The Yule Blog...

     Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to the Yule Blog...for those of you who are old enough to remember (and not sure if it's just an East Coast thing), Channel 11 (WPIX) would broadcast Christmas music on television and would just show a fireplace burning on a continuous loop. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, I have built a fire in my fireplace and will include a picture within this blog for effect.  I am going to try and make the Yule Blog an annual event, whereby I bring my unique perspective to the Christmas holiday season and what better way to start than to write this on Christmas Day... These are the gifts I wish for each and everyone of you this blessed holiday season...

                                            C     H     R     I     S     T     M     A     S

     C is for Courage.  The courage to face life on life's terms and the courage to continue on when adversity hits...The courage to accept things and the courage to change things and adapt to the rapidly changing times.  The courage to remain steadfast in your beliefs and the courage to stick to the moral and ethical codes we were brought up with and hopefully passed on to the next generations...and the courage to be ourselves no matter what others may think...(what the hell do they know anyway?).

     H is for Health...Continued good health throughout the season and 2014 or quick recovery from any illnesses.  Without good health the rest of the journey is more difficult.  And health includes well being and mental health as well as physical...(and we all know mental health is something this blogger could use).  My wish is for good physical health for you and your families and with that a general wish for overall Happiness (first runner-up in the H category).

     R is for Resilience...the ability to deal with whatever comes our way.  Coupled with courage, it is the ability to show quiet strength in the face of trouble,  graciousness in the face of defeat or disappointment, and support to others when they need us to be strong for them.  Resilience is a major component of being a positive role model for children, co-workers, or whoever needs to see us at our best.

     I is for Inspiration...to provide it for others and seek it for ourselves.  Jobs become easier when a source of inspiration is found to drive you forward.  By being a positive example for others, you can be the source of inspiration for others.  It is something I constantly seek when in my everyday life.  Inspiration drives us to be better people and drives us to accomplish things we might not be able to do without it.

     S is for Strength...The strength to carry on when all seems to be going against you...Strength to be there for someone who faces a debilitating injury or illness...strength to stand up for what you believe no matter how many are against you.  The strength to face adversity in the eye and take it on without hesitation.

     T is for Thankfulness...Remember that without the help of God (and I know this),  nothing we do is possible.   "There but for the Grace of God go I" holds very deep meaning for me especially during the Holiday season.  Don't forget to be thankful for the things we take for granted.  Don't forget to be thankful for the people in our lives...(no matter how big a pain in the ass they may be at times).  If you believe that everything happens for a reason (I do) then they are supposed to there to help on your journey.  Don't forget to thank God (or whatever you want to call Him) for the beauty of the world, the beauty of our children, the beauty of His grace, instead of removing Him from our everyday lives.  

     M is for Miracles...Don't let belief in Miracles go away as technology and science try to explain away the things we accept on faith.  The miracle of childbirth, the miracles of everyday life lose something when an a scientific explanation is attached.  But the best miracle of all is the miracle of the human spirit which never ceases to shine in the face of adversity.

     A is for Amazement...Never let the ability to see life through the eyes of a child be lost...(since I have the mind of a child it's easier for me).  There is nothing more amazing than watching a sunrise or sunset here in the desert or the beautiful flowers that bloom in this acrid climate from the cactus.  The absolute beauty of a clear night sky with "billions of stars" (thank you Carl Sagan).  The thrill I get when I see the wildlife come out at night on the job...( I never tire of seeing them up close and personal). Life itself is truly amazing and should be Appreciated (lost out to thankfulness).

     S is for Serenity...It is last but certainly not least.  It is utmost in my mind and always in my heart.  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference...I wish you peace and peace of mind.  I wish you the serenity that comes with good works for those less fortunate than us, that comes with good judgement and decision-making, and most of all the serenity of a good life.  Peace be with you all.  I love each and every one of you more than I can put into words... God Bless us all and please remember the "Reason for the Season" (it's in the name).

Back in Arizona...

     After surviving the trip to Aruba, the flight(s) back home were bearable...they arrived somewhat on time and took off when they were supposed to.  In fact, I even arrived 15 minutes early in Phoenix last Thursday morning.  I am still sending a scathing email to US Airways about the shoddy service I received and will see what they will do about it...(I'm sorry, here's 50 bucks, go away just doesn't make up for my ordeal).  In the meantime, I am back and trying to get into the swing of things at work and preparing for a visit from my sister and family...Christmas is a weird time out here in the desert...plenty of decorations and the mind numbing Christmas tunes that have been playing since June (actually right around Halloween) but its hard to "feel" the season when you can still wear shorts and a t-shirt outside. Not that I am complaining...I'll take this weather over the 0 degrees it was outside the airport in Chicago on the way back from Aruba.  Christmas decorated cacti are pretty cool in their own right.  In the spirit of the season I have downloaded some pictures from Aruba to melt some of the cold and snow from wherever you are.  They will be on Facebook so if you're not my friend then shame on you. I am attempting to put a couple in this blog...

      Pretty cool...I like the fact that i was able to do this without crashing the computer or causing irrevocable harm to my pictures.  Enjoy the pics.  Average temperatures were between 85 and 90 every day. It was the best weather week I have ever encountered in Aruba and it was a fitting farewell to a beautiful island home. Gotta get ready for work...Ciao for now.

Greetings from MY island...

     Yes, it is MY island...I have been coming to Aruba off and on for 10 years now and truly believe that I belong here.  And this week was the most relaxing and battery recharging of them all.  I experienced less rain than any other visit at this time of the year...(in fact, it rained twice during my entire stay).  Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the time it is time to move on from here.  Aruba is an adventure best shared with someone else.  While there is much to do for a single person, it is a romantic and beautiful island that is even more beautiful if you are with someone else...(significant other, life partner, girlfriend, however you want to say it).  So, until that part of my life becomes a reality, I will seek other adventures.  I will return to Aruba when I have someone to share MY island with...(she's probably standing right in front of me, right, Toni?).  In the meantime, I want to thank Bob and Toni for sharing their vacation with me.  Coming down here and seeing them is something I look forward to every year...(so I have about 360 days to find my someone special).

     This is my first international blog, by the way, and it took forever to get down here thanks to US Airways.  I left Phoenix on time and landed in Philadelphia on time Saturday morning (after three schedule changes).  We took off from Philadelphia on time and after an hour and a half turned around and returned to Philly.  The pilot claimed an electrical problem and for our safety we needed to return.  We landed back in Philly at 9:30 and didn't leave again until 3 pm...after sending us to the wrong terminal twice!  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for our inconvenience...So the flight didn't arrive in Aruba until after 9 pm (local time).  By the time time I reached my lodgings it was after 11 pm, so I was awake for 31 hours and spent 24 of those hours in a plane or airport.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience...Not only did I lose a day's vacation, but a night's sleep as well.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience...My question is this...I was originally scheduled to fly to Aruba from Charlotte, why not divert there?  Why did we need to fly back to Philly?   Charlotte is another hub of US Airways so what is the deal?  Then they tell us a plane will leave at 1 pm at Gate 25.  At ten minutes to 1 they announced that it would leave from Gate 26 which was across the terminal aisle (no problem).  Then they announced that this wasn't our plane.  Our plane was leaving out of Gate 10 clear across the other side of the terminal and not until 3 pm.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience... Needless to say I have a beef with US Airways.  When I arrived in Aruba I checked my email and US Airways had "generously" given me a $50 voucher for a future flight...for my inconvenience.  I am waiting until I return home (hopefully, because I am flying, yes, with US Airways).  If the experience is as "delightful" as it was on the way down here, then I will politely tell them to shove their voucher into their colon. If I make it home safely, then I will pursue a more fair resolution for "my inconvenience."  Stay tuned for further developments.  Bon Bini, (Good day) to everyone.

Reasons to be thankful...

     Holy crap! (you may be thinking or something a little stronger)... two blogs in one week! To what do we owe the pleasure? (or not so much).  I seem to have found my voice, my muse, or whatever it is that compels me to sit at this keyboard and type.  I have suddenly come out of a recently undetected funk and though I do not know the cause, I sure know what the cure is...Sister and her family are coming to the Valley to visit! (You thought I was going to say an extended beach vacation in Aruba, didn't you?).  While Aruba will be a beautiful and long awaited vacation, it is the opportunity to see my sister and her family that has perked up this blogger.  I didn't have the chance to visit Virginia this year because of the new job, but that will be rectified next June when paid vacation time enters the portfolio...Which brings me to the title of this piece...

    -- My sister and her family...  With all that I have put myself through (alcohol, drugs, related car accidents, etc.) and involving her, my sister has stood by me through it all, giving support and love when I surely didn't earn it or deserve it and for that I will be eternally grateful.  She was there to help me pick up the pieces and was there to support my decision to come out here when others were not...The debt is enormous and I cannot possibly repay it except to say that without her in my corner I would never have made it this far and would never have survived the ordeal.  The extra gifts of my brother-in-law and my two beautiful nieces are icing on a cake that keep on growing with time.  I will be forever thankful that she is my sister...

   -- Arizona... Can't believe it has been 5 years already out here... (as of November 15).  Seems like yesterday that I drove into the state across the New Mexico border to begin this crazy chapter in my life.  I am constantly amazed at the beauty of this wonderful area and it never disappoints to show me something new.  The desert landscape and the "critters" (yes, even the rattlesnakes), the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, the beautiful golf courses that are carved into the landscape to preserve the natural beauty, the laid back and slower lifestyle that I have come to embrace and of course, the weather...(even the 100+ summers).  It took me a long time to get here but I will never regret the decision to come.  And I am proud to call Arizona my home...  

     -- Friends and family...Those still in New Jersey and those around the country and those I have met here are all very special to me and I am thankful to have all of you in my life. Even though I do not stay in touch often enough...(a habit I still have trouble with) I want you to know that I love all of you and thank you for everything you have done for me.  Again, it is a debt I cannot repay but I will keep all of you in my heart and my prayers.

     --My health...Not only am I blessed with living in a paradise, I have been blessed with good health this year...(still have the arthritic knees and cranky back, but who doesn't at my advanced age?).  Nothing, outside of the weirdest bug bites and reactions to them, has taken its toll on me.  Allergies returned with a vengeance, but are now a painful memory that lasted a couple weeks.  The weight loss (25 lbs.) seems to have stuck and the trips to the gym are increasing and I generally feel really good.  The weather has returned to comfortable and "beats anywhere in the country in winter" (sorry, I couldn't help myself).  The golf courses are lush and reseeded and I am playing more thanks to the job...

     --Aruba...In two days I will be jetting to my island paradise.  I have decided to stay an additional few days this year because it may be the final visit (at least for awhile).  I have been writing my bucket list and there are so many places I want to visit and really want to get moving on the 50 in 50 project...(50 rounds of golf in 50 states) but I will never say never to another visit there.  The opportunity to visit with Bob and Toni Ann in one of the more beautiful places on earth is something I will never rule out...

     ---The United States of America...I can't ever be thankful enough to be living in the greatest country in the world.  A place where someone like me can chase their dreams and be able to move around freely and express myself (like in this blog) freely.  Yes, there are problems (I'm not a stupid man, Jenny!) but I wouldn't trade my citizenship for anywhere else in the world...

     ---God... It wouldn't be right not to thank the one being without whom none of this would be possible.  I am not so arrogant to believe that I accomplished anything in this life without the grace of God.  Talk about a debt that can't be repaid!  I am not the best church goer (in fact I could be the worst) but I do worship Him and talk to Him and thank Him in my own way...I seek Him in the sunrise and natural settings of nature where I believe He does His greatest work.  I thank Him every day for the life He has allowed me to live (even though I tried to ruin it all those years ago).  God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference...

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you...Thank you for allowing me to share in your lives...

T-Minus 7 days and counting...

     As the title suggests, 7 days and counting until a well earned and well deserved vacation on MY island of Aruba... (well earned and well deserved in my eyes which, let's face it, are the ones that count here).  It's the perfect day to resume blogging (I know it's been awhile but I hope you missed me) here in the Valley of the Sun because there isn't any sun and probably won't be until Monday of next week.  Cold (by Arizona standards---mid 50's) windy and rainy from Thursday night through Sunday.  I realize that other parts of the country, including Northern Arizona, are getting wicked cold and snow (chuckle!) but cool and rainy for more than a day is a big event here.  I am actually loving it...I have a fire burning and coffee brewing and dreams of the beach I will be on come the 30th of November...

     The only problem with cool and rainy is that I work outdoors...last night in particular was a bit messy and even the critters I see on a regular basis were under cover.  But work supplies me with a three quarter length rain slicker with hood...(picture the grim reaper without the scythe) so the rain really isn't a bother.  And since most of the members are back there aren't as many weather related alarms going off at all hours, so basically I do even less on my shift (if that's even possible...tough job but someone has to do it).  I have five work days left until my unpaid leave of absence begins...(no paid vacation until next June) and I can't think of a better place to go than a tropical paradise.  The best part is that without an international calling plan I will be virtually out of touch with the rest of the world...(pretty much like I am now because of the infrequency of these blogs).  And even better is that I get to see Bob and Toni Ann.  I haven't seen my NY peeps in quite awhile and it will be great to catch up down there.  

     Sheba, (aka. Mrs. Wafflepuss), my cat, will be away on vacation as well.  I will be boarding her here in Tempe and she will have her own cat "condo", personal play time with one of the attendants and will have her food and toys from home with her while Daddy is away.  She is unaware of the plans and will scream the whole time she is in the car carrier...(lucky for me the place is local) but I checked it out and it seems nice enough.  I just didn't want anyone I didn't know coming to the house to take care of her and since my buddy Jody moved back to Ohio, I don't have anyone close to take care of her.  

     Over-seeding of the golf courses is finished and it is was the roughest month ever.  I had the worst allergy attacks for about 3 weeks...I usually went to Virginia to visit my sister during this time so I must have missed it before, but it was brutal. Couldn't breathe, couldn't stop my eyes and nose from running, couldn't stop sneezing (personal record of 9 consecutive sneezes without stopping while not passing away from the heart stops during each sneeze).  I took an allergy medication (non-drowsy...Ha!) that made me dopier than I already am (if that's possible) and so sleepy I almost couldn't work.  Thank the Lord that is over with. So all the courses are extremely green and lush and very beautiful.  And I am enjoying "cutting the lawn" every opportunity I get (love working the late shift).

    Before I go I would be remiss as a history major to not mention that today is a famous anniversary in world history and personal history.  Fifty years ago today, John F Kennedy was assassinated by one or many (depending on which conspiracy theory is your favorite) as he traveled by open motorcade through the streets of Dallas (those Texans and their guns).  I can still remember watching the funeral procession on black and white TV as a child of 5 or 6 (amazing I can remember that but not where my keys are...Where are my keys?).  On a personal note, it is 20 years ago today that I was arrested for DWI as I traveled by car through the streets of Clark New Jersey.  Unfortunately, it wasn't until April of 1995 and another DWI (including waking up in a jail cell) that I began my second life as a clean and sober member of society...It took a long time for my head to come out of the sand (and for me to remove my head from my ass) before I saw the "light".  And with the help of many special people (I hope you know who you are) and one awesome "higher power" (who never gave up on this hopeless sinner) I am sitting here writing this message.  Wow...what a long strange trip it's been (thanks to the Grateful Dead for that line) and what a long strange trip I hope that it will continue to be.  Ciao for now!

Catching up on catching up...

     Ask and ye shall receive...it's the most wonderful time of the year!  Just when you thought the heat and humidity would never end...it does!  I am sitting in the apartment with the windows open enjoying the high 60's and 11% humidity as I write to you.  The nights are cool and clear and the days are warm (still hitting mid-90s) but the humidity is back below 20% and it couldn't be more welcome.  Now is the time of year when watching the weather is fun...(here it's fun, I mean watching the cold fronts and snowstorms the rest of the country is living through).

     The real reason I am writing today is that October is a very special month.  It is the anniversary of Sheryl and Craig (yesterday...Happy Anniversary, you two!), and it is the birthday month of my two beautiful nieces.  In fact, today is Vee's birthday and I want to wish her love and happiness today and every day.  She is always in my heart and always on my mind and I love her dearly.  Later this month is my Godchild's birthday and then the birthday of one of my dearest friends, Loretta... But today is Vee's day and you other guys will get your turn later this month.

    Sheba (aka Mrs. Wafflepuss) who is my cat is alive and well and turned 1 year old over the summer. She is a constant source of entertainment and makes me laugh with her antics almost every day.  I am REALLY looking forward to Aruba this year.  I haven't had any significant time off  from working in a long time and I am really needing some beach time.That will happen at the end of November.  Looking forward to spending some time with my New York peeps as well down there.  In the meantime, my cousin Amelia will be visiting in late October.  Her daughter and husband are relocating from Florida to Tucson so I hope to see them when they are here.

     Hope everything is well with you all.  Gotta run...(I have a tee time).  Love to all and another HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VEE!

 

Could someone please turn the heat off...

     A blog from Tempe...which is just outside of Hades.  This is the first "summer" (Arizona should have its own season name...like simmer or broiler) I have not traveled out of state for work or anything else and let me tell you...the 100+ degree days are taking its toll on my sunny disposition.  Don't get me wrong...I wouldn't trade living here for anything but now I know why the people I work for stay away from June to October.  Thank the Lord that I took this job at night where it "cools" down to the mid-90's (insert laugh track).  But Mother Nature has been really pissed off this summer with monsoon rainstorms that come out of nowhere and humidity on top of the heat...(I will never insult the monsoon season here again.  These storms caused havoc and power failures and dangerous lightning all across the valley).  In fact, this summer set a record for highs during the day and highs at night also...  The good news is that come next week, weather.com has predicted the end of the triple digit highs.  Starting next Tuesday the highs will be in the 90's still but the humidity will come back down in the 20% range.  Back to the dry heat I have come to love.  By mid-October I am hoping for sweatshirt nights and t-shirt days again...(not exactly Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, but I'll take it).

     October will also signal the return of the "members" to my job.  After a complete renovation of the clubhouse, locker rooms and dining room, the club will reopen in October with a gala party and grand re-opening.  That means that more people will be around and it will be busier for the security department...(but not necessarily my shift unless there is a late night party).  Work has been going wonderfully.  I just passed my 90 day mark, so my benefit package should take effect any day now.  I will have go in and sign my life away but its a good thing.  Being able to go to the doctor (I am okay, just saying...) if I need to is a thing I took for granted these last few years.  And the summertime residents (snakes) are readying to go into hibernation in the next few weeks and that will make walking around a bit safer...although there are bobcats around (saw one last night walking across the street).  October also signals reseeding and the rise of golf prices so the the focus will be on practice this fall.  I found my hitting net and AstroTurf mat so I can set up outside and hit balls and will go to the range more often.  Everything else is pretty good.  Continued hard work on the dietary changes and working out have produced a 21 lb. weight loss and so far I have been able to keep it off.  Really looking forward to cooler temps so that hiking in the morning after work can be added to the mix...

Is it just me...?

     Is it just me?...I watched the major unveiling of "FoxSports1" when it came on the air in August.  Do we really need another ESPN clone with nothing new to offer but obscure sports the real networks didn't want to air in the first place?  Do we really need another collection of former players and coaches offering their "unique take" (oxymoron) on a subject already beaten to the ground so many times that my ears are bleeding?  I think not, but is it just me?

     Is it just me?...Has political correctness gotten so out of hand that IT has become more offensive than the statements it was invented to politically correct?  I am through with trying to figure out what to call someone anymore.  I have a novel approach.  Let's just call them "people" without any mention of the their race, color or ethnic background.  Or better yet, walk up, introduce yourself to them and then call them by their name.  This "Caucasian American" (are you serious?) has had it with labels of any kind.  I am a man and my name is Jim.  If you are uncomfortable with using my name I will answer to "sir" without being offended in the least. I think that terms of respect (which you still must earn) are the losers in this offensive attempt to put labels on "people".  Is it just me?

     Is it just me?...or am I the only one seeing kids today with no social skills whatsoever?  Parents buy them the latest games and computers and they spend every spare minute in a fantasy world (alone) and never develop basic social skills needed to interact in the REAL world.  My parents used to say that they wanted things to be better for their kids and they gave us the opportunity to succeed...they didn't buy us a way in.  When we failed they didn't blame our teachers or society or anyone else.  They blamed us and rightly so.  "Hit the books harder", no outside or dinner before homework was done...we learned to deal with failure and learned to strive not to do it again.  We weren't given trophies for participation (what kind of pansy crap is that?). You lost! Deal with it! You want to win? Practice and play harder...hard work and dedication and desire were the principles you lived by. Coddling kids by praising them for losing is not the way to prepare them for real life where failure is an everyday possibility.  By the way, good parenting is not pushing your kids on teachers and coaches and boarding schools so that you have someone else to blame and sue when Johnny fails.  Good parents spend time with their kids, engage them in outdoor activities with other children and nurture their hopes and dreams.  They RAISE them themselves and are an active part of their child's life. Is it just me?

Is it just me?...or is technology making terrible drivers even worse?  Driving is still an activity I cherish and I am constantly amazed at the way people drive.  Since when is GPS the only way to get anywhere anymore.  Have people lost their sense of direction?  If you miss your turn does that mean you have to return home and start again?  If you know the exit is coming (and the Garmin tells you over and over) why do you need to make a four lane right turn at the last minute, cutting off everyone who knows where they are going.  And then flip them the bird when they get upset?! Rush hour occurs everyday twice a day...does going 80 mph on an exit ramp and then slamming on the brakes and cutting back into traffic really save time?  And if you're in a hurry? Leave earlier...(I want credit if this revolutionary idea ever takes off).  When I started my new job, I found several different routes in the case of road closures, flooding, accidents, etc. and I am sure that if I miss my GPS turn, that I can get there taking the next exit (recalculating).  And please PUT THE &%^ing PHONE AWAY!  Is it just me?

   Otherwise, everything out here in the desert is going well.  A little tired of 100+ days but soon I will be basking in the weather of fall, winter and spring.  I will never make fun of monsoon warnings again.  Holy crap! We had some storms last week that devastated some areas.  Flash floods and torrential downpours came out of nowhere and hit very hard... Mother Nature wins.  Much respect to her and her moods.

Back in the saddle...AGAIN

      Greetings and salutations from the infrequent blogger... sorry to have been away so long (or maybe it hasn't been long enough), but I have the blogging spirit and so here I go again.  No lame promises about how I will be here more often (which I am the WORST at keeping).  I will try to be more vigilant but let's face the facts... I am in a very good place right now with work and leisure time and I am back to "living the dream" that I set out to do when I moved here.  The job is comfortably routine (8 hrs and go home) and I finally have the sleeping thing down to manageable.  I play golf at least 3 times a week and have made this summer a stay-cation summer in Arizona with hanging around and making everyday life here better and better?  How?, you ask (I, of course, assumed you would ask).  Let's get to it.

     I have been on the job at Desert Highlands for 2 months now and have settled into the "vampire" shift nicely.  Because I now have a handle on the sleep change...I can play golf right after work and still get plenty of sleep before the next shift.  It's mostly quiet at night, a couple of alarm calls once in awhile and watching nature after dark... I handled my first rattlesnake the other night and let me tell you that it was a total rush! I don't know if it was adrenaline or pure terror, but it was SO cool! It was about 4 feet long and heavier than I expected and extremely fast when it struck at the pole...but I picked it up with the "snake handling apparatus" (6 foot long grabbing pole like you use to grab something off a high shelf) and we relocated it to a a non-residential desert area.  Big mixture of awe and fear.  They really are beautiful creatures (from a distance).  So don't worry. I have decided against joining a "snake handling" church and will continue to view them from the confines of my patrol truck unless absolutely necessary.  The alarm calls are usually routine (mostly weather related) but to tour some of these custom homes is amazing...(I mean checking the house for signs of a break-in).  Every one of the homes in the community is custom made and gigantic (one master bathroom and walk-in closet was larger than my apartment). If you want to check out some of the homes where I am check out this website: http://www.danabloom.remaxagent.com and if you buy one I will be happy to make sure to keep your new home secure.

     The golf game has steadily improved over the summer to where I am usually shooting in the mid 70's every time out.  The putter is grudgingly improving and as my confidence improves, so has the results.  We will continue working toward the ultimate goal...a round under 70.  We have come close on occasion...72 last week and a 70 earlier in the summer, but I'm happy with the consistent play I have right now.  I am also trying to get word out about offering lessons and may work with a woman at one of the local courses here and if she likes what I can teach her, she can help get me some students.  Keep you're fingers crossed (but not when you're playing golf).

     I didn't move closer to the job but instead renewed my lease for 9 months...(if I move next year April is better than July). Instead, I have changed my apartment around and moved the television room from the living room into the spare bedroom and change the look of the place completely. So I moved without going anywhere.  It's also a chance to go through everything and get rid of lots of clutter. It's nice to have extra closet space and storage area getting rid of things I no longer use. 

    I hope to do a little in-state travel as the temperatures cool down in September and October (brutal here now with humidity and temperatures at 110+).  Plans include Winslow (to stand on the corner), Jerome (a hippy mining town from back in the day, the four corners area and the Painted Desert. Now that I can add pictures to my blogs (I am self back patting at this moment), I will try to be even more entertaining (is that even possible?). 

     With that I conclude my return (triumphant? not so much) to the blogoshpere.  Happy Birthday to my "little" sister Sheryl.  She means the world to me and I don't let her know that enough.  Best day ever is what I hope for her.  Love you, my dear...

Miscellaneous ramblings from the desert...

     As the weather begins to cool down this weekend... (highs in the low to mid 100's) I have a few things on my mind... (that's a lie. My mind is like an overstuffed couch cushion, chock full of useless information that I am more than willing to spew, er, share with you).  Just another example of how my mind operates...please keep a safe distance.  You don't want to get lost in there.

     Sports has always played an important role in my life.  And following my favorite teams is a frustrating, aggravating release of emotion every losing season brings me.  I have resolved myself to the fact that my teams may never, EVER be good again and as hard as it is to watch, I am compelled to do so.  Much like passing a car wreck on the highway, you just can't look away.  While it seems every team around them gets stronger, my poor Mets and Jets just don't seem to get the hang of getting the right players at the right time. There are great examples of well run organizations... (see the Yankees, Braves, Giants and Patriots) but they just don't get it.  The Mets are making an effort with the youth movement and rebuilding program (again and again) and have some potential young stars, especially pitchers like Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey.  I just hope Sandy Alderson (the GM) continues to make good decisions regarding the young talent and doesn't go for the quick fix free agents that only the Yankees seem to be able to make work...(see Jason Bay, Johan Santana, Carlos Beltran, etc...etc..).  I am not asking for a dynasty, just for a team that contends every year and makes the playoffs again before I either die or forget what baseball is... 

     Which brings me to the Jets...I have two words for the Jets...Go Cardinals!  The other team in New York (New Jersey) is the weak sister to the Giants (no offense to the ladies out there) just like the Mets are to the Yankees (in fact, all other baseball teams pale in comparison).  They are a constant source of entertainment (not in a football sense) and a laughingstock around the league for the bonehead decisions that they make on a regular basis.  Who else would draft the best college quarterback in the country after paying a boatload of money to the worst quarterback in the league?  And then they can't decide who the starter is going to be?  Their glaring need for a wide receiver was never addressed...they still don't have a pass rush and they traded away the best player on their team to the team they have to play in week 1 of this season!!! Excuse me a minute while I go throw up.  Every team in their division has gotten better and I can't wait to see how Tim Tebow in New England will come back to haunt the Jets this season.  Maybe Rex Ryan should show his team films of a good team playing instead of the Jets Follies comedy routine every week.  Ugh!

     A happy note...  Congratulations to Loretta and Victor.  Happy anniversary to my very dear friends.  I hope your marriage continues to age well like a fine wine.  My love and best wishes to you both..

     A sad note... Goodbye to Aunt Eileen, who passed away this week at the ripe old age of 91...she was my Dad's sister and joins her three brothers... (Frank, Bob, and Ray) and sister Miriam in heaven.  I have very fond memories of family outings, picnics, Christmas visits, and weddings that we attended together and I send my condolences and my prayers to my cousins and their families for OUR loss.  She was a great lady and reminded me of Grandma in all of the good ways...Goodbye, Aunt Eileen... Love you forever.  Jimmer

The heat is on...

     Now this is serious heat...Over the next week, starting today with 112, temperatures will hover above 110 degrees, reaching the highest point of 119 sometime this weekend. Hot just doesn't do these temperatures justice...there should be a separate category for the Southwest during the summer months.  How about 110 DH?  DAMN Hot! or 110 RH? Ridiculously Hot!  or 110 HTM?  Hotter Than Most! I think you get the picture.  It is 8:33 pm on Saturday night...the sun has set and the temperature reading is 110. Now that's hot.  What does it feel like? I like to use the preheated oven at 400.  Wrap yourself in your favorite down comforter and climb into a 400 degree oven.  Dry heat or not, it's FH...(no, you dirty minded readers) Fabulously Hot!

    The good news is that it's at least 10 degrees cooler where I work.  A balmy 100 degrees until well past midnight.  And last night was Wild America night and I felt like Marty Stouffer driving around on patrol.  I saw a coyote prancing around...I saw a small pack of javelina on one of the properties and then smelled them for an hour after...(they stink!). I also can face to face (not literally) with my first rattlesnake.  He was slithering across the road and I pulled over to watch him...(of course I stayed in the truck!)  It was cool and nerve-racking at the same time.  As he slithered into the desert he gave me a little tail shake to let me know he knew I was there.  Creepy!  But it is nature's wonderland out there and I'm glad I get to patrol inside a vehicle...(big, tough Security Man, eh?).  So, the weather won't break for a least a week, but will "cool down" into the low 110's for the high later in the week.  I will be playing golf next week...I need to set a new record for hottest recorded round of golf...previous record was 108 degrees.  Don't worry...many bottles of water, iced bandannas for around the neck and several layers of sunblock will protect me.  Have a warm day!

  

Loving the new job...

     Greetings again.  This is my fist blog as a (gasp!) senior citizen...and an "active" adult.  What a milestone! I can't say that I feel my age or notice any diminished mental capacity...or any further diminished mental capacity. Considering what I did to my body and mind with alcohol and drugs in the past, it's a wonder I can function at all.  I have truly been blessed with sobriety, relatively good health...(we all have various aches and pains) and enough mental acumen to keep my self and others fairly amused.  Being a "bit off" (sounds better than crazy, doesn't it?) lends itself to some exciting opportunities.  So, that aside, I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes that were sent my way.  I really made the day extra special and I appreciate it.

     As stated in the title, I love the new job.  I am only responsible for getting me to work and doing my job...no scheduling, finding replacements, billing accounts, collecting payment, building jobs, etc.  I get to work, sign in, patrol the grounds and check in visitors for an 8 hour shift and then I leave to go home.  The job stays there.  The commute is awesome.  Traffic is minimal at night and I go against rush hour in the morning.  The people I work with are awesome.  They took the time to train me and share the responsibilities equally.  The area is beautiful...surrounded by the McDowell Mountains and Pinnacle Peak, the air is cooler than where I live and at night the stars are awesome.  Still getting used to changing the sleep cycle, but it's coming along.  I will receive my benefit package (also awesome) after the 90 trial period.  I am already making some overtime, but not than 4 hours per shift...(working ONLY 12 hours is like a half day).

     I told you I was planning on moving closer to work.  Well, my current landlord threw me a curve and sent me a rent proposal with no increase!  There really is no reason to move.  Scottsdale is more expensive with rent and other amenities, there would be no packing up and paying a mover, and kitty (aka. Mrs. Wafflepuss) would not have to move either.  She really likes it here and so do I.  My chiropractor and other places I shop and frequent are here and I love the bike trail and park across the street.  Gas will be more, but factoring in all the other expenses, it would even out in the long run.  So, I am staying here in Tempe for the foreseeable future.

    So, now that I am an "active" adult, I will be planning more adventures...(especially on the golf course).  Day trips around this beautiful state and overnight excursions on days off.  Which brings me to some bad news...as the low man on the totem pole I do not get vacation time right away. I already booked my trip to Aruba in November and that will use up any time that was available, so I will not be able to attend the reunion at the end of July.  There are people scheduled for vacation that week and weekend so I will have to cover for them.  I expect many pictures to be taken and shared with me.  So plug in the camera batteries and buy more memory cards and film (do cameras still use film?) and take lots of photos...

I killed the Phoenix and started a new adventure...

     I return to the airwaves hoping that I still have my dedicated fans...(or at least some shut-ins with nothing else to do but read the ramblings of an on again off again blogger).  Much has gone on since I last typed away on my laptop.  One of the reasons I have been away (besides being a lazy ass) is that I grew weary of writing to you about my work experiences.  It was all that was going on!  I fell into the same trap that I let myself get caught in back in New Jersey.  I was working incredibly long hours and and my social life (not much of one anyway) was in the crapper for lack of a better word.  I didn't travel 2500 miles to resume being a work-a-holic.  I could have stayed in New Jersey and did that.  This whole move was supposed to be a CHANGE from my old habits not a continuation of them.  It got to the point where my health was comprised and a trip to the doctor was just the wake up call I needed.  The stress of the job...(a combination of long hours, poor sleep and poor eating habits) caused me to suffer headaches, black outs, exhaustion and extreme dehydration.  Please don't panic.  I am fine now.  My bosses sent me home for an extended rest and I used that time to find a new path.  My higher power (God) was telling me it was time once again for a complete change. And this time I didn't ignore the message.

     While on medical leave I searched the internet for possible employment opportunities and one fell into my lap from Craigslist.  This company was looking for a security person to work from 10 pm until 6 am for 5 days a week.  I filled out an application online (complete with resume and cover letter) and sent it in.  I always wanted to work nights and have my days free to pursue the little white ball around well manicured park-like settings (golf).  This seemed the answer to my prayers.  I did some research and discovered that the position was at an exclusive and private gated community in North Scottsdale complete with its own private golf course and tennis facilities.  In the description it said "includes golf and tennis privileges" and my mouth began to water.  I had no confidence that this would happen.  The phone rang the next day and I went to an interview.  It is about 30 miles north of where I currently live. So i am in the interview and talking with the security director (a former cop from, you guessed it, New Jersey) and we are having a great conversation.  I kept waiting for him to say "Okay, I have more candidates to interview, so I'll be in touch" (usual interview procedure), but he never did.  I asked him what was next after the interview.  He said he would check my references and do a background check and if everything checked out, he would offer me the job!  Long story (my favorite kind) short, he called me three days later and offered me the job.  I accepted and quit the Convention Center...

     Good news...I love this job. Eight hours a day for 5 days...the same days off every week...golf privileges on a private Jack Nicklaus designed course (the site of the first Skins Game golf tournament back in 1983 with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson), complete benefit package including PAID vacation and sick days, 401K and incentives.  Four hours in the command center answering phones and checking in guests, four hours patrolling the grounds in an air-conditioned vehicle.  Bad news... I am forfeiting my travel to New York this summer for the All Star Game, PGA Championship and the US Open Tennis. (silver lining? No 12 hours days everyday with no time to actually view the events). I am low man on the totem pole as far as seniority and vacation. The commute is 30 miles one way.  Overall, it is a great gig.  I started Wednesday the 12th for training and begin my vampire shift starting next Wednesday.  And since my lease is up at my apartment at the end of July, I have decided to move to Scottsdale, dahling! (insert Thurston Howell III voice to say that).

     The return of the Artful Blogger (sorry Charles Dickens) rings in with a whole new deal.  New address, new job and new non-work adventures to entertain you (I hope).  Love to you all.  

The Phoenix rises from the ashes... Part 3

     And the continuing saga of "Will our intrepid blogger ever reach the present time or will we constantly be behind the times" rolls on.  When last I wrote (earlier today, as a matter of fact), we had just finished the Waste Management Phoenix Open (in which Scottsdale native Phil Mickelson won handily).  One thing I didn't mention was the fact that a record 190,000 people were at the course on the Saturday of the tournament.  When we started the egress (pushing the people out) I was positioned by the 18th green and a bottleneck was created under the bridge leading out.  My boss asked if I wanted to lend a hand and being the boisterous individual that I am, I waded right into the crowd, took up a position in the middle and proceeded to direct people out.  After two hours my voice was shot, but we got everyone out without incident. 

   Next on the agenda was the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.  Again I was chief cook and bottle washer, getting people signed in and posted, handling payroll, and dealing with the client.  Once all the guards were posted, I pretty much had the grounds to myself...I went wherever I felt the need.  I had a good conversation with the head of the Special Event Division that was running the tournament.  My company has two Special Event Divisions.  One handles Barrett Jackson and the US Open Tennis and the other deals with Major League Baseball and the PGA (among other events like rodeo, concerts, NCAA, to name a few).  This particular boss and I worked several events in Tucson, the Schwab Cup Championship (Senior Tour) and the MLB Fanfest when the All-Star game was in Phoenix.  He told me that if it wasn't busy in Phoenix that he would like my help with Fanfest at the All Star game this year.  The All Star game is in New York at Citifield (the home of my beloved Mets) and the fanfest activities would be at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The game is the third week of July.  Then he mentioned the PGA Championship (the fourth major tournament in golf) in August up in Rochester, New York followed by the Barclays (golf also) in Jersey City, New Jersey the next week.  And then 3 weeks in Queens, New York for the US Open Tennis tournament at the end of August into September.  My boss in Phoenix had no objections (it is our slow time) so if it happens then Security Man will be the road warrior this summer.  Needless to say (does that ever apply to me?) I am very psyched that this may be the case.

     The month of March went by in a blur...we were inundated with events at the Convention Center and I did an off site event at the Scottsdale Princess hotel (just a quick 90 hour week for a financial event).  I was there every day and the client emailed our owner to sing the praises of the Phoenix branch...always nice to get some recognition.  I got to meet Wayne Newton and the Dog Whisperer (not at the same time) at concert events and got to see the worst play ever in the history of plays.  It was a parody of the book Fifty Shades of Gray and was painful to listen to...(at least I didn't have to WATCH it).  People were walking out of the theater in the middle of it.  It was as funny as Saturday Night Live after the original cast left...I've had more laughs at a funeral.  Thank the Lord that Easter week was a slow one and I actually got to play some golf... The swing is intact, the putter is still a work in progress and play will pick when the prices come down in June.  April would bring forth Country Thunder (the music festival) and several large conventions at the center... More to come.

The Phoenix rises from the ashes... Part 2

     My time management skills are in need of a complete rebuild...the "chicken running around with his head cut off" method that I employ now simply isn't working anymore (as if it ever did).  With added responsibilities from the job, my leisure time has been reduced to sleeping and eating...not following the plan I had when I moved out here.  The work-a-holic in me (damn that addictive personality!) has taken over and it's time to go back to the drawing board and repair "the Plan".  But, first I must catch you up on what has been happening out here in the desert for the past four months... 

     The first four months of the year have been a busy time for Security Man.  It started with the Barrett Jackson Car Auction.  It was another successful event marked by the selling of the original Batmobile from the TV series back in the day...way back starring Adam West, who has since moved on to become the Mayor of Quahog, Rhode Island (Family Guy).  I was the puppet master this year, deploying guards and briefing and handling payroll, but when the Batmobile was rolling up the entrance to the stage, I put on my security cape (figuratively speaking) and did crowd control around the car and kept the idiots (I mean patrons) from banging into the other cars in line also.  It is the time when I can say "no" and mean it.  The amazing thing was that the car was in a showcase tent all week for picture taking opportunities, but everyone HAD to have a picture NOW... I grabbed one guy (I mean assisted) whose keys were just about to scratch a 1939 Custom Built Cadillac (looked like a ZZ Top car).  I told him to move before he scratched HIS new car and the owner was really grateful...especially when I ran out 3 other people who didn't belong there.  My voice was gone after 30 minutes of barking, but it was worth every minute.  I met the couple who eventually bought the Batmobile (for a cool 4.2 MILLION dollars) when I directed them to their seats in the bidding area.  By the way, that Cadillac sold also and that story is continued further down.

     From the Auction it was back to the convention center for a week of events and then my favorite, the Waste Management Phoenix Open... Once again I signed up as player security to walk with the golfers and as luck would have it I was assigned Bubba Watson again...(the 2012 Masters Champion).  His caddie and I got reacquainted on Tuesday before a practice round.  I heard a familiar sound in the parking lot around 10am...the grumbling of an engine I heard at Barrett Jackson.  It was Bubba.  Last year, he purchased the General Lee of Dukes of Hazzard fame and this year he bought another car.  We went out to the parking lot and saw what he was driving...a 1939 Custom Built Cadillac, the same car I kept from being scratched and walked on during the auction.  I remembered that engine because the owner fired it up after I cleared all the idiots (damn, patrons) away from his car.  It was a convertible with a leather interior and was metallic battleship gray...absolutely gorgeous.  So I got to walk with Bubba for six days including the Pro-Am on Wednesday when we had about 25 people in our group.  Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer, was in our foursome and they were filming the "Haney Project" TV series so we had a film crew, four golfers, 2 police officers, 2 security guards, several marshals, PGA people, media, and a Tiger-esque crowd following the group...  Bubba had a so-so week but finished with a closing 64 on Sunday and he was gracious enough to autograph his game glove and give it to me.  I told his caddie that I would probably see him in Tucson a couple of weeks down the road.

     Okay...now that I am reliving the horror (I mean experiences) of the events I have covered, my creative juices are starting to flow again.  This step back into the blog-o-sphere is one of the ways I will manage my time better.  Boring you with (I mean telling you) my experiences helps me process all that's going on...and lets me let go of them and move on to the next.  I will continue to catch you up in future blogs.  I have a lot going on right now so I need to get a move on...Wish me luck and stay tuned...

The Phoenix rises from the ashes...Part 1

     Just when you thought you might be rid of me for good, I return to the blog waves just in time for a return trip to Country Thunder here in Florence, Arizona.  Where have I been you ask? (You are asking, correct?).  A bit of a story first...(when don't I tell a story?).  When last I spoke (wrote) to you I had just returned to my previous job from a failed (and oh so boring) experiment testing if the "grass was greener on the other of the fence."  Not only was the grass brown and dead, but I ripped my pants jumping back over the fence!  That job fit me worse than a pair of size 9 shoes...(I wear size 11).  But I was able to return to the bosom of the Convention Center and proceeded to literally work my butt off in the busiest 3 months I have ever seen as "Security Man."   It was non-stop action both at the Convention Center and at off site events... Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Accenture Match Play Championships, LPL Financial Conference...(all lasting a week or more) and a host of smaller events.  There were 100+ hour weeks and days off were practically non-existent.  Then, to top it all off, the other full-time event manager left leaving the Branch Manager, the Assistant Branch and myself...(still considered part-time---insert laugh track here!) to run the operation.  Thank the Lord that it slowed down around Easter and I got a few days of rest before heading down for the 4 day country music festival (I'm actually working 6 days).  Even got a little golf in...(have played about 8 times this year).  So, with a little time on my hands, I thought I would start writing again and give you the highlights of the events you have missed. I don't know how many parts this will be...(you know how I can ramble) but it all went by so fast I may not remember too much detail. 

     So, stay tuned...(unless you have moved me to the spam folder).  I have returned and have a lot to say.  Whether you choose to read these is entirely up to you, but I will write them anyway because these missives will entertain me when I am in the throes of full blown dementia... (if I can remember how to access them).  And NO, I am not already in the throes of full blown dementia. 

Lucky 13! Here's to a great year...

     Happy New Year!!! Sorry to get in the late call, but you know how it gets this time of year for Security Man... Busy, busy January and February.  Barrett Jackson Car Auction, Waste Management Phoenix Open and then the Accenture Match Play Tournament in Tucson.  And now add in the airport assessment for TSA in Phoenix (thank you, Mary Ann from TSA) and I will be sleeping and working with a few meals thrown in for the next 2 months.   TSA (Transportation Security Administration) called the other day and offered me a chance to take my airport assessment in Phoenix (the next step to a possible job offer).  I have an appointment on January 19 at 8am at their offices...(2 hours of interviews, testing and of course, more fingerprinting!).  I've been fingerprinted more times than a repeat offender, but it's all part of the process...(step 4 of 12 or 13).  I received a five page email describing the job requirements and there is 8 weeks of training involved and, I'm sure, more paperwork, so I will keep you informed as I go along.  As I have told you before, the position is "permanent part time" which is between 20-25 hours per week, but the benefit package available is a prorated version of full time employee benefits.  My boss at the Convention Center is willing to work around my schedule, so it's a win-win situation.  The only downside is that I may not be able to go to New York for the US Open in August, but we'll take one step at a time, one day at a time...(after all, I am pretty good at that philosophy). 

    No new resolutions for 2013 for me... I just want to continue on the good habits I have been building on the past few weeks and months.  I work out every other day and have incorporated some jogging in the mix, although the bicycle will probably assume a more dominant role...(the knees are still cranky).  I am eating healthier by incorporating more fruits and vegetables in all my meals and relying on smarter snack choices.  I am hoping to continue these positive trends throughout 2013 and beyond.  My wish is for you and yours to enjoy a healthy and prosperous 2013 and may your goals and dreams always be in reach.  Happy birthday in heaven to my Dad, Robert Sr...not a day goes by when I don't think of you and wish we could sit down and catch up on all that is going on. Best of all to all of you...Happy New Year!!