Before you ask...

Yes...I do know how long it's been since I've posted something. My reasons are as follows:

- moved from Vegas
- 2 weeks in Peru
- weekend in the Tetons
- painting rooms in house
- prepping for new job
- unpacking from the move

I believe these reasons provide ample justification for my scanty (okay, nonexistent) blogging.

This post is just to inform anyone out there that I am still alive and well. I'll be posting a few Peru blogs complete with photos, stories, and much more (maybe) soon. As soon as I get my computer back up and running...

Thank you. That is all.

I Need a Topic

Wow - I can't believe it's been almost a whole month since I've written anything. It doesn't seem like I've done anything lately that's worth writing about in my blog for the whole world to see. I just can't think of anything that's blog-worthy.

For example, should I write about the few days I spent at home organizing and cleaning in preparation for the big move? Camille and I made a two-day marathon out of the whole thing, and man, we have a lot of stuff.

Or should I write about the trip to Lake Powell with friends? Do people even care that I tried water-skiing for the first time and never quite made it? Or what about camping on the beach and the insane wind storms we got to experience? Of course, it was way fun and might make for a good blog, but who can say?

Maybe I should write about helping out with the play this year, "The Wizard of Oz." Kate and I are manning the spotlights for it and having a good time cracking jokes over the headset. Plus we get to see good friends every night! Is that even interesting?

How about this little tidbit? I finished the Yellowstone video after months of grueling labor. Our preview party was great and everyone really loved it! I was so happy with the final result, but do any of my blog readers really care?

Perhaps some people may be interested in how I spend my days, now that I'm living the life of the unemployed... I have to make to-do lists every morning just so I can actually get things done. It's amazing how time really flies when you don't have a job to go to every morning. I just don't know if that stuff is blog-able!

Would it be interesting to read about how I'm preparing for my Peru trip? About how I've been hiking every Monday with Tanya to train for the Lares Trail? About how I've been exercising every day on top of that, but still haven't lost any weight!?! About how I spent a fortune at REI just to get everything I need to go down there and spend more money?

Should I write about how I'm already starting to feel phased out? How, with about a month left to go in Las Vegas, I feel like the time is just slipping away until The Big Move? How people around me (and me too, actually) are already moving on with their lives and starting to break ties? How that makes me a little sad?

Nah...

I just can't think of anything to write about. Hopefully I'll get over this writer's block soon, but I make no promises...

The End of An Era

That is, if you call 3.75 years an 'era.'

It has seemed a bit like one to me, however, since I started working for a wonderful little company called Las Vegas Golf Adventures. I thought this, being my penultimate day working here, would be the perfect time to document what I've learned since that September day oh so long ago.

So here it is - my list of Lessons Learned at Golf Adventures!
(I'm incorporating some of my favorite photos of golf courses that we book. Enjoy!)

1. Golf is expensive. Seriously. If you want to golf at a really nice course in Vegas, be prepared to pay anywhere from $150 to $550 for 18 holes. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, people actually do pay that much. No, I don't remember their credit card numbers.

2. Golf is confusing. There are rules upon rules for this game. Of course, working in an office didn't teach me much about these rules. I only went golfing once the whole time I worked here, and I'm pretty sure that rules didn't come into play too often that day. Writing articles about golf courses did teach me some of the 'golf lexicon' however. I now know the golf-related meanings to words like bunker, mulligan, tee box, marker, pin, fairway, green, rough, overseed, aerify, 'at the turn,' and many many more...that I will never use again.

3. How to use the number pad. You know it - those extra keys on the right side of your keyboard. I never used that before working here, and it took some doing, but now my fingers just slide over those little numbers. New skill learned...check.

4. How credit cards work. I realize that this is probably common knowledge to most educated people, but did you know that credit card companies make their money by applying a fee to companies that charge them? That's why some places only take certain types of credit cards - because for every time they swipe it, they're charged a percentage of the total. American Express is the highest percentage and Visa/Mastercard is the lowest. Also, Visas always start with the number 4, Mastercards are 5, Amex is 3, and Discover is 6. Never knew that before...

5. Internet Marketing is extremely complex. It involves all kinds of strategies, partnerships, methods, and lots and lots of money. And I don't know anything about it. Still.

6. Business travel is not as fun as it sounds.

7. If you're not actually busy, just try looking busy. That's good enough.

8. Sometimes it's really hard to look busy...

9. The internet is a veritable cornucopia of amazing and time-consuming (some might say 'time-wasting') things.

10. You can Google anything.

11. List-making is addictive. I don't think I'll ever be able to kick the habit. I've made more lists, made more schedules, planned more trips, and researched more things on this computer than I ever have on my home one. Times ten.

12. Men like cold.

13. Always take a jacket with you to work. Even if it's pushing 110 outside.

14. Even though golf is boring to watch, it's fun to play. Golf courses are really beautiful! They're quiet, serene, and highly manicured - at least, the expensive ones are... I enjoy being out on the golf course, even if I'm not playing (or maybe especially if I'm not playing).

15. There is such a thing as macro-management. This, of course, is the opposite of micro-management. It occurs when you are given free reign to do pretty much whatever you want, and as long as the necessary work gets done, you're good to go. I totally lucked out with this job.

And, though there's oodles more, I think I'll leave it at that. Anytime I would describe my job to friends, family, or anyone, they always said the same thing: You totally lucked out with that job. And I'd have to say that I'm inclined to agree. I've never worked in a more relaxed environment with cooler bosses than here. I don't think they read my blog (or know that I have one), but just in case...

Jeff, Scott, Alex, JR - thanks guys for providing me with a great job, a great environment, and great opportunities for growth! I wish you all the best!

Alright...who wants to golf?



In case anyone is interested, the photos are as follows:
- Reflection Bay in Lake Las Vegas, NV
- Thundering Waters in Niagara Falls, Canada
- Cabo Del Sol Ocean Course in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Sunridge Canyon in Scottsdale, Arizona
- Sedona Golf Club in Sedona, Arizona
- Rhodes Ranch in Las Vegas, NV

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

I know the big day's not until August, but I have to do a little early celebrating.

You see, this year I will turn the big 3-0. I know what you're thinking, and I agree - I do look way younger than that. I could probably pass for 26 or something. In fact, my RealAge test says I'm only 24!

So, if anybody asks, I give you permission to fudge the numbers a little.

Anywho, I decided long ago that I needed to do something incredible for this momentous occasion. I've been tossing around a few ideas: skydiving, parasailing, scuba diving, etc. But as we all know, my true passion is for travel, so...

I'M GOING TO PERU!!!

I BOOKED MY FLIGHT TODAY!!!

Yep, that's right! Land of the llamas, here I come! But wait! That's not all...

I'm going to hike the 3-day Lares Trail to Machu Picchu!* I'll also visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Lake Titicaca with the floating reed islands, Arequipa, Lima, and Colca Canyon, to name a few.

I am ecstatic!

Don't worry, of course I'm not going alone. I've got a few friends/family coming with me. But there's still lots of room for any additions! So...

Who wants to come???

I'm taking applications now. Here are a few pictures to entice you:



*Lest you think this trail actually goes to Machu Picchu, let me set you straight. They say it goes there, but that's because you catch a train there at the end of the hike. The only trail that goes directly to Machu Picchu is the Inca Trail, and all the permits are gone for that one. Oh well, we'll still get to hike around in the Andes mountains! And see wild llamas!!!

Senioritis

I haven't had this feeling for years. You remember it, don"t you? The queasy feeling of impatient anticipation preceding every summer vacation since you were old enough for school? Remember how that feeling intensified every year until you hit the big one - 12th grade? Those last few weeks of school were a joke. The only things I remember about the very end of my Senior year in High School were the pranks, skipping class a lot (because we weren't doing anything anyway), and graduation. And how those last two weeks dragged on and on and on and on...

I'm in full-reminiscence mode now. Monday starts my official last two weeks at my current job, and then...SUMMER BREAK BABY!!! It's been a long four years since my last summer break, and I plan to make up for all that lost time. I have trips planned to Lake Powell, San Francisco, and Peru! I have projects galore! I have so much playing, sleeping in, and socializing to do, I'm not sure I can fit it all into one summer!

Of course, what this means is that I'm absolutely worthless at work. And hardly motivated. Not intentionally, of course, but my mind keeps wandering to afternoons by the pool, evenings spent with friends, souvenirs in Chinatown, and the llamas of Machu Picchu.

I've definitely got a bad case of Senioritis, and I don't think there's a remedy. I just need to pull through these last two weeks...

When it rains...

...it definitely pours. But - to complete the idiom with another idiom - in every cloud there is a silver lining. Boy, if I haven't learned this lately.

Okay, so my favorite saying over the last 3 weeks is that my life is like a country song: I was sick, my dog died, and I lost my job. All I need now is a pickup truck so it can break down and a boyfriend so he can dump me! (I find that facing things with humor really eases the tension, baby.)

All of this obviously needs a little explanation, so let me see if I can do a quick recap for you...

March 12-15: Went to Seattle for business trip. Family came too. Played with family on down time. Stood in a booth at a golf show for three days. Ate Nando's chicken. Went on Underground Tour. Went to ballet. Played Settlers of Cattan in SEA-TAC Airport. Lost.

March 18-22: Went to Disneyland for 3 days with family. Loved every minute of it. Sat in the front on Splash Mountain. Got soaked. Ate a corn dog, Dole Whip, 3 churros, and Blue Bayou. Won 3 beavers. Used single rider pass again and again and again and again... Hated to leave.

March 23: Had inexplicable hives on arms. Itchy arms all week.

March 26-31: Hives spread to entire body. Had to take cold baking soda bath. Completely miserable and whiny. Just ask the roommates.

March 31: Sugar, beloved family dog, dies. Almost 14 years old. Had a ruptured disc. Couldn't walk. Had to be put down. We love and miss her.

April 1-3: Hives under control. On constant Benadryl. Sudden unexplained dizziness, nausea, and fatigue on Thursday afternoon. Stayed home Friday. Sent in job application for Western Wyoming Community College - Vocal music position. Wondered if I really wanted that job. Slept.

April 4-5: Most needed and timely General Conference ever.

April 6: Laid off from job due to downsizing (in a company of 5 people). Still working through May 15th - one silver lining. Pondered the irony of already having applied for another job. Silver lining number two. Called everybody and reveled in the shock of it all.

April 9: Set up appointment for interview at WWCC. Only 5 days away. Couldn't help thinking how quickly everything was happening.

April 11-16: Great time at home with sister and parents sewing, watching movies, playing Yahtzee. Love being at home. Hives finally disappear...for now.

April 14: Interview day. Goes well. Feel a good vibe. Wonder if I can actually move back home...

April 17: Get the call. Got the job. Felt so good about it. Accepted it. Continue to feel shocked - and completely blessed.

I think that's it in a nutshell! A very very small nutshell. My life has significantly changed in the course of two small weeks. Yes, it can happen to anyone. I am here to testify.

But with all this radical change has also come the best feeling of peace and acceptance, and I know that's not coming from me. It feels like it should be a trial, and yet, isn't one. This is what Heavenly guidance looks and feels like, and no doubt about it. And I couldn't be more grateful.

Thanks to everyone who has been there to support me through these last few rough weeks! I love you all!

And thanks in advance to everyone who's going to help me make the most of my last few months here in Vegas before moving to windy, wintery, lovely Wyoming. It's party time people!!!

I'm in the army now!

Hello!!! Time for me to recover from my long absence with a quick blog...

So, I don't know if anyone knows this, but I absolutely love reading! (Duh!) And easily my favorite genre is fantasy...with a little sci-fi thrown in to make things interesting. We're talking LOTR, Dune, Shannara, Ender, and many, many more.

But perhaps one of my favorite series is "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan. I love the world, the characters, the conflicts...basically everything about this series. Yes, some of these 11 books tend to drag on (5-10 anybody?), but it's all part of a cohesive and extremely complicated story.

My admiration for everything WoT-related was jolted back in 2007 when I read that the Creator (heh, heh) of this series, Robert Jordan himself, had passed away while working on the final book. Fans the world over mourned for the man, but also for the death of an incomplete series until, thankfully, a new writer was commissioned to write the concluding book (which will now be 3 books). His name is Brandon Sanderson and he's gallantly stepped into Mr. Jordan's shoes and is doing his utmost to stay true to the world of the story, for which I commend him highly.

Anyway, he's created some cool opportunities for fans of the series, which I have gladly taken part in! As in all good fantasy, there's a great conflict between good and evil in this series which has led to many an exciting battle scene. In order to do battle scenes, you need armies, and Mr. Sanderson (or should I say "Bro. Sanderson" - yes, he's Mormon too!) has come up with an interesting way of creating one of these armies for the last book. He's gone through a charity called Heifer International, which nobly helps fight hunger across the world, to organize fans to donate. Whoever donates to this general fund joins the army that will be featured in the final book! He says it's not going to be obvious to the readers who this army is (there will be a lot of them in the Last Battle) unless you're looking for it, but by donating, you're effectively going to be immortalized in print - in fantasy!

So naturally, I signed myself up! That's right, I'm going to be fighting the Dark One in Tarmon Gai'don!

I bet you all wish you were as cool as me.