Event & Adventure Week...

Monday came and Steve and I played golf... (ah, the little things that bring joy to one's life) at the Duke in Maricopa. It's named after John Wayne and has a cowboy theme running through it...(it's located on John Wayne Highway, the restaurant is the Silver Spur, there are horseshoes for tee markers, etc). One of my associates from the security company is the starter and we exchanged digits...(that's phone numbers to the unhip, including me until now). Beautiful course, beautiful day and not a bad round... (80 from the tips). Came back and enjoyed some lunch and got ready to host Manic Monday at the driving range in Phoenix. I had never been there so Steve joined me and we picked up Jody (a member living in my hood) and we carpooled to Phoenix. We arrived at 5:45pm and I knew we were in trouble when I saw no lights on the range...(we were scheduled to meet at 6:30pm). I asked the proprietor what time they closed and she said "Dark"...(it gets dark around 6:45--dilemma I say!). So I called the office and asked Amanda to call the members and head them off at the pass...(nice segue from the Duke, eh?). In the meantime I bought some balls and Jody, Steve and I went to the range. The event manager then called me and asked if I wanted to go further away to a lighted facility... (no way, I already paid and I drove an hour already). So about 5 members showed up and hit balls until dark... (not very long). I apologized for the mistake and took their digits (lol) and said I would call them in two weeks and we would get together again at a lighted facility (not involving E&A). They were okay with that so we parted on good terms.

Tuesday I went to dinner at Fibber Magees with a female member of the club who hales from Scotland...(you know I'm a sucker for a woman with an accent). She had her first corned beef and cabbage...(not a favorite across the pond, but an Irish-American tradition) while I had a shepherd's pie... (and a fine one at that, laddie). We talked, tried our luck at the trivia quiz being played in the bar...(she's a math whiz) and planned on going out again in the future... Tuesday also marked the end of Steve's visit. He was off to LA to visit friends before heading back to Oregon...(no word about the job interview--sorry, buddy).

Wednesday, Jody drove this time, was the Phoenix Art Museum and the Ansel Adams exhibit... (Mary Ellen was hosting). I wanted to see her before she left to go work at the Masters in Augusta...(so freaking jealous) and I am a fan of Ansel Adams' work. We walked the museum and caught up on what was going on and then the group went to Hula's for a cocktail and some food... (the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries were delicious). Jody dropped me off at home and we made plans for me driving to Saturday's event... As I went through the mail I discovered a letter from Natalie's school (my niece and godchild) and inside was Flat Stanley... (a paper cut out boy). You keep Stan for awhile, take him out on adventures, take pictures with him, and return him and the pictures to the school... (that paper boy has no idea what he's getting himself into). Needless to say, Stan and I will be very busy in the coming weeks...

Thursday was volleyball in West Phoenix... (or as I called it "V-Ball in the hood"). We went to a park with one court and I was one of the very few Caucasians (not that there's anything wrong with that) in the area. I had to run to KMart to purchase a volleyball and only 5 others showed up (all the regular guys and gals). Another unique aspect of this park was that the ladies restroom facility had no doors on the stalls. Flat Stan kept score and we had a good time... we all exchanged digits (beating this one to death, aren't I?) and will stage a game at our favorite spot (Victory Lane) later this month or April...

I returned to the links and joined an Irish gentleman for a round. George was funny, full of stories and very difficult at first to understand, but I switched my hearing to Irish accent and we had a blast. Can't remember laughing that much and still being able to play a somewhat solid round of golf. But the busiest part of the week, the weekend was ahead. I worked at ASU for the pro scout time trials for the football team (40 yard dash, agility drills, passing, etc.) on Friday (was the only security and requested personally). It was 4 hours of keeping people off the field who didn't belong (easy time). Ran around buying supplies for the big hike in Sedona on Saturday...(up early-picking up Lacey and Jody at 6:30am) Everyone is bringing something to eat so we'll picnic then hike... (I brought subs).