A holding pattern

Right now it seems that we are flying a bit of a holding pattern on the new space. The landlord of the space is working like crazy to get things built and torn down. He is being very nice and responsible about everything.

We are still in the planning stages of many things, still working on paper and in our heads to try and figure out the best way to do things. Better to make the mistakes on paper right?

It feels a little frustrating at this moment, like nothing's getting done and time is ticking away but I think that all build out projects feel like this at some point.

We should be doing some exterior painting tomorrow if the weather holds...(is global warming our friend?) so maybe that will make us feel as though we have accomplished something.

Hammers are our friends....

So back we went to the new space today to rip up more carpet. I was so sad and feeling sore and not really looking forward to the job at hand. Leslie calls and says she is going to be late. So as not to feel useless I went after the remaining rug on my own. I started on it with the tools that we nicknamed the "Rage Machines" -- basically, big razors on handles. No real progress.

I decide to tilt the odds in my favor tonight by taking out my hammer. I pound on the handle of the Rage Machine with my hammer. I succeed only in busting up Rage Machine's handle. Finally frustrated by the whole process, I take the hammer to the rug itself. Miracle of miracles it pulls it right up. I move on, elated by my progress and new found power. I am a rug removing machine.

Leslie shows up, we find another hammer and become two rug removing machines. Unbelievably, we remove the remaining rug in about an hour and a half. The super nice Joe at Roslindale Hardware allows us some room in his dumpster and the stuff is gone, gone, gone....

This only goes to show us that hammers are one of the world's most perfect tools.

Brain damage

I am beginning to suspect that we have damaged out brains just a little in our zeal to remove the dreaded RUG from our new space. We have employed our pal "Torchy" in a few spots to help melt/loosen/destroy the 75 layers of glue that they applied to the floor to stick the rug down.

Probably not good.

What's a few more lost brain cells?

The work begins

So we have started to do some work on the new space we will be inhabiting early in 2007. Naturally, we thought we'd rip up the carpeting first since a carpet covered store and visiting pups don't mix all that well. We also thought it'd be a "realtively easy" and satisfying job; you know, one of those jobs in which you can actually SEE progress being made. Funny just how wrong we were.

You cannot believe how difficult it has been to rip up this carpet. There is SO much glue down that we are actually ripping the carpet off of its backing. It's truly incredible how hard a job this has been. Our friends Leslie and Erik have been valiantly helping us out but I feel total guilt at subjecting them to such crazy work.

We have been having a good time doing it though, what a great way to release rage.

A Marley Tattoo

Our incredibly talented designer buddy, Bob Quinn, did this wonderful drawing of Marley. I am thinking of having it tatooted on by one of the artists at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo .

Some news for youse...

So first of all, we do want to tell you all that we will be moving to a new location around the beginning of 2007. It is just up a few blocks from our current location at 4278 Washington Street. We'll be moving up to 4404 Washington Street, formerly Hellas Video.

This new location will afford us a good deal more space and also allow us to offer some services to pet owners. Our first service will be a self-serve dog wash, "All Washed Up". Now you'll be able to bring in your pals into The Pet Cabaret after a tough, dirty day of play and leave with sparkling clean little angels.

Stay tuned for more information and details as we make them up. In the meantime, it's business as usual at our present location so come in and see what's new for the holdiays.

Oh also, you should drop by and say hello to our new pal "Carl" who is currently visiting with us and very possibly may be staying on permanently. Carl has a lot to learn but we have great hopes for him and will be working hard with the little fella to help him out.