It’s Friday afternoon and I have spent the better part of the day arguing with virtual machines. Not even real computers were pissing me off but virtual ones. Pretty sad isn’t it? I’m in need of doing some serious venting so I apologize if I piss anyone off with this, but I need to get this out of my system.
I must say that this year I am a bit bummed about the Halloween party. Usually I am very excited about having a pile of people over and enjoying some music and fun. This year however has been different. Some of what is on my mind is the fact that there have been a lot of “question marks†when it comes to people I have invited. I either don’t get replies or simply people who say I’m not sure, or we’ll see, or I don’t know. What is there not to know? I sent out messages a month ago and a reminder recently. I send the messages out plenty early so that if people want to come, they can make plans, but you know what, most people don’t bother. They see the message and go ok, he’s having a party and they want to go but then end up making other plans and forgetting that there was a party to attend. It sort of irritates me when I really have no idea who will or will not be coming because of such a large group saying they don’t know or just not bothering to reply. Seriously, how difficult is it to simply just take 1 minute to reply to an email and say yes or no? You know why people don’t like to reply? Because they don’t want to be committed to the act of going. If they say yes, then they know that we are expecting them and they should be there. Sure things come up and that I understand but at least tell me if you have the intention of showing up. Don’t just let me wonder. I don’t like nagging but when you plan a party you kind of would like to know if 10 people or 50 people are going to show up. So, with that said, I am thankful to those of you that have bothered to give me definitive answers either way. At least I know.
Besides the lackluster response from people, the other big part of why it is sort of a bummer weekend as opposed to exciting is there is just too many things going on recently.
Knowing that the party was this weekend, I knew that I’d be flying out to Atlanta last week, getting home Saturday and resting. Went to work Monday dead tired and basically dead to the world. Tuesday was better but I had Rogers that evening. Any evening this week has basically been written off trying to clean the house and get things organized for Saturday. Tamara’s doing a hell of a job in the days and I don’t do an excessive amount in the evening but I am trying to do my part. It doesn’t seem like there’s any time anywhere.
So then Saturday comes and we have the party and I will enjoy it no matter who shows up but when that’s all done, I go to bed, and wake up early Sunday morning to drive me and Tamara to Halifax for an hour or so. Then we come right back home, I pack my clothes and get ready for my trip to Omaha on Monday. I get up at 4am Monday morning, shower, get on a plane and hop from flight to flight til I get to my destination. I spend the week at a client site and don’t get back to the following Saturday morning. The only relief I get is that the following week I have Friday off.
No time.
Then, let’s throw some death into the mix. My grandfather passed away and even though I have not had much communication with the man in the last 20 years, it still hurts and I almost started crying when I read his obituary. He had an impact on my life that I will never be able to quantify so even though we were not that close in later years, he was still a major point in my life. Then our trip to Halifax is for Kyle’s (among others) service. The final chapter in a book that wasn’t. It will be very emotional for me and Tamara and we thank everyone for their kind words and sympathies since it happened, so please do not feel the need to send any more. Right now we just need and want closure.
Then to add insult to injury, Sunday is also the 22nd which will be mine and Tamara’s first wedding anniversary. No real time for us to do much. Plus having our first anniversary on the day of our son’s service is not exactly what we needed.
With all of this going on, it’s no surprise that I am not hyped about Halloween this year. Halloween for me in many ways is like Christmas for some people. I love getting the house decorated and having our party. It’s something that I really enjoy and really look forward to. We start making plans for that party months before we invite anyone and I was really looking forward to it this year. But now….
I know it sounds like I am doing a lot of bitching and complaining and you know what? I am. I’m cranky.
The big thing is, Saturday night I want to party. I want to party hard, laugh, make an ass of myself, and just have a blast, despite all of the bullshit going on right now. I think that’s why the lack of response from people (and a series of last minute cancellations) have sort of got me down. I really need to be around a bunch of people and enjoy hanging out with friends and family. I don’t do it enough so Saturday will give me a fix for awhile I hope.
So with that said, I think I am done bitching. I know people are busy and they have lives and trying to find time to get everyone together can be very difficult so don’t get me wrong, I’m not mad at anyone, I’m just a little worn down with everything else that’s going on. If things were a bit calmer or more normal I’d probably not care.
Regardless, if you are coming tomorrow night, I will see you there. If not, I hope you enjoy your weekend and maybe you’ll be able to make it next year.
