We were back to the grind on Tuesday, September 8th. Tomkin gave stinky Chloe a much-needed bath.
He took my bike in to have the gears fixed, and then he went to the office. I finished up my judging duties for this year's
MMPA Excellence Awards and went grocery shopping at Target. We took Chloe for a walk, and that night Tomkin met with a couple while I took Chloe to therapy dog class.
We spent a little time in the elevator and the bathroom since she's not completely comfortable in either location, but she'll probably need to be once we start volunteering. She is a very brave girl!
On Wednesday the 9th, Tomkin had lunch with his folks then went to the office. I did some work-related reading and a little editing, and I spent some time working with Chloe on her therapy dog training. We took Chloe for a walk that afternoon. Then in the evening, Tomkin went to perform a blessing for a man who was getting shipped off to Afghanistan that Friday.
Tomkin had performed this couple's wedding a couple years ago, right before the first time the groom was sent to Afghanistan. Now they have a couple kids, and he'll be gone for a year (and he's in the National Guard!). It made me really grateful for the sacrifice of all the people in the Armed Forces. I led a premarital counseling session, then talked to my mom. Then I talked to Brenda, who was mulling over whether or not to move to a home in the country. (She has since decided to go for it and will be moving the end of October!)
Thursday morning, Tomkin and I went on our first bike ride since he had his accident back in June. The cortisone shot seems to have done the trick--his arm is feeling fine now. Phew! It felt so good to go biking again! We went down Summit and back, enjoying the beautiful scenery and light summer breeze. What a treat!
That afternoon I ran some errands and worked on grant stuff (am preparing to work on a couple new projects). Tomkin had been invited to take a tour of the
Walker Art Center so he could do a write-up about them for his
wedding website. As a thank-you, they offered us a complimentary dinner at
Wolfgang Puck's 20.21 restaurant in the Walker. We happily accepted the offer and made reservations for Saturday night. We took Chloe for a walk and cleaned up the house a little. About 6:00, my cousin Danelle and her husband, Edward, came over. They live in San Antonio, and this was my first time meeting Edward. It was really fun to hang out and chat with them! An hour or so later, my aunt Carol (Danelle's mom/my dad's sister) and uncle Steve arrived, and then we all walked around the corner to get dinner at Pizza Luce.
We had a wonderful time together and a delicious meal. Even when we walked back to the house, we stood outside and talked for a while. It was so great to see them all!
On Friday afternoon, Tomkin and I went over to Cassidy and Angie's house to meet their three-week-old son, Harry. (Angie ended up having to work, so she couldn't be there.)
He is such a cutie! We brought along some gifts for the baby and the dogs, and we had a nice time visiting with Cassidy.
Tomkin and I went home and took a nap, then walked Chloe. That evening we went to the first of three dance performances in our season-ticket package at the Northrop.
The show was
"Entity" by Wayne McGregor/Random Dance. We sat in the very front row, which was amazing in that we could really see and hear the dancers (though we couldn't always see their feet). What a show! It was a solid hour of high-energy, intense, amazing dancing. We both loved it! Afterward we decided to hit W.A. Frost's late-night happy hour. We sat in the outdoor bar area and enjoyed some yummy appetizers (and I had a tasty and pretty drink).
Tomkin did some work on Saturday, and I researched things to do when my friend Carrie Mc. comes to town next weekend. We exercised while watching Chris Rock's 1996 stand-up comedy special "
Bring the Pain" and found it very ironic that he did a whole bit about how a black man could never become president of the U.S. At the exact same time, President Barack Obama was at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis leading a health-care rally. Pretty amazing! (I will refrain from getting into the whole issue of health-care reform and the bizarre and vitriolic rantings of American conservatives, except to say that it's been a great source of irritation and stress!) We spent some time on the front porch--Tomkin reading and me blogging. Then we got dressed up for our dinner at 20.21.
We had early reservations (6:00) since we had to get up early the next morning. When we arrived, we decided to sit outside since it was so nice out.
And what an amazing view!
I ordered a drink, and we started with the calamari salad as an appetizer. So delicious!
They also gave us a little order of some seasoned green beans. Surprisingly flavorful! Seemingly out of nowhere, it started to rain. At first we just took cover under an umbrella, but eventually it really started to pour. So we (and the other people seated outdoors) ran back inside. That was actually kind of cool--we ended up getting to sit both outside and inside the restaurant! And as beautiful as the view is outside, it's also a pretty amazing space inside.
I ordered the roasted duck as my entree, which came with some delicious noodles. I also got a side of potatoes au gratin, but I probably wouldn't have needed them. (But they were so rich and wonderful, I was glad I'd gotten them!) And a second drink.
Tomkin ordered the seafood curry and a side of seasoned vegetables. All of the food was incredible. And we ate just about everything! Our waiter must have thought we'd been starving ourselves for days before this meal.
Even though I was full, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try their signature dessert, the Spoon, Cube & Cherry (in homage to the
Spoonbridge & Cherry sculpture in the
Walker Sculpture Garden). So cool!!!
It's a box of chocolate, with a wafer-thin spoon-shaped cookie on top and a tiny candy cherry. Inside the box is a mass of creamy chocolate mousse. To die for!
The restaurant is pretty pricey, but I would recommend going there just to get this dessert--and sit outside, if you can. We were thrilled and delighted with our 20.21 dining experience. What a wonderful, decadent treat! (It was especially nice that we only had to pay the tip....)
Eating so much made us tired, which was good since we needed to get to bed early anyway in preparation for the
St. Paul Classic Bike Tour early the next morning.
He took my bike in to have the gears fixed, and then he went to the office. I finished up my judging duties for this year's MMPA Excellence Awards and went grocery shopping at Target. We took Chloe for a walk, and that night Tomkin met with a couple while I took Chloe to therapy dog class. 
We spent a little time in the elevator and the bathroom since she's not completely comfortable in either location, but she'll probably need to be once we start volunteering. She is a very brave girl!
On Wednesday the 9th, Tomkin had lunch with his folks then went to the office. I did some work-related reading and a little editing, and I spent some time working with Chloe on her therapy dog training. We took Chloe for a walk that afternoon. Then in the evening, Tomkin went to perform a blessing for a man who was getting shipped off to Afghanistan that Friday. 
Tomkin had performed this couple's wedding a couple years ago, right before the first time the groom was sent to Afghanistan. Now they have a couple kids, and he'll be gone for a year (and he's in the National Guard!). It made me really grateful for the sacrifice of all the people in the Armed Forces. I led a premarital counseling session, then talked to my mom. Then I talked to Brenda, who was mulling over whether or not to move to a home in the country. (She has since decided to go for it and will be moving the end of October!)
Thursday morning, Tomkin and I went on our first bike ride since he had his accident back in June. The cortisone shot seems to have done the trick--his arm is feeling fine now. Phew! It felt so good to go biking again! We went down Summit and back, enjoying the beautiful scenery and light summer breeze. What a treat! 
That afternoon I ran some errands and worked on grant stuff (am preparing to work on a couple new projects). Tomkin had been invited to take a tour of the Walker Art Center so he could do a write-up about them for his wedding website. As a thank-you, they offered us a complimentary dinner at Wolfgang Puck's 20.21 restaurant in the Walker. We happily accepted the offer and made reservations for Saturday night. We took Chloe for a walk and cleaned up the house a little. About 6:00, my cousin Danelle and her husband, Edward, came over. They live in San Antonio, and this was my first time meeting Edward. It was really fun to hang out and chat with them! An hour or so later, my aunt Carol (Danelle's mom/my dad's sister) and uncle Steve arrived, and then we all walked around the corner to get dinner at Pizza Luce. 
We had a wonderful time together and a delicious meal. Even when we walked back to the house, we stood outside and talked for a while. It was so great to see them all!
On Friday afternoon, Tomkin and I went over to Cassidy and Angie's house to meet their three-week-old son, Harry. (Angie ended up having to work, so she couldn't be there.) 
He is such a cutie! We brought along some gifts for the baby and the dogs, and we had a nice time visiting with Cassidy. 
Tomkin and I went home and took a nap, then walked Chloe. That evening we went to the first of three dance performances in our season-ticket package at the Northrop. 
The show was "Entity" by Wayne McGregor/Random Dance. We sat in the very front row, which was amazing in that we could really see and hear the dancers (though we couldn't always see their feet). What a show! It was a solid hour of high-energy, intense, amazing dancing. We both loved it! Afterward we decided to hit W.A. Frost's late-night happy hour. We sat in the outdoor bar area and enjoyed some yummy appetizers (and I had a tasty and pretty drink).
Tomkin did some work on Saturday, and I researched things to do when my friend Carrie Mc. comes to town next weekend. We exercised while watching Chris Rock's 1996 stand-up comedy special "Bring the Pain" and found it very ironic that he did a whole bit about how a black man could never become president of the U.S. At the exact same time, President Barack Obama was at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis leading a health-care rally. Pretty amazing! (I will refrain from getting into the whole issue of health-care reform and the bizarre and vitriolic rantings of American conservatives, except to say that it's been a great source of irritation and stress!) We spent some time on the front porch--Tomkin reading and me blogging. Then we got dressed up for our dinner at 20.21. 
We had early reservations (6:00) since we had to get up early the next morning. When we arrived, we decided to sit outside since it was so nice out. 
And what an amazing view! 
I ordered a drink, and we started with the calamari salad as an appetizer. So delicious! 
They also gave us a little order of some seasoned green beans. Surprisingly flavorful! Seemingly out of nowhere, it started to rain. At first we just took cover under an umbrella, but eventually it really started to pour. So we (and the other people seated outdoors) ran back inside. That was actually kind of cool--we ended up getting to sit both outside and inside the restaurant! And as beautiful as the view is outside, it's also a pretty amazing space inside. 
I ordered the roasted duck as my entree, which came with some delicious noodles. I also got a side of potatoes au gratin, but I probably wouldn't have needed them. (But they were so rich and wonderful, I was glad I'd gotten them!) And a second drink.
Tomkin ordered the seafood curry and a side of seasoned vegetables. All of the food was incredible. And we ate just about everything! Our waiter must have thought we'd been starving ourselves for days before this meal. 
Even though I was full, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try their signature dessert, the Spoon, Cube & Cherry (in homage to the Spoonbridge & Cherry sculpture in the Walker Sculpture Garden). So cool!!! 
It's a box of chocolate, with a wafer-thin spoon-shaped cookie on top and a tiny candy cherry. Inside the box is a mass of creamy chocolate mousse. To die for! 
The restaurant is pretty pricey, but I would recommend going there just to get this dessert--and sit outside, if you can. We were thrilled and delighted with our 20.21 dining experience. What a wonderful, decadent treat! (It was especially nice that we only had to pay the tip....) 
Eating so much made us tired, which was good since we needed to get to bed early anyway in preparation for the St. Paul Classic Bike Tour early the next morning.
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