As you all know from my blogs... (you ARE reading these, no?) I have been a busy camper in the new "career". Therefore it is with great sadness that I inform you that I have curtailed my vacation visits to the East Coast. I am restricting my visit to my sister and her family in Virginia and will not be able to make it up to New York and New Jersey this time. Travel plans were too consuming and costly and I couldn't arrange my schedule to accommodate everyone. I will send emails to those I can and again I apologize, but I need to take advantage of this influx of activity so that I will be eligible for future large gigs (Barrett-Jackson Auction, Accenture Match Play Tournament, Comic-con, etc.). Also, I am going back to Aruba after Thanksgiving. (I know, poor me) so I needed to trim down the vacation plans... I am going to spend my vacation with my nieces who I miss dearly and help celebrate their birthdays which are both in October. (Love you, Vee and Nat!)
As I become more adept at scheduling my gigs and with the plethora of jobs available right now... (the bottom could drop out at any moment) I will be able to make quick visits back and forth in the future... (and remember folks, the planes fly west also and you are all welcome to visit the desert, especially when the snow comes). Love you all and I'll see you when I can...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Catching up on catching up...
The schedule for the busiest man in security continues to be packed with jobs... after the football game on 9/11 (they had some special remembrances at all the football games; brought back some powerful and very sad memories of nine years ago) with company #1, I was back on the job with company#2 on Sunday night and Monday morning, handling the move-out of the Arizona Home and Building Expo. It was like watching a movie where the enemy is coming and everyone is fleeing the other way... two days to set up the event and the exit was almost completed is 4 hours. The following morning was just for the large pieces and pallets of bricks (landscaping companies built patios and other brick work for the show). The hot tubs came out on Monday as well as the 30 foot tall tees and shrubberies from the nursery companies... (and even the trees were loaded in record time!). By the time my shift was over the hall looked barren... I got home from downtown around 11:30am and slept quickly before going back downtown to start an overnight gig at the Hyatt... (I know I'm repeating myself here but bear with me).
I got to the Hyatt around 5:45 and was escorted by security to my post at the main ballroom on the first floor... (I was there to guard the AV equipment being used by the event). I introduced myself to the event managers and Debbie says "I know you". I told her that I get that all the time, I must have a familiar looking face but she insisted and while the clients were still in their meeting we talked. We were both from New Jersey and I went to high school with her cousin Tracy. So she really did "know" me... (can't get away from Jersey no matter how hard I try). The client finally abandoned the room and I had the entire ballroom to myself for 12 hours... Started my new book (John Grisham's An Innocent Man--first non-fiction work by the author--about a murder investigation in Oklahoma. Scary stuff about manipulation and injustice in the investigation). The night was uneventful and quieter than a library and I survived. Home again and back in the sack for a return engagement on Tuesday (yes, it's Tuesday already but I'm working later that night---isn't overnight work great?). Just what I need... something more to confuse my already addled brain. Tuesday night was even quieter and I needed to walk around more to keep awake... (luckily the a/c was set on "stun" and I was shivering at times). Then an angel walked in and asked if I wanted some free coffee...(actually she was Hyatt security--no, I wasn't hallucinating). She watched the room while I made my way down into the employees cafeteria and poured myself a cup of liquid gold (yes, I love my joe). It was mega strong and got me through the rest of the night and several chapters.
A welcome respite on Wednesday and Thursday (although I technically worked 6 hours on Wed.). I did play volleyball with the gang on Wednesday night. Golf on Thursday was a wonderful round and then back at it Friday (6am-5:30pm) on the upper north docks at the Convention Center. On the third floor on the Center, my job was to coordinate traffic flow of 18 wheelers and box trucks going up and down the ramp to the docks... (I nicknamed it the "sun porch" because from sunrise to around 4 pm there is nowhere to hide from the sun except in the building). But I adhered to the rules of security and had plenty of sunblock and a hat. This was the first time I would be able to watch an event unfold from beginning to end because I was working from set-up to move out... (Friday thru Tuesday---all shifts 10 hours or more). The ballroom was empty on Friday and by the time 5:30 came the decorators had the skeletons of the booths and displays up as the forklifts unloaded the tractor trailers from the docks. Pretty amazing to see the entire process unfold while I was escaping the sun and 100+ temps. The view from the sun porch was great... (downtown Phoenix, Chase Field and Camelback Mountain). On Saturday (8am-6pm) and Sunday (7am-6:30pm) I was a roamer/supervisor (checking exhibitor badges and giving breaks to the other guards). Set-up was in full swing and the room was really coming together with carpeting and event booths. In the hallway outside they set up the business center and registration center for the event. It was a flurry of activity and I walked some serious mileage between posts and all around the building.
I was given a special assignment on Saturday... around 11am I received a call from the boss telling me she needed me in the South building for about an hour or so... (The Ultimate Woman's Expo was there and she needed me to escort the keynote speaker to her limo after the speech). The speaker was actress Helen Hunt. I stood stage left during her speech and then escorted her from the hall to her waiting car outside. Then on Sunday, I got another call that the client requested me personally and I would be on Kirstie Alley's protection crew for her talk and photo session with the fans... (that lasted 3 hours and I kept the crowd at bay while people had their photo op with the star). Another escort to the car and I was back to the North building to protect the booths and equipment. Pretty sweet gig if I say so myself... (the client asked if my partner and I would come to San Francisco to do the same detail for the Expo--don't think it will happen but it was nice of them to ask---I would go in a heartbeat).
Wow, I'm into the same week now. Just got bombed with some more gigs for this week and next, including an ASU football game on the 25th... I never thought I would entertain a second "career" but I am having a blast... (beats being the "human cheeto" in a parking lot far away from the action). Oh yeah... the Chandler Center for the Arts called and requested me personally for security at Howie Mandel's show on Friday the 24th... BONUS!
I got to the Hyatt around 5:45 and was escorted by security to my post at the main ballroom on the first floor... (I was there to guard the AV equipment being used by the event). I introduced myself to the event managers and Debbie says "I know you". I told her that I get that all the time, I must have a familiar looking face but she insisted and while the clients were still in their meeting we talked. We were both from New Jersey and I went to high school with her cousin Tracy. So she really did "know" me... (can't get away from Jersey no matter how hard I try). The client finally abandoned the room and I had the entire ballroom to myself for 12 hours... Started my new book (John Grisham's An Innocent Man--first non-fiction work by the author--about a murder investigation in Oklahoma. Scary stuff about manipulation and injustice in the investigation). The night was uneventful and quieter than a library and I survived. Home again and back in the sack for a return engagement on Tuesday (yes, it's Tuesday already but I'm working later that night---isn't overnight work great?). Just what I need... something more to confuse my already addled brain. Tuesday night was even quieter and I needed to walk around more to keep awake... (luckily the a/c was set on "stun" and I was shivering at times). Then an angel walked in and asked if I wanted some free coffee...(actually she was Hyatt security--no, I wasn't hallucinating). She watched the room while I made my way down into the employees cafeteria and poured myself a cup of liquid gold (yes, I love my joe). It was mega strong and got me through the rest of the night and several chapters.
A welcome respite on Wednesday and Thursday (although I technically worked 6 hours on Wed.). I did play volleyball with the gang on Wednesday night. Golf on Thursday was a wonderful round and then back at it Friday (6am-5:30pm) on the upper north docks at the Convention Center. On the third floor on the Center, my job was to coordinate traffic flow of 18 wheelers and box trucks going up and down the ramp to the docks... (I nicknamed it the "sun porch" because from sunrise to around 4 pm there is nowhere to hide from the sun except in the building). But I adhered to the rules of security and had plenty of sunblock and a hat. This was the first time I would be able to watch an event unfold from beginning to end because I was working from set-up to move out... (Friday thru Tuesday---all shifts 10 hours or more). The ballroom was empty on Friday and by the time 5:30 came the decorators had the skeletons of the booths and displays up as the forklifts unloaded the tractor trailers from the docks. Pretty amazing to see the entire process unfold while I was escaping the sun and 100+ temps. The view from the sun porch was great... (downtown Phoenix, Chase Field and Camelback Mountain). On Saturday (8am-6pm) and Sunday (7am-6:30pm) I was a roamer/supervisor (checking exhibitor badges and giving breaks to the other guards). Set-up was in full swing and the room was really coming together with carpeting and event booths. In the hallway outside they set up the business center and registration center for the event. It was a flurry of activity and I walked some serious mileage between posts and all around the building.
I was given a special assignment on Saturday... around 11am I received a call from the boss telling me she needed me in the South building for about an hour or so... (The Ultimate Woman's Expo was there and she needed me to escort the keynote speaker to her limo after the speech). The speaker was actress Helen Hunt. I stood stage left during her speech and then escorted her from the hall to her waiting car outside. Then on Sunday, I got another call that the client requested me personally and I would be on Kirstie Alley's protection crew for her talk and photo session with the fans... (that lasted 3 hours and I kept the crowd at bay while people had their photo op with the star). Another escort to the car and I was back to the North building to protect the booths and equipment. Pretty sweet gig if I say so myself... (the client asked if my partner and I would come to San Francisco to do the same detail for the Expo--don't think it will happen but it was nice of them to ask---I would go in a heartbeat).
Wow, I'm into the same week now. Just got bombed with some more gigs for this week and next, including an ASU football game on the 25th... I never thought I would entertain a second "career" but I am having a blast... (beats being the "human cheeto" in a parking lot far away from the action). Oh yeah... the Chandler Center for the Arts called and requested me personally for security at Howie Mandel's show on Friday the 24th... BONUS!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Holy crap! 2 weeks behind again...
Just when you think I will catch up and be more forthcoming on a regular basis... BAM! I hit a streak of all work and no blog... But have no fear. Even though I am working my feet and legs off (my ass is just along for the ride keeping my upper body from falling off) as Security Man, I am back at the computer and typing away... What a whirlwind of activity it has been... I actually purchased a (gasp!) day planner to keep track of my work gigs... (and to keep me from showing up with the wrong uniform on). Plus it actually helps me keep track of what day it is (harder to do because of the overnight gigs). When I last blogged I was at ASU doing my Mission Impossible gig (and it almost was because there were several times I almost got caught being in the building which is what they wanted me to avoid). If it wasn't for a radio playing and an a very lucky sense of timing I would have gotten busted. But I didn't and it sure added some extra excitement to that gig... Next came the Arizona Home and Building Expo for Company #2. I had only worked inside the Convention Center with the jacket and tie but now I was out "on the dock" assisting with vendors moving in their merchandise to set up the show... (unfortunately, I didn't know it at the time and the "human cheeto" was resurrected). I was outside from noon to five and with no where to hide and the temp hitting 105+, I was baked to a crackly crunch. Luckily, one of the vendors took pity on me and loaned me some sunblock so it wasn't a total sunstroke day (but it was pretty close). There are now two absolute rules for a security guard... the first is always use baby powder in the obvious regions and the second is always prepare for BOTH inside and outside contingencies... (lesson learned). Where else can you get such revealing insights into the world of security for no cost at all? Nowhere I say...
So after being boiled for two days outside on the docks, the boss told me I had a different gig for Friday... it was the first time for the company to work this venue and they thought I would be a good representative (what were they thinking?). It was back in my old "hood" of Chandler. In fact it was right down the street from the place I work the weddings. The Chandler Center for the Arts shares its building with Chandler High School (the kids have music classes there and there are concerts and such). It had just undergone a multimillion dollar renovation and this was the opening night of the "new" venue... Michael Bolton in concert. I arrived at 10am and was charged with keeping the students away from the vehicles there to set up and the buses containing the band and back-up singers. Dressed in white shirt and tie, with ear microphone and sunglasses, many of the students were asking campus security why the "secret service" was at the school... (Is Miley Cyrus coming here?). I told them it was classified and keep moving please. Another girl asked me if it was a prerequisite to be bald for security (it set off the sunglasses better and was pretty effective, she said). All in all it was a pretty amusing time. Then we got set for the concert... I was stationed right next to the stage to keep the fans from climbing up and disrupting the concert. Pretty good seat for someone who didn't buy a ticket and got paid to listen to the concert. In the middle of the show, we invited the fans to come and stand at the stage (prearranged with Michael Bolton's personal security) and everybody behaved. And he did put on a pretty good show....
Saturday was another football game at ASU and the tunnel ran very smooth and my crew did another great job... ASU won the game and is now 2-0 going into their first road game at Wisconsin. Coach Erickson was livid after the game even though they won (too many penalties and mental mistakes) and he let the team have it after the game... (you could hear him out in the hallways). Sunday morning I spent catching up on shopping and mail and laundry before going back to the Convention Center to work the dock again... (this time it was for them tearing down the home and building expo and moving out). I worked from 4pm to 9pm and back again Monday morning from 6am to 10:30am... Then I rushed home and leaped into bed because I had a 12 hour shift starting that night at 6pm... (sleep and work, sleep and work).
More to come, my dears, but I have an early call tomorrow and must get my beauty sleep (God knows I need it). I'll be in touch...
So after being boiled for two days outside on the docks, the boss told me I had a different gig for Friday... it was the first time for the company to work this venue and they thought I would be a good representative (what were they thinking?). It was back in my old "hood" of Chandler. In fact it was right down the street from the place I work the weddings. The Chandler Center for the Arts shares its building with Chandler High School (the kids have music classes there and there are concerts and such). It had just undergone a multimillion dollar renovation and this was the opening night of the "new" venue... Michael Bolton in concert. I arrived at 10am and was charged with keeping the students away from the vehicles there to set up and the buses containing the band and back-up singers. Dressed in white shirt and tie, with ear microphone and sunglasses, many of the students were asking campus security why the "secret service" was at the school... (Is Miley Cyrus coming here?). I told them it was classified and keep moving please. Another girl asked me if it was a prerequisite to be bald for security (it set off the sunglasses better and was pretty effective, she said). All in all it was a pretty amusing time. Then we got set for the concert... I was stationed right next to the stage to keep the fans from climbing up and disrupting the concert. Pretty good seat for someone who didn't buy a ticket and got paid to listen to the concert. In the middle of the show, we invited the fans to come and stand at the stage (prearranged with Michael Bolton's personal security) and everybody behaved. And he did put on a pretty good show....
Saturday was another football game at ASU and the tunnel ran very smooth and my crew did another great job... ASU won the game and is now 2-0 going into their first road game at Wisconsin. Coach Erickson was livid after the game even though they won (too many penalties and mental mistakes) and he let the team have it after the game... (you could hear him out in the hallways). Sunday morning I spent catching up on shopping and mail and laundry before going back to the Convention Center to work the dock again... (this time it was for them tearing down the home and building expo and moving out). I worked from 4pm to 9pm and back again Monday morning from 6am to 10:30am... Then I rushed home and leaped into bed because I had a 12 hour shift starting that night at 6pm... (sleep and work, sleep and work).
More to come, my dears, but I have an early call tomorrow and must get my beauty sleep (God knows I need it). I'll be in touch...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
The hits just keep on coming...
When it rains it pours... (that is an expression you guys who endured Hurricane Earl on the East Coast know only too well). Here it is beautiful sunshine, temps still in the 100s (about a month to go before "awesome" describes the weather here) and security jobs for yours truly are raining down. Today (Saturday) is opening day for college football for Arizona State and I'll be at the stadium working the home locker room area for Company #1... Go Sun Devils!! I was supposed to work another wedding tomorrow, but I was preempted by the head honcho at ASU and I will be doing my Mission Impossible gig tomorrow night over at the college... (should you or any of your IMF forces be caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge. Good luck, Mr. Phelps...) This blog will self-destruct in five seconds... (Ha! that will never happen). That gig will go from 10pm to 7am Sunday night into Monday...
In the meantime I was busy hanging out with the Cardinals on Wednesday night and Thursday... they were away in Tennessee and Chicago and had a game scheduled Thursday night against the Redskins in Phoenix... (sorry, Glendale). They stayed at the Marriott in Phoenix on two floors and Company #1 has security there to watch the vehicles in the parking lot and be "hall monitors" on the floors where the players stay... (but you don't get the happening hall monitor sash and you don't check passes). We make sure the players get in their rooms and keep fans off the floors. I worked from 6pm until 11pm on Wednesday night and then returned at 7am the following morning and stayed until they left for the game around 4pm... A couple of the players asked if I was there all night because they were asleep or in their rooms when I left and never saw the overnight guy who relieved me... I was able to catch up on some reading (The Apostle by Brad Thor...good espionage, covert action thriller). The sad part is that some of the players would be cut after this game because the team has to get down to 53 players before the season starts... It was an uneventful two days and after my shift I changed and went to the game... (thanks Jody). She got two tickets from her landlord and dragged me with her... (great seats--lower level 20 yard line). Cards won and now the cuts had to be made... goodbye to the guys on my "floor" (Anthony Becht, Herman Johnson, Tom Pestock et al.) who got cut and congrats to the guys who made it...(especially rookie free agents Max Komar, Max Hall and Stephen Williams). Should I "drop" a few more names for effect like I actually hang out with them? They wouldn't recognize me in a police lineup, but in the purple and khaki they know who I am...
While I was on duty at the Marriott on Thursday, Company #2 called and filled my schedule for next week with a variety of shifts at the Convention Center for the Arizona Home and Building Expo. I'll be working Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday for them and Saturday for Company #1 for another football game... (like I said, when it rains, it pours). So, in between gigs I will continue to work on my plans to come back East... (they are in a constant state of flux at the moment). No details will be shared here, but the itinerary will be shared with those on the "list' for this visit... I can't visit everyone but I will try to visit those peeps who I missed the last time I was there... Looking forward to some leaf peeping and seeing actual trees not on a golf course. Friday night at the wedding we had a near miss and an alcohol casualty... One of the older guests became ill and the paramedics were called (short of breath, sweating, the whole nine yards). I headed off the ambulance and directed it around back so it wouldn't disturb the other guests but it still came in with sirens blaring... (so everyone knew). He was checked out and didn't have to leave and remained at the party. The casualty vomited all over the cocktail bar area and was directed outside and walked (carried) to the hotel across the street where everyone was staying... Other than that, it was a good party and the dj rocked it out...
Ok, gotta go get ready for the game... Happy Labor Day weekend to all you hard working people out there who deserve the long weekend... I will be laboring this weekend and on into the next week. See you later...
In the meantime I was busy hanging out with the Cardinals on Wednesday night and Thursday... they were away in Tennessee and Chicago and had a game scheduled Thursday night against the Redskins in Phoenix... (sorry, Glendale). They stayed at the Marriott in Phoenix on two floors and Company #1 has security there to watch the vehicles in the parking lot and be "hall monitors" on the floors where the players stay... (but you don't get the happening hall monitor sash and you don't check passes). We make sure the players get in their rooms and keep fans off the floors. I worked from 6pm until 11pm on Wednesday night and then returned at 7am the following morning and stayed until they left for the game around 4pm... A couple of the players asked if I was there all night because they were asleep or in their rooms when I left and never saw the overnight guy who relieved me... I was able to catch up on some reading (The Apostle by Brad Thor...good espionage, covert action thriller). The sad part is that some of the players would be cut after this game because the team has to get down to 53 players before the season starts... It was an uneventful two days and after my shift I changed and went to the game... (thanks Jody). She got two tickets from her landlord and dragged me with her... (great seats--lower level 20 yard line). Cards won and now the cuts had to be made... goodbye to the guys on my "floor" (Anthony Becht, Herman Johnson, Tom Pestock et al.) who got cut and congrats to the guys who made it...(especially rookie free agents Max Komar, Max Hall and Stephen Williams). Should I "drop" a few more names for effect like I actually hang out with them? They wouldn't recognize me in a police lineup, but in the purple and khaki they know who I am...
While I was on duty at the Marriott on Thursday, Company #2 called and filled my schedule for next week with a variety of shifts at the Convention Center for the Arizona Home and Building Expo. I'll be working Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday for them and Saturday for Company #1 for another football game... (like I said, when it rains, it pours). So, in between gigs I will continue to work on my plans to come back East... (they are in a constant state of flux at the moment). No details will be shared here, but the itinerary will be shared with those on the "list' for this visit... I can't visit everyone but I will try to visit those peeps who I missed the last time I was there... Looking forward to some leaf peeping and seeing actual trees not on a golf course. Friday night at the wedding we had a near miss and an alcohol casualty... One of the older guests became ill and the paramedics were called (short of breath, sweating, the whole nine yards). I headed off the ambulance and directed it around back so it wouldn't disturb the other guests but it still came in with sirens blaring... (so everyone knew). He was checked out and didn't have to leave and remained at the party. The casualty vomited all over the cocktail bar area and was directed outside and walked (carried) to the hotel across the street where everyone was staying... Other than that, it was a good party and the dj rocked it out...
Ok, gotta go get ready for the game... Happy Labor Day weekend to all you hard working people out there who deserve the long weekend... I will be laboring this weekend and on into the next week. See you later...
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
I don't work this much in busy season...
Remember my last blog about the universe being upside down? (you have been reading my blogs haven't you?). Well, we are still in that mode this week... (Holy crap! I'm writing about things in the present tense). All I had going on this week was Saturday's opening day game at ASU... that is until 9am Monday morning. Company #1 called and asked if I would do two weddings over the coming weekend... (Friday night and Sunday night). I'm going to more weddings than Katherine Heigl in "27 dresses" (gratuitous movie reference). At least I don't have to buy those hideous outfits that brides make you wear... ( I know the bride is supposed to be the best looking woman there, but come on with those bridesmaids outfits, what were you thinking? 200+ dollars for a dress no woman in their right mind would ever think of wearing again, not to mention the color). But I digress... (I wonder if going off on a tangent is a job skill... if so, I may be more valuable in the market). So now I am working Friday night, Saturday night (the game starts at 7pm), and Sunday night...
Then this morning they call again... (want me to work at the bar in Tempe on Friday night). Already scheduled...oops, sorry... (I'm not complaining but the two places at once trick is not in my repertoire). Then another scheduler called about 20 minutes later and asked me if I would work for the Cardinals tonight at the Marriott downtown... (6pm til 11pm) and then come back tomorrow for a 7am to 4pm shift also... (air conditioned hotel sitting in the hall making sure no one disturbs the players--my kind of gig). So here is my "I only have to work one day this week" week and it's blown up so that I'm working Wednesday through Sunday now... Don't cry for me, blog readers, for it is nothing that you guys don't do week in and week out. I am not complaining because yesterday I played 36 holes of golf at two beautiful courses and enjoyed it immensely... (total cost $39.00 for both rounds). Didn't play my best golf but I didn't run out of gas as I would have last week... temperature only reached 100 yesterday (bit of a cold snap). And there are a lot of people in my Companies who are not getting work, so again I am not complaining... (another security company has formed and stole a big account from one of my companies and took some employees with them... I think that is why I am getting so many jobs (because I didn't bolt and I am just so damn good... :). Whatever the reason, most of the jobs are at night and that leaves plenty of time to rest and pursue the almighty white ball on some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen... and the greens fees are rolling in at the moment.
Then this morning they call again... (want me to work at the bar in Tempe on Friday night). Already scheduled...oops, sorry... (I'm not complaining but the two places at once trick is not in my repertoire). Then another scheduler called about 20 minutes later and asked me if I would work for the Cardinals tonight at the Marriott downtown... (6pm til 11pm) and then come back tomorrow for a 7am to 4pm shift also... (air conditioned hotel sitting in the hall making sure no one disturbs the players--my kind of gig). So here is my "I only have to work one day this week" week and it's blown up so that I'm working Wednesday through Sunday now... Don't cry for me, blog readers, for it is nothing that you guys don't do week in and week out. I am not complaining because yesterday I played 36 holes of golf at two beautiful courses and enjoyed it immensely... (total cost $39.00 for both rounds). Didn't play my best golf but I didn't run out of gas as I would have last week... temperature only reached 100 yesterday (bit of a cold snap). And there are a lot of people in my Companies who are not getting work, so again I am not complaining... (another security company has formed and stole a big account from one of my companies and took some employees with them... I think that is why I am getting so many jobs (because I didn't bolt and I am just so damn good... :). Whatever the reason, most of the jobs are at night and that leaves plenty of time to rest and pursue the almighty white ball on some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen... and the greens fees are rolling in at the moment.
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