Spring Training is an important time for the Arizona economy. Snowbirds watch practice and games without any idea of the effort behind them. Greens keepers constantly mow, water, aerate, and check the numerous fields in the park. Mowers cut off a miniscule amount of grass so the length always stays the same. A lot of attention is also paid to the dirt areas to keep them level and smooth.
Each field or area is used for a different type of practice. My area was near where catchers caught balls thrown by a machine and pitchers practiced fielding balls. The pitchers faked a throw, fielded a ball from the batter area, faked another throw to a base, and then threw the ball into a pile. There was also a batter cage where players hit balls from a T-Ball-like stand. They practice whatever is designated for the area they’re in until a horn sounds. Then, most of players run to their next practice area with their cleats still on.
Autograph seekers can be quite persistent. I caught a couple of professionals trying to hide in the middle of a group of players switching practice areas. The most persistent professional autograph seeker had given the team management a story about giving autographed balls and bats to underprivileged children. This person hung out in my area while management sent players to him to sign balls. I spoke with the autograph seeker quite a bit and gradually his story fell apart. People like this ruin it for the person who is actually trying to help underprivileged children.
A lot of media and delivery vehicles came through my area--Fed Ex, UPS, the caterer, uniforms, equipment, and tents. People with absolutely no credentials would drive up and expect to be allowed to go into the major league clubhouse area. This is such an absurd thing to do, that I figured they had to be legitimate. Every one of them was eventually allowed to pass after being confirmed by team management.
The best part was sitting outside on a gorgeous day, watching baseball players perfecting their skills, and getting paid for it.
Visit my site at: www.golio.net/FunnyPage.html
Spring training slide show at: http://www.golio.net/Arizona.html
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Parada del Sol Parade
Traveling on business, I chanced to be the final car let through before a small town Christmas parade. I put on a Santa hat that just happened to be in my car and waved at people as I went by. People cheered back. It was a nice feeling. I joined my company’s band as soon as I returned home. I hadn’t played flute in 25 years, but I wanted to be in another parade. The band even had a flat bed truck to ride on so we didn’t have to walk and play at the same time. It was below zero when the day of the parade finally arrived. The wind kept us from using our portable music holders. Most of the band knew Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by heart, so they played it over and over again. I faked it. Parades are big entertainment in small towns. Lots of people braved the bad weather and showed up to applaud our efforts. We went once around the block and it was all over. There were three bands in the parade and the judges awarded us second place.
Having no talent or fame to display, I switched from parade participant to spectator. A nearby small town with a reservoir had their parade in the summer. People dressed up, towed decorated boats, and pelted spectators with candy and popsicles. The parade varied every year depending on participants, but the subsequent festival was pretty much the same--focusing primarily on food and beer.
The Parada del Sol Parade was advertised as the “World’s Largest Horsedrawn Parade”. This is probably because most people don’t use horses anymore. Close to 150 entries were anticipated, but only 99 showed up. The biggest cheers seemed to be for the kids shoveling horse poop and Terry Goddard, Arizona’s Attorney General. It was quiet when Sheriff Joe Arpaio went by. This was very different from earlier times when people clapped and waved their pink underwear at him. There were lots of horses--from miniatures to Percherons and Clydesdales. The only routine I saw was performed by a dog drill team that switched rows as they marched. Some of the folklorico dancers waved their skirts and did steps as they went by. Except for a couple of school bands, people in various uniforms just walked or rode by. There were multitudes of females of all ages shaking pom poms. The Jazzy Poms are a group of older women cheerleaders. Their leader was an amazing baton twirler. She was the only baton twirler in the parade. Baton Twirling and Trick Roping are fast becoming lost arts. This year’s Parada del Sol had a low spectator turnout. Parades are free entertainment so this can’t be blamed on the current economic mess. I think people just got bored watching other people walk by.
Parades have changed a lot from when the days when I chased after the thrown candy. The paraders used to entertain the crowds on the curb. Now, they just expect to be applauded for being there.
Visit my site at: www.golio.net/My_Homepage_Files/Page26.html
Having no talent or fame to display, I switched from parade participant to spectator. A nearby small town with a reservoir had their parade in the summer. People dressed up, towed decorated boats, and pelted spectators with candy and popsicles. The parade varied every year depending on participants, but the subsequent festival was pretty much the same--focusing primarily on food and beer.
The Parada del Sol Parade was advertised as the “World’s Largest Horsedrawn Parade”. This is probably because most people don’t use horses anymore. Close to 150 entries were anticipated, but only 99 showed up. The biggest cheers seemed to be for the kids shoveling horse poop and Terry Goddard, Arizona’s Attorney General. It was quiet when Sheriff Joe Arpaio went by. This was very different from earlier times when people clapped and waved their pink underwear at him. There were lots of horses--from miniatures to Percherons and Clydesdales. The only routine I saw was performed by a dog drill team that switched rows as they marched. Some of the folklorico dancers waved their skirts and did steps as they went by. Except for a couple of school bands, people in various uniforms just walked or rode by. There were multitudes of females of all ages shaking pom poms. The Jazzy Poms are a group of older women cheerleaders. Their leader was an amazing baton twirler. She was the only baton twirler in the parade. Baton Twirling and Trick Roping are fast becoming lost arts. This year’s Parada del Sol had a low spectator turnout. Parades are free entertainment so this can’t be blamed on the current economic mess. I think people just got bored watching other people walk by.
Parades have changed a lot from when the days when I chased after the thrown candy. The paraders used to entertain the crowds on the curb. Now, they just expect to be applauded for being there.
Visit my site at: www.golio.net/My_Homepage_Files/Page26.html
Monday, February 16, 2009
NBA All-Star Game
My supervisor at work was a delegator and together we produced a high quality product that was always on time. After 3 years, my supervisor quit and was replaced by a micromanaging, control freak who did not have enough time or knowledge to be a micromanaging, control freak. The stress of a Napoleon wannabe coupled with long periods of immobility and eye strain from sitting in front of a computer all day turned my job into a genuine health hazard. My husband and I had planned on retiring early. http://www.golio.net/EngineeringYourRetirement.html
I did not need to work, but I liked the idea of an interesting job where I would be paid to do things I'd always been curious about. This is how my adventures in retirement began.
My quest coincided with the NBA All-Star Game and associated activities. I began on a Friday at 5:30 AM. At the US Airways front entrance, I was to watch people going through a metal detector and check their bags--similar to airport security. People seem to be getting used to this and usually are good natured about the intrusion. We threw a lot of knives and sodas into the garbage. At one point, an undercover DPS agent asked to see my guard card. I told him I was staff, not security, and showed him my shirt. Luckily, I was loafing and correctly labeled because I later found out it is a class 1 misdemeanor to check people without a guard card. Other new employees were not so lucky. If I had been ticketed, I would no longer be eligible for my guard card and my new career would have ended on its first day. I worked 15 ½ hours straight with 2 bathroom breaks.
Here are some hints for a smooth check:
· Be as nice or funny as possible—interpretations of the rules vary
· Put your things in a purse instead of a backpack.
· Try to bring as little as possible.
· Any kind of knife is a weapon.
· If you have something that will not pass the check and don’t have anywhere to put it, find the closest open post office and mail it home.
My second day was at the hotel where the players, coaches, officials, etc were staying. Everyone wore badges except the players who were easy to recognize due to their height. It was amazing to see them squish into elevators and duck through doorways. The best part was seeing them with their families. My job was to make the rounds of security guards and see if anyone needed anything. I often took a guard’s position while they went for a bathroom break. An NBA official asked about my guard card as I was walking between guard positions. I was moved to the media room. A security guard controlled access to this area, so I was a baby sitter for the millions of dollars of equipment stored in the room. Most people see the results of the media people’s work, not the tremendous amount of equipment and labor that goes into it. I worked 12 hours and was allowed to go to the bathroom and eat lunch.
My third day started with a private party at the Convention Center. It featured legends of basketball. Even though the guests were rich and well connected, they went through security just like everyone else. I was surprised at how pleasant and fun they were with the hired help. I ran into several of the legends of basketball—recognizable by their height and grey hair.
After the party, I went back to the US Airways front entrance for the All-Star Game. I stood in front of a long barrier and gave directions while making sure no one crossed or passed anything over the barrier. It’s difficult to give directions when you don’t know anything. Additionally, this crowd was not nearly as pleasant as previous crowds. At one point I found a pile of ditched knives outside a metal detector. I threw them away. A lot of people tried to climb or pass contraband over the barriers. Every time I caught someone and asked them to stop--they did. This was probably because due to the abundance of police rather than my commanding authority. I worked 13 ½ hours with 2 bathroom breaks and a short lunch.
I worked almost 40 hours over a 3 day weekend. I saw the NBA All-Star Game from a totally different perspective than most people. My stress is gone and it will be interesting to see if my blood pressure has lowered. Quitting my job was one of the best things I’ve ever done. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.
Visit my site at: http://www.golio.net/FunnyPage.html
I did not need to work, but I liked the idea of an interesting job where I would be paid to do things I'd always been curious about. This is how my adventures in retirement began.
My quest coincided with the NBA All-Star Game and associated activities. I began on a Friday at 5:30 AM. At the US Airways front entrance, I was to watch people going through a metal detector and check their bags--similar to airport security. People seem to be getting used to this and usually are good natured about the intrusion. We threw a lot of knives and sodas into the garbage. At one point, an undercover DPS agent asked to see my guard card. I told him I was staff, not security, and showed him my shirt. Luckily, I was loafing and correctly labeled because I later found out it is a class 1 misdemeanor to check people without a guard card. Other new employees were not so lucky. If I had been ticketed, I would no longer be eligible for my guard card and my new career would have ended on its first day. I worked 15 ½ hours straight with 2 bathroom breaks.
Here are some hints for a smooth check:
· Be as nice or funny as possible—interpretations of the rules vary
· Put your things in a purse instead of a backpack.
· Try to bring as little as possible.
· Any kind of knife is a weapon.
· If you have something that will not pass the check and don’t have anywhere to put it, find the closest open post office and mail it home.
My second day was at the hotel where the players, coaches, officials, etc were staying. Everyone wore badges except the players who were easy to recognize due to their height. It was amazing to see them squish into elevators and duck through doorways. The best part was seeing them with their families. My job was to make the rounds of security guards and see if anyone needed anything. I often took a guard’s position while they went for a bathroom break. An NBA official asked about my guard card as I was walking between guard positions. I was moved to the media room. A security guard controlled access to this area, so I was a baby sitter for the millions of dollars of equipment stored in the room. Most people see the results of the media people’s work, not the tremendous amount of equipment and labor that goes into it. I worked 12 hours and was allowed to go to the bathroom and eat lunch.
My third day started with a private party at the Convention Center. It featured legends of basketball. Even though the guests were rich and well connected, they went through security just like everyone else. I was surprised at how pleasant and fun they were with the hired help. I ran into several of the legends of basketball—recognizable by their height and grey hair.
After the party, I went back to the US Airways front entrance for the All-Star Game. I stood in front of a long barrier and gave directions while making sure no one crossed or passed anything over the barrier. It’s difficult to give directions when you don’t know anything. Additionally, this crowd was not nearly as pleasant as previous crowds. At one point I found a pile of ditched knives outside a metal detector. I threw them away. A lot of people tried to climb or pass contraband over the barriers. Every time I caught someone and asked them to stop--they did. This was probably because due to the abundance of police rather than my commanding authority. I worked 13 ½ hours with 2 bathroom breaks and a short lunch.
I worked almost 40 hours over a 3 day weekend. I saw the NBA All-Star Game from a totally different perspective than most people. My stress is gone and it will be interesting to see if my blood pressure has lowered. Quitting my job was one of the best things I’ve ever done. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.
Visit my site at: http://www.golio.net/FunnyPage.html
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