A Year in Review: Best of 2011

I sat at Meg's house last week recounting what a crazy year it has been.  There were lots of ups and downs, but we went through the year and realized that 2011 was pretty great.

First (and best) baby of the year: my niece Ellis Ann


















Best show: Girl Talk (Can't WAIT for 2012 and the most epic show of my entire life)
Best trip: Vail with my soul mate Kelly

Biggest accomplishment: Passing PNP boards
Best theme dressing: WAC 80's night

One of the coolest perks of being a townie: Private cocktail making class on Franklin
Hardest moment: Saying goodbye to Chapel Hill

Best bucket list moment: Popping out of a box.  "I have never been more surprised by anything in my entire life." ~Meg, opener of said box.

Best viral video: Bonjour girl
Best album: Adele's 21 (Got me through some hard times.  But what girl doesn't think that at least one song on that album was personally written for her.)
Best read: 11 Things to Know at 25-ish

Biggest FAIL: Gosh, I can't decide... Leaving my keys in North Carolina when I flew to KY, making a flight to NYC from the wrong departing airport, or wagering against UK fans for the Carolina game...

Bring it 2012, I'm ready.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing a wonderful holiday full of friends, family, and fond memories to everyone!  

Safe travels for those on the road and in the air.  

xoxo, Local Townie

An indelible mark

I don't feel better after hearing that Laurence Alvin Lovette Jr. will spend the rest of his life behind bars with no chance of parole, but I do feel like justice did all it could do. 

"I, in some way, feel like anything the court will say will do no better than their silence in preserving Eve's memory in this situation, but I think it should be said that this act has no place in our society.  The life that Ms. Carson led was too short, but I know that she continues to be an inspiration, not only for her family but for thousands in this community and across this country.  If there can be a marker at which it can be said that the family can turn a page and attempt to move forward in whatever way they can, I hope that today can be that day for them. I know that the days have been long and hard for many years. I hope that they can become a little brighter with the end of this trial," Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour said. 

I have this picture on my refrigerator in Louisville, Kentucky to remind me to keep pursuing my passions, and I'm doing it because that's what Eve would want.

Culture Shock

December 12 was the day I left Tanzania.  I remember looking out the window of the airplane and feeling a strange combination of pride, sorrow, and inspiration as I watched the world beneath me become a part of my past.  Pride that I had embarked on the greatest adventure yet-- all on my own-- and come out alive.  Sorrow that I was leaving a place that I had grown to love and appreciate in its own special way.  Inspiration for the way I wanted to live the life that I had in front of me.

It has been quite a year filled with lots of joy, but some sadness too.  I have embarked on a similar adventure, but this one has no end date when I know I'm going home.  I'm trying to make this my home.  Although I am not speaking Swahili, Kentucky can be just as much of a foreign land as I navigate my way through being a single twenty-something girl and learning how to be a grown up woman.

I could not have predicted the way the past year has gone.  I hope I get to say the same thing come next year. I've done a lot of soul searching recently and the task before me is clear.  So I'm harnessing the person that left for Tanzania not knowing where she was going to sleep that night, but who had faith that everything would turn out alright.  I have no idea what's coming, but I know it's going to turn out alright.

Cashing out

I lost a bet.  My very gracious gambling partner was a classy winner and he knows my trepidation toward my new life in Louisville so his stakes were easy: If I win, let's do classic Louisville.  Your treat.

We started off the night at The Historic Brown Hotel where we had the original Hot Brown, an Ale 81, and derby pie.  I may or may not have been a clean plater... And by that I mean that I obliterated that hot brown plate full of turkey, bacon, cheese, and bread.  So good.

Our evening took us further downtown to the Actors Theater for their 35th annual showing of A Christmas Carol which was FANTASTIC.  There was even a cirque du soleil portion of the show that was awesome.  The show is playing through Dec 23.  You can get tickets here.  

Stay tuned as I pay off the rest of this bet as there will certainly be ridiculous pictures and embarrassing moments to follow.