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.