Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Straight Up Now Tell Me.....

Are ya gonna come to the party or aren't you?

Oh, Oh, Oh.

Or do I have to buy too many hot dogs?

(Come on, you know you love Paula Abdul. She really hit the big time with American Idol, huh? I wonder what would've become of her if that gig hadn't come around for her?)

Seriously now.

I don't know why this surprises me as it happens every year, but I am still waiting for most everyone we invited to RSVP for the party.

The party is in three days and of the twenty-four families (yes twenty-four, I'm a glutton for punishment) invited so far three have confirmed they will definitely be there. Three have declined the offer and four others have given me the "we might show up, how long are you going to be there?" Oh really. When did maybe become an option? That, my friends, is just rude. Come on people, either you're coming or you aren't. Make a decision already. I know you are waiting for a better offer and even worse, so does my son. He asks every. single. afternoon if anyone else is going to be there to lavish him with gifts celebrate with him and I have to tell him I don't know because I really. don't. know.

We're having the party at the park. Again. We are serving hot dogs and coleslaw and deviled eggs and how the hell am I supposed to know how much of that crap to buy if no one responds?? I could buy for everyone I invited PLUS their families but then I might be eating hot dogs for months and I'm the only person in this house who likes deviled eggs. That could be a lot of eggs. Oh, and the gift bags. Damn the gift bag!!! Who came up with that? There were no gift bags when I was having birthday parties. Where the heck are my gift bags??? Last year I made enough gift bags for all who said they were coming because the year before I made enough for everyone invited and had little junk-filled bags all over my house for the rest of the year. Thirty bucks wasted. Yes, thirty bucks doesn't sound like much, but we're teetering on poor here with all these kids needing fed all the time, I don't have thirty bucks to blow. Last year, I was short seven bags. Maybe this is why the mamas at the school don't speak to me. It got around that some poor child had to leave a party without a pencil and a lead-filled trinket. Oh, the horrors!

Don't even get me started about the siblings.

What should I do? Is it rude to email EVERYONE and ask what they plan on doing? Should I just prepare for the yeses and let the maybes suck it if they get there and there's nothing left to eat? Is it wrong to fill the gift bags with leftover Halloween candy?

Help me, Obi-Wan Internets. You're my only hope.

Because, you know, it's a Star Wars party and I've seen every episode of the Star Wars saga at least ten times in the past month making me really, really miss Sir Topham Hatt who would tell those lazy parents, "You are causing confusion and delay."

Or as Yoda would say, "I sense much ambivalence in you, the invitation you must acknowledge."

12 comments:

Burgh Baby said...

You need to email everyone that exact line at the end. It's brilliant!

BTW, I now have "Straight Up" stuck in my head. I might need to smash my head against a wall if it doesn't go away soon.

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

I even put on our invitation to please RSVP by 1/30. When the Bouncer place called 4 days before the party to see how many people were coming I said "19". "But Ma'am you told us it would be 30". "Yes, sir I know but 11 people haven't responded and it's now 2/5. You can leave us at 30 because I'll just bring home the extra pizza". How many kids came? 25. Six people RSVP'd a day before the party because "I'm so sorry but little ______ really wants to come and I just forgot to call".
I think people forgot what manners are. REALLY! I'm sorry you're going through this. I just wanted you to know that it's not you. It's everyone else.

Dana said...

You know, I wish I could help you out but people really are just terribly rude nowadays! In December when I went through much trouble to have my Baby B's 1st! Bday, I was having the same problem. You know what I did?! I cancelled their invitations! Yep, I'm a bitch. Anyone who gave me those lame lines about not being sure, yadda yadda yadda....I cancelled their invites. I told them the party was off. Jared was a bit upset as it was all his family but seriously, I'm SICK of the rudeness. I mean geesh, I have a HERD of kids to deal with and if I can manage a timely rsvp, then so can my sis in law with only 2 wee little girls! Good luck! I hope it's a great party!

Jana said...

I hate it when people don't RSVP (one way or the other, I don't care, just let me know, darn it!). I truly love Dana's idea, but I don't have the guts to do something like that. Wish I did, though!

I have found that e-vites seem to work well because it will send out a reminder and I always seem to get several more answers. But e-vites are not all that fun and don't fit in keepsake books.

Sarah said...

Definitely contact them. People just do NOT RSVP anymore. I have neighbors that live just 4 houses down that I SEE and still do not RSVP. Call, email, pester the heck out of them. Your the one shelling out the dough to buy stuff for this party, you have to know how many party supplies to bring!!

Lynsey said...

Oh I am with everyone else- email them. It's funny you posted this because this happens to be my husbands pet peeve- he truly cannot stand when someone refuses to commit to something. Either you're coming, or you're not. WTF is the big deal? Email them.
Agreed with comment above- now you have Miss Paula Abdul stuck in my head.

sherrypg said...

If I were closer, I would come and help you eat all of the leftover deviled eggs. Mmmmmm.

I don't know what to tell you about the people who don't RSVP (we had one respond "yes" 1 1/2 hours before the party), but I will tell you what I think about the goody bags - I don't do them. I think they are ridiculous.

Excuse me, but I just shelled out hundreds of dollars so you could play and eat good food and you *still* expect me to give you a goody bag? I don't think so.

Good luck!

OneHungMan said...

Gift bag??? When did that begin?

For what it's worth, OHM loves deviled eggs, as long as you put paprika on top. So, he'll happily help you with terminating those.

Sadie said...

I say screw the gift bags.

And yes, I'd email everyone. Just to say that you hope they received the invitation, remind them of the date, and ask if they'll be able to make it.

And I don't have kids or ever deal with Mommies so take that advice for what it's worth, of course.

Aunt Becky said...

Gah, I hate that crap! The same thing happened at Ben's birthday last year (and I'm sure will happen again this year) and I wound up overpaying b/c I didn't change the reservation.

Shit, email 'em if you have their addresses. And there is NOTHING wrong with reusing Halloween candy in the gift bags.

SydneyDawn said...

It seems that no one thinks to RSVP these days. I hate it. I usually end up planning for the ones that did bother to respond and then allow a little wiggle room for the slackers that didn't. As for the gift bags. If they don't respond, boo on them. They just don't get one.

Nikki said...

So...how was the party? How many people showed up? Were you short gift bags or do you now have an overabundance of small plastic toys in the back of your car? :) I feel for ya - I hate non-RSVPers and gift bags! :)