Where have I been???

I apologize. For the umpteenth time. Time seems to get away (isn't that the way it is for everyone) but that is no excuse to leave my gracious readers out in the cold (literally for most of you!) with no news about my goings on...

When last we visited I had driven brother-in-law Craig to the airport and returned to wallow in the realization that the Jets would not make a second trip to Miami and participate in the Super Bowl. Not that I believed it would happen this year, but it was nice to watch them in the playoffs. They have a good young nucleus and with a bona fide pass rusher and another cover corner, I think it will be fun to be a Jet fan again. Sanchez has a lot of upside and I believe with a few more weapons they can build a solid offense around him. I really like Rex Ryan... (just quit the blubbering will you?).

Like it is with everyone these days, money is a little tight at the moment... (security jobs are few and far between until the end of February when I'll be working the Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR Open). I hope to be working between 10-12 hours a day Monday through Sunday (when it rains it pours). But there have been some cool gigs in between. I had the pleasure of working Kurt Warner's retirement news conference at Cardinal HQ in Tempe. I showed up and was told I would be patrolling outside to keep the media from sneaking around to get an "exclusive" before the press conference. But then the Cardinal's head press dude said he would like me in the auditorium near the stage to keep the press from going into the weight room or locker room areas. So when Kurt and his family came out for the press conference, there was Jim keeping the press from getting too close. If any of you watched the announcement, I was to Kurt's left at the end of the stage. And then the icing on the cake was Sunday night. I was flipping through the channels and Channel 10 (the local Fox affiliate) was airing a tribute to Kurt Warner's career. As I'm watching they have a shot from a camera on Kurt's right side and in the background is Jim Security in all his purple splendor... (uniform shirt is purple). My 4 or 5 seconds of air time. Pretty cool.

I called this past Tuesday and was told that there was no work this week, but then I got a call later in the day and got a "labor" gig... (no security). The Arabian Horse Show is coming to WestWorld in Scottsdale (where Barrett-Jackson was last week) and they needed people to help with set up. So for two days this week I've been laying carpeting in these huge tents for the vendors that are coming in next week... (needless to say, my typing fingers are the only joints and muscles that are sore). Then while I'm working I get a call to work a wedding this Saturday in Chandler and the lead from the WestWorld gig asks me to work again on Monday... (again, when it rains it pours). I haven't been able to contact the other security company, so I went downtown to the office and put my name on a waiting list for the Match Play Championships near Tucson the week before the Waste Management Tournament. They're supposed to call me to schedule work this week, but if I don't hear from them I'll assault the office again next week... (the squeaky Security guy gets the gigs).

I also returned to the "hosting" ranks in my singles club (E&A) this week. I hosted a Happy Hour at a sushi restaurant in Scottsdale and it was great. The food was fantastic (I LOVE sushi!) and the happy hour prices were cool too. Everyone seemed to have a good time and we spent about 3 hours hanging out, eating and drinking and talking. I have 3 more events scheduled to host this month and I get paid in event credit, so I can save money on events I want to attend that cost money. I also went to the office and said goodbye to my friend Susie (membership coordinator). She is leaving Monday to go to Australia to study abroad (she goes to ASU) and I will miss her. Hopefully, we can keep in touch via Facebook...

So, while I soak in the hot tub and recover from the last two days, I will be back on the weekend to let you know how the "wedding" gig turned out. Go Saints!!!

P.S. Hey, Craig got the jack and lug wrench and installed them in the car... (Thanks again for coming out and doing all the work on my Jeep).