Today started out with such promise: I woke up, read more Harry Potter, and headed up to Friendship Heights to buy ingredients for the trifle I was going to make for a party we’re going to tonight.

Of course, I couldn’t find one of the ingredients. Not at Rodmans, Safeway, Whole Foods, or two Giants (including the new one at Columbia Heights). So I called Gramma and got a substitute (she mentioned on the phone she has difficulty finding this ingredient, too — that would have been more helpful when I talked to her earlier in the week than two hours beforehand, but she might have been under the impression I actually had my shopping done before the day 0f). And instructions for the ingredient she left out of the recipe.

So the first thing I did when I got home was to make the custard. It’s powder from a tin mixed with sugar and milk and microwaved until it’s firm. It’s been two hours. It’s still not firm. Ack!

I broke a bottle putting the bowl in the fridge.

I snapped at Rudi.

I’m on the verge of tears.

The party started an hour ago.

Why?!