Writing this from way behind, because last week was an adventure to say the least...I hardly had time to sleep let alone write to my loyal fan(s). Called into the office Friday (June 17) to do interviews for prospective security guards (hate when that happens...I had planned a do-nothing day), but duty calls...I knew this "semi-retirement" gig wouldn't last long. Let's face it... I'm a worker-bee and always will be (and the fact that I really like this job isn't helping my free time). Saturday was "Security Professor Man" day. I am the instructor for my branch to obtain security licenses... (basically, my students need to listen to me lecture via a power-point presentation for approximately 8 hours). If they can survive that, they deserve a license... After doing these classes several weeks in a row I can almost recite the entire 8 hours from memory. Got out of work around six and headed home to pack for California. As you know, I was asked to come to California to "help" with the Barrett Jackson Car Auction in Orange County. I had to leave at 6am Sunday morning to get there for a 2-8pm shift at the fairgrounds.
The rental car was cool... (even though it was maxed at 80mph) and the drive was interesting. Not a lot of traffic and pretty nice scenery. Paris (my GPS) didn't mess with me and got me to the fairgrounds around 1pm. I drove around and into the compound where the auction would be held and nobody stopped me... (it was move-in and set-up from Sunday til Friday). I also saw no CSC guards on post or anywhere else. I was texting my boss about the problem when I heard a voice asking me why I was sitting in my car texting... it was the head of security for Barrett Jackson. I told him I drove in from Phoenix to work that day and he informed me that all Sunday shifts were canceled... (little did I know at the time that this was the first of many more surprises the week would hold). So I basically drove all the way for nothing...it was cloudy and overcast so I went to the hotel, checked in and took a nap. Didn't wake up until almost 10pm...
My shift was supposed to start at 8am the following morning and when I got there, the night supervisor met me and handed me all sorts of paperwork and uniforms and sign-in sheets...it seemed that not only was I there to "help", I was running the security detail during the day for the move-in...(surprise!). Never ran an event before so I called the branch manager in charge and asked where the sign-in area was so I could set up shop... he thought I would take care of that when I got there (surprise!). Ok, where was the admin person to take care of signing employees in while I posted them? She was going to Las Vegas with him for another gig...(surprise!). Then I found out that my shift was not 8 hours a day like it was in Scottsdale, but a minimum of 12 hours a day... (surprise!) And the best part was that the branch manger in charge met with me for about 6 minutes before taking off to do other things. The night supervisor was nice enough to show me around and help me post my guards...(none of whom I knew of course) and Bill, the Barrett Jackson security head began changing assignments and cutting shifts from the get go (surprise!). The fairgrounds are pretty large and I asked Bill if we were getting a golf cart to help post guards and bring water to the guards. He told me we weren't on the list and we (read that ME) would have to walk everywhere... (surprise!) After that first day my pedometer broke into tears and refused to count any more steps... My relief arrived around 7:30pm and by the time we got people posted for the overnight shift and went over the changes made by the client, I got back to the hotel around 9:30 and crashed...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
How bout them Mavs...
The gods of sports heard my plea and I will continue to watch professional basketball as Dirk and Jason squared (Kidd and Terry) eliminated LeBron and the Heat and captured the NBA championship. It's not that I am a Maverick fan... (I am a die hard Boston Celtic fan), it's that I am a ABL fan (Anyone But Lebron). Although the owner of the Dallas Mavericks is a complete tool, I congratulate him and his team for a job well done.
I have been busy in my new role as an event manger for Company #2...(much to the chagrin of Company #1 because I can't work the gigs they keep calling for me to do). I can't justify giving up 40 hours a week to work a couple 6 or 8 hour shifts. With this new development Company #2 will be elevated to Company #1 and will hereby be the primary source of my adventures as "Security Man". Yesterday (Sunday, I think) alone I was in charge of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Bi-national Hispanic Catholic Coalition and the Bridal Show... (although the Bridal show usually causes me to break out in hives, no permanent damage occurred). This is my second bridal show and I saw some of my friends (vendors and event people) including the ladies from the wedding hall I worked as a security guard in Chandler. The place was packed with brides-to-be and their pets (I mean grooms-to-be), bridesmaids and guests and Moms...(all I could think was that half of the people in the room would end up divorced--cynical, aren't I?) Most of the golf courses I play were in attendance...nothing better than 18 holes and a couple "I do's" if that's what you're into. The show ran from 10am tp 3pm and after we got the guests out, it was bedlam as the move-out commenced. (3 days to prepare--6 hours to dismantle).
The Southern Baptists were still in move-in mode on Sunday but there was still activity going on and I put many miles on my legs because I had events in all three buildings...useless trivia of the day: the Convention Center occupies 24 acres with 900,000 sq. ft. of property and 302,000 sq. ft. of display area...(I taught a guard card class on Saturday and the history of the convention center is in it). So you can see, there is much space to walk around and patrol. But at least I'm walking around and not planted at a door or exit area...
Excited and getting ready for my trip to California next Sunday...going to Orange County from the 19th until the 27th for work... (rental car for the week-zero dollars,hotel-zero dollars, tickets to event-zero dollars, getting paid for food and attending the event---priceless). And the weather is sunny and in the high 60's and 70's for the foreseeable future (bonus!). It sure doesn't suck being me right now... On a sad note, a good friend of mine from back in New York lost his Dad to a heart attack last Friday. My condolences to Don and his family over this tragic loss.
I have been busy in my new role as an event manger for Company #2...(much to the chagrin of Company #1 because I can't work the gigs they keep calling for me to do). I can't justify giving up 40 hours a week to work a couple 6 or 8 hour shifts. With this new development Company #2 will be elevated to Company #1 and will hereby be the primary source of my adventures as "Security Man". Yesterday (Sunday, I think) alone I was in charge of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Bi-national Hispanic Catholic Coalition and the Bridal Show... (although the Bridal show usually causes me to break out in hives, no permanent damage occurred). This is my second bridal show and I saw some of my friends (vendors and event people) including the ladies from the wedding hall I worked as a security guard in Chandler. The place was packed with brides-to-be and their pets (I mean grooms-to-be), bridesmaids and guests and Moms...(all I could think was that half of the people in the room would end up divorced--cynical, aren't I?) Most of the golf courses I play were in attendance...nothing better than 18 holes and a couple "I do's" if that's what you're into. The show ran from 10am tp 3pm and after we got the guests out, it was bedlam as the move-out commenced. (3 days to prepare--6 hours to dismantle).
The Southern Baptists were still in move-in mode on Sunday but there was still activity going on and I put many miles on my legs because I had events in all three buildings...useless trivia of the day: the Convention Center occupies 24 acres with 900,000 sq. ft. of property and 302,000 sq. ft. of display area...(I taught a guard card class on Saturday and the history of the convention center is in it). So you can see, there is much space to walk around and patrol. But at least I'm walking around and not planted at a door or exit area...
Excited and getting ready for my trip to California next Sunday...going to Orange County from the 19th until the 27th for work... (rental car for the week-zero dollars,hotel-zero dollars, tickets to event-zero dollars, getting paid for food and attending the event---priceless). And the weather is sunny and in the high 60's and 70's for the foreseeable future (bonus!). It sure doesn't suck being me right now... On a sad note, a good friend of mine from back in New York lost his Dad to a heart attack last Friday. My condolences to Don and his family over this tragic loss.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Summertime is my time...
A fine hello to Mr. Triple-Digits...(going up to 106 tomorrow before "cooling" down into the high 90's during the week). I celebrated by taking the bike out for a ride while Jody borrowed my truck to get some things from her storage unit. Jody has just moved into my apartment complex and I'm a little jealous because her patio faces the golf course more than mine does...but it's great to have a friend in the complex. The bike ride was terrific. Nothing like 100 degrees to test your ability to stay upright. The breeze that was blowing was comparable to opening the oven door set on 400 degrees...(MAN! I love this stuff). And I am not being sarcastic...until you have lived out here and experienced this weather first hand, it really is hard to explain. But I am embracing it with cautious enthusiasm...
Yesterday, I dropped the truck off for an oil change and pedalled 3 miles to the United Blood Services office and donated blood...(I have been doing this for about a year now). After cookies and juice...(it isn't ALL about saving lives--they have Famous Amos cookies!) I biked over to the diner and had breakfast. Then I pedalled back to the shop and picked up the car and drove home, showered and hit the golf course for 18 holes...not a bad day. Today I went to work for a few hours and hit the road again for about 4 miles... Tomorrow, with the temps hitting 106, I will be working 15 hours... (most of which will be inside) with the last few hours attending the "Trailer Park Boys" concert at the Orpheum Theater. If you haven't heard of them, check them out on the internet. They are a Canadian based comedy troupe that had a tv show that was absolutely hilarious, at least in my opinion...(and in this blog, that's the only one that counts). The good news is that I have off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week so that I can continue this new trend of exercise and outdoor activity. I will finally get the tires I won last year put on the truck next week...(totally my fault...just found the gift certificate).
Comicon was a hoot by the way...This scaled down version of the San Diego extravaganza I attended last year did not disappoint. There was a plethora of costumed geeks and gamers and lots of people with "unique perspectives"...(so you know I had a great time). I saw the ultimate definition of what a geek is all about...two 20 something "jedi knights" were choreographing their light saber duel...(yes, they had light sabers. "Weapons " were allowed as long as they were registered with the staff). As they were dueling, an absolutely gorgeous young woman walked by in a Princess Leia slave outfit...(the guys will know what outfit I'm talking about) and these two "geeks" didn't even hazard a glance at her. If I wasn't working, I would have asked them to surrender their "man" cards. Then there was fat Batman dressed only in a cape, cowl and Batman "underoo" briefs (no shirt) with his belly fat and "junk" jiggling with every step. I made him leave and put shorts on under his briefs because no one else should have been subjected to that outfit...(I know that visual will haunt me almost as much as the 400 lb. "Tron" guy from San Diego---think stretch jumpsuit). But most of the costumes were pretty out there and there were some really obscure characters.
On a serious note, the wildfire here in Arizona has escalated to the 3rd worst in state history engulfing 140,000 acres...(not near me but still very scary). That is one of the potential hazards of living in the desert. One of my colleagues had to move her horses to safety as the fire was only 45 minutes away from her. The fire is is the eastern part of the state at the top of Gila National Forest near the New Mexico state line... (about 4 and half hours east of where I am). I pray that the firefighters will be able to corral the blaze and keep damage to a minimum. And seriously, let's go Dallas Mavericks! If LeBron gets a ring, I will swear off professional basketball...(I can survive on the NCAA hoops)...
Yesterday, I dropped the truck off for an oil change and pedalled 3 miles to the United Blood Services office and donated blood...(I have been doing this for about a year now). After cookies and juice...(it isn't ALL about saving lives--they have Famous Amos cookies!) I biked over to the diner and had breakfast. Then I pedalled back to the shop and picked up the car and drove home, showered and hit the golf course for 18 holes...not a bad day. Today I went to work for a few hours and hit the road again for about 4 miles... Tomorrow, with the temps hitting 106, I will be working 15 hours... (most of which will be inside) with the last few hours attending the "Trailer Park Boys" concert at the Orpheum Theater. If you haven't heard of them, check them out on the internet. They are a Canadian based comedy troupe that had a tv show that was absolutely hilarious, at least in my opinion...(and in this blog, that's the only one that counts). The good news is that I have off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week so that I can continue this new trend of exercise and outdoor activity. I will finally get the tires I won last year put on the truck next week...(totally my fault...just found the gift certificate).
Comicon was a hoot by the way...This scaled down version of the San Diego extravaganza I attended last year did not disappoint. There was a plethora of costumed geeks and gamers and lots of people with "unique perspectives"...(so you know I had a great time). I saw the ultimate definition of what a geek is all about...two 20 something "jedi knights" were choreographing their light saber duel...(yes, they had light sabers. "Weapons " were allowed as long as they were registered with the staff). As they were dueling, an absolutely gorgeous young woman walked by in a Princess Leia slave outfit...(the guys will know what outfit I'm talking about) and these two "geeks" didn't even hazard a glance at her. If I wasn't working, I would have asked them to surrender their "man" cards. Then there was fat Batman dressed only in a cape, cowl and Batman "underoo" briefs (no shirt) with his belly fat and "junk" jiggling with every step. I made him leave and put shorts on under his briefs because no one else should have been subjected to that outfit...(I know that visual will haunt me almost as much as the 400 lb. "Tron" guy from San Diego---think stretch jumpsuit). But most of the costumes were pretty out there and there were some really obscure characters.
On a serious note, the wildfire here in Arizona has escalated to the 3rd worst in state history engulfing 140,000 acres...(not near me but still very scary). That is one of the potential hazards of living in the desert. One of my colleagues had to move her horses to safety as the fire was only 45 minutes away from her. The fire is is the eastern part of the state at the top of Gila National Forest near the New Mexico state line... (about 4 and half hours east of where I am). I pray that the firefighters will be able to corral the blaze and keep damage to a minimum. And seriously, let's go Dallas Mavericks! If LeBron gets a ring, I will swear off professional basketball...(I can survive on the NCAA hoops)...
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