The Joy of Being Trip-Planner

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Anyone else want this job?

I caught crap today for booking a tee time for next Monday without checking with the in-laws first. Yes, that is Christmas day, but I had already been told that we were doing Christmas Christmas Eve. I want to get two rounds in, one at the first of the week and one at the end of the week. I checked weather-com and Monday and Tuesday look rainy. There is a Monday special.

I booked Monday so that if it got rained out then we could do Tuesday.

Then I caught crap.

You would think that if I have the ability to get us a 3-bedroom at OLCC the busiest week of the year, find inexpensive plane fare, an inexpensive rental car, and inexpensive golf, and be willing to go on a damn Westgate tour so the kids can have cheap Disney tickets, that I would have the ability to book a tee time without being read the riot act. On top of all that, for the SIL that was not going, we got her a flight down and back so she can spend two days with all the family and then I spent two hours on the phone getting her a wheel chair at the airports.

Why did I book the tee time without asking anyone? Because if I don't, it won't get done. Case in point. After being read the riot act, I called my BIL to see if Christmas day golf would be OK. "Well, I don't rightly know. I'll check with the others."

I rest my case, Your Honor.

They either have or haven't been taking their golf clubs depending on what phone call it has been for the last three months.

A few minutes later I got an email from Rapmarks, trying to arrange golf for two weeks from now, so that made me feel a little better.

Y'all have a Merry Christmas.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

We will and you try to do the same.

[BILL_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close BILL_B]

Just remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Ahh, the in-laws.......Did you actually expect them to be grateful.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I give up. I'm staying home.

It's nine hours later, nine hours after I offered to change the tee time to Tuesday, and I'm, still getting yelled at. Now everyone is saying, "Let's just go and hang out and if we wanna go play golf we will."

We all know it doesn't work that way. If you just decide to go once you're there, you're lucky to get a tee time and you pay full price. And they're saying if they decide not to go to the scheduled tee time, we just won't, and that is rude to the golf course.

I don't understand why it is that our entire vacation is now focused on me making a tee time on Christmas day, but it is. It seems like everyone just wants to focus on that and keep that issue alive.

Seriously, screw it, I don't even wanna go. I don't even know why I try put a good vacation together for everyone.

I just noticed that I booked this exchange on January 24, 2005, so that's how long I have been looking forward to it. I remember the day I booked it, that I had to check with everyone to make sure Christmas week would be OK.

Now no one but me can even plan 6 days ahead. It's not like I am scheduling all of the activities for the week. This tee time is the only thing I have scheduled.

If you hear me talking about sharing another vacation with the extended family, just take me out back and shoot me.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

JLB,

Sorry for your situation. We will indeed remind you of this the next time you mention that you are putting together another extended family vacation.

By the way, you need to amend your signature to "92 exchanges, 1 too many"

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Sadly, even though I have had my thinking cap firmly affixed, I fail to see a way out of this non-issue that others have chosen to make the focus of our vacation.

For instance, they have said if I want to play golf just go ahead and make myself a tee time. As soon as I do that, of course, I will be placed with three strangers. Then, if the in-laws decide to play golf, as a spur-of-the-moment last-minute whim, it will not be in the foursome I am in.

Nor will they play for $25, which will lessen the likelihood that they will choose to play golf, spur-of-the-moment.

On the other hand, if I don't book myself a tee time:

1. There may not be one available spur-of-the-moment, last-minute,
2. It will not be $25 if we can play, and
3. I will be sitting around waiting for everyone else to have the urge, spur-of-the-moment, last-minute, to go play golf.

Since it's the season, WWJD?

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

"This to shall pass"

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I think it's xmas!! Hello? That be the problem. Any other time it wouldn't have been a problem. shaggy

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

JLB, hang in there. Hopefully it will all work out. It is tough being the trip planner for the family. Most of the time we feel unappreciated. Yet, the other day my wife wrote a short note for us to include with our Christmas cards for friends and family and, to my surprise, she really praised me for the hard work I do on planning our vacations. Wow, she noticed. So, for me, the pain I sometimes feel (like having the in-laws with in Branson) is worth it. Plus, I really do enjoy planning the trips even though I know that I can't please everybody all of the time.

[travelfan Member Find all posts View Profile Close travelfan]

Just do as they ask. Make yourself a tee time and have a great game. You will probably need the time away by then.

[btcctomtb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close btcctomtb]

Jim,
If I were planning I would do so about 1:00 in the afternoon for Christmas. At this time all the kids should be gathered around the TV playing all the new video games Santa brought them, lunch is over and the adults will either be cleaning up from another great time spent with family or ready to go and play golf. If fortunate enough maybe Santa (Hint Hint) might have just set the tee time for them and put a sleeve of balls in the stockings with care. I could see a problem some might have with seperating with family on such a wonderful day. That would make it hard to commit. In a logical sense all will probably work out just fine. I would guess golf courses are a little empty on Christmas and if no one plays whats another $100 for that priceless time with family. I have to give lots of praise for Mrs. JLB... If I mentioned golfing on Christmas day I would probably get coal or divorce papers in my stocking.

[btcctomtb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close btcctomtb]

Wrong thread

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Jim,
First I gotta say that were my family on vacation away over Christmas I would probably not get any takers for golf on Christmas Day and we would probably just want to hang and have a good time with the family, but, hey every one is different so whatever floats your boat. Just keep in mind that maybe some of the rest of your family feel differently than you do about it. If you really want to play golf that day make the reservation and see what happens. But, don't get upset if others don't want to join you and don't let it ruin your vacation. There are a lot of families that can't spend the holidays together and wish that they could. At least you are with your family members and if they don't join you for golf have a good round and come back and enjoy the rest of the day with them. Have a good Christmas whatever you choose to do.

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

Great day to play golf. Hope you enjoy it

And no, I'm not a golfer

Pat