The Twelve Blogs of Christmas... #4

     In the fourth blog of Christmas, my blogger gave to me, 4 days til New Years, 3 golf stories, 2 Christmas wishes, and the story of HCG...

     Four days until the year 2011 is history and 2012 comes into being...and what a whirlwind year this one was for your intrepid blogger.  It was a year in which my job became more of a career with promotions, increases in remuneration and opportunities to travel.  It was the busiest summer I have seen in my security days, with trips to Orange County (Barrett-Jackson) and New York (US Open Tennis) and my promotion to event manager, providing me with more job security...(and a lot more responsibility, but it was a welcome thing).  After a colorful career in the tire business and my move here in 2008, I never knew that a part-time job to work at a golf tournament would blossom into a career of its own, but it has and it's truly a blessing to do something that I thoroughly enjoy...(and get paid doing it!).  I always wondered what it would be like...I knew several people who had the job they really liked, and now that I am one of those people, I've come to realize that it was worth the wait.  Sure, the hours are daunting at times...(16-17 hour days), and the money is not all that great...but when you're doing what you enjoy doing, it all works out in the end.  The perks far outweigh the negatives.  Free concerts, behind the scenes at most events, access to places most people aren't allowed, escorting celebrities and sports stars and getting to meet people from all walks of life and places are just some of the things I'll trade for a pile of money and a weekend.  My schedule is such that I work most weekends, but being off during the week is a blast...

     This year brought my nieces for a visit in April for spring break and I got to explore this beautiful place where I live with the people who mean the most to me... my sister and her family.  When she told me that she would try to come out again in 2012 it was hard to contain my excitement and I am already researching plans for the next visit.  Arizona turns 100 years old in 2012 and I hope there will be centennial stuff to do all year.  I was in Virginia for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown (oldest English settlement in the New World and a great name to boot) and to be here to celebrate Arizona's 100th will be equally exciting.  I also got to return the favor with a visit to Virginia for the girls' birthdays...(made sure I was there for both this time to avoid the controversy).  I also spent some time in Utah and crossed it off my golf bucket list.  I am hoping 2012 will allow me to continue my quest and tour the West.  Aruba was also in the mix and never fails to remind me how beautiful a small island...(a mere dot on the map) can truly be.

     This year also brought a more healthy lifestyle and continued good health with a few curve balls thrown in...(what the heck bit me on Aruba?).  All in all, 2011 was a healthy year for me...(no sick days taken and no days missed due to illness).  I pray that that trend will continue in the next year.  It also was an interesting dating year.  I met some interesting women via the Internet dating route...(trying to be PC here) and some more on my own.  Needless to say, as I am writing to you now I am still single and relationship-less...(not a word, I know, hence the hyphen).  My innate knack to attract the drama filled scenarios that I find myself involved in, while exciting  at the time, have never developed into anything more substantial.  I blame myself for this entirely.  Loretta would say that I am too picky...(and I am).  Be that as it may, the search continues...(and who doesn't enjoy a good search).

     So lets take a moment during these last 4 days of 2011 and reflect on the year that was and make some solid plans for the year to come.  If all continues on the present course, 2012 will find me still single...(don't feel bad, I'm good at it), able to travel a bit more...(maybe to a place near you because for some reason y'all don't want to come here) and continuing this blessed and "charmed" existence I have carved out of the desert for myself.  Let's hope that there will be many new stories and adventures for us to share in the new year...