Job love

Yesterday was one of those ideal days at work. I was so slammed the entire day that I literally could not think of anything BUT work, and I was shocked when 5:00 arrived because I felt like I had just walked in the door. I get stressed with busy days like this, but I also love them because they make me feel useful

My usefulness really got a chance to shine at lunchtime when we had an agency barbecue on the back patio in honor of Sam’s upcoming wedding (and just to encourage inter-department bonding in general).

Though he was the guest of honor, Sam was also in charge of the grilling, as usual:

Congratulations, Sam!

Look at all that green! You’d never know we were really on a narrow slab of concrete in East Harlem

The food selection was superb. Lucia made this green salad with arugula, lettuce, and spinach from her CSA and dressed it with a refreshing mix of sherry vinaigrette and Greek yogurt:

Lucia also informed me that the food pantry produce donations we get at the agency come right from a farm, too! I can’t believe I didn’t know about this. She invited me to come down and observe delivery on Friday, so I will go and document if I have time.

My plate:

Clockwise from top center: Lucia’s green salad, peanuts and brazil nuts, raw carrots and broccoli, apple slices, grapes, a chicken wing, spicy Italian sausage and chorizo, chips and salsa. Ohhhhhhhh yummmmmmmmmmm.

I had more sausages:

(Sam really knows how to work the char!)

And lots more chips and salsa:

And more nuts, por supuesto:

I thought it was all over at this point, but then I saw something from across the patio that made my jaw drop and one hand fly to my mouth:

I may have actually climbed over dozens of chairs, tables, and employees to get closer. I don’t think I even knew I was doing it. I see carrot cake and instantly disappear into some sort of hypnosis state.

Didn’t Pura do an excellent job of accessorizing that cake?!! Those little bottles are darling.

I had a slice with more apples, nuts, and grapes:

And just because I’m into torturing you all:

I grabbed another little half slice-ish sliver as I left to run up to my next meeting:

This cake was so moist and light and textured, and I could have eaten the cream cheese icing from a tub. It was perfect and just the right amount of sweet. Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh, I love my job (And I promise I don’t only love it for the food.)

Before I left the office for the day, Jessica brought me a couple of caramel kisses:

They were excellent fuel for the hot yoga class last night, where I was sweating and sweating and sweating the Nile River. The Wednesday night class is so much more intense than the Saturday morning class! It feels excellent, though. And no one laughed and pointed at my embarrassingly short shorts, phew.

I got home at 8, pulled some things together for tomorrow, enjoyed a cup of Olivia’s cauliflower-sweet potato soup with honeyed truffle crostini, and then got myself into bed by 9 … finally!

What needs to happen for you to consider a work day “ideal”?