Wednesday, November 30, 2005

For the past few months I have been speaking with CMT and Touchdown films. They want to do a series with us. The series format is like other reality shows and it’s simplicity has been weighing heavily on my mind. Tonight I e-mailed them an idea I had that would make the show more real, important. There are so many issues in the world and right here in our own country. I’ve been thinking about the enormity of my business and what it stands for. I’ve never thought myself a feminist but I see a step backward for women in the world and our country. So I was thinking we could really do something special with the series. I have a feeling they won’t see it my way.
I’m going to say this outloud even though part of me is scared that we won’t be ready. We are opening the bar for 1 night New Years Eve in Ft. Lauderdale. This is not the real opening it will be worked by myself and 10 Coyotes from all over the country. The actual opening will still be on January 18th. But you can buy tickets to spend New years Eve with us at the new bar. What a pressure cooker getting this bar ready. Kevin is already giving me and everyone else an ulcer. I was thinking lately that something must be going on with Lee. He hasn’t pissed me off since the x-rated t-shirt debacle. Is he scheming something ? Or was I so mad over the t-shirt thing that he got scared and decided to stop testing me? He’s worked for me for 3 years we’ve never gone this long without a huge disagreement!
I’ve been speaking to Kyle and Jeff M about some of the Nashville girls. It seems that a few of them feel Jeff plays favorites. Part of this came up today because Jeff fired one of the girls whom everyone claimed was one of his favorites. Kyle is very fair minded but I said to him ” I have favorites” My favorites happen to be the girls who work hard and always help out when you are looking to fill shifts etc. Every bar has two or three girls who are always available to do extra work. They try hard and they love the bar. Some of these girls are not the best dancers, not the strongest bartenders but they are nice girls who give an extra effort. I would say most managers, secretly , have those girls as their favorites too. The imput I’ve been getting from the girls is that Jeff has his favorites so that makes them unhappy. And then the imput about Kyle is that he is too tough. You just can’t win with these girls. This is what I can say to all of this. Kyle is taking over the gm spot because I’m always sending jeff M. around to help me do different things. Kyle may be tough sometimes but he is unbelievably fair , so noone can complain. I have no doubt in the next month I’ll get e-mails about how much the same girls who complained about Jeff, miss him. ” You can’t win”

posted by Liliana @ 2:24 AM

Monday, November 28, 2005

After being in my house for over a week and bringing Jackson back home to New Orleans for a couple of days, I decided on Friday that it was time for us to move home. Originally, we were going to stay until January in Austin but both Jackson and I were so happy to be home that I knew it was time to officially move back. The last two months have been very emotional for me and being home brought out a lot of feelings that Jackson was having about being displaced.
I want to say Goodbye to the Austin crew. I’m sorry that I didn’t go in personally to say goodbye but I just needed to go home. Jacqui keeps on saying to me ” you’re a displaced person, of course you feel bad.” To the Austin crew, just know that it was not about you guys or Austin but I just needed to be home in New Orleans with my son. Right now, the city of New Orleans, to put it bluntly, sucks. But it is our home and I hope we can do our little part to help it return to a more livable city.
Took us 14 hours to drive back from Austin yesterday. ( normally an 8 hour drive)
Ft. Lauderdale, plugging away. Kevin is getting into his superstressed mode, that’s actually a good sign. I think yet again we may have found a spot in Toronto.
Calendars should be ready in the next two weeks!!

posted by Liliana @ 2:35 PM

Friday, November 25, 2005

An excellent Thanksgiving. I had about 12 people over, the staff and a few regulars. We laughed for hours telling stories. Lala told us that her mother asked her where she was going to eat Thanksgiving when she replied my house her mother said ” Oh no your eating Thanksgiving at a white person’s house.” She also told her rules ” If you can’t identify the dish, don’t eat it!” and ” all white people have green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.” I was rolling because I did have green bean casserole. Her mother also asked if I was southern, Lala replied no that I was from NY. I think the response to that was even more negative. At least if I was from the south I would be a better cook. Very funny.
I’m so thankful to have such wonderful people around me.

posted by Liliana @ 10:35 AM

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

The calendar looks great. I saw the final pages yesterday. Hopefully it will be ready in the next 2 weeks. Better late then never. Austin is having a killer week this week. I love conventions.
Thanksgiving. All of a sudden everyone has to brine their turkey. Now I’m all stressed out because I have never brined a turkey before. But , I’ll do it for the sake of fashion and the hope that it will be excellent.
Shopping for thanksgiving in New Orleans has been quite an ordeal. The lines are hours long at the grocery stores that are opened. This morning I waited on line for over an hour at Winn Dixie. It feels like December 26th at Macy’s down here. If you have never been to macy’s in NYC on December 26th, consider yourself lucky.
Off to start cooking!

posted by Liliana @ 2:23 PM

Monday, November 21, 2005

I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been to be home. There is a spirit of comraderie with the people here. My divorce lawyer, of all people, called me to thank me for reopening the business and moving back. It’s a about bringing the city back to life he said. You’ve watched it on CNN, some tragedy happens and everyone reunites with tears and joy. I am now living the story that is always on the news about somewhere else and somebody else. Jackson came with me for the weekend and he was overjoyed to play with his friends and be in his home.
Don’t read into this and think that New Orleans is back to normal, that would be very far from the truth. I would say only 20% of the businesses have reopened. There is construction going on everywhere. And the stores and restaurants that are opened only offer a few items. But for right now this is our home and I’m just happy to have a house to move back to.
Jeff M. left a present for Jackson at the bar. It was a whoppie cushion. Oh my god! This has probably been the greatest gift anyone could ever get him. But unfortunately for me , I have never been so embarrassed. He brings this thing everywhere we go. We were in a restaurant last night and he sat on it, it made a horribly loud farting noise and then he said ” Sorry, that must be from the chilidogs!” I know it’s funny and I love that it makes him laugh so hard, but the girl in me is mortiphied that he does this in public places. Today we went to the local coffee shop ( only 1 starbucks reopened in New orleans, I’m so pissed) and we walked through the front dining area. All the people who were sitting there were using their laptops , having meetings etc. Well we get to the middle of the room he throws the cushion on the floor and jumps on it. Everyone just raised their heads in unison, shock on their faces. Thank god for men. Most of the men started laughing while the women looked grossed out. Oh the joys of raising a little boy!
Last week was the first really cold week at most of the bars and the numbers definitely suffered. Wednesday night it was 60 degrees in New Orleans and Will , the bouncer, had on a parka. I felt it was a bit overkill but if it makes him happy, that’s cool.
That’s all I got.

posted by Liliana @ 2:44 PM

Thursday, November 17, 2005

I got into New Orleans yesterday and I am so content. In Meterie yesterday there was actually traffic. The last few times I was here, there was noone in town. Tara was working last night and she has so many regulars that just love her. I can not tell you what it means to me to have the staff here. They are really trying hard and their love for the bar is just so great it really moves me. What’s missing is the tourists. Tourist business probably constituted 40% of our business, and we are really feeling it. I’m crossing my fingers that they come back. The french quarter was like a ghost town last night. I hate to see that.
For whatever reasons, in my rented house in Austin, I’m always scared. I live in a nice neighborhood blah blah blah. But every night I go to bed scared and I wake up either from a nightmare that someone broke into the house or I just wake up scared. last night I slept in my own bed in New Orleans and when I woke up, I wasn’t scared, no nightmares. It was really nice.
I’m staying here for a week. I’m so happy!! Jeff M. did a great job cleaning my house!!!

posted by Liliana @ 11:01 PM

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Today couldn’t of been worse. I woke up to a very nasty e-mail today and it has just ruined my whole day. The letter was actually not intended for me, but regardless, it was so insensitive. I was upset as if it was addressed to me directly.
I spent 3 hours at Cingular today. It just goes on and on.
I keep saying to myself ” I’m healthy, my son is healthy, and it’s all alright.”
Heading to New Orleans tomorrow. I’m so excited to sleep in my own bed. Jeff M. text messaged me last night. ” I’m sitting on your front porch eating. It’s so peaceful.” I’m trying to get jackson excited about moving home. He is a bit afraid. I think he hasn’t processed yet that the water is no longer flooding New Orleans.
His greatest joy right now is ” stinking”. He prides himself on being the stinkest kid in the world. I had told him how badly our house stank on my first visit home. He was actually upset that I cleaned the house so it didn’t stink. He asked me why I did not bottle the stink or ” take a picture of it”. Sometimes moms just can’t do the right thing.

posted by Liliana @ 6:07 PM

Monday, November 14, 2005

We decided to sponser kevin B. for a century bike race. Proceeds go to a Leukemia Society. Last week he told me that I needed to shield my eyes when I looked at him because he looks like Da Vince’s ” peruvian man”. No woman can resist him because his body is so perfect. LOL. In the past 7 days I have had kevin fly to Toronto go to memphis and now he is in Ft. Lauderdale. So this morning he told me that his 100 mile race was this coming weekend in Tucson. I was shocked because I haven’t heard him speak about training very much. He said that he’s actually a bit scared. He said that he’s been working so much he hasn’t been training as much as he should be. The furthest he’s done is 50 miles. I know kevin, barring any injuries or bicycle problems, he’ll finish the 100 miles. He’ll just be in severe pain and agony for about a week. But the important lesson here is ” at least he looks good:” LOL
Looking good in Ft. Lauderdale. Nashville 1 year anniversary is coming up. Austin’s 2 year, New Orleans’s 4 year, New york’s 150 year. God I’m getting old. With the NY anniversary I can have a liitle fun. The place is small enough and the regulars have been there for so many years I can pull off different things. I told jacqui that this year I want to have the party with an Asian theme. I bought two dresses in San francisco’s china town and I want an event to wear them at. ( $29 each). I can’t wait to have the boucers look like Samarais and have the girls look like Geishas. FUN. The New Orleans anniversary is going to be great too. I can’t explain how happy I am that we are back up and running. I am going to plan something really kick ass for that weekend. I think we will go traditional new Orleans and have a crawfish Boil, some bands etc.
Traditionally January is the worst month of the year in the bar business. I do not know why this happens but because of licensing, construction etc. they all seem to end up being ready in January. Now I will have Ft. Lauderdale January 18th, New Orleans January 25th, NY January 27th, and Austin January 28th. The beauty about the NY bar is I schedule the party around my schedule so I figure we’ll have the anniversary party sometime in february.
That’s it.

posted by Liliana @ 1:14 PM

Saturday, November 12, 2005

I spoke with Daniel last night and he was at his wits end. He had scheduled a couple of bartending classes for all the bartenders. He made them on various days so everyone can come. Of course it was the steadies who showed up but the girls who really needed the training never came. I understand his frustration because he took alot of time out of his own schedule to make sure he was available. He didn’t make it mandatory and that was ultimately the excuse for certain girls not to show up. I’ll say this again, if you can’t bartend you can’t work at Coyote. The performing is secondary to the bartending. We were both very disappointed in some of the girls.
Very hectic day yesterday. I think the grand opening for Ft. lauderdale will be January 18th. 4 days ago we still didn’t have certain permits and were anticipating a mid Febuary opening. All of a sudden I get a call two days ago saying ” we got all of our permits we can open within a month.” Lee and I husseled to try and put together a december opening but at the end of two days we just couldn’t pull it off with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. When I called Jacqui she was floored as well. ” Shit Lil you know I have to mentally prepare to take a plane.” By the end of the day yesterday I felt like I had been run over by a train. But it’s always exciting, and hurricane season is over so I’ll be happy in Florida in january.
It finally happened. Today is an absolutly gorgeous day in Austin. Jackson and I spend most of the morning playing outside. It was GREAT!!!

posted by Liliana @ 1:24 PM

Friday, November 11, 2005

Austin girls rocked the other night. Something seems to be changing, they are really putting out more effort and just having more fun. Katie was awesome the other night and Wendy showed a whole different side to herself. I’m so proud.
People have been offended because I’ve been coming down on Austin. I know that when the temperature gets down below 75 I’m going to love it here. I’m just cranky because of the heat and the amount of driving I do every day. What I do love is how beautiful the lakes are. I took my son on this short hike the other day that ended at a cliff overlooking the Colorodo River. It was incredibly beautiful. I also love that they have a real Apple Store. There is a spa here ( can’t remember the name) that is the most beautiful spa I have ever been to. And the best place in Austin is a movie theatre that serves food and drinks while you watch. ( real drinks, wine beer)
I received two e-mails that made me take notice. One said that I went to a “leftist school in a leftist city. ” New Yok City just voted Bloomberg back in office so the city is not as ” leftist ” as I would like.
The other e-mail was from a supposed lawyer saying that he can not find a relative for a man, last name Lovell , who died and had a substancial estate. So since my last name is lovell obviously he should bequeth me the money. If it was only that easy. I’m almost curious to have Jeff W figure out what kind of scam this guy is running.
Ft. Lauderdale coming up soon!! I’m very excited.

posted by Liliana @ 5:54 AM

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

I am multitasking right now. Jeff, the accountants and I are having a very heated e-mail discussion , Lee and i are on the phone trying to figure out the Ft. lauderdale opening, and I am on the German Shepherd Rescue of new Orleans web site. I found a dog that is just calling our names. I put in an application. I hope he is good with kids!!!

Bruno
Dog

New Orleans German Shepherd Rescue
New Orleans, LA
504-488-7067
adoption@nogsr.org

German Shepherd Dog

Size: Large
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
I.D: LA184
Notes:

FOSTER HOME NEEDED!!!

Bruno is a male German shepherd we estimate to be between 18 and 24 months old. He was found in a ditch by an animal control officer who at first thought Bruno had been hit by a car because when she pulled him out, his head was permanently in a tilted position.

At the shelter, Bruno worked his way into the hearts of the staff and although his appearance may have made him more difficult to adopt out, they couldn’t euthanize him. No, this guy had way too much life in him and deserved a second chance.The staff named him “Tilt” (we changed it to Bruno) and contacted NOGSR about rescuing him and we did.

We did take Bruno to a specialist who examined him and concluded that at one time he may have had an inner ear infection that lead to head tilt. His hearing is fine and this courageous guy has learned to compensate for his condition. He climbs stairs and frolics with his new dog buddies Nothing stops him from having fun in his foster family’s big yard.

Now that Bruno is in a temporary foster home, we can see why the staff fell for this great dog. He is just so playful, fun and endearing. He is fine with other dogs and loves people. Because this foster home is full, we are seeking another foster family for Bruno. While in foster care, NOGSR will pay for all food and any medical expenses

We hope there is someone out there who will look beyond his physical appearance and see this handsome German shepherd. This is a proud dog who is looking for someone to love him forever.
–

I found out today through Jeff M. that my neighbors who were watching the turtles and the guinea pigs were crying when they left. They had to evacuate after the storm and they forgot the guinea pigs and turtles. When they were on the road they remembered and there was no way they could go back because of all the flooding. She said she cried all night. I still haven’t told Jackson. But I feel like I need to adopt a pet so we can give them the life we couldn’t give Spike, Spot, Yertle, and Mac.

posted by Liliana @ 3:09 PM

San Antonio had a killer night tonight. Poor Denver , Tuesday is singing Coyote night and the jukebox went down. They have a backup stereo system but it’s never the same.
Well yesterday I went to my first accupuncture session. I wanted to take a natural approach to stress relief and my insomnia. If you check the time I post this you will realize that it is 3:50 am, so I would say my first session did not do the trick. Very interesting, accupuncture. The needles do not hurt but they create a certain heat in your body and at one point I had the same feeling as if I was just starting to be immobilized by anesthesia. I’ll give it 3 tries and hopefully I’ll yield some results.
I just found out that two of my neighbors are putting their houses up for sale. Definitely makes me nervous moving back to a completely different city. I spoke with Jeff Myers this morning. He was huffing and puffing. I asked him what he was doing he said ” I’m raking your fucking yard.” I told Jeff while he was in New Orleans he could stay at my house, since jackson and I are not there. The yard and my office seem to really bother him. His exact wording ” you have a beautiful home, Lil ( Leeel in Nashville speak), but your office is a wreck and I can’t stand to see your yard so messy.” In my defense, I haven’t been able to fix the yard since the hurricane. And my office, well there’s no real excuse for that. I have all my files scattered around. Kind of like a movie where you go into a lawyers office and they have mounds of paperwork. Jeff M. is funny he has already met my neighbors. They actually come over and talk to him. They probably like him more then me.
Kevin B. has turned me on to audiobooks. I actually really enjoy it. I always loved reading but I always feel like between Jackson and work, I just never get a chance to read. The beauty of the audiobook is you can listen while your exercising, in the car, on a plane. I’ve listened to ” Shalimar the clown” ” It’s not about the Bike ” ( Lance Armstrong) and now I am starting “Anna Kourenina” I also downloaded Steve Martins book about the sales girl. I thought because it was narrated by Steve martin that it would be very compelling but now that I have listened to others I find that his voice becomes boring. Marshall said to me, I hope you don’t start skipping to the last chapter. Very funny.
For the last few years I have thought that outside forces were causing me stress and anxiety. I was always yearning for a sense of peace. Tonight as I sit here writing, I realize I’ve caused my own unrest. I am mentally unable to place my mind in rest. ” You can’t change a lifetime in one day.”
When I move back to New Orleans I will be spending more time with Jeff M. and Chantel. I’ve decided to get them hypnotherepy to quit smoking. I just can’t stand it.

posted by Liliana @ 4:46 AM

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Went to Denver this weekend. The girls were so much better then 8 weeks ago when I went there last. I am so proud of their improvement. It was really good to go to the bar, I wish I could go more often. I feel bad for Mellissa. Because of the GM problems she has worked so much the last month. ( So have you Lee) So we went to the mall Sunday morning and I got us matching cowboy boots. They are bad ass!
We interviewed 2 people for the gm position. I liked both of them very much. What struck me as funny with the first interview, which was with a person who is already employed with Coyote Denver, was his referral to a letter he had written to the pope. A 10 page letter outlining his frustrations with the sexual harrasment of children by priests. I wonder if the pope actually read his letter? The second interview, also with a current employee, was completely different. We spent 10 minutes talking about his hook up with a tailor in Korea who can make silk suits. I told Lee to make sure we get Coyote Ugly zoot suits made.
Back in Austin. I do not care what people say or what the books say, ” Austin is the hottest place in the country.” I know New Orleans gets hot. I know that places like Phoenix get hot. But they start cooling down in the fall. Every day here it is over 90 degrees! It’s November !! I keep torturing myself because I have my computer set to tell me the temperatures in New Orleans, NY, and Austin. Every morning I wake up and the temperature is the coldest in NY, second is Austin and the hottest being New Orleans. By mid day that changes. Ny and new Orleans stay steady only rising in temperature a few degrees but Austin’s temperature can rise 40 degrees in a few hours. Last week I woke up and it was 49 degrees. By 3 pm it was 93 degrees. That’s insane!! The New Orleans staff keeps on calling me and leaving messages ” It’s 75 degrees in New orleans. How’s Austin?” Funny. I will miss Austin when I leave. Jackson and I go to the lakes and the Colorodo River and it really is quite beautiful.
I want to throw a party before I move back to New Orleans and invite both the Austin and San Antonio employees. I hope I can pull it off.

posted by Liliana @ 7:46 AM

Saturday, November 05, 2005

On the bar front, we have good news in ft. lauderdale so I’m excited about that. Every bar I own did very well this week but of course I just received the numbers for Friday night and in unison they all did poorly ( or not as well as I would of liked). God I hate that. Marshall and I were speaking yesterday and we were talking about Lee having to GM Denver until I hire someone else. ” that’s like coming out of retirement.” That made me laugh. I believe he has hit the nail on the head because everyday I hear from Lee, “I’m tired.” ” someone tried to pull the old drycleaning scam” ” Another person came in trying to pretend they are related to you.” I think he has a new appreciation for the managers. The bar business is very hard on your body, the hours are grueling.
Thursday when I brought Jackson to school they were having a lice check for all students. Jackson was the only kid on line praying for lice. ” if I have lice I get to go home!” Well unforunate for him he did not have lice so he had to go to school. That afternoon I received an e-mail from the school stating that parents were upset at how they handled the lice check. They did not want their children to have to be checked in front of others. When I was a kid they had routine lice checks and you simply waited in line , got checked and you either were sent home or you stayed. ( my sister who is an unrefuted complete genetic opposite of me, even though we have the same parents. Had very long, very wavy, thick hair. I don’t think they even tried to check her hair. The minute it was her turn in line they sent us both home) Back to the parents at Jackson’s school, these parents are so snobby and conservative. Get over it. The school is so small that everyone will know if your kid has lice or not.
Off to Denver!!

posted by Liliana @ 6:05 AM

Thursday, November 03, 2005

I am riding a high today. This might seem trivial to most but I am so excited, I just bought a new refridgerator. Right now in New Orleans everyone is buying fridges so all the stores are out of stock or just out. ( because of the 6 week long electricity outage, 90% of the city had to throw out their refridgerators, I was one of the 90%). I found a small store in Metairie that had the fridge I wanted. They told me that they no longer deliver and you had to go in person to buy it. As luck would have it Chantel was in the vicintiy of the store and was able to purchase the fridge for me. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I think it is because it will create some normalcy in my home when I move back. I am beside myself I’m so happy. I told chantel to invite the New Orleans staff to my house for Thanksgiving. I’m beaming!
Jeff Myers called me and said ” I bet you are one of those high maintenance girls and got yourself a sub zero.” No I did not .! I looked into it, but It’s just me and Jackson. I couldn’t justify spending $7,000 for a fridge. I was shocked when I researched them. I went with jenn aire, Stainless Steel, bottom freezer french door top. Beaming
Knock on wood, the bars are all doing well this week. New Orleans had a scary slow Tuesday but bounced back with a good wed. night. By the way Wed. is Bike night in New Orleans.
I think we may have found a spot in Toronto. Crossing my fingers doesn’t seem to have the power it used to so I may have to buy a santaria candle and light it.
I’m sending Kevin down to Florida tomorrow to see what the damage is to our spots. I’m hoping we can resolve some of these issues.
Because Daniel seems to think he coined this phrase, I will give him credit for this line. ” That’s all I got”

posted by Liliana @ 3:13 PM

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Time is just flying by. Wow it’s almost the end of the year. Today I received some very nice letters about Austin and DC. Great keep up the good work.
I absolutly love the Forest Gump and Lt. Dan costumes Marshall and Daniel wore. Very funny. The funnier part is that Daniel had never seen the movie. I don’t know if that means I’m getting old or he’s just an inexperienced movie goer.
I had a really great talk with Shanna the new AM in San Antonio. I’m pleased she is very gung ho. I just hope that enthusiasm holds.
Kevin is in Toronto viewing a few spots.
It’s nice to know that my whole corporate team are work a holics. This morning I woke up at 5am and started working while jackson was asleep. I started sending out e-mails. Within seconds I started getting responses from Kevin, Lee, and jeff because they were all at their various computers working as well.
Right now Lee is getting very riled up on the phone with me because I am pushing him to get us in a spot in Canada.
As I’m writing he is saying ” Blah, blah, blah”

posted by Liliana @ 8:47 PM

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

I went into the Austin bar on Sunday night for esther’s birthday. The girls did a very good job. It’s the first time since I moved to Austin that I felt they were spontaneous and having fun. It was really enjoyable to watch them work. The girls had a themed Nerdy school girl night. It’s hard to pull of Nerd when you look that good.
San Antonio pulling off the high for Halloween night! I would like to say this, New Orleans was in the middle of the pack. Perhaps we have some progress.
I can’t lie, I’m pissed off about Hurricane Wilma. Believe me I feel sorry for all the people in Cancun and Florida that had damage to their homes and had a hurricane change their lives. Personally all my businesses are taking a beating. My two spots in Florida were not harmed but they have taken a backseat with the contractors and the city offices. Lee told me he saw our proposed location in Cancun with it’s roof torn off, so that’s on hold.
I’m having so many problems in New Orleans just trying to get a contractor to fix the building. There is nobody that can even get us in their schedule this year. I’m desperate.
It is so concerning when I think that next year might hold the same disastraous weather conditions. Next year it could possibly be 3 or 4 bars effected and my home again.
So today I decided to take the plunge and go to a hair stylist in Austin. Mistake is an understatement. I said to her to go closer to my natural color. What that meant to her was completely black. My god, I look like a goth chic 20 years too old. ” SAL if you read this please come back to New Orleans. I’m too depressed to look like a bad Halloween costume.”

posted by Liliana @ 8:11 PM

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Nashville whipping everyone’s butts last night.
Last night was the first night I have had either alone or off in a very long time. I realize what a loser I am. I actually worked until about 10:30 and then I watched shows about Zombies and haunted houses. As the saying goes ” you can’t be cool all the time”
Last week I had some friends in town and I bought a board game called ” The Worst Case Scenario Survival Game” Pretty entertaining.
How to eat a Frog?
A. Skin it, cook it, and eat the whole thing
B. Eat only the legs, the rest of the frog contains toxins
C. Boil the frog, discard it’s intestines, and consume the rest.

I actually won the game but only because my last question was about the symptoms of larvae growing under your skin. Thanks to the discovery channel, I learned about that just a few months ago.
Sending Kevin to review a spot in Toronto. I’m crossing my fingers.

I found this article amusing: from Times Picayune ( New Orleans paper)

A roof in north Kenner damaged by Hurricane Katrina helped detectives close the final chapter on a 26-year-old armed robbery case.

The leak led residents to their attic late last week, where they found about $1,100 hidden in their soggy attic insulation, said Capt. James Gallagher, spokesman for the Kenner Police Department.

“Katrina reveals stolen loot,” said Gallagher, envisioning the headline atop the story of the Kenner residents who found the dye-stained cash originally stolen in a 1979 bank robbery.

“They were seeing spots on the ceiling so they went into their attic to check on the source of the leak,” Gallagher said.

The money was covered with red dye from an exploded dye pack and tied with a band that read: “National Bank of Commerce.”

“That’s how they knew it was from a bank robbery,” Gallagher said. When they mentioned the discovery to neighbors, they were told: “That’s where the bank robber used to live,” Gallagher said.

Kenner Detective David Stromeyer chased down the tale. He determined that the house’s former resident, Jorge Arevalo, had stashed the money in the insulation after robbing National Bank of Commerce in Metairie in 1979.

Arevalo pleaded guilty that year to armed robbery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Then-Gov. Edwin Edwards pardoned him, and he was released in 1985. Arevalo could not be reached for comment.

posted by Liliana @ 9:31 AM

Thursday, October 27, 2005

It interests me that people can write me scathing letters about myself and the industry that I am a part of. The humorous part is that these people will quote from the Lil Spills that I write. “If you hate me and the bar business why in the world do you read my blog and go to my website?”
I would say that 99% of my e-mails are very positive but there is that 1 % and I can’t lie it amuses me.
Yesterday I received an e-mail that was from a resident of New Orleans. The letter was a ” please come back to New Orleans letter”. The person actually said ” don’t worry you’ll find a new stylist.” I laughed so hard. I promise you that my decision is not based on getting my hair done, it is solely on my son and his quality of life.
Busy week. We have deals all over the world going on right now. I’m concerned about our two spots in Florida and our potential spots in Cancun. Kevin B and I have been trying to contact people to access the damage if any to these sites. Unfortunately, I have a feeling this will be a big worry for years to come with this horrific weather.
I received an e-mail from Jacqui yesterday that had me laughing all night. She actually went out and bought a $200 hair dryer. Her reasoning ” all the stars are using them!”

posted by Liliana @ 6:14 PM

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Austin bar just kicking everyones butt this week. Those EMT workers can drink. Yesterday Austin had a 120 bodyshot count from 5pm til 2 am. That’s 9 hours. I know Tampa did more but it was for 10 or 11 hours. And NY only did 102 ( I think) but the average bodyshot per girl was somewhere between 3 and 4 per hour which was higher then Tampa. I’ll get the specifics from Marshall and do the calculations later.
Last night a fun night in Denver I was told. Jeff Wiseman was meeting some potential foreign partners at the Denver bar. He e-mialed me yesterday telling me that he had just contracted poison oak and had it all over his body. But he perservered and met with them at the bar. No doubt it was a 20 beer night for him. The owner of Coors was also in the Denver bar last night, I think he had a crush on the B sisters we have working on Tuesday. Jeff Myers seemed tickled. I had to send Jeff there because I had to let go of another manager there. Denver is my nemesis when it comes to managers. All my other bars the managers are happy as can be and I am happy with them. I just can’t seem to get it right in Denver. Again I want to commend Mellissa. She is our new assistant manager in Denver and has really risen to the occassion with so much turmoil with the GM. There is some big convention out there and I got an e-mail from Jeff M saying that he had to sleep at the bar last night because he couldn’t find a hotel room . I feel really bad for him. Well I’m hoping there is a light at the end of the tunnel I have a third interview with someone this week. Hopefully Denver will have a new GM in the next few weeks.
I am the only house I have seen that is decorated for Halloween in Austin. No competition from anyone. It’s a disgrace. At least in New Orleans it was a healthy 1 month contest. Everyday you secretly add to your already elaborate house. I mocked them a few years ago and now I wish there was a neighborhhod in Austin that upheld this tradition. If I could just combine the natural beauty of Austin with the fun loving spirit of New Orleans I would have the perfect city ( also get rid of the right wing conservative assholes). Oh well, maybe I’ll be like Johnny Dep and just move us to France.

posted by Liliana @ 11:49 AM

Monday, October 24, 2005

Austin beating everyone last night. It’s nice when the smaller bars put up big numbers. Yesterday was an employee outing in Austin so Daniel and marshall were screwed when they got a huge hit of people. Daniel had to bartend all night. He claims he was #1 bartender in all of Texas. I foresee some compettion with that.
People keep asking about the calendar shoot. It went unbelievably well. I have looked at close to 10,000 pictures over the last week. Clay the photographer really captured every girl so well. On a side note, I think he out phermoned Lee. It was funny because normally women swoon to Lee but this time they were stepping over him to get to Clay. It was hysterical.
I’ve been a bit of a hermit in Austin. I feel horrible that I have not spent much time at the Austin bar but I have come to the conclusion that I have post traumatic stress syndrome or in lay mens terms , I’ve been depressed. I’m so torn on whether I should move back to New Orleans in January. Chantel called me and told me my two favorite rituals were gone. 1. Our hair stylist has moved to Oregon ( my roots are about 3 inches long now) 2. Saks isn’t reopening for another year. Man that was part of my routine. Every Wednesday when I would open the New Orleans bar I would walk across the street to Canal Shops and go to Saks. Most of the time I never bought anything but I would walk around the perfume counters and go look at handbags. I did this every Wednesday.
On a positive note I did receive a letter from my yoga studio in New Orleans and they are opening in November. In Austin I can not find a yoga studio that has any daytime classes. Fat and depressed is no way to live ones life.
Another positive thing that happened this week is Njia came back to work for New Orleans. We knew she had relocated to Boston but we were unable to get a hold of her for the last few weeks. Friday night she showed up at the bar and said ” I’m ready to go back to work”. I can’t tell you how happy that made me. This week we are up to 5 girls and 3 bouncers. It’s slow but it’s moving. I’m pleased with our progress.
I had a dream Jacqui and I were going to drive throughout Europe in a very small sportscar. I don’t know the significance of the dream but I will say the sportscar was nice.

posted by Liliana @ 11:48 AM

Thursday, October 20, 2005

The New Orleans girl that will be in the calendar was from a town called Slidel. If you watched the news, the town barely exists anymore. She had to relocate. She did not quit. She wasn’t fired. If there had been no Katrina she would still work for Coyote that’s why she’s allowed to be in the calendar. I can’t blame her for not wanting to move back to Louisianna. My whole family thinks I’m nuts for wanting to move back!
I would like to repeat myself just to get the point across to all my bars. When I first started in this business I was in my teens. My first job in this industry was as a banquet waitress. I have been a busgirl, a runner, a food waitress, a cocktail waitress, a service bartender, a bartender, a manager, and a owner. At every bar or restaurant that I worked at there was a schedule. Some changing every week and some constant every week. The rule at all these places was that you were given your schedule and you never took off. It never seemed strange to me. That was life and that’s how I made a living. Just to prove my point further. When I first opened Coyote and Jacqui was one of my Coyotes, she worked two shifts. For the first 3 years she worked Thursday day shift and Friday night shift. Then she worked another 3 years Thursday night and Friday night. It was 4 years before she ever missed one of her shifts. 4 YEARS. Even on holidays. On holidays the only time the girls would get off is if I worked them myself , so I would tell the girls don’t worry about it I’ll work. But if I had plans then they had to work their shifts that’s it! But Jacqui never complained or the girls who worked for me years ago never complained. Because it was the industry standard. That was how everyone, not just me, ran their bars and restaurants. I’m so tired of hearing from the managers that “so and so “doesn’t want to work that night or “so and so” doesn’t want to work on Thanksgiving. In my day, you took your schedule and you worked no questions asked.
I think it’s a different work ethic now adays. They don’t care because they can run back home to mommy and daddy and they’ll take care of them. My god, Have some dignity.

posted by Liliana @ 11:01 AM

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Holy shit. I have spent 9 hours today sorting through the calendar pictures. My god these girls are beautiful! One of the girls lied to us. One of the girls from one of the franchises was fired about 6 or 7 weeks ago. She didn’t say a thing. Came to the photoshoot and acted like nothing happened. I just found out 2 days ago that she had been fired. We were very clear, if you don’t currently work for one of the Coyotes you can’t participate in the calendar. We actually got in touch with one of the original new Orleans girls who had been picked before the hurricane and we are flying her to NY for a shoot. Things work out for a reason. She does not currently work for the new Orleans bar but in light of the present situation I’m willing to make an exception. It makes me happy to be able to have the New Orleans bar represent even though everything is such a mess.
Denver and San Antonio kicking ass this week!!

posted by Liliana @ 8:06 PM

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

When I was in New Orleans I actually got mail service. I just opened my energy bill. $600. OK so I thought we haven’t had electricity since Late august. How the fuck is my bill so high?
I had to remove my headshot off the web because the photographer claimed we didn’t provide him with enough pictures. I’m actually happy about that, I looked a bit chunky. Denver has been doing unbelievably well!!! Cross my fingers. New Orleans pulliing up the rear but knock on wood, not as bad as I thought. It’s so nice to see New Orleans open again. Lala fllies in today to add a sixth to our 5 employees. Whew wee!!
I got the managers log from san Antonio about the girls being overworked and crying. I have told the managers FOREVER to start being stricter on the girls with their schedules. What happens is that the primadonna girls always call in sick and the managers replace them by with the consistent girls who always help out. So the good girls are now burnt out. NEW RULE: if you’re going to allow the girls to take off then the manager on duty has to bartend their shift. I have a feeling they’ll get stricter if that’s the case.

posted by Liliana @ 2:08 PM

Monday, October 17, 2005

What a weekend. I drove to New Orleans from Austin and it took me 10 hours due to traffic. When I drove to the bar it was so nice to see so many regulars at the bar. The staff seemed so overjoyed to have them around. Jeff Myers was floored by the love these customers have for the bar. What’s funny is that they accepted him like family. So many issues that I don’t know where to start so I’ll save that for latter.
My house. My house had electricity and it did not smell half as bad as I was expecting, so that was good. Saturday morning I woke up and went to the kitchen. There no longer is a refrigerator but in it’s place is a pot, which Kevin set down in case the water pipe leaked. As I looked down at the pot I realized it was my only “All clad” cookware. All those pots and pans and he used my one good one. I was outraged. Jacqui laughd at me this morning about this . “” All Clad” is a very expensive brand of pots and pans. The set costs close to $1300. So about 2 months ago I decided to buy 1 pot and test it out to see if it is worth the money. I can not explain the sheer horror when I saw my beautiful $100 pot lieing there with a rusty pipe leaning into it. But true to it’s advertising, I just cleaned it off and it looked good as new.
There are two negative things that I saw this weekend that bothered me very much. The first was on Bourbon St. I walked down Bourbon St. to flyer and this young man had his 2 year old daughter with him outside one of the bars. He was obviously a bit loaded the wife was inside and the girl was wailing just wanting to go. What fucked up parenting. Why are you bringing your 2 year old daughter to Bourbon St? They shouldn’t have children, just so upsetting.
The second bad thing happened on my ride back to Austin. I was about 2 hours into my ride on I-10 West when I saw a car on the east bound side lose control. The driver swerved through the grass meridian , cut the guy off in front of me, and then ran into a tree on the side of the road. I pulled over as well as another driver. I called 911 and walked to the car. The 2 passengers seemed shaken and beat up but remarkably alright. The driver was not so lucky. The engine was partly in her chest and her arm was missing flesh which layed right next to her. A nurse showed up on the scene and she started tending to the victims. She walked over to the driver who was not conscious and realized there was really nothing she could do so she then went to the passengers and started helping them. I can’t get out of my head the vision of the drivers body convulsing while her flesh was dangling next to her.
I am very thankful that she did not hit another driver. I am also not going to drive alone again to New Orleans. It’s an 8 hour drive and I would rather fly there then risk getting tired and dozing off while I’m driving.
that’s it

posted by Liliana @ 10:38 AM

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Last night a tearful goodbye because the New Orleans crew left Nashville for the final time . Chantel told me that they went into the nashville bar last night to say goodbye . She was so moved by the tears and emotion that the Nashville staff showed to the New Orleans crew . She said it was a very emotional night and that they will always share a kinship to the Nashville bar. ( thanks Nashville for taking care of them) As of tomorrow we are officially opened in New Orleans 7 days a week. I’ll be at the New Orleans bar tomorrow night having a cold one. ( Knowing my luck I’ll get the 1 beer they forgot to throw out and has been sitting there skunked for the last 6 weeks.) At least that’s not as bad as the NY girls serving me jagged glass in my drink. Skunked beer doesn’t make for a hospital visit.
These two florida projects are becoming a real headache. We have hit every possible roadblock. Unbelievable . Well the up side is I just got invited to the Caribean to check out some spaces. Man I need a vacation!
Weather: Mother nature is pissed. It’s so strange what has transpired with the earth the last few months. If it helps I plan on buying a hybrid car. Every bit counts

posted by Liliana @ 6:02 PM

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

We finally finished the calendar shoot. I really enjoyed it. My job was stylist. I was bone tired everyday. I did not realize how much work went into being a stylist for a photoshoot. With a little help from the photographer, his assistant, and Lee, we really did a great job. The calendar is going to be kick ass!!
I got off the phone with Jeff M. a little while ago and he was telling me a bit about his recent trip to New Orleans with the New Orleans crew. I asked him to start a new concierge program so that the hotels can refer people back to the bar. He told me he hit 9 hotels. None of the hotels had concierges but they all had a policemen stationed at a desk in front in charge of verifing the guests that came through. Jeff said he spoke with each officer and left flyers and cards. During the weekend we actually saw some of the cards come back to the bartenders, so someone actually handed them out.
I want to give a special thanks to Sicboy in New orleans. “I can not begin to repay you for all the work you’ve done at the bar and in the building. Thanks so much”
San Antonio kicking butt this week. It was so nice seeing all the girls from the different bars this week. Back to New Orleans this weekend!

posted by Liliana @ 5:02 AM

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Here in San Antonio for the first annual Coyote Ugly Calendar photoshoot. We took the girls out to dinner and then we came back to the bar. They are all so cute. We had a lot of fun last night. But we are ready to get down to business today. Looking beautiful is no easy job.

posted by Liliana @ 11:21 AM

Saturday, October 08, 2005

The New Orleans bar opened yesterday. Business was like a very good day shift ( AM) . Chantel said a few regulars came in and some NY firefighters. It’s going to take some time. But I am happy that we at least got opened.
San Antonio had the worst Friday! Thursday night they did phenomenal business and they wrote me a letter saying ” We crushed Denver ” They jinxed themselves.
On my way to SA today. Big Photoshoot! I am going to scramble to try and get a few last minute things. This should be fun and SA is going to be so nice because the weather is gorgeous right now.

posted by Liliana @ 11:23 AM

Thursday, October 06, 2005

I don’t know what changed but I’m feeling great today. It is a beautiful day in Austin. I’m hoping to pop into the bar tonight say hello.
I spoke with a real estate agent today in New Orleans. I’m hoping to rent my house out until I go back. She was very complementary. ” Your street looks like a war zone but I love the colors you painted your house.” That just made me laugh so hard. Something changed with the staff going back to New Orleans today. This whole week they were very worried and fearful of going back. Today they were all in good moods and ready to make some money. Big day tomorrow! I hope we pass our health inspection.
I take back what I said about Lee yesterday. Denver crushed everyone as high sales last night, even with Lee as floor manager. Awesome. Knock on wood , all the bars are doing quite well.
Jacqui called me up today and she said ” I know money is tight right now but I saw some awesome cowboy boots for you. I think you need them in two colors.” What the fuck , sure. I love cowboy boots!
Esther in austin is so cute. She called me yesterday about the photoshoot. The girl is drop dead gorgeous. A speed bartender. And she happens to be one of the kindest people I have ever met. She’ll go places in my company.
I’m proscastinating, I have so much paperwork, I can’t see straight.
I would like to tell everyone that I, a complete computer illiterit ( sp), figured out how to bluetooth my files from 1 computer to another. I haven’t been this proud of myself since I figured out how to do a 3 way call on my phone.
Ft. Lauderdale, let’s go. I’m getting very excited. I get excited , Kevin gets an ulcer. Bring it on!!

posted by Liliana @ 2:27 PM

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

I don’t know if Austin is for me. There is so much traffic. Everyday I log in at least a couple of hours driving in my car. I forgot Jackson’s lunch today now I have to go back and drop it off. That’s about 40 minutes.
We received a letter from the health dept. telling us we can’t open ( new Orleans) unless we get inspected. Always something!
I can hear the trepidation in the voices of the New Orleans employees. They want to go home but they are scared too. I have been hearing positives and negatives. the hotels are doing very well, they are completely booked. Some bars are doing alright. Chantel and I keep on talking about every scenario but we will never know until we open. Having Coyote be so successful has been a mixed blessing. The positive is that I was able to house and give jobs to the staff who ask for help. The bad is that the staff doesn’t want to come home and they are content to stay at the various bars. I can’t force anyone to go back to New Orleans especially if they have no home to go home to. Blah, blah
Nashville has been kicking some butt! I’m so pleased. San Antonio AWESOME night last night. Austin, very nice. I’m pleased it’s getting better. Denver pulling up the rear had a handicap last night, Lee was the manager on duty. I’m not sure about NY I haven’t spoken to Jacqui. Those girls are so consistent. I love that! ( sorry won’t jinx you guys)
I want to say that the Austin bar has a lot of really nice employees. I’ve even grown fond of Daniel. He gave me a 6 pack of dildos and a tube of ” Anal Eze” for my birthday. ( I would of paid money to see him actually walk in a store and purchuse the ” anal eze” I have a feeling he has made that purchase before for himself)
It is very interesting to see the different styles of managers. Jacqui , Chantel and I are very similar. Kelly and Mike are very similar. Jeff M. is a combination . Now that I am in Austin I have spent a little time at the bar. Marshall has the girls speak at a pre shift meeting, then they communicate during their shift and then they have a post shift meeting.
When I was a floor manager, this would be my preshift meeting ” Let’s make some money!” My during shift talk: ” See that guy in the green shirt take him for everything he’s worth” And my post shift meeting: ” Mama’s gonna buy a new pair of shoes, see you tomorrow.”
But it seems to work for them in Austin. They are very hard working and more serious. ( although when they are off, they are as wild as any girls I’ve seen)
In some ways it is so quiet here. The staff doesn’t seem to have many issues, they are all very conscientious people. 4 years in New Orleans, I got very used to ” Can’t come in, I’m in jail.” ” My dad shot me a few years ago and the injury still hurts.” Someone else responded to that ” I’ve been both shot and stabbed. Getting shot is so much easier.” “My fake boob burst during rough sex.”
They were a rough bunch and I have to say I really miss them.

posted by Liliana @ 10:05 AM

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

A full week of bullshit! If there was a machine that measured stress, I would be at an explosive level. What more could go wrong? Lee and I were laughing at 9am because so much is going on that it is completely absurd.
Denver is having their photoshoot, Lee seems very pleased. A lot of pretty girls at the Denver bar.
The Coyote Ugly Calendar shoot is going on this weekend. What an ordeal moving it from New Orleans to San Antonio. When we planned it for New Orleans we had set up free clothing from various local stores. We had the hotels set up for the girls. We were taking them out a few nights on the town etc. Well now we are so behind and we are scrambling to make sure we have everything. It will come together but I hate being under the gun. And to boot the two New Orleans girls can’t come back for the shoot. So I need to work something out because New Orleans needs to be a presence in the calendar.
Some delay in Ft. Lauderdale but nothing major. I’m hoping for an early December opening.
I am wound up so tight right now!
I need to do yoga, get myself centered.

posted by Liliana @ 6:28 PM

Monday, October 03, 2005

I went overnight to Nashville. I tend to forget how good these girls are at singing until I walk in to one of them singing ” Proud mary”. It’s pretty powerful. I got to see some of the New Orleans crew for the first time since before the hurricane . When Chantel picked me up we both were teary eyed. I miss my Chantel. We had our rountine, every monday we would have a meeting at Rock and Sake one of our favorite Sushi places. We would order the LSU roll and eat and talk for hours. I miss that. When I saw Pump he was so cute. He said ” thanks for letting me work in Nashville but I really want to go home.” Well he’s getting his wish. Tara was working and she walked out from behind the bar and embraced me. We both had tears in our eyes and I realized how hard it’s been for everyone. Well this week will be our tester week. I’m sending 4 people down to New Orleans to open for 3 days, Friday – Sunday. Chantel and I had to sit down and figure out exactly what we needed to open up ? How much money, how much inventory, how would the staff bath, how would customers go to the bathroom. Wow it is overwhelming. I’m hoping this weekend we gage what we have to do to reopen and also gage the climate of the city. The following weekend we will open up on a more permenant basis. I still am planning a grand reopening for the second week of November, I figure that will give me enough time to get a skeleton staff together and have some of the housing issues resolved.
Until last week, I was trying to adjust to Austin I even contemplated Jackson and I moving here. But going back to New Orleans last week made me unsure. I need to do what’s best for Jackson but it was a very easy life there for us. Life is not quite as comfy here for us.
I received a lot of wonderful presents last week from the staffs at the different bars. I wanted to say thankyou so much. I am very lucky to have so many really nice people around me.
Nashville kicked some butt this past weekend. keep up the good work.

posted by Liliana @ 9:38 PM

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Went out Thursday night with some of the staff from both the Austin bar and the San Antonio bar. It was the first time since Katrina that I really let my hair down. I had a lot of fun. I told Marshall and Daniel that the 2 hours of throwing up at the end of the night helped me lose those unsightly 2 pounds I’ve been dragging around. Again don’t mix wine and crown royal.
Nashville, killer Saturday night!!!!
I am heading to Nashville tonight to see Chantel and some of the New Orleans staff. It’s been a long month.

posted by Liliana @ 11:16 AM

Thursday, September 29, 2005

I got back from New Orleans last night. It was definitely an emotional trip. I met Kevin in Houston and we started out for New Orleans at 4am. Well at about 6 am we needed gas so we pulled into a gas station with many other cars. we had to wait 4 1/2 hours for gas. That put us well behind schedule. We finally got to the city and we were escorted through the checkpoints. Very strange. It was actually eerie because we were driving through the city and there were absolutely no cars. Occassionally you would see military or police but absolutely no citizens. As we approached my street I felt a surge of emotion. There was so much wind and tree damage in my area, part of me was scared that I would see my house with a tree through the front. It was an almost surreal moment when I saw my house because in the midst of all the destruction my house looked imaculate. I definitely picked the right colors because it was the only happy looking house on all the streetsthat I had I seen. There was so little debris in my yard, I felt like someone actually had taken care of my house. The moment I was dreading came and I knew when I got to my house I had to immediately go up stairs and see if my neighbors had taken the guinea pigs. Kevin brought a video camera and was filming my entrance to the house. As I entered the house, I knew that the guinea pigs had been left because the smell was unmistakable. I cried when I saw them in there cage decompossing. I will never forgive myself for not haven taken this hurricane seriously. Part of me is angry at the neighbors but I know that they were probably struggling with the flooding taking their own kids and pets to safety. It was my responsibility and I am sick over it. Jackson still thinks that the neighbors have them. I just don’t think I have the guts to tell him the truth. Next I went to see if the turtles had made it. It was very strange because I only found 1 and his eyes were missing. Someone later told me that flies probably had taken them. I feel so bad and a little creeped out that I only found 1.
After I calmed down we put on masks and gloves and started removing the refridgerator and freezer. Kevin said at one point the freezer door opened and he almost puked from the smell. I had to go upstairs and clear out my office get my computer and files. The upstairs was so putrid smelling because of the guinea pigs . I only took what I needed and I took very few clothes because they were just permeated with the stink. I can only imagine how the city smelt with so many decomposing bodies. It was horrible.
Time was running fast and the curfew was at 6pm so we needed to get going. We left the horse food on my porch and the rescue people came and picked it up later. They seemed very excited, I hoped that I could help some of those animals. ( 1300lbs of horse feed).
Then we went down to the french quarter. There were only 2 stores open 1 a walgreens 2 a dominoes. Very strange. Just a ghost town. When we got to the building I couldn’t believe that our little sign seemed untouched. We went into the bar first and I can honestly say that the army guys left the bar cleaner then we usually do. There were a few notes and a beautiful pair of army boots signed by their company. Thank you guys so much for taking care of my bar. We went upstairs and the second floor stunk. the freaking staff left food there when they evacuated, I told Chantel last night when we start moving people into the building there will be rules and they will not treat my home with such disrespect. Chantel’e appartment had been broken in to. The military had kicked down her door to secure the building. I don’t think anything was stolen though. Those guys were very respectful. After we went through the building we saw about 7 blown out windows and there are leaks stemming from the roof. Kevin felt that it wasn’t as bad as we had thought but if I don’t fix it there will be major problems in the future. So I’ll get it fixed.
Upon leaving I felt a lot of turmoil. I really missed New Orleans but the city I just went back to was not the same city I left. Just for the record. My car has been showing temperature readings of 108 in Austin, New Orleans was a cool 90 degrees.
I hope that we can turn things around at that little bar. Coyote Ugly New Orleans was home to many people, I just hope we can recreate that .
In other news, Tommy Lee was at the San Antonio bar the other night. I wonder if any of the girls went home with him?

posted by Liliana @ 6:17 PM

Monday, September 26, 2005

Kevin and I are going to New Orleans on Tuesday. I have communicated with some people from an animal rescue center that need our help. Because most of the phone lines are down it is hard to communicate with them. There main concern is the growing number of horses they have rescued. I promised we would bring horse feed. I know nothing about this but I’m sure by tomorrow I will be educated in the dietary needs of horses. There is a man down there named Dave, that is working day and night trying to rescue these horses. Hurricane Rita created new flooding and this man is caring for so many horses with very little food and very little diesel fuel to operate his horse trailer. We’ll try our best.
If anyone in Austin can donate horse feed please e-mail lil@coyoteuglysaloon.com

posted by Liliana @ 1:16 AM

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Joe, Chantel’s boyfriend, was able to go into the New orleans bar yesterday. He said we had electricity . He told us that the national guard left us a bunch of notes wishing us well and a pair of boots that they all signed. He said they also cleaned the bar. That makes me so happy. We will display those boots with great pride.
I’m praying that Rita does not cause more damage. I’m in Austin, we haven’t been told to evacuate, because we are located inland, but I am curious what category storm it will be when it hits us.
I have logged in so many hours watching CNN. Last night I was glued to the Jetblue emergency landing. I really felt myself scared for those people. When they were interviewing some of the passengers they seemed so calm and collected. I fly Jetblue all the time. On Jetblue, every pasenger has free cable tv on a screen in front of them. These people actually watched cnn broadcasting minute to minute updates about the plane they were on. I wonder if that was calming or more scary?
I received an e-mail from one of my girls yesterday. She said that her boyfriend had mailed me a wedding update to the New Orleans bar. She told me that she said to him, ” why did you do that when New Orleans is not receiving mail?” He said ” don’t worry I put it in a ziploc bag.” I have laughed for hours over this. I wait with utter anticipation for this ziplocked letter.

posted by Liliana @ 12:08 PM

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

I bit the bullet. For the last week I was trying inconspicuously to go into the apple store and use the computers. They actually had incredibly fast internet service so I would access my mail and try and get as much done as possible without a saleperson bothering me. After 1 week of doing this , I gave in and bought myself another computer. I hate buying something that I already have but after being away for 1 month I just can’t go any longer without a computer.
I have been here two weeks and I have only gone into the Austin bar 1 night and several days. I feel badly about this but I just am not settled yet.
What is going on in the Coyote Ugly world: Again we are looking at new spaces in Cancun. We have a deal pending in El Salvador. We are waiting for license approval in Ft. Lauderdale so we can start renovations. Miami is way way behind schedule. We are still working on a project in California but that has been in the works for over a year . And then the big kahuna is New Orleans. The army left the bar yesterday so I’m pleased about that. I can’t wait to do an inventory of the bar and see what is left.
Most of the bars are having a phenomenal week. Very pleased.
I have gotten many e-mails about when I am reopening New Orleans. Until I inspect the building, I just don’t know. As of yesterday we didn’t have electricity. Hurricane Rita has forced me to wait 1 more week to go to New Orleans. I found myself weeping yesterday over a news report about a blind man being reunited with his seeing eye dog after the storm. Today I heard a report about a man that had to seperate from his dog. He tied his shirt around his dogs neck . On that shirt he had written all of his contact information. The dog had been shipped to a shelter in California where the workers saw this note. I think they will reunite tonight on CNN. That will be a 4 tissue newscast.

posted by Liliana @ 12:10 PM

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

What a day. I had arranged a meeting with Steve Wherry a contractor that we love and use on some of my bars. He was going to meet Kevin and I on Thursday in New Orleans to access the damage to the building and the bar. By 11 am I had to cancel that trip because of Tropical storm Rita, which would possibly hit New Orleans as a hurricane on Thursday or Friday. Well I decided to start driving to New Orleans in the afternoon and pick up some stuff , secure my house and building again and be out of New Orleans by Tuesday afternoon, as to not encounter the storm. By 4 pm that plan was scrapped because they had stopped letting people into New Orleans. I do not know what Ray Nagin is thinking. Chantel and I have made a million calls and the assessment from people who live and work in New Orleans is that the city is not ready to have people or businesses back. How can I send my staff back when the quarter has only intermittent electricity and very little potable water. The major beer distributors are still closed because their factories were flooded. It’s just pointless and unsafe. There is one bar in the quarter that has stayed opened and from what we have gathered they broke into other bars and stole their inventory. Now all their inventory is either skunky or they are getting it illegally from outside the city. While I give them cudos for trying, I couldn’t forgive myself if someone was hurt.
I actually heard on the local Austin news this evening that they were going to issue a hurricane warning in Austin. Austin never has hurricanes. A good friend of mine referred to me as a jinx. She said that in all her years working for Disney she had never seen an hurricane that actually caused destruction to Disney world. Well the one time she takes me, last year, the biggest hurricane to hit Disney in a million years comes , causing millions of dollars in destruction and yielding injuries. Perhaps I am the grim reaper. I have spent 3 1/2 years living in New Orleans thinking I would either move back to New York or move somewhere else. Just 1 1/2 months ago, I decided I was going to stay. I had my house painted and I made arrangements to get bids for a pool and a new sunroom. I wonder if the decision to stay in New Orleans caused some planetary misalignment and has cursed the city. Now Austin! ( for people who don’t know me, I’m just joking, kind of)

posted by Liliana @ 1:09 AM

Sunday, September 18, 2005

” Howdy Partner” Jackson has been practising that phrase nonstop. He said it’s how he’ll fit in. Yup folks that’s right , these ” Damn Yankees” lives in Texas now. I have to say that Austin is actually quite nice. I took Jackson hiking today only 12 minutes from my house. Really beautiful parks here. My only complaint is that you have to drive everywhere. In both New York and New Orleans you can walk to a lot of places from your house.
I took Jackson to a Pot Luck dinner at his school. I figured I have to try to particitpate for his sake. Since I had just moved into the new house, I brought a bottle of wine instead of cooking something. When I got there everyone looked at me like I had just made the most horrendous gesture by bringing alchohol to a school dinner. In my defense his last school had whole areas dedicated to wine and beer during school activities. I assume that was because both the french and the New Orleanians love to drink. Another family that had been transplanted from Austin was there. The dad came up to me and said ” not quite as fun as their old school” I said ” you’re not kidding.” Oh well
I’m trying to get to know the Austin girls better. I haven’t spent enough time at the bar but I feel there are extenuating circumstances. These are very serious young women. Very hard workers and they love the bar . Hopefully they will lighten up a little.
Nashville kicking butt this weekend!!!

posted by Liliana @ 5:28 PM

Friday, September 16, 2005

I moved into this great house yesterday. I’m so relieved. The backyard is huge and Jackson said ” this is better then our house!” So finally we get some normalcy into our lives.
New Orleans: Well the mayor is allowing some people and businesses to come back to New Orleans next week.. At first I was ecstatic. But that dream fell apart when I started thinking of logistics. I lost my whole staff to relocation. 75 % of them were in school so they have now started classes at other schools. At the earliest, they may be able to come back in January. Now out of the 100% I would say 75% have also lost their homes. So they have now started over in other cities and don’t want to come back. I just don’t think there is anyway for Coyote to open for at least 3 weeks. I need to create temporary housing for people for them to even consider moving back.
Now the other problem as I found out yesterday, the army has comandeered my building and the bar is now an army surplus store. The positive to this is hopefully they are protecting the building from looters and respecting all the items in the building and the bar.
Now the negative: Are they going to reimburse me for using the building? Do they help with my mortgage? I found out that they are using the bar phone. Do they pay the phone bill? When do they vacate? If there is merchandise , inventory, or chantels’s furniture missing do they pay for that? Should they reimburse me for insurance costs incase some army guy hurts himself in the building?
I have no answers to these questions so I’m going down there next week . Maybe I’ll go speak directly to the raging cajun!

posted by Liliana @ 9:10 AM

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Ah what a wonderful sleep at the ” Roach Motel” last night. Jackson can use his new bug vacuum right in the hotel, isn’t that great! I had to switch rooms because the last room, while spacious, was in an unlit corner and there were some unsavory characters lingering in that area. But on a positive note, it’s damn cheap, and right now that is a god send.
There still is business going on so let’s focus on that. Last night every bar had a good night after a two week lull. I was so pleased. San Antonio, really good night, that makes momma very happy.
Sunday Kelly ( gm S A) surprised me at the Austin bar. The managers gave Jackson and me some clothes and some gift certificates. I was so thankful. While kelly and I were looking through the bag of stuff, I could see Daniel’s ( AM Austin) face. I could read his mind and it was saying ” KISS ASS”. So I turned to him and I said “this is why the female managers are my favorites. They remember my birthday, they remember Jackson’s birthday, they get me presents and send me kind letters. Daniel, my birthday is in a few weeks , so get me something good and you too will be one of my favorites.”
Had some talks about Cancun yesterday. Kevin and Jeff just got back from El Salvador. They were very positive about opening in El Salvador, let’s see what happens. Got a call from Dubai yesterday. The guy acted as if it was yesterday when we were in negotiations. ” I found a space” It’s been two years, I didn’t think you were still looking.”
I read today in ” The Times Picayune” that the mayor of New Orleans was encouraging businesses in the french quarter to come back next week. But in the same article the president of Entergy ( the electric company) said that he thought it would take up to 1 month to get full electric service in the french quarter. It’s so taxing, trying to get information . If there is no electricty then why the fuck should I send people back. No electricity means no ice, no ac, no soda systems, no music and generally no business. I wrote a letter to Mary Landreau, let’s see if she writes me back.

posted by Liliana @ 9:29 AM

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

I’m actually writting this from an apple store. Two and a half weeks and I’m in my 4th hotel, wow this is hard.
I was so pissed yesterday. There was a cover story in USA TODAy about Jacqui-imos restaurant. This restaurant ( incredible great food). Is based in New orleans but has a store also in New York. The story told about how they are trying to collect for their New Orleans employees. I yelled at Lee, goddamn it get us in the fucking paper!
Our on line merch store is temporarily down because it was based out of New Orleans. When we put it up a portion of the proceeds will go to the relief fund.
The salesmen are now looking at me, so got to go.

posted by Liliana @ 4:12 PM

Saturday, September 10, 2005

There are two people I have forgotten to mention but they did something so nice I need to speak about it. I asked Lee and Kevin to drive my car from the Atlanta airport to Austin, so that the car would be here when Jackson and I arrived. I got to Austin the day after they left Austin and they informed me that the car was in the hotel parking lot. Jackson and I were pretty beat the night we came in so I didn’t get the car until the next day. Lee kept on asking if I had retrieved the car. In my mind I was thinking, I bet they got the car washed ( it drives both of them crazy that I have this pimp car that has kid stuff thrown around it). So the next day I go down to get the car. Well I was right, they not only washed the car but they got it detailed ( it looked incredible inside and out). But what I then discovered was inside the car they had stacked toy after toy for Jackson knowing he had just lost everything. I was so overwhelmed by this I am tearing up right now writing about it. It was like Christmas for Jackson and he genuinely loved every gift they bought him. ( especially the bug vacuum and spiderman outfit). I have some wonderful friends .

posted by Liliana @ 1:39 PM

Friday, September 09, 2005

I’ve had a lot of people ask about Jackson’s guinea pigs and turtles. I’m not sure if they are alright or not. I can’t get in touch with my neighbors who were watching them. I just have a feeling when they evacuated they did not take them with them. I got an e-mail from a new orleans regular that is in one of the armed forces I asked him to try and get them. Tomorrow will be two weeks, I just don’t think they could of made it that long. I’m sick over it. In my short 4 years living in New Orleans, I became jaded to the seriousness of hurricanes. The routine was that you leave for a few days then you come back and everything is fine. Obviously, we were all wrong. If I could just replay that Saturday I would of done things a lot differently. But we can’t go back in time and we have to live with the mistakes we make.
There are a few people that are asking for jobs at the various coyotes claiming they are employees of the New orleans bar. To all the franchises, call the Nashville bar and leave a message for Chantel, asking for verification or write me an e-mail. I think Dallas hired someone who had been fired by us.
Good news, I think I found a place for Jackson and I to live. I hope it works out. I didn’t bring my check book and I am running low on cash. I’m trying to get a hold of someone at my bank but they have moved locations and I am not having any luck. I feel so badly for people who are not as fortunate as I am. Right now I’m relieing ( sp)on credit cards and my status as the founder of Coyote Ugly, most people aren’t that lucky.
Jackson has been incredible. He started his new school yesterday. He wasn’t shy he wasn’t scared. He just walked in like it was another day. I found out that two more students from his old school have enrolled next week in his class, so I’m happy he will have some comrads in arms. Tonight we are going to see the famous bats of Austin. He is beyond excited about that.
Bar stories, as per usual, Mike from Denver is on my shitlist. He did something so bad , I was actually speechless when Lee told me about it. I even laughed because it was so bad, I couldn’t believe it.
Nashville is having the worst week ever. Jeff Myers has started Tara from New Orleans this week. He said ” she’s great but can you tone down her language, this is the bible belt.” I said ” everyone from New Orleans has a foul mouth. It’s just part of who they are.” ” Tara, you say what ever you motherfucking want to say. ( that you know I would approve of)”
I got a call yesterday from an old employee of Austin. When she called I thought it was going to be a genuine call of concern and wishing me well. But she actually called because she wanted a job babysitting Jackson. Marshall and I laughed , he said that it was nice to know she hadn’t changed.
Daniel from Austin wanted me to add that he does love older women, but they have to have money to spend on him. I guess I wasn’t looking at their jewels when I saw the porn pictures on the bar computer.

posted by Liliana @ 10:23 AM

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Lil and everyone else,

Unfortunately my first email did not go out the way I intended it to. So I am going to try this again.
I have worked for coyote ugly for almost four years now, and to start from the beginning we take a very long time, but there are a few things I would like to say.
As everyone knows the New Orleans bar just went through a very difficult event. It has left my staff without a job for a few months as well as some of them without homes. This company and its employees have extended a helping hand out to everyone. Liliana has taken the time to place my staff in other coyotes across the states. She has made sure that everyone it accounted for and that they are safe. The general managers of the San Antonio, Nashville, Austin and Denver bar have opened their doors to my staff. Words cannot express how thankful
I am that this is going on.
Myself and a few of my employees are in Nashville, and every night the Nashville girls pass a bucket around the crowd to raise money for the New Orleans bar. Mike from Denver called me to tell me about the benefit concert they are doing to raise money for us. Marshall in his creative ways as always is doing several things to raise money for not only the New Orleans bar but the Police and Fire officers in New Orleans how are risking their lives every day to help get our city back and running. These efforts to raise money for us are incredible. I just want to express how thankful I am for everyone in this company and to remind people that we are very fortunate to have such a large family of people all over the states that are willing to step up when one of their fellow coyotes are in trouble.
To all of you I thank you on behalf of my staff for everything that you have done and continue to do for us. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and if there is anything I can do for y’all at any time please do not hesitate to ask.
Again Liliana thank you for just being there especially for me!!!

Love always,
Chantel and the staff of New Orleans.

posted by Liliana @ 8:42 PM

I’ve been in Austin for 24 hours. What a change! I went to Jackson new school. It was very nice. He’ll do well there. There is a lot of traffic in Austin. I spent about 3 hours in the car getting lost. I have no idea where I’m going to live. It’s a bit depressing to have to start over. I keep on beating myself up over some of my choices. I knew I was evacuating due to a hurricane. But I brought barely anything. I think in the back of my mind I thought it would be like every other hurricane and we would be back in our house in 3 days. I didn’t bring my laptop, so I have none of my important e-mail addresses or files. I didn’t bring any important paperwork. No photos. I don’t know what I was thinking when I packed my clothes. I brought a pair of sweats, sneakers, 2 dresses and a pair of white high heels. I think I just figured it would be a fun weekend in Ny. ( By the way went to the NY bar Sat. night The girls are so sweet. I really like the new girl Julianna, a few months she’ll be great.Very busy night) Jacqui bought me a few things . She gave me 3 pairs of jeans with Coyote Ugly on them. As much as I love my company, I’m a bit embarrassed that I have nothing sans Coyote Ugly on it. I really miss my house, my stuff. I just want 1 day to get into my house and grab some of my stuff. That is if it is not collapsed or completely vandilized. Unfortunately today I read that the area where I live has been hit badly by looters. I just keep telling myself how lucky we are, we are alive and I have the means to move somewhere and be alright. The Ny times wrote an article entitled ” The Haves and Have nots” , basically this article was about the people who lost everything and have no means to support themselves and the people who were better off and can afford to relocate. I know I’m in the “haves” group. Part of me feels guilty about that. I’m feeling pretty bad even scared sometimes but I’ll be fine. Those poor people who have lost everything, I feel so bad for them. I’ll set up something on the site for donations.
I have Rizzo and Michelle moving to Austin. Both of them are very anxious about moving to a city they don’t know. Today Michelle asked if she could be put close to Rizzo. I said to her ” I know you’re scared. But beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll get you a place to stay and a job. The girls are so kind and nice. Don’t worry.” It’s been hard because the New Orleans staff wants to be together but I have to spread them out. I can’t burden just one bar.
I’m sitting in the Austin bar’s office right now. Daniel had been in here last. I walk to the computer and there are pages of porn on the screen. He claims it was meant as a joke for me. But I saw a few pages of let’s call it ” geriatric love” I think Daniel might have a soft spot for older, very rubinesuqe women.

posted by Liliana @ 6:16 PM

Sunday, September 04, 2005

I feel overwhelmed with the heartfelt letters that I have received over the last few days. This tragedy really brought out the true good in people. Thanks everyone for so many wonderful prayers and thoughts.
I want to send out a special thanks a prayer to Joe, Chantel’s boyfriend. He is a police officer in New Orleans and has worked 24 hours a day for the last 7 days. He has made sure to keep watch on the bar and has tried to keep us informed about all of our neighborhoods and friends. ” Thank you Joe, for protecting our bar. We love you.”
Personally, I decided I needed to try and do what was best for Jackson. I chose two cities to investigate as our living alternatives. Those cities were NY ( Manhattan) and Austin Tx. I found schools in both cities that were similar in structure to Jackson’s school. I e-mailed and called both. A few hours after I did this I got a call from the director of the Austin school. He was so wonderful. He said to take my time and he would hold Jackson’s spot. He even offered help in relocating us to Austin.
As of yet I still have not heard from the French school in NY.
So the decision was easy, I moving to Austin. I realize that over the past few years I have made jokes about southerners, accents, and culture. And I can’t promise that I never will again. But what I want to say is that the southern culture is so giving and loving. I now understand a little better what ” Texas Pride” is really about. This Ol’ Yankee is moving to Texas Yeehaw.

posted by Liliana @ 1:57 PM

Friday, September 02, 2005

All the New Orleans staff is accounted for, which makes me very relieved. So much misery. So many people who lost everything. I feel a great deal of responsibility to make sure everyone is safe with a roof on their head. Today is the first day I really felt self pity and loss. I’m trying to push that aside. I have absolutly no idea if my house is alright. God, everything, I love is in there. Every picture of Jackson. Every memory. And the more practicle, all the paperwork for the building , my house insurance . Just everything. But I am alive. My son is alive and I’m trying to push those thoughts to the side.
I took Jackson to Jeff W’s house in upstate NY. He lives way in the country. Jackson loved it. He caught bugs, he went to a swimming hole. His favorite thing was playing with Jeff’s son Julian and his dog Fairfax. It was very peaceful place I understand why he lives there.
Jacqui used to be a personal shopper ( back in the day). So when I arrived back in the city she greeted me with 50 new outfits for Jackson. It was very nice because he doesn’t have anything anymore, so it was something on the list that I don’t have to do . We have been walking around with the same clothes for days. Thanks Jacqui.
Jackson definitely doesn’t get it. I think he thinks we are on an extended vacation. I’ve shown him the flood pictures but he keeps repeating that our house is just too big for any of that to happen. It’s funny how kids always remember things so much bigger and better then they are. But right now in my own mind, my house was the best house ever.
I want to thank all my managers, employees, franchises, so many people who have helped all my New Orleans family. I will never forget it.

posted by Liliana @ 7:26 PM

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

I have spoken with Chantel, Tara, Wendy,Will, Pump,Travis, Kerry,Shannon, Rizzo, and Carlos Any other employees PLEASE CALL ME. THE CORPORATE NUMBER IS 845-534-2672. Please get in touch with me. We have all the bars waiting to help out.
I want to extend a thanks not only to my other bars and employees for helping with homes, food, work but I received the nicest letter from the Chicago bar. I will never forget the help our Coyote family has shown. I will always be in debt to everyone for helping my New Orleans crew out.
New Orleans Crew Please call. I need to know that you are alright!

posted by Liliana @ 8:06 PM

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Right now I have 5 staff members headed toward the Nashville bar. If you guys spread out to the various bars everyone will be fine. Please for all the New Orleans crew, I have arranged it so you guys have homes in San Antonio and Austin.
Call the bars and ask for Kelly or Marshall. My phone is getting text messagese but very few incoming calls . I’ll make sure it’s on for anyone who needs help!

posted by Liliana @ 8:40 PM

I just spoke with Chantel. Thank god her , the girls, and the bouncers that weathered the hurricane at the bar are all fine. But she sounded very sad. She said that New Orleans may not have power for a month. I don’t know if my house is alright. Chantel said she woud try and get to my house and save Spot Spike Yertle and Mac. I’m so upset that I didn’t take them. I cant get in touch with my neighbors and I can’t imagine they stayed.
It is a sad day for so many people and animals. I can’t wait to get back home.
“Joe ( chantel’s boyfriend) please try and get in touch with the bar. Chantel is very worried.”

posted by Liliana @ 12:17 PM

Monday, August 29, 2005

Very scarey thinking you are going to lose everything. Right now Jackson and I are in NY. But it was a long trip to get here.
Friday night I made a surprise visit to the Denver bar. Mike thought I was coming to fire him, so when I got there he hands me his keys. I said ” What I can’t come visit my own bar?” Needless to say he was happy that he wasn’t getting fired.
So Saturday morning I flew back to New Orleans. When I landed I got a few messages from Jackson’s dad that he had taken Jackson to Houston and they were headed to NY . So I land I get my car and I go home to secure my house , the guinea pigs and the turtles. At that point the next door neighbors were staying so they were going to watch all our pets. ( I’m scared they left and the guinea pigs are going to die. I think the turtles will live) So I get in my car and I drive 8 hours to Atlanta. It was 4 am by the time I arrived, I got 2 hours of sleep and caught a plane to Ny so i could get Jackson. Needless to say it has been a long few days.
Now I’m very worried about Chantel and some of the staff. They stayed at the building I own that houses the bar. In one sense I feel that the building is one of the safest places they could stay if they were to stay in the city. But part of me feels this overwhelming sense of responsibility. God forbid something happens to the building then they are all in danger. I spoke with Chantel a million times last night but today I can’t get in touch with her. Supposedly it didn’t hit New Orleans with the intensity that it was supposed to hit with. But I watched a CNN report and the pictures looked pretty bad. I just hope everyone’s alright.I hope my house is alright. As I started this blog ” It is very scarey thinking you may lose everything. “

posted by Liliana @ 1:42 PM

Thursday, August 25, 2005

I was supposed to fly to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow but I had to cancel my trip because of Tropical storm Katrina. Denver is doing very well. I’m so pleased. Nashville had a good night last night as well.
The age old question ” Are transvestites allowed on the bar?” I received this question from Danielle ( denver am) yesterday. This has been a reoccurring question over the years. And there is never a black and white answer. The blanket rule is that no men are allowed on the bar. But I have fudged this rule in NY for some very very girl like transvestites. The NY transvestites that came in were hairdressers that happened to do Jacqui and my hair. They would dress to the nines and in fact I would go as far as to say some nights they looked better then the girls.
I think they have to look really great as girls to even consider it. Not an easy call.
So today was Jackson’s first day at school. It was so cute, he had on his little french school uniform. I was actually misty eyed dropping him off for his first day at Kindergarden. So something has changed at his school. Last year, I would show up with Jackson in my sweats no makeup etc, most of the moms looked exactly the same way. Today there was a slew of gorgeous french moms, skinny, completely made up, gorgeous. I said to Jacqui ” oh great now I have to dress up to drop Jackson off at school? What is this a fashion show?” ( all in humor)
One of the mothers came up and introduced herself to me ( american mom). She said at first she was a bit concerned because our kids’ teacher had a nose ring and a tattoo, but after watching her last year she realizd what a good teacher she is. I thought it was funny that she spoke so candidly to me considering I have 4 tattoos .
My little boy is growing up!

posted by Liliana @ 2:40 PM

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Yesterday one of my Nashville girls, Sammy Joe, got in a very bad car accident. Jeff Myers told me that she will be alright but she is very banged up. My prayers go out to her for a speedy recovery. Sammy Joe is a sports fanatic. So I appeal to her to hurry up and get well so she doesn’t miss football season.
So for all the bars I have to get my fingerprints taken. All the state liquor licenses require this. I have come to hate this process . It is a similar feeling as going to the DMV. Yesterday I had to get my fingerprints done for the Lauderdale license. Well I couldn’t of picked a worse week. Teachers and nurses were lined up to get this done as well. ( I didn’t know they were required to get fingerprinted) Monday, I actually left because the line was so long I knew it would be hours before my turn. Yesterday I went and there was virtually no line. There were only 4 people in the waiting room. The intersting part was that it still took 45 minutes before my name was called. With all this technology you would think they could access my prints from my other 6 liquor licenses?
A big thanks to the Denver bar. Every other bar I own is having a horrible week. It’s refreshing looking at the Denver numbers after seeing the crap everyone else is doing. I can’t wait until labor day is over!

posted by Liliana @ 10:41 AM

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

A heart felt apology to all my co workers and my friends who must deal with me in this time of pms Craziness. My new assistant Lenee is working her butt off, I’m very pleased. Yesterday she told me that she knew of Chantel. I then asked Chantel about her. ” You hired Crazy Lenee”. That statement definitely concerned me. But after speaking to Lenee , who seems quite proud of that moniker, it seems that she is a hard worker and in her youth partied hard as well. ” I know you are not supposed to pray for little things But God please let Lenee work out!”
Jackson’s baby sitter brought him home two turtles. She shows up in this little plastic bowl with water and the turtles. I call up Shannon ( bouncer at NO Bar his degree is in bioloogy specializing in aquatic animals) to ask how to care for them. Well it seems that even small turtles need a big space, heating rock, special food etc. Well since it is so hot down here, Jackson and I set up a kiddie pool . We bought rocks and fake plants. And we made them a wonderful ooutside aquarium. Well the woman at petco tells me I should try and feed them natural products. I agreed. She goes into the back of the store and comes back to hand me 10 live crickets. I said to her ” You’re kidding me.” Well long story short, she was not kidding. I get home and I approach Jackson and Rosa, ” Jackson Ilove you very much but I will never ever ever put my hand in this bag and grab a bug to feed the turtles. They are your turtles and you and Rosa have to feed them.” Well Rosa grabs the bag , Jackson and I watch from an appropriately safe distance, she sticks her hand in and grabs two crickets.” Jackson and I screetched for her. In her spanish tongue she said ” no tengo meido” ( can’t spell in spanish either). People are so funny. She is so scared of everything else but she did not have an ounce of fear touching those bugs. Go figure.

posted by Liliana @ 7:04 PM

Monday, August 22, 2005

I have hired someone to train with me this week as my personal assistant. I really hope it works out. She definitely got thrown in. Candice really left us in the weeds by not finishing her projects. Candice even forgot to book my trip and didn’t notify me until a few hours before I thought my flight was leaving. She’s having a hard time in life and for that I feel for her but I wish she hadn’t left us so high and dry. She really fucked up. This new girl has been here a total of 2 hours and Lee already has her doing a million things.
I’m crossing my fingers

posted by Liliana @ 6:46 PM

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Yesterday was the ” Margarita Pour Off” in San Antonio. I wonder how we did?
Marshall was telling me about the damage that has been taking place in the Austin bathrooms. We are a few weeks from renovating them and Marshall said he thinks this is fueling the increase in vandalism. I just don’t get it. When you’re drinking, the bathroom is your best friend. He told me that last week, some guy, did horrific damage to the bathroom. He said when Daniel called him, he was expecting to come in to find some stupid kid. He said he was shocked to see a grown business man had created such a mess. Supposedly the stressor for this guy was that in the bathroom there was an advertisement. On this advertisement there was a picture of a woman whom looked like his ex-wife. So fhe had to do it People are so fucked up! I hope that burst of anger felt good because Marshall and Daniel had him arrested. He can take his anger out in jail.
That’s it folks

posted by Liliana @ 12:11 PM

Saturday, August 20, 2005

There are only two bars I haven’t heard from this morning, NY and New Orleans but all the other bars did horribly last night. Those last few weeks before labor day are just disasterous. I’m hoping my two smallest bars bring in some good numbers. ( Knock on wood, cross my fingers) But Ny is doing very well. I’m very pleased. I wish Vina would take back Monday nights, she was a steady and Mondays are definitely down. But other then Monday, the bar has been doing phenomenally well.
I heard a story yesterday. One of the New Orleans bouncer’s girlfriend came in the bar a couple of nights ago. She went to the assistant manager and was badmouthing the staff and the bar. ( she was drunk and annoying) Her main gripe was that ” we can’t keep girls”. That seems so funny to me considering Tara and Chantel have been there 3 1/2 years, since we opened. Andrea and Wendy have been there 2 years. Ashley and jennifer have been there over 1 year. We only have a staff of around 13 girls in New Orleans. The other girls are relatively new but they replaced a few girls who had moved to other parts of the country and then a few girls who were in school just passing through New Orleans. I think that is a pretty good track record.
It is interesting to me when people who don’t know the bar business comment. Right now in New Orleans we have a lot of new girls. I think this is a positive thing. It breathes some fresh air into the bar. Once the girls are there a couple of months and get more comfortable with being a Coyote, they will be great. There are two new girls I am watching because I’m hoping they will rise to the next level and be great Coyotes ( maybe even traveling Coyotes). It’s a game of patience. Being a good saleperson aand performer takes time. The old girls will carry the bar through until the new girls step it up.
This goes out to the bouncer’s girlfriend; In the immortal words of All Goldstien from “Midnight Blue”, FUCK YOU. Wendy don’t worry, I’ve got your back.

posted by Liliana @ 7:58 AM

Friday, August 19, 2005

I’m actually laughing at how unorganized my office has gotten. I have so much mail that it is covering a third of the floor in my office. I wish I could be injected with that gene that helps you put things back where they belong. In theory the ” make a to do list” is great but I can’t seem to keep myself on track. Today I took on a small project that Candice was working on. I’m very happy with myself. I was able to lessen the corporate phone bills by $300 a month. I figure it will take me a few weeks to go through everything extra that she was doing. Unfortunately, by taking on her old job, I’m going to be slacking on my actual work. I have two leads for personal assistants, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
My house. I am in the process of painting my house. As per everything I do , I have become obsessed with this. I have walked all over uptown, New Orleans looking at different color combinations. Body color, trim color, accent color. Jacob even designed me a computer graph showing my house that allowed me to change the colors of the body, trim, accents etc. Unfortuantely with the computer, the color never matches real life, especially when you factor in sunlight. I decided to paint the house white. But the shutter color is plagueing me. Everyone with a white house goes for the traditional black shutter, sometimes dark green. I do not want to do that. I wanted a more warm weather feel to the house so I have been choosing from a few teal colors. The guy thinks I’m nuts . I have looked at so many teals that I am completely confused. I may have already written about this, but it seems to be consuming a lot of my time and energy.
Back to work

posted by Liliana @ 4:06 PM

I just read in the news that Eminem was admitted to the hospital for exhaustion and sleeping pill dependency. I can see how easily it would be to get dependent on sleeping pills. I myself take a melatonin every night before I go to bed. I can only imagine if a doctor perscribed a pill for me to sleep that I would have to take it everynight. Not being able to sleep really takes a toll on your body.
Yesterday I made Jackson lie and I feel guilty about it. We were flying in from San Diego and you can board early if you have a disability or are flying with a child under 4. I was on Southwest airlines. On Southwest there are no assigned seating. You get a letter on your boarding card, A, B, or C. Well we were C. so we would of boarded last and risked not sitting together. So I told him to tell the stewardess that he was 4 so we could get on early and find descent seats. Now if it was just me, no big deal, I’m already going to hell, what’s another little lie. But I feel like Jackson is so good that I just tainted him a bit. But we got great seats, so it worked out.
All the bars sucked last night except for Denver. I hate the end of summer all the numbers are down. Weather forecast for New Orleans: 100 degrees with 100% humidity. Another great day in the big Easy.
I have to hire an assistant today, things are starting to pile up.

posted by Liliana @ 8:17 AM

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

I’ve been getting quite a few resumes for my personal assistant job that is available. I would like to qualify that I would perfer a local New Orleans resident for this job. Thanks everyone but it’s just not a busy enough job to relocate someone.
Sammy Jo one of the Coyotes from Nashville just reminded me to keep my chin up because it’s almost Football season. She’s absolutly right!!
I wish I was more organized. I’ve heard there are courses in this. My need for a personal assistant would greatly diminish if I was. One of my friends was laughing because the thought of how disorganized my office will be in the next few weeks. This seemed very amusing to them. I KNOW! But I lived most of my life without an assistant, I’ll manage for a while.
Hopefully, it will be a short while.

posted by Liliana @ 2:45 PM

I have traveled around the world. I have stayed in all different hotels , some incredibly gorgeous and comfortable , some incredibly scary and roach infested. What is a common thread between all of them is the shampoo. Hotels now market all different shampoos in their guest kits. Some are Eucalyptus, some are lemon, and some are ginger but they all have one thing in common. They don’t clean your hair. You can use the whole bottle of these various shampoos and your hair always feels dirty.
I’ve got nothing good today and I’m tired of bitching.

posted by Liliana @ 1:12 AM

Friday, August 12, 2005

I woke up today and I swear the hand of God or something , has touched me. 1. I got a call this morning and it appears Jackson’s school saw things my way and switched him to the other class. 2. I see a light at the end of the tunnel with some nashville paperwork. 3. The Austin bar is the number 1 account on 6th St. according to the TABC 4. Chantel called me with good news for a change 5. I bought an i pod and I am listening to the cheesiest 70’s music ( right now I’m listening to Earth Wind and fire). and 6. I LOST TWO POUNDS.

Lee said something very funny yesterday. ( he is in Calagary scouting for us) He said ” well I didn’t ride a hundred miles for charity but I did walk 50 blocks and told the bums to go get jobs. That’s my good deed for the day”

By the way, yesterday I did not include the topper of my horrendous day, Candice gave her 2 week notice. To be perfectly honest , I almost had to laugh because it was just a perfect end to a disasterous day.
To Candice, “I wish you the best of luck. I hope all your new endeavors work out for you.” For everyone else, I need a personal assistant. I’ll be accepting resume’s so feel free to send them to the website.

posted by Liliana @ 3:52 PM

Thursday, August 11, 2005

I am trying to calm down. I am going to have a coronary today. The Nashville bar is killing me! I am having my house painted so outside every window someone is sanding and I have no privacy. Right now as I’m writing this there is a guy outside my window. New Orleans is having a horrible week. I had to pay some ridiculous water bill in NY to the fucking heinous landlord. And now what has pushed me to the point of explosion is that Jackson got assigned the new teacher for kindergarden. I specifically requested the other teacher. I know why he didn’t get the other teacher because I do not join every fucking committee or hang out at school all day volunteering for things. I love my son. I go to all his events. I chaperone field trips. But I am not the PTA mom type. Every week they have another event or committee. Chairmen for clean up day, chairman for festival week, chairman for chairing!! I am about to blow up! I am so angry!

posted by Liliana @ 5:20 PM

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

I’m very proud of Kevin B. We are sponsoring him to ride a century race ( 100 miles on bicycle). The charity he is racing for is “The Leukemia Soceity”. He also joined a program called ” Team in Training”. From what I understand this program is like a support group for non professionals who are training . It also helps you raise money for your charity . I’ll learn more about it, he just sent me an e-mail saying he joined me up. I don’t even own a bicycle. Well I’ll speak more about it after I go to a meeting. Shit, I walk and do yoga. I have no other athletic qualities. I hope the old adage is correct ” It’s like riding a bicycle. You never forget”.
Knock on wood the bars are doing well this week.

I just read the website. There are walking races too. Thank god.

posted by Liliana @ 6:06 PM

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

On a positive note. I have been getting loads of really nice e-mails about Panama City. This bar is a franchise so I don’t know all the girls personally, but I’m really proud of you guys. Good Job. Today I received a really complimentary letter about Nashville. Again good job! That makes me really happy.
Bad note: Cancun deal callapsed. “Dead as a door knob”. This is the fucking third space we have tried to negotiate. I told everyone in the company that I was going to stand my ground against the landlord and it just didn’t work out. I’m disaapoointed because this was an incredible location. But I feel that I was right to hold my ground and I would rather lose the space then sign a bad deal.
When it rains it pours , and it has poured this week.
I just spoke to Jacqui a few minutes ago and she said that her week is going badly as well so her phrase for the day is ” Go Fuck Yourself”. She said that it has made her feel a lot better. It’s the little things in life.

posted by Liliana @ 5:21 PM

Monday, August 08, 2005

The controversy: The ” Original Coyotes” feel upset because the new girls don’t have the kind of intensive training that they were given. As I always say ” That’s life .” These bars need to run and that means hiring new people. They still get training but they don’t get the 10 hour a day dance rehearsals. That just isn’t realistic.
Mike ( Denver), Jeff and I were talking about the Denver girls being upset when a new girl gets put on Friday or Saturday night. The girls don’t think like managers. When we put a new girl on Friday or Saturday night it’s because that girl has extensive bartending and we need a strong bartender on. The girls then complain that the new girls don’t know all the dances. All I can say to that is that these are real bars and bartending comes first. We put a lot of time and effort into making the girls into performers and bartenders. The professional bartenders are expected to show up for dance rehearsals , the non bartenders are expected to learn how to bartend. Each bar has a dance captain who throws dance rehearsals and her goal is to get the bartenders to be dancers. What bothers me is that the nonbartenders think they can be mediocre bartenders and get away with it. NO YOU CAN’T. I’m very pleased with how seriously the dance captains take their jobs. Now I need the assistant managers and head bartenders to start getting the performers to a higher level of bartending. It is unacceptable for some of the non bartenders to never progress as solid bartenders. Coyote Ugly is a bar first and foremost. That’s all I have to say about that!
On another note. Denver had a staff meeting yesterday and I have heard that it went really well. Jeff Myers told me how proud he was of the whole staff. That really warms my heart. Excellent!

posted by Liliana @ 4:08 PM

Peter Jennings died today. When I was 19 years old, I dated a camera man who worked on the abc news show. I actually went to the studio and met Mr. Jennings once. What I remember most is the absolute blind respect his staff had for him. From his fellow broadcasters, camara people, to the guy running coffee, they all spoke about him with such pride and honor. He was a man dedicated to his field and excelled at it over over 20 years. Rest in peace.
Saturday night one of the New Orleans girls didn’t show up for her shift. That so pisses me off. I went down to the bar to check things out and Chantel had asked a new girl to fill in. As we are watching her, Chantel and I look at each other and say ” she’s on something”. Your tongue just doesn’t move that way without chemical help. So unfortunately we lost two girls this weekend. I heard some rumor from a girl who had quit that she was bitching about how Chantel and Wendy are backstabbers because they don’t let you finish out your two weeks if you leave notice. NEWSFLASH: this is a cash business very few people are allowed to stay for their notice in any bar or restaurant, not just Coyote, that is common practice. We do allow a long time girl who is moving on with her life to finish her two weeks. We even throw her a party. But for those who don’t care about the bar and are just passing through, no they don’t get to finish their two weeks. And no they don’t get a party.
What is sad is there are so many great girls at all the various Coyotes but it is always the troublemakers that I talk about.. Today I am going to ask all the GM’s to make sure they compliment the hard workers, I want them to know how much we appreciate what they do for the bars and how hard they work.
Happy Birthday Chantel!

posted by Liliana @ 10:23 AM

Thursday, August 04, 2005

The good news: Congrats to the Atlanta Coyote. Tomorrow will be their 3 year anniversary!!!!
The bad news: As some of you have already heard the Boston Coyote Ugly closed down this past weekend. It was a very sad day for many of the regulars and the long time Coyotes. I’ve been receiving many e-mails asking why? So here goes:
The Boston Coyote was a licensed ( franchised) bar. Many things have transpired during there short lifespan. The city of Boston was very strict with their rules and regulations which hurt the bar ( no dancing on the bar, no bodyshots etc). This made it very difficult to really create the Coyote Ugly Product there. The second thing that really hurt the bar was the owners. They didn’t pay bills and kept getting fines. They dug a hole the bar could not get out of.
I want to send a message to the girls. “Thank you for being a part of Coyote Ugly. I’m sorry that I did not have a good relationship with the owners , therefor did not spend time helping you. I have had hundreds of letters complimenting you girls and it makes me proud that you had so many loyal patrons. I am currently trying to find a space and reopen in Boston as one of my own Coyotes. Come down and talk to me when we finally get there. Again thanks !”

posted by Liliana @ 1:13 PM

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

I’m on my 6th day without coffee. I feel pretty good. Again Starbucks has made it possible for me to keep my morning ritual by making the “almost good” green tea frappiccino. I was very pleased with Nashville’s numbers last night. Nashville has a few new girls and as I always say, I think they are breathing new life into the bar.
I met with Daniel from Austin last night in New Orleans. I am going on record to say that Friday night Katie did an excellent job but she did complain about her period and likes to gross Daniel out by threatening tampon removal. Enough said.
I walked in the New Orleans bar yesterday afternoon and the bar was so hot. The AC went down. Thank god ” Sic Boy” and comrads (our resident AC guys)came and fixed it. What a relief . It is fucking hot here!
I just donated to a cause called “Action Against Hunger”. I hope my son never knows how it feels to be truly hungry. The poverty around the globe is staggering and I felt that I should do my part and help give someone fresh water and a solid meal. I think it does more for me to donate to these causes then it does for them. I think today will be a good day.

posted by Liliana @ 11:36 AM

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

It’s interesting because when everything is going well and the lines of communication are up and running well, we really are a well oiled machine. Just recently in two seperate instances I have had to correct 2 different managers. ” You may live there and we may in theory call it “your bar” because of that. But be very clear, that bar you are working at is “MY BAR” and not yours.” I hate pulling that card but I sometimes egos and youth can cloud people’s judgement.
What a week.

posted by Liliana @ 3:35 PM

Monday, August 01, 2005

All the bars did very well on Saturday. Kaui from Denver got kicked off the ” Making the Band” show. I’m very sorry for her but I’m pleased that she started back at the bar this past weekend.
Jackson and I made a volcano and mixed vinegar and baking soda to create lava. It was definitely very cathartic. He has a great idea. He wants to create a bigger area put all his dinosaur pieces out and then erupt the volcano so that it covers the dinosaurs like it probably did in real life. For whatever reason this project seems quite fun to me.

posted by Liliana @ 7:00 AM

Saturday, July 30, 2005

I heard a very funny line today that I believe to be absolutly true. ” I don’t have to go to Meterology School to know the fucking weather forecast in New Orleans. It’s 98 degrees with a 100 % chance of scattered thunder storms. ” No doubt that forecast would be right 90 % of the time. I hate this weather, it just makes me feel lazy, tired and cranky. I’ve got to get the hell out of here.
Daniel from Austin and I placed a little bet during the San Antonio anniversary party. Robin and Katie ( Coyotes from Austin)were hanging out with Jacqui and myself Thursday night. Daniel said I bet you they either call in sick or come to work exhausted tomorrow night. I said I bet they won’t. Well I asked the results. He said that Robin was great but Katie kept complaining of cramps. He must of been badgering her about drinking at the party because finally she said ( this is gross everyone) ” Do you want me to show you my bloody tampon to prove it”. Well on that note I think we can call our bet a draw.

posted by Liliana @ 4:43 PM

Friday, July 29, 2005

The anniversary party was so much fun. The girls were excellent and it was fun because some staff from Denver and Austin came in , so we all had a great time.
The San Antonio girls made me cry with joy yesterday. They had us all come in at 5 pm. They had personalized presents for Jacqui, Kevin, Lee and myself. They gave me a beautiful jacket with my name and San Antonio embroidered on it. They also personalized boybeater shirts for all the girls including Jacqui, Kelly, Jenn H, and myself. Everyone’s had there own personal saying on it. The last gift was very humourous it was a bottle of crown and the bag that it came in Had ” Don’t just get Drunk Get Ugly on it.
” I can’t tell you girls how very touched I was to get such special gifts. I will treasure them forever.”
Congrats to the whole staff at San Antonio. 1 year down and 100 to go!

posted by Liliana @ 5:38 PM

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Some shit happened with the Denver bar this weekend. Well last night I spent the night speaking to a few people involved etc. As far as this particular situation, I’m looking into it. What really disturbed me was a reference a few of the people made about a barback that we have there. ( To be completely clear , the barback was not involved in the incident that transpired). But as these people were telling their individual stories about their experiences at the bar , the same name kept coming up. The name happened to be of a barback. And this barback is addressing the girls as a superior. He orders them around while they are working and has ( obviously successfully) created a presence for himself as a manager. Kudos to him that he has successfully intimidated these Coyote Girls. But as all good things in life, this will now end. He was not hired as a manager by me and does not have the authority to undermine the girls or the other managers.
Let’s move on. Tonight is the San Antonio 1 year anniversary. The girls have been practising so hard. I’m really proud of them. There WAS a new girl who showed up late yesterday and today. I couldn’t allow her to belittle the hard work of the other girls, so I let her go. It saddens me when not only do some people not respect and honor their jobs but they don’t back up their co workers and friends. On the good note, really proud of these girls and tonight will be awesome.

posted by Liliana @ 1:04 PM

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Said hello to the Austin girls yesterday, they are so cute. Really nice girls. Now I’m in San Antonio and the girls here are so nice too. ( PMS) It makes me so happy and teary eyed when I see how hard the girls work and how much they love their respective bars.
I’m very excited about the 1 year anniversary tomorrow. A few Austin girls are coming down so it should be fun.
Heath came in the office today ” Lil can you please tell the girls to stop eating so many hamburgers and shit after their shift?” Nothing puts on weight quicker then the 4 am fast food run.
All I got.

posted by Liliana @ 11:31 AM

Friday, July 22, 2005

Slammed my finger in the car door. That was quite fun. My computer is back up and running, so I’m happy about that. Kevin is coming into New Orleans tonight to help with some handywork at the bar.
I’ll be down at the New Orleans bar tonight. A few regulars fixed the AC ( for free). They said since it was the place they hung out , they needed for the ac to work properly, so it really was more for them then for us. I don’t care what the reasons, all I can say is thanks and Halleluah ( No idea how to spell that).
A few hickups with the florida projects. Nothing unfixable but unfortunately we will probably have to wait a few extra weeks before opening.
Marshall went on a vacation. As a surprise I got intouch with the manager of his hotel and told him to give Marshall a complimentary dinner for two, spare no expense. I just got the bill. $34. So I had Candice call and ask if they had impressed upon Marshall that it could be whatever he wanted. They claim they did, but that was all he spent. OK that’s cool with me.
That’s all I got!

posted by Liliana @ 1:40 PM

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Hot tip from Tara in New Orleans ” Use a sharpie pen as eyeliner, will never smudge or wear off.” I was extremely skeptical about this but she said she learned the trick from someone who did makeup on film sets. The problem while working at these bars is you ” sweat”. It sucks having mascara and eyeliner running down your face because you just did a dance number , and can’t help but perspire. I asked her if it was permenant . And she said she applies it before her shift and is able to wash it off when she gets home. Ok so that’s the Coyote tip of the day.
My brand new computer just crashed, I’m very worried something is terribly wrong. I just got it a little over a month ago and spent a lot of money on it. I will be very upset if someone can’t fix it.

posted by Liliana @ 8:07 PM

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Finally a sex tape worth viewing. Supposedly there is a tape of Collin Farrel out there. I’ll have to keep my eye out for it.
I felt the bartenders class in New Orleans went very well. There are quite a few new girls and it was like a breathe of fresh air to see the girls excited. I’m sure they thought I was hard on them but I just don’t want them to pick up the bad habbits of the old girls. There is one girl, Michelle, who is a fantastic dancer. All in all I left feeling pleased that we are not so short handed and that we got rid of a few bad eggs. I told the girls that I knew it was a hard job and that we expect a lot from them. But in 10 years hopefully they will look back and say “that was the best job of my life”. Personally, I still keep in touch with a few girls from the early years of Coyote. They may be married, with kids, or just off somewhere else but they always talk about Coyote with such fondness.
Next week San Antonio 1 year anniversary. Jacqui and I already have a plan to simply have fun and drink.

posted by Liliana @ 6:16 PM

Monday, July 18, 2005

Tomorrow there is a mandatory bartending class in New Orleans. A lot of new girls. I always like when there are some new girls it tends to kick the older girls in the butt.
Jacqui and i were laughing so hard today. She is going down to both Austin and san Antonio to throw two two day classes for each bar. They will vbe mandatory dance classes. Well Kelly and Heath were concerned that the girls will be tired for the anniversary party. Jacqui and I were roaring laughing. My god, most of these girls are 23 years old. At 23 years old , the only time you are tired is when you work 5 nights in a row and after every night you go home to your boyfriend’s apartment and have sex for 2 hours. So I’m not too concerned about their physical well being. Those San Antonio girls are troopers they’ll make it.
Calendar is proving to be anotherfull time job.
Big photo shoot in Denver today, I hope it went well.

posted by Liliana @ 9:12 PM

Saturday, July 16, 2005

From Jenn Hawk, SA manager. Response to negative e-mail:
Lil,
I really thought about what happened on that day. I wish that customers that have a complaint would ask for a manager at the time so we could help them.
On that note the girls have to have a manager to do a return or exchange. No one came in that day and exchanged a shirt or even complained. Had they I would have been more than happy to try and rectify the situation. Marsha doesn’t work on the weekends and Summer didn’t work until that night. Roni, Jenny Y.& Karen were the bartenders that day and I am a Brunette now so I don’t know who would be the blonde this man was describing.

So I will back the girls. Perhaps the gentleman was not correct on the day or he simply exagerated the story . On another note : No food during shift.
On my way to the New Orleans bar

posted by Liliana @ 4:00 PM

Friday, July 15, 2005

I think it is hip wadders. Dumb waiters are little movable storage units that go from the lower floor to the top floor. Sorry my fishermens lingo is not accurate.

posted by Liliana @ 11:21 PM

I just got a very disturbing letter about the San Antonio bar. This couple went into the bar during the day to buy a few t-shirts. The letter described in detail the poor service that they confronted when entering the bar. ” The bartender had to PRY herself from her lunch”. That pisses me off to no end. No fucking food on your shift . And it took them asking three girls before someone would actually help them. Get off your fat ( only an expression) asses and sell something. whether it be a t-shirt , a drink, whatever. SELL SOMETHING! THAT”S WHAT YOU WERE TRAINED TO DO!
Now on the other side. I will wait to hear an explanation from the San Antonio girls. Always want to be fair.
I actually dreamed about the calendar last night. I have been looking at endless amounts of clothing and accessories on line. Do you know if you type in camouflage pants there is a link to girls wearing dumb ( maybe hip wadders) wadders while in bikinis? That was pretty funny. The whole calendar is girls fishing in wadders and bikinis ( butt showing).

posted by Liliana @ 4:58 PM

Thursday, July 14, 2005

For the last few weeks Jackson has been talking about saving the sharks and the whales from illegal fishing practices. Tonight we watched ” Free Willy 3″. I thought it would be educational for him to learn about the real whale ” Keiko”. Keiko was the real whale that played Willy in the movies. This may have backfired because I did not know that Keiko had died. The only positive thing was reading about his relocation from cramped aquarium life into the wild. His final time was spent in the waters of Iceland where he was monitored by experts and able to come and go at his own will.
I hope his last few years were beautiful and free.

posted by Liliana @ 10:05 PM

Back at work today. A lot going on. Candice just secured an apartment in Ft. Lauderdale so we are ready to roll there. I am bracing myself for some conclusions about the Cancun deal. Jeff, always creating more appointments for me. The calendar is a fun little project that I am excited about starting. And the most fun, I am doing bookkeeping today. Yuck, but has to be done.
Kim, NY AM, is back from Rio. She said she had a great trip. This was the first time she has ever left the country. I’m glad I got to be part of her first stamp in her passport. Happy honeymoon!

posted by Liliana @ 12:17 PM

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Lost my cell phone charger. For some weird reason my computer isn’t charging, so every minute I’m expending the battery life. So on and so forth , that was my day. But the greatest moment today was when Jackson was so excited that he jumped up and hit me directly in the nose. Unfortunately this happens once a week with him but I was at Sea World and I think the nose bleed that followed freaked people out. I swear I think he keeps rebreaking my nose. He doesn’t mean it. He gets really excited and he doesn’t evaluate his space and yours. But today my teeth actually ached after the blow.
I have no good bar stories today. I have consciously not opened any of my e-mails from the bars and I have not answered phone calls from the various managers, because frankly I don’t want to hear the same shit.
I’ll be back in the thick of things on Friday. The one thing that made me laugh today was looking at Jeff Myers prom picture on the web site. 20 + years ago. It’s the small things in life that make me smile.

posted by Liliana @ 12:58 AM

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Bodyshot war continue. Tampa with record 127 bodyshots! Let’s break it down, 8 girls 10 hours. 1.5 bodyshots per girl per hour.
1. Tampa 127 10 hours 8 girls
2. San Antonio 115 7 hours 6 girls ( I think)
3. NY 103 8 hours 3 girls

posted by Liliana @ 9:09 PM

Ordered Milk and tea last night at 9 pm, I’m still waiting for it over 12 hours later.
The Cancun landlords are trying to bully us with some absolutly ridiculous lease provisions. I told Jeff not to back down even if we lose the deal. Jeff has learned quite a bit about opening a business in Mexico. It actually is quite interesting. As an american I forget that Mexico is actually a socialist country.
We sent a scout down to El Salvador. He was quite impressed , so we are pursueing our options there.
The Calendar:
1. The pictures I posted are not the calendar pictures, just the pictures that were submitted to me.
2. I have received many letters about how I should have picked “so and so” not “so and so”. There are many beautiful girls who work at the various Coyote Uglies. Some did not want to participate or their managers did not submit their pictures.
3. Las Vegas: The owners did not submit 1 picture of any of their girls. Obviously you see how much they care if you look at the lack of attention they put into their page on my website. I think that page hasn’t been upgraded in 3 1/2 years. Next year I will allow the girls to submit pictures without going through their managers so that the franchised bars can participate equally.
On a positive note I can’t wait for the calendar shoot

posted by Liliana @ 12:34 PM

Friday, July 08, 2005

My insomnia is at a record high this week. What a week. I lost power for 36 hours in New Orleans. My house was close to 100 degrees by the second day. I decided to take Jackson and go to another city for the week. Well it took the ticket counter woman 45 minutes to figure out how to print our boarding passes. We then proceed to the gate. When they call our numbers to board the plane, they pull us to the side for an extra security check. They actually padded Jackson down. We finally land and they lost one of our bags. I rented a car but after waiting in line for 45 minutes, we just took a cab. Then we get to the hotel, that I paid a lot of money for, and our view is a parking lot when I specifically paid for an ocean view. The manager says it isn’t their problem because I used hotels.com. We then order room service it takes an hour and a half to get to the room because they dropped the order. This morning I asked for the mini bar key so I can get Jackson some juice, well that was a half hour ago and still no key. My anger is reaching the boiling point. MY REVIEW: NEVER GO TO HOTEL DEL CORONADO
But on a positive note, I love my wonderful son. He was such a trooper. He got to our room last night and sat on the balcony over looking the parking lot and street and said ” momma we have a view of the whole world.” He actually wanted to eat dinner on the balcony so he could watch all the cars go by. He is such a happy boy, I’m so blessed.

posted by Liliana @ 11:05 AM

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

I think I finally made a decision about the top 12 girls. I will post them later on today. This was very difficult . I feel bad because there are one franchise who didn’t enter anyone. I know the owners dislike me but it’s sad for the girls because had they made it, it could of been something great on their resumes. Next year I’ll allow the franchised employees to just send the pictures to me and bypass their managers.
Nashville had a killer night last night!! I just got off the phone with Jeff M. . After our business talk I said to him ” I haven’t had my coffee yet, I have nothing to say to you.” His response ” I have nothing to say to you either. Talk tomorrow” He told me the bar was just filled with rednecks yesterday ( I love rednecks). He said ” you know they’re rednecks when the first two orders of the day are Old Milwaukie’s Best Lite and Stroes ( can’t spell)” Well we don’t serve either of these fine beers.
A friend of mine used to own a bar in Colorodo . He would have a ” Bad beers of the world Night.” I always wanted to do that. I think I will.

posted by Liliana @ 10:18 AM

Friday, July 01, 2005

I have received so many great entries for the Calendar. I have looked at the pictures over and over, It’s so hard.

posted by Liliana @ 6:43 PM

Thursday, June 30, 2005

So I am at my accountant’s office today. After we spoke about the weighty subjects we started shooting the shit, so to speak. I was telling her that Kevin needed a translator for his work in Mexico. I told her that I may ask my sister because she is fluent in spanish. I told her that my sister has experience translating because she translates for the spanish speaking countries during ” The Special olympics” and she also goes to Guatemala every year to help as a translator when her Presbyterian church ( she converted) helps to build churches. Mary, my accountant started roaring laughing, ” YOU RUN COYOTE UGLIES WHILE YOUR SISTER BUILDS CHURCHES AND HELPS THE HANDICAPPED!”
I never actually thought of it that way. OK in my defense she didn’t start these charitable acts until a few years ago. Fine, now I will go and volunteer for some fucking charity. ( I do give money to a lot of charities if that makes a difference.) Some people are just born good and some people have to work at it. I’ll have to work a little harder.

posted by Liliana @ 9:40 PM

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

I’m starting to get the entries for the first Coyote Ugly Calendar. There are some very pretty girls working at these bars. It’s going to be very difficult to come down to twelve. I know the calendar needs to be pictures of our hot girls ( hot girls sell things, I live by that motto). But I thought it would be a cool idea to put some substance into it. I thought the twelve months could signify the ascending history of women in the bar industry. I figured the girls could still look hot but the calendar could also tell a story. Well Lee has shot the idea down every time. I know that people just want to see hot woman but why can’t we give them both pictures and historical content?
Denver and Nashville send in your pictures!!!
How am I going to get Jacqui and I in this calendar?

posted by Liliana @ 8:35 PM

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

What a week. New Orleans has been so slow the last few days. I think the Denver girls are jinxing us. ( as long as they don’t jinx denver, it’s alright). So much petty crap going on. I got a letter from one of the girls from one of my bars. The gist of the letter ,in the words of Cuba Gooding from the movie “Jerry Maquire”, : ” why isn’t anyone showing me love” ” Show me the money”. Blah, Blah, Blah. This girl happens to be a very strong performer. But she doesn’t seem to get the idea of being a team player . She is also lacking in the kind of patience it takes to excell with the company. Almost all issues with the girls are resolved when they try harder or communicate better. I responded to this letter by saying ” yes you are very good. But everyone is replaceable.” I called that particular girl’s manager and said feel free to fire her if she keeps up with this bullshit and if I receive another letter, I’ll fire her myself.
I wish people wouldn’t keep writting me with ” please open in my town”. I get thousands of e-mails and it becomes overwhelming when all the e-mails are essentially the same. My standard response is : “I’m working as fast as I can.”
Definitely not a good day for me. I have been on the phone all day and I’m cranky.

posted by Liliana @ 5:41 PM

Friday, June 24, 2005

Yesterday mellissa brought up her discontent at the fact that new girls applying to already open bars , don’t have to do such extensive training like the original Coyotes for each store. I told her that’s just the way it is. The bars are already open. There is no space and time to have 1 new girl train for 10 days 10 hours a day while the bar is already open for business. I understand that the original Coyotes in each location go through a grueling training series. But the bars move forward and they need new employees. The only sentiment I can relay to the original Coyotes is this: ” You guys were involved in an experience that may have changed your life. You get to watch the opening of one of the bars and be part of opening night with all the press and hoopla. The girls who start after the bars are open will never know how it feels to be part of something so special. But they are part of our company and even though they didn’t start from the beginning, they can be a huge part of the character and success of the bars.”

posted by Liliana @ 1:01 PM

My Horoscope:
“Your usual level head and cool façade will be challenged today. Relax Libra. Falling off the fence you’re perched on is no big deal. You’ll fall into a whirlpool of emotions that other people have created. As long as you’re a good swimmer, you’ll be fine. If not, invest in a life jacket.

In a Nutshell: Laugh in the face of adversity and you’ll move forward with ease. There’s no point in fighting destiny Libra, particularly if you’re losing!”

Everyday my cool facade is challenged so I’m not scared.
Kevin flew from Mexico City to Miami. I think we can open Ft. lauderdale in the next 4 – 5 months. Just got in San Antonios numbers. They are kicking some butt! Kelly runs that bar on a dime that’s what I love about her. She wrote Lee and I a letter about not wanting anymore new merchendise due to a shortage of storage space. She said she can’t stop thinking about how to reorganize the merch area, even when she goes home. OCD. I have really grown to appreciate people with OCD, they are very organized.
Going to the New Orleans bar today and see Ghetto and Mellissa from Denver. That’s it.

posted by Liliana @ 12:27 PM

Thursday, June 23, 2005

I just hooked up my i-site computer video cam so I can start video conferencing. It seemed like a good idea at first. Now I realize I am going to have to put on make up for a fucking conference call. I usually don’t shower until afternoon because I’m on the computer or the phone all day. Damn!
Kevin is in Mexico city right now. The last time he was in Mexico, on business, he was told about the high kidnapping rate in Mexico City. Well for the last week all I’ve heard from him is ” Lil will you pay the ransom if I get abducted?” ( matters how much). Jeff W. was supposed to meet him there but after he departed his first flight and walked to the connecting flight, he realized that he had lost his passport. Hence, he could not go. Well that left poor Kevin in Mexico all alone to tend to business. I laughed so hard yesterday when Jeff called me because I could only imagine kevin fearing for his life in Mexico City. To my surprise I recieved a really upbeat e-mail from kevin saying that he has had great meetings and is having a wonderful time. I don’t know if I should attribute this change to him confronting his fears and moving past them or maybe nobody wanted to kidnap him? Regardless, I’m very pleased with his progress in Mexico.
Lee is in toronto right now. I just read his lastest update on his scouting mission and he mentioned that he is a judge tomorrow night at a flair bartending competition. I give Lee credit. He can go to foreign cities and make contacts and friends within the day.
Congrats to Kaui from Denver!!! She made it on the show ” Making the band” !! We’re all routing for you.

posted by Liliana @ 5:06 PM

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

People seem to be a bit confused. Ft. Lauderdale is a different site from Coco Walk. I have a feeling Ft. Lauderdale will open up before Cocowalk, there is a lot less construction on that site. I will keep everyone posted.
Chantel just gave me a letter that was mailed to the bar for me. This letter is from Marquette High School in Ottawa , Illinois. Well hello Marquette students. The letter is from Sharon. She says she is on the supprt staff at the High School. I have no idea what that means but I have a feeling it is not from a staff member because of all the typos and misspellings. Well if you read my blog you should know that accurate spelling is not a measure of success. ( Even though I am thoroughly embarrassed with my poor spelling and grammer).
Today was another busy day. GIRLS WANTED IN NEW ORLEANS PRONTO. We just had a few girls move and now we are short about 4 girls. We actually have Mellissa and Ghetto coming in from Denver to help out for a week. One of the New Orleans girls was so cute today. She was going on a first date and she was worried about whether the guy would pay or not. Chantel and I told her ” do not go for the check. Be cool and let him take care of it.” It was a very endearing moment.
Mike from Denver called me today and he said that he is trying very hard to spread his time evenly with home and work but work was winning. I told him to that it will get better when the bar is more acclaimated to his style. Family first, Always!

posted by Liliana @ 8:29 PM

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

What a day today. Jackson was under the weather and I had a million calls and e-mails. I’m crossing my fingers Jeff and Kevin are heading to Cancun to try and work on this project. There is a Baptist convention in New Orleans. I wish the convention was over( not that I have anything against Baptists) but th convention is really hurting business. Denver back in the game this week. Last night Lee was scouting a specific bar that we heard was for sale. The bar happened to be a gay bar. I was laughing so hard when he called and told me he was a little nervous about spending the night there himself. I said ” Maybe you’ll get lucky!” He wasn’t amused by my comment. It must be so demanding being a man and having to expend so much energy proving how manly you are. ( not just Lee but I’m talking about most men)
What was quite interesting is that he also went to a bar that had a mechanical bull. He said that this girl went on the bull , took her bra off and rode the bull topless. Now he is not in America right now. My god, in the states the liquor authorities would be all over you if you let someone do that.
Signed in Ft. Lauderdale today!!!! Yahoo

posted by Liliana @ 7:09 PM

Monday, June 20, 2005

Jenn Hawk from SA sent me something very funny. After reading this I take back everything I have said or thought about southerners.

“I am sick and tired of hearing about how dumb people are in the South. I challenge any so-called smart Yankee to take this exam:

1. Calculate the smallest limb diameter on a persimmon tree that will support a 10 pound possum.

2. Which of these cars will rust out the quickest when placed on blocks in your front yard?
(A) ’65 Ford Fairlane
(B) ’69 Chevrolet Chevelle, or
(C) ’64 Pontiac GTO.

3. If your uncle builds a still, which operates at a capacity of 20 gallons of shine produced per hour, how many car radiators are required to condense the product?

4. A woodcutter has a chainsaw, which operates at 2700 RPM. The density of the pine trees in the plot to be harvested is 470 per acre. The plot is 2.3 acres in size. The average tree diameter is 14 inches. How many Budweisers will be drunk before the trees are cut down?

5. If every old refrigerator in the state vented a charge of R-12 simultaneously, what would be the percentage decrease in the ozone
layer?

6. A front porch is constructed of 2×8 pine on 24-inch centers with a field rock foundation. The span is 8 feet and the porch length is 16 feet. The porch floor is 1-inch rough sawn pine. When the porch collapses, how many hound dogs will be killed?

7. A man owns a Tennessee house and 3.7 acres of land in a hollow with an average slope of 15%. The man has five children. Can each of his grown children place a mobile home on the man’s land and still have enough property for their electric appliances to sit out front?

8. A 2-ton truck is overloaded and proceeding 900 yards down a steep slope on a secondary road at 45 MPH. The brakes fail. Given average traffic conditions on secondary roads, what is the probability that it will strike a vehicle with a muffler?

9. A coal mine operates a NFPA Class 1, Division 2 Hazardous Area. The mine employs 120 miners per shift. A gas warning is issued at the beginning of the 3rd shift. How many cartons of unfiltered Camels will be smoked during this shift?

10. At a reduction in the gene pool variability rate of 7.5% per generation, how long will it take a town which has been bypassed by the interstate highway to breed a country and western singer?

I betcha thought that test was gonna be an easy one, didn’t you? It’s okay if you didn’t do all that well. Just goes to show you… There’s a hole heap of things that big city book learning don’t prepare you for in this life.

As an added bonus for taking the “REDNECK CHALLENGE” here’s some Southerly advice that may come in handy down the road a piece… Next time you are too drunk to drive, walk to the nearest pizza shop and place an order. When they go to deliver it, catch a ride home with ’em.”

___________________________________________

posted by Liliana @ 4:00 PM

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Denver has had a very crappy week, I’m definitely upset over it. I’m in Vancouver still and the weather is always overcast. Now the temperature is great at 65. I couldn’t belive that Denver was at 90 degrees yesterday. The Denver staff seems to be taking a few liberties that I do not like I’m going to have to speak with Mike. Pretty calm night last night.

posted by Liliana @ 12:44 PM

Thursday, June 16, 2005

I’m in Vancouver right now. Perhaps Coyote Ugly will finally get opened up here. Very clean city, I can’t quite peg describing it. Smaller then San Francisco but bigger then New Orleans.A lot of buildings that are designed with floor to ceiling windows and glass. Not modern looking but very clear and open. It reminds me of another city but I can’t place which one it is. The weather is about 67 degrees. What a relief leaving New Orleans where it is 100 degrees with 99% humidity.
I want to bitch about the Coca Cola company. In all my bars we have the soda guns. In every one of the bars Coca Cola sets up the guns differently. In Nashville there are 2 G’s on the gun, neither of them referring to Ginger Ale. I think Q ia Diet Coke in Nashville. Q should always be tonic water because it stands for Quinine. In New Orleans I think the T is Diet Coke and in NY the juices are all backwards. It just pisses me off that such a big company can not take the time to properly install the guns so they are easy to use. When I go to these bars I usually end up bartending a bit. It’s embarrassing having to test all the buttons to find the soda that is appropriate for the drink I’m making. Just venting.

posted by Liliana @ 9:25 PM

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Saturday was unbelievably busy in Nashville. The girls definitely stepped it up a notch. I’m very proud of the whole staff for putting their hearts and souls into the Coyote this week. It’s such a nice feeling to know how many people love that bar. Kevin Bailey came up Saturday night. I asked him to help Jeff Myers out Sunday morning. When I saw him next he told me an amusing story. He said that he and Jeff M. were in the office recounting the awesome week the bar had. During that time two security guards came in to talk about some bullshit argument they were having. Kevin said he laughed so hard because jeff said to them ” I’m coming off of the best week I have ever had in my life in the bar business. Don’t fuck up my moment with this petty bullshit!” Then he shoed them out of the office. Kevin said it was a classic moment and jeff didn’t stop smiling for a second. Omar our chef worked his butt off as well. He deserves a lot of credit. If he could only make the wings like I have told him to he would be perfect. He fights me on it but I will put my wings up against his any day. Regardless, he is a great asset to that bar. Meeting Marshall tonight at the New Orleans bar. Should be fun.

posted by Liliana @ 3:21 PM

Saturday, June 11, 2005

I’m in Nashville. It’s been sick busy during fanfare. We have girls out at a booth in the convention center. We have girls at a booth at the “fun zone” with the nascar. And obviously the bar is open for business. The girls are all doing doubles everyday.
Last night we booked the dining room for a party for the cast of “Days of our Lives” . I grew up watching that show. I haven’t seen it for years but I was so excited that the characters ” Jack” and “Jennifer” were here. My god I remember them on the show 20 years ago. Well Danielle comes up to me and says that they really wanted to meet me. ” You are fucking kidding me!” “Jack” and “Jennifer” want to meet me? Bullshit. Well low and behold they knew who I was and we chatted for a while. The women from the show had a great time. “Billie” was dancing up a storm on the bar. They were enamored by one of the new girls, Jennifer, who plays the fiddle. ( She plays so well she can do both parts of ” Devil”) It’s pretty impressive.
My impressions with the Nashville crew. There are so many great girls here but to be perfectly frank they are just missing that killer instinct. So many natural talents; bartenders, singers, dancers, yoddlers, cloggers. I couldn’t ask for more talent in one group. But when you put it together they were’t using all of this talent to make the extra sale. On the other side, again , they have all been working doubles this week, so I feel it’s unfair to judge them too harshly. I found out this morning that Kyle bitched them out at the end of the shift for not trying harder. I’m really pissed off that he did that. You don’t tell someone to do a better job when they have just put in 26 hours working in 2 days. So in defense of the Nashville girls, I will bitch him out today. If I could get these girls to be a little more cut throat, man they would be incredible!

posted by Liliana @ 11:53 AM

Thursday, June 09, 2005

A lot of shit went down in san Antonio yesterday, but everything is fine. I spoke to Kelly yesterday and it saddened me to hear that one of the girls I hired, no longer works there. She’ll be missed.
Kaui, a Denver Coyote, has made it to the second round of ” Making the band”. Supposedly she has beaten out 7000 people so far. We wish her good luck!!!
Nashville kicking some butt this week!! I love that, makes me very happy.

posted by Liliana @ 12:38 PM

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Jeff Myers hasn’t called me in a few days. Hmmm I wonder what he’s up to, or afraid of telling me? Quote of the day ” you know you’re fat when even your sweatpants are tight!” I laughed very hard when I heard that. Things seem to be moving today. I have a few offers that I wasn’t expecting. We were trademarked last week in Tunisia, I heard it is beautiful there. And Knock on wood, Mike seems to be fitting in quite nicely in Denver.
The manager’s log from Denver last night was pretty gross, some guy actually went in his pants.
I received an e-mail today about the Austin bar. the first part of the letter was ” Lil, I love the bar . The girls are great . I always have fun.” Great I thought, well that was just a prelude for bashing the bathrooms. ” Can you do something about the bathrooms?” OK god damn it! I splurged on the bathrooms in New Orleans because I know that people seem to destroy bathrooms in bars ( I hate that with a passion). I put in stainless steel walls, stalls sinks the works. They happen to be quite expensive. My New Orleans bathrooms have stayed pretty nice for 3 1/2 years. They do not have the vandalization that other bathrooms have. But for some reason Kevin B. will not budget them into the new bars. I know they are expensive but over time they pay for themselves. Austin will not be getting new stainless steel bathrooms but i promise to upgrade them. ( NY don’t get any ideas, I already did that once).
I have been trying to relax a bit more. I have had 3 ideas of how to do this 1. learn how to play golf ( I’ve never played) 2. learn to play tennis ( I played a few times in high school and I sucked. This won’t last long) 3. Try and go to more movies ( that aren’t just for kids) So I have actually been trying to take a few hours off during the day and seeing movies. I saw l” Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler ( yes I kissed him in college, who knew?) and today I saw “Cinderella Man”. They were both great. I have to say it is nice . It forces me to get away from the computer and the cell phone, even if it’s just for 2 hours. ( Of course today while I was away my security alarm went off and the police came to my house) But it still made me less anxious for the rest of my workday. A happy worker is a better worker.

posted by Liliana @ 7:24 PM

Monday, June 06, 2005

Austin had an unbelievable weekend with Rot Rally in town. The other bars did alright this weekend. I am very pleased that both Denver and San Antonio do so well during the weekdays. Last nights numbers were very good. Nashville is really building up their Sunday bike nights. Nashville is also going into fanfare week. Supposedly it is very busy. Let’s see!
I sent Kevin to help during Rot Rally. He said he was a glorified barback for two days but he was excited to help. He told me that he seriously wanted to speak about Austin’s bathrooms, oh no that means spending money redoing the men’s room! His parting words to me yesterday, and it is a tribute to Daniel, ” Lil, I think I have acid reflux”. All I can say is Daniel seems to think he has acid reflux as well. Maybe we can start a Coyote Ugly support group for both of them. Of course if Daniel really has it, I am sorry and don’t mean to mock your ailment. But I can’t believe that Kevin all of a sudden has acid reflux.
The world would be a very boring place if everyone was the same. I’m glad that I have a bunch of characters working for me. It’s nice to laugh while you’re working.

posted by Liliana @ 7:17 AM

Thursday, June 02, 2005

I feel better, 3 miles on the track. Chantel said something so funny yesterday. She told me that Tara asked her if she was one of the managers, that I spoke about in the Lil Spill , that only reported positive notes to me. Chantel and I just started laughing because she is on the other side of the spectrum as far as the manager’s logs. A normal e-mail from Chantel goes something like this; … called in sick because she went out parting with her friends while she was on antidepressants. … was doing great until she remembered that it was the 1 year anniversary of her ex-boyfriend dumping her….. 1 of … fake boobs bursted while she was having sex so she can’t come in….the bouncers have clogged up the toilet on the second floor because they all have to go #2 in the private bathroom…. Lil I would like to nominate Carlos, the porter, for Coyote of the month.

posted by Liliana @ 9:14 AM

Pretty slow at the bars this week, except for Denver. Lee has been managing while Mike is training at the Texas bars. Lee’s manager’s logs have been quite complimentary about the Denver girls. I think he now has his favorite bar, Denver. It is funny how the managers go to the various other bars and say ” well these girls are alright but my girls are the best.” For the most part it is very endearing that the managers love their own bars but for training purposes I wish they could be a bit more objective.
3 nights in a row that I have only sleep a few hours. I’m not sure if it’s stress but I am exhausted . Busy day today.

posted by Liliana @ 7:16 AM

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Funny conversations today with Jacob, ad designer. He sent me an ad he had done for Nashville. In the ad he had a few different girls and he gave them nicknames. One of the girls I did not recognize. He labeled her ” Rebel” . I said to him who is she? He said that Jeff M. just hired her. I said “well if she’s brand new, who is calling her ” Rebel”? ” He said ” Me. And since I worked on this ad for 6 hours that’s going to be her nickname whether she likes it or not .” I had to laugh at that.
Austin is getting ready for ROT rally. That should be great for the bar. I spoke with Marshall today and he’s ready for it. Big money weekend for Austin!!!
I got a very complimentary letter today about Panama City. Keep up the good work girls.
Also I just received a very complimentary letter about a new NY girl, Maggie. This letter was from a regular , the short version was ” the regulars were very weary of her but she won them over and now everyone loves her.” Cool.

posted by Liliana @ 7:23 PM

Just got off the phone with Mike the new GM of Denver. He was floored by how good the San Antonio girls are. I think he feels a little shocked by the difference in his crew and the San Antonio crew. I told him to have some patience. It usually takes about 6 months for the girls to really hit their groove. I’ll tell you that Denver has a few really great girls. They’ll get there, it just takes time. He was so impressed with Lyndsey and Lexi. I’m so proud. I remember the first few months of San Antonio, I would hear ” The Austin girls are so much better.” Well I don’t hear that anymore. It took Austin, NY, New Orleans etc time to find their groove. All of a sudden one day you watch and you see that all the hours of training are coming together. I have no doubt in a few months the Denver girls will step up and be just as good in their own way. Patience! All in good time. Also kudos to Kelly. He was very impressed with how she runs the bar. ( so are all my investors). It took a long time for me to really grasp owning these bars but not living in the same city. Now I am so pleased when I hear a compliment about the girls and the managers. I feel guilty that I can’t always be on site at all the various bars, but at least I know they are doing a good job.
I do not consider myself a gullible person but I woke up last night and watched infomercials. I’ll tell you , Victoria Principle knows how to reel you in. Unfortunately there is something fake looking about her face so I can not buy or endorse her product.

posted by Liliana @ 12:12 PM

Monday, May 30, 2005

Nobody has heard a peep from Jeff Wiseman. He must not know that Memorial day is not a holiday for bar people. I’ll have to make sure to memo him. Jackson had school today so obviously the French do not recognize memorial day either. Mike from Denver is in San Antonio to train for the next few days. Last night was a good night for all the bars. The Bike night ( day) in Nashville is really picking up. I was speakinh with Jeff M. about Tuesdays in Nashville. It seems that it is referred to as ” singing Tuesdays” because the girs working all have these killer voices. They also do some other stuff and Beeler is grand master of that. So I will have to stop by on a Tuesday and check it out. Great monday night for all my bars. Today has been quiet. I love this new computer ! It is lightening fast. So cool ! I haven’t heard any really good stories this weekend. No jail time no unwanted pregnancies, no ” just got hitched to a guy I met last week” Overall pretty uneventful weekend.

posted by Liliana @ 6:22 PM

Sunday, May 29, 2005

I’m very pleased this morning. Every bar I own did poorly on Friday night ( Memorial day weekend). This morning I was going through the manager’s logs and every bar did very well last night ( Saturday). So I’m happy about that. I was just viewing some pictures taken by a photographer from Nashville. I have a graphic designer who has been helping Lee with some of the flyers, ads etc. We started looking at these pictures and barely any of them are useable. The girls look great but in the majority of the photos, a hand is cut off, or the top of their head is cropped. I’m so disappointed because it was a waste of a photoshoot for the graphics people. I hired the NY photographer to come to New Orleans, Clay Enos. Hopefully we can get some good shots. The New Orleans girls haven’t had a photoshoot in a while. I’m hiring a makeup person so they can look completely gorgeous in their pictures. Having a professional photographer take your picture makes you feel like a princess. I hope that for that one day all the girls feel like princesses. Clay just sent me some pictures he took the other night at the NY bar. As per usual the girls look incredible. The NY girls are mostly actresses. They know how to put their makeup on. At the bar openings Jacqui and I always ask the girls to do our makeup for us. I saw Star Wars episode 111 last night. Really good but the second half is really dark so I am not sure if I should allow Jackson to see it.

posted by Liliana @ 9:19 AM

Saturday, May 28, 2005

I spent tonight at the New Orleans bar. I can’t lie I was very disapponited with the girls. They were going through the motions and on the surface they did everything correctly, but the energy wasn’t there. Positive energy begets positive energy, negative energy begets negative. I just felt they were off. I had someone come up to me and say I went to the San Antonio bar recently and the girls were really great. As pleased as I am that he loved the San Antonio bar , his face read that he was thinking, ” well I can’t say the same about the New Orleans bar.” There have been times at the New York bar that I have felt the same thing. As the owner, I want to do everything in my power to get the girls motivated and aggressive but sometimes it’s like pulling teeth and you find yourself making excuses for the girls. I really try to be true to myself and have real expectations of the girls. On this same subject, I have two managers that always write me and say the girls were great, high energy. I wrote one of them recently and I said statistically I just don’t believe that the girls are always as great as you report. I’m not trying to put the girls down but I know this concept like the back of my hand and there have been less then a handful of girls I can truely say never faltered. I want these managers to report accurately. I won’t hold it against them if they have tried their hardest and are reporting accurately. For god sakes the numbers are enough evidence of what’s going on. I deeply love all these girls and as an original Coyote myself, I know how hard it can be. But I just keep on telling them ” the harder you work , the more money you make!”
There is a song that keeps playing in my head and for the life of me I can’t remember who sings it. The song is called ” Outbound Plane” When I first opened the Coyote in NY people used to play this song all the time. It’s not the Nancy Griffith version! Torture.

posted by Liliana @ 1:50 AM

Friday, May 27, 2005

Just got my new Power G5! So fucking cool. This mac is so fucking fast it’s insane!!! New GM in Denver, Mike. Big ass biker with quite a bit of experience. I’m crossing my fingers!
Austin is getting ready for Republic of Texas ( Bike rally) and Nashville is getting ready for Fanfare. Two very big events.
NY just got a new security camera system. I told Jacqui to call me when she’s in the bar drinking so I can watch her on the monitors.
Jeff Myers told me that he has never seen any of the Star Wars movies. He is more pathetic then me. He’s so funny while he was in Denver he got a voicemail from a girl asking for a Booty Call. He played it on his phone and we broadcasted it over the speakers. It’s the little things in life that make you laugh.
Marshall is back in Austin, a big thanks to him for helping out in Denver. Also, Daniel , I’m very proud of you, Good Job!

posted by Liliana @ 1:10 PM

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

I’m so angry at Jeff M. I could spit( just an expression)! Without permission he and Danielle B ( new AM in Nasville, former Coyote Denver) asked 3 Denver girls to come for a week to Nashville. No care for their schedules or that I am the only one who can ask girls to travel. I specifically told him last week that I needed to look into it and he tried to bypass me. Again I am so angry. He is a gm himself. He had no issue with asking these girls and not caring about the Denver schedule. Forget me , he didn’t even ask the acting GM Marshall if it would be alright. Danielle B. doesn’t know any better so I understand her stupidity. But Jeff has no excuse. Traveling is an honor. I ask girls to travel when I know they deserve to go. Complete bullshit! Now I will look like the asshole when I tell them they can’t go.
I’m in the London airport right now. I got here a bit early. Jeff and I had a couple of meetings yesterday. Nothing earth shattering. Jeff and I had drinks with the CEO of Hard Rock , Mike Smith. In fact, He and Jeff had quite a few drinks. We had quite a good time telling stories of infringers and he telling stories of his trips to the south. Quite funny. Mike is very british, so I can only imagine how he sticks out in a small town in Arkansaw where he owns a cement plant. His company is in the process of opening a casino / hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi. He told us about advice he had gotten before scouting Mississippi. “there is the rest of the US and then there is Mississippi. As long as you understand that, you’ll do fine.” Jeff was talking about how his 2 year old son says shit and fuck. I have a feeling Mike was a bit shocked by that. I’m relieved that my son’s worst words are ” freaking” and “crap”.
Off to my 13 hour trip!

posted by Liliana @ 4:36 AM

Sunday, May 22, 2005

There is a former employee in New Orleans who has now started her own campaign to badmouth Chantel and Wendy ( not sure if my name came in). It amuses me that she thinks people will care. It is interesting to me because people who have worked at various other establishments know very well how good we are to our staff. Tough sometimes but fair and kind. Now this particular girl has always had a stick up her ass. But I just find it funny that she actually thinks people believe her or even care. The regulars and other employees have come straight to Chantel to tell her the slanderous stories this girl has been spreading. Chantel and I were laughing about it. In all my years in this busines I have never seen upheaval in any bar or restaurant over someone quiting or getting fired. People like their jobs and at the end of the day they don’t want to lose them even for their best friends. And as far as regulars go, they have their favorite girls but when that girl no longer works there they just find a new favorite girl. I had a girl in NY who worked for me for 3 years. She was a staple at the bar. I was at the bar one night and I just felt something was wrong. I decided if I was going to catch her doing anything I would have to leave so she would feel comfortable. A regular was there and he always paid by credit card. ( I left around 3am and there were only about 10 people left in the bar). The next day I opened the nightly receipts and called him personally. I lied and told him that the credit card machine was malfunctioning and I had to imput all the credit cards over again. I asked him if he could remember everything he purchased. The total he came up with was $76. I looked at the credit card receipt she had processed the night before and it was $26 with a $50 tip. Ah HA! I fired her that morning. I never told anyone that she was fired I just said she had moved on with her life. NOT ONE of her regulars stopped patronizing my bar. A few of them found out she was fired because she was making up some story. I remember one of her regulars came up to me and said ” Since you let ….. go I don’t know if I’m going to come here again.” I said ” that’s your perogative.” Well I think he’s still a regular and that was 9 years ago.

posted by Liliana @ 10:44 AM

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Denver still kicking butt! Last night I had Kevin go check on Daniel in Austin because I know he is putting in some crazy hours. I called kevin at around 11 pm and he said ” I’m closing the Austin bar tonight.” That’s cool. Kevin said that Daniel looked like shit and was getting sick so he sent him home. As everybody knows Kevin is always sick. And to add insult to injury he is the world’s biggest hypochondriac. When he has a simple cold he will go to the doctor because he wants to make sure it’s not a lung tumor. Well when I spoke with him last night he said ” I think Daniel is like me. He told me that he thinks he may have acid reflux. Lil , how cool is it to have another hypochondriac in the company!”
They can now call each other and commiserate.
I’m booked for my 1 day trip to London. I will be in London for 24 hours and my flights will take 27 hours total. I’m not looking forward to that. But I do enjoy being in London and going for great Indian food and since I’m with Jeff w. there will be a lot of beer.
Back to the grind!

posted by Liliana @ 10:14 AM

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Couldn’t go the distance. I woke up for the third day with a splitting headache so I ate a protein bar this morning. I’m officially done! I know Jacqui wasn’t feeling great yesterday either, I’m not sure about Travis. This fasting is not for me. I did not acheive the so called enlightenment that people talk about. I’m thinking that I’m going to take Aaron out for a steak lunch today.
Denver bar kicking some butt last night. Stopped by the New Orleans bar briefly, it was busy at around midnight.
Aaron and I went to see ‘Unleashed” the new Jett Li movie. A lot of gratuitious fighting scenes. The movie I saw recently that I would highly recommend is ” Kung Fu Hustle”. That was awesome. I went out and bought two dresses from China town when I was in San Francisco, because of that movie.
I have tried to get out of this London trip but Jeff has beaten me down and I am going next week. What the hell? I love London but the idea of another ridiculous flight just to come back the next day is daunting to me.
We’ve got another city that we are so close to signing in. I’m very excited. Cocowalk is going to be a long haul. I say it will take at least 6 months.

posted by Liliana @ 9:09 AM

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

My company was given two all expenses paid trip to Rio de Janiero. So I have a contest going on for the GM’s of my bars NY, New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, and Denver and corporate employees. I have submitted a number that is between 1 – 999 to Amelie, the web master. Tomorrow she will post the number on the site. Whom ever comes closest without going over wins the trip.
Contestants:
Jacqui
Chantel
Marshall
Jeff M.
Kelly
Lee
Kevin
Candice
Jeff W.

posted by Liliana @ 5:19 PM

I don’t know if I will make the 5 day mark on this fast. I’m actually not very hungry today ( day 2) but I do feel a bit light headed and I’ve had a headache.
Aaron came down to New Orleans to help out for a few days. I swear the employee meetings have been the same for the last 12 years. Whether it be new Orleans, NY, Denver, or anywhere else the meetings always talk about the same things. “Try harder” ” don’t lean on the back bar” ‘ Be more aggressive” and then the one that seems to be the hardest ” CARE”. I take such pride in my business, it’s a personal slap in the face when these girls don’t care about the bar or their fellow staff members.
We announced wendy as the new assistant manager in New Orleans. I think she’s a good fit with Chantel. On a positive note I did commend the girls for dressing up. They have been looking very beautiful the last few weeks.
I just got the San Antonio and Austin numbers. Let’s just say I’m very very pleased!!!

posted by Liliana @ 12:29 PM

Monday, May 16, 2005

Jeff Myers is so funny. We speak about 4 mornings a week at around 9 :30 am. We go through all the business at the Nashville bar, then we exchange funny personal tidbits. Well over the past few months since the Nashvile bar has opened I have learned quite a bit about Jeff. Firstly, he eats the same meals everyday. He goes to ( Denny’s I think) in the morning and gets biscuits and a coke. For lunch he eats a plain hamburger and a coke. At dinner time he will rotate a pizza from Pizza Hut or a plain hamburger and a coke. He has been eating this way for over 30 years. He told me he was embarrassed when a few years back the pizza hut delivery guy told him that his pizza was free. Jeff asked why it was free? The delivery guy said “well it’s your 150th pizza.” 150 pizzas from pizza hut, my god! He’s a perferred customer. Well as you can see , he is a man of routine. Today he tells me how much it bothered him when the screen for the touchtunes changed from blue to red. Now he desperately wants to change it back to blue because it is really upsetting him. Man, He needs a girlfriend!!
We have a solid lead on a GM in Denver. I am crossing my fingers it pans out.
Today is the first day of my 5 day fast. Both Jacqui and Travis are doing this with me. It’s 10:30am on the first day and I’m already starving. The kicker is that you can’t drink coffee. It’s going to be a long week.
New Orleans staff meeting tonight!

posted by Liliana @ 10:42 AM

Saturday, May 14, 2005

I opened the bar today in New Orleans. The minute the doors were opened 15 people walked in. Ashley did a great job at entertaining them and sales. Yaz is new and so is Stephanie. Both girls worked today with Ashley. they also did a good job but Yaz was definitely nervous around me so I backed off and watched from a distance. Stephanie is an excellent dancer but I had to tell her to show more energy during songs by AC/DC, Aerosmith etc. I could see the look on her face that she really didn’t know who these bands were. Man I’m getting old.
Travis and I are going to try a 1 week cleanse ( fast). I eat well but I eat a lot . It’s going to be very hard to stay on this program for 1 week. The program is actually 4 weeks long but there is no way in hell I can go 4 weeks. They say you can eat . But I don’t consider steamed vegtables and fruits enough to sustain me. Travis is going to be dieing. He sustains himself on biscuits and gravy everyday.
New me! I decided I needed to start taking better care of myself. All the traveling, no sleep and stress is killing me.
To help the new Me start, I bought a high grade juicer. I can’t wait to use this thing. ( Of course since the fast did not start yet, I will follow my fresh juice with some big meal )

posted by Liliana @ 5:51 PM

Friday, May 13, 2005

Surprise City:
Finally signed
Coco Walk

That is Miami , Florida!!!

posted by Liliana @ 8:43 PM

Comments: Dear Lil,
I just wanted to write this e-mail because my friend and I visited the Austin bar over the past weekend (May 5th-9th) and we had such a great time that we never even made it to any of the other clubs. We even got to see you up dancing on the bar at the end of Friday night. I wish now that we had said hello but at the time you were busy overseeing things.
We go to the Coyote Ugly in NYC alot as we are from CT, and we have visited Las Vegas and New Orleans as well. And everytime we go, we come back with great stories (some of which have to be edited). I have to say that the Austin bar has one of the best atitudes and enthusiasm of any of the Coyote’s we’ve been to. The girls were always upbeat and energetic, even during the day when it was slow and you weren’t there watching.
All of your staff are friendly and made us feel welcome. We have to give special props to two of the guys… Danny who bar backs and keeps everybody laughing, and Jesse who bounces and keeps everyone grounded while still having a great time.
Thanks to all of you for a great weekend at Coyote Ugly Austin. We hope to be back soon.
Jackie and Maryann

This letter is code for ” Lil you were pretty drunk if you were dancing on the bar.”
Lee just called me and said there are hundreds of cops, swat team etc near the Denver bar. Damn it! Can”t the bomb threats be far away from one of my bars?

posted by Liliana @ 11:48 AM

I just got back from the San Francisco area, what a beautiful city. I walked for miles around the city and as much as I miss living in a big city I realize why I moved jackson out of Manhattan. You could live in the most beautiful area of any major city and there will still be a panhandler at the corner , a drug addict, or just somebody creepy standing right in front of your building. I look at the world with different eyes now. In a lot of ways I’m immuned to many of the shortcomings of urban life but I always think about my son’s safety first. I want my son to be well traveled , see the world. But I want home base to have a lot of trees, friendly neighbors, and even the dreaded Lemonaid stands.
The bars. Kyle brought some really bad karma to the new Orleans bar, I can’t remember having a worse week in New Orleans. But on the other hand now that he’s back in Nashville, I think the numbers went up. Go figure. San Antonio is doing very well. I heard that Heath got gently pushed in the river. At least he got pushed, freaking Kevin Bailey jumped in willingly. Gross.
I can’t belive we still have not hired anyone for Denver. I have marshall out there right now. I am being very cautious because I want the right person in there. Lee has a few leads , let’s hope somebody pans out that doesn’t have a rap sheet.
That’s all folks!

posted by Liliana @ 2:09 AM

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Austin Kicking some butt this week! The extra bonus is that Daniel hasn’t burnt the bar down! ( cross my fingers)
I asked Kyle what he thought of the New Orleans girls? He responded ” There are a few really good, hard working girls. But you certainly have a few really lazy girls too!” Chantel and I talk about that all the time. There is one particular girl who can be so lazy that even Kyle makes jokes ” She was really great for about an hour last night”.
A few girls from the DC bar came into the New Orleans bar on Monday. From what the staff said they were very mean, making derogatory remarks about the New Orleans bar. Pretty sad because we get a lot of Coyotes from other bars coming into the New Orleans bar, and they always have fun and bond with the girls and the bouncers. Even though the DC bar is a franchise I still wish the girls good luck. I consider them sisters in all of this. But in defense of my New Orleans bar, which I own, I receive more positive e-mails about the New Orleans bar then any other Coyote. And to direct this specifically to the DC girls who were in this week, I receive the most negative e-mails about that bar. Perhaps instead of coming in on just Monday night with attitude, they should of come in a couple of nights on the weekend and actually learned something.

posted by Liliana @ 11:50 AM

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

I’m supposed to go to London next week. I hope it’s nice weather. This business relies on a lot of patience. This will be my fourth time going to London . Every trip I view spaces talk to money people etc but I never see or meet people that are the right fit for Coyote. Statisticly , the more trips I take over there the better chance I have at securing a location and finding the money people.
I signed the surprise city yesterday but until they countersign I won’t announce it. Cancun is yet another project where I have shown an enormous amount of patience. But even I have a fuse that is getting shorter with time.
An absolutely beautiful day in New Orleans today. 69 degrees and sunny.
I got a really nice e-mail from a firefighter yesterday.

“Hi!

I just wanted to relay a little story about Coyote’s New Orleans that you might be proud to hear about.

I am a professional firefighter from Ohio and every year for the past 10 years a group of firefighters have been going to JazzFest. We started going to Coyote’s when it first opened and we pretty much hang out there every day because we have so much fun there. A few of the Coyotes remember us from year to year, Chantel, Wendy, Tara, and Sara most notably.

This year we had 21 guys in our group. We followed our tradition and spent most of our days partying at Coyotes and having a blast. Late Saturday night, one of our brother firefighters had a heart attack and was rushed to Tulane Hospital. He is still in intensive care as I write this. On Sunday, we told the Girls about “Pops”. They were very concerned. Chantel put together a “care package” for Tony. She also told us she and some of the other girls were going to visit him at the ICU on Monday (05-02-05) and deliver the care package. WOW!!!

I know this is a long e-mail, but we are a brotherhood and this meant a lot to us. The Coyote girls of New Orleans went above and beyond and we will never forget that. This would not happen in any other bar in New Orleans. Coyote’s will be our “home base” every year…

We know Coyote’s is a big business and that this won’t turn into millions of dollars, but some things mean more than money (especially to firemen!)

If you talk to Chantel, please relay our gratitude.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Middletown Fire Monroe Fire Hamilton Fire Fairfield Fire

John Scranton Brad Wargo Bryan Hanna Ray Webber

Brett Rose Tony Folino (hospital)

Todd Myers

Greg Evans

Jason Meischke

Glen Schlub

Robert King

Jon Meyer

Jason Venters

Brett Schindler

Jim Malin

John Kuehnle

Mike Vultaggio

Dave Pittman

Jess Chaille

Ryan Chaille

Wayne Shupp

posted by Liliana @ 11:54 AM

Monday, May 02, 2005

What a week last week. If it could go wrong it did. To cement my week, I received a letter in the mail from “profile protect” speaking about a loan from Chrysler. Well I don’t have a loan from Chrysler so now I have to see if someone used my name to get a loan. What crap!!! I bought a few pairs of shoes on the internet and someone steals my identity. Damn! Friday night was some fluke night where all the bars did horribly except for New Orleans ( Jazz fest). Thank god the rest of the weekend was good. Austin had a kickass Saturday and Sunday !!! Some guy sent me pictures of Daniel ( am Austin) up on the roof of the bar trying to save a cat. What a good samaritan, hopefully that good deed will compensate for the bad karma he has on him.
Really irritated with someone ( I won’t say who. They know who they are). This particular person works for me. This person called up Chantel to try and get tickets for Jazzfest. Here’s where the lie comes in, Chantel calls me and says that this person asked for tickets for both of us. Well I already had tickets put aside for me. Chantel felt it was strange that this person made it seem that it was at my request. The truth is that this person just wanted tickets for themselves. I said to them on Friday ” is it that you want company to go to Jazzfest or you just want to score some tickets?” What this person doesn’t realize is instead of lieing , just ask if I could get them a ticket. I would have no problem with that. I hate lieing. Just like a few of the girls this week called in sick in New Orleans. I know damn well that they just wanted to go to jazz fest. I would have more respect for them if they actually called and asked for the night off.
Will told me something Libby of New Orleans said a few weeks ago that is hilarious. She said she was running low on gas but that she would be fine because she was going to turn off her car radio and the airconditioner to save gas. Very funny!
Jacqui called me this morning with a line I will end my Lil Spill with : ” Lil, I hate all people today.”

posted by Liliana @ 12:07 PM

Friday, April 29, 2005

Pretty fucked up day. When it rains it pours. I had to file an extention on my taxes so I’m trying to get everything together but there is so much it’s so daunting. Kevin said something to me today about the corporatization of the company. I said to him that I didn’t want to become so corporate that I didn’t enjoy my business. His response ” Don’t hate the player. hate the game”
So I end Friday with a smile supplied by kevin bailey.

posted by Liliana @ 4:00 PM

Thursday, April 28, 2005

I went to NY for 2 days. I feel bad because I didn’t go to the bar but I just needed a couple days off. Jacqui and I went shopping for two days and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. ( Not good for my bank account). New Orleans is nice but I get homesick sometimes and I have to go back to NY to recharge my batteries.
The story: I landed in LaGuardia airport. I got off my plane and then waited in line for the restroom. When I got to the top of the line a young woman exited a stall. She left her bag in the middle of the thorougfare and started to wash her hands. Her bag was obstructing all the traffic in and out of the stalls. I said to her ” excuse me” looking at her and the bag. She didn’t even attempt to move her bag. I said nicely again ” excuse me”. She didn’t even look up. Finally, I said ” move your fucking bag!”. She then did it but with such a sour puss on her face. The denoument ( realization) of the situation is this; 3 years ago when I was living in NY I would of been pissed off right away at the woman and her bag. Living in the south has calmed me a bit. I was actually nice and pleasant before I got angry. That is a big step for me.
Kyle is helping out in New Orleans until we find a new AM. Lee is acting GM in Denver until we find an AM there. And Heath is going to move and help the San Antonio bar for awhile. A lot of upheaval this week. But on a good note all the bars are doing great!! Numbers are way up. ( knock on wood).

posted by Liliana @ 10:41 AM

Dear Lil.
How can I ever Thank You for all the incredible concern, care, help and generosity shown and given to me during such a tragic time? The fire took so much from me and my kids. I was terrified, and then thankful at the same time. The fire was so horrible. I watched everything owned disappear in a matter of minutes. As a single parent it scared me in so many ways. I did lose baby pictures, and sentimental
possessions and I cried. Thank God I did not lose my priceless possessions, my children, my life. Everything else could be replaced eventually though I did not know how I could ever possibly do it alone, as things do not come easily to a mom with three kids.
I had only begun working for you in December. I was so happy to have met and made friends with hearts so unbelievably warm. Who would’ve imagined one minute you have accomplished becoming a Coyote. I was so happy to be included in the opportunity to introduce Coyote Ugly to Nashville. I was walking on air. Then in the blink of an eye, I and my children were homeless. That reality will certainly knock you off your cloud and to your knees.
Well, I need to tell you that I wasn’t there long. Lil, you and all the Coyotes ,staff ,friends, and people I’ve never met came so quickly. You all lifted me off my knees so fast. The awesome out pouring of gifts, clothes, money,hugs,prayers , tears and love. I can not even begin to express how much I appreciate and love each and every one of you who seemed like angels with arms like wings and hearts of gold. You have lifted me back up on my feet and restored my faith in a world where sometimes it’s hard to realize the good.
Like I said, I don’t have the words to express how awesome all of you are . I just want to tell each one of you “Thank You”. And in light of all that has been done to help me it seems these two words are just not enough. Please know that I am deeply thankful, and appreciative, and I love all of you. My Friends @ all the Coyote Ugly’s who rushed in to help, and Friends I have yet to meet who after reading your “Lils Spill” were so generous. Thank You All and May God Bless You !, Love,

Nashville Coyote, Wendy Wentz, “Thank You Again”.

posted by Liliana @ 8:35 AM

Sunday, April 24, 2005

From a happy customer:
“Was at the Denver club last night. It was my third visit since it opened in March. Each time, it just seemed to get better and better. Tara from New Orleans really showed what someone with a lot of energy can do in that place. Your Denver Coyotes also have shown that they possess the energy to project toward the customers. My friend and I were there for four hours and closed the place down. Great music, good drink prices, no cover. Then we see a Golden Tee Live machine. Now we are already planning on coming back some afternoon and stay all night except for leaving for food. No other club in Denver has made us feel like that we HAVE to go back as soon as possible. Thank you for bringing excitement and fun back to the Denver scene. “
I was going to post the most disgusting e-mail from the Nashville GM but I just don’t have the heart to do it. Why do men have to tell everyone about their BMs?
All the bars did well this weekend!!

posted by Liliana @ 6:03 PM

Saturday, April 23, 2005

I just got off the phone with an old, dear friend Molly. Molly went to Cooper Union and we met at a bar that I bartended at. While she was getting her masters in engineering she actually worked for me at the NY bar. She was one of my best friends and I had to fire her because she would drink too much at work. I will never forget a night where I had to go to a formal event with my then boyfriend. This event was at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel commemorating Italian Americans. My boyfriend at the time was getting his degree in architecture and working with a construction company. As you can imagine this particular field is dominated by italian american New Yorkers, so his boss told us we had to go to this event to meet contacts and schmooze people. I actually remember watching someone kiss someone’s ring just like “Good Fellows”. Well after the event his boss and dates wanted to go back to the bar. I actually tried to convince them not to because I had a bad feeling about the evening. They wanted to go and that was it! So I had to take them to the bar and Molly was working with another girl ( I can’t remember who). When she started to come over to take our order, she tripped on the floor mat and dove head first onto the floor. Bar mat’s traditionally have a pattern that consist of hundreds of circlular holes. When she got up from the floor she was covered from head to toe with black circles from the mats. That night I ended up having to bartend in an evening gown to cover her. I think that was her last shift. I was mortified that night but now I think back on it as something so hysterical. To this day I consider Molly one of my closest friends.

posted by Liliana @ 10:39 AM

Thursday, April 21, 2005

I’ve been super depressed lately and nothing seems to be bringing me out of it. Yesterday I was on the phone with Jacqui and I told her, in passing, about a pair of shoes that I was eyeing. How nice is she? She went out and bought the shoes for me. I can’t wait to get them. If that doesn’t get me out of the doldrums I don’t know what will!!!
I was walkig down the street yesterday and this girl, I think she was a student at Tulane, was running down the street in nothing but a towel. She was chasing her dog and I couldn’t help thinking 2 things. 1. How funny would it be if her towel fell off and 2. Does she love the dog enough that if her towel fell off she would keep chasing the dog? Well the towel stayed on and she caught the dog so the story pretty much ends there.
Lee called me from Denver last night and I could hear the hail hitting the car windshield. As pretty as Colorodo is I don’t think I could live there. JeffM. has been sending me very good reports about the girls in Denver. Tara gets there today, I hope she gives them a little help.
New Girl in Austin I keep hearing about Isrell. I haven’t met her yet but I’m glad she’s doing well.

posted by Liliana @ 7:23 AM

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Something is going on today. I have received about 20 e-mails just this morning about how much people love the New Orleans bar. It’s nice to hear.

Comments: Hi Lil!!! I contacted you weeks ago before my wife Therese and I were going to make yet another trip to New Orleans, to find out if Wendy, among others, was still at the bar. You were gracious enough to respond back. Anyway, sadly, we just arrived back home(we live halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee), and as I said before; we’ve been to three of your clubs, and New Orleans is the best by far. We stopped in every afternoon and late evening, and we are not at all typically bar or club folks. On the first day in, Chantel, Wendy,and Tara ( Old) excitedly welcomed us back like they always have(this is about our sixth trip since the club opened). They are sweethearts, every one of them.Chantell and Wendy were going used boot shopping, and asked my wife Therese what size she wore, as we had been looking for a pair for her to wear when she tends bar back in Kenosha, Wisconsin,(We are both firefighters, and Therese also works for a cardiologist, besides the bartending). Somewhere they came up with an awesome pair of preowned size six red white and blue boots. I swear, I think they are now Therese’s prized posession, because she loves the girls and was touched by their consideration. We were also very impressed with Sara(boundless enthusiasm), Sara, Ashley(a huge kick), Jennifer(always smiling), and all the rest. What an absolutely great bunch of folks! Poor Wendy put in over twelve hours Saturday. She was supposed to get off at 8, but the bar was packed, and there was a new girl there, and even near midnight she was ripping out the dances with unbelievable strength(although if you watched her closely , it was pure adrenalin those last couple of hours) and she had to be back the next morning!

We dreaded Sunday. It sounds weird, I know, but it was very tough to say good bye. Since Coyote has opened, we spend less time at other places, and more time there. Not because it’s “a bar”, there’s tons of bars. But because everybody seems to love what they do, they treat everybody well, and they make you want to stay because it just isn’t as much fun anywhere else in town. We miss everyone already, especially Chantel, Wendy, and Tara. You have a great group of people, and it may seem like an odd statement, but we feel like they are our “New Orleans” family.

This is just one of many letters I got today about the New Orleans bar. I’m knocking on wood and crossing my fingers right now!
SAN ANTONIO is KICKING BUTT!!! I’m so happy. Keep up the good work!!!!

posted by Liliana @ 1:12 PM

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

The Denver girls have been wronged. There was a reporter in the bar on opening night. What a prick. He kept trying to come behind the bar . Lee and I kept telling him he could not. During this time he kept repeating to Lee that he would write something nasty about us if we did not agree to let him behind the bar. Well we didn’t agree and he was true to his word, he wrote something nasty about us. We actually found out that this has been a little game he plays with many new bars and clubs. My response ” Fuck You”. Today I got quite a few really good reports on Denver. Even my lawyer in New Orleans went to the bar and came back with a shining review. He particularly liked Shama the dance captain. I’m sending Tara from New Orleans to Denver to try and give the girls a little ” umf”. They are getting there. ” Don’t lose hope girls, ” if it was easy everyone would be doing it!”.

posted by Liliana @ 11:07 AM

Sunday, April 17, 2005

I get a managers log a few days ago from Daniel in austin. It seems that Jenna Bush was drinking at a bar on 6th st, down the street from the Coyote in Austin. Well someone found a suitcase and couldn’t identify the owner, so they closed down part of the street and had the bomb squad down to check it out. I don’t want to sound uncaring. I know they have to protect the president’s daughter but it fucking killed business!!
Denver, where to start. We laid off the GM so back to the drawing board! I got this scathing letter from someone about how unattractive the Denver girls are. Lee and I were dumbfounded. There are some unbelievable hot girls on our denver crew. In a few months we’ll have our professional pictures done, so everyone can judge for themselves. I just went out to Denver and the girls still need work but they are coming along. There are some very strong bartenders and some very strong dancers. Now I need to make real entertainers out of a few of them. That’s really what they are lacking. But it will come. I’m thinking of sending one of my New Orleans girls out there to try and help them, unfortunately I think the head she’ll come back with will truly annoy her fellow bartenders back home.

posted by Liliana @ 8:10 PM

Friday, April 15, 2005

San Antonio bounces back with 115 bodyshots. The debate: San Antonio had 5 girls working last night. NY only had 3 girls working the other night when they did 102. But the NY bar shift is 8 hours long whereas the San Antonio bar shift is 7 hours long. If you do the math each NY girl did 4.2 bodyshots per hour whereas the San Antonio girls only did 3.2 bodyshots per hour. I have no idea if I did the math right , it’s only been 100 years since I took math in College. Well regardless I’m very proud of all the girls for trying. Jacqui had a valid point she was concerned that the girls are paying so much attention in selling bodyshots that they are not serving the drinks quickly. I’ll have to ask some of the customers.
I got a funny manager’s log from Kyle last night. He said as per usual Spike was late but he also talked about a girl calling in sick only 45 minutes before her shift. He said ” they don’t give you much warning down here.” 3 years ago ( pre New Orleans bar) I would of said ” that’s bullshit, you put us in a very bad position only giving us 45 minutes before the shift starts to find someone else.” now my response. ” at least she called” ( but I’m not happy )

posted by Liliana @ 9:41 AM

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Add this to my previous LilSpill, from Denver :
“The girls this evening looked like hell. Had zero energy, didn’t do the dances well, I almost had to get a gun and shoot at their feet to get them to dance. Didn’t focus on the customers AT ALL. We’ve had a couple of gentlemen that drive 2.5 hours from montana to hang out at coyote ugly, everyday since Friday mind you, and wanted to know who died. People also complaining in the restrooms about the lack of energy by the girlsThis group will never work together again.”

posted by Liliana @ 1:42 PM

The Denver girls are already pulling shit. I heard from Kevin B. yesterday that not a day has gone by without someone calling in saying their car broke down, they feel sick, or some bullshit to get out of work . God I hate that!! In my day you would have to be running a 104 temperature and not be able to stand to take off work. Not because you had a horrible boss but because you wanted to work and make money so you could support your life. I wonder if this is part of the overnurture syndrome that is going on. People live with their parents until they are in their 30’s. There is no real consequences for being late on rent, paying your bills etc. Most of these girls have kids and expect their parents to help raise them. My son has a completely different life then I did. I know I overnurture too. But as god as my witness he will not be living with me or his dad when he is in his 20’s ( 30’s just kill me). I want my son to forge his own path in life. I want him to know how it is to earn a living, have things because he paid for them with his own hard earn dollars, to feel the pride of accomplishing something all by himself. ( cross my fingers)
I was disappointed in last nights nashville numbers. There was a special party there and I expected better. Heath, AM, wrote that he felt the girls’ energy just dropped during the night and they lost people. So we all lost money!

posted by Liliana @ 12:10 PM

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

I’m about to turn down a project. Jeff doesn’t understand why I want to turn it down if the landlords are paying for everything . My response is that this particular location is in bumfuck nowhere. The amount of work that will have to go into marketing to try ( TRY) and make our store a destination spot is just too daunting right now.
I received a very negative e-mail from the AM in Austin about the girls attitudes last night. It really is so annoying for these girls to bitch about working , whom they are working with, and how many girls are working! Just go to work and make it the best night you can for both the customers and yourself. It’s amazing how much better these bars do when the girls are on their game.
I opened the New Orleans bar today. I told everyone it would be safe to let me finish and stay away because I’m in a mood today. I’m still very upset over the t-shirt thing. It might seem funny to some people but I take a great deal of pride in my company and I feel I run things with integrity and knowledge. That t-shirt design might as well read ” I’m a sexist pig and I don’t care about my company .”
Denver had a staff meeting yesterday. It was funny to hear that most of the bitching came from a few security guys. They are upset that certain guys are getting more shifts because they don’t have day jobs. Of course the guys who are more available will get certain shifts. It is not to slight the guys who have other jobs. It is to ensure that the shifts are covered. Very ridiculous.
When I am very upset there are only three things that calm me down 1. a very long shower ( I’ve been known to take 4 a day when I’m upset) 2. Walking for a few hours and 3. going on the internet and looking at shoes.( I have no idea why but this act really calms me).
The guinea pigs now have a huge outside corral to play in. What a life!

posted by Liliana @ 3:57 PM

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

I’m sick over a t-shirt design that went to the stores that I did not approve. The particular shirt is so degrading toward women I told everyone to pull it from the shelves and send it back. Of course , Nashville has already sold some of these shirts. I really am sick over this. It is so upsetting to me. Men just don’t understand how Coyote Ugly can be such a sexy concept without being trashy. Again, Coyote 101, Coyote Ugly is about the empowerment of women. God I feel physically sick that this shirt went on the shelves and sold.
I am beside myself I have to go calm down.

posted by Liliana @ 11:54 AM

Saturday, April 09, 2005

Holy Shit the NY bar came back with a vengence and sold 102 bodyshots!!!!! I’m so proud. The really great thing about that is that there are only 3 girls working on a friday in comparison to the 6, 8 10 girls in some of the bigger locations. Congrats to Maria, Vina, and Kim ( Deanna helped a little). Those NY girls are scrappers!
San Antonio is having a phenomenal week!!! It’s such a pleasure opening up the manager’s log everyday. I got a funny manager’s log from Denver about a woman throwing up and losing her fake teeth.
I went into the New Orleans bar last night. Not to jinx anything but the girls were really on their game. What I was most impressed with is them rotating on the bar with no instruction. They ran like a well oiled machine!!! I had three different groups of customers come up and tell me that the girls were awesome and they had the best time at the bar. Again , so proud!!! On the other side ” Jacqui get your butt down here , the dances look like they are being performed in a first grade class for the handicapped. Please help!”

posted by Liliana @ 10:53 AM

Friday, April 08, 2005

San Antonio is in the lead for most bodyshots done in one night. Last night they hit 99. Kelly was funny . She and Joel made a bet about hitting the 90 mark. Joel didn’t think they would but kelly did. Well obviously Joel lost. Kelly wrote to me ” Oh I made him pay up!” San Antonio is having a phenomenal week!! I’m so glad because it offsets the crappy week Nashville is having.
I have received a few e-mails from the Denver girls about how much they loved Jeff Myers and they are going to miss him. I’m sure they will. Jeff Myers is a laid back guy. He doesn’t take shit but he’s pretty easy going. Now the new GM of Denver, Kevin Robinson, is a bit of a micromanager. The last word I would use to describe him is ” Laidback”. He knows his shit and he is very much into marketing, which will really help the bar. I think it’s funny because yesterday Kevin B. and I were speaking about Kevin R. and his ideas about the girls, the music, the bar. Kevin R. was asking Kevin B. about changing the jukebox a little. Kevin B. told him, perhaps in different words, ” don’t fuck with the jukebox, Lil will have a fit.” That’s what I love about Kevin B. he knows his place.
French Quarter Fest is here. I hope the New Orleans bar does well. I’m going in tonight for a little while. I don’t know what bar I will be at this weekend I’m still contemplating it. I’m thinking I may need to visit the NY bar. I like to go there recharge my batteries with my old friends, shop with jacqui and just hang out.
Spike and Spot are doing well. I’m trying to teach Jackson to be gentle with them, very hard to teach a 5 year old boy to be gentle with anything. I got a book on guinea pigs and saw that people build these outside pens. Well I’m thinking that I will build them something cool for outside so that they can play outside a bit.

posted by Liliana @ 11:27 AM

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Two new additions to our household. Spot and Spike our baby guinea pigs. Jackson ran right into school and told all the kids about them.
We are having talks with CMT about a possible series. Jacqui and I were talking on the phone this morning. After we talked about our work schedules , all the traveling, when the next opening will be , we got to the real meat of what was bothering both of us. Any woman can probably guess it, our appearance. I said to Jacqui, ” now I have to get my fat ass on a diet and workout more!” The business side of me realizes that the focus on appearance will go to the “Coyotes” . But I still have my own ego to content with and I want to look half way decent .
Cancun is starting to really shape up. Surprise city should be signed this week. I am making a two month schedule to hit all my bars so I can get a grip on what’s going on internally.
I went out with a few of the New Orleans crew last night then I went to the bar. I left realitively early because I was worried about Spot and Spike. I can’t believe it, I’m a grandmother now. New Day girl, named Sasha. She’s very sexy but two left feet. Chantel will have to work on her.

posted by Liliana @ 10:56 AM

Monday, April 04, 2005

Monday morning, always rough. My phone has been ringing off the hook.
Aaron has been off for the last few weeks but we are putting him back to work. Denver has been rocking this week. I love that !
New Orleans girls, same shit different day. I’m actually contemplating a uniformed shirt because everytime I come in they look like shit. Noone cares about putting in extra effort. I bitched about this in San Antonio and the girls really stepped it up. But in New Orleans they just don’t care for the bar the way I wished they would. There are only a handfull of girls who put in extra time . They have no problem asking for time off, money, recommendations. Today is a perfect example. Chantel had a ” spring cleaning day”. Only 3 girls showed up and Will the bouncer. I’m taking only those people to dinner tomorrow night.

posted by Liliana @ 3:45 PM

Sunday, April 03, 2005

I woke up this morning with a harsh message from Marshall. It’s been about an hour and I can honestly say I am just as pissed off now as I was when I got it. Jeff Myers on the other hand left me a very nice message. ” Lil I love my job. I love you for giving me this job .
“Remember the movie ” Sophie’s Choice”? In this movie a mother is in Nazi Germany ( I think Germany) and she has to choose between her two children . One will get taken away , probably killed. The other will go with her and stay relatively safe. Merryl Streep plays the mother.
Right now I am Merrly Streep and Jeff M. is edging Marshall out. Only kidding I love Marshall . He does an excellent job !! ( just pissed me off today)
I was very moved by the pope’s death. I was born Catholic but I can’t say that I follow any religion right now. But as a human being I recognise his greatness as a peacekeeper and I feel a certain loss from his death.
” Rest in peace”

posted by Liliana @ 12:55 PM

Thursday, March 31, 2005

To start the story, I don’t like lemon-aid. I never have not even as a kid. I was walking to the gym and these kids had a lemon-aid stand and they were just hollering at cars to stop and buy some lemon-aid. Well they didn’t harrass me because I was on the other side of the street and they didn’t see me walk by. Well after the gym I was walking back and I actually took a different route so I would bypass the lemon-aid stand. Have you ever watched the movie ” Defending Your Life” with Albert Brooks? In this movie Albert Brooks dies and goes to a weigh station. At this weigh station , you are given an attorney and you have to defend, in a court, your actions throughout your life. The movie is pretty funny because they actually replay parts of his life. They include moments of fear, moments of love, moments of betrayal, lieing etc. So he has to defend his actions and prove that he should move on to a higher level. As I walked home from the gym, I was thinking that this was a moment I would have to defend. ” Liliana, Why did you choose to bypass the little kids selling lemon-aid?” Since you can’t lie in the court of “God” my answer would have to be that I changed my walking route because I don’t like lemon-aid and it was easier to bypass the kids then tell them to their faces that I didn’t want any.
Part of me knows that if I kept walking and was confronted by those kids that I would ,out of some sense of guilt, buy a glass of the lemon-aid. But I would feel pissy about it because I don’t like fucking lemon-aid and the money wasn’t even going to charity.
Obviously I need to start going to more yoga classes so I can become a better person.

posted by Liliana @ 1:30 PM

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

I just found out last night that my former GM of New Orleans, Aaron, donated 22 inches of his hair to ” Locks of Love” . “Locks of Love” is a non profit organiztion that uses human hair to make wigs for kids who have lost there hair due to illness or chemotherapy. ” I’m proud of you Aaron. That was so nice of you.”
Last night I took Jackson to the Ripley’s believe it or not museum”. I’m still thinking about the men who lived even though they were impalled with pipes. Pretty gross. Jackson loved the two headed cow.
New Orleans bar last night, I went in and met Njia a new girl. Quite a good dancer but not dressed properly for Coyote. Everyone seems to love her so I’ll have to keep my eye on her. that’s it

posted by Liliana @ 11:34 AM

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

I have gotten 2 e-mails this week about the Denver Coyotes. Both pretty much saying that ” they can do it better.” Blah, blah. Let me clarify to all those people who think ” they can do it better.” These girls have never worked in a Coyote before, most of them have never even been to a Coyote before. With every bar ( every single one) it usually takes the girls a good 2 months to hit their stride and feel comfortable as a Coyote. If it was easy everyone would be doing it.
Now as far as the ” I can do it better ” comments. Go ahead and try. Any owner of a bar can tell you stories about how people will say ” if I ran this place I would do this…” It is annoying to hear. And believe me I’ve heard a few real dumb ideas in my days. In Austin I heard ” if I ran this place I would put a sign outside.” Thanks dumbass! ( of course they have no idea about community board approvals on signs and zoning issues etc). Of course the old ” if this was my place I would change the music.” My response is ” open your own place. Good luck.”
It’s funny but I’ve received hundreds of e-mails about how much fun people have had at the Denver bar but those two e-mails just pissed me off. Cup half full or cup half empty. I need to work on that.

posted by Liliana @ 5:53 PM

Monday, March 28, 2005

Easter egg hunt went well. My son was so excited to find all the eggs.
Nashville had an easter shot hunt. I can only imagine the drunks trying to find the shots hidden in the 8000 sq. ft. bar.
At the end of Friday night ( in Denver) Jeff myers confessed to knowing all the dances. We had already dismissed the rest of the staff and it was just Kevin B, Lee, Jeff M., and myself. Kevin happened to have a video camera so Jeff and I got on the bar and did all the dances. I’m going to try and stream some of the footage on the site. Fucking hysterical!
Tonight I’m going to head to the New Orleans bar. I haven’t been there in a while so I thought I would show my face.
An excerpt from denver’s manager’s log: ” girl caught giving head to guy in bathroom”

posted by Liliana @ 11:13 AM

Friday, March 25, 2005

Ok we hired a new GM, Kevin R. He is giving his job notice today. The club business is very cutthroat. I told him that I put $5 on them taking his keys and escorting him off the premises tonight. ( cash business, you never let a manager continue working when they leave notice). So I said if you get fired after you quit, you better show up for work tonight. Jeff M. told him “this will be your favorite job in this business, unless you fuck up.”
Denver girls with some white trash moments this week. One girl already had to call in and switch her shift because she was in the slammer. The funniest story so far is a girl who was on “Judge Judy”. Her ex-boyfriend sued her for money he spent on her boob job. He won.

posted by Liliana @ 9:58 PM

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Applicant #4; ” the only way I’m going to move up in my present company is if I OFF two of my bosses.” That was the first thing he said to Kevin and I at his interview. NEXT
Opening last night. Where do I start. The ice machine broke. The lighting sucked and the topper the music totally shut down for a few minutes and then played at an incredibly low low volume. Well, everything got fixed so things went well after that. The staff did so well last night. I’m so proud. Even with so much shit going on, everyone really pulled it together.
Pump and Tiny did great too! So proud.
OK back to work.

posted by Liliana @ 8:26 PM

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Ok I take it back we still have no GM in Denver. I had to get JeffM from Nashville to come here for a few weeks. To give you a little insight on the applicants we have had in Denver; applicant #1 had a subastance abuse record, a DUI, and an assault charge. Applicant #2 was labeled a stalker by last management. Applicant #3 Lied on his resume and was under suspicion of theft by his former employer. And now the topper Applicant #4 told me that he would have to “Off” his two bosses to move up in his company. ( He wasn’t kidding)
I sent Marshall to Nashvile to help Heath out because both Kyle and Jeff M are here. I asked Jeff M. if Heath would be alright.He said ” yeah sure. He’ll either kill someone or someone will kill him” So I figured better safe then sorry and send Marshall to help.
Big opening tomorrow night

posted by Liliana @ 10:53 PM

Monday, March 21, 2005

A lot of nice letters about the Nashville bar this week. Good going girls.
Heading back to Denver today. Back to square one on the manager front. Just a quick run down. Applicant 1: drug charge, Dui, and abuse charge. Applicant 2. employees at old job described this person as ” stalker” Applicant 3. Lied on resume and was going to be fired from last job for “suspicion of theft”.
We are batting 1000. I have Jeff M. from nashville here for a little while to act as GM until we find someone with no crimnal record.
I had bad dreams about Marshall and Heath all night. Marshall is going to help Heath out for a few days while Kyle and Jeff are in Nashville. Of course Heath doesn’t think he needs help but I felt Jeff m’s comment was reason enough to bring in some reinforcements. ( remember real southern accent ) ” Lil Heath will be just fine! Either he’ll kill somebody or somebody will kill him.” Regardless that is too many hours for one person to do themselves. Now Marshall leaving Austin means Daniel will be alone there. I felt this was important so he could avenge the “wuss” comment I made last week.
I felt bad this week. I missed the New Orleans girls night out and I missed the Denver girls night out.
I had to attend my son’s annual school fair, Fete de Francais. What a day. (I donated some beer and of course the driver showed up 2 hours late with the 4 kegs.) One the other hand, the French really know how to throw a good fair. The food was incredible. They had muscles , crepes, crawfish etouffe, coq au vin , pate, and a lot more. Vive le France!

posted by Liliana @ 6:58 AM

Friday, March 18, 2005

Ok I hired a GM and AM. Leslie and Rich. What a burden off my shoulders. I hope they’re ready. Alot of long hours before you see the light. Daniel , the am in Austin, has a styomach flu. Well South x Southwest ,the biggest event in Austin for live music, just started and Marshall is exhausted. He’s been pulling doubles. I say get off your sick ass Daniel and get to work because this is the second busiest weekend all year for the bar. I remember, a long time ago, All the NY girls had some weird flu. The only two people who weren’t sick were myself and this girl Caroline. We rotated day and night shifts for a full week, just the two of us. We had to double up on the weekend . I remember finally getting another girl to come in what a relief. These kids are such wusses.
I’m concerned about the Denver girls. They are missing a certain energy that you just can’t teach them. I’m hoping when the veteran girls come in it lights a fire under the Denver crew. Sometimes pretty isn’t enough and I’ll tell you there are some very very pretty girls in this Denver crew.

posted by Liliana @ 9:31 AM

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Starting to freak a bit about GM situation. I flew a candidate in from Nashville yesterday. He has a lot of experience but a bit youngish. I want to make sure he can come to a new city with no fear . We took him out to dinner last night and I handed him some money. He was a little bewildered. I said ” go out tonight and find out everything you can about the club/nightclub scene in our neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. Tomorrow give me a report about what you found out.” I’m curious what he will come back with. This exercise was more about judging how comfortable he is in a foreign city.
I’m on the phone with Chantel right now. She said the girls were disappointed that I missed the girls night out. I feel really bad about it. I told her that I’ll take the girls out bar hopping in a few weeks. ( Chantel bought me a toy. I love her)

posted by Liliana @ 12:17 PM

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

The girls are dropping like flies. I saw a recent study that said people from Colorodo are in the best shape in comparison to people in other states. Well we got the 34 girls who do not fit into that grouping. They are getting winded really early ( I know there is an altitude issue here, but these girls should be used to it.) Two days ago we were at 45 girls now we are down to 34. Yesterday some of the girls were crying and just very emotional. We have done nothing different in their training. In fact Jacqui has been cutting class early because the girls are so physically exhausted. In some ways I feel for the girls because I know they are trying but after 15 cities we have never encountered this. We are not asking any more from them then we ask from the other girls in the other cities. Very strange phenomenom. I hope today is the day that they get over the hump and start feeling better.
At the end of rehearsal yesterday a girl walks over to me and says that she saw the movie. That was fine but what she said after was so insulting I had to laugh ( well at least Lee did). ” Why did they choose Maria Bello to play you in the movie, she is so blond and beautiful. I was sure when I met you guys that Jacqui was Lil because I figured it couldn’t be you.” Hence I pulled Jacqui to the side and said put a little pressure on her tomorrow to avenge my honor!”
Tonight is girls night out in New Orleans. I’m so upset I’m going to miss it! This year Chantel arranged dinner and then a sex toy party. I hope she buys me something . God knows I could use it!

posted by Liliana @ 11:28 AM

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Girls started training today. Really good crew, some very pretty girls and good dancers. We hired 45 girls. This is more then we need but we knew some would drop this week during training. The first day 6 dropped. One actually said that she couldn’t handle the training both emotionally and physically. Yesterday my son said to me “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I think that applies perfectly. (He was actually referring to his new skiing career.) No real good funny stories yet, I’m sure they will come. Yesterday Lee was frantic because we haven’t hired a GM yet. Noramlly we hire the managers about 3 weeks out but I just haven’t liked any of the applicants. So he called me and said “Lil my OCD is in full force today” Lee is so funny. We had interviews for bouncers yesterday. When I interview them, I like to get to know them ask where they have worked and just get a feel for them. Lee comes back with their applications and he created a rating system for them. I was laughing so hard.
Something on the serious side. One of our Nashville girls, Wendy, had her house burn down in a fire. She lost everything. She and her three kids are homeless. Every belonging, every toy, just everything but the clothes on their backs are gone. Unfortunately she did not have renters insurance so she can’t recoop any of it. We are going to create a donation fund so she can get back on her feet. She’s a good girl trying to raise 3 kids on her own. I hope people can help even if it’s just a little.

posted by Liliana @ 11:17 AM

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Second day of tryouts in Denver. Yesterday over 200 girls showed up. Right now we have about 70 girls outside waiting. Some girls had to wait 3 and 4 hours to get interviewed. It has been very warm and sunny in Denver. Kevin actually came in because some girls were getting sunburned outside and he felt bad for them. If I go to fast I don’t really get to know them if I go to slow then the line becomes way too long.
OK I’m ready

posted by Liliana @ 1:59 PM

Friday, March 11, 2005

Girl search today in Denver. Yesterday Jackson and my flight was delayed 4 hours. Entertaining a 5 year old at an airport is definitely trying.
About 60 girls waiting outside so I figured I would do this now. The bar looks better then I expected. We put a barnyard wood on the walls and it really looks cool. The jukebox people fucked up. The volume goes about as loud as a one speaker, 20 year old transistor radio.
I’m pretty upset with the Mall people. They have put no money into advertising the mall entertainment venues. Sales people within the mall didn’t know we were opening right on the third floor. Some didn’t even know where Lucky Strike ( our neighbor) is and they have been opened for a few months.
Ok I’m ready!

posted by Liliana @ 2:07 PM

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

My assistant Candice went to the nashville bar last night. I received a few calls and a letter today telling me they did not expect her to be so attractive. One letter was from a bouncer saying that he was upset over the non-fraternization rule.
” To all the employees whom want to date Candice, she is fair game. She is not a day to day employee for any of the bars so feel free to send flowers, candies, or love sonnets. ” I’m waiting to get the picture Chantel took of Candice at the New Orleans bar . I think I will be waiting a long time since Chantel can’t figure out how to send pictures off of her computer. (There are only two people in the world more computer illiterate then me and they are Jacqui and Chantel.)
This morning I had to write a letter to all of my GM’s. It seems that the girls I take on these trips have turned something positive into a negative. I can’t tell you how many times I hear from a GM that the particular girl I chose to come to an event becomes intolerable to work with and just a plain old horrible employee. ” Girls no one is irreplaceable! It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to travel for Coyote. You should return from these trips wanting to do your best and help the other girls.” Also for the record asking one particular girl to attend something does not neccessarily make her the best Coyote. It might just mean she fits a certain genre that we are trying to showcase for that particular event. Lee told me today that he felt we should hire promo girls who do not work at Coyote to eliminate these problems. It will be a sad day when I have to hire girls outside of my bars just because of these childish issues.

posted by Liliana @ 12:02 AM

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Marshall e-mailed me last night telling me that a manager I fired last year ( from a different Coyote) came to the Austin bar for a drink. I don’t get that. If you were fired from a company wouldn’t you stay as far away as posibble? Same thing happens all the time in New Orleans. We had fired this girl for stealing and every once in a while she comes in to visit. Aaron wanted to 86 her. But I feel if she comes back and spends her money maybe we can recoop some of the money she stole from us. Still getting back to the point. Getting fired is a very humiliating experience, why in the world would you show your face again? I don’t get it.

posted by Liliana @ 8:36 AM

Sunday, March 06, 2005

I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for hiring such amazing girls. This is Melissa, from the Nashville bar, and my fellow coyotes last night gave me one of the most amazing nights of my life.

I got word earlier in the day that someone I really didn’t want to see was probably coming into the bar last night, and was pretty upset about it. The girls found out when I was quiet (very unlike me) at the 8 am dance pratice. I had several girls just show up at my house at 4 p.m. with arm loads of clothes, make-ups, hair clips, and everything to help me get “extra hot for work”. They went to bat for me when they made me a couple of minutes late to work, and showed up to pay the fine for me. When I showed up for work, I was fawned over, and presented with new, gorgeous, boots that all of the girls had chipped in together on and bought me (I’ve been working in boots held together with duct tape for a month and a half). Three of the girls argued over who got to switch my back bar shift with their main bar shift, so I could be more on display when he got there, willingly taking a probably considerable pay cut. They constantly checked on me all night, and even got secuirty to keep an close eye for me. The amazing managers who were there, Jeff and Kyle, were especially understanding and wonderful, as was AC, our head of security….
When the person did finally show up, I felt invincible, and together, we put on one hell of a show.

Between the amazing managers, our BMFs, and most importantly all of my fellow coyotes last night who went above and beyond to support one of their own last night, I was almost moved to tears several times. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people I have ever had the priviledge of knowing, and I hope you are as proud of them as I am to be one of them.

Sincerely,
Coyote Melissa (Nashville)

—————————————————————————

posted by Liliana @ 6:37 PM

Every Sunday , my favorite morning activity is to read the Sunday NY Times. I read this morning, in the NY Times Magazine an interview with Martha Burk. Martha Burk happens to be the Chairwoman for The National Council Of Women’s Organizations. Well I consider myself a modern day feminist . What does that mean? It means that when I’m at my own inauguration for president I will not wear a Plain blue business suit. I will be wearing something Versace , Prada shoes, and a Chanel handbag. Damn straight there will be cleavage showing as well.
What irked me in this interview was her stand on sexual discrimination when refering to the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina. Carly Fiorina lost her job because she made a very costly error by acquiring Compaq not because men wanted to oust her. This was not a sexually discriminatory issue. She blew it! She fucked up and lost her job, (in lay man’s terms.)
I have worked with thousands of women. I believe that women have the opportunities to do anything they want. But as all humans we have flaws as well. If I trip over my own shoes, it is nobody’s fault but my own. (I have seen and done a lot of tripping.)
I despise this type of feminist and I’m sure they despise me.

posted by Liliana @ 11:15 AM

Friday, March 04, 2005

Closing in on Cancun. That will be a great spot! What a treat. Get up go to the beach and then to work. My blue tooth ear piece is not working. Yesterday I was on the phone for 7 hours. I went to bed with a head ache and I woke up with a headache. There is a difference with using a land line phone and cell phone. I was a telemarketer for quite a few years and I never got the headaches that I do from using a cell phone.
Japan is on hold but we are being invited to meet some big wigs in London. Tony Blair just changed the liquor license laws in London so we are trying to secure a space. Jeff wrote me ” you don’t mind going to London in the springtime?” London is a beautiful city.
We had a meeting with people from Central america. They pitched us on San Salvador and some other central american cities. The next day I read an article about the New “Nicaragua”. It is now becoming a popular tourist destination. The world does change.
I’m exhausted. I have had some problems with my computer. I woke up at 4 am and started backing all my files up just in case.

posted by Liliana @ 11:02 AM

Thursday, March 03, 2005

I consider myself a very professional business woman and pretty damn smart at times. But as you all know, I am very superstitous. Daniel, the am in Austin, has been doing an excellent job. But it just seems that when he works something bad happens. He is very upset and feels like he is jinxed. Well I’m no stranger to “the jinx”. The Italians have a word for this , I think it’s ” maloche”. Jacqui’s grandmother used to be able to tell if you had a ” maloche” on you and help take it off. Well unfortunately we do not have her to help our situation, so we must fend for ourselves. Today I wrote him a letter about advice an old bonereader once gave me. It involved bathing in salt water . As I told Daiel, ” it may not help but it can’t hurt.”

posted by Liliana @ 8:27 AM

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

I have 3 girls at the Nightclub and bar Convention, Libby ( New Orleans), Jaime ( Nashville), Adrianna ( San Antonio). Lee’s report is that Libby is a pleasure to work with and he would would take her again. His only comment is that it is evident the New Orleans girls have the trashiest mouths.
It seems that the other two girls are having some problems amongst themselves. From what I understand, Adriana has been hogging the bathroom. This has really upset Jaime. Jaime’s attitude has effected her attitude at work. Adriana is still working very professionally but obviously isn’t very good at sharing. Lee said he told them that they didn’t have to like each other but they did have to work together. Such primadonnas!!!
Jackson is so funny. Last night he said to me ” Mommy, can you see farts under a microscope?” My answer was yes but that it was a gas which makes it unstable so it would have to be done quickly. Another friend said she felt it could be done but with a special microscope . The funniest response was: ” Yes but your butt would hurt.”

posted by Liliana @ 3:27 PM

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Back from Vegas. I love Vegas but I wish I didn’t have so many meetings. I only got to play blackjack for 2 hours the whole trip. I used to date a professional gambler and I would play poker for 15 hours straight. Now I just wish I had a full evening so I could play and not have to rush somewhere.
The awards ceremony was good. A lot of very big corporations were represented there so I was honored that my company got chosen for one of the “innovators of the year” awards. Kevin came up to me and said that he was proud of me and that I should be proud of myself for being recognized in a room with some very impressive people in our industry. ” Thanks Kevin!”
Now the “girl side” to the awards ceremony. I bought a very sexy Vera Wang black dress for this event. I was expecting more nightclub types to be in attendance. Well that was not the case and I definitely felt that the massive cleavage that I was showing was inappropriate. Oh well, at least they’ll remember me.

posted by Liliana @ 3:24 PM

Friday, February 25, 2005

I had a meeting with Aaron and Chantel last night. The torch is being past. Aaron got himself engaged and is moving back to the big apple. Chantel is taking over. Chantel and I were talking about Aaron feeling no nostalgia just wanting to go back home to NY. I told Chantel that I knew if she ever left that I would have to give her some incredible going away party. She said ” Lil if I ever leave it’s going to be with you and the company.” ” yeah your right .”

I went to my hairdresser the other day. This particular hairdresser , Sal, was refered to me by one of my girls 3 years ago and I refered Chantel and so on and so on. Well he told me that Chantel got him a christmas present and randomly gave him a Versace shirt. Last night I said to Chantel ” you’re making me look bad.”

I’m very bad with gifts. I give very nice gifts but they may not come on your actual birthday. Jacqui’s the same way, she’ll get me a birthday present but a month late. Jackson’s birthday is a month after mine, I think Jacqui has that date so engrained in her head that now she thinks it’s mine.

As part of the manager’s employee packagein New Orleans, they can choose to live in an apartment that I own close to the bar. This apartment is incredible. 2000 sq. foot loft style apartment. When we opened, Marshall and Aaron took the apartment. I told them they could paint the apartment however they wanted. ( Just to give more specifics on the apartment, it has exposed brick on some of the walls. Beautiful hardwood floors and very nice windows. ) Marshall picked this god awful baby blue. I’ll never forget walking in and feeling shocked at how ugly it looked. He even painted some of the brick this blue. Just god awful! Well Chantel asked me if she could paint the apartment? I said of course you can paint the apartment. Please do. That apartment needs a woman’s touch to restore it to it’s previous glory!
Aaron told me about a competition 2 of the New Orleans bouncers have going on . It is a “who’s more disgusting” competion. I will tell you things they have done in ascending order from mildly disgusting to very disgusting. 1.Licking of a tire. 2.Licking of an armpit. 3.Drinking water from a puddle. 4.Drinking water straight from the toilet. What I heard one of the bouncers did the other night is so disgusting I can’t even write about it.

For readers the moral of today’s story should be 1. an education is so important and 2. please use birth control

posted by Liliana @ 11:05 AM

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

How cute is jenn hawk’s mom?
Lil, love the web site. Jen Hawk, San Antonio,is my daughter. I feel so much closer to her since I can read about her and see pics, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! I live in Montana, haven’t seen her for several years. Had to laugh at the comment about the SA girls wearing makeup! I am a makeup artist by profession. No self respecting WOMAN/Coyote should be seen in public without it! Be glad to lend a hand! Thanks for sponsoring Harley! The kids are wrong though, they get the cute and smart from their GG (I refuse to be called grandmother!) GG stands for Grandma Glenda. Yeah Jen gets her attitude from me! Self-fucking defense! Keep up the good work, would love to join Jen on the bar someday! San Antonio wouldn’t know what the hell hit um!

Jenn told me she just received pictures of her mother doing “Keg stands” . If you don’t know what that is it is when you do a handstand above the keg using the handles as supports. She’s a braver woman then me!

marshall is in town this week. aaron , myself, and marshall went out to lunch. They have known each other all their lives so when you go out with them you always feel like they have a secret language that they are communicating behind your back. I assume it is the same phenomenom that happens with twins.

Of course one of the employees came to me with a gripe about a decision a manager made. I tell them all the same thing. “I’ll look into it but regardless of what I uncover I’m going to completely back the manager.” 99.999% of the time the manager is completely right.

posted by Liliana @ 7:03 PM

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

A lot going on today. Everyone is in Denver. We are trying to hire a GM. Kevin always says I have a six sense with people. There was a guy who applied for the gm position in Nashville who had a very impressive resume. After listening to him, I had a sense that something wasn’t right. Kevin said, “Lil, I really like this guy.” I said, “Kevin he’s a gambler.” “Lil how the hell do you know that. You’re putting labels on someone before you know them.” (I would drive Kevin crazy because I would refer to this applicant and say “You know, the gambler.” I felt it was not coincidental that all the cities he had worked in had legalized gambling. Well it ended up that Kevin called a few people around town and I was very close on a few of the impressions I had.

I am completely fascinated by the siamese twin phenomenom. They just removed one head from a little girl who was born with two heads. I viewed a picture and the second head seemed very developed. My friend Jill and I have been curious about the cognitive power of the head that was removed. This is her last corespondence to me:
“I, too, feel for the tragic head. Though I’m fairly
certain that it was parasitic — and did not have it’s
own brain. I seem to recall once learning that the
smiling and blinking is called shadowing. The brain in
the other twin is sending the message.”

posted by Liliana @ 3:31 PM

Monday, February 21, 2005

Got a dress for Vegas !!! I was hoping to do something cheesy like see Wayne Newton but he is not performing that weekend. Lee set us up to go see Cirque de Soleil. I love gambling so I will head to the casinos right after these scheduled events. HIT ME!

posted by Liliana @ 4:20 PM

I’m not impressed with the Razr phone. It seems that the antenae is very weak and the signal strength is always too weak to download things and send text messages. I’m so glad it was a present and I didn’t pay for it.

I’m stressing over Vegas. I haven’t found a dress and I’m feeling fat. Obviously PMS is setting in. I could just bitch for hours. My computer is runnng slow. Can’t unlock my new blackberry. Denver is right around the corner and I don’t feel ready. People constantly tell me that they wish they had such a glamorious life, all the travel. I can’t tell you how over all this traveling I am. I constantly have a strain in my neck and I realize it is because I’m always carrying a carry-on bag and my computer . Then top it off with normal stress. When I get very stressed out I can’t even turn my head. There are no direct flights from New Orleans. To go to Austin or San Antonio I have to connect in Houston. What should be a 2 hour flight turns into a 5 hour trip with layover. …..

When I went to the doctor during the flu week I told him that I felt my pms was getting worse. His response ” you’re in your thirties, you are going to feel crazy until you are in your mid to late forties. Then you stable off for 15 or 20 years . After that it is a steep decline. Then you’re dead.” So I’m in ” the crazy years” .

posted by Liliana @ 1:11 AM

Saturday, February 19, 2005

I never told this story, I started to but I was questioning it’s validity and now I know it is true. Ashley, one of my New Orleans girls, donated her kidney to her cousin. I saw her today and she was telling me all about it. Unfortunately her cousin’s body rejected it. They told her that her kidney just started to disintegrate in him. That’s so sad. He is back on the list for a new one.

I started using my razor phone tody. It just stop working power went off and I couldn’t get it back on. I’m a jinx on these phones. This is my third phone in 3 months. Thank god it was a present because if I paid for it, then I would be really pissed.

posted by Liliana @ 6:54 PM

Friday, February 18, 2005

This is a good one:

Comments: “Maybe Miss Fucking Bitch doesn’t get paid enough to work when very ill??

Maybe Miss Fucking Bitch didn’t want to infect everybody with her flu??

Maybe you kept Miss Fucking Bitch’s position open because you can’t find enough girls who are desperate enough to work for slave labor rates under slave labor conditions??

It doesn’t seem particuliarly ethical to knowingly expose your drunken patrons to all kinds of illnesses especially contageous because of your touching body shots!

What an employer. “

—————-
The girls make minimum wage plus tips. If you call working at Coyote slave labor then I’m jealous of your princess ( prince) lifestyle. And lastly she was given off two nights so she could recover. One of those nights she chose to go out partying. I’m pretty fine with what happened. Miss Fucking Bitch is now on her own. I have a feeling she probably misses the slave wages and conditions.

posted by Liliana @ 5:39 PM

I am switching everyone over from Sprint to Cingular. Candice looked up my account and told me I use all of my 5000 minutes. That means that every month I am on the phone 83 hours. I am sickened by that. I need to take up a sport. Jeff M. has set up a celebrity golf tournament. The proceeds benefit a Domestic Violence charity. Well I’ve never golfed ever. I’ve hit the ball at a driving range, but never actually golfed. I figure I better go a few times before I make a fool of myself.

Surprise city is about to be signed!!!!

One of the Nashville girls told me a pickup line that a guy said to her. ” My love for you is like diahrea, I just can’t hold it in!” I have a feeling he doesn’t have many dates.

posted by Liliana @ 1:38 PM

Thursday, February 17, 2005

I had a great time at the San Antonio bar. The girls wore makeup. I’m so proud. I met Jenn Hawk’s kids. They are so sweet and smart. They said they get it from their father.

I sat next to this retired Colonel on the plane ride home. He kept on making the sign of the cross. He said he had to do double for me too because if I go down he’s going down too. I made it home so I guess it worked.

I received a letter today saying that I should have more pictures of the bouncers up. Some girl wants a picture of Matt ( New Orleans bouncer) Such a pretty boy. On the other side of that Tiny from San Antonio showed me pictures he had taken from his trip to the New Orleans bar. Travis get off your fat ass and work out!!!

Last week I got a letter telling me to tell the bouncers to stop doing the dances and go watch porn like normal men. If the woman really read my lil spills she would read that the bouncers watch a lot of porn on my computer. Usually I take Kerry and travis to help train the new bouncers at the new bars. Well they both did various things to not get asked to Denver so I asked Pump from New Orleans and I am thinking of asking one of the NY guys. I figure it will be like the “Sopranos” meets the ” Dukes of Hazard.”

posted by Liliana @ 7:54 PM

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

I’m in San Antonio. Some funny stuff. Jenn Hawk one of the San Antonio Assistant managers has been imparting her wisdom on the girls. I know you expect me to say things like ” go to school, get an education.” ” Family first.” ” You need to work hard to get ahead.” Now that is what you would think is coming from an assistant manager. No Jenn Hawk is telling the girls ” If you’re going to do it , do it twice.” ” It ain’t going to lick it self.” ” Please let go of my ears . I know what I’m doing.”

I have to fend this girl off ” Lil, I don’t want to sleep with you just make out.” My god, I have to have Kevin fend her off me.

So the night I get here, Natasha one of the girls is out at an afterhours place. The place gets busted by the TABC. She goes to jail. Well the managers and the employees are so upset trying to get her out. So endearing. Well she gets out and I say to her it’s so nice that everyone cared. In New Orleans this is a weekly event. Chantel’s boyfriend is a cop so we just call him to help.
These girls remind me so much of the NY girls.

posted by Liliana @ 11:15 PM

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Let’s revisit Mardi gras. One of the girls called Chantel on Monday and told her she had a fever of 104. Let’s call this girl “Miss Fucking bitch” for the sake of the story. Just so you understand during Mardi gras the New Orleans bar is open for 5 days straight. 24 hours a day. We tell the girls months ahead of time that for those 5 days noone can call in sick because it is a logistical nightmare to reschedule them and the girls are all working a million hours. So Miss Fucking Bitch calls chantel and tells her that she is very very sick. Chantel breaks our rules and makes changes to cover Miss Fucking Bitch’s shifts for 2 days. That was very nice of chantel and the girls who had to pick up the slack. Wednesday rolls along and Miss fucking Bitch is asked to come in because mardi gras is over and all the girls have this flu that is racing through the city. She bitches about coming in but she shows up to help out. During that night one of the other girls has a high fever and Chantel lets her go home. This particular girl, Jennifer carbello, has worked her butt off and in fact helped cover extra shifts because of Miss Fucking bitch’s absenses. Well Miss Fucking Bitch waits til Chantel leaves and says to the new AM Tara ” You better let me go home too or I’ll have to quit” So Tara said ‘ Do what you have to do” And Miss fucking bitch walks out in the middle of her shift. The reason I am actually writting about this incident is to praise the other girls for really picking up the slack. Aaron told me how proud he was of all the girls. He said they did such a good job and really pulled it together when Miss Fucking Bitch started pulling all this shit. From Aaron, Chantel, Tara and Myself we are so proud of you girls.

Now back to Miss Fucking Bitch. This particular girl has worked for us for years. She has taken off months to travel and we have held her job for her. She has been given so much leighway because of her school hours and we always appeased her. She was scheduled to go away the whole summer and we were going to fill her shifts until she got back. All this and she turns around and stabs us and her fellow Coyotes in the back. If this story is not sad enough, aaron found out that tuesday night of Mardi gras she actually wasn’t sick , she went out partying. That bridge is officially burned. To Miss Fucking Bitch , In the immortal words of Al Goldstein ” Fuck You!”

posted by Liliana @ 5:02 PM

Saturday, February 12, 2005

I love Chantel but she is the worst photographer ever. I just looked at the New Orleans photos on the web. I swear a blind person could of taken better pictures. “Guido, please take more pictures. Your pictures are always so much better?”

Jeff Myers has become my new Lee, except he doesn’t piss me off. He just wrote me a letter about how he didn’t know where I was and I should notify him. Let me paint a picture. Jeff M. is a great GM. He is all over it in Nashville. But being from the south, not that there is anything wrong with that, he has an incredibly strong Tennessee accent. In his letter to me he said that he was glad that Jackson and I had a good time and that Jackson was a cool kid. This is the part that is funny. He concludes his letter to me with this gem, “…. not that I know anything about Birthing babies.” I think his new name should be Jethro. He is a living “Hollywood Hillbilly”.

I also looked at the San Antonio pictures. The girls went to a Brooks and Dunne show and Brooks and Dunne partied at the bar all night. The girls are so pretty but they don’t wear any makeup. Wear some fucking makeup!!! If you are going to go and represent Coyote, look your best! Wear makeup, look sexy. Lee came back from San Antonio a few weeks ago and said that he thought the girls were trying really hard. They were becoming great performers and they were getting better at sales. But he also said that they don’t put in any effort on their appearance. The girls don’t dress up or put on makeup. After looking at those pictures I have to agree. I wish you could see these girls in person they are so cute and pretty. WEAR SOME MAKEUP AND PUT ON NICER CLOTHES. IT’S TIME TO GRADUATE FROM GIRLS TO WOMEN!

I’ll be in San Antonio Tuesday and Wednesday.

posted by Liliana @ 10:32 AM

Friday, February 11, 2005

Jackson had off Mardi Gras week so I tool him to Breckinridge , Colorodo. He went skiing for the first time. It was so cute by the second day he was on the ski lift going down the mountain. The first day I was there I had severe altitude sickness. I had a severe migraine and I was vomitting quite a bit. Gross! well a doctor brought me an oxygen tank and within 15 minutes I felt so much better.

Mardi Gras was a dissappointment. We actually did well in comparison to most of the french quarter bars. Michael from Nashville did an excellent job ( he was upset I didn’t write about him). What he doesn’t realize is that if he does something wrong, I’ll definitely write about him and he won’t be so happy.

Everyone knew I was going away for a few days with my son. As usual the person who called everyday pissed off that I wasn’t accessable was Lee. Kevin was funny , I spoke with him from the airport today and he said ” let’s do a three way call right now.” I’m in the airport with my son, you are going to have to wait.

Some heavy shit going on but I can’t speak about it yet. I’ll be at the New Orleans bar tomorrow night. I’m glad to be home

posted by Liliana @ 11:12 PM

Monday, February 07, 2005

This is the first year I haven’t gone down to the bar for Mardi Gras. I feel a bit guilty over it but I just can’t afford to get sick with Denver opening up so soon. I’ve heard a few stories from aaron. He seems happy with the performance of the girls. Of course a few of the girls are feeling sick but I think most of the people in New Orleans currently have the flu . The girls know they can’t call in sick for Mardi Gras. Unfortunately I have a feeling after Mardi Gras is over we’ll have a run on people calling in sick.

It seems that Travis from New Orleans has some competition. Tiny, bouncer from S A, came into town to help out during Mardi Gras. I was told by a very knowledgeable source that Tiny knows the dances better then Travis. I would love to see that.

Tim sent me an e-mail last week speaking about Denver: ” Anything that happens here that is positive, I would like full credit. Anything negative , please blame someone else”

The beauty about corporate structure. Kevin is Tim’s boss. So Kevin will be given the credit for the positive things that are happening in Denver. Anything negative will fall on Tim’s shoulders. Just the way it goes.

posted by Liliana @ 11:55 AM

Sunday, February 06, 2005

The South! We had a girl in Nashville, she was actually one of the dance captains. She didn’t show up for her shift and got fired. I just found out she was trying to charge the girls money for helping them practice the dances. That really pissed me off. Her story continues. Jeff M. told me that a woman came into the bar very upset. She had been married 1 month and her husband left her to start living with this particular girl.

I swear everyday down here is a Jerry Springer episode.

I’m turning into a hermit. I haven’t gone into the New Orleans bar since friday. I’ve spoken to Aaron on the phone quite a bit. I am starting to feel like I have some weird OCD that revolves around traffic. I would rather be by myself holed up in my office then get caught in traffic. I live within 4 miles of the New Orleans bar. But in between my house and the bar are where the majority of parades take place. Last year, I had such a bad experience with traffic that I just can’t bare to leave my house. I’ve even contemplated walking there and back.

posted by Liliana @ 1:03 PM

Saturday, February 05, 2005

The madness begins. Mardi Gras started. Yesterday I walked over to Laura and told her that she looked very pretty. She said, “Lil, all you need is a good night sleep, a couple of hours of morning sex, and a really good haircut.” I’ll work on that.

Kristy (NY), Marsha (San Antonio), and Aja (Nashville) flew into town to work Mardi Gras. Right off the bat Aja got food poisoning and had to switch shifts. I called Jeff M. from Nashville and told him to explain to her that there is no switching we are open 24 hours until Wednesday, and everybody’s schedule is as tight as it can get. Might seem harsh but suck it up and pull your weight! Marsha worked the 4am – noon shift and Aaron said she did great.

Kristy is so funny. Jacqui has been working extra with her because she has, to put it nicely, 2 left feet. She told me that Jacqui said she would bend the rules for her and approve her for 1 dance. She told Aaron and Chantel that she was not a strong dancer. She came down for her 8pm shift wearing a skirt that, as Aaron put it, was no bigger then a belt. And a top similar in size. She looked at both Aaron and Chantel, pointed to her own outfit and said, “This is my talent”! I laughed so hard when Aaron told me that.

One day in and no major catastrophies. I’m trying to stay away this year so I don’t get sick again.

Thanks Popsicle for the double lash.

posted by Liliana @ 2:07 PM

Friday, February 04, 2005

I just got off the phone with my trademark attorney. We were discussing strategies for a contract I’m negotiating. He kept on referring to Coyote Ugly as the most famous bar in the world. I’ve heard that mentioned before. I’m starting to believe it’s true. Pretty damn cool, I own the most famous bar in the world. As the old saying goes ” that and a dime still only gets you a cup of coffee.” There is a spot in the US that I believe to be the highest grossing area for bars and restuarants in the country. The company that owns this particular location won’t give us the time of day. They have always responded to us with a “you’re not a good fit for us. You’re too small” Well fuck it, I’m going back to them ” We are the most famous bar on the planet lease us some space god damn it!!!”

posted by Liliana @ 1:19 PM

Thursday, February 03, 2005

I just watched the DVD the Austin crew made for Marshall. It is hysterical. They did it as a documentary. Pretending that they are uncovering sex, drugs etc at the Coyote Austin. I laughed so hard but also I got choked up thinking how much the bar means to everyone.

Last week I went to lunch with Tara ( old). She was telling me about a series of events that have transpired in her life the last few years. What is really wonderful to hear is that she credits working at Coyote with some very positive changes in her life. I say it in every interview and it really is true ” Coyote is empowering to women”. Tara can attest to that. But I love hearing all the stories from Bouncers, porters, barbacks, and the girls.

Yesterday I got pictures from maria and kim. They both sent me pictures of the old ice machine being dismantled. I know it may sound stupid but it really pulled at my heartstrings . It was one of the few original things left at the NY bar. As everything in life this too must change. Hopefully today I’ll get some pictures of the new ice machine. For the price we had to pay it better make ice and gold!

Today I’m picking up Kristy from NY, Aja and a bouncer ( not sure who they sent) from nashville). Let the Mardi gras madness begin.

The denver project is becoming more costly every day. ” You’ve got to bet big to win big”

posted by Liliana @ 10:36 AM

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Hey Lil I have a proposition for you ” Would you be interested in putting money into a club that plays country music and has choreographed line dances in NYC?” So basically what you’re asking me is if I would put my own money into a concept that would compete with my own concept? Unbelievable! People are just unbelievable. Today is the first day that I left my house in 5 days. Being sick sucks!! They are having a Vietnamese celebration at Jackson’s school. I need to get him vietnamese style clothing and look for vietnamese music. He’s in pre-k and he is learning more then i did in high school. The french are very progressive with education. ( He’s in french immersion school. Fully accredited in france)

I got an e-mail yesterday from a guy claiming to be Jacqui’s prom date. Today she called me and told me she has no idea who it is.

Today is the day, The new ice machine is coming in. I told jacqui to take pictures.

Just booked my hotel for the Las Vegas nightclub and bar convention. Every hotel was booked. I finally got a room at the Bellagio. I love Vegas. I’m receiving an award . They have an award every year called the “Innovator of the Year award” Well this year celebrates the 20th year of this convention and magazine. So they are awarding 4 different people. Someone e-mailed me and said that they couldn’t wait to hear my speech. Now I’m freaking out. I didn’t think I had to give a speech. Shit!

posted by Liliana @ 2:10 PM

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Just got the plans for a spot in Mexico. Crossing my fingers. Denver seems a million years away. I definitely feel a bit disconnected with that project. Last night Kevin and I were speaking about what projects will be ready this summer. I was thinking that if it was a cool city ( cool both culturally and in climate) I would rent a house with jackson and stay for a little while. Louisiana in the summer is grueling. I can’t disclose the city that he told me would be in construction over the summer but let’s just say it;s not a place to rent a house with your son. So I now am trying to get him to push forward one of the west coast projects. I never had any urge to move to the west coast but as I get older it really appeals more and more to me. I never cared about the weather before but living in Louisiana makes me ornary and mean during the summer. 100 degrees with 99% humidity can kill you.

posted by Liliana @ 5:16 PM

Friday, December 31, 2004

It’s hard to celebrate New Years after seeing what is going on in other parts of the world. I just donated to the American Red Cross Response Fund to help the victims of the tsunami. I hope other people do the same.

Happy New Year.

posted by Liliana @ 7:20 PM

Aaron called today to tell me that a bouncer at a well-known Bourbon Street bar killed someone last night. Some serious stuff. Aaron threw an impromptu bouncers meeting to make sure the bouncers knew what happened at the other bar, but primarily to reinforce the theory that we never get physical with the customers. At all my bars we always tell the bouncers to talk to people. The Austin and San Antonio bars had a challenge of how long they could go without an altercation at the bars. I think Austin won.

The Nashville bar is already busy and it’s only 2 pm. Tonight is usually a crazy night. Cross my fingers everyone is safe and sound at all my bars.

The website persons wanted me to do a “Coyote of the Year” but I don’t want to do that. What I would like to do is have the various General Managers pick a girl from each location so she can be “Coyote of the Year” at that particular location.

Happy New Year!

posted by Liliana @ 3:00 PM

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Thank you Blaine in New Orleans for the very nice Christmas gift.

This person, a promoter from Egypt, keeps on calling my corporate office and the individual bars requesting girls to come to Egypt. He claims he wants them as an opening act for the celebration of the opening of Hard Rock there. I respect the Hard Rock people but I am not co-branding with them and I’m not using my girls to promote any other venues. Well this guy wants to bypass me by asking the licensees to send their girls. Guess what! I just spoke with my lawyers and I will make sure none of the Coyote girls (licensees or mine) go over there. I have no doubt, one of the licensees — I won’t name names — is already booking the tickets. Well all I can say to that is; it will be a very, very, very, I mean VERY expensive trip. “Don’t let up, Jeff!”

posted by Liliana @ 11:40 AM

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

So one of the merch companies sent the wrong belt buckle to the Nashville bar. I just got a picture of it. It is a picture of Mary ( virgin) in the center of a pewter ornate setting. I know , yet again, I will get struck down by god for saying this but how ridiculously funny would it be to sell a belt buckle immortalizing Mary at the bars. Maybe create something where the front has a picture of Mary but somewhere on the back is a picture of Satan and then embroider Coyote Ugly directly on the leather belt.
He wouldn’t admit to it, but I know Lee must of asked the company to create these buckles for him. He has pictures of Jesus and Mary all over his bathroom. This is right up his alley. But he swears he never requested that.
I hired a new assistant today. She is very organized, and very polite. Thank god. The paper work had just piled up while I was in Nashville.
It seems that CMT played our pilot in Canada. I received a ton of e-mails from people living there. Who knows hopefully one day we will be in Canada!

posted by Liliana @ 4:54 PM

Monday, December 27, 2004

What a day. I had a meeting scheduled at noon. He showed up at 12:30. I get a call from Jacqui about a mistake we made addressing a check for a license renewal. Instead of them saying ” no big deal just overnight it to us .” They made me jump through hoops. I ended my meeting I had to run back home. They wanted me to fax my social security card. Well I haven’t used my social security card since I was a kid. It was essential that I prove who I am ( driver’s license not good enough) to pay this thing. I tore my office apart and finally found it. Jacqui had offered to drive and replace the check. No! They couldn’t accept that. Everything was already completely in order. But no, they just needed those few extra hoops just to make our lives miserable. Same thing happens every year in New Orleans. They put Aaron through the ringer just to tell him that I have to personally come in to wait on a 5 hour line to give them the same check he would of given them.
Got a very nice compliment about Jennifer in New Orleans. Good job.
OK Is it the apocolypse? It snowed on christmas in New Orleans. The last time it snowed on Christmas in New Orleans was 50 years ago. In fact the last time it snowed at all was 15 years ago. Now all these tsunamis. Very eerie ( sp).

The Coyote Ugly Pig Harley: Response for my question on how do I know if he will not be killed.

“The pig is going to “Tiny” He is one of our head of security .” Jenn Hawk

So is Tiny going to guarantee that Harley the Coyote Ugly pig lives out the rest of his years in peace?

posted by Liliana @ 11:27 PM

Saturday, December 25, 2004

It’s hailing in New Orleans today. I guess that is as close to snow as we will ever see down here. I can’t wait for Jackson to open his presents!! Of course I got him a trampoline for the back yard and it is hailing/ raining outside.
In a bar operators mind, IT REALLY SUCKS WHEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS FALL ON A WEEKEND! I just read the reports from all the bars and they were all painfully slow this week. At least the NY bar is consistent. The regulars come in on Christmas because it is home. It would be like not going over to your favorite aunt’s house when she lives only a block away. I used to bartend every Christmas in New York and give all the bartenders off. It was always painfully slow until 10 pm then we would always get hit. Those were some very fun holidays.
Happy Holidays

posted by Liliana @ 11:02 AM

Sunday, December 19, 2004

ODE TO MARSHALL
(Cayce, Jennifer, Kelly – – 2004)

Here’s to the man watching me drink too much Crown
He looks at me funny and gives me a frown
He scowls, “do more dances and get on the mike,
stop talking to regulars and flirting with dykes.”

Here’s to the man watching me drink too much Stoli,
I know I’m not dancing on the stripper pole-y.
He says, “This is a respectable bar,
so stop getting drunk or you can’t take your car.”

Here’s to the man watching me drink too much Jose.
He says, “You’d better watch it or you won’t make it through today.
Remember girls it’s an eight hour shift,
stop defying my orders and giving me shit.”

So, pull yourself together and stop getting drunk
And maybe you’ll be Coyote Of The Month.
All we are thinking is drink some more Jack
And maybe someday you’ll cut us some slack.

I love that the Austin girls love Marshall so much. By the way Cayce is December’s Coyote of the month. Good job!!

posted by Liliana @ 11:42 PM

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Jenn Hawk’s daughter found a farm that will keep the pig and not kill him. So it looks like I am sponsoring Harley the pig. She better send me pictures of the pig a year from now. I could not live with myself knowing the pig I sponsored became bacon or a large rack of ribs!!

posted by Liliana @ 4:00 PM

OK. My new headshot is up on the web. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I think I like the non airbrushed version better. I gave Amelie, web person, the choice of which to put up. But the one she chose is so airbrushed it looks fake. Let me tell you about headshots. I am no actress. I never had headshots done until a few years ago. I hate getting them done. I feel so uncomfortable.

Well I got them back with some of the corporate shots that are hysterical. There were hundreds of pictures. Out of the 700 pictures, I only look good in 4 of them. If my face looked good, my body looked fat. Or my body looked good but my mouth looked weird. I actually saved one picture where one of my arms looks muscular but the rest of me looks like crap.

Jacqui and I posed for some. She looks awesome but I look bad. We actually had a lot of fun doing this. The corporate shot in front of the Coyote truck is awesome. I’ll post them soon. One of my freaking bouncers from New Orleans wrote me to tell me that the picture reminds him of Elvira: Being unemployed during the holidays is rough!! Only kidding, Gerri.

posted by Liliana @ 1:15 AM

Friday, December 17, 2004

What a day. Jackson had his Christmas show. He is not timid at all. Not one ounce of stage fright. A born actor.

I’m running around today trying to get 3 weeks of work done so I can actually go on a real vacation on Monday.

Aaron told me that one of the girls actually asked: “Do we open on New Year’s Eve?”
I will end with that priceless gem.

posted by Liliana @ 3:51 PM

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

I fucked up today. When I’m in town I open the New Orleans bar every Wednesday and Saturday. Well I haven’t opened the bar in a few weeks because I was in Nashville. This morning I had a leisurely morning. I walked to Starbucks, I walked the track 2 miles, and I took a few business calls. I checked my e-mail at 11:30 am and there was an e-mail from Aaron about the bar. I had to jump in my car and haul ass down to the bar. I got there at 11:55 — 5 minutes before we are scheduled to open. When I got there I apologized to Sara and Darryl for being late. They laughed because they knew I’d be late. They said they were about to have a bet on when I would come in.

For the record, I never open the bar late. I usually show up late (Late for a manager; I should get there at 10:30 am, so I get all the book work done. But I usually get there at 11:15). So I’m scrambling to get all my work done, so I can open the bar on time, which is at noon. New Orleans is the first bar I have ever owned where the girls show up early. So when I’m late (11:15) I have to send them to the coffee shop till I’m done. But let me reiterate: I always get the bar opened on time.

Kitty is taking extended maternity leave. She has a gorgeous baby. Unfortunately, I feel an incredible sense of anxiety over this. Never gets easier.

posted by Liliana @ 3:21 PM

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

I had 648 messages on my lil spill e-mail account. I’m sorry but I just deleted all of them because I can’t keep up. If it’s important write again and I will respond.
Nashville is kicking some butt!!! 135 body shots yesterday. That’s the new record!
I can’t believe this year is almost over. What a crazy year.
I may have the NY 12 year anniversary in early January. Last week Maria, from NY bar, said “but Lil the anniversary is on the 12th.” The actual anniversary is January 27th. I just happen to hold the anniversary party on a day that’s good for me. So if I can’t go on the 27th, I just change the day of the party. Today I’m working on Denver. That is coming up pretty fast.
I’m going to force myself to take a few days off.
I know I haven’t picked a Coyote of month.

posted by Liliana @ 10:44 AM

Monday, December 13, 2004

Jenn Hawk, head bartender for San Antonio, asked me if I could sponsor her daughter’s pig. She even showed me pictures of this pig. She seemed so proud of this pig and her daugther. I would love to help her daughter. “They don’t kill the pig, right?” Her look went blank. Well it looks like I’m not sponsoring the pig.

Nashville girls started to pick up the pace. Ashley, a Nashville girl, sold the most body shots on Friday. Well that screamed challenge to Esther (Austin). On Saturday night, she would knock a girl over before someone else got that sale. Very funny! Jamie, Nashville girl, lightning fast. I love that. Chastity, great on the mic.

So I asked Jeff M., GM Nashville, to book the hotels for all the traveling Coyotes and bouncers that I brought here. “Lil I got a place over the bridge. It’s a great little hotel. Just $60 a night.” Well this week 2 girls had to change rooms because of mice. Chantel came home to her room being flooded. Even the bouncers were scared. “Lil, it was $60.”

posted by Liliana @ 1:35 AM

Saturday, December 11, 2004

We are kicking some butt in Nashville. I never give projections because they are just that, projections. In my educated opinion, I projected ( to myself) the Nashville bar’s revenues somewhere in between Austin and San Antonio numbers. We are three days in and we are above opening numbers in San Antonio. That would be incredible if we keep this up. I think it will be dependent on the Nashville market, conventions etc.
Just a little to know fact. Nashville has the best science center for kids that I have seen in the country. Jackson had an awesome time there today.
Some funny stuff going on between the girls. This bar is 108 feet long. Walking down to the far end is killing me.
There is a bar down the street that has fights every night. It really pisses me off. Last night my bouncers had to help them outside. The residents had complained about this place, now I am iritated with them.
Till tommorrow

posted by Liliana @ 4:36 PM

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Lot of stress today but we’re actually in good spirits. We had a photoshoot for the big team players, Jacqui, Jeff, Kevin, Lee and myself. We did Sapranoesque shots. Pretty funny. Jeff came down for the opening ” Lil you seem nervous.” ” Of course I’m nervous we are opening our 14th bar tonight.” I love Jeff. He’s so funny.
I said to the photographer ” can you do airbrushing?” no more then 3 hours of sleep a night for the last three nights, I’m feeling kind of schlumpy.

posted by Liliana @ 5:24 PM

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

I have been working on the jukebox for 6 hours. What a pain in the ass. I received a very funny e-mail from Jeff Myers, gm Nashville

OK…Here is my x-mas wish if it’s not to much to ask. I would LOVE to have
a double jointed brunette dark skinned supermodel that loves passion,
romance, and sex. She should be very independent, and have access to tickets
for all major sporting events. Bi-sexual would be a definite bonus. Thanks a
bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted by Liliana @ 1:37 AM

Monday, December 06, 2004

I haven’t picked a December Coyote of the month. The web guy is hounding me. Give me a fucking break. I’ll pick one when I’m ready. I want to pick a Dallas girl but I’m not sure if the girl I was thinking about is still there.
I’m swamped. The stress level at the Nashville bar today is very high. I did a morning show in Nashville this morning. I go in chanting to myself ” please don’t curse, please don’t curse.” So I limited myself to one ” freaking”. I can live with that. Usually I say something bad and Lee has to apologize to them for me. I can’t help cursing, it’s part of my genetic makeup.
I’m so proud of these girls, they have worked their butts off.
We have been doing tastings for the kitchen menu. We are on our second batch of Chicken Wings. Jeff is from Buffalo so the wings have to be perfect. ” Jeff , I won’t let you down!”

posted by Liliana @ 4:39 PM

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Last night we took the Nashville girls out for a night on the town. They are funny. They were relentless at trying to seduce Kyle. So funny. Grabbing his butt, touching his shaved head, trying to dance really ( really ) close to him. But Kyle didn’t budge. Like a rock, that’s why I love him.
Tim was hysterical last night. He got bombed. First few drinks: ” Lil, are you going to fire me?” Then a few more drinks: ” Lil please don’t fire me” Then a few more drinks ” OK Lil if you’re going to fire me please do it after the holidays” A few more drinks: ” Is sleeping with Cyndi fraternization?”
Kevin was pretty loaded but he said something that was so kind. ” Lil I’ve been working with you almost 2 years. I remember 2 years ago getting the Dallas bar started. You, Lee, and myself were talking about our future plans for the company. I never would of believed that 2 years later we would be working on our 14th bar, riding in the Coyote truck, flying to the Middle East, and pursuing other international cities. Lil I love you and I will follow you where ever you lead us.”

posted by Liliana @ 1:37 PM

Saturday, December 04, 2004

I’ve never heard this one. Jacqui got a doctor’s note from one of the Nashville girls. “…. Can not attend dance rehearsal because she is harvesting her eggs.” Unfuckingbelievable.

posted by Liliana @ 11:23 AM

Thursday, December 02, 2004

We passed all of our inspections today! Phew! Jacqui gave a great report about the girls. I’m so pleased. Jeff Myers, the new gm, called me to congratulate me for the positive inspections. How nice is that? He won big points with that. I sometimes mock people from the south, but they really have such nice manners.

I’m really proud of the new management team in Nashville. Usually it takes a little time for the managers to mesh but they seem to have an instant comraderie. Jeff M. GM, Kyle AM, Heath AM. Not one girl applied for the position (of course only after we had hired people). Things are moving along. We are taking the girls out this Saturday. Watch out Nashville! Now I’ve got the always impending problem, what to wear?

posted by Liliana @ 10:18 PM

Yesterday we passed our Health inspection, today we have the Beer Board Inspection and the Fire Inspection. I’m crossing my fingers. People never understand how stressful it is to open a bar. Yesterday Kevin and I were in a meeting with the architect in Nashville. I was telling Kevin that I felt he wasn’t as anxious as he is during most openings. Now the reason this is so weird is because we have two projects going at once, Nashville and Denver. Kevin has a lot on his plate right now. The contractor for the Denver project has called a few times and Kevin is definitely concerned. But we are a week away from the Nashville opening and he simply can’t fly out to Denver. So I said to him yesterday, “Kevin, you are amazingly calm for this one.” (You just have to know Kevin). Unfortunately, his response was not one that I liked to hear. “Well Lil, I’ve accepted in my mind that until I get to Denver, that project is going to crash and burn! So it really takes the pressure off.” “Not funny Kevin.” So Nashville opens Dec. 8th; Kevin will be at the job site in Denver Dec. 9th.

posted by Liliana @ 10:10 AM

Monday, November 29, 2004

I am truly blessed. I went to a parent teacher conference today. Jackson got rave reviews. I’m so pleased. he’s really picking up french now. He is in pre-k and they have studied famous artists. They study herbs, cooking, and traditional reading and writing. The french definitely have a very aggressive program for education.
Today Jackson got to see a bit of his mom’s competitive side. A couple of days ago we had a conversatioon about the words to a song that plays in the movie” Ants” The song is a takeoff of an old classic ” Almost like being in Love” Jackson said that the words to a certain section were ” There’s a smile on my face for the whole insect PLACE” I said it wasn’t PLACE but RACE. Tonight he wanted to prove to me that it was PLACE. So I put the movie in and it clearly said RACE. I said “HAHA I knew it was RACE!” I kept my gloating at a minimum. As in the temperment of his mother he said to me ” Well it should be PLACE.” I love that kid.
Nashville tomorrow night. Jacqui goes into town . Let’s see how the girls hold up.

posted by Liliana @ 8:44 PM

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Marshall and I were speaking about how the New Orleans girls seem to have more relatives that die repeatly. We had a girl named Ginger. I swear she said her grandmother died 6 times. He suggested that when hiring the New Orleans staff we ask them to give us a complete geneology so the manager can refer back to it. ” Well Liz, according to your family tree, your uncle Bill died 2 months ago. Sorry you can’t call in sick this weekend.”

posted by Liliana @ 4:27 PM

It’s pouring rain in New Orleans today. I’m feeling a bit down, probably too much turkey. Kevin has been going back and forth from Nashville to Denver. I may have to force him to take a few days off. He’s running himself ragged. During the girl search one of the girls told me that she worked for www.emt.com ( I think) This is an online medical reference site. Well Kevin who is 5 ft. behind me chimes in ” hey that’s my favorite web page” Well Kevin is a self proclaimed hypocondriac. I laughed so hard. “Lil I use that web site religiously” ” I’m sure you do Kevin.” 28 years old, high blood pressure, stress out all the time. But he’s great at his job and a really great guy. ” Ok Kevin we have eleven days to open Nashville. You can do it!!!”

posted by Liliana @ 9:11 AM

Thursday, November 25, 2004

I love my son. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

posted by Liliana @ 2:05 PM

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Now Tim has made me look like the bad guy. I bring the veteran girls to most of the openings to train the new bar’s staff. For the Nashville opening I am bringing Cyndi ( worked for me for close to 4 years), maria ( worked for me for close to 4 years), Chantel ( worked for me for close to 3 years), and Ester ( worked for me for close to 1 year). He told a few San Antonio girls that I was going to bring them. Now I’m going to look like a schmuck when I don’t. I love the San Antonio bar. the girls are getting better every day. But the bar is only 3 months old. I was bringing in some more veteran girls. By the time Denver opens they will be more ready to go. I promise I will bring at least one San Antonio girl to Denver. I just don’t think they are ready yet. It is a big responsibility to train other girls. I don’t take this lightly.
God damn you Tim!!

posted by Liliana @ 11:07 AM

Monday, November 22, 2004

I just got home from the finals. I feel very emotionally drained. There were so many great girls. It was very sad. I cut girls who would of turned into super stars at the other bars. Incredible bartenders , singers, dancers, actresses. Kevin kept saying to me ” can’t you keep all of them?” There were just too many girls. I had to get the number down to a reasonable amount. I’m saddened because I had to cut so many .But I’m also mad. In New Orleans, I hear so much shit from the girls. I’m sick. My boyfriend doesn’t want me working here. I’m in jail. To see so many motivated girls just makes me so angry at the bullshit that goes on in the other bars.
Welcome to Nash vegas

posted by Liliana @ 1:35 AM

Saturday, November 20, 2004

Well they don’t call this town Nash Vegas for nothing. These girls have been singing , dancing, reciting their hearts out. One girl did a rendition of “Amazing Grace” that made me almost cry. Some funny stuff yesterday, one girl swallowed her gum so she could sing for me. I said ” I could of found you a garbage”. Another girl followed up two unbelievable singers witha skit on how to model on the catwalk. Kevin and I were hysterical. I had a group of 5 girls come in at once and they did the electric slide to the Limp Bizcut song ” Rollin”. I’ve never seen that before. One girl came up and said I have no talent like these other girls but I can do a lot of pushups. So I told her to beat Seth’s pushup amount, 56 ( I think). So she did 57. She switched every 20 pushups doing it on one arm and then the other. Seth may have some competition. But the most memorable part of the day was a girl saying she wanted to do a song from “Grease” but she needed someone to sing the male part. So of course I volunteered Kevin. Kevin quietly said to me ” Please don’t make me do this.” Well shit Kevin, take one for the team. So I got a picture of this girl pinning him against the wall. I’ll post it later on this week. So far so good. Let’s see who comes in today.

posted by Liliana @ 1:51 PM

Friday, November 19, 2004

I asked Kevin to get me a tall (small) latte from Starbucks. He came back with a venti ( extra big) latte. It’s one minute before we start sending the girls in for auditions and I’m bouncing off the walls.
Damn it’s hot in here

posted by Liliana @ 1:56 PM

Thursday, November 18, 2004

I’m in Nashville and the phone in the office has been ringing off the hook. I hope a lot of girls show up

posted by Liliana @ 9:07 PM

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

This pickup truck is killing me. All I wanted was to paint the logo on the sides and the hood. Now I’ve got Lee putting pictures of girls on it with dumb sayings. Finally, today, we compromised. I picked a few pictures that I like and we canned the cheesy sayings. Yesterday Tim really pissed me off. I haven’t been that mad since Lee pulled crap with some of the merchandise. Kevin moved up a few pegs this week. Or did they just move down?

I put an ad on Monster.com to hire another person in operations. I told Jeff, no more men. I’ve had enough. Working with men is fine. I have quite a few go-getters in my company. I enjoy that. They want to do well and have a career with us. But egos are always a problem. And to be perfectly frank they don’t completely get what it is like to be a Coyote. Unfortunately, most woman don’t want to apply for management positions. They fear traveling and relocation. And let’s just say it “the boyfriend” issue always weighs into their decision. When I first interviewed Tim he told me he had just started dating someone. I said will that be a problem if you have to move? “Absolutly not Lil, she doesn’t mean that much to me.” LOL. Well, I can’t lie, that endeared me to Tim.

I’m headed for Nashville tomorrow. Big girl search this weekend. If anyone wants to donate bumper stickers, license plates, other cool stuff, send it to the Nashville bar. It is a big space to fill.

posted by Liliana @ 9:50 PM

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Just to clarify: Kelly and Joel have always run the San Antonio store. Tim was simply someone that is part of corporate who was helping them transition from new store to seasoned powerhouse store. Both Kelly and Joel have done excellent jobs. They appointed Jenn hawk head bartender and she is doing a wonderful job. My Lil Spill yesterday was devoted to saying Tim will be out of your hair!!!
I love you guys.

posted by Liliana @ 2:14 PM

I’ve got Jacqui running a mission for me. Just to be frank, the shopping in New Orleans sucks. I’ve been working my ass off and I have nothing to wear for this Nashville opening. Jacqui was a personal shopper for a short while and she CAN SHOP. Over the years she has gotten me a million things. She buys Jackson presents all the time. Her and the NY girls always get me the nicest birthday gifts. Last year I got a Louis Vuiton makeup bag. The year before that they gave me chaps and lingerie. ( oh la la) I have no doubt that jacqui will have many outfit options for Nashville.
I lucked out having Jacqui. She worked for me at another bar. Came over to Coyote when I opened that bar. Low and behold a few years in when I decided we should actually choreograph routines versus all free style, she’s a choreographer . She took a million years of dance and trained as a dancer / choreographer in College. So wa la we got real professional quality dance routines. A few of the franchised bars have tried to make their own routines. They are never as good. One of the franchises actually created their own routine but copied their moves from some of the Coyote dances which jacqui has copyrighted. I actually had to send a cease and desist letter to one of the franchised bars. It really is funny sometimes when I think about how cut throat this business is. Well regardless the Nashville girls will meet Jacqui in about a week. Good Luck.
San Antonio management ( Joel) has been upset that I do not want them to put in hip Hop or dance music at the bar. I have told him that the bar is a country/rock and roll bar. The girls should be trying to be the best Coyotes they can be. A good Coyote can hear the slowest Patsy Cline song and turn it into the most energetic crowd pleasing song on the jukebox. I told Jacqui yesterday that I wanted to send a girl down to San Antonio who can’t dance a lick but has a really strong precense at the bar. I would make management play a full shift of country and old style rock and roll . The S A girls would watch how that girl worked. ( Not that easy being a really good Coyote) Perhaps in January I will do that.
San Antonio and Austin had great nights last night. I am so pleased that the San Antonio girls are doing well, it’s Joel that’s giving me a headache. Pain in my ass!!

posted by Liliana @ 10:20 AM

Monday, November 15, 2004

I want to thank Chantel. She was the only person today who didn’t call with a problem or to whine. The New Orleans bar did great this weekend. I love to hear that. I have such a bad headache today. I figure it’s either the brain tumor I must have from using my cellphone or very deep seeded stress. Jacqui put into words today how I felt. ” Lil, I’m going to put a motherfucking bullet through my head.” Don’t worry everyone, she decided to put the gun down and live. Jacqui has been in rare form this week. She’s been like a one woman show. I can’t stop laughing. NY girls, this weekend was outstanding. Keep up the good work. I spoke with kelly today and it’s time for her to take the helm in San Antonio. Guess what girls!!! No more Tim for awhile. The “terminator” has been asked to help in Nashville. But he’ll check in from time to time so dry your eyes.
Nashville girl search this weekened. I’m praying for a good turnout.

posted by Liliana @ 9:15 PM

Saturday, November 13, 2004

I was running late for my flight last night and of course I get selected for extra security screening. God damn not only did they do close to a full body cavity search but they took 20 minutes checking my bag. Well I missed the flight. So I had to take a 7:20 am flight this morning. Brutal!!!
Next week Nashville girl search. I’m crossing my fingers. I definitely feel like we are cutting this one very close

posted by Liliana @ 10:26 AM

Friday, November 12, 2004

Nothing more annoying then when a girl quits because her boyfriend doesn’t like them working at Coyote. All I can say to that is ” Get a life. Having a boyfriend dictate to you about working a bartending job is ridiculous.” How weak. I got a call from one of my people a few days ago stating that they heard a former bartender broke up with her boyfriend and wants her job back. If it is a desperate situation, where we are really short handed, I will think about it. But normally, I would not take that girl back. She is not strong minded enough to work at Coyote. That type of girl doesn’t embody what I think a Coyote should be.
Jeff reminded me that I didn’t make fun of Lee in the Lil Spill last week. Well here goes. Lee was on a cruise in the caribbean. His girlfriend and he were parting at night and they go back to their state room. Well, after quite a few drinks, the girlfriend starts picking an argument. ( Now this is all one sided from Lee) Supposedly it is the same fight she always picks. Well he gets so mad he does the stupid guy thing and punches the wall. Well I get an e-mail the next day stating that he went to the doctor and it’s official , he broke his hand. As the old adage says ” men are so stupid”

posted by Liliana @ 11:13 AM

Thursday, November 11, 2004

The good news is I got 9 hours of sleep last night. I think my sleeping average is somewhere between 4 and 5 hours a night. Bad news is that I woke up so unbelievably stressed out. I dreamt I was working at the denver bar and I was supposed to go to Nashville to hold the girl search. Jeff called me and said I had to go to Spain for something that was very important. I told him that I couldn’t postpone the girl search. He responded, you have to go to spain it is very important. I woke with that same feeling you have after having the ” I didn’t study for the test ” dream. When I have dreams about being back in school, it is always high school, never college. I always dream that I am my current age but they reviewed my transcript and claim I owe a few credits. I then have to go to classes with the seniors. I then plead my case. I even offer to take an exam to verify my knowledge in whatever subject they are referring to. But the verdict always comes in that I have to attend a full year of high school again. Then I pose the question to myself, do I really need to do this? I’m successful! How important is receiving this diploma when I have done well for myself and am doing well in business? The answer is for whatever reasons I have to go back and get the diploma. ( for the people who don’t know me I went to high school and college)
About 2 years ago I was asked by my college, New York University, to give a speech to the business school. This woman called me day and night , she even called Jeff. I told her that I felt awkward giving a speech at a college I attended primarily on paper. What that means is, I was enrolled but I would work and miss classes or I would play pool and miss classes. I didn’t even go to the business school. For god sakes I even wanted to be a social worker at one point. Finally she backed off and stopped asking.
Lee called me up yesterday and said ” guess what !!! We can get Gretchen Wilson to play for the Nashville opening!!!” He followed that exclamation with ” Can you just write a check for $100,000.” Very funny Lee.

posted by Liliana @ 9:52 AM

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Ever since I posted on the Lil spill about people not writing in asking me to open in their particular city, I now get three times the e-mails on just that. I am sorry for the people who write me expecting an answer. I have tried to write to everyone but I just can’t keep up with the e-mails..
I am working as fast as I can. People write in ; when are you going to open in Houston, seattle, Little rock etc. All I can say is that I am working as fast as I can. I don’t want to open anything half assed so it takes time to make sure each location is being run properly.
By sheer coincidence there are about 5 girls who are leaving the New orleans bar. One girl got married and had to move. Another is dropping out of school and has to move. One more is homesick and has to move. Blah, blah blah. So if you read this Lil Spill, live in the New orleans area, are 21, and want to bartend, come on down. Talk with Aaron or Chantel!!!

posted by Liliana @ 1:41 PM

Monday, November 08, 2004

I spent the weekend in Denver. We finally signed the lease! thank god. We were invited to a private party at Lucky strike, the famous celebrity bowling alley. They are going to be our neighbors in denver. Wow what a nice job they did on buildout. The place looks incredible. They have this beautiful red colored wood flooring. They have these powder blue modern sofas by the lanes and the Ligne Roset style brown sofas by the bar. It’s a bowling alley / high end lounge. Jeff is funny. He went with me and maintained his traditional stance ” If I’m not at home I will drink as many beers as I can” I love that! This weekend I was on my best behavior. I had to meet and greet so I stuck with Club soda on Saturday night. I called Jacqui and I said bring money to the denver opening. We’re in a mall with Bananna republic, Niketown, Gap, Victoria secret, Bowling , Movies. They even have a salon . I have a feeling during dance rehearsal breaks Jacqui will be calling me over to go do a little shopping.
Last push before nashville opens. I’m getting a little nervous about making the Dec 8th opening. I hope the bar is done and the licenses are ready!

posted by Liliana @ 3:19 PM

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Jackson has a fever and we have been up since 2:30 am. I’m pretty beat.
Marshall told me a funny story yesterday. I wish I was there to see this. On saturday/ Sunday , when Austin had their Halloween party, there was a verball altercation with a customer. Marshall went outside to speak directly with this gentlemen. During this conversation words became heated and the man was asked to leave. The funny part of the story is that Marshall was dressed in his halloween costume , which happened to be a Daisy Duck costume. The bouncers said that it was hysterical watching him turn irate and the more he spoke the more the beak of his costume bounced up and down. I guess you had to be there but I can visualize this and it seems very funny to me.
Big meeting today on a possible new site.

posted by Liliana @ 10:29 AM

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Joel, I love you. You are an asset in San Antonio and I’m so sorry that I don’t tell you more, how much I love you. Now stop your whining.
I’ve heard from Tim ,of all people, how I favor the NY and New Orleans bars. NY is my first bar and I have a soft spot for that bar but I do not let the girls off the hook. Jacqui is held to standards that some of the other managers aren’t. New Orleans: I live there now. For all the positives I write about the staff, I write plenty of negatives. They are put under a magnifing glass everytime I come in. I wouldn’t say I favor New Orleans. I would say I expect a lot out of the staff in New Orleans. I live there, so I go to that bar most often. Hence I write about the New Orleans staff the most.
San Antonio is doing great. The girls followed the 81 body shots with a second day of 85. Very impressive.
The Nashville bar is going to be fabulous. It’s a big space. But it still feels comfortable. The walls are stone and the feel of the bar is really warm.
Back to interviewing

posted by Liliana @ 1:48 PM

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Took jackson very early this morning and voted. GET OUT AND VOTE !!!
On my way to Nashville today!

posted by Liliana @ 9:45 AM

Monday, November 01, 2004

Lil,
I looked into it. The New Orleans record is 147!!! It was a Sunday. 72 day. 75 night. 7 girls total (3 day, 3 night, 1 swing). In San Antonio’s face!
Aaron

Friday San Antonio sold 1 bodyshot during the day and 80 at night. 81 total for the day. 8 girls on at night and 2 girls on in the day ? I think.
So San Antonio now holds the per shift record but New Orleans holds the whole day record. Knowing Tim and kelly they are going to try and beat those numbers. Let’s see if they can do it.

I went trick or treating with Jackson last night. He made out like a bandit. Unfortunately, I got locked out of my house without a cellphone. I had to get in touch with the bar so someone could help me. Good thing the next door neighbors were having a party. We just went over there and had cookies and wine while we waited.
Interviewing for the GM position in Nashville on Tuesday. Kevin has it narrowed down to 50.

posted by Liliana @ 5:50 AM

Sunday, October 31, 2004

2 days in at the Steel Ponies express. The bar has done very well. The event itself is definately not as busy as last year. We paid for a parking permit that extended the whole block so we could have parking for hundreds of motorcycles. Of course the city showed up yesterday claiming that a movie production company had the permit. They are totally fucking us. I think Aaron is going to have a coronary. Now we have had to share the block. I get a call from chantel this morning saying that they parked a movie trailer right in front of the bar. So we are fighting with them to move it. What a fucking nuisance. Today is yet another 90 degree day. Tomorrow is November. This is fucking ridiculous. I can’t lie between the weather and this parking issue, I hate it here today. I’m definately not staying in New Orleans next summer. I can understand why people go on shooting sprees.
On a good note, the girls are trying really hard. Michelle beaver from Austin and Seth from san Antonio came down to pitch in. They are doing great. Very proud.
I can’t wait to take jackson trick or treating!

posted by Liliana @ 1:55 PM

Saturday, October 30, 2004

It seems like there is a bit of a competition going on. Yesterday evening the San Antonio girls sold 81 body shots. Last year New Orleans sold during a day shift 78 bodyshots. Ok I’m not trying to play favorites because I am so proud of the San Antonio girls. They are really starting to get it. And they are so dedicated to the bar. I love them for that. But What was the total for both day and night shifts? Was it 81 bodyshots over the cross of two shifts ( day and night)? Or was it just night? I hate playing favorites amongst my own bars but there are 8 girls working on Friday night in San Antonio and only 3 girls working a saturday day shift in New Orleans. ( let me repeat I love the San Antonio girls, just trying to be fair)
If the managers of my bars want to make this exciting. We can make a wager on it. ( sorry there can be no betting within a liquor licensed property) Let’s call it a bonus. Ok Aaron, Marshall, Jacqui, and Kelly. Anyone game?

posted by Liliana @ 4:09 PM

Friday, October 29, 2004

I just erased my whole blog. Aaron told me about a girl who was taking off some time for something pretty serious. Now, many years ago I would of responded ” Aaron, that is so tough for her. I hope she’s alright.” Now my response is ” you’re kidding me? Do you buy it?” Of course his response back ” I don’t know” I can’t print what the excuse is or who the girl is. If there is any truth to this and I print this, God will strike me down dead . But if it is a lie, it is a doozie and I will write about it in a few months.
Steel Ponies Bike Fest starts today. I’m pretty psyched for it. We did very well last year at this event. Aaron who never gets emotional about anything , spoke to me yesterday and he was absolutly giddy. Finally after months of complaints, lawyers, and anyone who would listen, we got the Dumpster moved that was right next door to the bar.
Knock on wood, I don’t want to jinx anything but san Antonio is doing unbelievably well.
I’ve been getting a lot of compliments about the New York bar. I love that bar. It’s the smallest, it’s the grungiest, it even usually smells, but the girls are great, the customers are loyal, and it’s just a fun time for everyone.

posted by Liliana @ 10:08 AM

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Jackson’s birthday was yesterday. 5 years old. They grow up so fast.
I’m so fucking pissed at our merch company. Steel Ponies is this weekend. We sell tons of merchendise during this bike fest. Aaron ordered merch for this 6 weeks ago. He gets an e-mail yesterday that they can’t supply a few items in XXL. ” Why the fuck didn’t you tell him that 6 weeks ago?” Bikers wear XXL. I have steam coming out of my ears right now. I’m sure there are other companies who would love to have our business.
I’m getting very excited for Nashville.

posted by Liliana @ 10:56 AM

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Aaron told me something yesterday that is so funny yet so disturbing. As a mother raising her child in Louisiana this makes me very confident about my decision to put jackson in private school.

Tara asked him the other day ” Is Thanksgiving on thursday this year?”

Steel Ponies is this weekend. I’ve got Kyle coming in to train and work. I’ve got Michelle Beaver coming in from Austin. And I have Seth coming in from San Antonio. I hope the weather holds.

posted by Liliana @ 10:33 AM

Saturday, October 23, 2004

I wish I had gone to the nascar race. Kyle told me that at one point our car was in fourth place! How exciting. But unfortunately the car spun out and ended in 22nd place. Damn!!!

The New Orleans girls lost to the Bud girls in Volleyball on Thursday. Supposedly it was close. Tied one game each and we lost in the tie breaker. 2 years in a row we lost to them, Chantel you need some ringers!!!!

posted by Liliana @ 8:55 PM

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Coyote Ugly Saloon has teamed with Team McClure and Wide Open Performance & Enhanced Formula Energy Drink to field a NASCAR Busch Series entry in the Sam’s Town “He Dared To Rock” 250 benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Driver Eric McClure, 25, is an up and coming driver in NASCAR. Eric most recently competed in the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Nextel Cup race in April 2004 where he qualified 35th and finished a respectable 26th and on the lead lap. See our car photos here.

Qualifications on the mile oval are scheduled for Friday afternoon October 22nd followed by the race, televised on TNT at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday afternoon October 23rd. Radio coverage is provided by MRN — beginning at 2:45 p.m. (ET).

I have 218 e-mails from the web site. Most everyone who e-mails me asks me when I am going to put a Coyote in their hometown. It is just impossible for me to answer everyone. All I can say to people who are curious about various cities is I promise you will read it on the Lil Spill or in the Ugly news section. I’m constantly sending scouts out and when we land a deal I will write about it.

I will still answer my e-mails but i just can’t answer everyone.

posted by Liliana @ 7:08 PM

I enjoy some of the letters I receive from my trademark attorneys. They seem to all start with ” Lil, please do not post this on the Lil Spill.” Jeff actually laughs about it. There is possibly a new project that fell into our laps. Jeff e-mailed me today and asked if we should put new guy Tim on it. Tim worked 90 hours last week, I don’t know how much more he can do. “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong”
I think Kevin found us our pick up truck. I’m not sure what it is. He came to me yesterday saying he had narrowed it down to two. I asked the prices and one was almost $7,000 more. Well , problem solved . We’ll take the cheaper one.
I’ll be out in Denver in early November.
I’m so pissed at Lee for changing the girls search in Nashville. I was prepared to go the day after Thanksgiving. That would have made me happy. ( Kitty cringes when I say would of instead of would have) We have a few leads on some new spots.
Jackson requested that we decorate the outside of out house for Halloween. This has become a neverending project. Everyday we add something new. But then someone elses house looks better. Yesterday we put up flourescent lighting, a huge spider, and more webbing. This morning Jackson states ” our house isn’t scary enough we need some ghosts.” I’ve exceeded my domesticity level on this project. I’ve been painting, glueing. I actually enlisted a friend to help. I said to him yesterday ” I can help you.” his response ” how can you help? What are you going to make some sandwiches?” After I simmered down from that comment , I went in and made a cheese and antipasta plate. ” Here you go. I’ll be upstairs working”

posted by Liliana @ 11:04 AM

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Kevin purchased himself and I two training computers for the Aloha POS system. We did this so we could become more proficient on them without having to be at one of the bars. Also if a manager trains with me in New Orleans , which doesn’t use POS, I can still train them with my computer.
So, I get my computer and it is running very slowly, not starting the program properly etc. Jacob ,a bouncer at the New Orleans bar, is a bit of a computer wiz so I asked him to take the computer and get it running properly. Well I get the computer back yesterday. Lastnight I start using the aloha program. While I was working on it , all of a sudden it quits and internet explorer starts. The last few weeks of history for the computer start popping up. It seemed to me that the computer had been used to surf chat rooms, porn sites, webcam shots of naked girls. ( You get the picture.) This morning I call him up and I say 1. the aloha program isn’t running properly and 2. this is a fucking training computer you need to erase all this fucking porn . For god sakes there was even a girl pleasuring herself with a boat oar. Now don’t misunderstand me I love porn just as much as the next person but ” what the fuck!” So I hear him talking to his roommate, Will, another bouncer at the New Orleans bar. Then I can hear Jacob start yelling. It seems that Will and Kerry had downloaded Yahoo instant messenger, aol instant messenger, and visited every sub par porn site while Jacob was working the other night.
Just another day at the office.

posted by Liliana @ 1:58 AM

Monday, October 18, 2004

Comments: Hey Lil its Jimmy from NYC. It was a sad day for me yesterday in the bar. It finaly hit me that there is no more kyle. We all took him out last monday to a great steak house in NY, and on friday I drove him into the bar. But it was only yesterday when it realy hit me.
Kyle is a great friend of mine and I will miss him so much. I just want you to know that you made a great move by giving Kyle his shot as a manager. we are all so happy for him but we will miss him a lot.

I asked kyle to be one of the managers of the Nashville bar. He’s worked for me for a long time and I trust him implicitly. Other then me or Jacqui , Kyle has been a fixture in that bar for 7 or 8 years. Now granted there are regulars who have made daily appearances since the first day the bar opened . But as far as staff goes, Jacqui is the only one who has been there longer then Kyle.
All I can say is “dry your eyes and go down and visit him.” Nashville is a great city.

posted by Liliana @ 3:40 PM

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Kevin has convinced me! We are purchasing a Coyote Ugly pickup truck. We end up renting trucks in every city for the buildouts. Its time we had our own. Well I learned a lot about diesel trucks today. Diesel trucks can last for 400,000 miles . Diesels have never had to have emission testing. But there is a new law that means trucks in 2007 will start having new emission systems. Hence emission testing. ( good for environment) But this will change everything in the diesel world. The old diesel feul was 500 parts sulfer to gas. The new diesel fuel has only 15 parts sulfer to gas. What does all this mean? Who the fuck knows! I just know after doing the research I think it would be prudent for us to buy a truck that is not diesel.

I just got off the phone with Aaron. He had Chantel work extra for him because the Yankees are winning. But it’s not that the Yankees are winning. It’s that he is superstitious so the fact that he started watching the game and they were doing well means he can’t stop watching the game. He won’t even sit down because he wasn’t sitting down when they started scoring.
I can respect that.

posted by Liliana @ 11:50 PM

Friday, October 15, 2004

Last night was the inhouse New Orleans bartender competition. This competition was to pick one of our girls to enter the Budweiser budtender of the year competition, which we have won two years in a row. Angel won but she is leaving for her new home, I think DC, in early November and can’t make the actual event. So by default Laura won. I have to say the only funny part of the evening was Laura’s speed round. She was asked to make a rum and coke, a chilled vodka, and a miller light. She got the beer. Made the mixed drink. Then she poured vodka in a shot glass and threw in an ice cube. I thought that was pretty funny.
Jacob and Kerry told me a story last night about a Scottish man who was asked to leave the bar by the bouncers. They said after he left he just loitered in front so they kept on screaming to him ” You can take away my barstool. But you can’t take away my freedom.” With a Scottish accent. Very Braveheart like. Mel Gibson would be proud.
Today. The surprise city is either breathing some new life or it’s breathing it’;s last breath. I’m not getting my hopes up. We have a line on a place in LA.
We have a nascar car running next weekend in Memphis. That is correct, a Coyote Ugly race car. I’ll get more info tomorrow. We just signed off on it yesterday. I hope we do well.
I spent the afternoon at my accountants office, Mary V. 3 hours later feeling a bit deflated. As I always say the more money you make the more you spend. Blah, blah, blah. Well I get out of her office building and get into my car. I drive 2 blocks before a cop stops all the traffic and we have to sit there for 1 hour while a parade goes by. Freaking New Orleans, all you have to do is pay a small fee and you can have your own parade. Accountants then stand still traffic, I’m in a pretty sour mood.

posted by Liliana @ 10:35 PM

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

” Out of the ashes the phoenix rose” That is the embodiment of how I feel today. I was pretty depressed about the surprise city’s deal falling through. At the very last moment the landlord pulled out asking for some ridiculous new stipulations for sale of the business ( sale of his business to us). Well last night all of us regrouped and today miracles are happining. I have been invited to Tokyo to meet with some investors and see some possible spaces, I have another possible site close to the surprise city and I’m feeling good. And it was finally a beautiful day in New Orleans. I’m ready to go. Bring it on.
Tonight Laura was competing for the finals of the bartender competion through “Where ya at” magazine. I gave her a lucky Coyote belt buckle. She said she wanted to represent. Good Luck Laura.
Tomorrow night we are holding a bartenders competition for the girls at the New Orleans bar to compete for the budtender of the year competition. Should be fun.

posted by Liliana @ 10:43 PM

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Surprise city died. I’m so pissed. I was planning a december 15th opening. Poor Kevin is heart broken. He had already planned to move there.

posted by Liliana @ 5:30 PM

Monday, October 11, 2004

I just had a girl write me from norway . She told me she works at an infridging Coyote but would like some advice. Are people insane or just plain stupid? Now that letter will cost me god knows what because I will have to go after them. How many lawyers are making a mint off my name? I had to hire a lawyer, Jeff, to coordinate all the other lawyers I have to use. I am sickened thinking about it.

Jeff: “Woman who wrote to you is related to some guys who applied for TM in Norway. We got rid of them in Norway TM office about 2 years ago, but they went forward and opened anyway. They are currently closed down due to insufficient fire protection equipment (or something like that). We are sending a cease and desist letter and giving them a week to stop. if they don’t stop we have to bring an infringement suit in Norway. “

Tomorrow there should be an article in the Wall street Journal about my company. The writer called me today and said ” barring any presidential scandals or financial collapses, you should be in tomorrow’s paper.” I hope it is a good article.
In the two seconds that I finished my blog, I received an e-mail stating that some big story broke so we are getting bumped out of tommorows paper. C’est la Vie

posted by Liliana @ 1:21 PM

Christopher Reeve died. Very sad.
Kevin , Lee and I spent the weekend in Nashville. Very fun town. I enjoyed two stepping with Lee.
So much to do so little time. Sometime in October our girls are playing volleyball against the Hooter girls in New Orleans. Chantel has gotten together a monster team. Blood match!
It’s late I’m tired. I’m going to go cuddle up with jackson.

posted by Liliana @ 2:34 AM

Friday, October 08, 2004

I’m in Nashville checking on the space. The space is very interesting. It is big, 8000 sq. feet. This space, according to Tennessee restirictions must have food, so we actually have an area that is entirely set up for dinner service. The ceilings are low so Kevin is having the floors dropped. It has the same stone walls that Austin has which adds a nice texture . It actually helps with swag ( decor, bar stuff), you don’t need so much. What is actually unnerving, the manager’s office is so nice, it is nicer then mine. I told Kevin to make it obnoxious so the managers don’t spend so much time in there. The beauty with NY and New Orleans is that the offices are essentially stock rooms so they are not inviting. In New Orleans Aaron lives in the building so he uses his own computer. The managers at those two bars have no real offices to go into. So they stay on the floor when they are working. In Austin the office is so hot and miserable, you don’t want to stay there. But all the other bars have nice , comfortable offices so we catch management spending way too much time in the office. It drove me nuts in Tampa how much time the old manager spent in the office. The San Antonio staff has been getting too comfortable and I catch them in the office too much as well. With all this high tech expensive security, I would think Kevin could rig something that acted like an alarm when the managers were abusing their office time. Something realy loud. Resembling a fog horn. LOL What is also interesting is the signage rules here. In most cities you have to adhere to certain rules ” perserving the historic integrity of the neighborhood” No Neon, nothing too large or gaudy. Well in Nashville they won’t allow wood or plastic and encourage neon. Weird. We worked on the design of the sign this afternoon because our logo will be hard to fully create with neon. So we are trying to figure out how to make it work.
Marshall called me yesterday . He told me about a girl who was there to train. She came in and went behind the bar. Her trainer was getting on the bar and ask her to get up as well. She turned to Marshall and said ” I don’t think this is for me.” He said it was all of 17 seconds. New record. A lot of these girls want desperately to be Coyotes but when it comes down to it they don’t have the internal spirit to really do it. I don’t think it is a record because I have had girls apply and then quit before training saying the same thing.
Marshall

posted by Liliana @ 7:18 PM

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Kerry and Will ( New Orleans bouncers) gave me a very nice present. They gave me a belt buckle that is shaped like a Nintendo game control. Their comment was: (I hope I get this right), ” Lil you’ve got more game then nintendo.” How sweet. I wore it all night. The buckle weighs more then me.
Austin had a great weekend. Sunday night was awesome. Marshall told me that there was a beauticians convention in town. He also told me that he and all the bouncers had bruises on their butts from all the women pinching their asses. He used to always tell me that he could identify which girl was behind him by how they pinched his butt. Marshall is a very conscience driven man. He would rather cut off a finger then fraternize with a girl. A rule is a rule with Marshall. I think that just encourages the girls to go after him more. I remember when he worked at the New Orleans bar he actually told me that there was only one girl on the staff who hadn’t told him that she had had a sex dream about him.
In Austin they are more aloof. They giggle near him, try to brush up next to him. In New Orleans they were more upfront ” Marshall, when are we going to motherfucking sleep together?”
I am laughing so hard. I just read an e-mail Marshall sent me.
” The girls were all on their period-going to go home and shoot myself in the crotch so there is no chance I’ll have a daughter who can inflect such pain on an innocent man.”

Jackson went to the dentist for the first time yesterday. He was so cute.

posted by Liliana @ 1:20 AM

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Chelsey, Coyote from New Orleans, has been getting rave reviews. That’s pretty impressive considering she’s only worked for 1 week. I haven’t even met her yet.
The surprise city is killing me. We are very close to signing the lease. We just want some financial assurances on a very old roof. If we sign the lease this week, we are looking at a Dec. 15th opening. That will probably open before Denver. Lee and Kevin get very antsy with January openings. Traditionally January is the worst month in the bar/restaurant industry. They are correct, it is the slowest month. But if construction, permits, licenses aren’t ready until January, I’m not going to stall opening until March. Three of my bars, including NY, have been opened in January. They are all doing very well.

Demolition has started in Nashville. Kevin is spending the next 3 days in Memphis getting build out bids for a particular space we are interested in. I’m crossing my fingers.

posted by Liliana @ 10:19 AM

Monday, October 04, 2004

Long week. I went into the Austin bar on Friday night. The girls are always trying hard. ” JJ stop harassing the customers for tips”
other then that the girls are very funny and it’s one of the prettiest staffs.
San Antonio: They finally are starting to shine. I’m so proud. Seth beat 3 guys with her clap in between push ups. She did 44. Unbelievable. For the first time I felt the girls have gotten their rhythm as Coyotes.
I spent an ungodly amount of time with Tim, the new corporate guy. Let’s just say that after the last two weeks, the S A staff now calls him the “terminator”

posted by Liliana @ 1:33 PM

Saturday, October 02, 2004

Comments: Lil, I have a bone to pick with you. I find it stupid and very bad business to refuse to allow paying customers into your bars because one happens to be dating one of your workers – and not even a bartender (of which I can understand your rule about their always appearing available) but a barback? I see that your company has that reputation to uphold, of the “available but totally inaccessible” women but your security personnel and your barbacks? I mean, get real here Lil. I find it hard to believe that you think it would help your business to never allow certain persons in because of whom they are seeing. The manager was quite rude about my not entering and made it apparant that I am NOT welcome at your establishment. I never had this problem at another of your bars, where everyone there knew who I was and no one ever seemed to have any problem with my presence there, regardless of whom I was dating. If you’re not going to want me to be in your bars because of who I date, you can be sure that I no longer want to be a patron of yours. I’ll remember that I’m a Coyote barback’s girl and take my money and my business and my friends’ money & business and go somewhere I’m welcome, as I was forced to do tonight. Sorry if I’m coming off as a bitch, well no-I’m not sorry about that, but I do apologize if this may not have been the proper outlet to vent my frustrations, but you might see how my night and my plans were ruined when I couldn’t get into the bar I wanted to get into and perhaps understand my sentiment. Thank you for that Coyote experience-it most definitely won’t be one I’ll be forgetting.

My professional response to this letter: I’m sorry but it is company policy that girlfriends and boyfriends do not come to the bars while their significant others are working.
My personal response to this letter is: Get a fucking life, psycho. Do you want your boyfriend to be labeled ” guy with Psycho Girlfriend”? Respect his job. Respect his space. You just e-mailed his boss. How embarrassing for your boyfriend. I feel for him.

posted by Liliana @ 1:44 PM

Friday, October 01, 2004

Seth is becoming a little super star in San Antonio. It’s nice that finally one of the girls is getting it!! I had a meeting with Tim, my new corporate guy. We met at the new orleans bar. He has only spent time at the San antonio bar and was a bit surprised. ” Lil I wasn’t expecting the bar to be so downscale.” ” Why Tim do you mean to say that your calling the New Orleans bar a DIVE?” ” Lil, I was expecting something more like the San Antonio bar which is so nice. It wasn’t an insult.” Blah blah blah. I love dives! That’s why I feel so comfortable in NY and New Orleans. They aren’t quite dives , they are just not as ornate as some of the other Coyotes. But he seemed impressed by the girls and how hard they worked the happy hour crowd. Off to Austin tonight. It will be nice to see the girls there. Marshall has had quite a week with the new Aloha POS system being installed. He keeps on e-mailing me “Aloha Lil” Yesterday I got an e-mail from marshall stating that he is Alohaed out!

posted by Liliana @ 11:13 AM

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Kitty had an 8lb 2 oz baby boy, Stephen!!! I’m so happy for them.
She knew she was going in today for a ceasarian. This morning I wake up and there is a message on my voice mail from her, ” Lil, I baked you spelt flour cookies and left them at your front door before I went to the hospital .” My thoughts were, who the hell bakes cookies right before they go to the hospital to have a baby?
Running around this weekend.
Tentative dates for Nashville: Girl search November 26th- 28th Friday noon- 4pm Sat noon- 4pm Sun noon- 4pm
Girls who make the final round need to be back at 5 pm
Opening date is december 8th. All tentative, but right now I feel comfortable with those dates. Girls there is training everyday up until the opening date. Be prepared to sweat. Don’t quit your jobs! Just know that how ever you have to work it ,you’ll have to go to training everyday. But I will explain more when I choose the staff.

posted by Liliana @ 2:57 PM

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Very nice managers meeting with Chantel and Aaron last night. They have scheduled a lot of promotions during October: Road to Voodoo Fest, Voodoo Fest, and Steel Ponies.

The Budtender of New Orleans competition is coming up in November, which Chantel won 2 years ago and Tara won last year. We decided we will do our own competition to pick the contestant from our bar to compete in this annual event. Speed and the ability to raise money is what wins the contest. Chantel is one of the fastest bartenders I’ve seen. I would love to see a speed competition between Chantel (New Orleans), Esther from Austin, and Sylvia from Chicago.

I love watching Esther. She looks like she is having so much fun, getting people to buy body shots, dancing on the bar, chatting with people. Well at the end of the night you see that she has rung in $1000 more then the next girl. I love that. Sylvia goes to work wanting to be the high ring so it’s a goal that she makes sure she hits. I was like that as a bartender. I wasn’t the fastest bartender but I was always the most competitive. So I was the highest ring because of my salesmenship. That person who came in for 1 drink was going to stay til close and spend a couple hundred bucks. But pure speed I wouldn’t win.

Kevin will read this and say to me, “Put me in the competition and I will smoke all those girls.” I can’t lie, he is one of the fastest bartenders I have ever seen. I made him help bartend at the Tampa opening. The bar was packed and we were all helping to bartend. Kevin comes up to me and says, “Lil, get all of these girls out of my way they are slowing me down.” But screw him this is a women’s organization so he can’t compete. He wouldn’t win the Budtender contest because he wouldn’t raise as much money as the girls. Jacqui was also a fast bartender. She wouldn’t want to enter. She would want to be with me ordering the drinks.

We just got in a new POS system in Austin. At first I was against having such an expensive system in the bar but on a national level it is so much easier to keep track of the bars. It will be nice to have in Austin.

I forgot to ask Marshall who won the “Hands on a Harley” promotion?

posted by Liliana @ 1:02 PM

Monday, September 27, 2004

My new guy, Tim, caught a door guy and the cashier girl stealing the other night. This was at the San Antonio bar. Kevin’s really expensive security system verified this. They were able to see the transaction between the girl and the bouncer as clear as day. Cudos to Tim. I’m definitely displeased that the managers did not spot this.
I’m on my way home today.

posted by Liliana @ 8:57 AM

Saturday, September 25, 2004

I’m in Raleigh visiting family. Last night I went out with my sister . Lee asked me to scout a few places here. So we went out a little bit. I don’t see the market here. It’s a beautiful city but I just don’t see this area being good for us. Lee yesterday said ” Raleigh comes up high on every demographic chart. ” Blah blah. I am not the location scout. I just tell it like it is.

posted by Liliana @ 9:20 AM

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Working, working working. Kitty, my personal assistant cracked the whip today and we got quite a few things accomplished. She is having a baby any day so I figure I better get as much help now before she has the baby. Marshall called me today about a promotion the Austin bar is co sponsering, Hands on a Harley. The idea of this promotion is that you keep one hand on the motorcycle for as long as you can.. The last person standing gets the Harley. Last year’s winner stayed up for 93 hours. There are breaks allowed but they are regulated. 1 break every 6 hours only for 10 minutes. Brutal. The amusing part is that people actually line up to watch this contest. Marshall told me they actually built bleechers because there are so many interested viewers. I say great. Coyote is selling beer and merch there. Outstanding.
Also while we are talking about Austin, I’ve been getting many e-mails about our bartender Dani. Nice work!
So much to do so little time!

posted by Liliana @ 5:07 PM

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Thank you Rick and Blaine. They both ,seperately, bought me gourmet meals for dinner last night. I was the manager on duty yesterday day shift at the New Orleans bar and they brought me dinner. Lobster dumplings, spaghetti and meatballs, tiramisu, and creme brulee. I’m still full. I love the new girls Libby and Ashley. Nice to feel some new energy at the bar. New Bouncer last night, Pump. That’s right , his name is Pump. I love the big bouncer names. In New York we had Beertruck. In San Antonio, we have Battle. There have been the traditional Tiny, Psycho, Bulldog. Of course all nice guys and all good at their jobs.
I just hired on a new guy, Tim on the corporate level. He starts next week and we are all fighting to get him started on our various projects. As I always say ” Sink or Swim”. We lost out on two spaces in two different cities. Outback Steakhouse beat us to one. And god this would of been an unbelievable spot. And American Apparel took the other. We go into quite a few cities and get treated like the big dog. the landlords want us there. They know we will help business and our track record reveals that we will be in busines for a long time. When Lee told me about Outback and American Apparel, it put me in check. I told Lee ” we are not going to be able to convince the landlord to pick us over Outback Steakhouse. Let’s see if something goes wrong with the lease negotioations and we’ll jump in.” As fas as American Apparel goes, I just think the landlord doesn’t want to deal with a liquor licensed establishment in his space. Keep looking.

posted by Liliana @ 8:04 AM

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

I received a letter from someone about going to the Tampa bar last night. This woman said that her and her friends had a good time but they felt awkward because there were so many lesbians there. She asked if Coyote was a lesbian bar. My response ” ANYONE CAN COME TO A COYOTE” A lesbian’s money is just as good as a lawyer’s money, a biker’s money, or a straight girl’s money blah, blah, blah. Shit , if I was a lesbian I would definitely go to Coyote. I can’t think of a group that doesn’t like the bars.
I’m hoping we can resolve the last few issues with the Denver lease so we can start building. Austin girls I’m very proud of you. I’ve been getting so many complimentary e-mails. And the numbers look great! ( no jinx marshall)
Lee is in LA looking for spots. Let’s see what he comes up with.

posted by Liliana @ 10:30 AM

Monday, September 20, 2004

Monday’s are always fun. I’m working on the NY bar’s sales tax this morning. I have Kevin looking at a spot in Memphis. I have Lee on a month location scouting trip. He called with three possible locations in a very prominent city. Jeff is finishing the Denver lease and the surprise city. Austin and NY kicking some butt this weekend. I’ve seen the Panama City numbers . For a city that has billions of dollars of devastation they are doing very well. The hurricane blew down their sign but for the most part the bar was unscathed. The Denver sign ( Absolutely huge) is budgeted at $30,000. If that sign was damaged I would be beside myself. I am so relieved that nobody at the New Orleans, Tampa, or Panama City bars were hurt. Such a load off my mind. Chantel called me up during the hurricane from new orleans ” Lil we didn’t even get rain. Wendy and I are just eating and drinking in our hotel room.” I’m just so glad that everyone is alright. In New York the only natural weather crisis we have are blizzards. Well all a blizzard means to me is a school day and people can stay out late drinking because they don’t have to go to work. The very first year the NY bar was opened we had these huge snow storms every week. For some reason they always landed on wednesday nights. I had a girl Chris who worked wednesday nights and she would do unbelievable numbers. I would help her bartend because it was so busy and we eventually got another girl to partner with her on blizzard nights. I remember praying that the winter didn’t end. It did of course but Chris was such a superstar that people kept coming back.
More memories
Holy shit! Someone just e-mailed me saying that the PBR ( Professional Bull Riders ) have a bull called Coyote Ugly. I am not trying to say anything bad about bull riders but I always felt sorry for the bulls that makes me so upset.

posted by Liliana @ 11:20 AM

Saturday, September 18, 2004

Jackson and I just got home. No flooding, no power outage, I’m so glad. Although I left a dirty pan on the stove and my house smells really bad. But I will take that problem considering what I could of come home to. I’m wondering how the Panama City bar faired? The news footage looks really bad. I hope the girls and all the staff are alright!
I love the NY girls. They gave me a gift certificate to Ajune spa as a present. We went out and had a great time at dinner for their employee night out. The night before they had celebrated Tella’s bachelorette party. The girls drank and had fun. Of course Jacqui had to remind me that we ended up at an S & M club the night of my bachelorette party. I had a girl who worked for me who was a dominatrix. She used to always drag us to this particular club that she worked at, The Vault. Do you know what is really refreshing about the NY girls? They love their job and they love each other. It’s the only bar that doesn’t have a problem with caddiness between the girls. Kristy actually watched jackson for a few hours so I could go to dinner with Jacqui. I came back to the hotel and said to jackson ” Isn’t Kristy beautiful?” His response was so incredible. ” Momma she is more then beautiful” Jacqui laughed so hard. She keeps telling me he is going to be quite the ladies man.
Well I’m back home. A few new girls in New Orleans. Interesting.

posted by Liliana @ 8:07 PM

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Jackson and I are safe in NY. I’m worried about Chantel and Wendy. Everyone from the New Orleans staff left the city yesterday. Chantel and a few others boarded up the whole building ( I own buiding bar is in). Chantel and Wendy stayed in a hotel. Chantel, my dear girl, said to me yesterday ” Lil , there were 14,000 conventioneers in town. I want to be here in case they want to go out after the hurricane and I’ll open the bar. If I didn’t have a child I know I would be right there beside her. Now I’m nervous about the girls, my house and the building.
Tonight I’m taking the NY girls out. Very fun!

posted by Liliana @ 10:51 AM

Monday, September 13, 2004

Off to New York. Every few months I need my New York fix. I love New Orleans but I do get homesick. I sent Lee to one of the surprise cities this weekend. I think he is going to veto the spot I found. Damn, that means we are back to square one in that particular city. Out of all the location scouts we use, Lee is the best. He is the most thourogh and he does his networking well before he even views the city. I have to trust his judgement. Well that’s alright I have 2 other backup cities. One of them will pan out. As per usual I’m late for my flight.

posted by Liliana @ 9:47 AM

Friday, September 10, 2004

The New Orleans “Best Bartender” poll ends Monday. So please vote again for my dear Laura here on whereyatnola.com. Her credentials: She has worked at Coyote for close to two years. She is one of the most consistent girls we have. She juggles law school, interning, working at Coyote, and does not complain. And the topper: She is famous for giving the best blow jobs in 3 parishes.

Also I forgot to put into my last Lil Spill, another reason for not coming to work: “My wife posted hundreds of flyers with my picture on them all over the french quarter. The flyers say that I’m an asshole and a deadbeat husband. So I need to spend the day ripping all of them down.”

posted by Liliana @ 4:56 PM

Kim left today. The girls are definitely better but I wish she stayed a bit longer. The girls were told that it was mandatory to come to one class a day. One girl didn’t show up for the first day of classes. The next day this particular girl was working behind the bar. I asked aaron ” why is she working. She should be penzalized.” Aaron’s response. ” Lil , she was in jail she couldn’t come.” How fucked up is that. Had she had the flu and called in sick she would of lost her shift . But she was in jail so she is given a reprieve. Kim asked me if this happens all the time at this bar . ” Yes Kim it does.” In NY the girls ask for time off because they are in a play, they are sick, or perhaps want to go on vacation. In New Orleans I’ve heard ” I’ve been at the police station all night because my boyfriend abducted my child.” I’ve heard ” I can’t come in this week because one of my fake tits burst during rough sex.” and my personal favorite ( I’ve written about this before) ” I can’t come in because my boyfriend locked me out of my apartment butt naked and he chopped off my finger.”
Aaron is so immuned to this stuff now. Chantel and I just laugh about it. Never a dull moment.

posted by Liliana @ 9:52 AM

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

“A shot of Crown will never make me frown
‘Cause it’s a gift to me from you
But I’ll tell ya true
What makes me blue
Is when the fucker doesn’t buy me two”
A toast by Laura from New Orleans
Kim is in New Orleans giving the girls a little refresher dance class. She had no idea how much work it is revamping the girls. They get into very bad habits when they work at the bars for a while. She looked shell shocked yesterday. On a good note we have a few New girls in New Orleans. I hope they breathe some new life into the old girls.

posted by Liliana @ 4:39 PM

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Rough night. Jackson got bitten by red ants all over his feet. Poor kid. He was so itchy. But lucky for him he got to stay up all night itching just to go to french school this morning and not understand anyone. We put him in french immersion school this year. He is already fluent in spanish so we wanted to try another language. He is a very active child. If he could play all day he would. Let’s see if this was the right decision. Sink or swim
Laura is in first place now for ” bartender of new orleans”. I can’t wait to see the NY girls next week. They just got a few professional pictures taken, very beautiful. Romina looks unbelievable. She’s got the whole South American thing going on! People love accents. I’ve never been into that. A man with an accent isn’t any sexier to me then a man without an accent. But then I think of Antonio Banderas in “Desperado”. I can see the appeal.
I’m working on the two surprise cities this week. Hopefully by weeks end we will have an idea if they are going to pan out. Patience is a virtue.

posted by Liliana @ 10:00 AM

Saturday, September 04, 2004

The day after I put Laura’s link on ” best bartender in New Orleans” I get a scathing letter about her. LOL Some woman was upset that Laura charged her $5 for tap water. ” That is her job!:” Tap water at my bars is $5. Why? Because I think it is a prudent business decision and ” I can do what ever the hell I want.” Look, if you have been sitting at Coyote drinking all day and then ask for a water I’ll be kind and give it to you. But if you walk in and haven’t ordered anything and still ask for a water then you will pay $5 and probably get sprayed. The hosing people down because they ask for water is getting so old. It used to be fun but the movie ruined it. Now everyone expects to get sprayed or they want their friend sprayed. I’m so over that.
I just found out that Stiffler, my old intern, is dating one of the Coyotes from san antonio. I have two reactions. 1. I knew he was a bit immature to be able to resist the girls 2. ” Way to go Stiffler. She is so out of your league. Good going”
Very interesting week. I got a very hot lead on a new city.

posted by Liliana @ 8:34 AM

Thursday, September 02, 2004

I received some compliments today about the San Antonio girls. They are starting to show some spunk! Jacqui and I decided to send Kim ( NY assistant manager) into New Orleans to whip the girls into shape. It’s like boot camp.
Laura from New Orleans has been nominated for best bartender in new orleans. The link is www.whereyatnola.com. Go on and vote for her. I have to say this girl desrves the MVP award at the bar. A year ago she was a big pain in the ass! BIG. But now she is one of the most consistent girls. She works hard. And she is truely appreciative of her job at Coyote. I have a great deal of respect for how she has turned herself around. Vote for her she deserves it.
Jeff’s back to work this week. Hence my work load is going back up. I’ll be in NY on the 15th. I’m taking the girls out for a night on the town. We are going out for Paella and sangria. I can already feel the hang over, especially the way jacqui and I drink Sangria. The mistake I make everytime is drinking wine and then drinking bourbon. Unlike pav lov’s dogs, I can’t seem to learn from my mistakes. Wine + Bourbon = hang over.

posted by Liliana @ 11:12 AM