Graduation Days

Today was another one of those crazy nonstop days that started too early in the morning and didn't end until almost midnight. I got up before 8 am because I had to finish up those crazy cupcakes that I started the night before. I whipped up a batch of buttercream frosting, which is a recipe I've mixed up dozens of times before. Back in my bum days of unemployment I took a couple of cake decorating classes at Michael's, and this was the frosting recipe I learned. It really is one of the best frosting recipes out there. While I personally don't like frosting, it always receives rave reviews, and from my perspective, it's great because it has the perfect texture for decorating cakes. It's creamy but stiff enough to hold its shape when creating flowers and shells and stuff.

Anyway, there was no time for pretty colors, so it was simple, basic, beautiful white. For the record, anyone who makes their own frosting is very unlikely to eat the stuff based on the ingredients. You start by creaming a cup of vegetable shortening with a bit of water. Yup, an entire cup. The stuff is disgusting--greasy, thick, and insoluble. Anyway, then it's a tablespoon of merengue powder, flavoring (I usually omit the stuff), and four cups of powdered sugar. That's it! You have to add more water depending on how stiff you want the frosting. You definitely want a thinner texture when you're icing a cake, but typically speaking, medium stiffness is the way to go.

Today I decided to take a tip from Giada and Bobby and try to fill the cupcakes with the frosting. There's always too much leftover anyway for a batch of cupcakes. So I filled a parchment paper bag full of the stuff and fitted it with a #12 tip. The frosting went in perfectly and didn't even crack the top. I used a spatula to ice the tops and finished them up with rainbow sprinkles, which covered up all of the deficiencies in my haphazard frosting job.

After church, I met up with Jim at the Little League field to watch Big A's last baseball game of the season. It was nice that I got to watch him pitch for a bit, and I also got to see one at-bat (he struck out very quickly). We didn't get to watch the entire game, but we stayed for 5 of the 6 innings. They were losing 4-1 when we left, and my guess is that the score didn't really change.

Jim and I drove to Safeway to pick up a couple of gift and graduation cards. I originally wanted to get Visa or AmEx cards, but to my shock and dismay, they actually charge you extra on top of the gift card value! As soon as I read the fine print, I immediately changed my mind and tried to find other things to buy. I selected a iTunes card for my coworker A's son and a Starbucks card for S. I added a Staples gift card for S and drove off to A's party, which started without A, who was picking up the food for the party. I introduced myself to the graduate Z, who is quite sweet despite his unconventional appearance.

A rolled up about 15 minutes after we arrived, her car loaded with catered food from Rubio's, Murillo's, and other such Mexican places. The bean and cheese burritos were the bomb, but the cheese enchiladas lacked something. There was plenty of fruit, and I ate tons of strawberries and some pineapple, too. A's "friend" J was there to keep Jim company. I actually like J, although I know what a dick he has been to A. Of course, A isn't exactly always nice to J.

We left A's party to attend my intern S's party. This was a completely different party with all homemade food, tons of family, and a very homey atmosphere. I didn't stay very long and in fact, Jim slept in the car. I tried some of the best Spanish rice ever and a broccoli salad, both of which I fell in love with. Plus there was that tres leches cake, which is one of the best cakes ever. I love how moist tres leches cake is, although it's a little scary to think about how freaking bad the stuff is for you.

Anyway, we got back into town and Jim had to get going to work and I had company for dinner at my parents' house. We had lasagna, bread, and broccoli. I wasn't at all hungry and ate very little because I was super stuffed from all the food I had eaten throughout the day. I was absolutely not feeling the company thing, and they ended up staying until almost midnight. I was so tired and just not in a social mood. All I wanted to do was shower and collapse into bed.

I like the B family. I tutored little S when he was in 5th grade. Of course, he's not a senior in high school and towers over me. His brother S is back from Kuwait and in town for a little longer until he goes back to the CHP in SoCal. I liked talking with the elder S, but it was just too much of a day for me.

The whole day made me slightly nostalgic. With 2 high school graduation parties and Little S entering 12th grade . . . I really am getting older. Sigh. Ah, well, life goes on.