The Keys to Big Time Success

This list was given to me by one of my all time favorite professors and mentors at the University of Alabama, Dr. Lonnie Strickland.  I just found them while cleaning up my desktop and needed a personal reminder, but it's such a fabulous list that can be applied to almost everything your do, so I thought I would share!

1. Have a Vision and a Plan.
2. Your integrity is your best asset.
3. Be really nice to everybody you can be nice to.
4. Never sacrifice friends or loved ones for your own wellbeing.
5. Be patient with elders.
6. Stay focused.
7. Perseverance (Keep Going)
8. Learn throughout your life.  Read and Study.
9. Be a team player.  Give credit to others.
10. Don't be bitter at the success of others.
11. Be loyal, even when it is to your detriment.
12. Don't blame others for your mistakes.
13. Stay put until you absolutely cannot do so a moment longer.
14. Do not become a consultant.  Take Risks!
15. Don't be greedy.
16. Enjoy your walk through life.  Have fun.
17. Do things because they are right, not easy.

Dr. Strickland and I on Honors Day

Senior Year (2010)

Books of Christmas Break

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay

Good to Great

Stumbling on Happiness

The Emperor of All Maladies:  A Biography of Cancer

Under the Banner of Heaven

My Future House

Well...I have done quite a bit of house/dog-sitting this past year...I think about 4 or 5 different houses, which has made me realize some things about my future house (much future)...

• I will definitely be needing a fenced in yard...not the size of a postage stamp...Reg needs some room to romp around
• While the cute little cookie cutter houses are cute, most of them don't have yards and the houses are about 2 feet apart from each other...not a big fan of that...I like my privacy.  When I can hear the neighbors talking outside my window, I really wish I couldn't...

It has also made me realize some thing about any dog I may have in the future...

• I am best with mellow, chill breeds...specifically my Reg and his friends...Great Pyrenees...
• Dogs that eat their own poop gross me out hard core
• I need a dog I can trust with free roam of the house

Fall Break

Fall Break is almost here...

Current Plans:

• House/dog-sitting
• Watching Bama's Homecoming
• Orphan Thanksgiving with Shannon + Nate + Friends
• Writing my final paper for TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
  (which I am strangely excited about, although it is going to take me some time)
• Starting my INTERNATIONAL HEALTH paper

Other things I want to do:

• Finish my current book Good To Great
• Read The Emperor of all Maladies
• Get a jump start on my job search
• Train
• Boot Camp - Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Running
• Clean out closet and apartment and donate stuff to charities

Half Marathon Training, Round 2

Well I started training for my second half marathon today...

Today was also my first run since my last race (1 month ago), so to say it went a little rough would be an understatement.

How far did I make it?  2 miles

How long did it take me?  Too long, 25 minutes

It was terrible, but I need to get back in running shape, so here goes nothing...

On Wednesday morning we woke up to our First "real" snow of the season!  We got between 5 and 6 inches, and it was absolutely beautiful!  There is something about snow that I just love; it just makes everything look so beautiful!

I spent the day inside drinking hot chai tea lattes and studying, taking breaks to let Reg go out and romp through the snow!

 Winter Wonderland!!

The furballs! 

(Resse has decided she no longer likes the camera, so she hides behind Reg or any other large object she can find to get away from it)

Reg loves the snow, although it seems that I caught him in a not-so-photogenic moment

Reese, however, is NOT a fan of the cold, wet stuff so she prefers to walk on the already plowed sidewalk! 

Picking Cotton

Picking Cotton was recommended to me by one of my former professors.  She and I always recommend books to each other and this was her latest one for me!  It was absolutely wonderful and one of the best memoirs I have read in quite some time!

Picking Cotton:  Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption

by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino & Ronald Cotton