lf the whole world moved to their favorite vacation spots, then the world would live in Hawaii and ltaly and Cleveland

Due to popular demand, we've decided to resume our blog writing.

Popular Demand

Sorry that we've been depriving you of tales from our adventures.  And let's just say, they don't call it the wild, wild (mid)west for nothing. 

So, shortly after we moved in, Nicholas and I took to feeding one of the local stray cats--Pog, the Pig doppleganger.  One night a couple of weeks ago we put some food in Pog's dish and called for her; but she didn't come...as it happens, she's been reluctant to respond to the name that two strange humans made up for her a few weeks ago.  At any rate we set the food down on the porch and went about our business.  When we returned later to check for Pog, we found a gigantic raccoon eating out of her dish.  Seriously, this thing wasn't like a regular size raccoon; it was HUGE.


To scale

 I don't know if you were aware of this, but Nicholas and I are not quite the wildlife experts that we appear to be.  I tried all of the usual tacks and when squealing and knocking on the window then giving it the finger when it looked at me didn't work, Nicholas was at the bat.  Rugged outdoorsman that he is, he had the presence of mind to stick a curtain rod out the door and smack at the ground near where it stood to spook it.  And I could tell that Nicholas had really intimidated it because as soon as it had eaten its fill, it walked away with the slow, casual walk of a terrified animal.
See, didn't I tell you? Adventures galore!

But there's definitely more to our time in Cleveland than our rugged outdoorsy escapades.  We've also been enjoying some domestic bliss.  As always, I've been experimenting with new recipes; but Nicholas has really stepped up as well.  When I got back from Costa Rica last weekend, Nicholas had a huge pot of matzoh ball soup waiting for me.  I could hardly believe it.  Over the year and half that Nicholas and I have been living together, he's really come a long way.

Nicholas with the Pope in 2009

Nicholas today

I know, even I'm surprised.
Speaking of all the progress that Nicholas has been making, today I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the lab with Nicholas and watch him work.  You see, tomorrow Nicholas has a competency exam (that's where the dental school professors determine whether or not he's able to stand trial) and I went to keep him company while he practiced.

Editor's Note: In no way is a competency exam associated with whether or not the dental student is able to stand trial. 

And so I finally bore witness (bore being the operative word) to the process of waxing teeth.  I must say, Nicholas was really in his element.

Man makes fire

Man waxes tooth



Man poops pants? (Just guessing based on furrowed brow)


Seriously though, when Nicholas was done, it looked like just like a real incisor.  So for those of you who have been waiting anxiously for Nicholas to be able to do your dental work for free, the moment has arrived.  Nicholas can now do your dental work...as long as what you need done is to have green wax replica of your incisor made.