Thursday, June 25, 2009

Dogs & Dads

On Friday the 19th, I worked at home, and Tomkin had an afternoon wedding. I'm making a bit of a shift in my career--for now, at least, I'm going to focus less on editing and shift my attention to premarital counseling and grant-writing. I'm working with a grant writer, and we've got the potential to be really busy over the next few months. It's a little scary, because usually with grants you don't get paid unless the grant is funded (and there's no guarantee...), but I think it'll be a great experience, and hopefully the payoff will be worth it. Tomkin and I took Chloe for a walk and came across a nearby garage sale. Since we had gotten the new leather furniture, it seemed to me like we could use some new dining room chairs as well. But I figured it was no rush--we really didn't need to spend the money. But we found a set at this rummage sale for $25! We made arrangements to pick everything up the following day. Tracy and Wilbur stopped by our house, which was quite a thrill for Chloe. She LOVES Wilbur--and Tracy, too. Later, Becca brought their lab, Dulsi, over so we could watch her for the weekend. I was a little nervous that maybe she and Chloe wouldn't get along, especially since they're both female. But they played well together. I think the fact that they're both old girls (Chloe is almost 9, and Dulsi is 11) worked in their favor. With younger dogs, I think Chloe sometimes gets nervous at their unpredictability. But she and Dulsi are both pretty mellow--though still up for having fun! We went to a nearby park so the dogs could romp around. Then I brought Chloe home, and Tomkin played fetch with Dulsi. Apparently tennis balls are her favorite thing in the world. For the rest of the evening, we all just hung out and relaxed at home. Those dogs were pooped!
On Saturday, Tomkin and I drove up to Guadalajara's in Monticello for an early Father's Day lunch with my dad, Sandy, and Phillip. (Alex was at the beach with his friends--who could blame him?) Dad liked his gifts, and we all had a lot of fun. When we got home, we picked up the dining room table and chairs that we had found the day before. I should have gotten a picture of that table in Tomkin's convertible.... Once we got everything home and set up, we realized that we liked the new chairs but preferred our old table. (The size is better, it's expandable, and it's a lot sturdier.)So we brought the new table and the old chairs outside and attached a "free" sign. (Do people in other places do this, too? I don't remember seeing it before I moved to Minnesota.) With half an hour, the whole set was gone. Tomkin left to officiate a wedding. I went to Borders and picked out some books on CD for my upcoming road trips (Iowa this weekend, Grand Forks in August), then went home and worked. When Tomkin got home, we walked both dogs, and then he read while I researched grants.We slept late on Sunday, and then Omar picked up Dulsi. We were sad to see her go! Thankfully, she'll be coming back this Saturday and spending the week with us. She is such a sweet and good dog! Tomkin and I walked Chloe down Grand to the Sixth Chamber used bookstore (got a couple more cheap audiobooks), the hardware store (where they always give Chloe dog treats), and the DQ (where we all got treats). Back at home, Tomkin worked on fixing up our new dining room chairs. They had some nicks and scrapes, and he got them looking absolutely beautiful. I read my People magazine (can't wait until this whole Jon & Kate thing is over), and then we both watched a couple episodes of "So You Think You Can Dance." I love our Sabbath days!
Monday the 22nd was the first day that Tomkin rode to the office on his new bike. I know that accident kind of threw him for a loop, so I was really proud of him for getting back on his wheels again. We have just about every safety feature on our bikes that you can get, and we're even more cautious riders now than we were before. But we want to focus on the fun and not the danger. I worked at home, then made my weekly trip to Target with a supplementary stop at Kowalski's. It was hot, hot, hot out, so we didn't go for a walk. And while the big event for Tomkin that day was riding his new bike, the big event for me was getting rid of our cable. I don't know that I've ever not had cable TV, even in my poorest days in Chicago. We had a good deal for a while, but since that ran out, we will save $100 a month by not having cable or a landline (which we didn't use anyway). I don't watch a LOT of cable, but it'll still be a bit of an adjustment for me. To ease my non-cable anxieties, Tomkin signed us up for Netflix. I think that will be great! We've already got about 80 movies and TV shows on our queue, and I'm amazed at some of the cool stuff they have. I won't miss cable at all! (I hope.) That evening, we all went over to Syd and Dave's house for dinner. Syd just got back from a three-week Asian Studies conference in Hawaii; Dave had joined her for one of the weeks. It was fun to hear about her trip, and she broke out her new ukulele to play for us. Impressive! Tomkin tried the ukulele, too.Dave grilled amazing steak kabobs and homemade bread, and we ate outside (despite the heat). Chloe and George enjoyed hanging out in the yard but didn't do too much playing (too hot). Tomkin has been talking about how he wants to get a Roomba--turns out Syd and Dave had one they didn't want anymore! So they gave it to us. Tomkin was so excited! We eventually headed back in to enjoy a couple of Dave's fabulous gin & tonics (he even makes his own tonic!) before we headed home.
Tuesday morning I "commuted" with Tomkin, biking down Summit Ave. We split off, and he headed to the office while I went back home. It was another hot and sunny day. I spent the day editing (wrapping up a project) and doing grant-related work. That evening I had a premarital counseling session; Tomkin and Chloe hung out in the nice, cool basement. (I am so, so thankful that we have central air!) Tomkin installed a new food and water dish for Chloe that keeps everything off the floor and helps to prevent bloat. She wasn't too sure about it at first, but once we put treats inside then it was no problem. We all went for a walk--it was nice to go in the evening when it was a little cooler. Then we all just relaxed at home.
Yesterday (Wednesday) we were going to run errands on our bikes, but we ended up driving since it was rainy. Tomkin had lunch with his folks and celebrated a belated Father's Day with his dad, then met with a couple. I stayed home to work and blog. We took Chloe for a walk and went to the DQ (a new favorite spot for us all!). Then Tomkin headed to a Fringe Festival event, where he got to see his college friends Dave Burrows and Robin Gillette. I met with a couple in the evening. Tomkin brought Chloe over to Tracy's house so she could play with Wilbur, and then they went to see "The Hangover." I had a premarital counseling session and then talked to my mom.

Today we'll be helping Helena move into her new house (very exciting!), and this weekend I'll be driving to Iowa to see my friend Lisa for the first time in almost two years--she moved to Hawaii right after I moved to Minnesota, but now she's back in Iowa (phew!). I'll also get to meet her baby daughter, Kaya, and her fiance, Richard! Then one more week of work before we take our "Staycation." I love summer!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Leather Tuscadero and the Suedes

Saturday, June 13th, was kind of a crazy day. I had a premarital counseling session in the morning. Tomkin and Chloe explored the neighborhood yard sales and picked up a few goodies. (One nice lady gave Chloe a bone!) At noon, a reporter/photographer from MPR arrived to photograph Tomkin in conjunction with her recent interview of him. (The whole story should be available soon--I'll be sure to post the link!) She got lots of pictures of him getting ready, and then she went with him to a wedding he officiated that afternoon. This is Tomkin's idea of heaven--he loves being photographed! (Which is part of what makes us such a good couple.) I ran over to Heidi's to check in on her cat, and then I spent the afternoon organizing the basement. I still have boxes down there that I haven't opened since I moved in a year-and-a-half ago!Somehow my "organization" only seems to have made it seem more cluttered down there.... After Tomkin got home, we took Chloe for a walk, and then we all took a nap. That night Cassidy (who's seven months pregnant!) and Angie (and their dachshund, Fergie) came over to play Rock Band with us. It was great to see them, and we all had a lot of fun singing and playing. I love how people get into more and more once they get a little more comfortable and relaxed. People really start rocking out!
That Sunday, June 14th, was the two-year anniversary of Tomkin and me reconnecting at my Carleton reunion. Basically, from our first conversation that weekend (in the Nourse Theater), our lives changed forever. What an amazing two years it's been! And, truly, things just keep getting better. In anticipation of our new furniture arriving, Tomkin and I brought Chloe's crate and the blue chair down to the basement. Then we put our old couch out on the corner with a "free" sign, hoping someone would take it home. (It took a couple days and one false alarm, but someone finally hauled it away!)Our new couch and loveseat were delivered, and I think they transform the living room. I'd never had leather furniture before, and I wasn't sure I'd like it. But I love it! And so does Chloe. It's really comfy, and now there's plenty of room for all of us. (Plus, it's a lot easier to wipe up after muddy paws.)We got out of the house and went for a nice walk down to Patina, the Dairy Queen, and the hardware store. We discovered that the DQ has three types of sugar-free treats (including Dilly Bars!), and they give your dog a free cone! Then we went home and just read and relaxed. My new Sunday ritual is to go through each week's new People magazine. Such a guilty pleasure! (But, let's be honest, not TOO guilty....)
On Monday, Tomkin went into the office, and I got lunch with Becca at a cute little restaurant in St. Louis Park called Yum! We went all out with chips and fries and cake for dessert--everything was delicious. And of course it was great to see Becca! I made my weekly trek to Target, and that evening I had a premarital counseling session. Tomkin met with a couple (he is so in demand!). Then we both took Chloe for a walk before curling up on the couch to watch a little TV.
Tuesday I biked to the Y and swam, then ran errands and worked. Tomkin had lunch at The Wienery with his friend John Gall, then went to the office. It was a little rainy out, but we walked Chloe to the vet for her monthly weigh-in. She was down to 112 (lost a pound), so that was pretty good! I had a premarital counseling session, so Tomkin took Chloe and ran a few errands. When they got home, he gave her a bath. She was a little stinky.... Then we put together some new shoe shelves I just bought. Our idea is to always make our lives in general (and our home in particular) a little bit better all the time. It's funny how something like a couple of shelves can make such a big difference!
On Wednesday we all went over to Tomkin's parents' house for lunch and celebrated Nancy's birthday. Tomkin and Jenny had gotten her a feather bed to put on top of her mattress--she was thrilled! Tomkin headed to the office, and I worked at home. We walked Chloe, and then Tomkin went to his weekly poker game (usually it's at Tracy's house, but this time they went to Ben's new house in Eagan). I had a premarital counseling session, then talked to Mom.

Tomkin went to the dentist on Thursday and found out he needs another root canal. I got my hair cut at Estetica (I'm so excited that I've finally found a stylist I really like!), then picked up Heidi, and we got lunch at Cafe Latte. She filled me in on her family's trip to Texas, where her in-laws threw her a baby shower. That afternoon, Tomkin picked up his new bike (it's so cool!), then had a wedding rehearsal. I got the house ready for our cocktail party. This month for Third Thursdays we served mojitos! Tomkin made up a few pitchers (with fresh-squeezed lime juice and a LOT of mint), and they were a big hit. We had a fun crowd--some regulars and a few new folks--and the party ran good and late. Ah, summer fun....