Glad I bought a calendar...

As the title suggests, I was glad I bought a calendar... (not the Franklin Planner bible type but the dollar store version). I have been using it to keep track of where and for whom I have been working and has helped me avoid double booking my time and making sure I get paid for all my hard work... (when I do work hard). It is filling up as quickly as a 300 lb. customer on a buffet line and the outlook is that the summer (typically a slow time for security work) will be busier than ever if what my bosses told me come to pass... I am not at liberty to discuss these possibilities because they are still in the finalizing and confirmation stages, but it does include many events surrounding baseball's All-Star Game (being played this year in Phoenix) and could include a road trip or two if I'm lucky... there is also an offer on the table for more responsibility for company #2, but again it is in the works and not completely finalized as of yet. So, "security man" is looking at numerous possible new adventures that I will gladly share with my faithful readers (both of you) when they come about. This week is a typical case of what is possible... I was off Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after working Saturday at the Arizona BBQ Festival in Scottsdale. It smelled as good as it sounded but yours truly didn't even get inside the venue... I was stationed at the front gate (my choice) supplying information and answering questions about the event and keeping people in line to get in... (they don't allow us to "participate" in the event so I removed all temptation, except the wind blew all the cooking smells right to me). The weather was beautiful, I had about three coats of sunblock on and the crowd was minimal... until around 1pm. The floodgates opened and I was in town crier mode, directing foot traffic and barking instructions. So many people flooded into the venue that around 2:30pm, the fire marshal declared the event full and suspended ticket sales. Those that bought their tickets online prior to the event were still allowed in but no more walk-ins were allowed. If I announced "there are no more tickets for purchase" once, I did it a thousand times and included an explanation each time. And they suspended ticket sales for the rest of the event (it ended at 5 pm) because they were running out of food! Needless to say (what is with this expression---people use and then "say" it anyway?) there were people bent out of shape... How dare we close an event and not allow "them" in? But it all worked out and I enjoyed the excitement...(especially when the wind picked and blew some tents around--luckily no one was hurt). Played golf on Sunday down in Casa Grande with my buddy Fozzy and Tuesday with Jake because it may be awhile before I play again...(here comes the calendar thing). Wednesday (today) I am working at the Taste of Hope culinary event in Scottsdale benefiting cancer research... (company #1). Thursday is supervisor training and a Pat Benatar concert event at the Convention Center... (company #2). Friday is a 13 hour shift at the Convention Center... (company#2) followed by the Salsa Challenge at Tempe Town Lake on Saturday... (company #1). Back to the Convention Center on Sunday... (company #2). Then next week is Country Thunder, the 4 day country music festival in Florence, Arizona featuring Toby Keith, Sara Evans, Jason Aldean and a host of others. I will be working Wednesday through Sunday at that event (got a room at "the" hotel in Florence for the weekend)... (company #1). Monday and Tuesday are still in the works... (company #2). So you see, the calendar idea was a pretty good one... and this bee will be busy. Four day country music festival: Cost of staying four nights at Holiday Inn--zero $$ (thanks Priority Club!). Cost of tickets for four days of concerts--zero $$ (thanks company #1). Commute from venue to hotel--1.4 miles (bringing the bicycle). Seeing my favorite country acts and getting paid to do it--priceless! Melissa (the woman I met at the Phoenix Open) and I are still trying to get together when we can (can you say conflicting schedules?). She is planning to come to Country Thunder so I may be able to pick her out of the crowd. We try to talk every day and both of us understand how busy and crazy our worlds are, so we're taking it a day at a time (the mantra lives and works for everything). I need to make some space in my calendar for her too (you think?!). Also, 2 weeks until the "visitors" come... (you know who you are). Can't wait and will reveal nothing (I can keep my mouth shut on occasion-there just aren't many occasions). Stay tuned... always more to come (God willing).

The kiss of death...

I knew I shouldn't have said anything about the weather (but I just can't help myself). After shooting a blistering 74 on my old neighborhood course in Chandler (can't remember EVER putting that well) on Sunday, I had a 7:20am tee time for Monday at my home course (Longbow in Mesa). I usually check the weather the night before (to see how much sunblock to bring), but Sunday night turned ugly with clouds and shudder! rain in the forecast! I couldn't believe my eyes but I brought the rainsuit just in case (I no longer own a golf umbrella, just the little fold up kind). It was overcast and very windy when I got to the golf course and the first hole was directly into the teeth of the wind... several shots were literally blown off course. Then the rain started (the usual ten minutes then stop variety) but just enough to be annoying. Calling on my vast experience of playing in the rain (remembering by last visit to New York and New Jersey...) I hunkered down and concentrated like never before (or so it seemed). I even had to use the bathroom to light my cigar it was so windy. After an opening bogie on the first hole, I tore up the next 8 holes and finished the front nine with a score of 1 under par 34, including back to back birdies on 8 and 9...

That's when the wind and rain really picked up... Scrambling into the wind, I made a curling 20 footer for bogie on 10 after the wind blew my drive into the desert. But then I came back on the par three 11th with a tee shot to within 3 feet for a birdie 2 (downwind). Then back into the wind on 12 for the worst hole of the day. I buried my tee shot in the fairway bunker and barely got it out on my second shot. The wind was howling and I hit 8 iron from 100 yds (I usually hit 8 iron around 160) and it landed 10 yards short of the green! Chipped on and two-putted for double bogie. Scrambled for par on 13, three putted from 80 feet for bogie on 14 and then settled in for pars on 15, 16, and 17. The 18th hole is a reachable par 5 in 2 with a narrow landing area and a barranca (gorge or wash) separating the fairway. I decided to go for broke and mashed a drive right down the middle...only to have the wind blow me right into the barranca (I really like saying that word). I was about 190 yards to the hole and hitting off the "native" (desert rocks and sand) with the wind behind me. I hit 6 iron high and right for the green and the wind helped and I was on in two putting for eagle from about 35 feet... if I made the putt I would shoot even par 71 for the round in the worst conditions since Victor and I played in a hurricane at Ashbrook when we were kids. I just missed the putt and tapped in for 72...my best round in Arizona.

More good news...Tuesday morning came and the sun was up and the 10 day forecast is sunshine and temps in the 70's and 80's... GOD! I love it here. No work for Jim until Friday and Saturday so its back to work on the golf game. Everything else is moving along nicely, except my dishwasher crapped out and I need to report it to the management... Syracuse, Michigan State and Notre Dame took a dump in my NCAA pool... (what else is new), but the games have been exciting (Go Arizona---even though I didn't pick you). And how about those Virginia schools VCU and the Spiders of Richmond... I'm out to work on my tan (got to "cheeto" the rest of my body) and work on my short game. Adios, for now...

The return of the "human cheeto"

Yes, boys and girls, he's back.... (and not by popular demand). The "human cheeto" has reappeared on the scene thanks to this week's diverse schedule. I may not be raking in the big bucks (that's for sure), but you have to admit that my work is far from the "grind" of a regular job. When people ask me about my work I tell them "the money stinks and the hours are long but other than other than that it's great!" I really have no complaints other than physical: leg ache, sunburn (our topic for the day), sleep disruption, etc. The places I get to go make up for a whole lot of hurt...

Take this week for instance...after spending some quality weekend time with Melissa, I didn't have to work until Wednesday so I played golf on Monday and Wednesday morning... (after all, that's why I moved to Arizona). While my tee to green game has improved nicely, my scoring is not up to par (pun intended). I need to play less and practice my short game. I found a driving range nearby that I can bicycle to, so I need to pedal my ass over and put in some work. On Wednesday evening I was at the Convention Center for the 50th anniversary of Arizona Christian University (formerly Southwestern U). The main speaker and award recipient (1st annual Daniel award for Christian courage) was none other than George W. Bush our 43rd President. We didn't handle his security (there was plenty of Secret Service for that) but we were in the hall and manned the doors to check badges. His speech was a walking tour of the Oval Office during his administration by describing the artwork he brought in. He was quite good... (unlike my opinion of him when he was in office). He was also there to promote his new book (damn, I forgot to get a copy). Everyone behaved and he was whisked off to his car and gone before you could blink.

Following the former President was an outdoor concert venue in downtown Tempe for St. Patrick's Day... (and I admit this was more my element). I was there from 11am until after midnight hanging with hundreds of my former selves. There were six bands playing live from 5pm until midnight with Filter as the headliner. The event was in a square and sposored by the bars inside. Most of the fans were pleasant enough and we had a few that had a night to remember but probably won't... and all was peaceful until around 11:30 when Filter played their encore tunes and a mosh pit ensued. Got tossed around a bit and became a reluctant participant but no major damage and the crowd was containable. After they left the stage we cleared the square and sent the partyers into the bars for the rest of the night... and the mix of staggerers was equal between men and women (you go girls)...

Quick turn around on Friday morning...home from the concert around 1am and up and on duty at the Cardinals training facility at 7am. Because of the lockout we are there to prevent the players from entering the facility... (not that I would be able to do so physically). But the only people who showed up were some of the coaches and office staff and mainly I sat outside in my lawn chair guarding the player entrance. What a difference a few hours make. From the previous evening with raucous partyers and concert goers to quietly sitting outside the training facility with the birds and occassional office staff and UPS driver. But it was too much outside too fast and the sunblock was on but the sun here in Arizona laughs at sunblock and the "human cheeto" was baked to a crackily crunch. I can handle a round of golf with sun, but 8-10 hours with nowhere to hide but under a hat can get a little brutal... ah, but that's the price of a free ticket to venues that mere mortals have to pay for.

Oh yeah, before I go... the weather here (you know I had to bring it up) has been exceptional (haven't seen rain or snow since Tucson in Feb.) Brilliant sunshine and we hit the 90's this week... Have a good weekend. I'm working a birthday party tonight and then off on Sunday... I'll be in touch...

What's been going on--March 1 til present...

After all the activity of February and travelling around, March has been a "resume normal activity" kind of month... (as if anything I do could be considered normal). Back in the Phoenix area I have worked a variety of gigs both during the day and overnight. I pulled a 15.5 and 13.5 hour overnight shift on back to back days that completely screwed up my sleep patterns; I have been scheduled to work at the Cardinals training facility only to lose it when they extended the deadline and then got back a couple days for this week. I'm working a 12 hour shift on St. Patrick's Day in downtown Tempe...(that should be interesting). I'm also working tomorrow (I love being able to type in the present) at a gig downtown that includes former President George W. Bush... (I promised my boss that I would keep my comments to myself). I have guarded art on an overnight gig and a food show move out. I also have been asked by company #2 to become the guard card instructor and supervisor trainer... (it may lead to an office position but more on that as it develops).

Today I have corned beef and cabbage cooking on the stove... (it's officially a cooking jones kind of day) along with some spring cleaning to prepare for visitors next month... (finally!). Also in the planning stages to go see my buddy Steve in Colorado in May when the Mets are in town to play the Rockies... I am also trying to spend more time with Melissa (the new woman in my picture). She works for Waste Management and is involved in many charitable events so getting together is something we have to work on. She also lives in the West Valley and the commute can be kind of hectic at times, but she's definitely worth the trip... (more on that also as it develops). I am hoping that company#1 gets the deal to work Country Thunder again... (4 day country music festival in Florence, Az ). I may try to get a room the THE hotel in Florence for that time and maybe share it with someone else...

Work aside, the weather has been absolutely beautiful here with daytimes at 80+ and the nights cool and comfortable... (in fact we may hit 90 in the next day or so). This is the time of year that reinforces why I am so glad to be living here... Golf game is progressively getting better and I will be playing tomorrow morning before the gig with Dubya... Okay, you're all caught up on the goings on that have gone on and now we move on to future goings on... (it made sense before I wrote it here--did I write "on" enough?). In other words, y'all are up to date. More to come...

What's been going on---Accenture Matchplay,Tucson

I returned from Virginia on the Hallmark Holiday and the following day met my boss at the office downtown for a roadtrip to Tucson to do a walkthrough of the Dove Mountain golf course at the Ritz Carlton. The trip takes a hour and a half and we went with the supervisors that would be running the various security positions at the golf tournament. Chris would be running the security around the clubhouse and practice area, Geoff would handle parking and entry points around the golf course (bag check and wanding), Webb would handle the parking and entry points at the public parking lots and Jim (me) would handle the hospitality tents around the entire course... (and there were quite a few). So we spent the day plotting strategy and checking deployments and then came bck to Phoenix. That was the 15th and we needed to check into our hotel (the company paid for us to stay down in Tucson) on Sunday the 20th. So for the rest of the week I worked a couple small gigs at the Convention Center and played some golf. I also went out to dinner with the woman I met at the Open and we get long quite nicely. We have several things in common and golf is one of them.

Geoff (my roommate for the week) met me at my place and we drove down to Tucson and checked in at the Red Roof Inn in Marana (a couple of miles south of the golf course) and we had a meeting and then the bosses took us out for dinner. Monday and Tuesday were slow (only practice rounds) and it was quite chilly in the morning (6am start) but during the day was gorgeous. My posts were like s%^$ in a fan...all over the golf course. The Oasis tent was at the 4th green, Sonoran Suites were at 9, 12, and 16, the Canyon Club was at 16. The Umbrella sponsors, Hagen Club, Saguaro and Accenture skyboxes were behind 10 green and I had 3 player/fan crossover areas to man. All in all, about 22 people I was responsible for. Luckily, on Tuesday they gave me a cart because it would have impossible to cover all the posts walking. I was able to post good people at all venues and the crowds cooperated. Some incidents at the Hagen Club (that was the only venue where the drinks were not for free), but nothing involving riot control or hostage negotiators.

The worst part of the week was that everyone was sick going down there except yours truly... I held tough until Wednesday when I woke up hacking and clogged... (thanks for sharing, guys). We immediately took a trip to Walgreens and stocked up on drugs and cough drops... (figures that drug stores are the only 24 hour stores open. It seems like there's one on every block!). So the chill in the air was chillier and the fact that my cart had no roof or windshield didn't help matters. Thursday and Friday went well enough and Saturday couldn't come fast enough for me. The weather had cooperated beautifully until Saturday when the wind picked up fiercely with a storm expected to come through Saturday night. I inhaled enough dust to start my own desert. But because the field got smaller during this tournament, the work got easier and the people left quicker. The best thing about working a golf tournament is when it starts to get dark, it's quitting time. After getting everyone signed out and gone, we returned to the hotel, showered, ate something, loaded up with meds and slept... (sounds like my former life).

Saturday night a rainstorm hit hard and was followed by snow that capped the mountains and covered the golf course... (I didn't sign up for snow!). It was in the low 30's and jetting around on my cart didn't help matters any. Plus the fact that the rain had turned the roads I drove on to a mud bog track... I was cursing and coughing and freezing and driving all over God's creation posting my people, all the while wondering if the matches would even be played. They went out there and played in the cold and wind... After I had posted someone at the far tent on the front nine, as I was driving back along the eighth hole, the skies opened up with a snow squall for about ten minutes... (did I mention that my cart had no roof or windshield?). I stopped and sat there and got snowed on and just started laughing. The perfect ending to a perfect week! What a great job. A week away, paid hotel, good company (Geoff and I had a blast rooming together), golf course everyday driving around, good weather (most of the time) and I got paid to do it... So I stopped grumbling and enjoyed the day the best I could. Cleaned off the mud and snow and got through the tournament. Got out of town around 5 and drove Geoff home and headed to Tempe to nurse myself back to health. Survived another adventure and lived to tell you all about it...

What's been going on...Virginia in February

After seven grueling days of 12+ hours and countless trips around the golf course... (never grueling) I had signed up with company #2 for a shift the Monday of the final round (it had to go to Monday because of all the delays). I am not one to cancel a gig in favor of another so I left the Phoenix Open and went back to the Convention Center to work a true marathon shift. It began at 5:45am and continued until 10:30 pm (16.75 hours-not a record but damn close). And after walking 34 holes the day before my legs were feeling it. But not my feet! Here is a shameless plug for Skechers Shape-ups. I bought a pair when I was working at the Barrett Jackson auction and my feet love them... for anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet I highly recommend them. Takes a day or two to get used to them but it is sooooo worth it. But even with happy feet, 16.75 hours is a haul. So I spent the next day relaxing and packing for my trip to Virginia to see my sister and her family. I left on Wednesday and came back the next Monday, on the Hallmark created holiday known as Valentine's Day... (for all who know me I am not a big fan... and for those who received gifts from me in the past, it's obvious you were special). I did send roses to my new special friend that I met at the Phoenix Open... (you may draw conclusions at this time)...

It was a great time... we had lunch with Natalie at her school, I walked the girls to the bus every morning, did homework and just hung out with the family. I attended the adult's party at Sheryl's friend and neighbor (Jim and Terry) who sent me an email invite and was another major highlight of the trip. It was good to see my Virginia friends again and just relax. The weather cooperated and it wasn't really cold and the little snow fall was pretty (but not pretty enough that I miss it AT ALL!). A pretty snowfall is one where no shoveling or plowing is required. After freezing my butt off at the Phoenix Open, Virginia was a pleasant surprise. There was talk about Uncle Jim moving to Virginia (mostly from the girls) and I was smart enough to make no promises (those kids are sponges---they never forget anything you say!). But I will say that anything is a possible and I will keep an open mind about the subject... (it truly is beautiful where my sister lives--I miss the trees).

I apologize to the rest of my East Coast friends for not alerting them that I would be back East, but it was a less than a week and I really wouldn't have been able to see anyone... this trip was an Uncle Jimmy trip and to recharge my batteries by spending time with the girls... needless to say my batteries are fully charged and I headed back to Phoenix to face the next challenge which was the WGC Matchplay Championships in Tucson. It would be another week long 12+ hour filled joyride around the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain golf course. More to follow...

What's been going on... The Phoenix Open.

Now that I'm back in the writing saddle (it's really just a chair), it's time to catch you up on what's been going on here in the desert. The first week of February was the PGA tour stop called the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Now, I know that cold temperatures out here are laughable compared to some of the weather most of you have endured this winter, but 28 degrees with no moisture in the air is freaking cold! And beginning each day before sunrise and riding around in an open golf cart deploying people is a sure way to wake yourself up. I had on every conceivable winter garment I could find including a buff to cover my nose and face from the biting winds... It was so cold that the Pro-Am tournament on Wednesday was canceled and every round was delayed by frost so often that the tournament was not completed until Monday afternoon. I didn't even get to walk the final round because I had a gig at the Convention Center on Monday. So after reporting for work at 5:30am every day, we pretty much ran around looking for heat and hot coffee trying to stay warm... (luckily I knew where the inside bathrooms were located so I didn't literally freeze my ass off). We didn't get to walk with the golfers until 11:00 every day and my day finished around 7-7:30 pm.

On the first Monday of the tournament there was no golf planned so they asked me to do roaming security in the vendor tent. The main entrance took all the patrons through the vendor tent and then on to the golf course and that was the way you exited also, so the vendors got two shots at the customers. Monday was set up day and it was also the day I met Melissa. She worked for Waste Management and was working in their booth for the week. We started talking and I visited her during the week while I waited to walk the course with players. We have started dating and I really enjoy her company. We have a lot in common and she plays golf, so I am giving her lessons also. Don't know where it's going but I'm enjoying the ride and taking it one day at a time (a philosophy that has served me well in all facets of my life).

I walked with Bubba Watson for most of the tournament and he was fun to watch... (I have never seen anyone hit the ball as far as he can--several drives were well over 300+ yards including one I measured at 357 yds.) On Saturday, I got the chance to walk with the leader at the time, Tommy Gainey, whose nickname is "Two Gloves" (he played baseball at one time and when he switched to golf kept wearing two gloves). It is now his logo on his bag and hats and merchandise items. Then on Sunday, we walked 34 holes of golf starting on the third hole at 9:30 am and finishing the second 18 at 6:15 pm. The goal of my group was just to finish so they could leave Sunday night without changing travel arrangements... again.

The highlight of the day came on the last three holes. A young boy was following our group trying to get Bubba's autograph (players don't sign autographs until after the round). I never noticed that he was alone until he was crouched next to me on the 7th green watching the players putt... (it was our 32nd hole of the day). A call came over the radio that we had a missing child and as they described what he was wearing I realized it the boy standing next to me. I asked him his name and it was the missing child. I asked him where his parents were and he told me they were separated when he tried to get Bubba's autograph. I told him to stay with me and we walked to the next tee. I brought him inside the ropes to get a closer look at the players while I called in and told command I had the child and he was fine and walking the hole with me. My boss replied that he and the father were on their way to pick him up, so I told him to hang with me. I then went up to Bubba's caddy... (we were waiting for the group ahead to clear the green) and told him about the missing child and how he was trying to get Bubba's autograph. Bubba and his caddy asked me to bring the kid over and they shook his hand and signed a golf ball and gave it to him... the kid was in heaven. Then his father showed up in the golf cart and thanked me. It felt really good to not only find the child and reunite him safely with his Dad, but to see the expression on his face when his hero took the time to shake his hand and give him a ball.

So even though I was disappointed to not walk the course on Monday it was nice to be inside at the Convention Center... even though it turned into a 16 hour marathon shift. (It was a move out and I thought they would never leave). So it was a 5:45am to 10:30 pm shift. I was never happier to see a Tuesday before in my whole life...

Where's Jimbo?

A good question, you may ask... where the heck has Jim been and why has he been ignoring his faithful readers...(Jim loves to talk about himself in the third person in case you forgot). The busiest man in event security has been just that... BUSY. Since I last communicated with you via the the keyboard, there have been two golf tournaments, a trip to Virginia (to see my beautiful nieces and their families) and an attempt at a new romantic endeavor with someone I met at one of the golf tournaments. Oh, and of course a winter cold that I caught from my loving colleagues at the last tournament I worked...

So Jim has a lot of catching up to do... (what else is new?). And I will be getting into specifics in the next blogs further down the road. I hope you will enjoy catching up with me as I recall the trials and tribulations of outside security work in February in the desert... For now, rest assured that Jim is fine (getting over the cold) and ready to get back to work on his blogs...

Speedy recovery to my buddy Victor... who fell victim to the cruel winter in the Northeast by slipping on the ice and shattering his kneecap (that hurts just writing about it). Reason 10,284 why I dislike the East coast and winter in general. Ice should only be found in the cooler on my golf cart or in the frosty soda I am consuming on these days of 70+ degrees (you knew I had to go there, didn't you?). Feel better, Vic.