Caketastrophe

The opening meeting for the school year with all of the folks in my department was today. It was my area's turn to bring snacks. I was so excited to show off my baking skills. OK, I was so excited to show off my husband's baking skills. I asked him to make my favorite cake, banana chocolate. Yum!!!
I decided to contribute to the cause and make a peanut butter glaze. I placed all of the ingredients in the bowl and mixed them together. I even used a whisk...I whisked for Pete's sake! I then drizzled the delicious glaze atop the beautiful chocolate cake and it looked fabulous. I placed the cover over the cake, left it safe and sound on the kitchen counter and went to bed. I dreamed of all the "Oouuhhhhs" and "aahhhhhhs" that would be forthcoming in the morning when everyone laid eyes on my beautiful cake. Alright, not really, but I was super excited.
See, I am the girl in the office who usually volunteers to bring the paper products and drinks. It's not that I can't cook, I just don't. It's not my "thing". I want it to be...I'm envious of people who do it well. But I decided to step out of my comfort zone this time.
I awoke this morning and got myself ready. I made sure the top of the holder was securely attached and picked up the cake to head out the door. I placed it in the passenger seat on top of some folders I had there and pulled out of the driveway. About 4 miles up the road I stopped for gas.
When I got back in the car and was half way across the parking lot about to exit, I noticed the cake holder was slanted. Sure enough, some of the peanut butter glaze had leaked out and onto the seat. Great!! I held the edge of the cake carrier with my right hand to keep it level while I attempted to get some napkins out of the center console.
BEEP! BEEP!
Someone behind me was honking. Alright, alright, I'm goin. I went ahead and pulled out into traffic and attempted to keep the cake balanced. When I stopped at the next red light I decided to lower the cake onto the floorboard but had to work around a pair of shoes I had left there the day before. As I tried to maneuver the cake holder around the shoes the lid came off and the bottom, with the cake, dropped to the floor.
My once pristine cake was now completely crumbled on one side. It was so moist it just fell apart upon impact. Peanut butter glaze was now on my shoes too. I picked them up and put them in the back. By this time I was traveling on a fast paced toll road and couldn't stop. There was nothing I could do...but cry. I didn't want to, and in my former life (PLD, pre Lauren's death) I would have thought this was some pretty funny stuff. But not this morning.
I was now going to be a few minutes late so I was rushing. As I exited the toll road I stopped a little abruptly and the cake slid to the front of the carrier's bottom. Holy toledo... I can't win today. I took off my seatbelt and leaned over to try and push the cake back into the center of the plate. My hand smushed into the side and more pieces fell off into a crumbled mess. Now my hand was covered in peanut butter glaze, which does not come off easily with a dry, paper napkin. Now I had peanut butter glaze with paper stuck in it all over my hand.
"This is why I bring the cups!!" I yelled out loud.
I was close to turning right around and getting back up on that road, driving straight home, getting back into my pj's and going back to bed. Tomorrow could be a redo.
But I kept trudging on, crying the whole time. When I arrived at the building where the meeting was to be held I illegally parked by the back door and went inside to illicit help...and cleaning supplies. Thank God I work with the best people ever. My supervisor and friend Suzette came out to see what was upsetting me so badly. When I opened the passenger door, we couldn't help but laugh. Finally I was able to laugh. Suzette carried the cake for me and assured me it was fine. It was a hot mess!
Then we couldn't stop laughing as we entered the building. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. As I was inside looking for more help, I asked my friend Joy if she'd come with me, and supplies my other friend Carole had gone out to the car and started straightening everything up. It wasn't as bad as I thought. The glaze had mostly gotten on the removable floor mat, which Carole placed in the trunk, and a little was on the leather seat, which wiped right off.
So, the cake made it to the meeting, I cleaned my face and I made it too.

I was reminded, yet again, that I am not as "together" as I like to convince myself I am. And I'm reminded, more importantly, that it's OK. For the record, all but one piece of that cake was eaten, and they loved it. Ugly but delicious...no problem.