Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso...

     Just when I thought I would be consumed by the mundane existence I fled from back East, an opportunity arises for travel and a new adventure.  The regional vice president of the security company I work for here called my branch manager and wanted him to go to El Paso, Texas and work a boxing event in the Sun Bowl.  He had a personal commitment so he suggested that I take his place.  And as of this writing, I will be going to El Paso for a few days this weekend to work the Julio Caesar Chavez, Jr. boxing card.  After working the Bridal Show this past weekend, a boxing match will be a welcome change (although they are very similar!).  The convention center was invaded yesterday by thousands (yes, thousands) of future brides and grooms and guests and bridesmaids and parents for the one day Bridal Expo.  It was packed and the noise level was incredible.  There were fashion shows and event planners and caterers and every possible thing you could think of to plan your "special day".  As a conscientious objector of the whole marriage deal, it was a pretty awesome event to witness.  The 12+ hour day just flew by and by 6:30pm (the show ended at 3pm) all that was left in the hall was the decorator and pipe and drape and tables.  It was as if a horde of locusts (or piranhas) had swept through and just left the bones.  I am always amazed at how quickly a convention or event breaks down when it takes days to set up...

     Remember how excited I was about how well the Mets were playing this year?  Nothing like a series with the Yankees for a brutal reality check.  After a 3 game sweep by the Yankees, the Mets have to play the Tampa Bay Rays next.  Let's see if they can help the Yankees by beating the Rays (no, I am not drinking).  Still over .500 in June is more than I expected (and all of the experts predicted a last place finish) so I will continue to root hard.  They come to the Valley for 4 games at the end of July and I hope to make a couple of games.  Unfortunately, my Celtics lost to the HATED Miami Heat and in true ABL form (Anyone But Lebron), I will be rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder to take the NBA crown.  I had predicted the winner would come from the West, but I thought it would be the Spurs.  OKC does have Arizona State grad James (Beard) Harden, so there's another reason to root for them against the "next Michael Jordan" (the most ridiculous statement ever made).  There will never be another Michael and to compare him to anyone is an insult.  And tonight the Devils will attempt to tie the Stanley Cup Finals at 3-3 with a victory in Los Angeles.  It would be great if they could get it to a Game 7 at the "Rock" in New Jersey.  With only 3 teams left in New Jersey after the Brooklyn Nets leave (the other 2 teams still have New York in their names), it would be great to have the Stanley Cup in the Devil's hands again.  LET'S GO DEVILS!!!

OMG, I've become B-O-R-I-N-G!!!...

     I just been reading over my last few blogs and I found it hard to stay awake.  I have fallen into a rut of epic proportions!  All I've been writing about is work (yuck!), my bad knees (yuck!) and the freaking weather (no control over that...it's hot).  Why didn't one of you tell me I was this BORING!?  I can take it. I'm a big boy.  The reason I started this adventure was to be able to relate some interesting stories for you guys to read and for the most part I feel that I was holding up my end of the bargain.  But since I re-injured my knee and the weather jumped up over 100, I been making excuses (mostly to myself) to become one with the couch and become a slave to the electronic brain sucker (aka the television set).  The "boob tube" had me in its grips and I finally regrew a pair (sorry for the vulgarity) and got my lazy ass out of the house.  When I started looking forward to going to work (heaven forbid!) it set off the alarm bells that something needed to be done.  So for the past few days I have been up and venturing out into the blazing sun with the golf clubs and the bicycle, trying new courses (playing the same places contributed to the rut) and riding for hours exploring my neighborhood.  There are so many trails to ride and the canal path is right next door and the increased riding has been just what my knee needed (hard to say fast--knee needed). There are so many rider friendly advantages here in Arizona that I feel guilty not taking advantage.  And it sure feels good to work up a good sweat.

     I was listening to radio today and had to pull over because I was laughing out loud.  I don't know if you guys are familiar with the "mayhem" commercials put out by Allstate insurance, but we have one now for Arizona.  "I'm the Arizona sun... when I'm not burning your retinas or melting the asphalt, I'm beating mercilessly on your car, bringing the temperature inside your rolling oven to a balmy 150 degrees.  And while you're struggling not to have heat stroke as you pull out of your parking space, you don't notice my latest gift...I have turned your seat belt buckle into a molten hot branding iron.  As you flinch from the pain you accidentally floor the gas and ram into a Pontiac Sunfire...and if you have cut-rate insurance it may not cover it."  Could be the funniest (and the truest) commercial ever.  It's a lesson you learn once and it's a painful one.  Parking is a science out here and you need to carefully plan your spots and use your head.  Another of the perks of living on the outskirts of Hades...

     I renewed my lease in the apartment here in Tempe...there was a rent increase, but it's still cheaper than moving...(I did extensive research).  Tomorrow is a new golf course and the best news is that it is June...which means I can play 5-6 rounds of golf for the price of one round back East.  And this year I get to play for free on my birthday because it's on a Thursday and I don't work on Thursdays... Speaking of June, Happy Birthday to Denise, Deidre, and Toni Ann and there are more to come (myself included)...  If all goes well, I have an adventure planned for next week...I will be "standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, hiking through the Petrified Forest and maybe going to the Four Corners...  Enough of this everyday crap.  I didn't move 2500 miles to do the same things I left New Jersey for...Let the games and adventures begin again!!!!