A gratitude post from your resident carmudgeon

The Husband took Sophie out this morning to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market, where they purchased some of the above apricots which were then sliced and brought to me on a plate while I whiled the hours listening to federal grant review talk.

The apricots were a high point.

I am grateful for work, for The Husband's flexibility today, for near-constant sunshine, for funny friends, for Oliver's upcoming semi-final baseball game (who knew their losing team would make it this far!), for Henry's eighth grade graduation tomorrow, for my Duet bike which will soon be ordered and delivered, for the friends who made it happen, particularly Missy B., and for apricots, golden yellow with a blush of pink.

I'm on the phone

There'll be scant blogging on a moon, worn as if it had been a shell over the next few days. I'm sitting at my desk, on very long conference calls, doing some bizness for the government. And, no, I'm not wire-tapping or eavesdropping or figuring out how to be a whistle-blower and gain sanctuary in Russia. I am in my pajamas, drinking coffee and trying to concentrate on Some Very Important Initiatives. During my down times, I might post some poetry, so please come back.

The Baker is Back

via Etsy

This morning I was up at 6:30 baking a cake. I've got two cake orders today, orders I took at the last minute because My Other Job has drawn to a close, and I need the work. I have a Blue Velvet Cake with Purple Frosting and a Luau Theme to make today and a Milk Chocolate Chocolate Cake tomorrow. I will, of course, post photos later.

If you know of anyone who needs to hire a baker, please let me know. I can also advocate for children with special healthcare needs, review grants, create caregiver manuals and train caregivers, write grants and pull my legs over my head.

Reader, what are you up to this weekend?

Henry and I went to our neighborhood village (yes, we have a village in our neighborhood, right smack in the middle of the Big City) this afternoon, and he got a haircut and I went to the bank and then we sat at Peet's and drank goofy coffee drinks. Oliver is in daily rehearsals for the musical OLIVER! and I admit that it's kind of nice to go out with the eldest son and just hang out. Bless that youngest boy's heart.

That's all I've got for this afternoon. I'm heating up leftover pork tenderloin in some kind of creamy mushroom sauce that The Husband made, Sophie just had a big seizure in her room while playing with her beads (overstimulation?) and it's very gray and very cold outside on this February night. I have to read gigantic federal grants because I'm on a review panel next week, and this post is a way to forestall the inevitable, so thank you for your time.