THIS is why I don't have many friends.
Meredith's birthday party is next weekend.
And because we went to something like 152 preschool birthday parties this year, we decided to book a party joint and invite all of her friends (3!), plus her entire class (15!).
As of yesterday morning, only two people had called to RSVP.
And because of this, I was really starting to get pissed. (And worried. And self conscious. And drunk.)
And then the phone rang. BBBBRRRRRIIIINNNNNNNG! (We have one of those Bringing phones.)
Me: Hello?
Mikey's Mommy (MM): Hello! Is this Angela Pudding?
Me: It is!
MM: I'm calling to let you know that Mikey will be at Meredith's party next week! I hope it's not too late to RSVP!
Me (instead of simply saying, "Super! We'll look forward to seeing you guys!"): Eh, it's really no big deal. I hear the whole RSVP thing is becoming a dying courtesy. I've received only two calls so far. I have no idea what size cake to order.
(Seriously. I said that.)
MM: Well, we'll be there.
Me (completely rabid and clearly needing to be restrained at this point): Hey! Also! You once told me that Mikey doesn't like slides! I just want you to know that the party place has more than just slides!
MM (wondering if it's too late to do the "I must have the wrong number" thing): Yep. I know. We've been there a few times.
Me (hhhhuhhhhuhhhhuhhhhuhhhh): Great! I'm bringing a bag of socks in case you forget Mikey's socks!!!!!
Jeff has taken away my phone answering privileges until the party is over.
And I can't blame him one bit.
On an awkward side note, tonight I met a group of lovely women, and I got all excited and told them about the time I drank my own breast milk.
(I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.)
((It's time for my medication, you know.))
Submitted by
Kathy
at 4/21/2008 5:01:03 AM- I'd be pissed, too, if I had said RSVP and a week before the party only two people actually RSVP'd.
Submitted by
blackbird
at 4/21/2008 6:54:47 AM- the whole RSVP thing is becoming a dying courtesy...
yeah. THAT is rich.
Submitted by
MariaC.
at 4/21/2008 8:42:45 AM- I read your post at noon, it is 3:33 (really) pm and I am still laughing! I can very much relate to EVERY SINGLE of your explicit statements, and also to those not so explicit as well. I have many grievances to write about but I am just not so talented to convey ideas...my native language is Spanish and my Spanish speaker friends do not bother to check my blog at all...they feel it is not necessary to sacrifice human contact and refuse the use of new technologies to keep informed. As a result, I am engaging in telephone and school patio conversations far longer that I can afford, every day of my life. :( There you are one complaint! I want them to check my entries, leave modest comments, interact in a more efficient way but nothing I do seems to motivate a visit...They like to talk, and talk and talk!
Loving your blog! MariaC.
Submitted by
Em
at 4/21/2008 10:45:53 AM- Huge pet peeve of mine. I think you should bring 3 cupcakes and thats it. Maybe an undercooked one for the kid with the tardy RSVP. Why do they think you put that on there? So rude.
That verbal diarrhea. I have it too. Worse, it affects my typing as well. Even when I have the time to reread what I wrote. Even then.
Submitted by
eve
at 4/21/2008 2:24:24 PM- I always RSVP, but this is why I love the email RSVP option that many parents use now. That way I can be polite (Thank you so much for inviting G! We're looking forward to it!)without having to display my staggering social awkwardness.
Submitted by
Valeta
at 4/21/2008 3:23:39 PM- What really makes me angry is when people RSVP yes and then don't show up!
I had two families do that us at my son's 5th birthday. We had bought way too much food because I was expecting two more FAMILIES then who actually showed up. What a waste of food!
What makes it worse is when I complained about it on my blog, one of the mom's who didn't show up was calling me a bitch on her blog! I thought I had a right to be mad about it!
Sorry for writing a novel! Good luck with the party!
Submitted by
FP
at 4/21/2008 10:23:00 PM- Bri--It was lovely to meet you, too!
Kathy--I'm telling you, I don't understand it!
Blackbird--What I failed to mention is that I muttered that "dying courtesy" line while smoking a very thin and pretentious cigarette and waving my hands around like Carol Channing.
MariaC--Wait a second. I think you're onto something. Perhaps my social interactions are so awkward BECAUSE of Fluid Pudding! Interesting!
Em--Better yet, 1 cupcake. And anyone under the age of 6 gets to fight for it.
Eve and Robin--I've learned my lesson. Next year? Evites!
Valeta--You're right. I can still name the six people who RSVP'd for my wedding but didn't show. (Sadly, I was one of those people a few months back, and I *still* feel guilty--and I was really sick! So I *shouldn't* feel guilty, right? Wrong.)
Submitted by
kellyr2
at 4/23/2008 9:51:04 AM- Yes, evites rock. I just sent them out to all my friends for my daughter's birthday party this coming Saturday. Within 2 hours, I had 3 responses. It's so much easier to just "check yes, no, or maybe" than to make an actual phone call.
Maybe we were onto something in the 1st grade? "I like you, do you like me? Check yes, no, or maybe..."
I can't believe that I was sitting right next to you and I still managed to miss the beginning of that story. Looking forward to hearing it in its entirety and it was so lovely to meet you!