Back from Texas

But not before tormenting my aunt's poor puppy, Theo, first:

December

I've been home for a couple days but leave again today for Christmas in Texas. I'm soooo excited!

The last few weeks have been insane, I've been living in hotels during the week and at home on the weekends. Miami was a lot of fun and I actually did go to (most of) the sessions. However, I couldn't resist spending my lunch breaks on the sand, so I would often come back after lunch with sandy feet or wet hair.

Last week we trekked up to Wasthington DC for the Expert Panel meeting on soy formula. It was a crazy week with some long hours, but I had a great time. The day we left we had to drive through the start of the huge snowstorm that hit the east coast. It took 9 hours to drive back (usually 4.5) and was very slow, lots of cars were piled up in the ditch. The airports were shut down as well, so I'm glad we didn't fly.

Quite the opposite of my previous week.

Today I am off to visit the family in Texas and the week after I'm going to New York City with Liz to celebrate New Years!

Merry Christmas!!!

Stand-up

I took a stand-up comedy class and performed my material in a show last week at Dirty South Improv in Carrboro.

It was taped and posted on Rooftop Comedy.



http://www.rooftopcomedy.com/watch/KaylaTaylorDec4th2009

Unfortunately I am now known as Kayla Taylor

Enjoy!

Miami, Day 2

On no! I missed my boat!

Miami Beach, Day 1

I arrived in Miami Beach yesterday. It is the land of smarmy waiters, high priced cocktails and gorgeous beaches. Luckily my conference didn't start until this evening so I was able to explore and experience the local culture.

The beach in front of the hotel
Parasailor, I wish that were me.
The terrible view from the balcony of my room....yes my own balcony.
Art galleries and shopping (I could not afford the high prices)
Me working hard!
Man collecting coconuts!

Madtown Thanksgiving Vacay

Last Wednesday I flew from RDU to Madison, WI for Thanksgiving vacay! I was met at the airport by Mali (only 20 minutes late) and we went straight to the grocery store to pick up some essential ingredients for my special surprise southern traditional meal that has been in the family for thousands of years!

We gathered at the house to settle in and then went over to Matt's so the Christgaus, the Moores, the Taylor and the Babs could meet, drink and mingle.
After the rents left we hit the Old Fashioned, one of my fav Wisconsin bars, for some local beers and local martinis.

The next day was Thanksgiving!!! We were awoken in the middle of the night (10am) by the sounds of parents coming over to start the festivities.

Sean started the TWO turkeys
Matt drank too much
Mali's dad sneakily watched the Packers game while pretending to play cards.
Sean's dad stole all my money in poker.
The dogs went crazy
And I began cooking my surprise traditional southern famous meal. What did I make????

Why, pig's tails and pig's feet of course! I don't know why anyone didn't want to eat them...

Sean made a joke that he was going to eat a "Tater Tot"
But Tater didn't think it was very funny
Finally we ate.
The next day I hit the early sales with the Christgaus, but the lines were too long so I didn't end up buying anything. Sean and Tater tried to recover from all the food/booze from the day before.
Friday night I got to be a special guest in the Monkey Business Institute Improv Show!! It was awesome and so much fun. Before the show, Mali and I exchanged gifts! I got so many socks!!!
On Saturday I did some X-mas shopping with my cultured New York friend Mickey. He is so sophisticated he wears a fancy pizza eating bib.
Mickey and Lucy didn't get along very well.
Later we just took lots of embarassing pictures of Lucy.*

I had such a fantastic weekend! It was great seeing all my good mid-western friends again and their families (and their dogs). Miss you guys! :)

*I would like to apologize to Lucy for exploiting her adorableness, I just couldn't help it.

Movie date with a Vampire

New Moon (the Twilight sequel) comes out on Friday!!! I, along with the entire teenage girl population, cannot wait!



I have plans to go early on Friday (after work) to see it with a few of my Twilight crazed friends. And yes, they are actually my age and not young teen girls I bribed to go with me.

I just wish Mali, Babs, Laura, Kate, Anna and my aunt Sue could come too!

See, there are LOTS of 25+ year-olds who are just as obsessed as me!

Saturday night my friends Liz and Janice are having an early Thanksgiving, then next week I get to spend actual Thanksgiving in Madison with all my cheese-head friends! I even get to perform in a Monkey Business Improv Show. I'm looking forward to my weekend in Wisconsin, it's too bad I won't have a car because I would love to visit my grandparents while I'm there.

Ky and Laur's big weekend in NYC

I had a great weekend in NYC! It was so fun to see Lauren and hang out. On Saturday we met up after Lauren's film class for sushi with my friend Mickey. Mickey and I caught a Patton Oswalt stand-up show in Times Square and later we all hit up one of Laur's old college haunts for a few beers.

Lauren and I (notice her dorky notebook)

At the sport's bar where Laur likes to "prowl"
Lauren was really bad at this for some reason:
So I showed her the way:
And now she is an expert!
Lauren's room at the convent:Early the next morning around 2pm we went to brunch at a really cute French restaurant. The cappuccinos were AMAZING.
And Lauren was really interested in everything I had to tell her!! She even took notes, I think....
Le Omelette:
We went to check out the roof at her place, thanks helpful signs!!!!:

Lauren and I walked around Chelsea, the East Village, and the Meat Packing District where I walked right past the guy who plays Kevin on the office! My first real New York celeb sighting! Except I have no idea what the actor's name is.....but he is totally famous. .

Mickey went off to watch the Packers game in his Brent Favre T-shirt (It says :"We'll never forget you Brent":

Sunday evening I arrived at the airport and found out my flight was overbooked. However, to my delight I was bumped up to first class and enjoyed the extra attention and luxury for my hour long flight.

I had a great weekend and want to go back SOON!

NYC

I am going to New York City today after work! I can't wait to see my cousin Lauren!!

Reunion

Last night I went out to dinner with my old college roommate, Caitlin. I haven't seen her in years even though she lives in Chicago and Madison was only 2 hours away! However, she was in Chapel Hill for work so we got to meet up.

I picked her up at her hotel and proceeded to get very lost on the way downtown. I think she probably caught on to the fact that I'm not the best host when I pulled a U-turn at a creepy dead end gravel road. Luckily she didn't let on that it looked like I was about to kidnap her and remained calm.

Over a dinner of pasta, Tatar tots, and wine we reminisced about our days at St. Olaf and the great times we had at the 3 bars in Northfield. Caitlin was one of the first people I met in college and now it is 3 years post-graduation and I have to say, we have both aged well.

(Actually, we look exactly the same but probably weigh less because we are no longer gorging on the limitless caf food three times a day....)

The most exciting thing is that we are both going to be first time bridesmaids in the March wedding of our other roommate, Diana! The three of us shared a triple room our junior year of college and then lived in a house together our senior year. The wedding will be in Scotsdale, AZ and I already have my ticket and my dress.

In addition to doing improv, I started taking a stand-up comedy class. Hmmmm maybe that will be my wedding gift to Diana and Will...I mean, who wouldn't want stand-up at their wedding???

Halloween (and other) Pictures!

I made these cupcakes for work (I made the orange-color myself with food coloring):
Here is the dog's costume (he doesn't really like Halloween):
Mom enjoying a beer:
The cake my mom made for my 25th birthday! So cute!