Performance Champion

Our last full day in Vegas began with us eating a buffet breakfast (courtesy of G&K again) almost all by ourselves. We guessed too many of our fellow G&K vacationers had stayed up too late or had drunk too much or had gambled into the wee hours of the morning and were all sleeping in.

We didn't mind. We enjoyed our breakfast despite the lack of people.

Since we had a full free day ahead of us, we decided to take advantage of our rental car and go on a driving excursion--to the Grand Canyon--2 1/2 hours away.

Neither one of us had been to the Grand Canyon and we thought it was high time we saw what it was all about.

We reached a point where all cars had to park and everyone had to board a bus that took us to the west rim of the Canyon.

First stop was Eagle Point.

If you look at the place where the rock line dips down, that is the body of the eagle and then the wings of the eagle going up from there.

Glen is standing at the tip of the right wing of the Eagle. He was giving me a heart attack, panic attack and great anxiety as he was stepping closer and closer to the rim of the Canyon.

I tell you what--one wrong step and you're a goner. It was totally freaking me out!!!!

We made our way over to the building to get on the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

It is a U-shaped glass bridge that protrudes 70 feet out from the rim of the Canyon from which you can look 4,000 feet straight down to the Canyon floor.

This was the best picture we could get because they banned cell phones and cameras on the walkway and the only bragging rights we had were the "You Did It!" poster and our wristband.

Of course we could have gotten our picture taken on the bridge using their photographer, but we did not want to shell out the $30 fee to have that done.

We walked through an area that displayed different Indian dwellings from various Indian tribes.

This man invited me into his hogan and explained that the first one is a male hogan--where the men would gather together in councils and discuss what was happening in the tribe.

The round one is a female hogan where all the women would gather to cook and care for the children.

He reminded me so much of my nephew, Zane, who absolutely loves everything having to do with the Indian culture. The necklace he was wearing looks like the beadwork necklaces Zane works on all the time and this guy even talked exactly like Zane.

The bus took us to a different part of the rim where we ate lunch under the tarp and had a great view of the Canyon while eating.

This was our view to the left, and

this was our view to the right.

Straight ahead there was a huge, round, red rock formation that came to a peak and there were many people who walked out there to hike to the top of the peak. Looked way too scary for my taste. We just looked at it from a distance.

Yet again, I kept thinking--
one ... wrong ... step ... and ...

there SHE GOES!!!!

It was fascinating to experience the grandeur, beauty and majesty of the Grand Canyon; yet, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief as we were leaving when I realized my husband would not have to balance himself atop a red rock platform, teetering on the edge of the rim of the Canyon, just for the sake of getting a great photo, ever again!

The culmination of our fabulous trip came that evening when we got all dressed up and headed down to the ballroom for the G&K Spirit of Excellence Banquet and Awards Ceremony.

As I was admiring the fancy table setting, Glen was checking his phone trying to get updates on the BYU/Utah football game; and that's just what he did throughout the whole evening.

What a fancy and delicious filet mignon meal topped off with trilogy of chocolate for dessert--which was an absolute piece of art the way it was displayed.

Let the awards ceremony begin--with all the company winners from the Gulf Plains Region up first. This award was recognizing Glen for being one of the five top performers of all the G&K general managers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Glen is the third one from the right.

The second award Glen received was for top general manager of the Gulf Plains Region.

It was so nice having Glen be recognized for all the hard work he has done this past fiscal year. He certainly gives his whole heart and soul to the company every single year, that's for sure. And it's extra wonderful when he gets the high numbers and qualifies for the Spirit of Excellence trips.

An added bonus for me was getting to finally meet his boss, Harland, who really gushed over what a great job Glen does in Salt Lake City. The other leaders of the company were also very quick to praise him and his efforts and show their appreciation about knowing how they can rely on him to do extra things on the corporate level when they need his help on various projects. I know Glen works hard and it's nice to know others recognize his hard work as well.

Glen doesn't like to toot his own horn, so I'll toot it for him.

Congratulations, Mr. G&K Performance Champion!!! Well done!!!

Las Vegas Here We Come...Again (Sigh)

Several months ago Glen told me that it looked like his numbers were so good at work that he was probably going to qualify for the Spirit of Excellence trip this year. Of course I got super excited over that news!!! Who wouldn't love an all-expense paid trip lasting four days and having your husband receive top honors that the company has to award?

Count me in!!!

I just couldn't understand Glen's hesitance about wanting to go on the trip. I admit I was a little bummed (okay, maybe a lot bummed) about the location--Las Vegas--because we have been there so many times. But, when we're getting put up in the Bellagio and a show is provided and breakfasts are included and a delicious banquet dinner is awaiting us on the last evening, not to mention the mention of some cash spending money..., it didn't take me long to get over the frequently-visited location. I knew we could have a good, relaxing time together and figure out some fun things to do while there.

Glen's hesitance to participate in the trip wasn't so much the location as it was the timing. It just so happened that the trip was planned over the weekend of the big BYU/Utah football rivalry game. He just wasn't sure he wanted to miss it.

When I put it all in perspective for him by saying four days on a free vacation with his wife OR four hours at a football game--all I can say is it's a good thing he made the right choice: HIS WIFE!!!!!

First stop--the Las Vegas Temple.

Second stop--Bellagio. These are the beautiful flower arrangements in the lobby and at the check-in desk.

I loved looking at all the big, beautiful floral arrangements all throughout the hotel.

It was interesting watching workers with a cart of flowers go around and replace the flowers and plants in the pots as needed.

Of course my mind says use fake flowers--it would be easier, but apparently that's just not how it's done at the Bellagio.

They were in the process of changing out the botanical gardens to the fall theme. The first day there were lots of workers and some big equipment making all the magic happen. Later, the finished product was ready for everyone's enjoyment.

From a distance, this looked like a huge painting until a close-up shows it is a three-dimensional picture using real flowers and plants.

Our lavender room was very elegant and luxurious.

We found the poster down by the conference rooms showing us we were in the right spot to pick up our information packet, our show tickets, our spending money and our gift bag filled with treats.

That evening we ate a buffet at Planet Hollywood and then went to see the show Legends.

Upon arriving back at the Bellagio after the show, Glen insisted he needed a mint-chocolate chip gelato for a bedtime snack.

Next morning we had a breakfast buffet, courtesy of G&K and then all the employees went off to a town hall meeting for a while.

After the meeting, we walked along the strip, walked through a fancy mall and stopped to eat a Subway sandwich at a food court.

It's just hard to walk by the M&M store without going inside. Glen was hoping for a sample and his wish came true. Doesn't he look cute in his new, orange G&K shirt standing next to the tube of orange M&Ms?

This nightshirt made me laugh as it reminded me of Rebecca and how she used to wear a nightgown with the words, "Perky morning people should be shot" on it and she really believed that saying to be true.

Perhaps three kids later she now does mornings?

We found a movie theater and watched Contagion, about a lethal virus that spreads across the globe and it all starts with a cough. Believe me, I didn't like being near anyone who coughed after watching the movie.

That evening we ate a buffet at the Wynn and then went to see a Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage: The Beatles LOVE. It was wild and wacky, that's for sure.

A second great day for us in Vegas.