Another Week in the Life...

Thanks so much for all the positive responses to the return of my blog! It was nice to be welcomed back with open online arms. :-)

This was another fun and busy week. Last Wednesday Tomkin and I had lunch with his parents, as we try to do each week. I haven't been going as often lately since I've been so busy. But I try to go when I can. Tomkin's dad always makes a delicious and healthy meal, and I enjoy catching up with Tom and Nancy. They are busy, busy, busy!Tomkin and I decided that we needed more shrubbery in our yard, so he recently planted four evergreen bushes and a lilac bush. On Thursday he planted three raspberry bushes. We have a little "rabbitat" in the yard--piles of leafy sticks, where we hope rabbits might want to hang out. Tomkin also just hung a bat-house in a big tree in our yard. Plus we've been putting out food for the squirrels. Next on our wish list are birdhouses!

Thursday night we attended the Think Water fundraiser at the Weisman Museum, hosted by the group Surge. We had met three of the women who organized the party when we were at the Sugar party at the aloft hotel a few weeks ago. This was their first event, and they really did a great job. They got sponsors to provide most of the food and drinks, and people volunteered to work the tables and take photos. So all the proceeds from the ticket sales and silent auction went toward building a well in Ethiopia. I'm not sure how much money they raised, but I know it was more than the $5,000 they were originally hoping for. Inside an installation art piece at the Weisman.

Tomkin and I enjoyed wandering through the museum (I'd never been there before) and chatting with other guests. We had some drinks and sushi, but we eventually decided we needed some heartier fare. So we headed to nearby Grumpy's Bar and got Juicy Lucys and tator tots. Delicious! Then we popped over to the Target Lounge at the Guthrie, where Dena and some other folks from Metro magazine were hosting an event called Creative Context. We chatted with Michael the publisher, Barbara the editorial director, Steve the photographer, and Dena, who is an advertising director. They're a really cool and interesting group of people.It was an unseasonably gorgeous day on Friday, so we decided to go for a bike ride. Our plan was to ride to the gym, work out, then go to a bookstore and coffeeshop. Tomkin actually bought me a bike last summer before I even moved here, but I had never used it! I honestly don't remember the last time I was on a bike. Tomkin had to fill up the tires, and then we realized my brakes didn't work. So we went to the Express Bike Shop, which is just a few blocks away. We waited about 20 minutes while a guy fixed my brakes, and then we headed out...only to discover that my brakes STILL didn't work. So we went back and waited another 20 minutes, and then we were finally good to go. We biked to the YWCA and worked out. By the time we were done, we were starving! So we walked to Costello's and took advantage of their happy hour. What better way to reward a good workout than with beer and a big plate of nachos?! We walked across the street to Common Good Books (owned by Garrison Keillor), and I used the gift card that Tomkin had gotten me as part of my birthday gift. I got Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors and The Big Book of Personality Tests for Women. Then we biked home. We were pooped!
Saturday morning I went to a program about book design that was sponsored by the Twin Cities chapter of the American Society of Indexers. If you want to read more about these work-related events, please check out my new blog, Writes & Wrongs. It was another beautiful day, so Tomkin and Chloe and I walked to the Merriam Park branch of the library. Tomkin and Chloe waited outside while I went in and checked out a bunch of books. (Tomkin goes through books more quickly than anyone I know!) We packed all nine books into Chloe's backpack, and she carried them home for us. She's such a good and helpful girl! When we got back, we gave Chloe a bath. (Well, Tomkin did most of the work, and I took pictures.) There was a time when Chloe hated being bathed. But Tomkin realized that all he has to do is give her treats throughout the process, and she's fine. He's really got a way with dogs.

Saturday evening we went to the Pilot Arts Group show at the 801 Lofts in Minneapolis. Our friend Dena, who works for Metro magazine, is married to one of the artists who was showing there. We saw Dena and her husband, John, and we got some food and drinks and then checked out the show. Tomkin loves to strike up conversations with people--sometimes they're boring, and sometimes they're really interesting! We spent a long time talking to L.K. Hanson, whose editorial cartoons appear regularly in the Star-Tribune. Tomkin with Dena and John Alspach at the Pilot 801 art show.Once again, by the end of the evening we were in need of substantial food, so we headed back to Grumpy's, where we devoured a Juicy Lucy and crispy, salty, delicious tator tots. Mmmmm....On Sunday (our six-month anniversary!), Tomkin and I drove up to Monticello, where we met Dad and Sandy for lunch at Guadalajara's. We did a combo celebration of my birthday and Sandy's--had a good lunch, opened presents, and sat and visited for a while. It's so nice getting to see them every month now! That evening, Tomkin and I took Chloe for our daily walk down Summit and Grand, and we happened to see Kris (aka Syd) and Dave eating at Salut. Tomkin and I went and got some coffee, and when we came back Kris and Dave were just heading home, so we all walked back together. (They live just a few blocks from us.) We all remarked on the incredible fall weather--what a treat!I got to have lunch with Rebecca on Monday. She and baby Leo picked me up, and we headed to Mango Thai, a new restaurant on Selby. It's a really cute place, and the food and service were both excellent. It was fun getting to hang out and talk with Becca, and Leo was really sweet and contented. They came back to our place and hung out for a bit, so Tomkin got to visit with Becca, too. Later that day, Tomkin and I checked out the happy hour at Salut. We hadn't been there before. It's a really cute place! And they've got a great happy hour ($3 drinks and food from 4-6). I actually started compiling a database of happy hours in the city because there are so many of them! It's a nice, inexpensive way to check out new places around the city. At Salut we got two pizzas, a plate of fries, and a beer for $13! Tuesday morning I got a call at 8:00am from someone whose brother in Shanghai needed an MBA program application edited asap. So I rushed to get it done (and made it!) before I headed to downtown Minneapolis to have lunch with Joe Weisman. I ran into him at last year's Carleton reunion but hadn't seen him since I moved to St. Paul. We went to Zelo and had a fabulous lunch. It was great to catch up with him. Last night Tomkin and I saw "A View from the Bridge" at the Guthrie. I found the first act completely riveting--one of the best things I've seen at the Guthrie. The second half lost me a little, but I still really enjoyed it overall.

This morning I attended an editors' roundtable sponsored by the Minnesota Magazine & Publications Association. (Again, check out Writes & Wrongs for more about this event, if you're interested.) Then this afternoon I joined Weight Watchers. All these parties and happy hours are catching up with me! I had my weekly phone call with my mom tonight. We started talking about getting the whole family back to Grand Forks for Christmas with Grandma next year. She would love that more than anything. Tomkin is off at poker now--when he gets back, we're planning to watch the finale of Project Runway. I think the show has been pretty weak this season (though I still love it). I'm opting (once again) not to watch the presidential debate. I tried a couple times, but it's just too frustrating. I prefer to read everyone's comments about it on Facebook!

Have a good week everyone, and thanks for reading my blog!