But luckily, it's ending on a good note. A few weeks ago, I was invited out to Anaheim, CA to engage in a one-on-one interview for a Tour Manager position with Contiki Holidays, a Tour Operator that specializes in trips for clients between the ages of 18 and 35. If they like me, I'll be invited to participate in their Tour Manager Training School, which unfortunately comes at a price (the price being about $700). However, it's an eight-week training course that, I assume, will take us to virtually every destination their tours touch upon in North America. Upon successful completion of this course, a two-year contract is offered.
What will I need to accomplish this feat? Presenting a ten-minute speech on Walt Disney, and of course, a successful interview. All of this will take place on January 5 and 6, plane tickets and rental car are already booked. Everything is still up in the air, of course, but I have a good feeling about this. What would really be sweet is if I could juggle Contiki's tours with Holiday Vacations' part-time Tour Directing and attending travel shows. Everything remains to be seen. Oh yes, and Contiki offers tours to China and Southeast Asia that I hope to jump aboard on come the fall and winter.
For New Year's, it's looking to be a quiet, family-oriented event, with a Subway sandwich platter, a variety of wraps and chicken tenders, with a few variety of chips and dip to go along with it. It should be peaceful, and delicious.
I'm contemplating starting up a second blog that will be more for general rants, muses, and other stuff, and revert this one back to being strictly a travel blog.
Spurs are continuing to kick ass, naming the Lakers as their latest victims. I think they have a shot for the championship.
'Tis is late, and I need sleep. Until next time.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Don't You Just Love Anticlimatic Endings (and Mindless Rambling)?
See, I told you I'm bad about consistently keeping up with blogs.
Long story short, after all of the car trouble on the Kenai, I was able to finish the journey home, and along the way met great people, saw great sights and did as much as I could in-between. I learned my debit card works better in Southeast Asia than Western Canada, I saw a few of the many wonders of Jasper and Banff National Parks, camped out on permafrost in the Yukon while praying to God no bears had last-minute munchies before hibernation, uncovered the real Winnipeg, caught a glimpse into the exciting prairie cities of Calgary and Regina, and caught up with old friends in the American Midwest.
And now I'm back in Texas. The Salt Lick outside of Austin was delicious, Vegas was canned at the very last minute, my mother had serious back surgery right before Thanksgiving and is recovering nicely, I got to meet the new cat (who is the biggest asshole this side of North Korea but is still cute and amazing), and catching up on movies and South Park episodes I missed over the summer (and then some). Oh yes, and searching for the next great adventure.
A nagging feeling, though, continues to pester me. I have no interest in getting involved in a relationship, yet I guess a piece of me desires that special lady. But I know it's for the wrong reasons and that my career path will essentially all but eradicate any chance of a romance flower blossoming. God works in mysterious ways, though, but at the moment, it's not something I need. Or maybe there's an underlying reason and this small little dissident mindset is a mask. Who knows with me, I'm just coo-coo for Co-co Puffs. Or maybe there's actually a chance on the other side of the river Styx that I may find someone who is extremely understanding of my career and, at the same time, won't get lonely to the point of getting her fix with a businessman, a clown, or worse, a car salesman. Stranger things have happened, like some people actually liking Sarah Palin and supporting her for a 2012 bid for the presidency.
The Mayans may have been on to something concerning 2012....but if there's any constellation, she'll probably quit after Iran farts or if a journalist asks her about her favorite pizza. As long as she doesn't pick Mr. Ed or a dung beetle as her VP, the country will be in far better hands. But then again, this is pure speculation. I foresee the odds are higher of a pig with lipstick getting the Republican nomination over Palin.
Anyway, I still want to pursue freelance photography on the side in a few years once I get a much better camera (ideally, an SLR) and take enough shots with it to produce a quality portfolio. Combining tour management and freelance photography? A good life. I've already printed out some of my best photos from Alaska, and have framed and hung them in my house. Maybe that's the beginning of a larger gallery depicting photos not only of the world but the world through my eyes and mind, a little bit of a deeper look into, well, me. For me, art is how I comfortably express myself, and hopefully y'all can gain insight into who I am through my photos, graphic design pieces and other artistic works.
Until next time, everyone! Enjoy the Christmas season!
Long story short, after all of the car trouble on the Kenai, I was able to finish the journey home, and along the way met great people, saw great sights and did as much as I could in-between. I learned my debit card works better in Southeast Asia than Western Canada, I saw a few of the many wonders of Jasper and Banff National Parks, camped out on permafrost in the Yukon while praying to God no bears had last-minute munchies before hibernation, uncovered the real Winnipeg, caught a glimpse into the exciting prairie cities of Calgary and Regina, and caught up with old friends in the American Midwest.
And now I'm back in Texas. The Salt Lick outside of Austin was delicious, Vegas was canned at the very last minute, my mother had serious back surgery right before Thanksgiving and is recovering nicely, I got to meet the new cat (who is the biggest asshole this side of North Korea but is still cute and amazing), and catching up on movies and South Park episodes I missed over the summer (and then some). Oh yes, and searching for the next great adventure.
A nagging feeling, though, continues to pester me. I have no interest in getting involved in a relationship, yet I guess a piece of me desires that special lady. But I know it's for the wrong reasons and that my career path will essentially all but eradicate any chance of a romance flower blossoming. God works in mysterious ways, though, but at the moment, it's not something I need. Or maybe there's an underlying reason and this small little dissident mindset is a mask. Who knows with me, I'm just coo-coo for Co-co Puffs. Or maybe there's actually a chance on the other side of the river Styx that I may find someone who is extremely understanding of my career and, at the same time, won't get lonely to the point of getting her fix with a businessman, a clown, or worse, a car salesman. Stranger things have happened, like some people actually liking Sarah Palin and supporting her for a 2012 bid for the presidency.
The Mayans may have been on to something concerning 2012....but if there's any constellation, she'll probably quit after Iran farts or if a journalist asks her about her favorite pizza. As long as she doesn't pick Mr. Ed or a dung beetle as her VP, the country will be in far better hands. But then again, this is pure speculation. I foresee the odds are higher of a pig with lipstick getting the Republican nomination over Palin.
Anyway, I still want to pursue freelance photography on the side in a few years once I get a much better camera (ideally, an SLR) and take enough shots with it to produce a quality portfolio. Combining tour management and freelance photography? A good life. I've already printed out some of my best photos from Alaska, and have framed and hung them in my house. Maybe that's the beginning of a larger gallery depicting photos not only of the world but the world through my eyes and mind, a little bit of a deeper look into, well, me. For me, art is how I comfortably express myself, and hopefully y'all can gain insight into who I am through my photos, graphic design pieces and other artistic works.
Until next time, everyone! Enjoy the Christmas season!
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