Church

So today the branch president asked for us to stay after Sacrament for a few moments. He wanted to do a brain-storming session and needed all of our opinions. He was trying to figure out why people were leaving after Sacrament and not staying for all three meetings. We have a bit of a problem with that. There about about 100-120 people (during the summer only) that come for Sacrament. Then there are about 50-75 for Sunday School, and by the time RS and Priesthood come around, we are lucky to have 30-40 people left between the two classes.

Some of the reasons were a bit lame. Like our meeting time is from 1-4. I can't say that I am too happy with that time, but it is what it is. Some of the reasons given were that church is too late. Well that reason is okay unless you remember that when we met from 11-2, we still had the problem with people leaving. Another reason is that we get hungry. Come on, we come in after lunch, and leave before dinner. How hungry can you get? And if you do get hungry, bring Cheerios.

The one reason I really like was that the teachers weren't prepared enough for the lessons and so they weren't enjoyable or entertaining enough to keep people here. Church isn't supposed to be entertaining. Plus it is very hard to teach a lesson if there is no participation from the members. When there is participation, then there are discussions, and those are a bit more enjoyable than the teacher droning on and on.

Oh well, enough griping. I think the main reason why people are leaving is that they are in the habit of leaving early and so staying for three hours seems too long.

Email

At work on Monday, our computers ground to a halt around 3. Come to find out there had been a power outage in SLC, and our headquarters lost power. Apparently the battery back up system they had didn't work so well, and only 1/2 of the servers stayed on long enough for the IT department to shut down the computers safely. The other 1/2, well just say they are still working on it. When we came into work on Tuesday, they had restored the servers that held our accounting software and the internet. However, they the server that held the email was one of the servers that the battery back up didn't work on. So when the power went off, the server shut down, and not too safely and the IT department couldn't get it to come back up. So all day Tuesday and Wednesday they worked on trying to restore the email system. They finally gave up on the process, and tried something else late Wednesday and it worked. So today around 11, we were able to start getting emails again.



I can't believe how much we rely on computers and email in order to get work done. It was kind of funny to hand notes to people in the office and remark that we had to revert to doing things the "old-fashioned" way. We couldn't update our calendars with meetings easily, and consequently we all forgot one or two of them.



Thank goodness we were able to get it back because I was tired of handwriting things, or going to find people to tell them something.

Last Cake Class..at least for now.

So tonight was the last cake class for the first class. I will be starting the next class in a couple of weeks. However, with the second class, we only make one cake even though there are four nights. We make the cake on the last night. The other three nights we are making flowers in royal icing to put on the cake on that last night.

As I was about to leave, the instructor told me that I had an eye for color. That I was able to choose colors that complemented each other. That was nice of her to say.

One of my co-workers requested a deer on the cake, but since we were learning roses and other flowers, I couldn't quite put a deer on the cake. However, I will have to figure out how to do that for another day.

Also, I already told everyone that Wednesday will no longer be CAKE DAY at work. They were a bit bummed by that one. They have been getting used to having cake each Wednesday.

Guardian Angels

I must have a couple of Guardian Angels. I was on my way to church this morning on Highway 99. I was going about 75. I know the speed limit is only 70, and I was speeding a bit, but not much. I was in the middle lane of traffic, and we were coming up on the on-ramp for the Golden State Highway. I saw there were several cars that were going to merge onto Highway 99, but figured I was in the middle lane so I didn't have much to worry about. There was a truck with a horse trailer that had at least three horses in it. It was probably going 55-60 because I passed it. I figured the people that would be merging would most likely cut in front of the trailer. I had thought the last person merging wouldn't have enough time and so he would have to brake and then go behind the trailer. However, just as I was passing the horse trailer, I noticed that last car whip in front of the truck/trailer. At that point I realized I was probably in his blind spot. Knowing cars coming onto the 99 do not like to stay in the right lane, I kept an eye on him. Just as I was thinking he wasn't going to try to get in my lane, he veered towards me. I laid on my horn, slammed on my brakes. I went from 75 to 45 in a few seconds. However this guy didn't seem to realize I was honking at him. I could hear the truck/trailer behind me breaking. What seemed like 10 seconds, and was probably only three, I see him veer right really quick. He had been inches from my car. I was so shaken by this that when I got to my exit 1.5 miles down the road, my hands were still shaking. However, I know that I have Guardian Angels. Something prompted me to keep an eye on this vehicle and that I knew I was in his blind spot, and he was probably going to come after me. I am so blessed. :-)

Wedding Cake

Okay, so I finally did it. Friday I went home from work early to make the cake (12:30). I had thought about doing it on Thursday night and then only leaving a bit early on Friday (4:30) so I could just drop it off. However, at the last moment I decided to decorate it on Friday instead of Thursday evening. It wasn't going to be that difficult to do. The hardest part was going to be trying to get it as smooth as possible. As you can see on this picture, I came pretty close to having it really smooth. I don't like the edges, but didn't know how to do them in such a way so it would be perfect. Then I called the bride to see when I could drop the cake off. The reception was to start at 7. I thought I would drop it off around 6. I planned on then going and doing a bit of shopping since I would be in town. I did get there around 6, but the bride didn't show up until about 6:20. I hadn't finished the cake because I wanted to know where she was going to put the cake and on what she would like it on. Then I was going to put on the last ribbon, dots, and then the flowers. It was also very hot so I had to have the cake inside. I had brought a cake pedestal that I had just got at K-Mart (which, I hate K-Mart). It had been in the clearance items, and I got it for $5. It was a Martha Stewart collection, but I could care less about that. I just thought it was simple and it matched the color of the icing. She had wanted her cake to be an ivory color. So when the bride showed up, I showed her the pedestal and she said that was fine. So if put the cake on the pedestal and finished decorating. Since it was still over 100 degrees outside, I didn't want to put the cake out until about 7. Then I was going to leave. I still was waiting for the check and just after I put the cake outside, I saw the groom writing a check to the chocolate fountain lady and so I thought they would write one to me at the same time. This didn't happen.

Finally I brought out the cake. Next thing I knew, some of my friends showed up. So I got to talking to them. I was there when the cut the cake, and then I was asked if I would cut the cake for the rest of the guests. I did it for them. The bride has only been in Bakersfield for about 6 months, so she really didn't have the friend support that she would normally have had. I turned to her and asked her where the forks were. Apparently the mother-of-the-groom was in charge of this reception, so the bride asked her where the forks were. The mother-of-the-groom shot me a look (whoa!) and said she didn't know we were going to have cake and so she doesn't have any forks. The look I got was more like she expected me to have the forks. So someone ran to the grocery store that was about a block away and got some forks. No big deal. Everyone said they liked the cake.

So I woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed. From the moment the alarm went off, I wasn't ready for the day. However, what was I to do, but get up and go to work. So, I went to work and tried to not be crabby with people.

One of the people I work with, just asks me questions and questions, and doesn't look at the notes of the training that I had done. For the most part, I can be patient and refer them back to the notes or help them through the issue. Today, that was another story. When I was asked about helping with something, I could just feel myself getting irritated. I knew it wasn't their fault I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, so I would try to smile at them, grit my teeth and nicely show them how to do it. I am bad at disguising my feelings, so they must know it wasn't a great day.

I guess the secret is that I need to go to bed early today so that I can be bright and shiny for tomorrow.

I get to work a 1/2 day tomorrow because I am coming home to make the wedding cake. This is a bit scary for me since the cake on Monday got a gas bubble from the heat. So I don't know what will happen if this cake gets a gas bubble. I would hate for the bubble to explode before they get the pictures and cut the cake, but it is hot, and I can't do anything about that.

I did the flowers for the cake the other day, and I am not too sure about them. I think I made the arrangement a bit too big for the cake. I guess I will just have to see that tomorrow when I get the cake all done and on the table. If it is too big, I will just have to make some adjustments.

Here's for a brighter, happier tomorrow! :-)

Cake Decorating III

So here are some pictures of this weeks cake.

The lesson we learned today was on making clown bodies. It was actually fun. However, I found out that there are "black-market" Wilton tips, and I actually have one. I needed to use a tip 21, which is an open star tip, and I picked out a Wilton tip 21 and was trying to use it and get the same results as the instructor. I was having a heck of a time trying to imitate her. Finally I looked at the girl next to me and noticed that her tip was open, and mine was closed. I said something to the instructor, she came over and looked at mine and declared it wasn't a Wilton tip. Then she told me that I should use the tip 22 and I would get almost the same results.

So, if you notice, this cake is a whole lot smoother thank either of last weeks two cakes. I had an easier time icing this one and getting it smooth. I think that I have finally found the trick. First, I have to ice it and let it sit for about an hour until when I touch it, it isn't tacky and doesn't stick to me. Then I use parchament paper and my metal spatula and smooth the cake with the spatula with the parchament between the cake and the spatula. After that, I then run really hot water in the sink, put the metal spatula under the water for a few seconds, shake off the excess water and take a quick swipe at the icing with the spatula. I then rinse off the spatula and repeat until it is smooth.

Also, if you can't really tell, there are some figures on this cake. We learned hot to make clowns, but I didn't want to buy 6 clown heads, so I figured I would make people on the cake. Someone said they looked like eskimos.