Holiday Dec-A-Board

It is December, which means the arrival of the annual office dec-a-board competition. I've never worked somewhere that's had so many office parties and events during work hours, normally I decline from participation, but last year they talked me into doing a board. And thus unknowingly I set a precedent for participation. See last year's much more dedicated effort here.I thought I'd go minimalist and carve my board this year. A layer of paint and a knife, what more do you need? After 2 hours of cutting and peeling with lackluster results I changed my plan. By the end I had pulled out the silhouette digital cutter and was letting it do the work for me.

First off, I'm pretty sure I was sabotaged this year as my board was not white - it had signage on one side and a deep groove on the other. 

Also I could not find the box my acrylic paint was packed in to save my life - this genius used oil instead. 

I did like carving out the snowflakes - but the cost/benefit analysis determined it was not a good use of time or arm strength. 

Yay regular paper, blades, and mats!

This is what I ended up with.

Then I went to work and saw what everyone else had done...

This one was my favorite - loved the plastic bowl snow globes.

You placed a marble at the top of the black foam and it rolled down into the box at the bottom. 

I'm pretty sure whoever made this one did not craft those little houses with lights on inside.

Our student assistant made a recommendation that I should add more to mine (which I had conveniently forgotten at home). Just to show I wasn't bitter about last year, when mine really was the best, I made a halfhearted effort and glued more stuff on.

Final product.

I'd tell you the glare/lighting makes the colors look harsh - but I did, in actuality, glue neon-green letters on it. I'm still bitter it was so complicated to carve out the snowflakes. But my participatory office event quota for the year is complete.

A Mason

Saturday was finally Papa’s memorial service. It was held at the local Masonic Lodge. An adorable little old man from his former lodge in Pacifica came up to officiate. The best way I can think to describe the group of 60 to 80 year-old men who organized, served food, officiated, and cleaned up is as the best Relief Society I’ve ever seen. Relief Society 2.0. I was fascinated by the Masonic ceremony and it’s symbolism, several elements were strikingly familiar. Despite hearing issues I was able to get the man at the CD player to start the songs at the correct time. Q spent much of the ceremony with her head buried in my scarf – it was interesting to see how she caught the mood of the room and processed it – eventually she relaxed and proceeded to pop M&M’s into my mouth.

All in all a positive but surreal experience. 

I really wanted to roam around the lodge taking photos of all the Masonic art, the pillars in the main room with the orbs atop them, the box of aprons, etc. But it didn't seem quite appropriate, and there was so little time for photos. 

Loving the glowing G.

 A Shriner and a Mason.

 Papa made this shoe shine kit when he was a kid. Little entrepreneur.

 I have no idea who this man is kissing my grandma, but it's the only photo I took of her.

Sometimes You Need Sushi

It's been a curious week. A curious last few months. My boss called me in today to make sure I'm getting enough support in my life and ask if there was anything I needed. He kindly offered to let me hide in an office away from my desk & coworkers, and might have offered me more time off. Generous considering I was out for more than two weeks in October, out for a week and a half in November, and I'll get another week and a half off in December for the holidays. I can't think of the last time I spent so much time away from work. I'm practically part-time.

I couldn't help but smile when boss inquired about my personal support system and if I had a place to escape. I'm grateful for wonderful friends, who tell me I'm handling things beautifully when I'm merely hanging on. Or who put up with pages and pages of daily emails - thanks T!

Sometimes you just need some sushi to talk over. And a heater at your desk - it is freezing in our office.

G goes Victorian

G decided for her 14th birthday she wanted a Victorian tea party. It ended up being more of a hot chocolate party...which they all seemed quite pleased with.

It's slightly shocking to me that she is 14. In a few years she will be exactly half my age. When she was born that seemed ages away, now it's around the corner. Though it was a rather sorrowful week for our family, I believe both my mother and I enjoyed having the distraction of party planning. She throughly enjoyed watching me make all the tea sandwiches.

G & Co.

I stayed up much to late the night before doing paper projects.

Snack spread.

The great petits fours disaster:

The party has started, the girls are out in the front playing croquet while M & C₁ work on making frosting.  Sadly the melted sugar base reached a temperature much to high and became a mass of hard candy. I came to the rescue - meaning a much simpler glaze was whisked together. However, with the girls already back inside, the rush left many cakes decidedly haphazard. Not that a group of 14 year-old girls care.

Thank goodness we don't have to do a Quinceanera next year.