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...