Saga of a Retirement Cake

I'm pretty sure this will preach - but I've not figured out how at this point. ::snort::

 

Backstory: I visited the commissary and asked about having a cake with the Chaplain Corp logo on it for Michael's retirement. Their printer turns yellow green. They suggested I go off base. It was a SIMPLE cake. I just wanted the logo and a few words on it. What could go wrong?

 

I stopped twice at Walmart to discuss what I wanted. We were set. Logo in the middle, a bit of bling, full size cake, words centered or arched around the logo - CHOCOLATE.  We were set.  

 

Krista and Jamin left an hour before we were due to pick up the retirement cake. This would give them time to pick it up, pick up a few items we needed and be back in time to drive to Sacramento to pick up Josiah.

 

When they arrived they were told, "We're just working on it, come back in a few minutes." They did. The cake was boxed up - usually they show it to you and ask you if it's "ok." Standing in the check out line, Jamin opened the box.  Um......he sent a photo to me and asked, "Is this ok?"  

 

Oh my.....the logo is wrinkled and you can see the edges; you can barely read the writing, the name is wrong - it's just all very odd. They took the cake back and asked them to please redo the writing.

 

AT THIS POINT they were told that three cake artists called in sick, none of them were trained to decorate cakes and this was the best they could do.  

 

They brought the cake home and jumped in the van. As we drove, Jamin mentioned it still wasn't "perfect." We asked Larissa to send us a photo of the second attempt at the cake.

 

The words are not centered, again the name is wrong and the size gets smaller and smaller.

Yes, we did pay for the cake. There were lots of  suggestions of how to fix this from the kids. Waiting at the airport the hilarity of it all struck me.  The cake is certainly NOT going to ruin retirement. I decided to take it to the commissary and ask them if they could remove the logo and use it or fix the writing.  If they couldn't I would pick up a plain cake, have them write Congrats Ch. G and then plate this cake - no one would see it at the event.

I showed the photos to the baker at the commissary. She assured me she could fix it.  They had put white over the top of the words and written on top of it. She scraped it all off. She even fixed the emblem and added some pizzaz along the edge - all for $5.  She's our retirement hero....and Matt but that's another story.

Last name deliberately blurred in THIS photo  - they got it RIGHT.

 None of us had been nasty to Walmart.  We sensed we had a new family story that would be told for years. All was well - my plan was to talk to the Walmart store manager after retirement - because this really isn't good business. "We aren't trained - this is the best we can do?" What about telling us when we showed up early that the decorators were out? We would have paid for the cake and taken it to have it decorated for REAL. I don't mind paying something - we DID eat the cake.

 

We were to have one more surprise at the reception. The cake was not CHOCOLATE!

 

I do have the photos, receipt and the original order showing we asked for chocolate. I'm taking Mr. Retiree in with me on Monday to talk with the store manager - as opposed to the bakery manager. Again, I don't mind paying something but we should get some sort of discount- it wasn't the right flavor and another bakery had to make it presentable....I'm not sure what is reasonable to ask for.

 

Betsy - this photo is included just for  you. I'd thought the official niceties were over and slipped off my shoes. They asked me to come get photos at the cake....I forgot. Yep - shoeless at retirement.....great way to leave the Air Force. LOL

Note: An update on the saga of this cake!  Originally, Linda Walmart was only going to give us 50% because, "We did make it good, the cake looked fine and you ate it." I explained that I had to PAY another bakery to make the cake look good and we didn't know it was the wrong flavor until we cut into it at the ceremony. I had the original order form and photos of all this.  It took a bit more discussing and finally we got the store manager who thanked Michael for his service and gave us a FULL REFUND. She apologized for the way it had been handled at the bakery.  

The Pickle Jar is FULL

The day before retirement - and the pickle jar is full.  Josiah landed this morning. It's always glorious to have all the Gherkins in one place!  

Josiah (Gherkin #3) and Stacia (Gherkin #9)

As you can see from this photo, the day didn't  begin with a trip to SMF - but we'll start blogging here and give the cake excitement its own post.  

 Stacia's 10th birthday is on the 16th... folks will be  leaving on that day. We decided today is the one day when all 9 Gherkins will be here, and nothing retirement is planned. We're celebrating with family today.

It was here, at the airport, that the hilarity of the cake fiasco dawned on me,  the "catastrophe" turned into a great story - instantly. This proved once again Choosing Joy is always a good option.  

We went directly from the airport to the visitor center to get base passes for Mom and Dad, Josiah and Phil and Beverly. Our next stop was Burger King - where Michael met up with us.  Michael asked what the "cake chaos" was all about - another post. After a quick hug, he left to continue working on his checklist.

From lunch we moved on to transferring tables from one location to another. 

We met Ed at Foothills chapel and began decorating...Chaplain (LT Col, Retired) John Simmons and Nadine - Open Bible endorsers joined us here. Nadine, Larissa and mom were a great help with all the decorating when the kids and I got called away to rehearse.

Rehearsing - all 9 Gherkins

After rehearsal we loaded things from Michael's office  and headed off to celebrate Stacia's birthday!

Bowling, Crafting, Slackling and Grandparents

 

The girls and I spent time this a.m. playing with some ideas for the retirement reception. We settled on the mason jars (left or center) rather than the vase (right). We added to PWOC's patriotic collection.

 

Check it out - a full van again 

Dakota, Izaak Bre
Jamin, Krista, Arielle
Jared, Lariss Nolan
Alex, Stacia

 

 We headed to the base for some COOL activities.  Bre and I ran retirement errands and did a quick run through the commissary.  The rest of the gang headed to the bowling ally for a couple of games.

Krista (Gherkin # 2)

Alex (Gherkin #8)

 They divided into three teams - The Superheroes, The Disney Princesses and The Gray Team. The "Disney Princesses" won one game.

Arielle (Gherkin #6) , Krista, Stacia (Gherkin #9)

Jamin (Gherkin #4) and Jared (Gherkin #5)

Nolan (Gherkin #7)

Izaak

Dakota

Um - a fish story?

  "The Gray team" won the second game

Dakota (grandson), Izaak (son in law), Alex (Gherkin #8), Michael (Boyfriend #1)

 Dinner gave Michael an opportunity to use his "mega grill" one last time. We have chosen to send it to Izaak, rather than store it. LOL

 

We decided to spend walk to a local park.

 

Have you ever heard of  slacklining? Krista come up with the greatest activities....that's probably what makes her so good working with the Park and recreation dept in the summer. LOL It's harder than it looks. This may be a purchase for the RV....

Laressa (Jared's girlfriend), Nolan (Gherkin #7) and Krista (Gherkin #2)

Stacia has loved getting to know Larissa these past two weeks

Michael suggested a new location...

Much safer - obviously too low

 Minutes before Alex badly sprained/jammed his finger.  

 

We headed home to meet Gma and Gpa T at their Estimated Time of Arrival.....one more Gherkin to arrive and we'll be ready for the retirement festivities. 

Of Aggies and Ducks

Such fun times. Jamin (Gherkin #4) and Krista (Gherkin #2) both arrived by 10 p.m. 

Gig em Aggies! Go DUCKS...SO great to have these two here.

Krista worked and then drove 7 - 8 hours to be here. Jamin? Well, he left College Station very early to be in San Antonio and catch a 7 a.m. flight.  We weren't 100% sure which flight he was coming in on - so we googled with the time and guessed. We waited and watched at the terminal.

I stalked all men with shaved heads.  Then we got a text. I'm in the baggage area, carousel one. We raced down the escalator...Michael still has his running on escalator skills from Tokyo! He wasn't there. We were at the wrong terminal. ::snort:: We told him to hop a bus to the economy parking and we'd meet him there.....except the busses were incredibly full and we had to wait much longer than expected. So long that eventually, Jamin stepped off the bus from his terminal and met us as we waited for a bus to the parking lot. LOL

Izaak and I made a trip for groceries earlier in the day. I got a kick out of the way people left me alone while accompanied by a clean-bearded-totally-covered-tattooed-gentlemen. I may have to convert Michael if we stay in CA.  I knew it would be late when we returned from the airport, and hoped to avoid a restaurant dinner for 14. Izaak kept the chicken from burning up and fixed a yummy salad while we were gone.  It was wonderful to smell dinner when we walked in the door.

The family started a game of "mafia" while we waited for Krista to arrive. No wedding proposals were made during this game of Mafia. I worked on photos and enjoyed the buzz....and....um...I created a mafia role for myself which allowed me to continue working on photos - THE MEDIA. I strove to insert general chaos. I'm sure I'll be voted off the island if I ever try that again! I knew I'd fall asleep if I closed my eyes and played for real. LOL



Love the exchange between Jared and Larissa!

Krista arrived and soon we called it a night - about 11:30 p.m.  In other events of the day:

Michael had a surprise doctor visit. They seem to really find times for you when you tell them you are going to whichever center can get you in quickest. ::snort:: He does have sleep apnea and they'll be doing another study to set the CPAP on Sunday night.

Michael reports he got a lot done on the "checklist."

And I simply love having a "chalkboard" in the home....I use the one in the kitchen for notes and grocery lists....the one in the bathroom?

Love the closing comment - Speak Engleesh

Games and Battles

We discussed hiking today - but in the end - the first day of vacation should be about resting. Some of us ran to order a retirement cake and pick up birthday gifts for Stacia.  Michael went to the office. The rest of us hung out.....

Various games were played - I didn't get a picture of the traditional cut-throat Monopoly game. I still don't see the appeal of that game. LOL 

Epic Nerf Battle

When Michael arrived home we enjoyed dinner, some patio talk, more games and a long phone call with Cy (Gherkin #3).

I continue to work on getting photos documented and in albums. I'm now up to Jamin's birth (Gherkin #4 - 24 yo).  Michael reminded me Mom G is still working on photos at 87 and possibly I don't need them all done before we move into the trailer. We shall see.

Stacia's response to all the  photos is amusing. "WHY do you have all these?"

"Well....they were born before digital cameras were invented. There was no internet, so we had no blog. This was how we took photos and told stories. NOW....I blog and print which is why all YOUR photos are in printed books or on the computer. "

"Hmmph."

The Gherkins are Coming



Another wave of family arrived tonight for Friday's celebration . I tried twice to get a photo - really I did. It's fairly obvious which two are blood Gherkins. LOL

Dakota, Arielle, BreAnne, Izaak

Dakota, Arielle, BreZaak

BTW, we discovered Arielle was not hired to stock shelves at Fred Meyers. That position, which she was applying for, was filled. However, they said her "bubbly personality" would be perfect for a cashier....