Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

It's off to work I go... This is the busy season for "Security Man" and busier I couldn't be. From now until March I will be securing my butt off working three major events and a host of smaller ones in the hopes of replenishing the travel coffers for later this year... (you know I'm not going to visit back East until there is absolutely no chance of that white stuff falling from the sky... (word is it's called snow). So here's an update on what I have been doing.

Christmas came... (this year I actually decorated and put up my 4 ft. Martha Stewart tree) and went and I worked the Insight Bowl football game in Tempe... (even got spotted on tv by a couple of you). Then I decided to work some overnight gigs in the coldest weather I have experienced since moving here. Luckily, since it was overnights and outside, I was able to sit in the car and run the heater for most of the night and didn't have a problem staying awake... (just walked outside for a few minutes and I was wide awake). The nights went without incident and it was cold (accent on COLD) hard cash for a minimum of effort... (my kind of gig). Then it was on to the Bridal Show at the convention center where I worked the docks for the move-in and the lobby for the show on Sunday... (I was posted near the flute and harp booth and the string quartet). If I hear "Here comes the bride" one more time, I will lop off my ears and run screaming through downtown Phoenix. Many of you know that I am not into the whole wedding thing (to put it mildly), so this was a true test of will. I survived, but I must present what I feel is a valid argument for my side of the debate. The number 1 reason for marital problems is money. If you spend thousands of dollars on invitations, hall rentals, dresses, tuxedos, ministers, photographers, videographers, food, music, ad nauseum, what do you have to start your new life together? Here is a different (and more fiscally responsible alternative) way to approach marriage (shudder!). Close friends and family gather at city hall or a justice of the peace for a civil ceremony. Go out to dinner and toast the happy couple. Start your new life and use the wedding fund to pay off debt or invest in a house or whatever. Save up for a year or two and when you can afford it, have a party for the rest of the people you would have invited to the wedding. Prepare a list of gifts that you need and publish it so you don't get 12 toasters or whatever people give at weddings (cash to defer the coast of the party would be nice). This way your not starting your life in the "hole" with misery to come. I can't believe I put this much thought into a subject I avoid (must be all those versions of THAT song!). It weakened my resolve.

So, after an afternoon with the future "Bridezillas" (and the place was packed; economic woes be damned), I worked the following day at the tailgate party for the BCS Championship football game in Glendale. What a complete 360 in a day... (from crazed future brides and family to crazed football fans). The only real difference was that the brides-to-be were dressed nicer. I have worked many events, but the sheer number of fans coming to the pre-game party was intense. Gates opened at 12:15 and the party went until 5:30 ad that's when the fans stopped coming. I worked the gate tearing tickets and checking bags and then headed to the wristband area... (ID check and wristband were needed to purchase alcohol). I was going to help until the line shortened. I got there at 1:30. The line slowed down at 4:45. I was a one man assembly line. Most of the south was well represented (Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Texas and Florida) with the overwhelming bulk of all going to the "great state of Alabama". Oregon ran second and there were even a few from Arizona. But considering that the fans had to wait in line to get in, then wait in line to get wristbanded and then wait in line to get a beer, everyone (except one token a-hole) was smiling and friendly. The most amazing thing was that most of the people who showed up didn't even have tickets. Across the street from the stadium is Jobing.com Arena (where the Coyotes hockey team plays) and an outdoor restaurant shopping area called Westgate. Above the arena are two huge big screen monitors and they showed the game on them. When I left and was walking acroos the lots to my car a roar went up that was louder than the ones from the stadium. The outside area was packed with fans. I talked to a parking attendant I knew and she said all parking spaces around the stadium were filled at 9am that morning! I was just glad to get out and home before halftime. I fell asleep at the end but saw a plethora of highlights on Sportscenter... congratulation to the Auburn Tigers on winning at the last minute... (just like the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets).

So after a 12 hour shift on Sunday at the Bridal Show, a 13 hour shift at the BCS Championship game on Monday, I worked a 15 hour gig at the convention center on Tuesday moving in vendors... (told you I was busy). But then I had off Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Got a round of golf in and relaxed because a nine day stretch is coming where I'm working everyday. But that will come in the next blog... Stay tuned.