying For". It will definitely be added as a "must see and eat" destination for all coming to visit me in the Valley. I give it two thumbs up (and a couple of extra EKG spikes). Pictures are available on Facebook on both Craig's and my pages.
We waddled out and came back to the apartment and watched the auction on the Speed Channel in anticipation of tomorrow's excursion. Believe it or not, the culinary excursion to the "dark side" did not cause the gastric distress that I anticipated... (but tomorrow morning has yet to come). Early to bed and early up to get a decent parking space and see some sensational cars. I am recharging the camera batteries and will be taking a crapload of pictures. I will post them as soon as I can. Really looking forward to it... Hope Mother Nature cooperates.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Still catching up...
Still working from behind to keep you up to date on my goings on... (Need to blog is uncontrollable at this juncture). I am more at home here at the keyboard now that the worst of the seemingly unending cold has abated... the mucus (gross) and phlegm (yuck) that clogged my head and my creative flow has receded and released a torrent of words that were kept prisoner during my recent malaise... So, lets continue my recap of the last week so that I can focus on future projects and adventures.
When I last left you... (not counting my ramblings about the Jets) I was finishing up a gig at the Packers-Cardinals playoff game in which the Cardinals prevailed in a wild 51-45 victory over the Packers. The Packer fans proved to be a very refreshing group of gracious losers (unlike the ungracious winner Cardinal fans). I bid a fond farewell to my Packer friends and proceeded to set up a tee time on Monday for Steve (my house guest since Christmas) and myself at Arizona Grand in Phoenix where I carved a 78 with a well executed 36 on the back nine including three birdies. We then lunched with a friend of Steve's who gave me a security job heads up with US Air which I applied for (part time but with serious benefits... haven't heard back yet. Will reach out next week for an update).
Tuesday I went to an orientation with a second security company (also in event management) to try and work the Barrett Jackson Auction the week brother-in-law comes to town to go to the aforementioned auction. Unfortunately, I missed the training for that venue and got no assignments. But I will stay on top of them because they are working the match play championships in Marana, Az. that I worked last year and I want to work it again. It's the week before the Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR) and I will be working mega hours that week... (hopefully on the golf course). They also run events at the Phoenix Convention Center (inside gigs including overnights) and won't conflict with my other companies events... (I hope).
Wednesday Steve and I found another beautiful gem of a golf course called the Legacy. Again a finishing flurry brought 79 to our golfer/security/blogger... (finished the last 4 holes 3-3-3-4, for a 38 on the back nine). Then Steve treated me to a feast of sushi at a great place in Tempe in thanks for my hospitality... (Great eel! and a killer Sushi 101 roll!). Thursday I went to E&A headquarters to wish my girl Susie a Happy Birthday and met the new event coordinator. He is looking into my becoming a host again and that's a cool thing. I had a surprise gig in the middle of nowhere up in North Scottsdale... (a cookout from 4-midnight. Only 6 security guys... I was on the lead's "wishlist" to work the event--sweet!). I was directed down a dirt road to a barn and a concert stage in the middle of the desert... (it was a corporate shindig with the barn all decked out with tables and chairs and lights, firepits and torches all around the seating area and a massive sound board and lighting panel). I was stationed at the sound board and told to keep people away that didn't belong there. As the sun set and darkness fell absolutely blackly, the firepits were lit, the torches fired up and musical guest THE COUNTING CROWS went on stage for a 90 minute concert... (Yes, THE Counting Crows, Mrs. Jones, Paved Paradise Put up a Parking Lot Counting Crows) and yours truly was center stage by the sound board! Then they played a tribute song to a band they loved from the Bay Area back in the day... and Friend of the Devil by the Grateful Dead echoed through the desert... How does it get any better??
Friday saw the departure of Steve the house guest... (on a continuing quest to find his career and place in the world--as long as it's not Boise). He is on his way to Oregon (where he is from originally) and will continue to seek gainful employment on the internet. Three weeks was a long time to have someone in the apartment (I'm sorry, I'm just not the roommate kind of guy) but I enjoyed having him there. But he needed to move on because bro-in-law Craig is coming to visit next week and we are going to check out some "fine" automobiles at the auction as well as visit the Heart Attack Grill in my hometown of Chandler... (check out U Tube for a video on this nightmare of a fast food place).
Today (Sunday) I was up at 2 am... (yes, UP at 2 am) to report for work at 4am at the RocknRoll Marathon in Tempe (my new backyard). I was assigned to the VIP and Elite Runner area checking credentials and keeping out the riff raff... I met Ryan Hall (very elite American runner) and his grandma...(who was a wonderful woman), Frank Shorter (a running legend), Deena Kastor (American elite female runner) and a host of Kenyans who finished the full marathon in under 2 hours and 15 minutes... (which averages to a little over 5 minutes per mile--26 miles in a row!). And these guys weren't even winded. Very inspiring and I will continue my comeback (very, very slowly) on the running trails this week coming. Worked until 3 pm and then watched the greatest miracle of all... the Jets (who "backed" their way into the playoffs according to some) back over the San Diego Chargers and make it to the AFC Championship Game against Peyton and the Colts. Winning ugly is still a win in the column and while the kicking game is having its worst year in league history (I think), the Jets pulled off another W. On to Indy and a shot at the (gasp!) Super Bowl.
Happy Birthday to brother-in-law Craig and a belated Happy Birthday to my cousin Anna (yes, I said MY cousin). Best wishes to them both and I am very excited to have Craig visit here this week. That does it for me, also. We are now officially caught up and I hope I have provided you with some interesting reading materials during this flurry of blogs. Best of wishes to all my readers and their families.
When I last left you... (not counting my ramblings about the Jets) I was finishing up a gig at the Packers-Cardinals playoff game in which the Cardinals prevailed in a wild 51-45 victory over the Packers. The Packer fans proved to be a very refreshing group of gracious losers (unlike the ungracious winner Cardinal fans). I bid a fond farewell to my Packer friends and proceeded to set up a tee time on Monday for Steve (my house guest since Christmas) and myself at Arizona Grand in Phoenix where I carved a 78 with a well executed 36 on the back nine including three birdies. We then lunched with a friend of Steve's who gave me a security job heads up with US Air which I applied for (part time but with serious benefits... haven't heard back yet. Will reach out next week for an update).
Tuesday I went to an orientation with a second security company (also in event management) to try and work the Barrett Jackson Auction the week brother-in-law comes to town to go to the aforementioned auction. Unfortunately, I missed the training for that venue and got no assignments. But I will stay on top of them because they are working the match play championships in Marana, Az. that I worked last year and I want to work it again. It's the week before the Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR) and I will be working mega hours that week... (hopefully on the golf course). They also run events at the Phoenix Convention Center (inside gigs including overnights) and won't conflict with my other companies events... (I hope).
Wednesday Steve and I found another beautiful gem of a golf course called the Legacy. Again a finishing flurry brought 79 to our golfer/security/blogger... (finished the last 4 holes 3-3-3-4, for a 38 on the back nine). Then Steve treated me to a feast of sushi at a great place in Tempe in thanks for my hospitality... (Great eel! and a killer Sushi 101 roll!). Thursday I went to E&A headquarters to wish my girl Susie a Happy Birthday and met the new event coordinator. He is looking into my becoming a host again and that's a cool thing. I had a surprise gig in the middle of nowhere up in North Scottsdale... (a cookout from 4-midnight. Only 6 security guys... I was on the lead's "wishlist" to work the event--sweet!). I was directed down a dirt road to a barn and a concert stage in the middle of the desert... (it was a corporate shindig with the barn all decked out with tables and chairs and lights, firepits and torches all around the seating area and a massive sound board and lighting panel). I was stationed at the sound board and told to keep people away that didn't belong there. As the sun set and darkness fell absolutely blackly, the firepits were lit, the torches fired up and musical guest THE COUNTING CROWS went on stage for a 90 minute concert... (Yes, THE Counting Crows, Mrs. Jones, Paved Paradise Put up a Parking Lot Counting Crows) and yours truly was center stage by the sound board! Then they played a tribute song to a band they loved from the Bay Area back in the day... and Friend of the Devil by the Grateful Dead echoed through the desert... How does it get any better??
Friday saw the departure of Steve the house guest... (on a continuing quest to find his career and place in the world--as long as it's not Boise). He is on his way to Oregon (where he is from originally) and will continue to seek gainful employment on the internet. Three weeks was a long time to have someone in the apartment (I'm sorry, I'm just not the roommate kind of guy) but I enjoyed having him there. But he needed to move on because bro-in-law Craig is coming to visit next week and we are going to check out some "fine" automobiles at the auction as well as visit the Heart Attack Grill in my hometown of Chandler... (check out U Tube for a video on this nightmare of a fast food place).
Today (Sunday) I was up at 2 am... (yes, UP at 2 am) to report for work at 4am at the RocknRoll Marathon in Tempe (my new backyard). I was assigned to the VIP and Elite Runner area checking credentials and keeping out the riff raff... I met Ryan Hall (very elite American runner) and his grandma...(who was a wonderful woman), Frank Shorter (a running legend), Deena Kastor (American elite female runner) and a host of Kenyans who finished the full marathon in under 2 hours and 15 minutes... (which averages to a little over 5 minutes per mile--26 miles in a row!). And these guys weren't even winded. Very inspiring and I will continue my comeback (very, very slowly) on the running trails this week coming. Worked until 3 pm and then watched the greatest miracle of all... the Jets (who "backed" their way into the playoffs according to some) back over the San Diego Chargers and make it to the AFC Championship Game against Peyton and the Colts. Winning ugly is still a win in the column and while the kicking game is having its worst year in league history (I think), the Jets pulled off another W. On to Indy and a shot at the (gasp!) Super Bowl.
Happy Birthday to brother-in-law Craig and a belated Happy Birthday to my cousin Anna (yes, I said MY cousin). Best wishes to them both and I am very excited to have Craig visit here this week. That does it for me, also. We are now officially caught up and I hope I have provided you with some interesting reading materials during this flurry of blogs. Best of wishes to all my readers and their families.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Let's talk some football...
Please excuse me because this is uncharted territory for me as a Jet fan. It is not often (hell, it's a rarity!) that the Jets get to play a meaningful game this late in the season... And once again I will have to resort to internet and radio to listen to the game because I have a security job on Sunday. Last Saturday I worked inside at a sports bar and was able to catch the last quarter of the Jets second win over Cincinnati in two weeks. I know I was not the only one who loved watching Darelle Revis turn "Ochocinco" into Ocho-Zero". They are going to need another stellar defensive game against the high octane Chargers this week to keep the dream alive. But this defense has bought into Rex (no more tears) Ryan's gameplan and the defensive swarming and chaos caused by them has opponents creating turnovers and 3 and outs at an alarming rate. And Brian Schottinheimer, the offensive coordinator, has managed to keep Mark Sanchez involved but not as the focus of the offense... (which keeps him from throwing interceptions). Thanks to the offensive line and running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn (Go Hawkeyes) Greene, Sanchez is an effective weapon when the game is not put on his shoulders. Who would've predicted that the Jets would have the #1 rushing offense in the NFL as well as the be the #1 defense against the run... (certainly not me).
Now I know that there are people out there in New England and Pittsburgh and in New Jersey who's teams make the playoffs on a regular basis, but you have to let Jet fans have their turn this year. There is a whole generation of young Jet fans who have never seen their team make it to a Super Bowl and the chance is here this year. I am hoping that the bye week has taken its toll on the SuperChargers and that they come out a little rusty and the Jets can take advantage and jump out to a lead and then pound their defense with the running attack. A stifling defense and a smash mouth offense (sound familiar Giant fans?) could derail the downfield attack of the Chargers. We will see what happens.
January (most years) usually has me counting the days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training but the circus that is the New York Mets has cranked it up early. Dreams of an opening day outfield of Jason Bay in left, Jeff Francoeur in right, and Carlos Beltran in center were shattered by Beltran's knee surgery last week. He is projected to miss opening day and who knows when he'll be back. Carlos Delgado is still a question mark with hip problems and I don't know if I can take another dismal baseball season especially with the Phillies getting Roy Halliday. But lets put the Mets on the backburner while the Jets continue their post season run.
J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
Now I know that there are people out there in New England and Pittsburgh and in New Jersey who's teams make the playoffs on a regular basis, but you have to let Jet fans have their turn this year. There is a whole generation of young Jet fans who have never seen their team make it to a Super Bowl and the chance is here this year. I am hoping that the bye week has taken its toll on the SuperChargers and that they come out a little rusty and the Jets can take advantage and jump out to a lead and then pound their defense with the running attack. A stifling defense and a smash mouth offense (sound familiar Giant fans?) could derail the downfield attack of the Chargers. We will see what happens.
January (most years) usually has me counting the days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training but the circus that is the New York Mets has cranked it up early. Dreams of an opening day outfield of Jason Bay in left, Jeff Francoeur in right, and Carlos Beltran in center were shattered by Beltran's knee surgery last week. He is projected to miss opening day and who knows when he'll be back. Carlos Delgado is still a question mark with hip problems and I don't know if I can take another dismal baseball season especially with the Phillies getting Roy Halliday. But lets put the Mets on the backburner while the Jets continue their post season run.
J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What a week it has been...
Sorry, blogger fans, but the last couple of weeks have put a drain on your intrepid author. I can't seem to shake this cold I had and the work assignments have tuckered me out to the point where I just didn't feel up to blogging... (Imagine the thought of me not sharing and not having the energy to talk--heaven forbid!). When I last spoke to you I had scored tickets to the Fiesta Bowl and had a great time there. I managed to get the same assignment for the the Packer-Cardinal playoff game that I had last week. Plus, I got another gig the Saturday before the playoff game.
Let me get back on track here, if I can... (running off on a tangent, how unlike me). Sunday, Jan 3, I was assigned to the single ticket parking lot on Bethany Home Road and 95th street. So the lot consisted of 95% Green Bay Packer fans. My job was to walk the lot and make sure there were no altercations and to enforce the "dumbass" rule... no charcoal fires in the parking lot. It seems that someone, somewhere at some point had a charcoal fire in a parking lot and decided to to push it under his car before he went into the game... (you guessed it--KA-BOOM). Hence, the "dumbass" rule... (see also the warnings that coffee contents are hot and that Preparation H is not an oral medication). Let me tell you, the Packer fans were gracious, generous and a lot of fun. Offers of brats and homemade potato salad filled the afternoon... (Useless piece of information for the day--the bratwurst was made famous in Wisconsin in the 1920's and introduced in Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953. They still have "brat races" during games). So I'm walking around and a woman is face painting her friends and she asks me if she could paint a large yellow "G" on my head in exchange for culinary favors (the aforementioned brats). Why not? So the rest of the game I wore a huge "G" on my head and when I tipped my cap to the Packer fans going to the game, I was deluged by photo requests and high-fives... (the "Polish Princess" is supposed to send me copies of the pictures, so stay tuned).
The next week, I was called for a special assignment on Saturday afternoon to work a "Packer" rally at a local sports bar. They were expecting upwards of 1,000 fans and so they needed security to keep things calm. I stationed myself in front of the stage and tried to keep the fans from getting too close. Met Packer great Jerry Kramer (the offensive lineman who threw the famous block for Bart Starr to beat the Cowboys in the Ice Bowl game in 1967). Another trivia tidbit! Also met Mike Murphy, the President of the Packers, Robert Brooks a former wide receiver, and 1,000 of my new Packer friends... (I actually met people who remembered the "G man" from the previous week). Packed to the walls but not one incident... (them Packer fans can hoist some drinks!) Also got to watch my J-E-T-S kick the Bengals ass again... (a separate blog will be forthcoming about my teams) on several humongous screens. Then on Sunday I was back in the same lot for the Playoff game and saw many of my new friends from the rally and last week's game... (I have several invitations to visit Wisconsin and one from a golfer in Montana). The only drawback was that I couldn't watch the fireworks of that playoff game (51-45! DE-FENSE! NOT!). Disappointed fans, but again not one incident and that made the job a cake walk... Thanks, Packer fans.
Let me get back on track here, if I can... (running off on a tangent, how unlike me). Sunday, Jan 3, I was assigned to the single ticket parking lot on Bethany Home Road and 95th street. So the lot consisted of 95% Green Bay Packer fans. My job was to walk the lot and make sure there were no altercations and to enforce the "dumbass" rule... no charcoal fires in the parking lot. It seems that someone, somewhere at some point had a charcoal fire in a parking lot and decided to to push it under his car before he went into the game... (you guessed it--KA-BOOM). Hence, the "dumbass" rule... (see also the warnings that coffee contents are hot and that Preparation H is not an oral medication). Let me tell you, the Packer fans were gracious, generous and a lot of fun. Offers of brats and homemade potato salad filled the afternoon... (Useless piece of information for the day--the bratwurst was made famous in Wisconsin in the 1920's and introduced in Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953. They still have "brat races" during games). So I'm walking around and a woman is face painting her friends and she asks me if she could paint a large yellow "G" on my head in exchange for culinary favors (the aforementioned brats). Why not? So the rest of the game I wore a huge "G" on my head and when I tipped my cap to the Packer fans going to the game, I was deluged by photo requests and high-fives... (the "Polish Princess" is supposed to send me copies of the pictures, so stay tuned).
The next week, I was called for a special assignment on Saturday afternoon to work a "Packer" rally at a local sports bar. They were expecting upwards of 1,000 fans and so they needed security to keep things calm. I stationed myself in front of the stage and tried to keep the fans from getting too close. Met Packer great Jerry Kramer (the offensive lineman who threw the famous block for Bart Starr to beat the Cowboys in the Ice Bowl game in 1967). Another trivia tidbit! Also met Mike Murphy, the President of the Packers, Robert Brooks a former wide receiver, and 1,000 of my new Packer friends... (I actually met people who remembered the "G man" from the previous week). Packed to the walls but not one incident... (them Packer fans can hoist some drinks!) Also got to watch my J-E-T-S kick the Bengals ass again... (a separate blog will be forthcoming about my teams) on several humongous screens. Then on Sunday I was back in the same lot for the Playoff game and saw many of my new friends from the rally and last week's game... (I have several invitations to visit Wisconsin and one from a golfer in Montana). The only drawback was that I couldn't watch the fireworks of that playoff game (51-45! DE-FENSE! NOT!). Disappointed fans, but again not one incident and that made the job a cake walk... Thanks, Packer fans.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Fiesta Bowl....
After working the Cardinals-Green Bay on Sunday in Glendale, I was scheduled to work the Fiesta Bowl on Monday for five hours. I thought I was going to work the outside tailgate party, but I when I signed in I was taken to the VIP pre-game party in the Renaissance Hotel. I was a roaming security guard in the Grand Ballroom making sure the patrons didn't have too good a time. There were games and food and each schools band and cheerleaders performed for the crowd. DJ music played the whole time and it was a really nice gig... (anything inside walking on padded carpeting is a great gig!). My partner met a friend of his from the gym he belongs to and he told him to come by before our shift was over...he might have something for him. So when our shift was winding down we met up with him again and he hands my partner a ticket to the game. Then my partner hands me one (the guy gave him two) and says enjoy the game. Sweet! free ticket ($175) to the battle of unbeatens. The supervisor let us leave a little early, I went to the car and changed...(always keep clothes in the car) and then went in a watched the game! Took some pictures with the camera phone and I will post them on Facebook when I can... But the best part of the gig was that I got to meet the guy who schedules security to walk with the golfers at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR) and I may be given a chance to do that...
Called today to try and work the playoff game this Sunday with the Packers again... I'll know more when they call me back later... Speaking of playoffs--how about them Jets! I must admit that like thousands of other Jet fans (maybe all of them) I was waiting for them to shoot themselves in the foot and lose to Cinncinnati. But I didn't expect them to dominate the game like they did. It was the most fun I've had watching a Jet game in a long time. We never have the game wrapped up early where we can cruise at the end of the game. Really looking forward to Saturday's game in Cinncinnati. Oh, and by the way Ochocinco--SHUT UP! Darelle Revis owned you Sunday and will do the same this week. No excuses. And if that's the way you "back" into the playoffs, then I want to do it this way every year...
Called today to try and work the playoff game this Sunday with the Packers again... I'll know more when they call me back later... Speaking of playoffs--how about them Jets! I must admit that like thousands of other Jet fans (maybe all of them) I was waiting for them to shoot themselves in the foot and lose to Cinncinnati. But I didn't expect them to dominate the game like they did. It was the most fun I've had watching a Jet game in a long time. We never have the game wrapped up early where we can cruise at the end of the game. Really looking forward to Saturday's game in Cinncinnati. Oh, and by the way Ochocinco--SHUT UP! Darelle Revis owned you Sunday and will do the same this week. No excuses. And if that's the way you "back" into the playoffs, then I want to do it this way every year...
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year...
Happy New Year to friends and family and their friends and families... 2010 has begun and a new decade (depending on whose argument you believe-- it either is or is not a new decade). It is the time of New Year's resolutions and renewed attempts at fulfilling resolutions of years past. My resolution that I will say out loud (the others I will let you know about if and when they are achieved) is that I will continue to do what is necessary to continue my adventure here in Arizona. I have fallen madly in love with my new home and I have barely cracked the surface in discovering all there is to know about this place... I will continue to network myself through contacts in E&A (I have requested to become a host again to defray the cost of the events I wish to attend), through my security company (I have applied to another security company that does event management also and that increases the amount of opportunities I will have--must keep the cash flow river running--to do events) and friends I have met through both (I have a chance to maybe work the Diamondback games this year). And my ultimate goal is to play 100 rounds of golf this year (you knew it was coming!). I finished 2009 with a paltry 57 rounds and that was in a down economic year so it is a fairly attainable goal.
It is amazing how the start of a new year can spark such enthusiasm and renewed commitment. It's a shame that the promise of January 1st often falls by the wayside by February 1st and I believe it has to do with that hated "w" word---winter. Too many times in the past my attempts at change were thwarted by "it's too cold" or "it's snowing" or "it gets dark too early" (basically any excuse was good enough for me to not follow through). Which brings me to this January and Arizona winter. Yes, its chilly but it's never too cold, it doesn't snow, and even though it gets darker earlier, it's still beautiful out... So either I come up with a whole new bunch of excuses or I buckle down and get to work on projects that I need to work on to make my life better. Time management has never been one of my strong suits, so that is a primary goal also for this year. Because I can pretty much dictate my work schedule I really have no reason not to use my time better... (and that includes blogging on a more regular basis).
So that is how things are going to be for me this year. I intend to be up and running (schedule wise) before the weekend is over and will do my best to use my time more efficiently. Again I send best wishes out to all in blogdom and especially my faithful readers for this year and may all your resolutions be fulfilled. I wish you health and happiness and much success for 2010 and beyond...
It is amazing how the start of a new year can spark such enthusiasm and renewed commitment. It's a shame that the promise of January 1st often falls by the wayside by February 1st and I believe it has to do with that hated "w" word---winter. Too many times in the past my attempts at change were thwarted by "it's too cold" or "it's snowing" or "it gets dark too early" (basically any excuse was good enough for me to not follow through). Which brings me to this January and Arizona winter. Yes, its chilly but it's never too cold, it doesn't snow, and even though it gets darker earlier, it's still beautiful out... So either I come up with a whole new bunch of excuses or I buckle down and get to work on projects that I need to work on to make my life better. Time management has never been one of my strong suits, so that is a primary goal also for this year. Because I can pretty much dictate my work schedule I really have no reason not to use my time better... (and that includes blogging on a more regular basis).
So that is how things are going to be for me this year. I intend to be up and running (schedule wise) before the weekend is over and will do my best to use my time more efficiently. Again I send best wishes out to all in blogdom and especially my faithful readers for this year and may all your resolutions be fulfilled. I wish you health and happiness and much success for 2010 and beyond...
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