So, this was what my kitchen looked like Thursday night after my daughter got through cooking for her dinner party. My job was to make cakes for she and Marc's joint birthday part on Saturday. Since I was off Friday she saw no reason I could not accomplish that small task. Facing the kitchen on Friday morning I nearly swooned, but instead I headed for the gym to fortify myself before taking it on. Oh and I had a hair appointment after that, but I assumed it would keep me occupied for maybe an hour. As much as I hate to admit that staying this beautiful requires a bit of effort, I did not emerge until an unexpected 2:30. The kitchen had not cleaned itself in my absence. I sat down to eat the sushi I bought on the way home, my first meal of the day. When the girl arrived breathless at 5:15 I had almost finished cleaning and had started on the complicated cake recipes. I had two oranges boiling on the stove for the flourless chocolate orange cake and was creaming butter for the coconut rum bundt cake. She demanded to know what I had done with my day and why her cakes were not ready. She's been a bit on edge lately so instead of starting a fight I apologized and told her I would finish them tonight. That's when I learned she had changed her mind about running the 10 K on Saturday because of her shaky health issues and instead was off for northern Virginia as soon as she could collect the food. That's how I ended up headed for Arlington on Saturday morning with two beautiful cakes in tow, plus corn muffins, a new asthma inhaler my husband rushed to the pharmacy to buy, and her pineapple twiddler which she had left behind on the counter (now just how could she have missed it?). My husband hates driving anywhere past Fredricksburg at any time, plus there was a steady drizzle falling. To rescue the day I made arrangements to meet a fellow blogger for lunch, our first IRL meeting. I am most grateful for that because if I had not done so I would have likely bitched at my ungrateful daughter all the way home. Instead I laughed the afternoon away, but I get ahead of myself.
We arrived at Marc's house ten minutes after the appointed twelve o'clock time. I was greeted at the door by the man himself and soon after the girl emerged wrapped in a towel, fresh from the shower. Seeing her obvious harried state I asked, "What can I do to help?" She was actually more stressed than I realized because her reply was, "You can get out of here so I can get things ready for the party." Sweet. Well, it was raining and I needed to pee so I guess a few tears went unnoticed and were most likely helpful. I know the girl so well. She will come home today all apologies and so thank me profusely for the Herculean effort I made to help.
Lunch with the CEO was just what I needed to vent and laugh and get over myself. Thanks again Monty, you are a sweetheart and my husband and I had a great time. When we meet for lunch next time we will have to make plans long enough in advance to include more bloggers. Meantime I have brought order again to the chaos of my kitchen and it should remain so until the girl comes back tonight. All the signs point to her being on her way out the door for good in short order and no doubt I will miss her dreadfully, but just this minute I am enjoying the peace and quiet. Have a wonderful peaceful Sunday.
Wow. I hadn't guessed there was a table under all of that!
ReplyDeleteI'm making banana cream pie today and feel like my kitchen is a disaster zone, too.
OH MY GOD! I Would have shit a brick! Probably solid gold to boot! On the other hand she seemed ready to tackle the hardest parts herself(you know, actually hosting). And you got to meet Monty! I look forward to meeting all of you IRL soonest. Glad to say that driving is not actually a chore for anyone here. Hope your precious girlie is doing better(the Big Girl is my precious-I am in no way poking fun). I can't imagine spending that long at the hairdressers though I can see the appeal in that amount of self indulgence!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe pic doesn't show the stickyness either. God I hate my feet sticking to the floor. Every cabinet door seemed to have something gooey on it. How did she do that? Hope you noted the bucket on the sink. She used it to mix coleslaw. I had to scrub it before and after. She is a girl who needs minions.
ReplyDeleteBrook I guess I am pretty indulgent of her now days since she has some scary medical issues facing her. She is an amazing cook but doesn't do baking. The cakes were just beautiful but I forgot to take a picture of them. The hairdresser is a dear friend and we tried a new color. She didn't like it so she re-dyed it three times. "let's try some brown streaks, no, that's not right, we'll lighten it up and then try a different shade of red, no..." I finally told her I loved it and I loved her for trying so hard. I read her stories from my blog while I waited for the color to set each time. Monty was so much fun. M@ was too hungover to make it. We will do it again.
ReplyDeleteHoly Maloly! D(yes D all by his lonesome)took both girls for haircuts on Friday! Really would love to meet you all-truly! And as you know the best minions are bred. A sad but true fact. On the other hand I completely get and advocate indulgence of our progeny. No one else will. Well, lets just say I get it(and do it, and expect it to a certain degree from my own mother) and leave it at that. I only need a weeks notice for personal trips(a new thing and one I am happy to take advantage of!)
ReplyDeleteDisjointed and rambly-thanks to Cosmopolitans(trading booze for percoset-lets see how that goes, shall we)
ReplyDeleteLove for our children should be unconditional. We have passed the time for advice and training. She is an adult and she is who she is. Sunshine or rain, I adore her just the way she is.
ReplyDeleteI completely 100% agree. Do not doubt and enjoy every precious moment(gah can't believe I just typed that)you can garner with each of them.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the hairdo, and it is superb! And I had lunch with you and your husband, and I wish I could have gotten there faster, because you two are funny, and fun to be with. The waiter still isn't sure if I am your husband's brother, or your brother, but he's pretty sure I can't dance to Bach.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? As the waiter leaves
ReplyDeleteFuck-I am apparently young and trashed enough to say, "Where the fuck were you guys ten years ago!?!??!?!
I think your dancing was lovely Monty, but my husband says the artist was Vivaldi. He knows his classical music shit so I guess I'll believe him on that. My husband also says you two had a brandy and cigar moment in the plaza discussing things you didn't want to trouble my pretty little head with like AIG bonuses. What you don't know is that while you were gone the waiter and I had a "moment". I told him I had never lain eyes on either of you in my life. He asked me if I wanted him to call security. I thanked him kindly, batted my eyes, and told him I might call on him later but I was safe for the minute.
ReplyDeleteBTW Brook, the waiter was hot. I was sitting right here in this house 10 years ago darlin and I think Monty was doing the same in his. I don't think he'll mind my quoting him saying with no regrets, "at least we met now".