Christmas: Plan B
Dec. 15th, 2009 08:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gypsyannaMy Christmas plans, unfortunately, have suffered a revision. Thanks to Marissa's brownie troop, the entire family (that being Katie, Tom, their kids, me, and Scott) were able to get tickets for the Polar Express in Palestine, TX. $40 per ticket, for the adults. At the time I bought my ticket, I didn't realize just how far away Palestine was. Or that more than half the route would be along northeast Texas' back lanes and country roads.
Very scenic, by the way. Would have been lovely to drive through in the spring or fall...when it's not raining, foggy, and otherwise dismal.
Also by the way - northeast Texas seems to be nothing but historical markers and cemeteries. I swear I saw more signs for cemeteries on Saturday afternoon than if you added up all the other times I've seen them in my life. Do people go to Texas just to die? I mean, I hadn't heard of them doing that, but where else do all the bodies come from?
Polar Express was a lot of fun. Not worth the total amount expended on it by a long shot, but the kids really enjoyed it.
Sunday, however, I found the indirect price of that little trip. The airbag on the airshock for my rear passenger side tire has apparently ruptured. Driving has now become...interesting. Speed bumps are a lot bumpier. I ain't driving my car 6.5 hours home for Christmas in this condition. The car could make it, no doubt. My tension and stress controlling the beast on the drive, however, is the deciding factor. I ain't doing it.
Now, take a guess what my mom's response was when I told her I wouldn't be coming. C'mon, now. Guess. You won't get it right. I know you won't. And when I tell you what she said, you'll kick yourself and say, "Of course that's what she'd say!"
"Well, I guess we'll just have to bring the Christmas presents at some other time, probably in February when I come for Mardi Gras. A lot of this are too heavy to ship."
That's right. Anna's Delivery Service has failed in their duty to play courier for Christmas. Not any concern that I may be driving an unsafe vehicle. The comment about being unhappy about not having me home for Christmas was tacked on towards the end of the conversation, almost like an afterthought.
Now, I've worked for a company that ships out freaking HEAVY items on a daily basis. Nothing by nothing is 'too heavy' to ship. No, it's just that she doesn't want to pay the shipping cost. The plan was, you see, that I'd take our presents for them up to AR, and bring back their presents to us. In exchange for this, Katie was going to help pay for my gas home, and Mom was going to help pay for my gas back. This wasn't my idea. If they'd asked, I'd have volunteered to play mule at no price. But when they asked, they offered to pay gas, too, and I'm not stupid. :)
Then it occurred to Katie - why did I just rent a car and go home. Um. Hello? If I could afford to rent a car for four or five days, I could afford to fix MY car right now, instead of next month. Katie's next thought: maybe we could meet halfway. Finally! A good idea.
But she doesn't have time for it, and they don't want me driving her car because, "It's not in the best of shape, it's our primary transporation, and if it breaks down, I'd rather be the one driving it instead of you. But Tom and I will give you $15 or so if you'll rent a car for the day..."
Of course, by that time Scott and I were already investigating that option. That is our plan. It's not that expensive to rent a car for a 24 hour period. The problem, of course, is that the car rental companies freeze about $300 on your account until the car is returned. That seems rather unfair to me...
But now, I'm sitting here, and I'm wondering - since when did it become MY responsibility to ensure that presents got where they needed to go for Christmas? I mean, I planned to go home for Christmas so I could see my grandparents. You know - the old folks, the ones in their 80's, that I haven't seen in a year. As a courtesy, a favor, I was hauling gifts, too, because I had the room and it was no biggie. Now I don't get to see my grandparents until I don't know when and it's my responsibility to play Santa. How the hell did that happen? ::confused::
Oh, well. At least my dad liked the idea and is inclined to make the effort to meet halfway. He's already chosen where we can meet. He just needs to see if he's working this weekend, or not, before we know if it's a go. I think he's going to be sad, though, when he sees it's only me meeting with him and Mom. Everyone else is 'too busy' or have other plans: Katie's busy, Tom is Tom, Zach has wrestling, and Marissa has a play.
I really don't feel much in the Christmas Spirit this year. And I need to find something HAPPY to post in LJ. Life truly isn't as dull, irritating, or infuriating as it would seem if one just goes by my posts here! :)
Very scenic, by the way. Would have been lovely to drive through in the spring or fall...when it's not raining, foggy, and otherwise dismal.
Also by the way - northeast Texas seems to be nothing but historical markers and cemeteries. I swear I saw more signs for cemeteries on Saturday afternoon than if you added up all the other times I've seen them in my life. Do people go to Texas just to die? I mean, I hadn't heard of them doing that, but where else do all the bodies come from?
Polar Express was a lot of fun. Not worth the total amount expended on it by a long shot, but the kids really enjoyed it.
Sunday, however, I found the indirect price of that little trip. The airbag on the airshock for my rear passenger side tire has apparently ruptured. Driving has now become...interesting. Speed bumps are a lot bumpier. I ain't driving my car 6.5 hours home for Christmas in this condition. The car could make it, no doubt. My tension and stress controlling the beast on the drive, however, is the deciding factor. I ain't doing it.
Now, take a guess what my mom's response was when I told her I wouldn't be coming. C'mon, now. Guess. You won't get it right. I know you won't. And when I tell you what she said, you'll kick yourself and say, "Of course that's what she'd say!"
"Well, I guess we'll just have to bring the Christmas presents at some other time, probably in February when I come for Mardi Gras. A lot of this are too heavy to ship."
That's right. Anna's Delivery Service has failed in their duty to play courier for Christmas. Not any concern that I may be driving an unsafe vehicle. The comment about being unhappy about not having me home for Christmas was tacked on towards the end of the conversation, almost like an afterthought.
Now, I've worked for a company that ships out freaking HEAVY items on a daily basis. Nothing by nothing is 'too heavy' to ship. No, it's just that she doesn't want to pay the shipping cost. The plan was, you see, that I'd take our presents for them up to AR, and bring back their presents to us. In exchange for this, Katie was going to help pay for my gas home, and Mom was going to help pay for my gas back. This wasn't my idea. If they'd asked, I'd have volunteered to play mule at no price. But when they asked, they offered to pay gas, too, and I'm not stupid. :)
Then it occurred to Katie - why did I just rent a car and go home. Um. Hello? If I could afford to rent a car for four or five days, I could afford to fix MY car right now, instead of next month. Katie's next thought: maybe we could meet halfway. Finally! A good idea.
But she doesn't have time for it, and they don't want me driving her car because, "It's not in the best of shape, it's our primary transporation, and if it breaks down, I'd rather be the one driving it instead of you. But Tom and I will give you $15 or so if you'll rent a car for the day..."
Of course, by that time Scott and I were already investigating that option. That is our plan. It's not that expensive to rent a car for a 24 hour period. The problem, of course, is that the car rental companies freeze about $300 on your account until the car is returned. That seems rather unfair to me...
But now, I'm sitting here, and I'm wondering - since when did it become MY responsibility to ensure that presents got where they needed to go for Christmas? I mean, I planned to go home for Christmas so I could see my grandparents. You know - the old folks, the ones in their 80's, that I haven't seen in a year. As a courtesy, a favor, I was hauling gifts, too, because I had the room and it was no biggie. Now I don't get to see my grandparents until I don't know when and it's my responsibility to play Santa. How the hell did that happen? ::confused::
Oh, well. At least my dad liked the idea and is inclined to make the effort to meet halfway. He's already chosen where we can meet. He just needs to see if he's working this weekend, or not, before we know if it's a go. I think he's going to be sad, though, when he sees it's only me meeting with him and Mom. Everyone else is 'too busy' or have other plans: Katie's busy, Tom is Tom, Zach has wrestling, and Marissa has a play.
I really don't feel much in the Christmas Spirit this year. And I need to find something HAPPY to post in LJ. Life truly isn't as dull, irritating, or infuriating as it would seem if one just goes by my posts here! :)
