Tuesday
Sep202011
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What's a Wreck?
A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.
Now, don't you have a photo you want to send me? ;)
- Jen
September 20, 2011;)
Reader Comments (38)
So sad..
That "cake" is so "cheerful," "it" kind of made me "feel" "happy!"
No, "really."
"Good Grief"
I'm having flashbacks to "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde. Isn't the Prose Portal in that book powered by bookworms who eat unused prepositions and fart out apostrophes, which sometimes find their way into the conversations of people around them? This must be the bakery equivalent -- a machine that lets the decorator write failry legibly and spell things correctly, but as a by-product produces "too" "many" "quotation" "marks."
Some bake just met their quote-a for the week! :)
Even disregarding all the unnecessary quotation marks (a "hard" thing to do), I'd love to know the backstory behind this cake. Do they not know the actual birthday, so they're making the date of adoption the new birthday? Did they adopt ON the birthday and want to acknowledge both? What's was the glorious occasion for which this cake was made?
Love,
"Mom"
and
"Dad"
Ouch...
This cake celebrates new life, adoption, birth...
If we can recognize that what appear to be quotation marks are actually "little swimmers" ( you know, the guys that often get disguised as balloons) it all starts to make sense. Sort of. Well, maybe not, but I bet I made you look at the cake again.
"Holy cow." "That's a lot of" "quotation marks." "Why?"
Previous poster, I believe you meant "so" "sad".
You're welcome.
Don't you mean "sad?"
Sometimes I wonder if the bakers don't do things just to get on this blog. Sheesh.
*chortle* *snort*
Okay, I'm guessing the grand event, as questioned here, is an adoption congratulations party, the day of the "legal" (yeah, I used quotes) homecoming of the child. Whether it is coincidentally the child's ACTUAL birthday, I haven't a clue. Unless they are considering it a "new" (darn it, sometimes quotes really work for emphasis) birthday, or an "extra" (yeah, again) birthday. Which, if so, is kind of sweet, in a way. But this sure as heck makes for a lot of cake analysis.
I've gotten so used to incorrect quotation marks, they don't even bother me most of the time. In this instance, though, they come with the unfortunate implication that the wreckerator doesn't understand how adoption works, on an emotional level.
"And now to congratulate the 'parents' on 'their "new" child.' Oops, the icing cracked. Oh well, it's not like it's a 'real family' getting their day ruined. It's probably not even the kid's 'real birthday.' Stupid kid."
(I then picture the wreckerator twirling his or her mustache and cackling.)
These were 3 different days for my son-June, February and April, respectively. Is this cake for 3 different people? Were they somehow able to finalize near the kid's birthday? Or is this for a newborn adopted privately? (Still would have a different legal date-but maybe they were optimistic). I too would love to know the back story!
I had a boss who insisted she'd been taught in school that quotation marks were appropriate for indicating emphasis. I told her she must have had very stupid teachers. She didn't like that.
Luckily she needed me more than I needed the job (which was half-volunteer, half-paid anyway).
I bet you can find some misused apostrophes too, then you can link the old Bob the Angry Flower cartoon of pain-easing goodness.
Whenever I see misused quotes, I always have to visit “the blog of unnecessary quotation marks” to see what fun example they've got. This particular entry always cracks me up. http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/2008/03/actually-front-for-mob.html
I can only read this with a super sarcastic tone and do air quotes with my fingers. I think I may have issues. :)
Thanks for the cake, but...since when was I adopted? Waaaahhhhh!!!! (Sorry, couldn't help myself, today's my real "birthday"!)
"Hello." "My name is 'Matt Foley' and I'm a 'motivational speaker'."
"That's a keeper"
I am also "loving" the "inedible" "curly ribbon" decorations
Oh come on, it simply indicates that four different people are speaking. Which raises a whole other set of questions...
my husband's grandfather (who is 98) always uses quotes when he writes cards. It always makes me laugh when i get cards that say 'To "Lindsey" "happy birthday" love "Grandpa".'
At least the 'love' isn't in quotes... but it does always make me wonder who the card is really from...
"Thanks"
"for"
"sharing"
"!"
@SaraCVT, I have a cousin who was born in China. She was abandoned in a bus station sometime after she was born and we have no idea as to what her actual birthday is; we can only speculate. She does have a date on legal paperwork, but my family celebrates the day her adoption was legal. This cake makes sense to me, other than the misuse of quotation marks. :)
This cake reminds me of a bit from Demetri Martin: Cake is the only food we write on. It’s always encouraging like, “Happy Birthday, Leo!” “Congratulations, Eric!” I feel like we’re missing an opportunity. I’m talking about negative cakes: “Surprise, You’re Adopted!” ‘Cause that’s when you want cake!
"WTF" that makes no sense D:
I suppose two people could be taking turns speaking. That way, the recipient knows that "Mom" and "Dad" are both "involved."
"Oy."
I'm having flashbacks to Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and his "Tractor Beam"
either way a family somewhere had a very good day "8-)"
Little swimmers!
"Inconceivable"
I tried to send an e-mail to you, Jen. but it would not go through.
It was to let you know that September 24rd is Punctuation Day.
This cake would definetly qualify.
Perhaps the cake is meant to indicate that there are two different celebrations going on: for the adoptee, their birthday, and for the adoptive parents, the adoption.
Best comment: TJ
It's a cake for my family. The story behind it is not nearly as interesting as all the posts so far. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and my birthday, which are two days apart. We were also celebrating the adoption day of our sons which is one day after my husband's birthday. And, we were also welcoming our exchange student into our home for the year. I am not sure why the quotes, but I guess I confused the poor decorator over the phone!
i know its good to us:e punctuation but not every where! O_O