Sunday at the Open

I can't believe I actually woke up on time today... I didn't get home until after 1am last night and with the wind and rain and violent thunderstorm, it felt like the "nap" I took lasted 4 minutes. I did the zombie walk to the shower...(eyes closed, feet dragging, moaning) and stood there hoping the water would awake me (no such luck). I am in the grips of sleep deprivation and can't seem to shake it... I put myself and the car on auto pilot and make to the course on time and wait for my natural "energy" pills to take effect... (got them at PF Changs marathon--all natural, no jitters, no gastric distress, no crash). Washed them down with a gallon of coffee and hoped for the best. Bad news was because Zach didn't make a move on Saturday, I was given a different threesome for the final round (Ryuji Imada, Mark Wilson and Matthew Goggin). I discovered that I can walk and be observant and do my job just this side of unconsciousness... (I'm not sure I remember holes 2,3 and 4). Then, the energy pills kicked in and I was alert for the rest of the round. Matt Goggin made a late move and finished tied for third and the other guys played well but Hunter Mahan shot 65 and held off Ricky Fowler and Y.E. Yang to win the tournament. I stayed with the group until they signed their cards, did an interview and signed some autographs and was then deployed to the 18th green for the award ceremony... (keep the fans from crowding onto the green. I saw some of my bicycle police friends from the night before at the Bird's Nest... (this crowd was a lot easier than the last nights). The Thunderbirds came walking en masse down the 18th hole and Hunter Mahan was introduced and given the trophy and huge check (both in size and amount---$1,008,000 was the winner's share). Then the Thunderbird families joined together on the green... (PLEASE wrap this up already!!!). Then came the sweeping of the stragglers off the course and finally around 6 pm we all headed to command to sign out for the last time... I dragged my weary body back to the car and noticed a guy doing the "I can't remember where my car is" spin around in the parking lot... (a little tipsy, I may say). I put him in my car and drove around the parking lot and found his car... (nowhere near where he swore he parked that morning). He thanked me and off I went... (Good karma and good deeds do not go unrewarded. A little friendly tidbit from your Uncle Jim).

I made it home in one piece and stripped down and hopped (with bathing suit) into the hot tub for a two cycle soak. I lay back with my arms out and nodded off in the deliciously hot water. Then I was shocked awake by something rubbing on my arm. I almost jumped completely out of the water, thinking a coyote was gnawing on my arm... (in reality it was the neighborhood cat licking my arm). That expended all the energy I had left and I dragged myself into the house and collapsed in bed...

Some things I learned about this week's adventure... 1.I will look into an exchange week with my timeshare and book that week next year in the Scottsdale area and share it with a select group of associates for a fee or live there myself to cut down on the commute. 2. Always be prepared to work longer than scheduled each day even they don't tell or call you ahead of time. 3. Hot food and hot tub are sometimes more important than a good night's sleep. 4. Take care of the feet because foot pain is the killer when you walk everyday for 12-13 hours. 5. This was the sweetest gig I ever had as a security dude and even if I must find a regular job (Heavens forbid!), I will use a vacation week and work this golf tournament...