Glad to hear that everyone is doing so well. It is hot, hot, hot here. We just aren't use to this kind of weather. Supposed to be hotter tomorrow, also.
We are finally all packed and ready to go to the big family fiasco this weekend. Halfway to work this morning, I remembered that I forgot the dress that I was going to wear to the birthday party, the camera and a scrapbook (I will have to tell you the story about that). Anyway, the decision was to go home and get at lunch or to exercise at lunch - that decision was easy. I have the scrapbook, dress and camera.
This problem started with every family function that that I have been involved with in DH's family over the past 35 years. One of his sisters has always been transferred in her job, so in her mind, she doesn't live where the family is, therefore shouldn't be expected to help or contribute in any way to any of her parent's celebrations.
DDDDAAAAHHHH! None of us live in the same city as each other or their parents. Could that be long distance for all of us, then?
However, she and her hubby parachute in to celebrate, let the rest of us (mostly DH's twin brother, his wife and us) do all the work. BUT complain about everything. There hasn't been anything that they haven't complained about. After the last event 2 years ago, I informed my DH that I would not be prepared to organize any more of these kinds of events for his family. I thought that it was his sisters' turn and I would be happy to show up and complain about everything. (I'm not such a nice person sometimes
)
It is now FIL's 90th birthday on Sept. 1. However, DH and I both work on campuses (really bad timing), DH's twin brother & wife are raising their grandson, so must get him into school and one of the siblings died 20 years ago so we still include her hubby (but we don't expect him and his new wife to organize the events) and the other brother generally isn't much interested. DH called his sister last April to let her know that it was her turn to organize. She told my DH that they were going to Barbados at the beginning of September, so he suggested that we have the event on August 14 because there is a big car show in their dad's city that his dad would like to attend - nothing better than going with his kids.
Unbeknown to us, the twin & wife had made the same decision about future events. (These brothers do this all the time).
Their sister travelled through the city where the twin lives last June and he informed her of their decision at that time. She was surprised and said that it was waaay too short notice for her and that she and her hubby would be in Barbados for August and half of September - hmmm on both accounts that is different than she told DH. Besides didn't we know that it was impossible to organize anything because she didn't live in the same city and everything would have to be done long distance. Waaay easier for us to do it. Hmmmm, again. I don't believe any of us live in the same city and have always done these things long distance, carting everything back and forth to the events.
When we went to Mexico, our plane flew out of Calgary, where the twin lives, so we had an opportunity to get together. That was when we found out that the twin had the same feelings about these things that we did. That was mid-July. Anyway, neither of us heard anything more from her, so decided in July to go ahead with the car show idea (pretty short notice, I'd say). The other siblings are coming, but we didn't call the sister because she had informed DH's brother that they were going to be in Barbados.
Last week, she called the twin, said she was in Winnipeg visiting one of her kids and wanted to know what WE were doing for their dad's birthday. DH's brother was astounded - and speechless to say the least. He told her we were having the party this weekend. She was really upset because SHE could have book a flight to her parent's when she booked her flight to Winnipeg if we had told her (couldn't have called before she went on vacation, though, to let us know that she could be available at that time. I guess she wouldn't have anything to complain about if she had done that). Further to that, she accused us of never including her in any family events. I have huge bills to prove the number of times that I have called asking her to provide something for the family events and the calls have never been returned with an answer. DH's twin's wife also calls her - probably more than I do. The same response.
I am sooooo POd by her attitude I could call her up and have some words (but I'll be good and rest my dialling finger). But the worst is that, after letting her be in charge, she is still complaining. I will eventually cool down, I'm sure, but it is a slow process. Sooooo, the final picture here is that DH, me, his twin and wife are doing yet ANOTHER family party. One blessing exists, though - she won't be there.
OK, enough *****ing here. I am going and I'm going to have fun.
CJ - Well didn't you have a happy birthday. I like to celebrate other people's birthdays like that. WTG. Sounds like your deck is getting there. Must post some pics when you are done. I am also going to take a minute to tell you about the weather here - 30C today and 35 tomorrow. Waaaay tooooo hot! We are lucky if the temp goes up to 25C in any given year. We just aren't accutomed to this kind of heat - should be more like -40C, then we would be like pigs in mud (frozen mud, though). Hope the weather clears and you can get you laundry done. Reminds me of the military joke. The men were told that there was good news and bad news. Today they could change their underwear. You change with you, you change with you...
PLEASE, for our sakes, don't do that.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. Wishing the baptism to go well, Mindee. Take care.