Whenever we drive by a loading dock, John points and says "That's just like that place we had lunch that one time."  And he's right.  One day back in May he surprised me by having new keys made for my car at the dealership (they have chips that have to be programmed).  We'd picked up sandwiches and drinks and grabbed a blanket out of my car and walked away from the dealership to find a nice place to picnic.... in Sodo.  Around the corner and a block or two away, we stopped at an unused loading dock, laid out the blanket and climbed up onto the edge.  Feet dangling and cars passing, we chatted about friendship and life and what the next step might look like for us.  Seeing a guy who just might be as crazy, random and eccentric as me eating his sandwich to my left and talking about the guy he used to know who hopped trains... it's a moment I treasured, then and now.

This morning we bussed downtown together and as we passed yet another loading dock he signaled,  "Hey look, that's just like our favorite spot.  Wonder how the cuisine is."  And then that smile.

I hesitate to confess.
In fact, I hesistated 4 hours to confess.
But Kristin sent me an email that said just this:
Bacon Mac n' Cheese.

And so it happened.

Favorite things I was told today:

1.  "Dream on Little Sister and Live alive."

2. "Jarrod wants to get you more involved with all the proposals."

3. "That is the cutest lunch I've ever seen!"   (it was pretty cute)

After much debate, research and further debate it has hereby been determined by the employees of W.A. that today is the first day of Spring.  Though most calendars and sources will list tomorrow as the first day, it will actually begin for us West-Coasters tonight at 10pm.  I plan to celebrate, with something, springish.

This past weekend was quite fantastic.  Full of so many wonderful things.  I intended to upload photos and share them all... but took a nap instead (a couple times). And this week promises to be just as wonderful - and as busy - so we will see just how soon I am able to share.

On another note, I am craving mac 'n cheese.  Bad.  Not the fancy stuff, I want the good ol' fashioned blue box!  I guess, I'll head down to Pike Place (I sure do love working downtown) and settle for Beecher's.

Has anyone been to Melrose Market?  Because I'm sitting here wondering why I haven't.  Look at this gallery of all thier shops.  The place looks great! 

.

Lunch dates downtown are probably one of my favorite things these days.  Having friends downtown to meet up with, or friends who are willing to trek out here via bus (or worse, park!) to visit over lunch or drinks... it is a much bigger kindness than they may even realize.  It can be a bit stressful (seeing as you have time limits and work is rather unpredictable day to day), but it's wonderful and fun.  And today, it went quite smoothly.  Here's to many more lunch dates with one of my favorite ladies to be in the city with - and who now works within "walking distance."

One reason I love working downtown. :) 

After crepes, LBL took kristin and I to La Panier for coffee and treats. I enjoyed a pistachio macaroon and a delicious vanilla latte.

One benefit of coming to work when I'm sick. 

Sister getting me lunch. (Butternut Squash Soup and half a Turkey & Swiss Croissant with cracked pepper on top!)

Then again, staying home yesterday meant mom making me lunch and that was equally a treat. Tomato Bisque and a BLTA Sandwich.

This was Monday in the Market:

LBL called me around noon yesterday and said "Grab Kristin, my money clip, and meet me at the creperie in 15." We ended up eating at Copacabana, and running several other errands. And minus my flats that rubbed several toes raw, it was a lovely and unexpected long lunch. We did things like, wander into tile shops downtown, or through an old 5 star hotel, where LBL felt he should approach the waitress and say "This is Katrina. She loves candied apples. Do you serve those?"  It was a very random, but fun day.  He's out of control.  I'm still not exactly sure why we wandered all through that hotel lobby, but I think it had something to do with showing us where he used to play the piano up in one of the ballrooms.

This man gets more impressive every time we see him! We called this shot "multitasking" - it's a big word at our office and hot on interpretations.

My family and friends think I am bad, but you have never had lunch with LBL. Everything is a photo shoot!

The view

"For a donation, I will pose for you. That is how we support our cat shelter. They believe this is their property right here."

Believe it or not, my first actual macaron from Le Panier.  Oh my! Oh my!!

My own little twist on the BLT. Turns out it was good! Bacon, Spinach, Egg, Tomato on toasted 8-Grain. Yum. :)

One of my favorite memories was just brought back to the forefront of my mind by this photo (from kinfolk magazine). Elise and Jeff were my first friends to get married. Elise, my friend from birth (before, if you ask our moms), walked down the aisle at twenty-one. How they transitioned from single adults into the wedded world still sets the bar for me. By the time I take my turn, most of my friends will be married (most of them already are), and the transition will be different, but nonetheless, I'll never forsake the lessons I've learned from watching them, and especially by being loved by them.

The week after they'd returned from their honeymoon, they'd already invited a few of us, their closest single friends over. Their new apartment was clean and beautiful. I still remember so clearly Elise's beeming face as she opened the bathroom cabinets and showed us all her neat organization. Perhaps I remember because I have far too many pictures, and one is of that smile, at that moment. It was the neighborhood kids, Robert, Tyson, myself, Elise, and now Jeff. And since the past several years had been spent together, studying and cooking, tanning at O.O.Denny and cooking (BBQing), watching Animal Planet Shark Week and cooking, watching Bill Cosby and cooking, laughing and cooking.... you get the point, cooking. We like to eat, and even more, we like to prep and play with food together. Jeff and Elise pulled out all their new beautiful wedding toys (and they STILL set the bar for amazing and cool kitchen do-dads), and we went to work. I don't really remember what we ate that time, but what I do remember is that it was a Sunday afternoon, and we ate it on a blanket in the middle of their empty living room floor. They didn't have a couch, or a table or chairs yet, but they wanted to bring their friends into the very moment they were in, and that beautiful memory will always move me and hold me like few others.

Elise and Jeff are the masters at this. While they're planners and dreamers, I feel like they live in the moment, and bring others into that moment with them better than anyone else I know. They never let what they don't have stop them from enjoying what they do. I love it, and I love them. And with that, I especially love that memory. Just goes to show that it's not what you have that matters, it really is most importantly about who you are, and also, who you are with. :)

I think 20 years down the road, I want to have another picnic, on blankets, in the middle of a living room, just to remind myself, it's not about what you have. And I know if one person would do it with me, it would be Lou Lou.

I think I'd like to make a label for life that reads,
"Not Required: fancy long wooden tables, rod iron chairs, pottery barn flatware, leather couches, perfect children, fancy juicers, massive paychecks, exotic getaways, PhDs, etc." Don't get me wrong, I just rambled out mostly my own personal day dreams, but more and more I think, that's really not required and life is here, on a blanket in an empty livingroom, beside childhood best friends, new friends, new husbands, baby girls, and paper napkins.

Lunch with my bird-dog love'n friend, Toni. :) So many years gone by, and so many more to come. Love you, love. I'm more grateful for you than you know. We brought our lunch over to the observation floor at the Columbia Center, not a bad idea for a chilly summer day in Seattle. :)

Yes, I'm getting rather spoiled with these lunch dates!! :)

Gyros and Mexican Cokes with Ryn in Pike Place. Love this lady - she's met me for lunch 3 or 4 times downtown now and I can't say enough how much I appreciate it. :)

It's always a treat to catch up with a friend over a coke (and I don't even like soda...but for this, I'll drink it. If it's in a glass bottle.).

Lunch in the Market.

I most love working downtown, when I'm not working. Kristin needed to deliver some documents at another lawfirm downtown, so I went along for the walk (well, I knew where the place was, so I had to show her, of course.)


It's lovely out, probably in the 60's, and we were on Pike, so we headed down toward the market. The plan wasn't exactly fruit, but once the man at the market gave us a bite, I couldn't resist! Probably the best pear I've ever had... so much better than candy!

He washed it for us there (hehe), and we took it with us to a little sandwich shop where we got a crab sandwich and sat outside to share and enjoy. Lot's of entertainment downtown, always. But at the end, a street performer set up right behind us. We didn't mind one bit. We did however mind a bit when one of the crazy men decided to start break dancing (maybe?) along with the utilikilt-wearing guitarist. :/