We're in the Money!

On Friday We found out that we have been approved for ourbusiness loan!!! This means that Hoi Polloi is officially moving forward. The budget is still going to be really tight - but we have enough to open. So on Friday we toasted to Hoi Polloi and on Saturday we celebrated with our friends and family. We have approximately a month to whip the space into shape for opening.

The Halloween party was a lot of fun. JB and I debuted our Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy costumes that we've been working on. It's pretty clear that I'm not suited to be a blond, but it was fun for one night. Rik was Frida Kahlo and Steph and Nate were 80s dancers and we also had an assortment of other characters including a pixie, count, sailor, pirate, pregnant nun, bum, Richard Simmons, and a witch.

Most of the action revolved around the beer pong table. Where the highlight was the victorious sister duo. (Note: by victorious I mean completely unable to get a ball in a cup) It was also a great opportunity to get everyone to see the "before" in all its glory - wood paneling, bright green trim, and (partially removed) fox hunt wallpaper.

On Sunday it was back to work. Steph and jb's brothers came and we made a list of everything we need to do before opening. It's quite a list. We even used a complex, but very democratic system involving pennies to choose the wall colors for the cafe. Our official colors are Wilderness, Wilmington Tan, and Acorn.

In other news, we finally got the roof over our bathroom that leaked every time it rained fixed. It cost us a small fortune, but now it's watertight and shiny.

What's new pussycat?

Today is jb's first day without smoking. She's being a real trooper and I'm so proud. Today was also my first day back at work after a week off for some minor surgery. I'm feeling alright, just rather...delicate. While I'm not always as energetic as I'd like to be, I'm used to being pretty hardy and strong. Lately I've been so easily fatigued and frankly it's getting irritating. On the bright side, jb and I are fostering a litter of kittens who cannot seem to get enough cuddling. We are fostering a mama cat and her three kittens through the Humane Society down the street. They are absolutely adorable and there has been unbearable puppy-kitten cuteness, but it seems to be impossible to catch on film.

I made the mistake of taking my attention away from the little black and white one for a moment in order to read a bit of the book for our upcoming book club and she showed me. She climbed from my shoulder, down my arm, up the book and balanced on the corner meowing until I gave in and continued to pet her. The beauty behind fostering is that you get the best of both worlds - enjoy cute kitten-ness and then when the novelty wears off, return them to the shelter to find new homes. Unfortunately, the catch is that it's nearly impossible not to fall in love so when the they are big enough to be adopted, I have a feeling we may be a kitten or two richer around here.

In other news, our Halloween party is fast approaching and jb and I have been running around putting finishing touches on our top secret costumes. jb's is coming along nicely after some snipping, sewing, and gluing - mine was doing well until there was a wig crisis.

No Place Like Home

I am so glad to be home. Last night at the airport I was standing in front of one of those walls of magazines trying to find something to read for my flight and I couldn't even remember which ones I'd read and which ones I hadn't - magazines used to be a treat for the road, but I've been traveling so much lately that I wouldn't mind never seeing another magazine again.

It's officially fall in Pittsburgh and the weather is getting brisk and it was so nice to come home and just snuggle under the covers. I slept in and then we took the puppies to the park where they seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Before I left for my last trip the Burgan boys helped jb and I clean out the restaurant which had been functioning as storage space since we moved in. It feels really good to have that space cleared out and ready to start renovating. Well, apparently Steph feels the same way because today she came by and before I could stop her she was tearing down the wallpaper. I guess there's no turning back now.

Escargot, Quiche, and a Mimosa

I was up very late and again very early with writers' block trying to put together remarks for this morning's plenary. (Thank you JB for continuing you secret career as a speech writer and helping me.) In the end it all came together and it turned out to be a great panel. I joined Clayola Brown, Maria Somma, and Gwen Johnson on the panel focusing on diversity and everyone was fantastic - but Clayola especially, as always, was hilarious, passionate and right on target. Immediately following our panel, Rep. John Conyers spoke about his universal healthcare bill.

I had lunch at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. I'd heard that Paris has some of the best restaurants on the strip, so I'm glad I got to try one before my trip was over. My flight home leaves at 5:30 (yay!). I'm so ready to return home and sleep in my bed and in my true love's arms.

We all want to change the world

I have to admit that I've had a good time here in Vegas. I haven't done any gambling (I really just don't find it fun, which is surprising since I'm such a fan of recklessly wasting money), but I've tried to get out.

1. Walked around the strip and some of the hotel/casinos. It really is nuts how much money is poured into this six blocks. I almost feel guilty being impressed.

2. Took a tour of the Hoover Dam (which was totally not worth it). I thought maybe the Hoover Dam was like the Grand Canyon - pictures just don't do it justice - you really need to see it in person. But no, it's pretty similar to the pictures. Also, the ticket was pricey, and the tour took four hours which could/should have been spent in better ways.

3. Cirque Du Soleil's LOVE. Also a pricey ticket (and I started to panic after having buyers remorse for the Hoover Dam tour and realizing that even without gambling one can't help but hemorrhage money while in Vegas), but worth every penny. It was glorious. The Beatles' music is pretty emotional for me to begin with - both my parents enjoy them and it reminds me of when my dad would set me up in their bedroom, play their records and I would read along with the lyrics from the record sleeve. The show was just amazing and now I'm super excited to see Across the Universe.

Now I'm back in my room. I ordered room service and I'm working on my remarks for tomorrow. I'm on the panel during the morning plenary and soon after that I will be catching a plane back home.

Vegas, Baby

I'm currently in Las Vegas for work. The trip did not start out great since last night I made it here but my luggage did not - luckily it was just a couple of flights behind me and it arrived early this morning. I was not looking forward to presenting today in my day old sweaty travel clothes and without any of my materials, but luckily that didn't happen.

Today I had three 2-hour workshops to present back to back. I made it through, but I'm pretty exhausted. Still I'm going to try to muster up some energy to walk around a bit before I crash. The hotel I'm staying at is on the strip and I should really take advantage of the opportunity to explore Vegas.

Mostly, Vegas really isn't my thing, but still, it's...something. So much excess and over-the-top-ness. My hotel has live flamingos in the back courtyard and waterfalls and ponds with koi the size of ducks.

Puppy Glamour Shots

So it has been a while since I've posted, but luckily Nicko has been holding down the fort. (Thanks, kid!)

Exciting updates:

1. We got a new camera! So the blog will no longer be picture-less. (see gratuitous Talula shot)

2. I've gotten an average of 18 hours of sleep/day since returning from my last trip.

3. I bought a ticket to Cirque Du Soliel for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas.

4. I cut Icarus' hair. (see before and after shots)









5. My mom and I went to Phipp's to see the Chihuly exhibit at night - incredible and totally worth the trip back. (see dramatic color accent shot)

Dominos

so one day i think it was a saturday day and i and larissa were craving pizza. so badly so we said lets call! the only one we saw was dominos but more like 50 dominos whoa mamma thats alot of numbers. but we saw that one was near us so me and dad said we can walk that. But as every one is going to predict. larissa says i dont wanna u guys go and ill stay hear. so me and dad go on our journeywe walk down hekelpan so sight so we ask. we ask a laddy and she say oh that about three blocks. so im smart and say dad lets go back he respondes why. i said dad these blocks arnt like PA the first block ends way over there. so as everyone know dad respondes with nonsence we can walk it. OK i asyy with a sigh. First block no big deal but half way through the second. one it gets so triring and dad has his eye one the pan dulce cart so i have to yak him away . third block im thinking that lady just wanted use to suffer. it already geting darks and were exasted. then we come to a circle type 4 cars. i see a premex i said want to go to the premex for the rest of the trip dad says no i want to go to dominos first . urrrrrrrrrr! but i see a dominos sign we must be close i look behind me and all around wears dad hes in the dominos next to the premex i just had a hommer simpon moment and im proud of it

Mexico sorry no pics

Hey everyone hows it going over there? things over here r good. But when mom left we stopped having mexican food the first night we had hot dogs then it got better juanitta came and made us dinner the day before the pounded chicken with breading.mmmmmmmmm!!!! Then back to gringo food sandwitches and potato salaed but today we had relly good tostadas made by chef daddy. Im craving some cheesy chips and hot wings. since were eating all this good but yet unhealthy food larissa nad i creatied a game with jump roping. first some one dose as many jump rope as they can and then u try 2 bet it. But larissa didnt know that im good the record so far it 86 first day. + we have an ative dog fee fee. dad every day this is his shcedule once we leave he goes on the computer then mabe goes down town to get some pan dulce ( he has an addcition to it) and then we come home and waits for the moment that he can say pandulce time. ps sorry no pics