Alexis Hartz, Author

Tempe Diablo Stadium Baseball fans know that Spring Training Season doesn't start for another 3 weeks, and so I get plenty of questions about why I'm here so early. Well, those hot dogs and peanuts don't just magically appear at the stands on Opening Day.  In fact, the stands themselves need to be set up, including the tents, coolers, grills, utensils, signage, work areas, cash registers, credit card machines, beer taps, ........ and the electricity and water to run all of it. Even a food and supplies warehouse tent is erected to store the product that is ordered for future use. All the people that run the concession stands need to be hired, and trained. (This process starts while most of you are doing your last-minute Christmas shopping.) All the food needs to be ordered, stored, and distributed accordingly.  Did you know that last year, over 15 games we sold 35,000 hot dogs alone???  That doesn't include all the rest of the food options -- ha...

Probably my least favorite part of living the workamper life is changing jobs and locations every season. Some say that those are two of the top ten most stressful activities in life and I can see why. This season's move has been filled with stressing opportunities. In addition to what I shared in Diggin' Out about not being able to start my rig's engine in the cold, blowing a tire in transit, and running into road blocks, I discovered more needed repairs when I connected to a water source at my new location. Old Cracked Water Heater New Water Heater Beautiful, isn't it?  That's my new $900 water heater. I know it isn't much to look at, but when I spend that kind of money I really want to show off my purchase.  Good thing I have a job, right? Well, returning to my Angels Spring Training gig I knew what to expect as far as money and hours, but was surprised when my new boss gave me a 15 hour/week limit until we get closer to Opening Day. New b...

My latest family outing was a 1,000 mile round trip to view the VanGogh Exhibit at the Denver Museum. And, with our in-laws no less. Curiously we all meandered through the exhibit, admiring VanGogh's works, and looking forward to learning the entire story about how the artist amputated his own ear, why, when and how. We wanted to get the juicy details on his days in the sanitarium. But that was just not to be. There was no mention of the self-mutilation. There was no mention of the sanitarium. Only the passionate efforts of a shy minister turned painter. Most of us know about the ear, but not about his desire to preach the word of God to others. Instead of sharing words, he painted pictures for us, and in doing so have given millions reason to pause and consider the beauty of his paintings, and God's world. Maybe that's what being saved and having eternal life is all about. . .

One really super great thing about road trips in the motor coach is seeing plenty of great scenery. Mountains, oceans, deserts, canyon lands, wide-open plains, I've seen them all.  Each landscape has its own majestic beauty. However, one of the best, most spectacular sights of all are the windmills sprouting up all over the nation. Equally as exciting are the solar panel farms that are sprouting up. Slowly but surely we are employing alternative energy sources. We may be totally unaware of our changing energy sources in the cities where we live, but this I know for sure --- we're moving in the right direction.

Are you on Match ? or E-Harmony ? Seems like the way to go if you're dating these days. Last night I spoke with yet another friend who is looking for love on the internet.  Almost every single female friend I have is doing it.  My hat is off to them. Besides being daring enough to reach out to these total strangers, they have completed a task that overwhelms me --- creating a personal profile. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but by the time I got to the "Pay here" page of the profile I was mentally and emotionally exhausted.  I opted out. As silly as it may sound, even describing my physical attributes caused me anguish --- is my body build slender, average, or curvy. Well, we all see things differently so to some I appear slender, I'd say I was average, but shopping for blue jeans these days would definitely put me in the curvy category. What are my favorite movies, sports, hobbies?  Since I'm and adventurer, the answer to most of those questions ar...

After staying a night at the Microtel Motel  in which I was over-charged and under-nourished, I continued down the road to Phoenix.       Minutes from my final destination I heard a thumping metallic sound, one loud enough to investigate.   Since I was stopped at the entrance to  McDowell Mountain Resort & Casino  I pulled in and slowly, carefully cruised into one of their large parking lots --- the very same large parking lot where they were hosting a high-end collector's car show.   Oh look at that photo! I had no idea how to even begin to fix that!  But several of the car dealers ( and their crews ) did, and quickly offered their help. Within minutes the rim was removed, and I was on the road in my car with instructions to return with 2 new rims and tires and a promise that the crew  would get me back on the road.  Now, I know that I have a God that takes care of all of my needs all of the time,...

Tempe Diablo Stadium Hard to believe that 28 days from this rainy, wet, dreary and damp day that I'll be hanging out at the Honey Brown Sweet Spot, getting paid to watching the Angels play the Cubs on Opening Day. I'll be here for the entire 2013 Spring Training Season with the California Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Join me for the stories of the season!

What is my coach height? After the car was loaded on to the dollie, and the coach warmed up I set out for Gallup, New Mexico. Ready for a warm bed and a good night's sleep, I stopped on the east side of town and checked out hotel options on my iphone. After choosing one on the west side of town, I turned on the frontage road and started that way. Nine pm, 16 degrees, and three quarters of the way there I stopped at an underpass warning sign indicating that I had 13'2" clearance. I stopped right where I was. How tall was my rig? Could I make it? Not willing to suffer the consequences, I decided that I would not continue on my route.  However, turning around required unloading the car, unhooking the tow dollie, turning the coach around with a dozen small maneuvers on the narrow old road, re-attaching the tow dollie, and reloading the car. Did I mention that it was 9pm, 16 degrees, snowy and icy and dark ? Well, I did it. And, quite effortlessly I might add. I...

I shared the first steps in digging out of the snow in a recently published blog. Now you're going to get the rest of the story . Shortly after I posed for this photo I enrolled the help of my eldest son to get the snow cleared and reposition the coach for departure. We charged the battery and in no time flat had that thing turned around and ready to go.  The next morning I returned to the coach ready to head to the land of the SUN.  Cat jumped out of the car and immediately assumed her traveling position -- hunkered down in the pillows on the bed.  I settled into the driver's seat, turned the key, and wah-la, nothing happened.  The unseasonably cold night had zapped what little charge there was in the battery.  The upside: I would finally be able to use the Road Side Service included in my insurance policy. I made arrangements with Wayne of Bo Dean's Repair Service to come out and charge me up.  In the meantime, I hurry to Durango ...

I’ve spent the past 90 days working at a beautiful country retreat in Colorado. In my years in hotels, I’ve never experienced the connection that guests have with hotel staffs like they do with small innkeepers.  It’s a very intimate business relationship. Last week I spoke with a guest from Switzerland. The first question he asked me was,  “What’s your passion?” Wow. You don’t get that question every day.  Usually the perfunctory, “How are you?” and “Great” or “Fine” response is the norm.  I had to think. But, I had to answer quickly too. I’m one who believes in living your passion. But how could I be living my passion if I couldn’t even tell someone what is was.  The first thing that came to mind was, “Travel”. The next was a question to myself, “Where? When?” Here was an American man who had just moved from Switzerland with his lover after living in France for two years together. That sounded like a pretty good life to me!  I wo...

Hmmm, this is interesting. Have you ever gotten distracted, or been in the middle of something and got called away by an unexpected visitor, or phone call? I guess that's what's happened here. The title of this post was included in an on-line list of my unpublished blogs today. When I clicked on it I discovered that only a blank page appeared below it. I wonder what I was going to write about. I wonder what "I can't believe I'm doing this . . ." was, and how it turned out. Whatever it was wasn't as unbelievable as I expected it to be, because it wasn't even remarkable enough for me to write about it. Huh.

I love Colorado winters. Mornings glisten with ice-glazed tree branches, and sunsets light up the horizon with warm and cheery pink and orange hues. The days are full of sunshine, crisp mountain air and snow that crunches as the crystals pack beneath my feet. But, Colorado winters are cold. That crisp air hurts when it slaps my unprotected skin. Cold, wet feet are uncomfortable.  And, I despise what freezing temperatures do to my home-on-wheels. I've had enough. I'm diggin' out and headed south. Shortly the snow will be cleared from the coach, my boots will be stored away, and I'll be on the road to the Valley of the Sun. I've met a lot of crazy people this year, visited some cool places, and held some really odd jobs.  I'm looking forward to sitting in the sun and writing all about them.