The First Day of the Rest of my Life

And... drum roll, please...

The Official Winner(s) of the 2nd Annual Hunger Games Cake Decorating Contest

I finished Mockingjay last night. We started this series back in September of '08. We've been thinking about it, obsessing about it, making cakes about it, for almost two years. Now that it's all over, I feel like ripping the little blue pill from my left shoulder pocket with my teeth and swallowing it.

Now, on to the cakes!

Listen, there are no losers here, all right? I just don't want most of you to feel like total losers since most of you lost big time. And you're gonna get some srs consolation prizes anyway, so see? No losers.

Turns out, we had 7 super clever and thoughtful Gamemakers scoring our cakes*, rather than 5. Lets all put three fingers to our mouths and then extend those fingers in thanks. C'mon. Do it. Good. Now onto the winners!

In third place, Tribute 6. by Shel,Sam,&Meg!

Well done! Your invisible bookshelf should be arriving soon, milady.

In second place, Tribute 1. The Catalyst by Landee!

Delish! You may choose your prize, nerd.

And in first place, Tribute #7. Blood and Roses, by Standsmom!

Striking! Magnificent! You will receive a snuggly Hunger Games themed blanket asap, sleeves not included. It'll basically look something like this:

Don't worry. I'm capable.

Big congrats to the winners!!!

Now, 'tis time to console the non-winners with their swanky personalized magnets.

Tribute 5. Katniss Everdeen's Last Kill by Allyoop


I must say, you hit the Fiver on the eye with this one. (see Watership Down for reference)

Tribute 3. The Last Gamemaker by Yours Truly (yes, I linked my own blog)



It's perfect as is, no? I knew you'd agree.

Tribute 2. Finnick's Eyes, Shinny with Tears by Memzy



Yes. Clearly, Memzy. That's Mags. The name of your cake just threw us, is all.

Tribute 4. Katniss's Tree Revenge by Michelle and Scott Esplin




One magnet for each of you. The only problem is, when I separated the two cakes, the second one lost it's frame of reference and now it kinda resembles a pile of... well, you'll just have to fight over the one that doesn't look like poop.<--said gently and with much love.


Tribute 8. The Quarter Quell Arena by Cherie Bailey



This Tribute was a pleasant surprise for me. Did you know Markie's better half made her own cake this year? I was sad for her when I realized she had a like-minded stiff-competitor in Shel. I know just how she feels.

Which brings me to my African American counterpart:

Tribute 9. Seneca Crane by Markie



You stole my thunder, Markie. Your cake is bigger and beefier than mine. No hard feelings tho, eh?

Tribute 10. District 12 by Eek



The symbolism of this piece was exquisite. Frankly, I'm not surprised it won the popularity poll. The pirate captain (aka Hotpants' friend) was out of town.

Tribute 11. Monkey's Attack by Sam



I very much admire Sam's particular style of cake decorating. Not only do her cakes tell a story, but who doesn't like to lick frosting off toys?

Tribute 12. Beetee's Wire and Katniss's Arrow by Angie Murdock



This Tribute was another big surprise for me. My dear, sweet SIL entered this delicious confection. Plus, I loved this scene at the end of CF.

Tribute #13. Panem by Flem



I loved this cake because it finally gave us a much-needed map of Panem. Imagine the research that went into it! Plus, I've never seen frosting so shiny. For a full explanation of that frosting, click HERE.

Last but certainly not least...

Tribute #14. The Boy with the Bread by Hotpants



This has to be the hawtest cake I've ever seen. (I had to backspace through all of my other comments as they were highly inappropriate.)

That is all. I hope you enjoyed the second annual Hunger Games Cake decorating contest. Thank you all so much for entering the cake arena. You really came through for me. Until next time, Tributes.

*I'm not gonna post the scores from the 7 Gamemakers in deference to the non-winners, so you're just gonna have to trust me. If you throw a hissy about it, then I'll forward you the email with the scores and then you'll reply with an awkward, yet profuse, apology. Up to you.

Cake Polls and Stats

You have a shocking lack of friends this year:

463, to be exact. Collectively.

However, your computer hacking skills are spot on:

Well done to our top three scorers!

*Please note that pollers prefer the African American Seneca Crane cake to the white Seneca Crane cake, 27 to 1. I'm relived, actually, as I couldn't stomach a bunch of racists visiting my blog. Or people who discriminate against dummies with square-shaped heads.

The official winners will be announced shortly.

Winners

My plan all along was to announce the winners today, on Release Day, in a rather dramatic fashion. But being dramatic takes time, and I forgot to take into account the fact that all my spare time on Release Day would be used up reading the book in question: Mockingjay.

I'm 66% through it. I can't willingly put it down.

The Gamemakers have emailed me their scores. I know who the winners are. However, I'm not gonna just blurt it out and lose an opportunity to blow the whole contest out of proportion and make a huge deal about it.

I knew you'd understand.

You're too busy reading anyhow.

Tomorrow I will announce the winners and prizes.

Sit tight.

The Second Annual Hunger Games Cakes

Welcome to the second annual Hunger Games cake decorating contest!

We have 14 tributes to pick from this year, as it's the Quarter Quell. May these 14 tributes serve as a reminder to you of your treacherous acts against the Capitol, 75 years ago when you weren't alive. This serves you right.

Be sure to enlarge each picture and really get a good look at the intricate details.

Let the games begin, and may the odds be ever in all your favors.

Oh, one more thing. I've placed a poll at the bottom for your voting pleasure, but remember, these FIVE GAMEMAKERS will determine the official winner(s). The poll is just the electoral vote, to see which cake is most popular/see who has the most Facebook friends they can convince to come over and vote for their sub-par cake.

Winners will be announce tomorrow.

Tribute 1. The Catalyst...

"It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down."

Tribute 2. Finnick's Eyes, Shiny with Tears...
"I'm Sorry Mags, I Can't Do It."

Tribute 3. Last Year's Head Gamemaker...
"He had an unfortunate sentimental streak."

Tribute #4. Katniss's Tree Revenge
"The nest bursts open like an egg, and a furious swarm of tracker jackers takes to the air."

Tribute 5. Katniss Everdeen's Last Kill
"She's excellent," says Peeta. "She hits every one in the eye."

Tribute 6. The Arena
"This is no place for a girl on fire."

Tribute 7. Blood and Roses
I flinch when he whispers in my ear, "By the way, I know about the kiss."

Tribute 8. The Quarter Quell Arena
"Tick Tock. This is a Clock."

Tribute 9. Seneca Crane
"Then I step away quickly to watch the reaction on the Gamemaker's faces as they read the name on the dummy."

Tribute 10. District 12
"Katniss, there is no district 12."

Tribute 11. Monkeys Attack!
"Fangs bared, hackles raised, claws shooting out like switchblades. I may be unfamiliar with monkeys, but animals in nature don't act like this."

Tribute 12. Beetee's Wire and Katniss's Arrow
"The Chink in the Armor."

Tribute #13. Panem
Def. from Latin: panem et circenses, meaning bread and circuses. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the creation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy, but through the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace.

Tribute #14. The Boy with the Bread
"I thought I was something of an expert on hunger, but this is an entirely new kind."