Tao

The end of November marked my neighbor and friend Ken's birthday. A group of us went out to Tao for dinner to celebrate his big day. Happy Bday Ken.

Thanksgiving Y'all

After many hours in the car with my dogs and two stops to see old friends, I finally made it home. I knew I was in North Carolina at the first stop. I had a serious craving for fried chicked at Bojangles. I stopped in and a man pulled up next to me in his duley (is that how you spell it?) pick up truck. He had a cowboy hat on and a thick southern accent. He immediately started talking to me in the line to order food. Then he spoke to a few other people in line - asking them about how their horses were doing. They all knew each other. I felt like I was on another planet. I forgot what it was like to be in a city without 8 million people. The pace was slow -- very slow. At the register, they asked me if I wanted sweet tea to go with my meal. I forgot about that too!

My mom and I had a complete agenda for our time together. I wanted to make pillows for my couches and bed, as well as a new cover for a bench that I have. She has a sewing machine so we played Martha Stewart the whole time I was there. My New York friends were amazed by the fact that I can sew.


I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for my brother, sister in-law, nephew and mom. Three desserts and 4 other dishes (funny how there were almost as many desserts!!). I enjoyed making everything and I think it turned out yummy. But I am biased.

I also got to see my other nephew Robbie. I took him to the Fun Depot and we played Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, and way too many car racing/gun shooting video games. Lotsa fun.

Still suffering in these pictures from my attempt at cutting my own hair. Yuk.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Along my merry way home to visit my Mom, I made another pit stop in Charlotte to visit my other close friend from my school days. Kara (who I have known for 18 years), her husband David and their 4 kids let me visit. We cooked, ate, shopped, got interviewed for the Charlotte newspaper, and just caught up on everything. A very nice relaxing few days overall.

Our Nation's Capital

For Thanksgiving this year I finally got to go home to North Carolina. I rented a car which was very scary for me since I haven't really driven in YEARS. Plus, driving with my two doggies is always a fun experience. After I got out of the commotion of the metro area things were pretty smooth.

To break up my trip and have an excuse to visit my old friends from highschool, I stopped in DC each way. I got to see Ali & Tim (my friends from highschool who - highschool sweethearts who married) and their kids. They showed my around DC. All I could keep thinking about was Forest Gump. I know, I'm strange.

My favorite part of the trip was when their 3 year old busted out singing "Tainted Love" in the back seat of their SUV on the way to catch the train into the city. Her older gal started singing along and next thing I knew the whole car was singing the tune acapella. It had to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen a kid do.

And, in case you are wondering, I got the great notion to cut my own hair about a week before the trip. Hence the reason I look like I am 12 (pointed out to me in those exact words at work the next day - ha).

Home Improvement

So, this weekend I got to do something that I have been wanting to do since day 2 in my apartment - rip out the carpet. The carpet was old and icky when I moved in and I have detested it for a long time now.

My friend Bea was going to home depot so I hitched a ride and picked up the supplies I needed. And, she invited me over for breakfast (french toast) pre-shopping. It was very nice!

I now have a fake parquet floor in my closet and bedroom. Hey, it may be cheap and slightly tacky, but it sure beats the carpet that was there! It pretty much took up my entire weekend and my entire body hurts from moving furniture, pulling out old carpet, and laying down the new stuff.


Before with Icky Carpet (Wally is trying to steal the show)



Almost done with the closet - gotta love self-timers!