Spades!

Last night we did something new: We had over a couple - Sarah and Rich - to play Spades. I'd grown to really miss our evenings of card playing with Anne and Rafi when we lived in Eastport and decided to do something about it. I posted an ad on the Highland Park listserve looking for some game partners and I soon got several replies. Sarah and I made arrangements for her and her boyfriend, Rich, to come to our place last night for Spades. I was a little bit nervous having never met them before, and knew very little about them other than their mutual love of game-playing. It had the potential to be very awkward and uncomfortable, but I liked them the moment they came through the door. They have three children between the two of them - Rich's daughter is Zoe's age which means a potential playmate for her this summer. When Sarah had asked if she could bring anything with them, I told her to bring some music she likes. We were impressed with the selection: The Broken Bells (whom we love), a live Avett Bros. (some favorites of Rob's), Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris (great), and the Mountain Goats, new to us but good. We played a really fun round of Spades (Sarah and I lost to the guys, but not by much), then introduced them to Quiddler since they're Scrabble fanatics, and that went over really well. We then sat around and talked about music, movies, food, our backgrounds, and how much we all love Pittsburgh. It was really nice to spend time with other people in our neighborhood, and we're planning to do it again soon, next time at their house, just three blocks away from us.

Also of note: our raw, grain-free cat food operation is officially underway. Rob spent a good part of Friday night exerting himself at the manual meat grinder, sending chickens - bones and all - through the machine. The cats are not falling over themselves for it just yet, but they'll warm to it in time. Actually, Wendell wouldn't touch it, but Ché was more accepting, so when Wen saw her lapping at it he barreled in and pushed her out of the way so he could help himself to her serving. Typical. His blog will soon feature a detailed account of the procedure, complete with enticing visuals! Tune in to notesfromabiophile.blogspot.com soon!

Some shots of our upwardly-mobile goon!