The Holidays...

We had a very busy...but fun day today.  The day started with a trip to the vet, which is always very stressful for both us as well as the kitties.  This is the first time they've been to the vet, since we've been in KC.  Thankfully, they are very healthy kitties, but that means they never get used to going to the vet.  We tried a few new techniques this time...covering a cage with a towel until they get into the exam room, spraying Feliway on the towels in their cage, and placing a toy in their cage.  They still weren't very excited to go but they did react a bit better...and recovered faster once we returned home.  Phew!  Glad that's over!!

We had a bit of time between events to finish off our holiday decorating.  Here's a pic of our place from below.  It's the one that's decorated...

 

This afternoon we headed out to a wine class at Cellar Rat,a local wine merchant in the downtown area.  This was our second class there.  We really enjoy them.  It's a small group and it lasts 2 hours.  They keep offering them via Groupon, so it's also very reasonable.  The class today was Wine Essentials: Reds.  The instructor was super knowledgeable.  He gave us several tips.  Let's see if I can remember a few:
*  When buying wine at a restaurant, stay away from Napa wines, as well as Cabernets, as those will be most expensive, since they are in the biggest demand.  Find a grape or a region that is lesser know.
*  Don't order Australian wines with meals because they are less acidic and don't pair as well with foods as higher acidic wines.

Here's a few pics from our class...

 
After the wine class we headed to the Holiday Walk on Delaware.  This was a holiday event that benefitted local merchants & artists.  The gist was to walk from business to business on Delaware.  Each business had their own thing going on but also had a local artist there selling their own wares.  We started out with some beer tastings from Grain to Glass, which is a local business that gives home brew classes.  I'm hoping to get in on one of these classes in the new year and try my hand at brewing once more.  We also had some phenomenal mulled wine at the Farmhouse.  Everything is always phenomenal there!!!  We walked out of there with a very cool necklace from Scarlett Garnet.  The necklace is a anatomical heart and benefits St. Luke's.  I love it not only for it's medical link but also that it looks artsy.

We also visited a few more venues and ended up with a dish from artist Ryan Fletcher.  It's from his Paper Plate collection, which was used as dishes at one of our favorite restaurants in KC...The Rieger Hotel.  Check out his website to read about it!  Very cool!!!

 
Hope everyone had a good Saturday!  Cheers!! 

What a week...

Wow!  What a first week at the new job!  I worked 10 hrs my first day and 11 hrs the second.  I managed to put in only 8.5 hrs on Wednesday…felt like I was slacking.  LOL!  This was all to be expected as I'm jumping into this roll 4 weeks before the go-live date with the health plan in KS.  There is soooo much to learn, and I don't think I've even scratched the surface yet.  Actually, I know I haven't as I've only met two of my 100+ staff.  That sounds awful, but I've only had a couple hours to work on "housekeeping" items each day as I've been pulled into important meetings.  It seems like I'll get to know Topeka very well.  I was told that I'd be there one day a week, but it seems like it could be up to 3 days a week…meetings at the State.  Everyone has been really nice so far, and it seems like it's going to be a good team!  Almost everyone is new within the last 6 months, so I'm not completely alone.

I'm completely exhausted from this first week and looking forward to the weekend…even though it's going to be a very busy weekend.  Saturday we are taking the cats to their first KC vet appointment.  I didn't have great luck with the groomer I chose here, so I'm hoping I chose better with the vet.  Taking the cats to the vet is always a super stressful experience for me & Chad, as well as the kitties.  They do not take well to car rides and other people…especially those that poke and prod around on them.  You'd think that someone was butchering them in the exam room the way they howl and carry on.  Whenever we're done and walk back out into the waiting room, everyone is usually staring.  Ha!  This time we're taking better precautions.  We're using Feliway, and herbal spray, to calm them down.  You're supposed to spray it on their towels in their cage, and it's supposed to make them relax.  Let's hope so!  After the vet, we're heading to a wine class at Cellar Rat and the a neighborhood event called Holidays on Delaware.  This is part of the Wine Walk on Delaware Association.  This event is geared towards families and support of the neighborhood.  You walk around Delaware St., in and out of businesses, eating & drinking…and possibly purchasing a Xmas present or two.  This event isn't supposed to have wine, but I may need to bring some of my own after the vet business!

Unfortunately, part of Sunday is going to be spent at the laundromat.  Oh how I hate the laundromat!  Our washer started malfunctioning on Sunday.  We contacted our property manager and the repair man came to look at it today.  Of course, the news wasn't good.  It will cost $500 to repair!  This means that the property manager has to contact the owner, who will need to decide to repair it or purchase a new washer.  I could care less either way…except that either decision will probably take much longer than it should…meaning that I will probably have to visit the laundromat more than once!  We're going to have to drive to a laundromat in the burbs as that is one establishment that I cannot fathom staying in the city for.  

Update...new washer coming on Tuesday.  Yahoo!  Now maybe I can make the laundromat outing into necessities only!

Hope your weekend is better than mine!