Wednesday, December 31, 2008

FONDUES AND FONDON'TS

On Tuesday we had a FONDUE party! It was a lot of fun and we thought we would share with everyone the FONDO's and FONDONT'S of fondue.

FONDONT: Steal the steak someone else fondue'd right off of their plate, right in front of their eyes!
FONDON'T: Get into a fondue fork fight with your friend (unless she just stole steak from your plate)

FONDO: Have FUN! Fondue is for EVERYONE!


FONDON'T: Leave the shrimp in for too long, it will get really crispy and hard to chew.


FONDO: Eat chocolate fondue on the stairway where the dog can't get you!


FONDON'T: Take away the chocolate fondue so no one else can reach it!

FONDO: Drink the delicious wine with your fondue!
FONDON'T: Drink the sweet and sour sauce!
FONDO: Enjoy fondue with friends and family!
FONDON'T: Sleep through the fondue partyFONDO: Grab a fondue fork and join in!

FONDON'T: Let the fondue oil splatter you


FONDON'T: Sample the poundcake before the chocolate fondue has been prepared.

FONDO: Kiss someone if you drop anything in the fondue pot

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Livin' the Montana life

Here we are in Red Lodge!! I finally arrived after enduring the WORST plane experience of my life. It started on the 4.5 hour flight from Raleigh to Salt Lake City. I was in the very back of the plane stuck next to a mom and her two year old son who had to sit on her lap the entire time. He kept kicking me or touching me every few seconds, cried at least six times and pushed the volume button on my inflight movie several times almost causing me early hearing loss. In Salt Lake I thought I had time to grab a Starbucks so I ordered my favorite Peppermint Mocha Twist, paid and then realized I had ten minutes until take off. I ran to the gate a short way away to make sure I had time to wait for my drink and discovered they were closing the gate doors in one minute. I had to abandon my drink and found I was sitting directly in front of two young boys who enjoyed singing annoying Christmas songs and kicking the seat.

FINALLY we landed and Kate and Anna picked me up from the airport, they were REALLY excited to see me and even brought presents! Kate was so excited about the presents that in every picture we took she made sure the gift bag was prominently displayed. Finally their waiting paid off and I arrived!




As we waited for my luggage we caught up on everything we had missed in each other’s lives over the past six months…it took about 3 minutes so we had to stand around in silence for the next 35 minutes until my bag came.
We got in the car, there was barely any room for me with all the luggage but I managed to squeeze in, and I got to open my presents!!!!! I got Ritter Sport chocolate from Germany, lip gloss, beauty face masks and mascara from Kate (is she trying to tell me something?? I think she just wants to borrow it from me later) and Kate’s mom made me mittens and a scarf!

Then we swung by Burger King so Kate could check out who was working, she desperately wanted to relive our last day in Germany that was spent with her ogling men at the BK in the Berlin Airport while Anna and I fended them off. We did find one but since we were going through the drive-thru there wasn’t enough time for a number exchange. He gazed longingly at her as we drove off.


However, not all was lost, when we stopped to get gas we found these Montana truck drivers STARING at us! And they wouldn’t stop! Seriously, they let anyone drive in this state. Gas is only $1.37 here!

Then we drove to Red Lodge, Anna educated us on the latest “hip hop” music and were greeted by Jim, Mary and the Olson’s new puppy, Charlie! He is so cute, we are currently trying to get him to go up the stairs but he is afraid because of the open spaces between them.
(The following pictures of Charlie are from this past summer):

I hadn’t seen the completed cabin yet and it looks amazing! It is so different from two years ago when all we had were cots to sleep on and a toaster. After a dinner of chili and watching the satellite TV, Kate and I hit the town and stopped by our favorite bar, the Snow Creek, and saw some old friends. Tonight we are having a fabulous FONDUE PARTY so I’ll take pictures of that and the cabin tonight and put them up next time.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I'm off!

I had a great time in Chapel Hill, I saw lots of friends, hung out with the family, saw a zillion movies (my favorites were Slumdog Millionaire, Benjamin Button and Twilight), got an iTouch, some clothes, etc and had lots of fun overall. Tomorrow at the break of dawn I am flying to Billings where I will be greated by the beautiful Anna and Kate (who will probably be trying to pick up airport employees like at the Berlin Airport, watch out Burger King janitors!) We will be going to the coffee shop in Red Lodge as often as possible to blog and post pictures of our time there so keep posted!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Watch out Red Lodge!

I am headed back to Red Lodge, Montana with Kate and Anna for New Years 2009! Kate will be back for the break from Germany and Anna will be on break from St. Olaf. We celebratedNew Years 2007 there with our other friend, Lizza (who will be actressing in LA this year so can't make it). This will be my fourth visit and every time we go we have a crazy time and meet some pretty memorable people. Since I'll be reunited with my original blog-buddies (Kate and Anna who blogged with me in Germany), we will be sure to have some great entries!

(Me, Kate and Lizza Dec 31st, 2006):

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Chapel Hill Vacay

Thanksgiving break was exactly what I needed. I got in around 4pm on Wednesday, saw my parents, and then went to my highschool to lurk around. Well it wasn't that creepy, I was there to watch an alumni soccer game (which the alumni lost big time). I saw some old friends and non-friends then headed to downtown Chapel Hill for some of the Carolina (basketball) game, some really big beers and then a quaint little bar called Hell.

Big beers:

In "Hell":
On Turkey day my dad bbq'd the bird on the grill, one of my favorite meals, and my mom made all the other dishes. I, of course, "helped" make the pie. Then my mom and I went to see Twilight, the blockbuster vampire movie. It was soooo good, I think I need to see it again (anyone?). On Friday I went shopping with my mom and then out again with the old crew. What made the night extra fun? I think it was the 60 degree weather and no need to wear a coat anywhere!


Saturday I tried to catch up on some work but mostly caught up on the DVR and Sunday after a few coffee dates I hit the road (or the airport) and arrived safely back in snowy Madison, Wisconsin. The vacay was perfect and I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when I DON'T have to worry about homework, not that I worried about it enough this time around.

I think I could easily move back to Chapel Hill, this is especially true when I face the beginning of winter here in Madison. However winter does bring some exciting things such as the Madison Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert (last night), classy Christmas parties (tonight), bad Christmas sweater parties (next weekend) and celebrating the end of the County Health Report with coworkers (drinking at the boss's house).

Below are some pics from pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving: