Welcome to the Jungle...

     Welcome to the jungle...Arizona is in the midst of dealing with what New Jersey Shore residents deal with on a grander scale.  For the last 3 weeks and culminating with the "Big Game" (whatever happened to the Super Bowl?) on Sunday night, we (Arizona) have been inundated with a crush of media, fans, snow birds (they are always here anyway but they seem to have multiplied), band wagon jumpers, golf fans, concert goers and numerous celebrities (real and imagined).  This week in particular we have had the NFL All-Star Game (the former Pro Bowl which was a joke to begin with and now is a complete embarrassment), the Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf tournament is in full swing this weekend (Tuesday through Sunday), the NFL Experience is in the Convention Center, 12 blocks of downtown Phoenix is blocked off for the outdoor NFL block party, there are separate goings on in Old Town Scottsdale and Glendale around the Stadium and surrounding areas, and of course, the Big Game on Sunday.  Traffic, which is chaotic at best in good weather, is even worse thanks to rain and chilly conditions the past few days...(sorry, Northeast, I know it way worse out there...).  But the good news is it will all be over by the end of next week and sunshine will again reign supreme and Arizona's business and hotel industries and shops will have a very good influx of cash.

     So, for the time being, I have put a freeze on any large purchases or basically any purchases at all until the price gouging and "sales" return to normal...I am really looking forward to the exodus of New England Patriot (aka the Cheaters) fans and the team in particular...having them in my state makes my skin crawl.  I am really hoping for a repeat of last year and a Seattle Seahawk rout of the hated Patriots...it sucks that I must root for a team that is in the division of my adopted Arizona Cardinals, but I have hated the Patriots for a much longer time than I have liked the Cardinals.  So GO SEAHAWKS on Sunday!

     As usual, I will be working Sunday night, but I hope we can stream the game on the work computer...it's going to be a busy weekend at Desert Highlands with Super Bowl parties and golf fans at the golf tournament...already dealt with several drunks last night and it was only the first round.  I will be back with a recap of local stories in the weekend.  Enjoy the Super Bowl and party safely...and to all the media and fans for the game...Go home and bother someone else!

The year that was...the year that will be... (Part 2)

     Welcome back...let me state first and foremost that these blogs are not intended to generate sympathy or pity or anything like that.  This is how I process setbacks and failures and it gives me the ability to move on from them.  There are many people in the same situation and many more in much dire straits and how we deal with the situation determines whether or not we can successful meet and beat the challenges put in front of us...

     History will repeat itself if you allow it to...Coping mechanisms are great and mine have survived 20 years (God willing in April 2015) in my personal battle against drugs and alcohol... But coping mechanisms are reactions to setbacks.  In order to change the outcome of repeated behaviors you must change your thinking and become proactive to prevent the behaviors from occurring...It was in November of last year that I was introduced (through a very good friend of mine out here) to a company called Life Leadership.  It is a leadership and personal development company that sells CDs, DVDs, and books based on the subjects of Faith, Family, Friendship, Finances, Fellowship, Fitness, Freedom and Fun.  Their products are written by successful people who have been through the hard times and have achieved success in life by reading, listening to CDs, associating with successful people and implementing the teaching to change their approach to life.  The message is inspirational and the advice and techniques are proven...The fact that it is faith based appealed to me also because they don't preach one faith but teach you to embrace God in whatever you believe.  The major theme is develop a better you by personal development and then spread the message with your success.  The group is ultra-positive, ultra helpful and the team concept surrounds you with successful people helping you to succeed.  There is a home based business opportunity if that's the way you want to go.  I tried the Financial Fitness CDs and books and since November I have saved more money than I have in the past 5 years just by changing my view and implementing some techniques.  They teach you things that traditional schooling doesn't...practical things that help you make an educated choice, rather than choices that have not worked in the past,...(God knows I made a lot of those).  I call it the Encyclopedia Britannica of the 21st century...good information at your fingertips to make a difference in your life.  Change your thinking and you become proactive to prevent the setbacks and build on the positive...

     So, I was really looking forward to 2015 as a fresh start...and I got sick again!  Very bad cold that hung around for 2 and a half weeks...but again I survived.  Note to self...flu shot next year.  And in the spirit of change...(change is good if it's a positive move), I am returning to the land of the living at work.  One of our officers on the 2pm-10pm shift is leaving next week and I am taking it over.  The major appeal is that I will have Saturday and Sunday off for the first time since 2009.  It still allows me the chance to play golf in the morning and gets me back to sleeping at night and getting sunshine during the day.  I am very psyched to be able to deal with the living again...plus there is ample opportunity for more adventures during the evening shift.

     On a more serious note, I wish to send many, many prayers to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Joan as they deal with Charlie's recovery in Pennsylvania (told you there were people with more dire concerns).  I know that God will watch over them and I hope his recovery is swift and complete. I also send good wishes and prayers to all members of the family as they deal with this.  God Bless all of you and keep you in his protection.

     Thanks for reading along...I am on the road to recovery myself...my health has returned, my attitude is changing for the better, I have a new adventure at work...Life is good again and 2015 is going to be SPECTACULAR!

   

     

The year that was...the year that will be...(Part 1)

     Here it is the end of January of 2015 and this is the first time I am communicating to you about what's been going on in my world.  My lack of communication with you is inexcusable and highly out of character for me, (saying I have the gift of gab would be a nice way to put it), which is why I have made some wholesale changes for this coming year.

     The reason I moved to Arizona 6 years ago (yes, it has been 6 years) was to reclaim or regenerate or recreate a semblance of life without work being the central be all and end all.  As a rabid workaholic that was not going to be an easy thing especially working the type of jobs I wanted to work.  I have no regrets entering the the security field as there were many very cool events and many very interesting stories that I have shared with you along the way...I really believe that I have found a "career" that is suited to my unique qualifications...(if they ever find out the truth I'm doomed!) Just kidding.  The problem occurred when the year 2014 came along.

     Everybody has had a bad day, a bad week, a bad quarter or a down year (in business), but I suffered the worst possible year I can imagine.  The year started off with my filing for bankruptcy protection against my creditors (poor lifestyle choices aka living beyond my means finally caught up with me) in January 2014...I am still paying off the principle but the interest payments that were choking me are gone.  I have not shared this with anyone (a select few knew) before because of embarrassment and pride (or lack thereof) and I am not sharing it now so that a fundraiser can be started to bail me out like GM or Ford.  I am sharing it because I need to say it out loud so that the process to recover from it can continue...I cannot internalize problems because they become bigger and bigger and my mechanism for dealing with it in the past was destructive (drinking and drugging). I am dealing with with it and am happy to report that I finally have a hand on my finances and like everything else, I will come through this...

     The financial debacle was followed by what I call the "mystery" illness of 2014.  I was sick with "something" (that is the final determination of 2 doctors and 3 specialists) that attacked my immune system and caused all sorts of physical problems...for 4 months I was poked, prodded, tested, MRIed, Ct scanned and had enough blood drawn to sustain a colony of vampires...not to mention that my bank account (the little that was left) was being sucked dry.  All the doctors could tell me was what I DIDN'T have...NOT valley fever, hepatitis, liver disease (miraculously), kidney failure, cancer (very scary moments during those tests).  On top of that, my neck and shoulders hurt so badly even the chiropractor couldn't help.  All the medications they tried didn't work until I started self-medicating with Dollar Store Ibuprofen...The ibuprofen worked and after receiving a series of injections in my neck and spine, I began to feel better around the middle of May...

     The "not sharing", the sickness, the worry about finances and my usual remedy (working like a dog) caused me to become a bit of a hermit...(I only wrote 5 blogs in 2014 and none until September).  I was working 56 to 64 hours a week and sleeping the rest of the time.  I stayed at home and rarely went out with friends.  I wasn't playing golf as often .  I had forgotten my training...I was falling back into habits I thought were gone a long time ago. I realized (I always knew but you never want to admit it) that addiction was never going to give up trying to get me back...it was counting on me to wallow in self-pity and poor me's to the point where I would resume long lost behavior.  It was a very difficult time for me, but then I thought of all of you out there and how selfish I was being shutting you out of my life...my safety net and support was still out there and all I needed to do was open up and let you in...I needed to let you know.  I didn't want to burden you with my crap (you all have crap of your own and probably worse crap than mine).  Wow, a three crap sentence!  But an addict has to share...an alcoholic has to share...and I have to share.  It was then in November of last year that the turn around began...

to be continued...