The Good News and The Bad News, Randomly
The good news:
I had a full house this weekend, with simultaneous visits from Sara and family, as well as from Kristen, an honorary member of our wacky family. There was spinning, knitting, even dyeing. Good times.
The bad news:
I had to go to Providence RI in the pouring rain and ice on Friday morning and missed about half the time to hang out with the SaraSkates clan.
The good news:
I got my birthday present to myself, and it's wonderful. I spun up two Barneswallow Farms batts in the first night, plied them the second.
The bad news:
I had to dress up in a suit and make a presentation on a tough topic to a tough room full of Very Important People on Saturday morning. Good. Times. I spent most of Friday night muttering to myself and wringing my hands. Stage fright: it's not pretty. I kind of thought I'd get over it with practice, but no such luck so far. Maybe at 40?
The good news:
We're going to Disney World! I've made reservations for the whole fam to take off in April and go spend too much money to be mouseified and water-parked into oblivion. It will either be the most wonderful experience ever, or a nightmare of epic proportions.
The bad news:
I freaking made a typo on Orbitz when I booked the ticket. I gave Henry Rhys' last name instead of his own (the kids actually have different last names than either of us as a way to honor a family member who passed away before they were born). The first response from Orbitz was, to paraphrase, "too bad, you're shit outta luck." I asked for a supervisor, and I'm now waiting on hold to see if they can cancel his ticket and rebook it under his correct name. I can't even tell you. I mean. I, I, I. ARGH!
The more bad news:
As I sat at my desk waiting on hold for the supervisor I opened a really nasty letter calling me out for a mistake a contractor I hired made. Yes, my fault by proxy, but ugh, you know? The timing was less than ideal, and ugh, it was a pretty small mistake, but when small mistakes hit the wrong people, watch out.
The good news:
I'm going to lunch with a friend and we'll drown our sorrows in Indian food. I get to eat dinner out too, though I'll be at a church meeting while I do it. Kristen is being run ragged babysitting the kids, for which I am deeply grateful.
The bad news:
I should be going out to dinner with Rhys instead, because today is our fifteenth anniversary. But she's working out of town for the day and I'm at a church meeting. I'm okay with it, really, but I'm not, you know how that works? I mean, rationally, this is what makes sense. Had we turned everything upside down to go out, we wouldn't have had much fun, and it wouldn't have made sense. But there's still a part of me that's sad that our life is like this after fifteen years. This is the real stuff of relationships, hanging in, staying strong through times that are challenging or just plain too busy, and I know we're looking forward to easier times just around the corner (and not just Florida either). But it's just not my ideal for our anniversary, that's all. So boo hoo me.
The good news:
Orbitz came through. Though I can't give them top marks based on the front line customer service rep, the supervisor really knew what she was doing and tried a bunch of approaches until she got one that worked. Henry has his own reservation now, big guy, but I didn't even have to pay a penalty. I guess that service charge was actually worth it after all. PHEW.
The more good news:
I'm off to lunch to eat Indian food with my friend. We decided it was not a day to eat leftover sandwiches, even if it is 20 degrees below ridiculous out there. I found my silk long johns, which had been missing since they were packed up for the renovation, so there. I laugh at the wind!
Just for future reference, not that it matters now since the issue was resolved, but since kids don't need to show ID when they fly domestically it wouldn't have mattered that the name was incorrect since there would be nothing to check it against. In any case, have a great time on vacation!
Posted by:jen | March 06, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Hurray for all the good news. Some of that bad news can be chalked up to other people's inability to deal with real life (hopefully). Glad you've got the vacation booked. Sounds like you need it. Let me know which part of April and we'll see if a visit works. The munchkin might come.
Posted by:JoVE | March 06, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Yay for mostly good news, and yay Kristen, and happy anniversary! (Kristen, you're welcome to stay at my house whenever you like. We can teach you everything you need to know about g-tubes, and a lot you don't unless you specialize in GI.) If it makes you feel any better, Grant and I haven't celebrated an anniversary on the actual date since... I forget when. And the last one was our 25th.
You are making me want to venture out into the tundra for Indian food, which I adore. Have a great time.
Posted by:Lucia | March 06, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Happy Anniversary to you and Rhys. The point isn't in celebrating today, the point is in celebrating the life you've built together every single day just by living it. That said, I'd be bummed if Dale and I weren't together on our anniversary, too.
Posted by:Carole | March 06, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Happy anniversary, happy good stuff! Boo bad stuff. Sorry it worked out that you two can't dine together for your anniversary. Even though you know what's important, it's still a bummer. Congratulations on 15 years, however you celebrate! (Occasionally I wonder if DH and I will make it that long, because right now it's only been five years, and I'm not sure I can go another 10 years without strangling him. ;-)
Posted by:Carrie | March 06, 2007 at 01:29 PM
what carole said. happy anniversary and happy birthday and happy good vacation coming up and happy henry getting his own big boy reservation.
and where in tarnation did kristen match? i asked and she hasn't said anything. unless i missed something.
Posted by:maryse | March 06, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Choosing to focus on the positive....nice wheel, dude.
Posted by:claudia | March 06, 2007 at 01:49 PM
Happy anniversary and happy, happy birthday.
And I would like to come and you at some point. The wheels have nothing to do with it. Nothing at all (whistling).
It is a good news bad news kind of world - I know it isn't ideal that this is that way you'll spent your anniversary, but your family is good and strong and lovely. As are you.
Posted by:Juno | March 06, 2007 at 01:58 PM
Well, it seems as though the good stuff generally outweighs the bad, so that's a very good thing. Happy anniversary!
Posted by:Mel | March 06, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Happy Birthday - and Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your present :o)
Posted by:JessaLu | March 06, 2007 at 02:37 PM
Yeah to the good stuff and the new wheel and Disney and Indian food!
The other stuff--well.
And the anniversary stuff? Pick a different date and plan something wonderful--you guys deserve a celebration!
Posted by:Katy | March 06, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Great birthday present!
Anniversaries can be celebrated on any arbitrary day so designated by the parties involved. Pick one. Plan a celebration. The historic date is arbitrary. Happy anniversary!
Posted by:Laurie | March 06, 2007 at 02:46 PM
Happy birthday ... and happy anniversary to you both. I understand your disappointment in not being able to share a special evening with Rhys, but there is time. You can celebrate the spirit of the occasion any day.
(I hope you have a special dessert or something tucked away to enjoy tonight)
Posted by:Ruth | March 06, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Happy anniversary to you both! Don't you know there's a 15-year plus clause that says you can re-arrange the calendar to suit your own schedules??? Now you know.
It was SO great to spend time with you and yours and Kristen too. The drive back was way hairy in parts (we're talking multiple jack-knived semi trucks, multi-car accidents, and some serious road rage in white-out conditions but we survived - rather white-knuckled, but survival nonetheless).
How's my wheel doing??? (insert evil grin...)
Posted by:Sara | March 06, 2007 at 04:02 PM
Yay for the good news, and happy anniversary to you both!
Posted by:Kat with a K | March 06, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Wow, that's like an entire emotional roller coaster..... Good to hear from you again!
Posted by:--Deb | March 06, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Happy anniversary, Cate, from the occassional de-lurker. I'm happy for your happy news, and too bad about the bad news. But it seems like things aren't too extreme either way.
Posted by:Katherine | March 07, 2007 at 12:02 AM
Looks like there is a lot more good than bad. A happy Birthday AND anniversary to you.
Posted by:Judy | March 07, 2007 at 07:16 AM
Overall sounds like more good than bad... we're headed to "The World" the last week in March. I have a Disney "problem" so let me know if you have planning questions.
Posted by:BethC | March 07, 2007 at 09:06 AM
Happy Anniversary!! It's funny I've been trying to organize a trip to Disney for the family but until I know our tax situation it may not be feasable!
Posted by:amysue | March 07, 2007 at 09:48 AM
Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your birthday present. The Land of Mouse can be wonderful fun, but also really tiring and frustrating if crowded. Your best friend will be the Express Pass to get on the more popular rides. Have fun!
Posted by:Deborah C. | March 07, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Okay. I'm really lame. But send me your address again, and I will send you the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007" (if you don't already have it) as well as the CD's I promised you a year ago that your kids are probably too old for now.
Posted by:Bethany | March 08, 2007 at 02:03 AM
Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! Our family has gotten quite good at moving celebrations around so that they can be enjoyed as they ought to be. No need to feel guilty about it at all!
Posted by:Diane | March 08, 2007 at 02:25 AM
Happy anniversary to you both, and happy birthday to you! The good stuff way outweighs the bad stuff.
And kudos to you for having the guts to brave mousification.
Posted by:Marcy | March 08, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Wow-congrats on surviving the presentation. I can sympathize-I cannot do public speaking at all! Yet somehow my firm wants to put me in a position to train all our new hires..uh oh.
Happy Anniversary!
Posted by:Heather | March 08, 2007 at 02:14 PM