Sunday, November 25, 2007

Week 17 - Happy Holidays have Begun!


Hey there, hi there and hello there all! Hope everyone had a very filling and very satisfying turkey day and beginning to the holiday season.

It was another wondermous week in Georgia, maybe because we only had to work 3 days:) Aflac is still going well, challenging, but exciting nonetheless. The big project I've been working on forever finally got signed off on and the vendors are coming in this week to install it...keep your fingers crossed. Just getting geared up on another big cost savings project where I get to help design a new envelope...I know, the smallest things in life excite me;) I only have one more week in my second rotation in Policy Services before I head over to the Tower to join the Product Development Marketing team. I am really looking forward to going over to this department to learn more about the products we offer after being on the production side of things since the beginning.

Started back with the basketball team this week after taking a sabbatical for the whole dislocated shoulder thing (yes mom it's feeling much better:). We are not a fantastic team by any means, but I haven't fouled out yet so I haven't gotten back to true form...I'm working on it. Our soccer team made the playoffs and play this Friday night against the number one team, so that should be a wonderful time.

This was the first Thanksgiving holiday I've spent away from my family which was very strange. I miss them all more than they'll know and I can't wait to see them over Christmas. I did get out and about on turkey day though and went to help out at the local Salvation Army. It was pretty amazing to see the amount of volunteers that turned out to help the cause, we had so many that we had to turn some away. We packed the house with single moms, families and war vets but all seemed to be in good spirits with a full belly. I was able to scoop up the stuffing, ham, turkey and dressing and had a few of them come up and thank us for what we were doing...that is always a fulfilling moment in time when you can see the gratitude on someones face for something you've done. Ruth Smeltzer once said, "You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you." I truly believe in what she said, and that day...was near perfect!

I hope all of you back home enjoyed the snow and that everyone had a wonderful holiday. In honor of the family back home, there's a little picture of everyone that I am thankful for: Mom, Dad, Dan, Barb, Nicole, Sarah, Blake and of course my best friend Steph...can't wait to see you for Christmas...love you all!

Peace out

Alwayz

Nate

Monday, November 19, 2007

Week 16 - Go Pack Go


Hey there, hi there and hello there...and a special good day to my new niece Lindsay Glau. Congrats Nicolasa and Jeff...good luck:)Had another great week at the ol' Aflac.
Started out things with a delicious Thanksgiving meal over in Support Services...mmm. I'm still workin on these projects for them and it looks like the big one just might get in by the end of the year. We had the vendor come into town to chat about some of the logistics and he took us out for steak...which was delicious! I did a little dance when we finalized everything and I'll do another jig once all of the officers sign off on it...that will be a great celebration! I had my first performance appraisal this week with Bob and it went great. He will be a great mentor in the years to come because he truly believes in the whole servant leadership thing I've been trying for the last couple of years, so it should be a fun ride. I had another class on How to be Successful in your Career and it was pretty interesting to hear some of the stories. People still ask me all the time, "what is a SIFE?" I think I've got the SIFE 45 second little diddy down pretty good now:)
I started my Junior Achievement class this week at Dawson Elementary. I've got 4th graders again for Our Region. I have to say, it was probably one of the most well behaved classes I've taught in a long time...it was super de duper! I also had my 2nd week at the Lasseter Academy. We went over interview skills before, during and after the fact. I was able to show them our MMC SIFE Nightly News Team Interview video and they seemed to enjoy it and learn a few things while we were at it. I see a lot of potential in these students, I just hope they see the same thing...they remind me a lot of the students back at Metro and it makes me pretty jazzed to see some of them get into the lesson. I'm trying to get Aflac to let them come on campus for a tour and to use the computers, but we'll see how that goes. It sounds like this project might help me get into the Literacy Alliance Board of Directors too after the beginning of the year, so that'll be pretty cool!
Last, but nowhere close to least for the week was the unfogettableness of the Green Bay Packer game at Lambeau Field. Words cannot describe how exciting that trip was! First off, I took Midwest airlines and they serve warm cookies and milk...scrumtrulescent. I flew in Friday night to meet up with the folks, Steph and Blaker in Milwaukee where we spent the night. The next morning brought snow (awesome) and a trip up to Green Bay to check out Lambeau. We walked around the atrium a bit, visited the hall of fame and then went and had a big lunch at Brett Favre's Steakhouse. Later that night we came back for a tour of Lambeau which was fantastic! After hearing some of the history and checking out the view from the box seats we went down and got to run through the same tunnel the Pack does every home game...what a rush. Then we stepped foot out onto the frozen tundra and it took my breath away, how amazing it must be to play there...I just wanted to lay on the grass and take a nap!
Game day came pretty quick so we bundled up, grabbed up our signs, put on the cheeseheads and headed out for some tailgating action. After some tasty brats and jambalaya at Favre's we headed towards the stadium and went to our seats on the 7th row up from the 20 yard line...we were so close I could see everything perfectly. More than 70,000 made for a rowdy crowd and a big Packers victory. Favre had a great game, the defense played great and we got to heckle Vinny Testaverde and the Panthers kicker...it was fantacular! I even got to see the ol' Cain family at the game before the Pack wrapped up the victory. It was one of the coolest spectacles I've seen and I will never forget the atmosphere in the bowl.
Well, that's it for last week...here's to another great week! Have a turkeyrific Thanksgiving week...don't work too hard and always remember all of the things that you're thankful for. I know I will never forget the greatest family and friends a guy could ask for...thanks and sleep tight.
Alwayz
Nate

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Week 15 - Another day in the neighborhood.


Hey there, hi there and hello there all again. I hope everyone had a wondermous start to November! First wanted to wish my sister Steph happy 21st this past week...she is amazing and I hope she had a great time celebrating with her pals!

Had another fantastic week at work following a weekend back home. The first day and a half I was able to take part in a Management/Newly Promoted training course which was pretty awesome. Worked some on my project in Policy Services but mainly did a lot of work on my Support Services project. It looks like we should be able to get most of the capital in by the end of the year...which will mean high fives for everyone; I'll keep my fingers crossed! We had another great SIFErs in Action meeting and everyone got to share a volunteer moment...it was amazing to hear the stories. We've got some great things going on with that little group, it should be an exciting year with those folks. I passed another LOMA industry exam...felt like I was back at the mount. Overall a pretty solid week at Aflac, especially since they came out with the new commercial with Yukon Cornelius;)

It was going to be a great sports week for me with basketball, bowling and soccer...but my first basketball game put a damper on that one. I was on pace to have a double double in rebounds and fouls when I went up for a board and my shoulder got a shooting pain. I went to the bench and noticed that my shoulder was down by my bicep...which was weird to see. All of my teammates freaked out at the dislocation and somehow I pulled a Mel Gibson and popped it back into place. It hurt for most of the week, but I almost have full motion back...I hate going to the doctor so I'm holding off as long as I can. Hopefully I can get back in action this week.

Decided I should probably invite some folks over for a pizza and peach cobbler night...I know, a weird combo but you get my drift. About 10-15 people showed up for Mr. Ed's birthday celebration and to eat some bbq chicken, steak, Alfredo chicken and other delicious pizzas...scrumtrulescent! I think everyone had a good time over at the pad, it was pretty awesome. Another beautiful day was had today, so I went for a nice run after the Packers put another W on the board...one more week and I'll be in Lambeau, yippeekiyayay!

Hope everyone has a fantacular week...until next time, keep smilin:) Happy birthday sis!

Nate

Monday, November 5, 2007

Week 14 - Fantastic trip home with friends and family for fun!


Hey there, hi there and hello there all. I'm sorry for the delay, I just had so many wonderful things to think and write about! I hope everyone is well as we're shifting from summer to fall.

Had another great week at Aflac working with everyone to get projects rolling and in house before year end...should be an exciting finish! I've had some great mentoring sessions with Kathy Gant and my boss Bob Ottman has been pushing me to make an even greater impact on the SIFE program as well, which is exciting. Even more wonderful was the fact that Aflac allows the employees to dress up for Halloween, so I got the boys together: Blake, Mikey and Mr. Ed to assemble as the Channel 4 News Team from Anchorman. I was able to sport the Ron Burgundy burgundy suit and moustache and we got some amazing pictures, unforgettable!

Had a great Toastmasters meeting but had to miss out on bowling and soccer last week. Basketball did start and let's just say it was a little rusty! We have our first game tomorrow night, so it should be interesting to see what we're made of!

The highlight of the week by far was the trip back home. Left Thursday night, on Sarah Jenck's bday:) and got back to Shueville late...great to see the fam! We had a nice dinner for breakfast in the morn and then I wen to the mount for a day of catching up and seeing old friends. Anne had me speak to a couple classes, hope I didn't bore them too much...I handed out ducks so it couldn't have been that bad! I was able to see some of my favorite professors, some of the greatest staff, SIFErs and the best friends of all time! Wish I could've talked with everyone twice as long, but it was great to be there.

The reason for the trip started that night, Fisher's wedding...the first I've been in of any of my friends. We had rehearsal dinner that night where I got to see Amy again and meet a bunch of cool cats. After receiving a nice pair of underwear, a glass of splemonade and a tuxedo t-shirt it was time to get some pizza with Gump, Jenna, Horman and Jessi...of course I couldn't forget #2, then it was out on the town with all my compadres in Iowa City. There was probably about 20-30 people that came out for a good time and I want to thank each one of you...you've all been the greatest friends a guy could ask for! We danced the night away and chatted before parting ways again...I miss you all!

After a sleepover with Gump at his new pad, it was wedding day! Of course the priest was late to the ceremony...unforgettable! The wedding was beautiful, the pictures were a blast and I hope Kim and Ryan had an unforgettable time. The reception was more fun than I ever expected, and after we ate and I read my poem (instant classic) it was time to cut a rug! Iowa country weddings are the most amazing events and we danced the night away. I met a pretty cool cat Jenny, and she's lucky I'm not back in Shueyville or else she'd be having a steak dinner with me this week topped off with eating a tub of Rainbow Chip frosting...don't think she had the dance moves of the flower girl though...classic move! Overall it was a wonderful wedding and I wish them the best. I got to play some pong with the Funkmaster before the day ended too.

Sunday was another big family day over at pops' place...it was great to have everyone come down from both sides of the family. It's always great to see all of the smiling faces and hear what all of the cousins are up to!

The amazing weekend ended with another Packers win and a flight back to Columbus...it was unforgettable and thanks everyone for good times!

Happy Birthday to the greatest...my sister, the big 2-1...don't have too much fun. Until next time, you stay classy planet earth!

Alwayz


Nate