Keeping on with keeping on...

Before I go any further, let me correct a horrendous oversight on my part... Tuesday was Loretta's birthday and I did not call her or wish her happy birthday and for that I am truly sorry. Even though I was working thirteen and a half hours, there is no excuse for this oversight. I apologize deeply and hope she can forgive me. Happy (very belated) Birthday, Loretta. Luv you, girl...

The gigs keep coming and coming and I keep accepting them... (what the heck... might as well make as much "bank" as I can now while the jobs are there). The week of Nov. 7 to the 14th could be a killer. I am already scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at company #2 and Wednesday through Sunday is the NASCAR race in Phoenix and throw in an ASU homegame on Saturday and guess whose feet are gonna be sore! (Can you say 100+ hours if the "gods" grant me overtime). At least the weather is cooperating. This is the weather that makes summer in the Valley so worth suffering through... (of course you'd all know this if you came out here to visit!). The days are incredibly sunny and warm and the nights are hoodies and sweatshirt cool... (got to get the fireplace cleaned up and checked out--I'm so psyched!). We enjoyed the fireplace in Virginia and I'm ready for it here in Phoenix... open the windows and light up the logs (I hope I don't burn the place down).

I am suffering with a head cold right now but so far it's manageable. I hate being sick but what are you gonna do? Lots of tea with honey, sleep (which sometimes doesn't come in large bunches) and trying not to run myself ragged (oops, forgot about work). Tonight is a comedy show on the ASU campus and then a golf tournament tomorrow at the Ritz Carlton Hotel near Tucson (the site of the Accenture Match Play Championships). Then it's ASU football on Saturday. I need to catch up on some sleep next week to prepare for the grind after that.

I miss getting up in the morning and walking my nieces to the bus stop... It was definitely one of the major highlights of my trip East. With that in mind I have begun to check my work schedules to see when I will be able to take some time to make more frequent visits back and forth to see them and my other readers and friends. With all the hours I'm putting in and not spending money, I hope to start doing some short (3-4 day) visits with one group of friends at a time. It could be spur of the moment or planned, we'll have to see... but for now I'm planning to lay on the beach at the end of next month and not plan anything except my next meal...

Back in the swing...

Obviously not, as Fat Finger has struck again... (the diabolical fiend!). As I was going to say, I am back in Arizona and picking up where I left off before my trip East... (and what a glorious trip it was). King's Dominion was a roller coaster extravaganza and I got my roller coaster on and on and on... (Natalie had her first ride on a adult coaster and she is hooked). The 305 foot drop on the Intimidator was spectacular and the Dominator was a thrill a minute... (sounds like I'm in a Schwarzenegger film). All I know is--- "I'll be back". Sunday was a get-together with friends of my sister's family who have become very good friends of mine also. We ate and laughed and said goodbye and I even got an invite to return in February for a party... (it's around the Hallmark invented holiday on the 14th). It works out for me because it's after the Waste Management Phoenix Open tournament and the Accenture Tournament at the end of the month... (better find my boots and scarves for that trip).

Up early Monday and last hugs for my girls... (Veronica suggested a webcam so that we can "see" each other more often. She's a smart one...they both are). Then off to the airport with sister (her to Charlotte and me to Phoenix by way of Chicago). We had an interesting conversation about the future and plans and such and she put a pretty interesting idea in my head (there's plenty of room up there) that I am going to investigate further... (sorry, no details or hints---keep your readers in suspense for future installments). Lets just say that it's an interesting idea... (did I mention that it's interesting?). The flights were uneventful and my ride was on time (thanks, Jody) and I got home in time for it to rain a couple days... (it rained here more than my whole visit to Virginia). Go figure. But we probably won't see rain until January now. The good news is that the rain brought the "awesome" season to the Valley... Chilly, crisp nights and sunshiny warm days (mid 80's). I'm going to miss the 100's (but not too much). It's time to get my GOLF back on!!

Work was 2 days this week at a NSBA (National School Board Assoc.) convention... ( 25 hours in two days) and a wedding in Chandler on Friday night. The cool thing is that I saw a lot of stuff that the girls are using in their schools. The really cool thing is that I actually have a traditional weekend (Sat. and Sun.) off. I only work Tuesday and Wednesday and Saturday next week also... (now that's what I'm talking about---FORE!!). I also broke out the slow cooker and am attempting some soup and chili recipes... (really need to start eating better. I really enjoy seeing my feet when I look down and it's getting harder). If I don't poison myself I will advance to actual meals. And I have decided, with the help of my nieces and that damn Sara MacLaughlin... (her commercials tear my heart out) to add a member to my Arizona family. A cat (no, I will not name her Mrs. Wafflepuss, Veronica) will be adopted from the shelter after I return from Aruba in December. She will decide her name much like Cleopatra did... (the Queen of D9). Oh yeah, did I mention I'll be on the beach in Aruba after Thanksgiving? I'll be on the beach in Aruba after Thanksgiving... hopefully you guys won't be shoveling snow by then... (hee hee). Very excited to see my NY peeps down there and enjoy some fine Cuban cigars and island cuisine... This year I am going to find us a "local" restaurant to try... (where the natives eat).

Meanwhile, the Yankees were eliminated last night (as a long suffering Met fan I had to mention that). But it just gets a mention... The J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are off to a great start at 5-1 (and 3-0 in the division). Let's hope this is the year that they don't crush my spirit (AGAIN) like they have numerous times in the past. It's time for the Jets to stand for something other than "J-ust E-nd T-he S-eason". How about the J-ets E-nd T-he S-uffering?? I'm just saying if the blind chicken can find a kernel of corn and the blind squirrel finds an occasional nut, how about one of MY teams making it a banner year? I'm just saying...

White House of the Confederacy...

Moday morning came and the girls of the sleepover were filing out and my sister wanted to take me back downtown and visit the White House of the Confederacy (the place where Jefferson Davis lived during the first years of the Civil War). Sheryl always incorporates a "history" visit when I come here and Virginia is chock full of geat things to visit and see. Last time I was here was a visit to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home). This time we were doing the Civil War. It is right downtown mixed in the buildings of VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and the Medical center. Three floors of museum are also available with original art, uniforms and information about the War... (including the uniforms showing the kill shot in them and in one case the actual bullet doing the killing!). We then took a guided tour of the White House itself. It was also a school during its time. The tour guide was a descendant of a Civil War veteran and he told us that 60% of the furnishings were the originals to the home...(the furnishings were sold at auction, but they kept meticulous records). The women who were in charge of the restoration combed te records and were able to retrieve the furnishings. The rest of the house was filled with "period pieces" (furniture of that particular time) and the tour was fascinating (at least to this amateur historian). The girls came with us and hopefully they learned something. I bought a book (the need to read) about one of the Confederate Generals in the war (expanding my knowledge of the Southern side of the conflict). It was definetely worth the trip.

Te rest of the week was spent with daily trips back and forth to the bus stop... (love the walk to the bus stop), reading and checking homework with the girls, out to dinner and enjoying Craig's culinary skills, and loving "family" time... Planning on going to lunch with Natalie at her school today and then getting my roller coaster fix at King's Dominion tomorrow... Then it's packing up my suitcases for the trip home on Monday morning... (Sheryl is back on the road Monday also so we save a trip to the airport). I'll try to blog one more time before I leave... Weather here is beautiful, sunny days in the 60's and down into the 40's at night... (glad I packed some sweatshirts and long pants)...

Greetings from Virginia...

As the title says, greetings from the Commonwealth of Virginia... arrived here on October 6 and have been having a glorious time with my nieces and sister and brother-in-law. Up at 6:30 am (EST) to walk Natalie to her bus by 7...it's at the end of the block, not like when I went to school (6 miles, uphill both ways...). Then back home to walk Veronica to her bus (same route) and then coffee and breakfast with Craig. Sheryl is working from home this week so we are doing some cool things... Veronica turned 11 last week and on Saturday we took a ride downtown and went to the Richmond Folk Festival... it's an outdoor, 3 day, music festival with tents and food booths and great music spread out over the riverside. We heard Irish folk music, Haitian bands, a group of fiddlers (including one 89 year old West Virginian who rocked it out), and saw a demonstration of Brazilian capowera, which is a combination of dance and martial arts... I got exhausted just watching them flip around the stage. Ate some alligator nuggets from the New Orleans food booth, some curry from the Indian (from India) booth, and potato pancakes and applesauce from the German contigent... Spent most of the afternoon there and had a great time... I got to reconnect with my cousin's son Tom who I haven't seen in years... he took the train down to Richmond from DC and went to the festival and spent the night. Had a great time exchanging stories and re-getting to know him... (now I have a new stop on the East Coast swings in the future).

Sunday morning we took Tom back to his train and got ready for Veronica's birthday party... (seven tween girls on a sleepover--no school Monday). They arrived around one in the afternoon and we piled in the cars and went to the pumpkin patch to pick up pumpkins (what else?) to bring back and paint... but the place had a lot more than pumpkins. There was a corn maze (awesome), corn cannons (air cannons shooting corn at targets) a collection of farm animals and a gourd tent, a fun house and of course, the pumpkin patch. Each girl picked a pumpkin and we came back to the house and while they were painting, I installed my ear plugs...(I didn't actually have any, but I could have used them). These girls made enough noise (it sounded like a stadium during a playoff game) but finally settled down around midnight. I got to sleep in Veronica's room and my eyes should return to normal in a few days... (her room is completely pink and the walls burned my retinas). Monday after breakfast, Moms came by and picked up their girls and we headed into Richmond on a "history quest" which I will relate in my next installment... Ciao for now.

Wow! a whole day off...

Here it is Monday and I am completely free of work and social commitments... (which is good because I can catch up on laundry and actually pack for my trip to Virginia). The past two weeks have been a great mix of events and tests of endurance... especially the last weekend in September.

I was personally requested to work Howie Mandel's show in Chandler on Friday night... I was in the green room with him before the show, next to the stage during and escorted him to his vehicle afterward... (he introduced himself to me but did not shake hands--germaphobe, but he was funny and cool and very down-to-earth). John Mendoza (comedian) and his tour manager were with him and that was the extent of the "entourage". Sample joke... (It's so hot in Arizona that I saw two trees fighting over a dog). The show was hilarious and it was free (always a bonus) and I got home around 11pm... The next day was football and I got there at 2:30pm for a 7:30 game... (the time is spent collecting your crew and posting guards and preparing for the gate openings). I must remain in the tunnel until the team leaves after the game and with the final score 42-31 the game didn't get over until late and I didn't leave the stadium until after midnight... I fell asleep around 1am and the alarm went off at 4:45am because I was playing in a charity golf tournament in Goodyear, Az. Got finished with golf around 1pm, hightailed it home and caught a nap (about an hour) and then suited up for a concert at the Orpheum theater downtown... (Sharon Jones and the DAP Kings rocked the house!) I was at the stage but the show ran overtime... (we were scheduled til 10:30 but didn't get out until 11:45pm, just in time to start my midnight to 6am shift in the Convention Center). I got back to the office, grabbed my lunch and drinks and then saw that I wasn't scheduled til 6am... (it was actually til 8am). So between Friday night (6 hrs sleep) and Saturday night (3-4 hrs) and Sunday afternoon (1 hr), I was a hurting pup... (5 hr. energy--tastes like crap but worked like a charm). I crawled home after that and hit the sack like a dead man... (woke up around 5:30 that night--Monday I think it was--not knowing where I was or if I was late for work and which company I was late for).

I wasn't late, but I started work at 9:30pm and went til 7am guarding very expensive equipment for Best Buys EHK4convention (EHK4--Early Holiday Kickoff). They were showcasing new games and electronic equipment for this holiday season and the technology was overwhelming and the amount of equipment was huge. Of course I didn't get to see any of it because that went on during the day. That night (Tuesday is a good guess) I was back at the Orpheum for Bryan Adams and his concert... (stage right and the show was great). Finished at around 11pm and went home with no work scheduled with company #2 until I returned from vacation. Then Wednesday morning company #1 called...and called again...and called a third time. I was given a gig on Thursday to patrol number pickup for the Tour de Scottsdale bicycle race... (can't figure how they can ride bicycles with their noses in the air---just kidding). They had local restaurants feature some delicacies and wine and a band... and the gig lasted four hours. Friday I was back at Inspirador in Chandler working a wedding... Paramedics were called when an elderly (older than I) gentleman had some physical issues, but he was fine and the party raged on... Then on Sunday I was back in Scottsdale at the Center for Performing Arts for "Dine Out with the Chefs". 20 local restaurants had their chefs at booths offering tasting menus and cooking demonstrations and wine tasting... (the iced coffee was delicious). So that's it in a nutshell... the busiest man in security is now ready for some r&r in Virginia with sister and her family... not to worry, though. I will be bringing my laptop and will try to keep up with the newsreels...