Thank you Michael Goodwin of Virginia Tech, for bestowing upon me the coolest (albeit temporary) gift I have ever received!  I felt incredibly honored when you gave me your Actively Caring for People wristband at the AFLV leadership conference in St. Louis earlier this month.  I have been wearing it nonstop, actively watching for the next deserving host : )

The Actively Caring for People movement was born at Virginia Tech in 2007, and I can’t wait for it to grow nationally and perhaps worldwide!  Here’s how it works.  Someone gives you their wristband for Actively Caring, then you pay it forward to someone else.  Michael gave his to me after attending my Keep Friendship Alive presentation.  If you want to buy wristbands or learn more, visit the ac4p.org website.

Thank you Michael!  Your gesture will be passed on…and on and on and on.

A great message from my Indian vaca : )

This weekend I attended a really interesting (and fun!) student athlete conference called APPLE.   The video below was shown during Eric Patterson’s presentation, “Dietary Supplements: Worth the Risk?”  My main takeaways from Eric’s information were 1) You flat out DO NOT NEED supplements, and 2) Who really knows how safe these products are anyways?  NONE of these products can be guaranteed to test negatively on an athlete drug test.  Why waste your moolah when you can get everything you need from food.  Visit www.mypyramid.gov to get info on your diet.

I don’t think this kitty could have accomplished this move drunk. Just sayin’. Here’s to some sober fun eh!

Hey guys!  Here’s to a safe and fun New Year’s Eve!  I’m sure many of you are scrambling to find something fun to do tomorrow night.  Lots of overpriced options I’m sure.  Whatever you decide to do, make some safe decisions.  Have a designated driver, choose a safe party location, and look out for your friends.  See you in 2011!

*photo by my friend, Sven Jacobsen

Right now I am reading Fahrenheit 451 and it is quickly becoming my favorite book EVER!  Why I never read this book in high school is a conundrum.  Thank you Ray Bradbury for awakening my mind and sending me on a quest for knowledge, truth, and more of your fantastical books!  So what does this have to do with Keep Friendship Alive?  Everything!  I end up talking so much about alcohol, drugs, and their maladies, I forget to talk about all the wonderful things we can do in their absence.  This weekend, find a great book (please read 451 if you haven’t already) and get lost in it.  Let it invigorate you and remind you of all things you want to accomplish in your short lifetime.  Check out this video to see Rad Bradbury in action.  His kooky, intellectual, imaginative personality is contagious.

Also, if you want a free copy of Fahrenheit 451, head over to the KFA contact page and send me a message.  First ten peeps get a free book.  Happy Holidays!

We all remember the famous “stop drop and roll” drill that guest firefighters taught us in our kindergarten classrooms.  Those days may be distant memories, but that maneuver stuck with us didn’t it?  What should you do if your clothes catch fire?  STOP DROP AND ROLL!  Now it’s time to review another lifesaving technique that heavily pertains to high school and college students, but we rarely hear about it.  Stop and Roll has less to do with fire and more to do with drowning….in your own vomit that is.

Stop and Roll can save your inebriated friend’s life.  See the image below for some simple instructions.  But first, check out this recent post to the KFA Memorial Wall.  An off-duty police officer went out to a Philly bar and witnessed a girl take 21 shots…then she quickly passed out.  His main concern was to get her into the recovery position (aka Stop and Roll).  Please take his story to heart.  Our decisions in times like these are life or death, even though most of us may not realize our ability to help.  Don’t be a bystander.  Act as those firefighters would and help save someone’s life.

Visit the 911 page to learn more about the signs of alcohol poisoning.  And remember, CALL FOR HELP and DON’T LEAVE YOUR FRIEND.

Once a menace, now a role model, Eminem you’ve come a long way.  Not only have you found a place in my heart (you used to bug the crap out of me), you have literally transformed yourself into someone people look up to for all the right reasons.  I wish more celebrities could use their missteps and fame to shine light on good stuff like recovering from addiction.  Thank you for everything you do so well!  You deserve this success.
P.S. I may have a little crush on you…

Check out this article “Eminem: The Road Back from Hell” in the Nov. 25th issue of Rolling Stone Magazine with Eminem on the cover.  It’s rad.  You will love it.