You know that saying about lemons and lemonade?  I’m thinking about buying stock in lemons and sugar.  The University of Wyoming laid off 43 people 2 weeks ago, and all of the development officers (the people who raise money for programs and scholarships - like me) were laid off in what we are all calling Black Thursday.  Upper administration didn’t tell the deans what they were doing or give the individual colleges an opportunity to cut other places to save what most people see as essential jobs in the colleges.  I am lucky to have worked for such a wonderful dean and to have worked with so many truly outstanding people.  The bad news for me is that the job I had was the perfect job.  I loved it.  And now I have to find another one.  The lemonade part of all of this is that there are a few job opportunities in Laramie, and we’re also looking at this as an opportunity to look around a bit and see what else is out there.  If you have any ideas or suggestions for someone looking for a development position, please let me know.

A colleague of mine said that rather than thinking that we’re unemployed, we should instead think of it as “funemployed” - it’s summer and we have some time to enjoy ourselves while we figure out what’s next.  I’m spending some time working around the house, getting all of those things done that you never seem to have time for.  I’ve been riding the horses, working in the yard, and going to a lot of yoga.  I think I’ll get some knitting done - there’s an EZ sweater I’ve had mulling around in my mind for awhile now, and maybe I’ll even put the spinning wheel on the patio and soak up some sun (when we actually have sun) and spin.  I’m also working on more boring, but necessary things like my resume and job hunting.  It can’t be all play all the time!

In really fun news, my brother and sister-in-law had a reception to celebrate their marriage.  They eloped in January and had a party for everyone last weekend in their home town.  I got to see a lot of my family, and some of my mom’s family even came up from California and Texas.  The interesting and scary part of the whole deal was that they couldn’t find anyone to make them a cake, so I volunteered (in a moment of insanity!) to make a 3-tiered wedding cake for them.  All I can say is talk about stressful!  It’s also a good thing I didn’t have to work because doing that cake took a whole lot of time.  I read up on Deb’s efforts and ordered the cookbook she used (which is fabulous!).  I ordered supplies, made sample cakes, and finally figured out the high-altitude adjustments so I had moist cakes that didn’t fall!  Of everything, I am most excited that I figured out the high-altitude business - it’s been the bane of my existence for years now.

The party was 4 hours away, so I made the cakes (9 in all) on Thursday and froze them.  I transported them in a cooler with ice so they’d stay frozen, which made everything a lot easier when it came to assembling.  It took me most of the day Saturday to get everything assembled and decorated, but it was worth it.  The cakes were really good - very moist - and everyone raved about them, so I’m happy.  The decorations were very simple, which made it easier for me.  I made brands (my dad and brother’s brands) out of tinted and rolled fondant and used those for the main decoration and used the couple’s initials on the top.  Who knows, if I can’t find a job, maybe I can make cakes for a living!