Remembering Scout

In tribute to Scout, here are some photos from his younger days.We could tell Scout was going to be mischievous even before he came home from the breeder's.
(He's the one looking up, with a twinkle in his eye.)Julie and Sweet Puppy Scout (Feb. 2000)He's Getting Bigger! (March 2000)Claudius vs. ScoutReally, They Were Good FriendsRelaxing in the HostasHaving a BallThe Birthday DogMajestic Scout in the Boundary WatersHard-Partying Scout in Grand ForksHappy Dog in ChicagoCamping in Wisconsin Relaxing in the Sun in One of His Favorite SpotsHippie DogSanta ScoutSparkling ScoutHe Always Loved Wearing Clothes!Scout Chasing ChloeSibling RivalryScout and Chloe at the OfficeScout in the SandScout the Lapdog

Firedog Scout

RIP Scout

Here's the post that I've been dreading--the one about Scout's last weekend alive. Thank goodness it was a fun weekend filled with dog-friendly activities. That Saturday, May 3rd, Tomkin and I took Scout and Chloe to the Humane Society Walk for Animals around Como Park. It was a gorgeous day, and the dogs enjoyed a nice, long stroll with hundreds of other dogs around. That Sunday, May 4, we took the dogs to a nearby park and let them run around to blow off some steam. Then we met up with Cassidy and Angie and their dachshund, Fergie, for Dog Days at the St. Paul Saints baseball game. We started out by getting some food, which the dogs really liked, and then we headed into the bleachers. The dogs were a little more ambivalent about that, but they did okay. Scout spent most of the afternoon watching kids running around, playing.On Monday, May 5, Scout acted as normal as usual--we had no indication that anything was out of the ordinary. I left about 6:30 that evening to meet Jill for dinner at Buca di Beppo, and Tomkin left at 7:00 to see Iron Man. I got home about 9:30 and found Scout dead in his crate. It was incredibly shocking, to say the least. Tomkin got home a few minutes after I did. That night we slept on the futon so that Chloe could sleep with us. The next day we brought Scout to the vet to have him cremated. It was so strange to suddenly not have him around anymore--there was definitely a huge hole in our lives where he used to be.At first I thought we would want to get another dog right away because Chloe would be lonely and freaked out, but she has actually thrived as an only dog. She's more relaxed--no competition for food or attention anymore (except when Watson comes to visit), and we've realized what an incredibly sweet and well-behaved dog she really is. So for the time-being, we're going to stick with one dog, but eventually I would like to get another one. That Wednesday after Scout died, we brought Chloe along to Tomkin's parents' house when we went there for lunch, and then we walked through the Walker Sculpture Gardens. It was nice, though it was hard not to think of Scout and how much he would have enjoyed that, too.
We got Scout's ashes back on May 20 and took them to the dog park, where we had a little ceremony on "Scout's Ridge," as we've come to call the hill where he liked to run. Then we buried his remaining ashes in our backyard.I got Scout as a puppy from a breeder named Barbara Sawyer-Brown in Chicago. Right off the bat, he had a mischievous spark, and we loved him for it. He was brave and adventurous and always up for trying something new. And he didn't have a shy bone in his body--he always enjoyed meeting people and getting attention from them. He definitely had his naughty side, especially when it came to food, but he was sweet and loving and cuddly and fun and a wonderful companion. When I lived alone in Chicago, Scout and Chloe were great company for me, and I felt very safe having them around. We miss Scout a lot and wish he could have lived longer than 8-1/2 years, but I'll always be thankful for the time I got to spend with him. He was really a special and amazing dog.

End-of-April Highlights

Lunch at Pizza Luce with Lucas

We did a few other fun things the end of April/beginning of May. On Saturday, April 26th, we met up with Lucas for lunch at Pizza Luce. On Sunday the 27th, we met Dad & Sandy for lunch at Guadalajara's restaurant (halfway between us and them). It was the first time we'd seen them since the wedding, and it was fun to recap all the weekend's events. Tomkin, Jules, Sandy, and Dad

On Monday the 28th, I went to a GO Girls event put together by Lucas. (She's so awesome about coordinating fun things for us to do!) We took a salsa dance lesson at the Cinema Ballroom. It's such a cool place--I'd love to take more lessons there! Girls GO Dancing at the Cinema Ballroom

On Thursday, May 1st, we got dinner with Syd and Dave at Jerusalems and talked about their upcoming wedding. Tomkin, Jules, Dave, and Syd at Jerusalems

And on Friday the 2nd, we had dinner at Heidi's house with her and her daughter, Hannah, which was really fun. Heidi made Mexican food, and we looked at wedding photos and talked about work, dating, and our upcoming high school reunion.Tomkin Chowing Down at Heidi's Hannah, Heidi, and Jules

In the midst of this all, I was having one of my busiest work weeks since I got here, often working well into the evening. It's good to be busy, but that was a little crazy.Tomkin and Chloe Keeping Me Company While I'm Working

Jen & Mike's Wedding

Groom's Dinner at The Lexington

Stepping back in time.... Our first big social event after our own wedding was the wedding of Tomkin's friends Jen and Mike. He performed the ceremony, which was held at the beautiful Minnesota History Center on April 26th. We went to the groom's dinner at The Lexington on Friday the 25th. I've been wanting to go there--it seems very cool in an old-school kind of way. We had great food and drinks, and I enjoyed meeting the bride and groom and their families. I also had fun talking with the wedding coordinator, Amanda. The wedding itself was gorgeous and elegant--and very different from ours. It was big and fancy and all very well-coordinated. (They had a four-page timeline for a five-hour wedding!) The ceremony was short--about ten minutes long--and then we had a chance to grab a drink before the sit-down dinner started. After dinner, the bride and groom changed clothes and performed a traditional Korean bowing ceremony in front of their parents, which was really beautiful. Then we all danced to the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra. That was so much fun, and I love getting to dance with Tomkin! We did swing dancing, latin dancing, ballroom dancing, and even a polka. After the wedding ended at midnight, we headed to Eugene and Katya's house for a post-wedding party and then headed home. Amanda and I had so much fun talking that we made plans and got together for lunch. She has dogs, so we're hoping to have a dog park date soon.Jules and Amanda

This Weekend Rocked!

Tomkin, Adena, Jules, and John at Bonfire

Okay, so I'm still planning to catch up on blog posts for stuff that happened between the honeymoon and now. But first I figured I'd post about this most recent weekend. Last Wednesday, Tomkin and I went to Axel's Bonfire to hear his friend Adena sing with Kurt Jorgenson. Adena's husband, John, recently got back from working in New Orleans (he's an architect), and Tomkin and I are happy to get to hang out with them more now. Anyway, the band sounded great, and we had a fun time. John and Adena then invited us to join them for Adena's birthday celebration on Friday, which we did. Kate, John, Jules, Tomkin, Adena, Alyssa, and Eric at the Loring Pasta Bar

We met up with them and a few other friends at the Loring Pasta Bar for dinner (great place-it's where I had the first part of my bachelorette party). Then we headed to the Varsity Theater for the U.S. Air Guitar Championships.Tomkin, Alyssa, John ("the manager"), Kate, Adena, and Eric Outside the Varsity TheaterJules is Ready to Rock!

We lined up early and got great seats. It' such a cool place! I'd never been there before. The show started at 10:00. I was pretty unimpressed overall, but there were a few entertaining performers, and we had a great time watching them all. Air Guitar Fans in the Varsity Theater

Tomkin actually tried to sign up to go on at the last minute, but all the slots were full. I'm sure he would have done an amazing job! (Anyone from Carleton remember the punk band Malt-o-gasm?) Tomkin, Kate, John, and Adena Do Some Air Headbanging

We had a really fun evening and are looking forward to hanging out more with John and Adena--we've already agreed to go to Mardi Gras with them in February!Anniversary Dinner at The Melting Pot

On Saturday, it was exactly one year since Tomkin and I reconnected at my Carleton reunion. It's pretty mind-boggling to think of all that's happened in the last year! To celebrate, Tomkin and I went out to dinner at The Melting Pot. De-LISH! We had a cheese course, a salad, and then the surf-and-turf entree, so we got to cook up lobster and fillet mignon in coq au vin. Wow. We skipped the chocolate fondue, but our waiter brought us a piece of cheesecake in honor of our anniversary. It was a fun, rather decadent, evening, and we enjoyed reflecting on our time together so far. There have definitely been some challenges this year, but overall it's been more joyous and amazing than I ever could have imagined.Dogs and People Enjoying the Food at Jim and Roxanne'sTomkin and Chloe

Yesterday we called to wish our dads a happy Father's Day, and then we went to a cookout at our neighbor friends' Jim and Roxanne's house. (Chloe got to come, too!) It was fun to just hang out, eat and drink, and relax in the sun. We did some of that at home this weekend, too--curled up and read in the hammock, went on long walks with Chloe, watched an episode of "So You Think You Can Dance"--and I even did a little work while Tomkin was off performing weddings. (I'm also finishing up the picture selection for our wedding photo albums--I've narrowed them down to about 700 "favorites" now.) It was one of those rare weekends where I felt really satisfied at the end--I got a few things done, but also relaxed and had fun. Summer weekends rock!

How Will You Vote in November...and Why?

Pastor Tomkin's New & Improved Web Site!

If you're getting married in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Minnesota wedding minister and ceremony designer Tomkin Coleman is definitely your go-to guy. And now he's got an elegantly updated Web site! Check it out at mnweddingminister.com. Be sure to click on the new tab, "Going Green," to read about the butterfly trees Tomkin is going to donate when couple use his services. Really cool!

The Honeymoon

It was easy for me and Tomkin to decide to go to Northfield for our honeymoon. First of all, it's a very meaningful place for us--it's where we both went to college, and it's where we fatefully reunited last summer. Second, it would be an easy trip. We wouldn't have to make lots of plans or worry about catching a flight--we could set out on the 45-minute drive whenever we were ready and have a fun, relaxing week away from home. The Tuesday after our wedding, it was beautiful and sunny out--a perfect day for starting our honeymoon! We drove down to Northfield and checked into the Anniversary Suite at the Archer House. Then we walked around the Carleton campus--stopped at Dacie Moses House for a cookie, wandered through Boliou (where we ran into Alison, one of my art history professors), and even hit the bookstore. When we investigated the new recreational center, Tomkin ended up scaling the rock-climbing wall. He was awesome! That evening we had dinner at Chapati, a surprisingly good Indian restaurant. (Best Indian food I've had in Minnesota!) On Wednesday we picked up some groceries at EconoFoods and headed to the graveyard on the outskirts of town for a picnic. That may sound a little strange, but it was a meaningful place for us. Back in college, Tomkin had once taken me on a motorcycle ride (a whole group of us went), and we stopped at this cemetery. I had wondered if Tomkin might kiss me...which he didn't...although he set things right when we went back! We found a tree up on a hill and set out a blanket. Then we ate and drank, and Tomkin read Pablo Neruda love poems to me while we leaned against a tree. I think it was the most romantic day of my life. That evening we headed to Basil's for some gyros pizza--always a must when we're in Northfield! We also stopped for a drink at the Reub, one of our hangouts back in college. We ended the day by reading through the guest book that people had signed at our wedding. We literally laughed and cried at the hilarious and touching things our friends and family wrote for us. On Thursday we had to switch rooms, so we packed up and headed--appropriately--to the Carleton room. It was rainy out, so we spent the day shopping (there are so many cute little stores in Northfield now!) and then warming up with tea at the Goodbye Blue Monday coffeehouse.That night we had a delicious dinner at The Tavern. We must have been really googly-eyed because a couple actually came up to us and said they had noticed us when we came in and how happy we looked. Friday it was raining again, so we ate lunch at the James Gang Coffeehouse & Eatery and then headed home. However, even after we got back (the dogs were so happy to see us!), we stayed in "honeymoon mode" through the rest of the weekend, giving ourselves permission to just relax and enjoy being together. We lounged in our new hammock and Adirondack chairs, went to the dog park, got our disposable cameras developed, and opened more cards and gifts (including the awesome photo book that Jake sent us). The whole wedding celebration was just perfect--I hated to see it end!

Wedding Weekend: Monday

Okay, I know I'm blogging about things out of order.... But I thought I'd go back and try to catch up a little more on past events. The Monday after the wedding, Scotty, Tomkin, and I piled into the convertible and took Scout and Chloe to the dog park. It was such a fun (and gorgeous) day! We had a nice, relaxing walk, and the dogs enjoyed romping and running off-leash.Scotty and Jules heading toward the dog park with Scout and ChloeScotty and Tomkin watching Chloe and Scout run Scotty with Scout up on what we deemed "Scout's Ridge"

Scotty left about 3:00 to catch his flight back to Boston, and Tomkin and I opened our wedding cards and gifts. We were blown away by everyone's generosity and loving sentiments. We got packed up for our honeymoon and wrote "Just Married" all over the car so everyone would know we were insufferable newlyweds!

Gobama!

Tomkin and I went to the Obama rally in St. Paul on Tuesday, and we got to hear him announce that he is the Democratic candidate for president of the United States! (You can read his entire speech here.) It was an emotional, historic evening, and my heart swells with pride at having such a strong, exciting candidate, who I think could help to heal our nation after eight years of hateful fear-mongering and divisiveness (not to mention the war in Iraq, our worsening economy, etc, etc, etc). There was incredible positive energy in the crowd--I especially loved the guy in front of me, who kept jumping up and down and yelling "Obama! Yes!" We enjoyed talking to the Obama supporters around us and watching the various Minnesota politicians come through and wave to the crowd.Tomkin's friend Mark flew in from New York to cover the rally for Air America. You can hear his piece here; click on the link with the musical note next to it. (If one of the voices at the beginning sounds familiar, it's because it's mine!) When the speech was over, we walked onto the floor and tried to get through the throngs of people hoping to shake Obama's hand or see him up close. We did a peek at Michelle Obama and got a good view of Obama's assistant, Reggie Love as he gathered up items for his boss to sign. (I actually got to shake hands with Obama when I campaigned for him in Iowa last year! You can read that blog post here.) So now the primaries are over and the real fight begins. I just hope with all my heart that Obama can beat McCain in November--we need him to! (Here are just a sampling of the reasons why.)

Below is a video clip I took at the rally. What an amazing night!

Carleton Class of 2030?

Congratulations to Amy and Chad on the birth of their daughter, Ripley Annabel! She was born on May 27th, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and measuring 21 inches. She's had to stay in the hospital a few extra days because of an infection, but she should be heading home soon. I can't wait to get out to Baltimore and meet her!

Barack the Vote!

Tomorrow night, Barack and Michelle Obama are going to host a rally at the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention...which just happens to be about three miles from our house! Tomkin's friend Mark is flying in from New York for it, and we're all planning to go support the man who will hopefully be our next president. Doors will open at the Xcel Energy Center at 7:00. Admission is free, and tickets are not required. If you want to RSVP (which is optional), go here. Go Obama!!!

Wedding Weekend: Sunday

Our First Full Day as Husband and Wife!

I'll be honest. When I woke up that Sunday after our wedding, I thought, "I don't want to throw another party today...." Thankfully, Barb and my mom had done a lot of clean-up after the wedding, so it only took another hour or so to get the place into shape. And once our friends and family started showing up for the brunch, around 11:00, I was happy to have everyone back again. It ended up being a really fun day. We got food from TST Catering again--muffins, scones, rolls, bagels, fresh fruit, coffee, and juice, and they even threw in a couple hot dishes (french toast and a tasty egg dish). Delicious! Christopher and Becca Ponder Their Food Options

For the first time that weekend, it was bright and sunny out. I hoped that people would remember the sunshine rather than the snow.... Sunday ended up being a really nice, relaxed day. I was happy to be back in regular clothes again, and I felt like I got more of a chance to really visit with people.Megan, Nancy, Pete, Becca, Tomkin, and Richard Eating and ChattingNancy, Mom, Barb, Allison, and Jenny Sharing Stories in the KitchenJimDog with Jules and the CarriesMom and Michael (Her Little Brother) Giving Each Other a Hard TimeTomkin with Dave and Kris (Syd)Mom, Barb, Brenda, and JulesJules with My "Original" ParentsJules and Tomkin with Sandy, Alex, Phillip, and DadJules with My Original Dad and My New OneJules and My Three MomsJules with Phillip and AlexTomkin with Lisa, Who We Affectionately Call "The Instigator" (Last Year During Reunion, She Encouraged Tomkin When He Was Thinking About Pursuing a Serious Relationship with Me)Jules and Tomkin with Mom and the Beautiful Cross-Stitch She Made for Us Carrie Sandwich!

By around 3:00 most people had left, and Tomkin went over and picked up Scout and Chloe from the dog-sitters (our neighbors Tracy and Laura). My mom, my aunt Carol, and our friend Scotty all stuck around to chat and nosh on leftovers. We ate and talked until almost 9:00 that night! It was a nice way to wind down an incredible weekend.Carol and Scotty Snuggling with Scout and ChloeChloe Trying to Charm Mom Into Sharing Her Leftover PizzaJules and Carol Tomkin Relaxing with a Snack at the End of a Long, Fun Weekend

Wedding Weekend: Saturday Part III -- The Reception

The Happy Bride and Groom

A Special Touch from the CaterersM-n-Ms that Mom Ordered for Our Wedding Day

While Tomkin and I enjoyed a few minutes of solitude (and plates full of food, not to mention a glass of champagne) during our post-ceremony yichud, our guests filed downstairs to get food and drinks of their own. We hired TST Catering to provide our food, and it was awesome! We had incredible BBQ pork sandwiches on homemade buns, Jo-Jo potatoes, pasta salad, and watermelon. (We're planning to hire TST for a party so we can get those BBQ sandwiches again!) We also hired a bartender to keep our guests liquified throughout the evening. Heidi, Lana, and Cassidy Enjoying DinnerJustin, Our Awesome Bartender

Most of the evening was a blur. We chatted with friends and family, posed for pictures, and partook in traditional wedding events. The Game Day Girls (plus Joanna's husband, Tom, and Kerri's baby, Emma) flew in from Chicago that afternoon, and Tomkin's friend Fletch was in town from Philadelphia, so he joined us, too. We had about 55 guests all together, plus two photographers, two videographers (Tomkin's friend Adam and his wife, Cheryl), and the caterers. Quite a full house! But, surprisingly, it didn't feel crowded. People really spread out and used all the rooms.The Carleton Crew (More or Less):
Row 1 - Jules, Tomkin, Johanna, Scotty, Jake, Richard
Row 2 - JimDog, Megan, Cassidy, Becca
Row 3 - Christopher, KurtThe Game Day Girls Sort of Posing as "Charlie's Angels":

Jill, Joanna, Jules, Mary Beth, Kelly, and KerriTom Holding EmmaHeidi, Jules, Lana, and Brenda

(We've All Known Each Other Since High School or Before)Jenny and AllisonTomkin, Jules, Kurt, and Richard Jules with Uncle Mike and ReneeJules with Aunt Carol and SteveGetting a Quick Pick-Me-Up from Alex and PhillipJimDog, Jake, and PeteTomkin's Happy Parents, Nancy and TomDad, Sandy, Alex, Phillip, Steve, and Other People Gathered in the Spare BedroomAngie and Cassidy with Tomkin and JulesBecca and OmarJules with Jennifer and ShellyTomkin and Jules with Cheryl and Adam, Who Did Our VideographyDave and Kris (Syd)Jules with Chris and JillJules and Adolfo Showing Off Our Fancy Footwear
(I Loved My Shoes, But I Just Couldn't Leave Them On!)

We had a guest book with a designated page for each person/couple who attended the wedding, and we asked everyone to write words of advice, a funny or special memory, or anything else that came to mind that day. Just about everyone filled it out, and it's something we really treasure.Jill Signing the Guest Book

Tomkin, Jenny, Brenda, Tom, the photographers, and I all squeezed into the bedroom to sign the marriage license (or document the signing). Making It All Legal and Official

About 7:30, everyone gathered around for toasts. Jenny, Scotty, Brenda, and Becca all got up and gave lovely, funny, heartfelt toasts. I said a few words of thanks to all our guests. It really meant a lot to us that so many people had traveled to be there for our wedding celebration.Groom's Attendant (and Sister) Jenny Giving a ToastMaid of Honor Brenda Toasting the Happy CoupleHead Usher Scotty Giving a ToastOur Mutual College Friend Becca Sharing Memories and Words of Wisdom

The Toasts Made Us Laugh......and Cry"Thank You All For Coming....We're Sorry About the Snow!"