Finally Friday

I woke up on Friday morning after a very rough night’s rest. My sleep-befuddled eyes registered something was wrong but it took a minute or two to figure it out: The light over the kitchen sink (which is always on) was dark. Dammit! So, I went out into the garage in my bathrobe and got the step ladder.  I took off the cover and replaced the compact fluorescent bulb. I put the cover back on, turned the light back on and made a cup of coffee.

I got nervous watching the news. They kept showing pictures of heavy snows in Michigan. Worried, I went into the living room and looked out the picture window. It was snowing, yes, but there was barely enough to hide the grass! Geesh!

For my breakfast, I did a taste-test of my coffee cake, still worrying about NOT folding in stiff egg whites and just added the egg whites and some yolk. But, I thought it tasted GREAT! So, I cut it into squares and put on the plastic top for the cake pan. I grabbed a metal spatula as well and headed to work a tad early.

I took Plymouth Road, worried about black ice on the freeway. But, we moved along at posted speeds or better and I got there way too early (I opened the building, shut off the alarm, etc.). I brewed a pot of coffee and drank a cup while waiting for others to show up.

My boss came in, remarking about how much snow she had where they live as compared to here (it was now covering the grass and my car). Then a very disappointed Vicky, who lives in Detroit and who’s Mother had listened to the news and woke her up early. She had hoped she would be snowed in the driveway and have to call into work that she couldn’t get in. But, like Redford, in Detroit there wasn’t much snow!

The rest trickled in, with Michelle talking about heavy snow where she lived. Anthony, who lives in Munroe (near the Michigan/Ohio border, where Carla used to work) had the best story about lots of snow and he actually spun out on I-75!

Michelle, not knowing I was bringing in coffee cake, had brought in doughnuts for a last-day-of-work treat, so my coffee cake had competition. She also brought me a birthday present: a salt bagel (the woman knows my weaknesses!) as well as a card signed by all my co-workers.

There were all the usual well-wishes on the card, but there was also an unsigned note that said, “Wow! 100 years old and still working!” Please note: I will find you!!!

As I said, my coffee cake had competition, but everyone who tried it said it was excellent.

I attempted my morning walk outside, but the wind was WAY too strong. So, I walked around the inside of the offices and shop areas for 15 minutes instead.

At lunch, I declined to join the group lunch outing and went to Office Depot for my toner. A helpful associate showed me where it was, but I asked him why it was $82.00 in the store, but only $64.00 online when I looked it up. He checked and, since I was right, they sold it to me for the online price. Nice.

I stopped at Arby’s and got their two for $5 deal on French dip sandwiches with au jus. I ate it at home. It was pretty good, but I have yet to have a French dip sandwich that tasted better than the simple Rachel Ray recipe I learned years ago. I noticed I only used half of the au jus in one of the two containers it came with. I put the rest in the fridge along with the other sandwich for my dinner and went back to work.

I called and got appointments on Saturday for a hair cut and another medical massage.

Finally, about 4:15 PM, our boss told everyone (including Vicky at the Help Desk, this time) Merry Christmas and to go home. I had about half of the coffee cake left, so Michelle took four pieces and Vicky took the rest of it and my cake pan home. I hugged Michelle and Vicky, wished them Merry Christmas and headed home.

The first thing I did was to run the dishwasher (mostly filled with bowls, measuring cups, etc., from the coffee cake). Then I did the first load of weekend wash. I went in to watch the news, stopping to put the clothes in the dryer and then stopping again to hang them up.

Knowing I was going to end up with leftover au jus, I caramelized a medium onion sliced into butter and canola oil. I ate the other French dip sandwich and then added the onion to the remaining au jus and had a small bowl of pretty tasty French onion soup!

I watched a little TV but, having slept so badly the night before, fell asleep early.