Week 30 - Best sister ever:)

Hey there, hi there and hello there family and friends. I first want to give a shout out to my cousin Emily...Steph and I wish we could've been there for some mall walking action for JDRF; hope you had a great time! Also, happy soon to be birthday Grandma Naber...hope you're feeling better:)

Had another fantacular week at work, nothing too pressing but continued on with some interesting projects. I've finalized my field force training module and now I'm working with Compliance again to make sure I'm in...compliance (I know, bad joke:). I've also been working quite a bit on a proposal so that boss-man Bob can get more SIFE analyst under his wing for next year by creating a raw video to submit to HR...the out takes are by far the best part, watch out Will Ferrell! I had another great meeting with my mentor Joe Smith, he's a great guy and had some pretty good insight on different styles of execution and leadership pointers. I learned a great deal more about the Field Force Development department this week but only have another week there before I move to sales promotions...giving away free stuff will be good times. Aflac is also raising some awareness about diabetes, so they brought in NBA Hall of Famer and slam dunk champ Dominique Wilkins formerly of the Atlanta Hawks. We had about 400 employees come and listen to how Dominique has dealt with diabetes throughout his life and how people are living with the disease and leading better/healthier lives. It was a very uplifting presentation and informative to say the least. O, and I listened to my mom on z102.9 back home as she promoted Let's Make Summer Happen day in CR...all I have to say is wow ma:)

I had another soccer practice with my team on Monday and I think we have a great crew. We focused our first practice on passing and teamwork and tomorrow night will be defense and dribbling, I'm really enjoying it! We finally finished up our basketball season with our last loss on Thursday; sorry, I didn't foul out or have any technical fouls but I did have two funny digs on a guy from the other team and four points...so I consider that one a win! I bowled pretty well this week with a pair of 130ish games and a 168, I might be getting better...then again, I might be getting lucky;)

Had some more fun with some of the volunteer organizations I work with again this week. We had our Trivia Bee planning meeting for the Literacy Alliance for the event this Tuesday...it should be a hoot! I also attended my first Hands on the Valley Advisory Council gathering where I met some interesting folks and learned a great deal more about HOV. They really don't do any advertising whatsoever, so I suggested we start a mini-marketing campaign like I helped out with back home for CorridorVolunteers.org. There's no need to recreate the wheel, so I think I can pull some of the stuff I created for that organization to use for this one to spread the word...should be pretty fun!

Lastly and bestly, my sister Steph came into town this weekend. After a delay in Moline she got into town late Friday night. We went to the Columbus Cottonmouths hockey game with some friends and people from work which was good times. Saturday morning I made some breakfast, sunny side up, and then we ventured down to the Riverwalk for some good times on the Rollerblades. We got about halfway back when all of a sudden two of my wheels split in half, which put me in quite the predicament with about a mile left...good thing I had on my lucky grey-toed socks that were up to the walking challenge. After a lunch at Fuji we came back and laid out by the pool (ok, it was only about a sunny 65, but that's about 65 degrees warmer then back home in Iowa so we both enjoyed it:) We then went old school and played some cribbage before heading out for a wonderful evening. Saturday night we joined some work compadres and mentors for an event at the RiverCenter; the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet and Columbus Symphony Orchestra. It was a great show strummin' on the ol' guitar and then we ventured over to Houlihan's for some appetizers and camaraderie. After some good times we headed down to La Cantina (which stands for The Cantina I'm told) for some salsa dancing which was accompanied by many strange looks as we all attempted our own style of salsa...it was hilarious! We stayed up until about four last night catching up and then headed to St. Anne's this morning so Steph could take a part in my very domesticated Sunday routine which included a trip to Winn Dixie. Next it was off to Callaway Gardens where we watched the birds of prey show, visited the butterfly observatory (where a Cockatoo perched upon our arm) and then walked around the lake in the gorgeous weather...it was fantacular. We came back for some dried beef on toast and then out to the Marble Slab for Steph's tax reduction and my student-loan-pay-off celebration...scrumtrulescent! It will be sad to send her off again tomorrow morn, but I had the most amazing time and I get to see her in a couple weeks so that will be swell!

Now for a new installment, the morsel of knowledge for the week, and I will start with a crown favorite...Mr. Rogers, "Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” I hope everyone remembers this as they lead their lives day to day because we are who we are, and no trend, peer or societal pressure should make us conform to be like everyone else...keep livin' the dream.

Alwayz,

Nate

Week 29 - Fitness Buddy goes platinum...not

Hey there, hi there and hello there. Here's an Ovaltine toast to all of the family and friends in Iowa that are being bombarded by 100 inches of snow...wish I was there to enjoy it with you!
I never imagined one little fitness video could make that big of a splash at work...o how I was wrong. Since we talked last the Mr. Fitness Band video has made an even bigger splash; I've actually had random folks I've never met stop me in the hall, "Nate...you're the fitness buddy right!?" They continue to tell me new fitness workouts they've created using the band and now our floor has fitness time...it's gotten quite ridiculous! I hope to have it posted to YouTube next week, so stay tuned to the blog for a glimpse at Fitness Buddy:)
Other than that, Aflac was great this week. On Tuesday, my bossman Bob took all 100+ of his leadership team out to a tree farm in the boon docks for a team building/leadership experience. We were all split up into teams of 6-8 from all over the company and our New York affiliate for a day of team building activities. We named our team the Red Bulls (yeah, we were the only team with a cheer!) We completed activities including: a blindfolded partner treasure hunt, wall climbing (which was awesome), fishing for catfish, best shot in golf and a bunch of other fantacular events. Our team ended up in 2nd place, I think we would've taken 1st if one of the guys on the other team didn't get sympathy points for popping his knee out of the joint...no pain no gain right:)? It was a blast though, and a great time to get to meet some new people throughout the company. The training module I'm creating is going quite well...I'm hoping to put the creative touch on it this week sometime to make it live for the field force. We had a great Toastmasters meeting as well this week where I was able to be the Table Topic master...wondermous experience! I was able to finish out the week with a Team Development training course; it's always a good time interacting with other leaders in the company during a class!
We won both basketball games this week (hard to believe I know) and I even scored some points and "cough" got a technical "cough" so that was fun:) Had another great showing at the bowling alley as well, I've perfected the Irish heel click after each strike...it's a patented move! I also had my first practice/meeting as a U10 coach. I've got a great group of kids and it seems like we're going to have a great time. I had to have the awkward coach to parent chat where I laid down the law a bit, that was one of the more nerveracking things I've done recently but they were very receptive and appreciative. We have our next practice tomorrow evening and our first game is March 1st...keep your fingers crossed!
Iowa folks, this is where you might want to stop reading...weather time. It got into the low 70s this weekend, so Eddie and I had to take advantage and hit the ol' Bull Creek Golf Course. My Caddyshack slice made an appearance, but the last 6-8 holes I was able to straighten it out and beat Mr. Ed on the final two holes...we won't talk about the first 16;) Also had a chance to get in on a pick-up soccer game today which was great fun in the rain, I can't wait until games start up again!
Lastly, I want to thank everyone for the Valentine wishes...especially Dorothy (my old lunch lady sent me a card...ahhhh) and Jenny for the creative sentiment. I hope Nemo the pinata is treating you well!
The excitement continues this week as my sister is coming into town for a good time(pictured above with my lil bro Blake)...I've been looking forward to this since I moved down here. Get ready for a good time Steph and lots of good food right ol' roomies;) Hope everyone has a fantastic week and thanks for everything!
Until next time...peace out.
Alwayz
Nate

Week 28 - Great to have roomies again:)

Hey there, hi there and hello there. Hope everyone back home is thawed out from the -30 degree weather, sorry to say, but it's about 65 here...so I'm available for visitors:) Also, happy lenten season to you all...hope Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday were wonderful!

It was another great 1st week at Aflac in the Field Force Development department...which is a stark contrast to Actuarial/Compliance. I had a great time in both of those departments because they were filled with cool folks, but FFD is crazy...there is always something going on there and they're pretty hilarlious if I do say so myself. I have a few cool projects over the next month; I get to create a training program for our >70K field force agents, research/report healthcare reform platforms of the political candidates and the effect it will have on Aflac and an economic study...so I should be fairly busy. Our CORE SIFE group started shooting a video for Bob as well this week, so I get to do some editing which will be fun! Then on Friday afternoon they released the Mr. Fitness Band workout video that I co-starred in with Bob. You could tell when it popped up on the employee intranet because laughter surrounded my cube as people watched me make a fool of myself (Richard Simmons style) with our new fitness bands. I received about 100 emails and phone calls asking for lessons and departmental performance and pretty much got a good ribbing from everyone I have met at Aflac! Although I played the dork quite well, it was an amazingly good time...hopefully the name Fitness Buddy doesn't stick with me throughout my time here though:)

I had another good week of getting out in the community with a couple of events. They had the annual MLK Jr. follow-up breakfast to catch up on all of the activities that took place, of which I participated in a couple. Then on Friday I met with the students from the Lasseter Academy again and we went over some of their goals. Then I had a real serious and open chat with them about college, their options and what was holding some of them back from thinking about going to college. I love working with those students because it's those times, often few and far between, that I can see it click with a few of them and they just get it...that's what is really amazing!

The best part of the week was by far the visitors I had over the weekend. On Friday morning Ryan Flugum, Brandon Horman (my old roomies) and Jenna Carson all flew into Atlanta for good times to be had. I met them Friday evening at a little pub for some table shuffleboard before we went to the Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers game with Bron Bron. After a wonderful game we drove back to ol' Columbus for some good zzzz's. Saturday morning brought a visit to the different Aflac campuses where the security guard was watching the fitness video...wow! Then I took them for a treat at the Dinglewood Pharmacy for a world famous Scrambledog. After we let that settle, it was down to the Riverwalk for a photo op of course then back to my place. We busted out the basketball for some 21 and PIG followed by heated tennis matches which were fantastic! Then it was out to Countrys (I learned an important lesson, do not combine Scrambledogs with BBQ in the same day) for some

good times with friends new and old! After some food it was mini golf time, of course Horman and Gump dominated! Today I made some breakfast for the visitors and then we headed out to Butts Mill Farm for some good country times. We played at the "World Class" mini golf course, where I made a big comeback for a victory. After some rope climbing, we hopped in the go-karts for some laps and then fed the goats/donkeys! We played some more tennis action when we got back which was followed up by the BBQ/Alfredo chicken pizza specialities...mmmm good. I had such a good time with all 3 of them, they are the best...I sure do miss them a lot. You can make new friends wherever you go, but you truly can never replace the best ones from home for anything!!! Thanks guys/gal for coming down, it meant a lot!

Well...I hope everyone has a wondermous week (I'll keep my fingers crossed for some warm weather back home). Keep grandma in your prayers and until next time...go get em tiger.

Alwayz, Nate

Week 27 - 6 months and still havin' a good time!

Hey there, hi there and hello there. Hard to believe it has already been six months since I made the move down to Columbus, GA. It's amazing what I've done in the first six months, I can't wait for the next six...should be pretty exciting!

Work was a bit more laid back this week in the actuarial department. I continued on a small project for them that I am working on as well as my other larger initiatives. Had a pretty decent training class, Professional Development. It's nice every few weeks to be able to sit with some folks I usually don't interact with to learn some new leadership styles and meet new people. I also passed my third industry exam...very exciting seeing as though we get paid to take tests now:)

We split a couple of basketball games with the ol' Aflac team. I've found that I am consistantly the most inconsistant bowler at Aflac, but it's always a good time! The weather was so nice this weekend that I even was able to get on the golf course at Bull Creek today with Mr. Ed and his folks...it was a beautiful day full of "four" calling and snowman dances:) Also had my first little league soccer coaches meeting for my U10 coed team...I'm really looking forward to it; hope the parents don't yell at me too much!

I am looking forward to my next visitors coming this Friday: Flugum, his fiance Jenna and Horman...wow that's going to be a great time. It's just been a great start to the year; Jenny flying down by the seat of her pants for some good times (ps thanks for the amazing scrapbooked gift which made me grin), old roomies visiting and then to cap it off my sister is coming in a few weeks...can't beat all those good times.

I hope everyone continues to have a wonderful beginning to February...don't forget those taxes, got to love the big return:)

Alwayz

Nate