Hello from the other side...

     Hello from the other side...not THAT other side.  The other side of the country.  Sorry, Adele, but that line conjures up the creep factor a bit...But HELLO! none the less...it has been way too long since I communicated via the written word and today seemed to be a good day to jump back on the horse (keyboard) and ride (type) and give some updates in the adventures of Arizona Jim...

     As I wrote in my last blog back in February (Jesus, Jim, could you keep in touch a little more?) I am now the supervisor of the evening shift at the golf course community and have the pleasure of working with 3 new people because the last veteran on the shift has moved on to another job.  I call our crew "Jim and FNG's" (great band name but effective crew? Not so much).   It's not as bad as it sounds though and as I learn on the job, so do they.  The rise in temperature and the thaw of the rest of the country have most of the members leaving for the summer and activities slow down for the most part.  It's a good time to train the new folks so that they are prepared for the fall (October) when the new "season" begins.  Plenty of snakes to wrangle, alarm calls to answer, and still enough members to keep us on our toes during the hot summer months.  Plus, it's renovation time and "gut and remodel" time for the members who are gone for summer so there will be tons of vendors in and out of the community.

     The girls are coming!  The girls are coming! My niece Veronica and my adopted niece Casey are returning for Phoenix Comicon at the end of May...it is being held Memorial Day weekend this year so they can enjoy all four days of madness and still return home to finish senior year of high school...So proud of these young women who are graduating in June (yes, I will be there) and moving on to college in the fall.  My other niece (and Goddaughter) Natalie is an excellent artist and auditioned and got in a visual arts program at the same high school Veronica attended.  Way to go, Natalie!  Could not be happier for her and can't wait to see her in June...  It will be a great two month stretch for me with the girls here for Memorial Day weekend and then I travel to Virginia in June for graduation...Thanks to sister Sheryl for arranging the girls' flights to Phoenix and back.  The full event passes are bought! I am on vacation for the duration of their stay.  My flights are booked to Virginia in June and my vacation has been approved...Let's have some fun!

     Things with me are pretty much the same...Work a lot...golf a lot...read a lot...still single a lot...I have a few other projects in the works but too early to give progress reports.  I am becoming quite the cook...(when you live alone it's a skill that needs to be honed).  Nothing new on the romantic front...All doors are closed (and locked!) for the time being.  I celebrated 22 years clean and sober in April...(God is truly amazing and I am very blessed).  Still driving the '96 Jeep (she has 266,000 miles and counting) and she passed emissions for another two years (Woo Hoo!).  Still live in Tempe at the same apartment complex (love this place).  Still have Sheba the cat...she will be 6 years old and has graciously allowed me to live with her these past years.  She is a constant source of entertainment and the best bug hunter ever!

     I would be remiss if I didn't take time to wish all the Moms a very Happy Mother's Day, especially sister Sheryl.  I hope each and every one of you has a great day filled with joy (and presents!).  Can't wait to see her and her family in June.  I hope this finds the rest of you (hope you still read these) well and have a great day!