Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...not a creature was stirring except Sheba the Cat (aka Mrs. Wafflepuss) because Jim of course was working Christmas Eve and Christmas night...It's nothing new. I have been working holidays every year since I moved out here (the fate of the Security Guard). But that is not the subject of this adventure in blogdom...This blog will not be about how much I work or don't...we all work too much and we all have too much on our plate and time is flying by too fast for all of us.
This is about Christmas...not about the endless Christmas music that started before Halloween ( I will personally be celebrating TGIF this week---Thank God It's FINISHED!)...not about the endless sales and "We're open 24 hours until Christmas Eve" and the mall traffic and the "perfect" gift...not about the gi-normous amounts of ads and commercials on television and in the newspaper (giving hernias to newspaper delivery people during the season)...just Christmas. The "reason for the season." I like how people's demeanor changes around this time of year (and wish it could be a permanent change). How "human" they become...polite, gregarious, kind, smiling, and more tolerant...Why does attendance in churches skyrocket in December and April (Easter) in a world constantly having religion and religious beliefs "voted" out of schools and government institutions...Why is it soooo bad to pray anymore in a world that only shows violence related to religious belief (thank you CNN and FoxNews). It is the Information Age when knowledge is at every one's fingertips and instantly attainable, but less and less is credit given to God who makes everything possible.
I watched a "Charlie Brown Christmas" and found myself brought to tears during Linus' soliloquy about the birth of Jesus. Next year that glorious message will be 50 years old...and that and "It's a Wonderful Life" should be preserved as national treasures so that we can continue to show generation after generation the true meaning of Christmas and what family is all about. I lost that message and with your help I am going to try to rekindle that fire in my heart and soul. I am nothing but for the grace of God and continue to walk this earth only because of Him that reigns above... I am nothing without the friends and family who have supported and encouraged me through all the years fighting addiction and alcoholism...I am nothing without a purpose and a dream to live my life correctly and help others who are in need of help...
And so, my dear readers (stolen from Stephen King), I wish you the Happiest and Holiest of Christmases...may you be surrounded by your loved ones and enjoy the gifts that they took the time to pick out for you...(even the ones you are going to return...I'll never tell). May you enjoy the time off from work to refresh and recharge going into the New Year...may you never forget to thank God (or whatever you may refer to Him) for your life, your family, and the multitudes of blessings He bestows on you on a daily basis...I have found my voice again and I rejoice...(you may not rejoice, but I hope you still like to hear from me). I am truly blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life (even though I have been a bit of a hermit this year---being alone gets creepy after awhile). This has been the most difficult year of my life, but the New Year promises a fresh start and a fresh start begins with a new attitude...(or the resuscitation of the old one). Hark the Herald, Angels sing...Glory to the Newborn King! God Bless You!!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
A tribute to the "Captain"...
I never thought I would ever write a sports tribute to a New York Yankee, but Derek Jeter transcends my overall dislike of the team he played 20 years for... As a longtime, suffering New York Mets fan, the Yankees have been a thorn in my baseball fan side since I was young. I inherited my team from my Dad and his dislike of the Yankees, but there comes a time to acknowledge someone who rises far and beyond the pettiness of "he doesn't play for my team." There isn't a baseball fan in the world that wouldn't have wanted Jeter playing for his team at some point and if they say they didn't, then they are not a true baseball fan... He is a throwback and an innovator at the same time and baseball has benefited from him immensely. He was simply the truest form of professional baseball player I have seen and I want to thank him as he rides off into retirement...
Baseball was such a big part of summers growing up and I followed my team (Mets) until they were out of it (usually July or August) but I didn't stop watching...The players that inspired me the most were the lunch pail guys like Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Tom Seaver...guys who weren't the most gifted athletes but who worked their asses off to make themselves better...the guys who came to the ballpark, did their job at 100 percent every game, and then left the field and stayed out of the headlines (Pete had a little trouble but how could you fault a guy nicknamed "Charlie Hustle?")...Jeter is an example of these guys I admired. And it wasn't just him. I came to admire the Fab 4, (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera), and found it hard to root against such good players even though they were Yankees...They made a lasting impression on me and I hope that baseball finds more ambassadors of the game like them. It was hard to dislike a team that had so many quality people as well as quality ballplayers...
Jeter was the ultimate example of what I wanted a ballplayer to be...a positive role model and someone to look up to...a hard worker who constantly strove to make himself a better player...a player who wasn't comfortable in the spotlight even though his play constantly put the spotlight on him...a humble man who credited everyone else and "played for the team"...and above all, he wasn't a cheater...he wasn't involved in the black eye of the drug scandal or the sensational headlines off the field (like A-Roid...not a typo or Clemens). He made me want to watch the Yankees, especially in the playoffs where he became Mr. November, owning more World Series records then anyone else...(I didn't want them to win but the plays he made were spectacular!)...
So, thank you, Derek Jeter, for 20 years of spectacular play...for 20 years of staying with the same team (a feat in itself)...for being the man that you are...and thank you for retiring, because I can now go back to disliking the Yankees as a whole team, instead of saying, "I can't stand the Yankees, but I like Jeter." LET'S GO METS!!!
Baseball was such a big part of summers growing up and I followed my team (Mets) until they were out of it (usually July or August) but I didn't stop watching...The players that inspired me the most were the lunch pail guys like Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Tom Seaver...guys who weren't the most gifted athletes but who worked their asses off to make themselves better...the guys who came to the ballpark, did their job at 100 percent every game, and then left the field and stayed out of the headlines (Pete had a little trouble but how could you fault a guy nicknamed "Charlie Hustle?")...Jeter is an example of these guys I admired. And it wasn't just him. I came to admire the Fab 4, (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera), and found it hard to root against such good players even though they were Yankees...They made a lasting impression on me and I hope that baseball finds more ambassadors of the game like them. It was hard to dislike a team that had so many quality people as well as quality ballplayers...
Jeter was the ultimate example of what I wanted a ballplayer to be...a positive role model and someone to look up to...a hard worker who constantly strove to make himself a better player...a player who wasn't comfortable in the spotlight even though his play constantly put the spotlight on him...a humble man who credited everyone else and "played for the team"...and above all, he wasn't a cheater...he wasn't involved in the black eye of the drug scandal or the sensational headlines off the field (like A-Roid...not a typo or Clemens). He made me want to watch the Yankees, especially in the playoffs where he became Mr. November, owning more World Series records then anyone else...(I didn't want them to win but the plays he made were spectacular!)...
So, thank you, Derek Jeter, for 20 years of spectacular play...for 20 years of staying with the same team (a feat in itself)...for being the man that you are...and thank you for retiring, because I can now go back to disliking the Yankees as a whole team, instead of saying, "I can't stand the Yankees, but I like Jeter." LET'S GO METS!!!
Friday, September 19, 2014
Missed me by THAT much...
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| Tarantula |
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| Western Diamondback Rattlesnake |
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| Bullsnake |
The native snake population seems to have increased this summer because I am seeing more and more on the roads at night absorbing some heat. I only relocate them if they get into the member's property or pools or garages...my partners aren't too fond of snake calls, but I like them. Nothing breaks up the routine or wakes you up like handling a rattlesnake...(really gets the adrenaline flowing...even better than coffee!). But snake season will end around in October or November when the little buggers go into hibernation. Then we have to watch to see if the mountain lion that lived on the property some years back returns...I would much rather deal with snakes, thank you very much...
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
I live in Bizarro World...
I think that I finally figured out something important...(probably was obvious to most but you know the wheels in my head turn slowly), Summer in the Valley is my winter. It's "Bizarro World" out here...(thank you, Seinfeld). Let's do a comparison, shall we?
People leave the Midwest and Northeast in the winter months when cold and the threat of snow rear their ugly heads and come here. Then they return after May to escape the excessive heat and monsoon storms and humidity of the desert summer months...
The invasion of the Jersey Shore begins after Memorial Day (May) and usually concludes after Labor Day (September). Restaurants are packed, the boardwalk is packed, the beaches are crowded and traffic is awful. The "snowbird" season begins here in October and last until April or early May.
Restaurants are packed, golf courses are packed (and the prices go up, up, up!) and traffic is awful.
The Northeast and Midwest have their worst weather conditions from November until the end of April with bitter cold and record snows. The worst weather in the Valley is from June until the end of September with monsoon storms, record rainfall, flash floods, and sticky humidity...
Golfing deals in the Northeast and Midwest are best in the spring (February-April) and fall (Oct until first snow). The best golf deals out here are from June through September...We live in the same country but it's like opposite sides of the planet. And don't get me started on the people...(just kidding...I love my snowbirds like the year round residents of the shore communities love their "bennies"...wink, wink).
Speaking of the weather...you would think that living in the desert would mean dealing with oppressive heat (it does) and temperatures that hang in the 100's for most of the summer (it does) and that's about it... OH NO! Not this summer. If anyone watches the news, 2 weeks ago Hurricane Norbert dumped record rainfall on the valley...(Norbert? Is the best name they could come up with?) No problem, right? The ground would soak it up like a sponge, right? Wrong! The rain had nowhere to go, so roads were flooded out, dry river beds became rivers again and flash flooding was a major problem. I was never so happy to live in a second floor apartment. Norbert dumped 4.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period on Phoenix alone. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the average rainfall for the year here is 8 inches. Only the major city areas have sewer systems...(Thank you, Tempe). The rest of the state is at the mercy of the washes and gravity and natural drainage. So with some areas still cleaning up, here comes Odile...(who the heck is in charge of naming storms?) up from Baja and Mexico with another round of storms and heavy rain... This is the worst example of dry heat, ever! The heavy stuff is supposed to come on Wednesday night...(of course I'm working!) so I will be manning the rain slicker and hoping the security vehicle I drive doesn't get swept down some wash...(no sewers in Desert Highlands). Mother Nature has beaten me again...Never again will I make fun of the weather elsewhere or revel in the misfortunes of others...(Let's be real. I will always revel in the misfortunes of others, it just won't be weather-related).
So off to work I go. I will make it through, have no worries. Making it home may be another story but I will deal with that tomorrow morning... Adios to you...Hola to Odile...
People leave the Midwest and Northeast in the winter months when cold and the threat of snow rear their ugly heads and come here. Then they return after May to escape the excessive heat and monsoon storms and humidity of the desert summer months...
The invasion of the Jersey Shore begins after Memorial Day (May) and usually concludes after Labor Day (September). Restaurants are packed, the boardwalk is packed, the beaches are crowded and traffic is awful. The "snowbird" season begins here in October and last until April or early May.
Restaurants are packed, golf courses are packed (and the prices go up, up, up!) and traffic is awful.
The Northeast and Midwest have their worst weather conditions from November until the end of April with bitter cold and record snows. The worst weather in the Valley is from June until the end of September with monsoon storms, record rainfall, flash floods, and sticky humidity...
Golfing deals in the Northeast and Midwest are best in the spring (February-April) and fall (Oct until first snow). The best golf deals out here are from June through September...We live in the same country but it's like opposite sides of the planet. And don't get me started on the people...(just kidding...I love my snowbirds like the year round residents of the shore communities love their "bennies"...wink, wink).
Speaking of the weather...you would think that living in the desert would mean dealing with oppressive heat (it does) and temperatures that hang in the 100's for most of the summer (it does) and that's about it... OH NO! Not this summer. If anyone watches the news, 2 weeks ago Hurricane Norbert dumped record rainfall on the valley...(Norbert? Is the best name they could come up with?) No problem, right? The ground would soak it up like a sponge, right? Wrong! The rain had nowhere to go, so roads were flooded out, dry river beds became rivers again and flash flooding was a major problem. I was never so happy to live in a second floor apartment. Norbert dumped 4.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period on Phoenix alone. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the average rainfall for the year here is 8 inches. Only the major city areas have sewer systems...(Thank you, Tempe). The rest of the state is at the mercy of the washes and gravity and natural drainage. So with some areas still cleaning up, here comes Odile...(who the heck is in charge of naming storms?) up from Baja and Mexico with another round of storms and heavy rain... This is the worst example of dry heat, ever! The heavy stuff is supposed to come on Wednesday night...(of course I'm working!) so I will be manning the rain slicker and hoping the security vehicle I drive doesn't get swept down some wash...(no sewers in Desert Highlands). Mother Nature has beaten me again...Never again will I make fun of the weather elsewhere or revel in the misfortunes of others...(Let's be real. I will always revel in the misfortunes of others, it just won't be weather-related).
So off to work I go. I will make it through, have no worries. Making it home may be another story but I will deal with that tomorrow morning... Adios to you...Hola to Odile...
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Where's Blog-do???
Sorry, Waldo, but the title was so perfect that I couldn't resist...Welcome to the FIRST blog of 2014. I can't believe that it has taken this long to be in touch. Thanks to those of you who reached out wondering if I had met my demise...(and be assured that this is NOT a blog from the great beyond). This year, barring a very few exceptions, now ranks in the top 5 crappiest years of my existence on this planet. It started off on a terrific note...a visit from my sister and her family here to the valley right after Christmas including a cool New Year's Eve "boot drop" to ring in 2014. Instead of the Times Square lighted ball, we ventured up to Prescott, Az. (cowboy country) and they had a six foot tall lighted cowboy boot that they used...once at 10 pm for the East Coasters and again at midnight for the "natives". This will probably become a New Year's tradition for me moving on...(and I can't wait to leave this year behind).
From the time the family went back to Virginia, the year started a downhill spiral that I have yet to recover from. I now know what an athlete feels like when he is in a season long slump...(or plays for the New York Mets). In early February, I began to suffer headaches and neck and shoulder pain. Several trips to the chiropractor did nothing to ease the pain, so I whipped out my newly minted health insurance card and went to see my primary care physician. He referred me to a pressure point therapist and pain management specialist in the same group. At the same time I lost my appetite, got horrible muscle aches (legs and arms) and bouts of fatigue...several more visits and many blood drawings later got me muscle relaxers, pain meds, and industrial strength Ibuprofen...Now I was referred to a internist and a hematologist on top of the the other three doctors I was already seeing. I lost 20 lbs in a month and they had no diagnosis...my blood work was off the charts and all they could tell me was what it wasn't. It wasn't lyme disease, valley fever (yes, that's a real disease), cancer, liver failure, kidney failure, ulcer, fracture, muscle tear or a host of others. I had blood work done every week, MRI and CT scans, colonoscopy and endoscopy (using different scopes, or so they told me) and after three and a half months I started feeling better on over the counter Ibuprofen I bought from the Dollar Store...(the muscle relaxers and pain meds were awful and only made me feel worse). 5 doctors and they couldn't tell me what was wrong. I ended up getting injections in the top of my spine that completely eliminated the neck and shoulder pain (hooray for small victories) and my test results are completely back to normal. The official diagnosis was that "something" attacked my system and my immune system eventually fought it off.
Needless to say, a lot of the procedures and tests and medications were not covered by insurance (as you all are painfully and financially aware of) and the wear and tear on my finances was not pretty. I was able to work through most of the illness and I am not homeless nor starving...I believe I now fall into a brand new financial category (made up by yours truly) of "comfortably poor". It fits in above extremely poor and very low income... I have a roof over my head and food in the fridge and am able to get back and forth to work and that's about it (for right now). But don't cry for me Argentina (or whomever)... I am not ready to pass the hat or line up at the soup kitchen. This is a temporary hiccup on an almost 6 year run of nothing but blessings...it just the universe evening things out a little. It's life delivering a wake up slap that I not "all that" and I need to be more watchful and careful with pretty much everything. Truth be told, it reminds me of time 19 years ago when life was beating me down and I made wholesale changes so that I could continue this wild ride called "life" (those of you who know me know what I'm talking about). Back then I kept everything inside and let it build up in my mind that it was hopeless so that I had a "reason" to drink and drug...(not that I needed one). This is the reason why I have returned to the Blog Kingdom. I need to let go of all this crap in my head...(and there is a ton or two) and share my crap with you...Talking about this keeps the problems fresh and allows me to work on them physically instead of worrying about them. Too often the "poor me's" slip in and sap whatever strength you have to reverse misfortune.
The best thing I can say about all this...(oh, by the way, my water heater crapped the bed yesterday...lol) is that I will learn from this adversity and take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen too often...(never say never). My health is good, my job loves me and I love it, and we are almost done with this infernal "monsoon" season...(which is the subject of tomorrow's ramblings, I mean blog). Love to you all...the Arizona Kid.
From the time the family went back to Virginia, the year started a downhill spiral that I have yet to recover from. I now know what an athlete feels like when he is in a season long slump...(or plays for the New York Mets). In early February, I began to suffer headaches and neck and shoulder pain. Several trips to the chiropractor did nothing to ease the pain, so I whipped out my newly minted health insurance card and went to see my primary care physician. He referred me to a pressure point therapist and pain management specialist in the same group. At the same time I lost my appetite, got horrible muscle aches (legs and arms) and bouts of fatigue...several more visits and many blood drawings later got me muscle relaxers, pain meds, and industrial strength Ibuprofen...Now I was referred to a internist and a hematologist on top of the the other three doctors I was already seeing. I lost 20 lbs in a month and they had no diagnosis...my blood work was off the charts and all they could tell me was what it wasn't. It wasn't lyme disease, valley fever (yes, that's a real disease), cancer, liver failure, kidney failure, ulcer, fracture, muscle tear or a host of others. I had blood work done every week, MRI and CT scans, colonoscopy and endoscopy (using different scopes, or so they told me) and after three and a half months I started feeling better on over the counter Ibuprofen I bought from the Dollar Store...(the muscle relaxers and pain meds were awful and only made me feel worse). 5 doctors and they couldn't tell me what was wrong. I ended up getting injections in the top of my spine that completely eliminated the neck and shoulder pain (hooray for small victories) and my test results are completely back to normal. The official diagnosis was that "something" attacked my system and my immune system eventually fought it off.
Needless to say, a lot of the procedures and tests and medications were not covered by insurance (as you all are painfully and financially aware of) and the wear and tear on my finances was not pretty. I was able to work through most of the illness and I am not homeless nor starving...I believe I now fall into a brand new financial category (made up by yours truly) of "comfortably poor". It fits in above extremely poor and very low income... I have a roof over my head and food in the fridge and am able to get back and forth to work and that's about it (for right now). But don't cry for me Argentina (or whomever)... I am not ready to pass the hat or line up at the soup kitchen. This is a temporary hiccup on an almost 6 year run of nothing but blessings...it just the universe evening things out a little. It's life delivering a wake up slap that I not "all that" and I need to be more watchful and careful with pretty much everything. Truth be told, it reminds me of time 19 years ago when life was beating me down and I made wholesale changes so that I could continue this wild ride called "life" (those of you who know me know what I'm talking about). Back then I kept everything inside and let it build up in my mind that it was hopeless so that I had a "reason" to drink and drug...(not that I needed one). This is the reason why I have returned to the Blog Kingdom. I need to let go of all this crap in my head...(and there is a ton or two) and share my crap with you...Talking about this keeps the problems fresh and allows me to work on them physically instead of worrying about them. Too often the "poor me's" slip in and sap whatever strength you have to reverse misfortune.
The best thing I can say about all this...(oh, by the way, my water heater crapped the bed yesterday...lol) is that I will learn from this adversity and take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen too often...(never say never). My health is good, my job loves me and I love it, and we are almost done with this infernal "monsoon" season...(which is the subject of tomorrow's ramblings, I mean blog). Love to you all...the Arizona Kid.
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