Work related stuff...

I hope you all enjoyed my last attempt at this... (no, it wasn't planned but it sure was a pain in the ass on this end!). I am determined to keep "Fat Finger" under control so that you don't have to open multiple blogs to get one message. I admit to my ineptitude and vow to be more careful when pressing keys...

When I last left you I had just come back to the sweltering heat of the Valley... (I can take the 100+ temps but when you add the humidity it can get a little dicey). While I was gone, the rubber bladder in the dam at Tempe Town Lake... (man-made lake that borders ASU and that I have kayaked on before) burst and 1 million plus gallons of water was gone in a day. Then, the geniuses decided to release alligators into the lake bed to eat the fish that were now stranded and rotting and creating an oh so delicious aroma... Of course, they "misplaced" one of the gators but recovered it in a day or two. So, now the town must decide how they want to proceed... They have existing contracts with builders to erect lake view condos and apartments and the water conservation people want the lake abandoned because there is no reclamation project associated with the lake... (most of all the rivers and lakes on golf courses are maintained by reclaimed water). Plus the cost is over 80 million dollars for a dam that will last about 60 years... I hope they replace the lake (tentative plans are underway for it to happen by November of this year), because it looks terrible all dried up. Plus it's the site of the Marathon and Triathlon in Phoenix and you can't swim in the dirt... We finally got some rain in the last few weeks also... (massive thunderstorms, great lightning but not a lot of water). I kind of miss the day when it would rain continuously for a whole day but here it would mean chaos with flooding and idiots who don't know how to drive on dry pavement... but I was able to use my windshield wipers for the first time since February... (glad to know they still work).

I got some interesting gigs from the original security company the weekend I was back in town... On Thursday I worked at the Cardinals practice facility here in Tempe because they were leaving to go to Flagstaff for training camp... (I know I'm behind in news, but I'm working as fast as I can). Basically, I keep fans away from the players entering the facility and away from their vehicles while they are in there... I usually get a golf cart to ride in but they were already shipped north so I had to walk. Only 105 degrees so I survived okay... in these cases even scrub trees are your friend. Then on Friday, I worked the door (outside) at Macayo's which is a Mexican bar/restaurant with locations all around Phoenix... (I worked at the one in Tempe near the college). We were checking id's and wristbanding patrons who hung out on the patio to drink and listen to the dj... (they had misters going but it was so humid all they did was soak the patio floor and make it more muggy). We were scheduled to midnight but it got so slow we were released at 9:30... (I assume it will be busier once the students return from summer break).

Then on Saturday I trucked out to the West Valley for a gig at the Desert Sky Mall... it was a blood drive and they had Tito Ortiz (MMA fighter and celebrity spokesperson) as a guest signing autographs and posing for pictures for anyone who donated blood... we were there to keep the looky-loos from invading and keep the crowd off Tito (not that he needed our help-guy is huge). I was standing at the entrance trying to talk people into donating and I guess I got caught up in the moment, because yours truly agreed to donate!! I gave them a Power Red donation...In a traditional blood donation, donors give whole blood, which consists of red cells, plasma and platelets. With the automated process of "power red" donations, donors can give two units of red cells - the component of blood that is in the greatest demand. Donors receive back their own plasma and about a pint of saline, leaving them better hydrated than before the donation. Another benefit to the donor is that a smaller needle is used... (the re-hydration effect was great in the fact that I felt better than when I started the donation and the smaller needle was the bonus). The tech nailed me on the first shot (unlike the lady at my doctor--hence I will not return to him) and the free cookies... (need I say more?).

So it was a busy weekend...nice to have two companies vying for my time (greens fees squared). This blog now takes us up to the end of July and beginning of August... I will try to catch up in the next few days...