2007

The past couple of days I've been thinking about this year and everything that I have done and learned and I figured I'd make a list. These are in no order and I'm sure I'll leave something out but here goes.

1. New Places
- San Antonio
- NYC
- Walden Pond
- Corbin, KY
- Burlington, VT
- New River Gorge
- Roanoke, VA
- Hampton Roads area (been there before but when I was a lot younger)

2. Experiences
- Went on some blind dates
- Climbed NC's Stone Mountain
- Attended Emily's graduation
- Closed three deals creating 124 units of affordable housing and 3,000 sf of commercial space
- Spoke at a conference for the first time
- Drove across the Linn Cove Viaduct, saw some early season snow, and basked in the sunlight filtered by the golden leaves
- Saw the Temptations in Raleigh
- Saw the Charlotte Symphony
- Went to a bunch of Tech football games and spent too much money doing so, but it was well worth it
- Attended by second bowl game, the Gator Bowl
- Asked and accepted to be the best man in Mark's wedding
- Served as pall bearer for my Great Uncle Bob
- Sang Christmas carols at the nursing home over Thanksgiving with the extended family
- Went camping with Katie, Jac, Ben, and GJ at the OBX
- Lost my golfing buddies to the Pacific Northwest
- Had free courtside seats at the womens' ACC bball tournament thanks to the alumni association
- Organized the second annual work golf tournament with increased attendance and prizes
- Learned a lot at work
- Played my second season of First Presbyterian softball and now have a scar to show for sliding into second while wearing shorts
- Sold my 1995 Explorer and bought my first car the 2002 Envoy

3. Lessons Learned
- Keep asking questions until the task is completed.
- Dating is complicated and having friends for advisors is great, but I don't think anyone knows what you're supposed to do.
- I don't agree with this one, but apparently one isn't supposed to show much you like someone early on in the dating game.
- Entertaining oneself is a good skill to have
- Sometimes you just have to get away (not really a new lesson but a good one to remember)
- Women are confusing
- It's ok to tell somebody that's older what to do
- Trust is earned in the business world

4. Resolutions Accomplished
- Started flossing regularly!
- Exercised more often, but not consistently

5. 2008 Resolutions
- Exercise and eat better with the goal of getting buff by June so that all the ladies at Mark and Megan's wedding wonder who that buff best man is.
- Be more outgoing
- Make some friends in Raleigh
- Use my continuing education money from work
- Keep learning at work
- Visit more new places

If I Could be like Daryl...

Gatorade should make a new commercial and replace Michael Jordan with Daryl Richard. I can hear it now, "If I could be like Daryl." For those of you not in the know, Daryl Richard is a junior defensive tackle for Tech. He graduated from with a BS in Management in three years and started his MBA this fall. On top of all that he's a starter and also named to the second-team Academic All American team this fall. He puts it best, "Playing on a top-15 defense and getting a top-15 education," he said, "that's pretty hard to beat." (though that should be top-10 education)

Macon Telegraph - "Academics big part of Georgia Tech lineman's life"

Sometimes I dream
That he is me
You've got to see that's how I dream to be
I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Daryl
If I could Be Like Daryl Like Daryl
Oh, if I could Be Like Daryl
Be Like Daryl, Be Like Daryl
Again I try
Just need to tackle
For just one day if I could
Be that way
I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Daryl
If I could Be Like Daryl
I wanna be, I wanna be Like Daryl
Oh, if I could
Be Like Daryl

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:1-14

Dorkiness

You know you're a dork when you're watching a presentation about transportation and planning on the local Raleigh public access channel.

Hmm...

Have you ever wondered why it's just now getting cold and winter is just beginning, but the days are about to start getting longer and longer?

Yeah, I figured you hadn't, but I figured I'd put the thought in your head.

Something's Wrong Here

Hmm....

Shake that head

I think if you're a guy cellist you have to have long straight hair.

Brrr....

Enjoy my fireplace!

The Game of Life

Sometimes I wish life were as easy as spinning a wheel, hopping in my car, and picking up life tiles, but I guess the uncertainty is what makes life interesting. You can't do everything right or know the right path, you just have to feel your way through the maze one step at a time and trust your gut.