My Boyfriend's Back!

I have a few bits of news from today.

1. Grant came to visit me today! It is our 2 year and 8 month anniversary today. We went out to eat a Texas Roadhouse. mmm! I am so glad he is here with me. I miss him so much each time we are apart. However, the times apart make the times together so special!

2. I interviewed at the PGA TOUR today. It was apprentice style interviewing. I left Gainesville at 6:15 AM and arrived at the PGA TOUR offices at 8:50 for my 9 AM interview. I was met by the Director of Marketing. I met with him in his office and learned that he was a fellow Cubs fan. It was nice to find some common ground! After spending about 15 minutes or so with him I was escorted to the VP of Marketing and left there to interview with her. We chatted for about 15-20 minutes. I learned more about many aspects of PGA TOUR marketing and my specific job. Then, I was escorted to the Marketing Assitant. I met with her for about 15 minutes and spoke about the specifics of my potential job and about SEC sports. She is an Auburn Alum. I had to tell her that we swept them in baseball last weekend. She then walked me to the director of HR's office. We spoke about start dates and end dates and where to go from there. He told me that he would either call or email me as soon as he knew if I would have the job.

So I drove back to Gainesville where I was met by Grant :). I was nervously checking my email all afternoon. At 5:30 I pretty much thought that I would not hear today and I would have to wait until tomorrow. Grant and I left to go to dinner. In the car my phone rang...and it was the PGA TOUR. I was excited to see that it was them! I rationalized earlier that if I got a phone call it was a 'you're hired' and if it was an email it would be 'you're fired.' The director of HR was on the other end. We chatted for a few minutes. Then, he told me that the decision was unanimous and that I was hired. I am so excited!!! Along with the position comes compensation and free golf all summer at TPC Sawgrass!! My brothers are very jealous I am sure. So, I figure I need to begin working on my golf game. I think I will start by making contact off the tee.

I cannot wait to start working. This is going to be a great summer!

Becky :)

1 year down

Sorry it has been a few weeks since my last post and way longer than that since Grant's last post. I have been busy finishing up my second semester of graduate school. It has been a good semester. I took sport law, research methods and management and leadership in sport. I enjoyed it for the most part. Although, in sport law I wrote the longest paper of my life...23 pages!! It was on sponsorship agreement and the legal issues that surround them. I got a 95!?! I am still in shock. I always have felt that I lack skills in the writing department, but apparently Dr. Connaughton does not agree.

This afternoon I had my last final of the semester. It was in Management and Leadership. I needed a 2.5/20 to secure my A. Consequently, I did not study much at all. Last night I took notes on his in class review. I read over them once and went to bed. This morning I brought those 2 pages of notes to the gym and read them while I ran 5 miles. That was the extent of my exam prepartaion. I definitely think I got my 2.5.

This summer I was planning on working at Front Row Marketing Services (FRMS) in St. Petersburg, Florida. It's an unpaid position in a small office working on naming rights and pouring rights contracts. Pretty interesting, but no money. That was until I got a call from the PGA TOUR yesterday. At first I turned them down, telling them that I had already secured a summer position. Then, I rethought everything and called back. I thought about the name recognition of the PGA TOUR and the lack of recognition of FRMS. I thought about the ability to live at home (my parents live 10 minutes from the PGA TOUR headquarters). I pondered the financial aspects...FRMS internship pay $0, PGA TOUR internship compensation $10/hour. I, then, thought about the most important aspect of a summer internship: the possibility of a job offer post graduation. The PGA TOUR is a place that I would love to work. I could stay near my family and live in paradise. Ponte Vedra Beach is beautiful! After visiting FRMS, I did not fall in love with the company. I do not think I could see myself working there after graduation even if offered a job.

So...I am interviewing at the PGA TOUR offices tomorrow morning at 9AM. I will update after the interview and let you know how it goes. Until then answer me this question: what is your biggest weakness?

Becky :)

Grant is 23...I am 22

Hey...long time no update. Sorry! I could open this entry with a list of excuses why I have not written, but I'll just skip to the point: Grant is now 23..that is closer to 25 than 20. He is getting old.

I went to visit Grant this past weekend. He must be important because I missed the Orange and Blue game. For those of you non-Gators, the Orange and Blue game is the annual spring football scrimage. I work with several football players and as posted previously, I have met Coach Meyer. I really wanted to see them play. Grant must be a special guy.

I left on Friday and arrived at Grant's parents house. I was very excited to see him! He is the best! We went out to dinner with his best friend Richard. I made the wait staff sing happy birthday to Grant. It was great! Just before they sang to Grant they sang to this 5 year old girl. Got to love birthdays.

That night I gave him his birthday gift. I will preface this by telling you that I am the best girlfriend ever. I got him a balloon with shamu on it, a card, and Warcraft 3. Whenever Grant and I go to Target he runs over to the video game section...picks up Warcraft 3...and looks at it for about 5 minutes...then, puts it back on the shelf. I figured he would probably like the game. So I got it. He was very excited and now will not do any school work the rest of the semester.

Also while I was at Grant's parent's house, I got to see my picture on "the wall" (see previous post). It was an exciting moment. I have to admit that Grant and I look really good together in our picture. I think we really have a future together :-p.

All in all, we had a really good weekend. I left on Sunday and had to face 3 tests and 3 papers in the next 2 weeks. I love graduate school!

--Becky :)