I've said it to myself a hundred times and now I will write it here...it just doesn't pay for me to visit the East Coast. I moved in '08 and returned for a visit in June of 2009. I was here for 19 days and it rained for 17 of those days. I told myself then that I would invite everyone to come to Arizona and never set foot back here again... (however, no one took up my offer--except my sister and her family). Then a work opportunity came up where I could come back to New York (which I still love) and get paid for being here. The day before I get here an earthquake hits the area and now I'm hunkered in a hotel room waiting for a category 1 hurricane to hit me in the face. I have seen more rain in 2 days than I've seen in the almost 3 years I've lived in Arizona and I believe I will take Mother Nature's advice this time and stay the hell out West. I will enjoy my work experience and hightail it back where the sun shines and the heat is unbearable. I love all my East Coast friends but this weather is freaking ridiculous!
My assignment for the US Open is to run security for the Indoor Tennis Center which is across from Lewis Armstrong Stadium. There are three stadiums (stadia?) on the grounds... Arthur Ashe, Lewis Armstrong and the Grandstand. Then there are 17 outer courts (5 practice and 12 for matches) around the outside of the stadiums. In the indoor tennis center there are 12 courts... (but courts 1-5 are being set up as corporate hospitality venues, courts 7-9 house the SmashZone for kids, so there are 4 courts for practice for the players). The SmashZone is set up with smaller courts, larger balls and smaller rackets to help kids learn and enjoy the game more. Rafael Nadal (#2 in the world) held a clinic/photo op with a group of kids there on Thursday. So, I was on court during that event and the rest of the time we are there to make sure only those with proper credentials are in the center. Once the tournament starts on Monday (hopefully) the hospitality areas will be filled, the kids will be there and I'll have more people to police the center.
Today the special events (including Arthur Ashe Kids Day) were cancelled in preparation for Hurricane Irene's "visit" to the New York area... I worked my spot as the only guard for the entire center (it was closed to the public and only players, coaches and workers were allowed in the building. The outside courts were open early but by 10am the rains started and all the players were coming to the locked doors trying to get in. So I had to play door man for the rest of the morning. I did get to see Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray arrive for their practice sessions and the building was closed at 2pm to prepare for the storm's arrival. I stayed working until 5pm and then we came back to hotel as the rain worsened and the winds started picking up. The storm is over Delaware and South Jersey as I write this and I will try to blog during Irene's visit when she officially arrives in New York during the day tomorrow. I am scheduled to work 2pm-11pm tomorrow but that may be called off depending on the weather... So I'm back to hunkering and watching for Irene...
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