My husband works in a PMEL (Precision Measurement Equipment Lab..aka Calibration Lab) for the DOD. Next Thursday they shut down for cleaning to prepare for an annual inspection-the civilian version of a military inspection. The cleaning they do is unbelievable-washing, waxing, & buffing floors, sanitizing bathrooms, even some scrubbing with toothbrushes. I thought I'd make them a cake for the after party-but can't come up with a single thing. In the past they've had some "I hope you can measure up" cakes, but I want to "wow" them.
Anything goes-everyone has a great sense of humor so if you have any ideas at all, I'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance for your consideration, Gail
Doug has the best ideas!! I love the end of the world theme!! Or you could do a spoof on "ripleys believe it or not!!" and do a topsy turvy cake to mimic their buildings and let all the cleaning supplies be hanging off the cake or in unusual positions.
Be sure to post pictures when finished!!
Suzycakes
Thanks for the suggestions everyone-I like them all and I feel stupid asking this, but does anyone have ideas that tie measurement & cleaning, or calibration & cleaning, or something way way oddballish?
The thing is, they are responsible for cleaning their building all the time so it's not unusual for these men to be cleaning-I forgot to say that....also, most of what they calibrate is equipment for fighter jets so hazardous waste and HAZMAT are also a common thing for them.
And, the biggest thing is that I'm a novice...not too good or creative! I haven't worked with fondant, so buttercream & royal icing are about as good as it gets! I am going to fool around with gumpaste this week though. The thing stuck in my head is an inchworm-but what the heck does that mean, or go with? Does anyone have anything...anything at all? No matter how minor or way out there, I'd love to hear it, please.
Thanks again for your help, I do appreciate it.
Gail
Okay - Maybe someone else can take this idea and help you run with it. How about making a sheet cake and decorate it to look like a set of directions, to do list or recipe type. Maybe something like:
1. Clean the floor
2. Reset the equipment
3. Regulate HAZMAT!!
I know this is weak, I can feel the idea I just can't seem to express it here. Then you could 'draw' the mop, bucket, calibration tools, etc . .
I guess I'm thinking about the recipes you see that 'make a happy home' and its a pinch of this, and a spoon of that . . . equals - ONE CLEAN BUSINESS.
Good Luck!!
Suzycakes.
You mentioned an inchworm (to represent the measurement). What if he's your character (3d of flat on a partial sheet cake) holding a mop with a bucket and cleaning supplies around...with rubber gloves and his head with a shower cap looking thing on it. He's cleaning a floor or toilet or whatever you can draw/create and saying, "hope this cleaning job measures up" or something like that.
It would be cute flat or 3d...maybe even two layers and it could look like steps on the side and he's going up the stairs to a dirty toilet or something and mopping the steps as he does.
Just typing while I think. Hope you get the idea you're looking for. 
Thanks so much for those suggestions-they are just what I'm looking for. Maybe I can do a combination of the inchworm cleaning-with a list of things to do...thanks again, I love the ideas.
Gail
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