A good walk--NOT wasted...

     You have heard me rant about Mark Twain and his infamous quote that the game of golf is "a good walk wasted" and I won't go into that again...(although just thinking about it gets my Irish up!).  I thought it would be a good way to launch this week's adventure, the Waste Management Phoenix Open.  I return to the very first event in my security career and re don the purple and khaki of the original company I worked for back in 2009.  The first year I spent 88 hours in the parking lot checking parking passes and directing traffic and didn't see one golf shot.  But I did have a blast meeting celebrities and getting to know the Thunderbirds...(they are the group that runs the tournament and charitable activities).  Each year after that I was on the golf course walking with the golfers and doing player security. 

     The TPC Scottsdale is a beautiful golf course and this tournament is one of the most unique on the PGA Tour.  This is the only tournament I know of where the crowd is so involved in the action on one hole.  The 16th hole at the TPC is built like a football stadium.  The hole is a par 3 with stands and corporate sky boxes totally surrounding the hole.  The players (and I) enter through a tunnel under the stands and proceed to the tee box with usually a thunderous ovation...(depending on who is in the group).  If the player hits the green he is wildly applauded (even louder if he hits it close), but if he misses the green a chorus of boos ring out and that is the uniqueness of this tournament.  The players all talk about 16 and some actually look forward to it, playing with the crowd and amping them up.  No other tournament allows such crowd behavior and every time I walk into that "arena", the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (and I don't have any hairs on the back of my neck), and that is why they have called this tournament the "greatest show on grass".  It is a total party atmosphere with a golf tournament thrown in to have something to watch. 

     This is probably my final Phoenix Open...(unless my other company bids and gets it).  My duties at Company #1 (formerly company #2) have increased again.  I approached the branch manager about redefining my role in the company.  I told him that I didn't mind working the weekends but I would like to have the same days off each week.  We agreed on Wednesday and Thursday which is perfect for me.  I will still get additional days off when we are slow and if a big event is scheduled I will work, but at least I have days to schedule other things now... (doctor, car and of course, golf).  I got permission to work for company #2 (formerly company #1) this week, but with my new position it will be hard to do it again next year. I could always take a vacation week and still work it, but I'll ask anyway.  No need to rock the boat.  So, this week I will be outside, walking around a manicured golf course in 70+ degree weather...(0% chance of rain all week).  Don't feel too sorry for me, okay?

Can you believe it???? 300 blogs...

     Can you believe this is the 300th blog that I have produced?  To those of you who know me...(after 300 blogs, I think you all know me pretty darn well), this is only the tip of the iceberg.  I hope to have many more years ahead of me and many more adventures to chronicle and I hope you all have many more years to read about them.  October 15th of this year will mark the 4 year anniversary of Jim's trek across country with nothing but a Jeep full of junk from New Jersey and the semblance of a plan to semi-retire to the "Florida of the Midwest", the great state of Arizona.  I call it that because during the winters in the Midwest, the snowbirds come here from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and Canada just like the snowbirds from the East fly down to Florida during the winters there.  I know this because every time I play golf during the winter, I am playing with Canadians or someone visiting from the Midwest. But I digress...(and nobody does it better or more often than I do).  Four years ago, I decided to leave friends and family, a secure job and home, to venture alone to Arizona and start over with the idea that now was MY time...what I did from then on would be on my terms and what came to pass would be of my choosing.  I would let the chips fall where they might and if I failed, then at least I could hold my head up and say I tried...

     After 3.25 years, I can do more than hold my head up...I have found a new "career" in event security, working my way up from a part time security guard to a supervisor to a part time event manager and now a full time addition to the management team here at CSC... (congratulations on my promotion).  What started out as a job to work a golf tournament has now become my passion.  I am now one of the people I envied when as I was younger, the ones who had a job they enjoyed and were good at, and got paid to do it.  I meet people from all over the country and get inside great events and travel around doing special events.  And I just fell into it.  That is why I try to pay it forward at every opportunity.  I try to go out of my way to help everyone on and off the job.  Any little gesture or effort on my part to thank karma for the blessings that I have received...(and hopefully will continue to receive).  300 blogs downs and I have a feeling that the best is yet to come.  Stay tuned... I'm just getting warmed up...

To putt or not to putt, that is the question...

     Let's face the cold, hard facts... I will never be a good putter on the golf course.  I will have good putting days (very rare) but it's usually because I am hitting my shots so well that the putts I have are closer or in my case, able to two putt and move on.  Yesterday was a perfect case in point.  I played a solid round of golf from tee to green with some very good shots.  But then I had four 3-putt greens and only made one putt outside of 5 feet.  I have less feel with the putter than a cadaver.  And it's starting to take its toll on my stellar good moods...(but I know that sleep deprivation from last week also has an effect on my mood).  So, to not violate resolution #5 in the Twelve Blogs of Christmas (remain positive and upbeat in all situations), I am taking to the practice green and putting in some serious work on the only part of my game that is lacking...(big time!).  And while I am at it, I will see if the swing adjustment I made yesterday (what a difference. I killed the ball all day) is a fluke or the genuine article.  Practice is about the only thing I can do at the moment because I have a full weekend at the Convention Center followed by 12 hour days at the Phoenix Open (now 6 instead of 5. Company 2 still loves me!).  I can't wait to walk the course with whomever I am paired with.  My game usually improves right after the tournament because of all the shots and practice tips I pick up from the golfers all week.  I will pay particular attention around the putting green.

     After slaving on the golf course for 6 days...(the only negative is that I don't get to hit a shot), I have a few days off and then I am flying to Virginia for a quick 4 day visit with sister and her family.  I fly in Thursday and come back on Monday just in time to prepare for a week down in Tucson for the next golf tournament, the Accenture Matchplay Championships.  Our hotel is booked and we are working on getting a bus to bring our employees down there from Phoenix every day.  The supervisors stay in Tucson for the week.  I will be in charge of the clubhouse area where the players and VIPs will be.  I will be in jacket and tie (sweet!) for this event and will be rubbing elbows with the players and PGA officials.  And I will be inside this time and hopefully avoid getting snowed on this year.  So, it's going to be a busy February and rumors are circulating that we may have a contract to do the spring training games for the Los Angeles Angels (their stadium is in Tempe) and I would be running that crew the month of March.  There are 16 games scheduled at Tempe Diablo Stadium and it is close enough to the house where I may be able to ride the bike to work... (decrease the carbon footprint and save 3.41 a gallon on gas).  Nothing written in stone but I will keep you posted...

You can't spell Elite without E-L-I...

     The big controversy at the beginning of the football season was Eli Manning saying that he was an "elite" quarterback in the league.  The so-called experts were all over him, saying that he was nowhere near the position of Tom Brady, his brother Peyton or others.  They called him arrogant and kept it up while the Giants struggled in the early part of the season.  Then he came alive and engineered another great run and after yesterday, the Giants are headed to the Super Bowl (again) with Eli at the helm.  Look, you all know that I am a die hard Jet fan, but I am also a football fan and like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable about the game. Eli Manning is proving to be a clutch performer and excels at finding ways to win games that the "experts" claim he can't win.  He engineered 5 (that's right) 5 last minute comeback wins this year and has the Giants poised to be champions again.  No one will be rooting harder for the Giants in the Super Bowl than your intrepid blogster for they are playing the HATED New England Patriots with the aforementioned Brady and that fashion plate head coach (hey, Bellichek, buy a clean sweatshirt for the game, will ya?) Bill Bellichek.  That traitor to Jet fans is a thorn in my side and nothing would make me happier than the Giants using his sweatshirt to polish the trophy they will hoist in Indianapolis on February 5.  GO BIG BLUE!!!!

     As you can tell from reading this, I have survived the Barrett Jackson marathon and am recovering at home for the next two days before going back to the Convention Center for work.  The total number of hours worked during the Auction? 108.75 hours and that doesn't include the 33.5 hours I worked the Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Convention Center before the Auction began.  I just got really tired writing that just now.  142.25 hours in 10 days.  I've got two words for that...KA CHING!  Needless to say these next two days will be a sleep and rest fest with numerous naps (and a couple rounds of golf).  I am recharging the batteries for a week before tackling the Waste Management Phoenix Open and another mini-marathon...(5 days of 12+ hours.  Piece of cake).  Security Man is in high demand and it really is a blessing... less than a year ago I was begging for hours and making ends meet with smoke and mirrors and to think that now I have job security and a great job in a field I enjoy is overwhelming to think about sometimes.  This experiment I undertook three years ago...(moving west with no job, friends or prospects) has become a dream come true in so many ways.  I have you, my faithful readers, to thank for most of it.  Your love and support for this crazy mid-life crisis has fueled me to succeed.  I couldn't have done it without you and I will be forever grateful.   I will pay you back by letting you know that I will always be here for each and every one of you and by continuing to share these ramblings of life in the desert (not sure if that's a reward, but it's what I got!).  Peace and prosperity to all!

Live from Barrett Jackson

     Greetings from the largest classic car auction in Arizona (and maybe in the United States).  For those of you who are interested in cars, the Speed Channel (check your local listings for times and your cable provider if you can get the channel) is carrying the auction live every day.  As we speak a 1962 Corvette Custom just sold at auction for 357,500 dollars (that was not a typo).  These cars are beautiful on television, but up close even a non-car guy like myself can appreciate the beauty and work that went into restoring these cars.  But the prices that these cars command are crazy high.  It's hard to believe that the economy is hurting after watching the money changing hands.  It must be nice to have a couple hundred thousand dollars to plop down on a car that most of the time sits in a garage looking pretty. Personally, if I'm spending money on a car, I'm going to be driving it...(but then again, I am not a car guy and that's why I work the auction and don't participate).

     At least this year my brain is not being turned to soup by having to listen to 12 hours of auctioning.   Last year I was in the auction tent or surrounding tents every day and it's impossible to get away from the sound.  This year I only have to visit the tents on occasion and I can leave when the annoyance factor increases to critical level.  It makes for a much more tolerable experience...  I just totalled up my hours for the week (Saturday to Friday) and its (drum roll, please) 102 hours and I still have Saturday and Sunday to go... I told you when it rains it pours.  We have a little slow stretch coming at the convention center so I will be able to rest up a little before my next big event at the Waste Management Phoenix Open which runs February 1 through February 5 for the "other" company.  Then I hope to get a few days in Virginia to see my sister's family and then come back for the Tucson golf tournament at the end of February.  Busy as a bee but loving it!

Live from the Barrett Jackson Auction...do not try this at home...

      Day Two of the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction. The reason for the title is explained below.  As you all know (and if you didn't, you will now), the life a security guard is is not a 9-5 job.  It is not a guaranteed 40 hour work week like other jobs.  The work is almost always on the weekends and is sporadic at best.  When the events and hours are available, you need to take advantage and that is where the title of this missive comes into play.  Back before I became management in the company I work for now, I would scramble for hours and work when I could as many days as I could.  The golf tournament I work in February is a perfect example... Last year, I worked Monday through Sunday for a total of 117 hours...(hence the do not try this at home).  I thought that maybe those days were over when I was made a manager, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! that is not the case.  Please remember that this is not complaining.  I will cash these checks with a large grin on my face.  Just letting you in on the inside scoop of my work life.  To properly live vicariously through me you need to understand that when work comes (especially an event of this size) it comes in bunches of many hours at once and I really enjoy being behind the scenes...

     Besides, this job that I'm doing is just about surviving the hours.  My day starts at 7:30 am and goes until 11:00 pm or midnight.  During the day I sign in employees, help with deployment and monitor the radio transmissions for emergencies and vendor concerns.  My office is a fully loaded recreational vehicle complete with couches, refrigerator, 2 flat screen TVs, microwave, coffee pot and all the comforts of home...The hardest job is not nodding off in the recliner that is my office chair...(and from where I am writing this blog).  And they are paying me to be here!  So don't feel bad because I am working 15-17 hour days.  As you can see, I think I'll be okay.  (wink, wink).  It's a tough job but I'm up for it...

The marathon before the marathon...

     As the title suggests, it is THAT time of year again...Security Man goes over the 100 hour work week...With the Barrett-Jackson Car Auction next week, the Waste Management Phoenix Open the first week of February and the Accenture Matchplay Championship in Marana the third week of February, this security guy is racking up hours and losing sack time.  No worries though, because this is the time of year to collect some overtime and bulk up the bank accounts for the slower summer time (I think) and increase the travel coffers...  That said, I am working the PF Chang Marathon bag pick-up and expo at the Convention Center before the race winds through Phoenix tomorrow morning.  The runners come to the Convention Center and pick up their race numbers, bibs, and swag bag, buy some things at the expo and then get some sleep before either the 13.1 mile half-marathon or the full 26.2 mile marathon tomorrow morning.  Over 30,000 runners will come through my doors and pick up their race packets and it is a zoo over there.  I have to admit that seeing all this activity reminds me of my running days (way back when) and I am developing an itch to attempt to get back on the road again.  Now that I have slimmed down I want to run again as a means to keep my weight off (see the 5 resolutions from the 12 blogs of Christmas).  As long as the surgically repaired knee holds up, I want to try and run again.  But that will occur in March, after these "marathon" events I have to work...

     My bosses are funny this way.  They say they don't want to burn me out, but yet I'm scheduled to work 100+ hours this week!  I have to admit that it's not the most strenuous of jobs and what the heck, if they want to pay me, then I say "cha-ching"... keep those paychecks coming.  It's nice to make this money and not have time to spend it...Plus the events are great.  The car auction is tremendous and I will be working the "command center" checking in employees, deploying them and handling payroll (congratulations on my promotion) and handling incident calls and vendor issues and anything else that might happen.  It will make for some interesting and busy days and hopefully there will be some stories that will entertain myself and you when I regale you with the details...(always preserving the anonymity of the subjects unless they are me , of course).  That starts on Monday morning and runs through next Sunday.  In the meantime, I am working a "rave" concert tomorrow night here at the Convention Center and don't start until 4pm Sunday (it runs until 1am and I have to be in Scottsdale at 730am Monday).  But I will be allowed to leave early (HA!) to get some sleep.  Since I don't have to start until 4pm, I have a tee time at 730 tomorrow morning.  (Need to get a round in). 

     So, I will try and bring the laptop to my gig this week and tap out a blog or two but I'm sure you'll understand if I don't.  Duty calls and it's time for the sleep, work,eat, sleep portion of life here in the Valley of the Sun.  Oh, by the way, speaking of resolutions...the obtaining a kitty has been postponed until March.  I don't want to bring the kitty home and leave her by herself while I'm working all these hours.  I want time to introduce her to her new home and of course I want to play and play and play!  Then I can leave her on her own while I work some shifts.  Will keep you posted... I hear the starters gun going off.  Let the marathon (first leg) begin!

Weird and very busy day...

     Today was a weird and busy day... (but you knew that already from the title, didn't you?).  But you don't know why, hence this blog.  I played a round of golf, bowled (yes, Bob, I bowled) with the crew from the office, and went out to dinner with Melissa.  A jam-packed, event filled day that was (you guessed it ) weird and very busy.

     The round of golf was by far the best and worst round of golf I have played in quite some time.  Remember I had told you that there were no physical side effects from the diet I have been on?  Well, I was not entirely forthcoming...(that means I lied).  While physically I feel terrific and the weight loss has been great, it seems as though I have shed not only pounds, but my golf swing as well.  And today was the epitome of that loss.  I have never hit so many good shots and bad shots in the same round.  I would hit a beautiful long drive with a draw right down the middle and then hook the next shot out of bounds or into the water.  After a drop, I would then proceed to hit a wedge within a few feet of the pin and then miss the close putt (weird...not missing the putt, but not knowing which swing was coming next).  There was no consistency or rhyme or reason.  I was all over the place and mystified at my lack of skills.  But, then on the 15th hole, I pulled off the shot of the round with a stance correction that I included the last few holes and hit the ball like I'm supposed to.  It's off to the driving range tomorrow to see if this is truly the answer...(working in the afternoon so no time to play a round).  I believe the weight loss has given me extra range of motion and flexibility and now I need to work on my swing to harness this new gift before it gets out of control.

     After the round of golf, I drove downtown and met the bosses and spouses and office staff at the Lucky Strike Bowling facility for a bit of a post-holiday party and a couple games of bowling.  It was definitely the nicest bowling alley I have ever been in with comfortable couches, waitress service, good music and flat screen TVs everywhere...(weird).  I would like to say that my bowling skills remain the same from my league days back in New York (I stunk then), but they have deteriorated to where I now stink out loud.  The only thing that has remained the same is my disdain for the sport as a whole.  I just can't fathom a game where you make the same shot and get a different result every time.  But I am the consummate team player (and it was free) and it was nice to spend time with the bosses out of the office.  With three back to back to back week long events coming up, it will be hard to find any leisure time so this was a welcome escape.

     Which brings me to dinner with Melissa.  She and I met at the Waste Management Phoenix Open last year and dated for a while before conflicting schedules and logistics became a problem and we stopped seeing each other.  We exchanged Christmas greetings via text messages this year and got together to play a round of golf and have started dating again.  The same problems exist schedule wise...(she does a lot of charity work in addition to her job and my schedule is crazy to say the least), but I really enjoy her company and she plays golf (major bonus).  So we will see what we will see.  She already knows I work nutty hours but we will try to find some time to be together. (busy).  All in all it was a very interesting day...

Bridezillas and mucus...

     No, it's not the name of the next summer blockbuster movie, it's what's going on in my world today...  First of all, congratulations to the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints on their impressive wins in yesterday's playoff games.  I was rooting for the Detroit Lions (sorry, Cousin George) but you have to admit that the Saints are the hottest team in football right now.  The games today are very interesting.  Of course I'm rooting for the Giants, Victor and I'm torn in the second game.  I dislike the Steelers (sorry Bob) but I dislike the Broncos even more...So, Go Big Ben and Pittsburgh.  I believe the Steelers have the best chance to beat the hated Patriots (they did in the regular season) in the next round so I will wave my terrible towel for the Steelers.  The Giants always seem to get it together at the right time unlike my pitiful Jets, so beware Falcons.  Eli said he was an elite quarterback and he's on a mission to prove it.  I will be watching via the computer when I have a chance.

     But I digress...back to the title of this missive.  The Bridal show is winding up today with an eclectic bunch of bridezillas tearing around the Convention Center with their entourages looking for the means to plan their "dream wedding".  It is packed with ladies and Moms, ladies and friends, ladies and awestruck grooms, and ladies with a posse.  It's hard to move around...(especially by the catering vendors giving out samples) and even harder to get them to leave after the show closes.  Yesterday was a difficult day to get the people to leave, but today all hell breaks loose at 3pm.  That is when the show closes and the move-out begins.  It will be bedlam.  Vendors will be packing up and the dock area and street will be jammed with cars as they try to "get outta Dodge".  It took 2 1/2 days to set up the halls and the move out will be done by 6pm and the hall will be empty by midnight.  It's amazing how quickly the place gets evacuated.  We have police closing the street and keeping order while the vendors pack up and flee like the Israelites fled from Egypt with Moses.

     I really like this show because I have worked it several times and have many friends amongst the vendors.  It's always nice to hear someone say that they are glad I'm working the show because things run better when I'm here.  I have a great crew of guards working and things so far have run very well.  Unlike my sinuses and nose (although my nose is running all the time).  My head feels like it has collected all the weight I have lost and stuffed it back in my sinuses.  But other than blowing out great masses of mucus...(gross alliteration) I feel pretty good.  Just wanted to give you a heads up and keep my writing juices flowing.  OK, back into the fray.  I have calamine lotion ready because wedding shows give me the hives.(kidding! NOT)...

There goes the healthy New Year...

     I guess when I wished everyone a happy AND healthy New Year, I should have included myself in the deal...Woke up a couple of days ago (and that is always a good thing) with a touch of a sore throat but as a snorer and with the heat on...(yes, the heat comes on at night. I feel like such a wuss!) I played it off as dry throat.  WRONG!  Played golf and felt alright but after the round I felt extra sore and more tired than usual.  The sore throat was gone but I got the chills that night and was full blown sick by the next morning.  Thank goodness I had Wednesday and Thursday off (sort of,...the work calls and emails never stop) and I spent both days guzzling tea and resting.  Still under the weather today but my head is more blocked than a highway with a six car pile-up on it.  But being the trooper that I am (or stupid, there is a fine line), I am at work today for a 12.5 hour shift at my favorite event...(roll the sarcasm, please) the Bridal Fashion Show and Expo!  A full weekend of blushing brides-to-be, deer in the headlights eyed grooms, and bridesmaids walking through over 600 vendors looking for their share of the bridal budget. The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not reflect the opinions of the website.  :)

     My prejudices aside, this really is a good event for those who do not heed my warning and decide to marry anyway.  This is a soup to nuts, one stop shopping event that covers all the bases from engagement through the wedding and honeymoon and even beyond...(there are even Realtors here to discuss the post wedding living arrangements).  There are people to do invitations, flowers, rental halls, golf courses (the only place to have a wedding unless you're a traditional church person), musicians and DJs, honeymoon brokers, dress makers and retailers and everything else you can imagine.  There is a bridal gown fashion show and giveaways and prizes and enough hideous bridesmaid dresses to turn even the strongest stomachs...(hats off to you women who are forced to wear these monstrosities and pay for them as well).  But I must admit, the dresses are getting less hideous these days.  I do my part by keeping my opinions about marriage and weddings to myself during this event...

     Please do not judge me as opinionated and against marriage (wait a second, I am those things).  I do not believe in the institution of marriage, but that is not to say that it is not the way to go for someone else.  But statistics don't lie and with the divorce rate over fifty percent, you don't even have a fifty-fifty chance to survive.  I prefer my odds a bit higher on a lifetime investment.  The fact remains that my dating pool at this stage in my life (old) is mostly (almost totally) divorced women coming out of some horrendous marriage situations.  Unfortunately for me, I don't know this going in, but it makes for some interesting conversation.  But there are beautiful examples of couples who have been married for many years and what the heck, sometimes taking that chance is worth all the hassle and planning (I guess).  Nothing is a sure thing, especially love.  So I wish the attendees all the luck in the world that they are the exception and not the rule.  I will bask in their happiness and excitement.  And I will try and keep my stuffed up head from crashing to the floor from the sheer weight of mucus (that's gross). 

    Update on the wonder diet (HCG).  I have entered Phase II where I am off the pills and add more foods back into my diet.  I seem to be stuck (plateauing is the technical term) at 194 pounds (I love that 1 at the start!) but I will rock on.  It may be the cough medicine and cough drops (so much sugar and extra crap.  This diet has me reading ingredient labels more closely now).  Total weight lost up to this point in 22.8 pounds and except for the cold, I have never felt better...

The Twelve Blogs of Christmas... #12

     In the twelfth blog of Christmas, my blogger gave to me...12 ex-girlfriends (I know, I'm a pig), 11 egos clashing, at-TEN-tion to detail, 9 musicians playing, 8 important events, 7-ty degrees, 6 guards a-guarding, 5 reso-luuu-tions, 4 days to New Years, 3 golf stories, 2 Christmas wishes, and the story of HCG...

     The actual number is not important and I may have taken some literary license to continue the theme of these blogs, but the accent of this blog is on the word "ex".  There is a recurring theme that is prevalent in my dating life.  The dating is good...the getting to know each other is good...and then things get a little cloudy... (the truth...I get bored, find a reason to break up and hightail it out of there).  I don't have commitment issues (that's a lie), I have pre-commitment commitment issues.  I can't seem to get to the point where the "relationship" phase begins...or beyond that.  Right after the woman initiates the phase with the "Where is this relationship going?" conversation (because no man is going to ask that question), I'm looking for the door...  It's just that lately the women I have been attracting (and it's completely my fault...my boss, who is a woman, has a theory that I am attracted to drama) have been changing magically in front of my eyes.  When we meet, I explain that I am not in the market for the "relationship" and they all agree.  Then we start going out and its like they never heard what I said.  Friends tell me its my fault because these woman hear I not a "relationship" guy and they believe they can change me...(that may explain why one woman said I would end up marrying her...after the second date!).

     At this writing, I am once again a single man.  The woman I was dating wanted more than I was willing to give and we mutually decided to move on.  So, it's back to the online dating site and the dartboard of dating.  They say there's someone for everyone out there, but you have to be open to receive that person.  I believe I have found a character flaw that requires some of that at-Ten-tion I blogged about.  Either that or continue to ride the merry-go-round that I've been on...(always been a fan of the merry-go-round).  Let's see if this "old dog" can learn some new tricks and not end up the crazy, lonely old man...(at least not lonely). 

     Thus endeth the Twelve Blogs of Christmas...I am quite proud of the effort I put forth in actually returning to blog 12 straight days in a row.  I will be getting really busy at work, but I have rekindled the writing bug and look forward to writing these blogs... I hope you enjoy the results...And don't you dare feel bad for me about the dating thing...I'm really good at this single thing.  Ha Ha.

The Twelve Blogs of Christmas... #11

     In the eleventh blog of Christmas, my blogger gave to me... 11 egos clashing, at-TEN-tion to detail, 9 musicians playing, 8 important events, 7-ty degrees, 6 guards a-guarding, 5 reso-luuu-tions... 4 days to New Years, 3 golf stories, 2 Christmas wishes, and the story of HCG...

     Nothing says inflated ego and over-blown cases of I.S.S...(my own diagnosis standing for Inflated Sense of Self) like a political gathering.  We have a new mayor in the city of Phoenix and newly elected members of the city council and today was the inauguration ceremony and the list of "dignitaries" was enormous...( I prefer to call them "Indignitaries" because of their pompous attitude).  There is nothing that rattles my cage as a security guard more than someone asking the question... "Don't you know who I am?"   That is the absolute surest way to get me to do nothing for you.  And that question came up...you guessed it... exactly 11 times. (This is truly the stars aligning to keep the twelve blogs of Christmas alive and kicking).  I can see the officials of city government having their day on the stage and it was a nice ceremony with the the winners saying all the right things and hitting all the hot spot issues and promising to do the job for which they were elected as the "candidate of the people"...(but very few actually complete the job they promised).  But, other than the immediate family, no one gets preferential treatment because "I'm with the candidate".  Technically, I'm with the candidate because I'm there to keep these I.S.S. sufferers away from the candidates.

     But the issue that disturbed me the most was that this ceremony was open to the public and the powers that be running the show decided that there would be no searches or wanding for weapons.  And this on the heels of the tragedy in Tucson with Gabrielle Giffords where several people were murdered at a political gathering.  When I heard this was the case, I told my boss that the only way I would work this event...(and I was requested by the Convention Center), was that I would work in the lobby away from the stage and potential gunfire.  Nothing occurred and the event went flawlessly, but I can't believe that an event where all of the city power...(mayor and city council) was on a stage in a public forum, that safety and security would be backburnered to prove that the candidates were unafraid.  Everyone knows that security checks, bag checks and searches are a way of life these days and I rarely find a person I search objecting because of inconvenience.  To allow everyone to come in unchecked is completely irresponsible and I was not comfortable doing it.  But again, the only threat was from the size of the egos entering the event.  And I managed to stay clear of the huge heads and remain completely professional...

The Twelve Blogs of Christmas... #10

     In the tenth blog of Christmas, my blogger gave to me,  at-TEN-tion to detail, 9 musicians playing, 8 important events, 7-ty degrees, 6 guards a-guarding, 5 reso-luuu-tions...4 days to New Years, 3 golf stories, 2 Christmas wishes, and the story of HCG...

      Attention to detail...Easy to say, but difficult at times to provide.  These days I find myself losing track of the details with the many projects and undertakings that I plan and have thrust upon me at work.  I was never the most organized person to begin with, so multi-tasking can be pretty confusing when I need to do it.  However, with the introduction of this new diet regimen and work out schedule that I began last month, I find that I am preparing better and becoming more organized with each passing day.  Instead of food shopping and just putting stuff in the fridge, I am cutting and pre-measuring vegetables and meat and storing them in the fridge so that meal prep is much quicker.  I am planning menus and meal choices in advance to avoid just grabbing junk to eat.  And this prep and planning is spilling over into other areas of my life also.  I am more organized with everyday things at work and chores at home.  I take notes and prepare lists for shopping and chores so that my time is not wasted wandering around the store and buying everything except what I went to the store to buy in the first place...(which happened more than just once).  I have a small notebook (Alzheimer's pad) that I keep and write down web sites and events that I might want to research and things I need to brief my guards about for certain events... I find it is a necessary evil as I get older...(I may start to write down where I put my keys because I can never find them, especially when I'm in a hurry).

     I also use it to write down ideas for these blogs... (I told you it would be harder to find material as the number reached twelve, but we will persevere).  These new found organizational and time management techniques are freeing up my time to pursue my newly minted resolutions and goals and that can't be a bad thing.  The days off will come to end soon because work will rear its ugly head and I'll be busy with the Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Accenture Match Championships this month and February.  Plus, there will be a myriad of events at the Convention Center to fill in the blanks between those events.  With the utter collapse of the Jets both on and off the field and with them not even backing into the playoffs, the time I would have watched the playoffs is now free... (I will still watch some of the games, but not all).  Freeing myself from watching television is a constant battle and I will pay particular at-TEN-tion to doing that.  Nothing ruins plans and schedules more than mindless hours parked on the couch watching what my Dad referred to as the "boob tube" and "idiot box".  The less time I spend in front of the TV, the more time I have to enlighten (I hope) and entertain you in these blogs with my various ramblings and misadventures...

The Twelve Blogs of Christmas... #9

     In the ninth blog of Christmas, my blogger gave to me... 9 musicians playing, 8 special events, 7-ty degrees, 6 guards a-guarding, 5 reso-luuu-tions, 4 days to New Years, 3 golf stories, 2 Christmas wishes, and the story of HCG...

      Just when I wonder where I will get the next number for the blogs, the stars align and it just happens.  I had no idea where I would get the the number 9 to complete this installment and it didn't materialize until I got to the concert last night at the Orpheum Theatre.  I really love working at the the theatre because it is an original...built in 1929 and restored to its original condition and is a great venue to see a show.  Last night was Jerry Riopelle's Rockin' New Years Eve.  I, myself had never heard of him, but he has been performing out here on New Years Eve for quite awhile and his show was pretty entertaining.  I was patrolling the lobbies making sure no one was going outside with alcohol, but once the show began, I walked in to sample some of the music.  I looked on stage and there it was... 9 musicians on the stage jamming along.  He had a mini orchestra up there, but the sound was pretty good.  Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums and keyboard (the usual) were accompanied by saxophone, backup singer (tambourine), another percussionist and one guy who played a variety of weird sounding instruments.  Amazing how these things work out...

      The night concluded with a balloon drop and everyone wishing each other Happy New Year and we finally got the revellers out and cleared out the other party at the Convention Center around 230 am.  I was supposed to meet Joelene at the trailhead for the hike at 600 am and didn't trust myself to go home and make it North Phoenix in time, so I had the great idea to drive to trailhead and sleep in the car in the parking lot.  I had brought a pillow and blanket with me and I drove to the trailhead and made it there at 330 am.  I pulled into a parking spot and was greeted by the  "no parking betwwen 11pm and 5am" sign.  Crap! Now what?  I was pretty tired at this point because I had been up since 8 am Saturday morning, so I drove around the block and found an apartment complex, pulled in and took a nap.  I woke up at 500am and drove back to the trailhead and snoozed again.  Joelene showed up at 630 and up the mountain we went and awaited the sunrise.  With a beautiful view of the Valley waking up, the sun came up over the mountains and was a perfect way to greet the New Year.  We climbed back down the mountain and I got in the car and drove home to crash.

     So, Happy New Year, everyone!  My wish is for all of you to enjoy a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.  May 2012 be a year to remember for all of you... And now I will return to the bed for a well deserved second helping of sleep...