Valentine weekend!

Even though we were still both coughing, John and I had a lovely Valentine's dinner out last night. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, so I got dressed up and got in the car (and found a pound of See's chocolate sitting on the seat). After we'd driven a while, I knew we were going to one of our favorite places, near where John used to live, called the California Canteen.

We all have our quirks, and one of John's is that he hates valet parking. If it's reasonably possible to park elsewhere, that's what we do. The Canteen has neighborhood parking in the streets behind it, but sometimes a space is hard to find. Last night, we drove up the canyon road and I was dismayed to see the curb lined with cars. There was one space -- but it was a tiny one, between a Cadillac and an SUV. And I can't parallel park worth a damn. Soooo... John got out of the car and directed me, back and forth, back and forth, as I inched myself into that freaking space. I was a nervous wreck, but John was having a grand old time. Because this was his view:

Hummmmpppph. Anyway, I finally got in there and we went to have a wonderful meal (vegetable risotto for me, goat cheese salad for him). John had to finish my rice. We exchanged cards; he'd written me a lovely little poem, as he does every year. ♥ And then it was off to Aroma Café, home of the world's best cakes (and our favorite, German chocolate).

John was his usual mischievous self. We had parked a couple of blocks away, and the walk down the dark streets toward the boulevard was especially fun with John reaching up my skirt as we walked. :-D  And once we got in the café and were waiting in line for the counter, John kept asking, "Where's the cake? Where's the cake?" "It's right there," I said, pointing to the bottom shelf in the large case. "I can't see it, can you get up closer to it?" Of course... he wanted me to lean over in my tight dress. OK, fine. I glanced around to make sure the people behind us were looking elsewhere, and I bent way over, poking my finger against the glass. "See it now?" I teased. "Sweetie!" he exclaimed, stepping up behind me. "I can't take you anywhere!"

Uh huh. I'M the troublemaker. 

I don't know if you can tell from the photo just how ginormous that slice was, but we completely devoured it.

Smooching my Valentine:

Not the best picture. I look like my face is squished up against a fishbowl! But I like it anyway. :-)

And of course, my See's!

My cell phone camera is weird. If I'm using the regular view (looking outward), I can make different adjustments before taking the picture (flash, etc.). But if I switch modes and I'm taking a picture of myself, then I can't adjust anything, and the picture quality is fair at best. But I didn't have my regular camera with me. Oh well.

This was our 16th Valentine's Day together and it was romantic and sweet as ever. I am a lucky woman.

No Mr. D tomorrow, but he will be here on Tuesday. And in a couple of weeks, I'm going to have all the spanking I can handle and then some. Stay tuned!