Just a silly photo

Lot's of cool props at the Pig Iron office.

Wedding on/in Long Island

We had a fun time at a wedding on Long Island - Sarah's freshman year roommate. It was a very traditional Italian/Catholic wedding at a big church in Queens - rice on the steps - getting into a retro white Rolls Royce limo (honeymoon the to an island the next day). The reception started at noon (was over at 6:30 which was nice because we got a chance to have a good conversation with the bride and groom). The DJ/percussionist/MC were pretty horrible but the fancy hotel with an indoor swimming pool made up for it.

Babysitting Carl

I'm sooo sad the Phillies lost.

Can I has kong toy?

Sarah and I are dog sitting 8 month old Boston Terrier puppy Carl for about a week. Carl likes eating bottles caps, chicken bones and cigarette butts off the street. He also loves chewing on your hands but other than that he is pretty awesome and pretty sweet. We have already made progress with teaching him to shake hands in just two days. Carl came to us during the Septa strike (Philadelphia's public transportation strike) so we've had to leave him at home in his pen while we go to work (because it's too far for him to walk to Sarah's office.) but his parents are actors and never home so we think we're doing pretty good with him.

Barrett Grand Opening

After 2 months of being open, we finally had our official grand opening on Thursday, 10/15. It was a classy, outdoor ceremony, with lots of dignitaries in attendance. Here is the link for the website. http://asunews.asu.edu/20091015_barrettlaunch

I know it takes a while (about 40 minutes) to watch the entire video of the ceremony, but if you get a chance, I'm especially proud of the student speaker, Joe Canarie. I spent many a long, involved conversation with him two years ago as he was trying to chose between us and Univ. of Chicago. I'm so proud of him.

Looking forward to a good recruiting year - I know the buildings will help sell it for me!

Love, Michelle

Exploring Texas

Last weekend we went to Johnson City, TX to tour the LBJ Ranch. No wonder he spent over 1/4th of his presidency there. It is so peaceful and inviting. While Lady Bird was still alive, the tour was by bus and you had to stay on the bus. But now you can drive around the ranch, and in the last two months or less, they have been taking people on tours inside the house. Not the whole house yet, but the living room, dining room, kitchen and the TX White House office. You also drive through his Hereford cattle descendants lounging by the drive, (the NPS has to maintain it as a working cattle ranch), past the family cemetery (Lady Bird's grave still has no headstone, only flowers), even past the house where he was born (reconstructed), and the one-room school he first attended at age 4, sitting on the teacher's lap.

When we left there, we went to Fredericksburg for their Oktoberfest. We enjoyed Reubens, brats, struedel, wheat beer and Oktoberfest beer. And got rained on, off and on. The main street is quite wide, originally built so they could turn oxcarts around, and is on the National Register. Down at one end is the old Nimitz Hotel, which now houses the National Museum of the Pacific War. Yes, right in the middle of Texas, because Charles Nimitz, the Admiral of the US Pacific Fleet, was born there. We didn't go inside.

In the evening we went to Luckenbach, TX to "get back to the basics of love", but without "Waylon, Willie and the boys". It's on a big curve off an old country road about 13 miles south of Fredericksburg. The two main buildings are a dance hall and an old general store with a saloon and outside bar at the back end. I had a Frito chili pie, which they made by cutting open a small Frito bag and spooning chili and cheese on top. D had a pulled pork sandwich. We didn't stay for the band which was a bit later.

This weekend we went to the Movie Tavern to see "Whip It", the roller derby movie which ostensibly took place in Austin. But, except for a few framing shots on South Congress and the Alamo Draft house, it was filmed in Michigan. This time they did show the entire credits, so we got to see LA Derby Dolls mentioned. but not our favorite one -- go Laguna!

New closet renovation to spruce up the top of my basement stairs. Forrest green semigloss paint with metallic spray paint stenciled flower print. Cedar lined closet with 16" deep custom shelves. Two weekends worth of work all to hold some paper towels and cans of spaghetti sauce.

Bailey takes the blue!

Hi all,
Last weekend Rodney and I took Bailey and Kooper to a fall show. Rodney has been trying all summer to keep Bailey in show condition. This means be making sure he doesn't roll in the lime, poop, or any other matter he can get himself into. He has been also kept in full fleece all summer so we had to make sure he remained cool throughout the warmer weather. Luckily we had a cool summer. Well all paid off, at least last weekend. He took 1st over two other very nice looking alpacas. The judge said he had more of the whole package, even though he was 5 months younger than the other two. Let's hope the next two shows go as well.

Eleanor got a job!

Not sure why she's never picked up on our family blog but the bit of news I would like to share today is not related to me but my sister. Eleanor started her first day of work (real work) today in mid-town Manhattan at Town and Country (I think that is what they're called) as a pattern designer and product manager. She got the call on Tuesday, moved Sunday and started today, staying at a friend's 1 bedroom apartment that already sleeps 2 people until something better comes along. Give her a call to get the details and wish her luck.

Our new girls!

Yes we've been slackers and have not kept you all up-to-date on our latest adventures, so here goes. We spent Labor Day going to Michigan to pick up Tea and bring her home. Yes, she is pregnant and now thinks she owns the world! We also bought three new maidens who are just the cutest things. They have settled into their new home and are doing well. Since they came from a much bigger farm, they are not as used to being handled. They will be a challenge for us until we have them trained a little better. Then we've gone on a few trail rides to get ourselves in shape for our riding trip in Spain. Of course, it'll take more than just a few rides for me. Rodney and Kyler rode in the mountains of Colorado in July and both seemed to have a great time. I was learning to grade and sort fiber in Estes Park. Now we are working hard to get the farm ready for Alpaca Farm Days next weekend. We hope to have as nice a turnout as we did last year. Here is a little movie of the new girls. Take care and enjoy the fall!

Cloudy Cast and Crew Screening

So this is the Cloudy Red carpet from Saturday's Premiere -only the really important people were invited (writers, directors, producers, STARS) - so this is a friend's photo.

We were invited to a screening last night with the rest of the crew. Which was a much better audience I'm sure. The film was shown in 3d which I felt was really well done and added a lot to a film about falling food. We all laughed and clapped for one another. Even Connie giggled at a couple jokes. I'm really proud to have worked on this film. The final product is silly, action packed and absurd.



Check out our snazzy 3d glasses!