6:00 am I awoke to an annoying sound of Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies on the radio extra loud since I feared I wouldn’t wake up to the music at a normal level from the exhaustion I felt the night before.  “How could this song be at the top of the Charts?” I asked myself thinking that this was another case of catching annoyance was the only way a song can make it these days.  I jumped out of bed to reach the alarm and shut it off and lifted the blinds on the windows.  After lifting the shades that were hung under the blinds I realized that in the Summer the amount of light probably would make it hard to sleep.  Excited to see the wonderful view I was promised by Mr. Tapia I felt a quick dissapointment as the snow filled sky and it was about the same level of darkness as there was when I first walked into the apartment last night.  I did however manage to turn on some more lights and get a better look at the studio apartment I was not calling home.  I thought it was amazing that I was not only getting the opportunity to work up here in Alaska but I was lucky enough to find a job that would pay the rent for me.  Although this is not the best apartment it had the perfect decorations and size for a single guy at the top of his teens.  The loveseat was a darker blue that has been used in the past but was well cleaned and dark enough that no one would notice any spills that may occur.  The kitchen had what looked like enough dishes for 4 people and the major appliances that I would need to keep myself heathy and happy.  Of course the lack of a Dishwasher allowed my lazy side groan a little I figured the chance of me having a party and needing to do dishes more than once in a day was slim.  The carpet was a tan color that you could tell the Landlord choose so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything other than cleaning it when I left, all the walls were the same cream color that would make it easy to repaint when I left.  All the basics were there which was good because there wouldn’t be room for much more. 

Mr. Tapia said that he would be there around 7:00am and we were going to work out so I looked over at the weight bench in the corner and told myself I would use it tonight since I didn’t know what the work out would be.  I walked over to the kitchen and made myself a quick high carb breakfast to help me gain the energy that I may need for this workout and was ready to go by 6:30.  I wasn’t sure if I would need anything so I threw a extra set of clothes in my back pack and headed down the stairs.  About 15 minutes later the truck that picked me up pulled up so I walked out the door to notice there were two people in the truck.  Mr. Tapia and someone that I recognized as a guy i went to High School with.  Brian was the person that I sent my information to when he called me about six months ago talking about this great job he had but I was told by Mr. Tapia that he no longer was working with them and he wanted me to fill Brian’s spot on the team.  Team was the word Mr. Tapia repeated many times during the interview and was the main reason I knew that I would get along with him.  He never talked to me like I was an employee he always talked like he was the team captain.  Brian confirmed this feeling when he explained that Mr. Tapia treated them all as friends not employee’s during the last time I called to thank him for giving Mr. Tapia my information and his recomendation for me to succeed in his position. 

“What are you doing here?”  I asked Brian as I climbed into the truck.

“Well the new job doesn’t have workout times like Mr. Tapia sets up and Mr. Tapia said he doesn’t mind if I continue to work out with you all.”  He stated with a graditude in his voice.  “Plus I would love to show you up at the gym today.  I have been waiting for this day for a long time since you always kicked my ass in school.”

“Well I have gotten a little soft since school so it wouldn’t surprise me.”  I said with a little grin, “But your still a tiny little elf aren’t you?”

“Screw you, your boss doesn’t like it when team members make fun of each other, goon,”  Brian responded like we saw each other just yesterday.  Although it has been over a year since we have hung out I was amazed at how much it seamed like we were still the best friends that worked out together, partied together and graduated together.  There was not time lapse in the friendship that either of us could feel.

“Remember you quit your job on my team so he can feel free to make fun of you all he wants,” Mr. Tapia stated then quickly added, “I think I like that, Tiny Little Elf.  Yeah, I think that one will stick.”

We drove on talking about Brians new position doing deliveries for a company that requires all their drivers to remained armed while in posession of the packages they are transporting.  It sounded like Brian was working for the Alaskan Mafia.  I was making a comment about a bunch of Eskimo’s in there seal skin coats walking around talking with their Long Island Accent when Mr. Tapia pulled up in front of a small windowless warehouse.  With all the snow around it and the dirt that sprayed up on the exterior walls from the cars and plows that drove by it look to be almost abandoned except for the one light above the metal door that we were heading to.  When we walked into the door I was in shock at the activity inside the place.

“Good Morning Mr. Tapia,” a large man with no neck said as he walked up to us.  “Is this Boaz?  We have his membership ready we just need to get him a picture to place on the ID.”

“Thank you, Ronnie.  Can you take him to do that and show him around for me?  Brian is going to try once again to take the title from me.”  Mr Tapia stated with a bored attitude.  He then turned to me, “The battle will probably be over by the time you are done with the picture and tour but don’t worry, Brian does this once a month atleast and the longest he has lasted is 3 minutes so you can watch me kick his ass next time.  Today is our free day, look around and workout however you want today, I will come find you around 8:30 and take you to the office so we can have our team meeting.”

“Sounds great,” I said as I looked around to take in all the wonders of the gym with confusion on what I could start with.

“So how do you like Alaska so far,” asked Ronnie with an attitude that he had to ask this of every new person that came in here for the first time.

“All I have seen is snow,”  I answered.

“Well the winters may suck but the summer makes up for it.  I moved up here about 8 years ago from Texas and have only been back for my brothers wedding.  I will never leave this place.”  Ronnie was now leading me down a hallway that was probably 20 degrees warmer than the bigger room we first walked into.  When we reached another room there was a circular desk in the middle with windows along the walls.  I noticed that one side of the hall looked like there were Raquet ball courts and the other side was an long narrow swimming pool that two people were doing laps in.  In front of the hallway they just came out of was a window that looked into basketball court and tennis court.  “Here we are Boaz, Mellisa will take you photo and get your ID card ready,”  Ronnie said as he pointed to the beautiful brunette sitting in the middle of the circular desk.

“Just remember Ronnie I start my workout in 15 minutes so you need to come back and take Boaz for the tour.”  Mellisa said as she pointed to a chair on the other side of hers. 

About 10 minutes later I was holding onto the warm card with my picture on it and listening to Mellisa talk about the rules of the place, “Never ever work out alone, there is someone here 24 hours a day so if you need a spotter then come down here and someone will help you out.  Did Mr. Tapia give you the key to the front entrance?”

“Key?” I asked confused, I remember his telling me what each of the three keys were for but he didn’t say one of them was for the gym.

“He gave you a key for the office right?  Thats what he calls this place, it may be a gym to the rest of this but since he is the owner he like to say it is the office.  I think it is just so he is used to telling his wife that he is going to the ‘office’ when he wants to do a late night workout.”

“Yeah, he gave me an office key.”  I said with a crackle in my voice.  I have never been the type of guy that could look confident when it came to women.  As soon as I labled her with cute I would get shy and wouldn’t talk more than I had to. 

“Okay then you are all set, and here comes Ronnie for your tour.  It was nice to meet you and I look forward to working with you.”  This threw me for another loop, I wasn’t brought to Alaska to work in a gym, I was brought up here for a security job.  Why did she say she would be working with me?

“You got everything?” asked Ronnie, and before I could answer him he continued, “Brian almost lsted for a full 4 minutes, I am not sure if he is getting better or just getting used to the way Mr. Tapia fights.”

“They were actually fighting?” I was already thinking that I was the luckiest guy in the world for the opportunity I was just granted but the ability to fight my boss was one of the dreams I have had since the fat prick at Red Lobster yelled at me for having a streak on the bathroom mirror.  I was already imagining getting pissed off at Mr. Tapia about something and replying, “I want to take you in the ring right now!”

“Yeah, Mr. Tapia may be an old son of a bitch but he can take any one of us.  There is a rumor that the last guy that beat him was given a couple of hundred thousand dollars to start up another Security company in Juno.  However, I don’t believe it.  Ready for your tour?”

“Yeah”

“And this is the locker room, Go ahead and grab a locker and go work out Mr. Tapia will find you when it is time to have the meeting, we will also make an announcement over the load speaker.  Enjoy your workout!”

Looking out of the airplanes window I was amazed that the Pilot knew where we were going.  The darkness filled everything but with my fear of the unknown I could not help pressing my cheek against the cold coming from the double thick window while stretching my vision as far ahead of the wings as I could with hopes to see anything.  My first time leaving the sanctuary of my parents house and striking out to make my own life and my own adventures.  The man I talked to on the phone would be waiting for me somewhere close by and I could feel the tightening of my stomach even more now that the Pilot has announced the decent into Anchorage International Airport.  A man that I have never met before except a quick interview on the phone and another quick conversation as he told me the secretary has made arrangements for my treasures to be picked up at my parents house.  The last conversation was about a week ago explaining the flight from Syracuse Airport to the Alaskan wilderness.  

I never knew much about Alaska except that it was my dream to find a way to visit the State farthest north in the country that I love.  My mind raced with images of trailers in the woods with broken down cars, Pickup trucks with weapons hanging off the back window and every house with a Dog run with 10 Husky’s and a sled next to it.  I knew very little of the area and knew that the this was the chance of a life time so I had to take it.  I had no idea where I would sleep tonight or how I would be able to afford the food I would love to get in my body as soon as I landed and the knot in my stomach left me.  The idea that someone would pay me to fly out to Alaska and pay for my living expenses just so I could join their security team amazed me, I wasn’t going to say I didn’t know what I was doing but there had to be bigger and smarter men out there than me at a wimpy 6 feet high holding 185 lbs but looking like 150.  I could not intimidate anyone by my looks but thankfully I had the arrogance needed and was able to show that though my movements and actions.  I was afraid this man that was meeting me at the airport would see me and say, “Well this was a mistake, here is the return plane ticket.”  What would happen if there wasn’t even a return plane ticket, I would be stranded in this world I knew nothing about.  I could see myself finding a small restaurant that I could wash dishes at just long enough to afford my embarrassing trip home to explain to my parents that I was a failure and I should have gone to college like they explained many times.  

Finally, lights out the window, how did the pilot of this bus with wings find this place and why were there so many people on this flight.  They must all be on their way out of the country, I have heard a lot of Russian accents while we were boarding and figured Anchorage was the best place to catch a plane leaving the country.  The golden glow coming from the city around us allowed me to believe Anchorage was a city although I couldn’t see much though the blizzard and darkness surrounding the plane as the tires collided with the runway.  I loved to fly but I hated landings.  How could anything on wheels catch some traction with this much snow on the ground images flashed of the airplane sliding past the runways and sinking into the snow breaking the landing gear, the inflatable slides coming out so the rescue teams could pick us up and take us to the terminal.  I finally felt the turn that told me the pilot had total control and was cleared by the tower to take us on to the gate where I would meet the man that has given me this great opportunity to live where most people will never see, the last frontier, Alaska. 

The first time the whole flight the fasten seatbelt light was turned off was quickly followed by an announcement from the woman that 15 years ago was probably the most beautiful Air Crew for the airline, however after years of jet lag and disgruntled customers made the wrinkles on her face more pronounced than they should be.  “Welcome to Anchorage Alaska, Please check the seat in front of you and the overhead to make sure you have all your belongings,” she announced.  “Local time is 10:00 pm and the local temperature is 10 degree’s,” she continued with a more announcements about connecting flights and wishing us a great stay in Anchorage.  

I grabbed the bag that I had under the seat in front of me then quickly got up to grab my bag from the over head then waited slowly while everyone else filed up the aisle to make their way to the building the plane was now connected to.  There was now a mixture of excitement and fear that lined the know in my stomach, how would I recognize this man?  I have never seen him, I did have an image of the man that I created from the sound of his voice but that was never an accurate portrayal of the actual person.  I described myself to him when he gave me the travel itinerary over the phone and he explained he would be wearing a hat that had the name of the security company on it.  The fear that he would not be there or that he would see me and would take his hat off with disappointment while deserting me in this strange land.  I finally made it out the aircraft doors and up the walkway to the gate and sure enough there was a man about 6′4 standing above the crowd and wearing a black hat that just said AJ Security.  His sign confirmed that he was there for me, “Boaz Davidson” is almost illegible writing.  I walked directly up to him and questioned, “Mr. Tapia?”  

“Boaz, so glad you made it, I am excited to get you settled in and get you to work as soon as possible.  Do you have any bags to pick up?” 

“No sir, this is all I came with,” I stated while raising the two bags a few inches to emphasis the lack of belongings I have collected in my short 18 years.  

“We never received any confirmation that the movers picked up your belongings from you house in New York, did everything get packed ok?” 

“I canceled the appointment sir, I have everything right here,” I could feel my face redden a little as I said that.  Leaving high school and realizing that all I owed was a small black and white TV and a bunch of Kathy Ireland and Alyssa Milano Posters I decided that this was all I would need so I didn’t see any need for a mover.  I was kind of depressed when I packed all my treasures into to carry on bags but figured with the amount that this man offered me I would be starting from scratch anyway and could save for a color TV in a month or two. 

We quickly walked to the man’s Chevy Z71 and climbed into the cab, “Well you made it here just in time for the first snowfall of the winter”  You will not see green grass for the next 6 months at least.  Welcome to Alaska.”  

We moved though the city sliding though corners like this was the normal way to drive, I was amazed at how Mr. Tapia could counter steer the truck without spilling a single drop of his coffee while steering with a single hand.  I looked at the snow covered streets and realized that this really was a city, buildings lining both sides of every road with snow banks on every corner I could tell that I would have to get new landmarks to find my way once the snow melted.  Everything was brown and white and looked dirty from the dirt pulled off the streets with the snow.  After about 10 minutes Mr. Tapia pulled into a parking lot next to a 5 story building.  “Welcome to your new home,” he said while putting the gears in park and turning the key off.  He then handed me a group of keys on a chain that said “I love New York” and was in the shape of an apple.  “Never forget where your are from, that is the reason you are the man you are,” he said to me and stepped out of the car.  We walked into the building and passed the elevators to the stairway on the other side.  “I am not as young as you I need to take every chance I can get to exercise, you don’t mind taking the stairs?”  He asked me as he grabbed the bigger of the two bags I was holding. 

“Of course not,” I said trying to act like I wasn’t drained from the 12 hour trip I just took and followed him up the stairs praying that I was on the second floor. 

At the last landing Mr. Tapia opened the door for me while I tried to hide the heavy breathing, feeling as though I had to show that like him that was no more of a workout than walking to the mailbox back home.  Walking down the hall he asked me for my keys and explained to me what each of the three keys were for.  One was for the door, another for the storage area in the basement and the third was the for the office.  He unlocked the door and lead the way in, “My wife came by and put some food and drinks in the fridge for you this afternoon, I will be by at 7am to pick you up for work tomorrow.  There is an alarm clock next to the bed for you.  Do you need anything else before I take off?” 

“I think I am all set as I looked at the studio apartment, everything was one room,  It was not that large but a perfect size for me.  One corner had two Large windows with a queen bed between them and looked very attractive with the flannel blankets and pillow cases.  I was not sure if I was more excited to get to the fridge or the bed first.  “Excellent,” I exclaimed as my eyes scanned the whole apartment and noticed the corner with the weight bench and various sized dumbbells. 

“A lot of your job is going to be working out and projecting the confidence in stressful situations.  I need to head out but dress for a work out tomorrow morning, you will meet everyone at the gym after I show you the main office.” 

“Sounds great, thank you this place is wonderful.” 

“Wait until the morning when you can see out the windows, it is an amazing view.  Have a great night.”  Mr. Tapia said as he shook my hand then turned and shut the door behind him. 

I walked to the fridge and pulled out the egg carton and searched for a pan that I could cook in, made myself a 4 egg omelet with ham, cheese and tomatoes and sat on the love seat in front of the Television while I ate.  After unpacking the two bags and setting up the pictures of my parents, three brothers and Niece on the entertainment center I set my alarm and fell asleep as my head hit the soft pillows. 

I have been asked to log some of my stories in the past.  To me there is nothing special about anything I have ever done, my life has been lucky circumstance after lucky circumstance.  I am lucky to realize that though my faith and belief system I have never been without food, clothing or a roof over my head.  I regret nothing and have failed many times in my life and will always be the first to admit that my life is not perfect, but I am happy and I would not change a thing.  I was raised in a small town that I always thought was a city until I went to New York City; Frankfurt, Germany, Paris, France; Seoul, Korea; and many other places that make me wonder why my home town is even on the map.  

I hope you enjoy some of my stories, but would like you to know that I am not writing for you, I am writing these for myself!!! 

I have a hard time believing that my vote counts, I always vote but for some reason I know that no one ever took into concideration that my vote counted.  However, that changes when it comes to local elections in the area.  This week was the Primary for many local positions.  One of those is the Family Court Judge position.  One thing that has always had a lot of concern in my life is family court and how it handles fathers like me.  This county court has seen me in and out of its doors a lot though my last divorce and other cases where I was called in to witness something.  Unfortunatly I had a lot of experience with Judge Hanft that was running to keep his position.  He was in my case as the Law Gaurdian of my daughter.  This guy actually went out to eat with my ex wife to find out more about her.  Is that a problem?  Well, to me it is especially since the same guy who is appointed to take care of the best interest of the child wouldn’t even talk to me on the phone or in the halls while waiting for the court.  Fortunatly, everyone else in the case realized why my daughter was origionally left in New York with me, so they ignored his plea and left her here.  6 months later my daughters step father has been arrested for child abuse.  Wow, Mr. Hanft, you really know what you are dealing with!!! 
The good news was he got slaughtered in the primaries last night!!!!

For a lot of people they do not realize how great fall can be.  I live in an area that has a strict 4 seasons of weather.  Well fall has hit and hit fast and hard.  2 weeks ago I was in shorts and today I am in my jacket.  I love warm weather but I still love fall in the North East.  Today on my drive into work I noticed as I drove around the mountains that the leaves are changing colors.
The best part of the season, Football and Soccer.  Yesterday was the first day where I thought, yes fall is here.  I woke up and headed to the highschool and was able to make it in time to watch both my nephew and niece play their first soccer games of the season, for my nephew it was his first ever soccer game.  It is always fun seeing a community gather for youth sports, the hot dogs from the kiwana’s club, the adults lining every field with blankets and fold up chairs, and of course the sweet sound of the whistle’s from the Varsity Soccer team players that work as referee’s.
After the games were over the excitement didn’t end when I turned on the TV and got to watch football with my 3 month old son in my arms as my wonderful wife brought me crackers and jalepeno dip with a big glass of soda. 

I love the fall, and can’t wait until Monday Night Football tonight!!!