A Crazy Two Weeks and Then, Vegas

I've had a crazy two weeks. I'm sure you have missed me, although, I have my doubts, ha!

I've been emptying my life.

Like throw away all that stuff, from the trinkets of ex-relationships to pure junk. Make room for new things, new memories, your new life, and make sure you leave room for space to think. I mean this all physically and mentally.

I've realized that if you want something you've never had, you have to do things you've never done.

Like run your first 10K. Your first trail race.

And, eventually, we all place.

I placed in my division for the first time last week at the Overton Park 10k. 2nd place in women's 20-24. My trophy was a silver gnome, ha!

It felt like a reward for all the pain.

All the self-destruction.

All the emptiness.

I had made room for new victories.

And here I am in Las Vegas. The farthest west I've ever been.

I spent my first evening getting, as my friend would call it, "white girl wasted" at Cosmopolitan. A beautiful property by the way.

And then we headed to Planet Hollywood, where, according to rumors I flirted our way in the door for free.

I'm not completely sure if that's true, but that's what they say.

And while I was going about my completely irresponsible ways and spending the next day in recovery basking in the desert sun by the pool, my friend received a very magical proposal at Disney.

I can't help but to consider myself a bit of a relational wreck at this point. No regrets on being single, but I guess I feel an obligation to "grow up, get married, have babies" soon since everyone else is doing the same.

Now, I'm a bit stubborn, so I won't give in so easily. Albeit, I will stand my ground with a bit of self consciousness.

I mean, if I ever break down and do the marriage thing, I will probably have to settle for a boy coming out of the divorce stage. And I just don't want that baggage.

Relational rant of the day is over. My apologies.

Being at the Intercontinental Hotel Group here in Las Vegas really makes me realize what a spoiled student I am.

No other major gets to go on trips like these. No other hospitality school takes their students on as many trips as I have been on.

I spent the day with "grown ups" talking about real problems in the industry and what exciting things lie ahead for each brand under IHG.

At the end of the evening, they threw a party on the pool deck of the Venetian. And boy was it a blast. Each of their 4 or 5 pools was themed after a different Olympic Host Country: Beijing, Brazil, Russia, England, and, Norway?

That last one doesn't sound right.

And it could be wrong.

There was an open bar, so it could definitely be wrong.

There were also dancers/performers for each country as well as themed food and alcohol.

It was an amazing time.

If I ever work "for the man" you can bet it will be for IHG.

They are even having a fun run 5k tomorrow and wednesday, but considering I really messed my knee up on my long weekend run this past week, I'm going to give it a rest.

Being at this conference and spending a lot of time with our director of the school has made me realize what an advantage I have over most students in the industry. I can really do well here, and, he's convinced I can do better than most all of the men that stood before us on the executive boards.

But women leave the industry before they can move up because of family life.

One woman who I look up to a lot, however, is Angela Brav. She came and had a private meeting with a few of us at the school once. At the time she was high up in IHG in the Americas. Now she oversees Europe.

She admitted there is no such thing as work-life balance. You lean towards one or the other. She couldn't help but be hurt that when she was home, her kids asked for dad when they were sick or scared. She felt like it shouldn't be that way, but this is the life she chose. And, for the most part, she doesn't regret it.

I feel like if I have worked this hard in school for my career, I won't leave it behind for family life.

I'm the next Angela Brav, maybe.

I couldn't bear the opportunity cost of being the perfect mom, just like many women I know can't bear missing out on being the perfect mom.

I could handle having kids that prefer dad.

I couldn't handle feeling like I missed out on my own career.

So, at the end of it all, yes, I will probably end up always "being the bridesmaid, but never the bride" and, down the line, the cat lady, but I would rather have that than a shortened career.