orphan t-day

Time again for an update. I know, I know, I could use a little work on consistency with these posts. Would it make you feel better if I told you I came down with an awful case of the norovirus at our conference in Texas? It hit me on my flight from San Antonio to Denver. The plan was to grab a connecting flight from Denver to San Fran. I was so sick at that point, they wouldn't let me board my flight. Well, actually they let me board my flight, then took me off, put me on, and then took me off again. I was so miserable at that point, the bathroom floor in Denver looked awfully appealing. So that's where I settled, only after a phone call to Mom and Dad, who picked me up and nursed me back to health for the rest of the weekend. This stomach flu was nasty. Reports show about 60% of the people at the conference came down with it. I think I was the only one to get kicked off my flight. :)

Justin Z played an excellent host at this year's "Orphan" Thanksgiving party. 20 of us with family in other states, gathered at JZ's place to celebrate Thanksgiving, orphan style. The guitar hero showdown was a highlight of the day. JZ showed his skills (or at least revealed what a video game junkie he is) by commanding the expert level on "Welcome to the Jungle." The food was pure variety as everyone brought their favorite T-Day dishes from home. Most unusual had to the be the celery, with goat's cheese and pomegranate. Think ants-on-a-log, or perhaps lady bugs-on-a-log.



The cross ladies of Code 3 had another strong weekend, with two podium spots. Road season is almost upon us and I'm gettin' really stoked to race again!

rodeo

I spent the day listening to geeky finance lectures on Non-Normal VaR and the expected fallout of the subprime woes at our annual symposium down in Texas. I am a nerd so it was pure pleasure. But, the funny part of it all is that our marketing group organized a 'night in the wild west.' Literally, we charted 400 portfolio managers and stock analysts on bus to some ranch way out in the middle of San Antonio for a BBQ and live rodeo. I'm still laughing just thinking about it!! They passed our cigars and beer all night and we hollered for our favorite cowboys. It reminds me of the days growing up in Colorado when me and my high school crew would get our boots on and head to Cheyenne Frontier Days. We'd attend the rodeo and hit up the local line dancing joint afterward. The highlight of the night would always be if you got to dance with a "real" cowboy. Guess you can never really shake those Midwest roots, can you?

Yee ha!

kimmy

guitar hero and other hoopla

Another fabulous weekend spent with friends: Rides with "le team" on Sat and Sun, Into the Wild (take 2) with John and Mary, and Trivia Bowl at Pig & Whistle in SF on Sunday with a great crew of old and new friends. The dream team could only make it to round 3 because of our Monday morning schedules, but we did manage to get almost all the questions right up through that round (excluding the picture of Sienna Miller, which stumped everyone because it was a shot of her pre-Jude Law and she was more chunky then).

I flew down to Texas this morning for a work conference. Yee Ha! I love getting to mingle with my clients outside the office. What a great way to pass the week. I feel like I deserve it as work has been super crazy as of late.

So it looks as though I have Turkey Day plans after all. JZ invited me to his "orphan" Thanksgiving party. The Colorado folk in San Fran have to stick together around these types of holidays. Actually, it was a tough call for me this year because my sis' BDay is around Thanksgiving. But with my trip to CO in October and another one in December for Christmas, I figured it was high time I spent Thanksgiving here in California. JZ keeps talking up his skills on the Nintendo Wii game, Guitar Hero. I think I need to show him what a true "jammer" looks like.

-kimmy