Dan and I on the plane! Dan is strapped to the man right behind him.
Monday, September 17, 2012
As promised....more skydiving!
I got my pictures in the mail along with a great video. Here are just a few:
Dan and I on the plane! Dan is strapped to the man right behind him.
Solo jumper and his videographer jumped right before us, I think I blacked out because I don't remember this looking so scary:
Here we go!
Camera guy: SMILE!
The jump:
I love this shot from below of us falling from the plane:
And off the plane goes and down we go!
Little fluffy clouds
The free fall lasted 60 seconds but it didn't even feel like we were falling. It felt like we were just in suspension with a wind machine keeping us up.
All I remember is not being able to breathe because the wind was insane. I do remember thinking "SMILE, Kyla, this is being filmed!" It was really hard to breathe when I smiled but I did it for the BLOG!
We got to float down for about 5-6 minutes, it was really beautiful and surreal. The only thing ruining this moment was that my ears had some serious popping to do. I felt like my head was going to explode, but I did all the tricks (yawning, holding your nose and blowing) and I could just hear it squeaking when it was coming out of my ears.
Perfect landing! That was so amazing.
Dan and I on the plane! Dan is strapped to the man right behind him.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
We skydove!
Last weekend my friend Dan and I went skydiving! Spoiler alert: we both survived!
The whole thing started with a list Dan and I were making because we felt life just needed some more excitement...plus there was a groupon for it! We both signed up immediately and made an appointment for the one and only day in September we could both go.
The night before we celebrated our possible last day of life with good friends Jessica and Melissa by doing 'skydiving shots' (that we found how to make on the internet). I don't think the bartender had half the ingredients for it but his concoction was....great...
In order to actually skydive you need near perfect clear skies. On "dive day" as we experts like to call it, we rushed to Louisberg, NC (about an hour away) and arrived on time at 10am. Well, actually we got there at 10:35 am because Dan was relying on this navagation system on his phone called "Wayz". Lesson learned: be skeptical of any navagation system called "Wayz".
Once we arrived we were met with gloomy overcast. It was predicted to burn off at some point, but we had no idea how long that would take. So just like at every other airport I've been too, we waited.
We boarded a tiny plane with about a dozen other skydivers and made our way up to 13,500 feet. It was one guy's first time ever FLYING ON A PLANE, let alone jumping out of one!
Dan and I both hired our own personal videographers to jump with us. They jumped solo beside us with cameras strapped totheir helmuts to record the whole thing. They gave us amazing video footage of the whole process from before getting on the plane to our landing on the ground. We also got hundreds of still photos.Currently I only have Dan's pictures because mine are being sent in the mail, but here are a few that are amazing.
The most anticipated part: jumping from the plane
Then our experienced parachuting guide (that were were very tightly strapped to) pulled the chute at 6,000 feet
For 5-6 minutes you just glide through the air, seeing all the best views of central-ish North Carolina...
Afterward we celebrated our survival:
Our friends were happy too:
This comic came out the same day we skydove!
When I get my pictures you can be sure that I will share them, stay tuned!
The whole thing started with a list Dan and I were making because we felt life just needed some more excitement...plus there was a groupon for it! We both signed up immediately and made an appointment for the one and only day in September we could both go.
The night before we celebrated our possible last day of life with good friends Jessica and Melissa by doing 'skydiving shots' (that we found how to make on the internet). I don't think the bartender had half the ingredients for it but his concoction was....great...
In order to actually skydive you need near perfect clear skies. On "dive day" as we experts like to call it, we rushed to Louisberg, NC (about an hour away) and arrived on time at 10am. Well, actually we got there at 10:35 am because Dan was relying on this navagation system on his phone called "Wayz". Lesson learned: be skeptical of any navagation system called "Wayz".
Once we arrived we were met with gloomy overcast. It was predicted to burn off at some point, but we had no idea how long that would take. So just like at every other airport I've been too, we waited.
And waited.....
And found a frog which means good luck before jumping out of a plane! (no citations found)
2 hours later, after a rushed trip to Sheetz (a gas station/food place) to grab lunch, the sky had cleared enough for us to suit up!
Some of us looked cooler than others....
We boarded a tiny plane with about a dozen other skydivers and made our way up to 13,500 feet. It was one guy's first time ever FLYING ON A PLANE, let alone jumping out of one!
Dan and I both hired our own personal videographers to jump with us. They jumped solo beside us with cameras strapped totheir helmuts to record the whole thing. They gave us amazing video footage of the whole process from before getting on the plane to our landing on the ground. We also got hundreds of still photos.Currently I only have Dan's pictures because mine are being sent in the mail, but here are a few that are amazing.
The most anticipated part: jumping from the plane
After that you free fall for about 60 seconds. We fell from 13,500 feet to about 6,000 feet. Personal videographer capturing every moment:
Then our experienced parachuting guide (that were were very tightly strapped to) pulled the chute at 6,000 feet
For 5-6 minutes you just glide through the air, seeing all the best views of central-ish North Carolina...
This comic came out the same day we skydove!
When I get my pictures you can be sure that I will share them, stay tuned!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Dirty Southern Monkey Business
I haven't lived in Madison, Wisconsin since 2009, but I was so excited to see that I am still a part of the Monkey Business Institute family! As you can see from the facebook snapshot below, I am in the picture! I like to think this is because everyone wants me to come back and just thinks of me as being on a long vacation....but it is probably because they haven't gotten around to a new photo shoot. WHATEVER the reason, I think it is cool to still be connected.
Monkey Business is where my improv life started and I have the BEST memories of all our classes, our practices, our shows, and of course all of wonderful improvisers I got to work with.
This was where I found my favorite thing in the world! I do improv to mentally escape, to challenge myself, to learn, to live in the moment, and most importantly to play and have fun.
Now I live in Carrboro, NC and I have a new family at Dirty South Improv (DSI). I adore my new community and get to play in lots of shows. This summer I've been especially immersed, being at the theater 3-5 nights a week. It's awesome; not just because I PASSED MY QUALIFIER (did I mention that?) and don't have classes this summer, but because I'm working with new people and different combinations of people all the time. Everyday is a new experience and I've been having those A-HA moments pretty regularly. (Also there are lots of WTF moments which are exciting too).
My next challenge is to MC a show. I haven't done this before and it makes me super nervous. More nerves than a regular show. I don't know why this makes me more nervous than when I am a player in a show, but I actually cried in practice the other day because I felt so overwhelmed! I've watched people MC shows a thousand times yet I still get tongue tied. However, even though I am scared out of my mind, I am excited to do it. The nerves and adrenaline keep me from becoming complacent and keep me in the moment, good or bad. I really really really hope it's not bad!
Monkey Business is where my improv life started and I have the BEST memories of all our classes, our practices, our shows, and of course all of wonderful improvisers I got to work with.
This was where I found my favorite thing in the world! I do improv to mentally escape, to challenge myself, to learn, to live in the moment, and most importantly to play and have fun.
Now I live in Carrboro, NC and I have a new family at Dirty South Improv (DSI). I adore my new community and get to play in lots of shows. This summer I've been especially immersed, being at the theater 3-5 nights a week. It's awesome; not just because I PASSED MY QUALIFIER (did I mention that?) and don't have classes this summer, but because I'm working with new people and different combinations of people all the time. Everyday is a new experience and I've been having those A-HA moments pretty regularly. (Also there are lots of WTF moments which are exciting too).
My next challenge is to MC a show. I haven't done this before and it makes me super nervous. More nerves than a regular show. I don't know why this makes me more nervous than when I am a player in a show, but I actually cried in practice the other day because I felt so overwhelmed! I've watched people MC shows a thousand times yet I still get tongue tied. However, even though I am scared out of my mind, I am excited to do it. The nerves and adrenaline keep me from becoming complacent and keep me in the moment, good or bad. I really really really hope it's not bad!
Friday, June 15, 2012
I PASSED.... and other scintillating news
This is month old news but I PASSED my doctoral methods qualifying exam!!!
In other exciting news, my parents are at their 35th college reunion at Carleton College and stopped by St. Olaf College since it is just across the railroad tracks in the little town of Northfield.
My mom bought me something I have wanted ever since I cursed the old people clogging up and slowing down the cafeteria line at Winterfest when I was a young college student. What is it??
A 100% Real, 100% Wool, made in Norway specifically for St. Olaf College, Norwegian Sweater!
Oh. My. God. I can't wait until I'm 80 and my grandchild scores me tickets to Winterfest and I can wander around the cafeteria wearing my sweater, purposefully getting in those punk college kids' way along with hundreds of other alumni doing the same thing.
She also got this for Baby Blade:
In other exciting news, my parents are at their 35th college reunion at Carleton College and stopped by St. Olaf College since it is just across the railroad tracks in the little town of Northfield.
My mom bought me something I have wanted ever since I cursed the old people clogging up and slowing down the cafeteria line at Winterfest when I was a young college student. What is it??
A 100% Real, 100% Wool, made in Norway specifically for St. Olaf College, Norwegian Sweater!
Oh. My. God. I can't wait until I'm 80 and my grandchild scores me tickets to Winterfest and I can wander around the cafeteria wearing my sweater, purposefully getting in those punk college kids' way along with hundreds of other alumni doing the same thing.
She also got this for Baby Blade:
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
the other side
I disappeared and now I'm back!
The last couple months I've been finishing up school, doing research, writing papers, and studying for prelims. TWO YEARS of UNC methods courses were going to be tested by 25 questions over a 6 hour time period.
I took them on Monday May 7th, a date forever marked with terror, and I have to say, the 3 weeks leading up to the exam were absolute HELL. By the time I sat down for the exam I was numb and just wanted to get through it without totally losing my mind.
I thought I'd start drinking right after the exam and never stop but all it took was one beer and I crawled into bed where I stayed for the next four hours.
Tuesday was a recovery day. I slept, I ate, I saw a movie, I went out to dinner and it was wonderful. I walked into work this morning and my boss said "Wow, you look like you got some sleep.I didn't want to say this before but you kind of looked like a cat zombie dragged through the mud these past few weeks. The bags (under my eyes) are gone!"
I find out if I passed in 3 weeks. Until them, I'm going to enjoy my summer.
The last couple months I've been finishing up school, doing research, writing papers, and studying for prelims. TWO YEARS of UNC methods courses were going to be tested by 25 questions over a 6 hour time period.
I took them on Monday May 7th, a date forever marked with terror, and I have to say, the 3 weeks leading up to the exam were absolute HELL. By the time I sat down for the exam I was numb and just wanted to get through it without totally losing my mind.
I thought I'd start drinking right after the exam and never stop but all it took was one beer and I crawled into bed where I stayed for the next four hours.
Tuesday was a recovery day. I slept, I ate, I saw a movie, I went out to dinner and it was wonderful. I walked into work this morning and my boss said "Wow, you look like you got some sleep.I didn't want to say this before but you kind of looked like a cat zombie dragged through the mud these past few weeks. The bags (under my eyes) are gone!"
I find out if I passed in 3 weeks. Until them, I'm going to enjoy my summer.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
It was a beautiful day for a walk....
So we took the Emma (in the back) and the Blade (in the front) and Reese (in the middle) on the trails near my house in Carrboro.They are so cute running and...wait, where is Blade?
NOOOOOOooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo!
Apparently Blade wanted to blend in more with nature..luckily there was a stream nearby
But this was the best I could do!
And now I have the sweetest pup in the world. AKA exhausted!Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Video Blogs: The Doctor's of Love
Happy New Year!!! I am so excited for 2012. It is going to be a tough year. This is the year I will finish my course work for my PhD program, study for and take my qualifying exam, write and propose my dissertation topic and if all goes well i will begin the mystifying and slightly scary process. Oh yeah, and I need a topic! I've been so immersed in coursework and my job that I've barely had time to think!
I had a wonderful Christmas break, the Welch-Ferrels came to visit from Texas and New York and we spent our time playing games, going to movies, drinking, eating, watching football (go packers!!!), and eating delicious homemade Lefse (not homemade by us, but homemade nonetheless!)
Jessica and I worked on our video blog, the Dr.'s of Love. Check out this link to our webpage:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DrsOFDating?feature=watch
There are two new videos up!
Video #2: The birth of Steve, the male perspective
Video#3: How to meet a man, the do's and don'ts of dating
Enjoy!
I had a wonderful Christmas break, the Welch-Ferrels came to visit from Texas and New York and we spent our time playing games, going to movies, drinking, eating, watching football (go packers!!!), and eating delicious homemade Lefse (not homemade by us, but homemade nonetheless!)
Jessica and I worked on our video blog, the Dr.'s of Love. Check out this link to our webpage:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DrsOFDating?feature=watch
There are two new videos up!
Video #2: The birth of Steve, the male perspective
Video#3: How to meet a man, the do's and don'ts of dating
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
