E wrote:
X's party is in Bastrop because I so very rudely & selfishly
did not take it upon myself to cook her bday dinner at my house
after being summarily commanded to do so at last year's
Thanksgiving gathering. So, X and/or M went asking around
to her other friends to see who wanted the privilege of hosting
her bday party. Apparently whoever stepped up to the plate is
in Bastrop. It's only a 30 minute drive or so. No big thang. But
if I'm feeling sick I'm not going to worry about going. I
don't really like any of Xs other friends anyway--they all
watch reality TV (survivor, big brother, temptation island, bla
bla) and talk about it in great detail as if it were
important. booorrrrriiinngg! I don't understand people who
treat TV like it is more important than RL. X is always saying
things like "It's Big Brother night, so I take the phone off
the hook or just let the machine get it," or "Survivor's on, so
I can't go to XYZ event that night." I don't get it. I have
actually quit calling her because it seems I'm always calling in
the middle of one of her shows. So I email instead and she never
writes back. I finally found a pretty good Vegas deal for
J's bday, but I am hesitant to shell out. I really don't
see the point of continuing my relationship with the X family. I
will hopefully make a firm decision one way or the other after
Thanksgiving.
J-Law wrote: Yeah, I agree. I mean, I like TV in
smallish doses and if it is quality programming (read: literary,
arty, foreign, informative or educational). But otherwise - forget
it. Chat shows and so-called reality TV are definitely not on the
list. Jen E. sometimes gets weird about doing stuff when, say,
West Wing is on. And my mom can't miss Judge Judy & similar, which
is why she was so bent out of shape about the satellite stuff. I
can't believe they "shopped around" among their friends to see who
would get the dubious treat of hosting the party. Wait. Nevermind.
I can believe it. I submit that once one is legally an adult,
one loses the right to foist his/her birthday on everyone. Sure,
it's nice to get presents and have parties.... but if no one throws
a party for you, and you want one, throw it yourself. At least
feed your friends if you have asked them to come over (with
presents, being the implied raison d'etre). Don't go. Even if you
don't actually feel sick, you could still be sick, in which case
going out would only make it worse. I can definitely understand
your hesitation about Vegas, too. Maybe set a drop-dead date for
yourself to decide whether you're going to do it. That way, you
hopefully won't torture yourself indefinitely about whether to go
or not. When is her b-day again? Has X said anything about
whether she plans to kick down for her own daughter's bacchanal, or
if it is just you with that dubious (le mot du jour, evidement)
honor?
E wrote:Xs bday is the 28th, which is actual Thanksgiving
day this year. She was very adamant about not cooking or cleaning
on her bday. The last couple years, I've cleaned my house & let her
come over & cook, which is mostly a win-win. She doesn't have to
clean house to get it ready for messing up with thanksgiving
preparations, I get a nice meal out of it, her family & my family
get a nice visit, everything's cool. No, X was not planning on
helping to pay for me to take J to Vegas. She was planning on
paying her own way & tagging along and coming to Vegas & Mystere
the same time we go, which kind of peeves me. When J & I have
celebrated her bday in the past, with lunch & shopping, lunch & a
movie, lunch & a theatre performance, etc. it's always just been me
and J. And then her parents have a 'kid party' for J on
their own time/dime. But I've *always* gotten a 'special day' to
spend just me & J, right on/near her bday,and now X is co-
opting that because she wants to go to Vegas. whatever. I have no
problem with the idea of paying for it all, but the kid's become a
real brat, I don't enjoy her company, and she has definitely picked
up the "use auntie" vibe from mommy. OTOH, I like Vegas and really
wouldn't mind seeing Mystere again, doing some buffets, seeing all
the free shows in front of the casinos on the strip, shopping at
Sephora, etc. and J *is* at an age where I can take her anywhere
& she can be trusted to behave properly (gluttonous table behavior
aside). So it probably won't be that bad. I am thinking I won't go
to X's bday party in Bastrop unless I can prevail on E and/or
A to come with me *evil grin*. "That's just such a long drive to
make back & forth all by myself, especially if I have to drive home
at night," ya know?
J:
It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into the Vegas thing -
so, if you think you can make it mostly fun/bearable and you get
something in your price range - why not. And, as long as X
really does pay for herself. Bringing the fabulous and wonderful SIL
is a marvy idea. And it would be nice if you could spend some time
with E. I coined a word today. Two, actually. I went into this
Scottish import shop with a view toward finding Rick's Christmas
prezzie. The guy there was really nice, asked me if I was looking
for anything in particular. I said I was browsing, looking for
something for "my brother, the ardent Scotsophile." And then, it
occurred to me that, while there are lots of Americans who are
something-ophiles, there aren't really any Yankophiles anywhere.
Anyway, I am going to get him Monarch of the Glen DVDs, some obscure
malt (of which we can have a "wee nip" after xmas dinner) and ??? I
dunno. I am getting the DVDs from BBC's website, the malt from
Hector Russell's (the shop) encyclopaedic collection, and the ???
from ??? but probably also Hector Russell. I was thinking of
copying you and making a Dream Sheep Seamus. :) But I would probably
call it Hey, McLeod, Get Off of My Ewe, which is the punchline of
Rick's fave joke ("What was the Rolling Stones' biggest hit in
Scotland," or something like that). They have a trivial pursuit-
esque game all about whisky. All this obscure stuff about which
Islay malt is named after some rock, or whatever. :)
---
Me:
I love the thing about your landlady being more white trash than A
and then daring to lecture y'all--puh-leez! I've decided that the way
to go with X/Vegas is to just find the deal online, email X
with the particulars, give her a few hours to respond (which she
won't) and then buy the tix for me & J. Then she's on her own. I
may let her share our hotel room, but that's about it. I am betting
she won't get off her butt to make her own plans & I'll get the
weekend with J to myself anyway. M just called my cell to ask
me to make a dessert to bring to x's party, to ask if I had any of
my glass 'witch balls' which he wants to buy for x's bday, AND to
tell me to make sure mom, lynn, and everyone understand they are
invited to the party in Bastrop, and that SIL *isn't*. Because they
don't like her and they don't want any 'drama' at X's party. Like
asking me to relay to my family (including E!!) that they are
invited but SIL is NOT is going to go over like peaches & cream.
Yeahright. I'm staying out of that one. If they want to invite
whoever, they can. I am not going to be the messenger who gets shot.
OTOH, I am realllly hoping that X and SIL duke it out 'Dynasty-
style'. That will be entertaining. Rick sounds like he is going to be
one lucky mo' this Xmas :) If you make a Scottish Ken, get a photo
for me! -E ---
Jen:
Uh, yeah. Rick said she also has shite in garbage cans all over her
back yard. Not necessarily actual shite (he saw from the street
behind) but definitely junk.
I agree - don't get in the middle of the invite relay business. I
don't understand why they can't invite everyone in your family
directly. Who are you, the social secretary? And if they wanted you
to bring something, especially in the midst of turkey madness, they
damned well should have told you at least a week ago.
God, it would GREAT to watch X and A duke it out.
This is horrible, but it would have been even better before X's
weight loss.
If I make McLeod & Ewe, I will definitely take a pic. :)
Rick drove by our landbitch's house. She has a real piece o' shit RV
trailer thingy parked in her drive way and it is hooked up to an
extension cord. Totally illegal. Not to mention tacky.
Ironic, since she treats us like white trash sub-humans (Howard's
words, not mine).
Dear McB: We have noticed the eyesore you have parked in your
driveway. It is offensive to all and sundry. Please remove it
forthwith, or we will have no choice but to notify the fuzz.
Sincerely, a neighbor.
Hee!!
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