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).