Yesterday was one of those days when you just don't ask yourself 'what more could go wrong?' because of course, there is always more.
In the grand scheme of things there was nothing major but it was a hectic and busy day at work trying to put out little fires and prioritize when in fact everything is a priority right now. I got a text from my son to make a doctor's appointment for an x-ray on his hand, which he hurt when he fell in gym class. However when I called the medical center, their x-ray machine was broken and suggested I call their sister-clinic in one of the other metro area's. Doing so I secured an appointment, and told my boss when I'd be leaving for the day only to realize his x-ray appointment was going to run into the orthodontic appointments for him and his sister. Another fly in that ointment was that I needed to be 20 minutes away picking up his sister after school for the appointment at the exact same time I needed to be with him at the doctor's office for his hand.
In the end it was comedy of errors. As I drove into the medical center parking lot to meet my son, his car broke down on the way home from the high school so in the end the x-ray appointment was canceled. The kids orthodontist appointment was made (with one surprise extra child my daughter had brought home from school with her) and the orthodontist office was so backed up we waited an hour in a packed waiting room with many sitting on the floors and leaning against walls until the kids were seen.
The car was dropped off at the mechanics to have a diagnostic ran on it first thing this morning and my son will now have to wait until Monday for an x-ray and will get a ride with a friend to and from school.
I got home with the kids just in time to stop by the deep freeze in the garage on my way into the house, juggling the mail, my purse and my travel mug and grabbing the nights dinner from the freezer. I set the mail on the counter, my purse on the chair and went to work making dinner in my dress clothes and high heels.
Just another day in the life of a regular, American Mom!
With Murphy always nearby I smiled when I saw an offer by a company for sponsorship of this mornings entry; car repair. Ironic in its own, but as we are currently planning a cross country trip to Texas soon in a vehicle that has over a hundred thousand miles on it already, this is one website I might have to bookmark to hopefully not use.
It's a Repair Pal website in which you find repair by searching for the subject (Dallas auto repair ) or by the make and model of your vehicle (Chevrolet Silverado ) or even the repair you need (brake job).
I tested it this morning by inserting the search words for my sons car in addition to what I think may be the problem (the catalytic converter) and wha-la! I have an estimate for repair and a chance to find mechanics in my local area. It was simple to use and I got the results quickly. It was also on target with what my Dad (the car buff) said I would expect to have to pay if it's the catalytic converter.
With everything breaking down, not going smooth and being a bit hectic I think it may be a weekend for good old therapeutic baking. In honor of Murphy's Law and car repairs I give you... an Amaretto Cake!
Amaretto Cake
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
5 large eggs, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add vanilla and almond extracts; beat until blended. Combine flour and baking soda; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Bake at 350 until done in the center when tested with a knife or cake tester.
January 15, 2010
