This is the final prep week before the FCC Dayton Chinese New Year celebration. This time last year, I had everything ready. Reservations had been closed for a couple of weeks. Registration packets were printed, filled, highlighted, sealed and alphabetized. (Anal, you say? Organized, I say!) All that was left to do was show up and decorate for the event (at least for my portion of the show). This year has been one frustrating muth-ah.
As I have whined before, reservations were supposed to be in my hands by January 11th (my birthday). I always expect the stragglers and the panic of those who just discovered CNY will go on without them and now they want to come. That's just to be expected. This year we had to deal with "someone" extending the cut-off until January 21st. It annoyed me because I was informed AFTER it was announced to the whole FCC group. That's how I found out for myself. Would've been smart to let the person taking the reservations know first, don't you think? Then it was extended again to January 29th, again without my prior knowledge! Now I'm not annoyed, I'm totally raving-mad-steel-bending-pissed off! The event is on February 2nd!!!! I have 3 days to move people around (assigned seating), follow-up on missing information, track down missing fees, send confirmations, confirm membership status (members pay lower price) with the treasurer, and produce the registration packets for 300-500 people!!! W...T...F!!! Sorry, I know I've already covered this on my blog, but it still pisses me off.
Anyway, the notices going out to the group (posted by that "someone") have been very llllloooooonnnnnnnggggggg winded. I don't even read most of them! They contain all this blowing-sunshine-up-your-who-ha junk that just doesn't matter to most of us. They just don't state the facts! I wanted to send my version of the information (short and to the point), but I was told to play nice-nice. I did...until tonight. I was also told by "someone" to word things nicely if I send any messages. WTF???? I have NEVER posted anything mean or questionable to this group!!! All that being said, my evil side took over this evening. I'm just too damn frustrated to keep my big mouth shut any longer!!! I posted a quick, to the point message that roughly stated "you call me or email me, or you don't come". Not in those words of course, because I had to "word things nicely". I even included my phone number and stated it was never too late at night to call me. Ten-minutes after posting, the phone rang. (evil laughter) Funny how stating the facts clearly with consequences implied (remember, I was playing nice-nice) gets results!
The most ironic part of this? "Someone" knew of another family coming and she had their information and check herself. Wonder when she was planning on letting me know?! Oh! And it was one of those "I want to be seated with X even though X doesn't know I'm coming". Too bad X's table is full, so now this person is at my mercy. (evil laughter) I think I will move "someone's" group to sit with X - in the last row! (I know I'm not being nice, but damn it feels good!!!!)
I'm looking forward to CNY! It means my frustration level will step back a bit. My posts will be hit and miss this week. I will also be hit and miss on reading blogs. That bums me out! Oh well, I guess I can do that instead of sleeping!!! Later...
This is what Kieren looked like on December 21, 2005. She had been with us for 10 days. The photo was taken at the Hong Kong Airport on our way home from China (during our 5 hour delay!!!). Kieren's hair was so thin and light light brown. It was as unhealthy as she was! There was a large bald spot at the back. Kieren would self-stim by ripping at her hair and ears, and claw at her arms when she was upset. It was terrifying!
