This was the last day of conference fun here for yours truly in Las Vegas, and while it is a rather chilly and windy day here, that is not the reason I am ready to head home. I just am. I’m Vegas’ed out. On my first trip here, I spent seven days working. I wanted to run out of Vegas. This week, after spending three days of networking, learning, walking, sharing, speaking, walking, exploring, eating, and oh yeah, walking - I’m tired. Actually, exhausted. I’m very much ready for my feet to touch down in Brooklyn, NY.
However, before leaving Vegas, the last day of this conference really opened some new opportunities and lines of communications professionally. I met with various recreation directors in our conference (UAA) and made many connections that also should help me in the coming months of my collegiate professional development.
Viva Las Vegas (Again!) - Part 1
Viva Las Vegas (Again!) - Part 2
Viva Las Vegas (Again!) - Part 1
Viva Las Vegas (Again!) - Part 2
In more of a highlight, I had the opportunity to have dinner with some folks from Texas, who treated my supervisor and I to dinner at the Gordon Ramsey Steakhouse in the hotel, Paris. The guys, high ranking officials in the turf business, fellow collegiate rec professionals, and a sports architect exec who paid for the meal, and were great hosts, and a great time.
The meal really brought the whole trip full circle as I was able to really kick back with some reps from Texas over dinner, while enjoying possibly the most expensive meal I've ever indulged in – EVER. We’re talking a meal that topped $800 for the six of us, and one in which the sports architect repeatedly reminded us to order whatever we wanted on the menu.
VERY generous of him.
But it reminded me off my learnings from Day 2, that this city is built on excess.
After returning back to my hotel, in which I walked through the casino level which had dancing women on mounted rises, I knew I had just about enough of Las Vegas.
For a simple, Christian-based guy like myself, Las Vegas is about as far away from a personal in-demand destination spot. As I sit in my hotel room overlooking the strip full of drunkards, druggies, prostitutes, and bright lights, I’m weary from the three days, but most of all so over the mirage (no pun intended) that is Las Vegas.
With all of that said, it’s been a nice return to Las Vegas for yours truly. It was a learning experience in so many ways. Of them all, it continued to reveal to me more intricacies about life, and the constant revealing of the evil in our world.
Not exactly what most take away from Las Vegas. However, I’m not a Vegas kind of guy.
They say whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
I plan on taking back many life lessons – professionally and personally.
As for what the city has to offer, I’ll gladly leave it all here in Vegas.
I miss Brooklyn, and I can’t wait to head back to her tomorrow.