Look...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Express Jet

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

No, no, no...please tell me this is made up!?!?!?!

Borrowed your shampoo and clothes without asking????

Oh, villains...I tell you...I am bouncing off the walls here at work reading this. I cannot believe anyone could possibly be so rude, inconsiderate, selfish, presumptious, and all those other words that I am not allowed to say here. You know which ones.

Poor DD. You and I are big kids, and we can handle crummy things like this...we just get mad. BUT...when someone makes our babies cry...that IS NOT ok!!!! She sounds like she wound up being ok, but this was HER surprise trip. I am so glad that no matter what, you guys got some time alone.

I cannot believe how mad I am! I need a smoke break, and then I'll be back. Maybe I'll have something a bit more comforting and philosophical to say. Nicotine enhances my intelligence.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay final chapter -

So by the time she reaches me and we make it to the car it's 2:35 - our plane is at 4:05 in burbank and she still needs to put gas in and we need to return the car!! DS and GF have left on time at around 2:15 and call me and tell me they hit traffic on 5. They call to check on our progress and we have hit more traffic than they did - the say it clears up around Glendale or something -
This whole time friend is asking are you mad at me - I say no. Did I do something wrong - again I say no. Is everything okay - I say yes. Did you guys have fun - again I say yes. All very short answers by this point I don't want to get in to it with her trapped in a car in traffic with 2 nine year olds in the back - and then have to get on a plane with her. So then she shows me the stuff she "bought" DS has his doubts she bought all of it especially with the $21 hair wrapping HD had and after she "found" two shirts (both tink with a $36 & $38 price tags on them still)that just happen to be her size on thursday in the candy shop floor on main street - after I had the girls back to the hotel!! Now she wants me to be excited for her that she - who couldn't take HD to AGDS or BAB because she was out of money - had enough to buy herself 2 shirts, a hat for HD dad, a snow globe for a friend, and a shirt for HD that apparently they sold her for half price and wanted to know if they always did that kind of thing (yeah right they always do that). She procedes to tell me she never does anything or gets anything for herself so she thought she deserved them...Now I am thinking this really doesn't add up and I know she had about $200 for the rest of the trip before GK on Sat.
$50 GK
$26 bloody Mary's GK (3)
$15 snow globe
$25 baseball cap
$24 tink shirt for HD
$26 one shirt for her
$32 other shirt for her
$21 hair wrap
$13 Pict on Screemin
$12 pict on TOT
$32 gas for rental car
----
$276 hmmmm doesn't really add up - no she doesn't have any credit cards - but she applied for a disney one - plus they still ate after GK and on sunday!!

So we finally get to the car place and it is 3:32 we check the car in and get to the airport at 3:47 - check our luggage - DS has been there with GF for 30 min.
All our bags are marked late check in and we make the made dash to the plane - at burbank you get your boarding pass at the gate...so we are off arriving at the gate at 4:05 but the plane is just getting ready to load - they load outside here. Check in and they only have three seats left as they have already started calling standby...They tell us there is another plane 2 gates down in 40 min and we are sure to get on it. I tell her to call HD dad to pick them up and take the first plane (my car was near the airport and my dads condo so I had a ride)-SO she tells my DS come on come with me there are three seats - DS says no he's not going to leave his mom and sis in an airport alone (not only a good boy but he was sick of her and her rude comments about what he and his girlfriend may or maynot be doing) (Oh yeah I know what they are and aren't doing as my son is very open and honest about it all and we have had very serious talks about it especially since GF is only 17)! There was no way I was going to take the first plane and have to sit and wait for her to get there and I just didn't trust myself not to just leave here there!!not kidding!! So the flight home was packed and we had to wait on stand by - but the flight was delayed almost 30 min - but we got on and a nice young man (yep I feel old with that saying) moved to another single seat so DD and I could sit together and DS was right in front of us...
We made it home safe and sound and DD and DS both said they had fun when friend and HD weren't around and asked me to never invite anyone to go with us again - I reminded him I didn't invite her she invited herself...he just told me I have to quit being so nice and stand up to people and just say no...maybe he is smarter than me sometimes!!

Happy to be home and can't wait for the next trip as I know it will be great and this one will soon be a distant memory!!

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

OMG, Villains, I need to absorb all of this before I can even comment. I am so upset.

 

Originally Posted By travellerandquilter

Sorry to interupt but I am amazed that someone who asked themselves on your trip could be soooooo insensitive and downright rude and not know it. I think you have been incredibily patient and restaining not just decking her and telling her to get lost (or other strong words!!)

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Every time I think of how you painstakingly went over every scenario about which airport to fly to and from, just so you could get your DD to the American Girl store, and to find out you didn't even get there! OH! It just makes me crazy!
(More comments to follow...in a hurry!)

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

I only have one word for now. Like tink, I need to compose myself. I'll be back.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Oh my! There is a lot I can say but will hold my tongue. First of all what she did is not ok. Your poor DD crying and not able to go to AG. That part is what made me so mad. How can someone be so rude. At that point I would have told her to find her own way home if she did not want to go with original plans. Thank goodness you have future trips to forget about the awful trip.

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Mollysmom,I am leaving at 4am December 2. Unless I wake up earlier and unable to sleep. We will be at the parks that afternoon. I think we need to take Villans out for a drink. She sure can use one maybe two after that trip.

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

mater4...you are now on my calendar so I don't forget. You'll be there when tink819 is, I think.

We sure do need to do something for villains. I know I had a couple of drinks last night while I was squawking at DH about all of this. I hope she gets the chance to tell this "friend" how she feels about what transpired. Not that it will change anything, but she should get it off her chest. Personally, I would have let loose in the car when she asked if I "had a good time." I would have kept it clean for the kids in the back seat, but there would have been no mistaking my anger and hurt. You can tell by villains' recount here that she is extremely upset. Mostly for her DD, of course, but you can tell that she feels taken advantage of in a great way. I guess I'm not as nice as villains...I would not let something like this pass without letting that woman know how she made me or my DD feel.

I think villains should toss back a few mudslides and speak her mind. Thank God she only has 2 more weeks to go before her next trip.

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Can we send her a bottle of mudslides?

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

I still don't know where to begin with my tirade here. I will have to break it up in pieces, I guess. For the last installment, I am outraged that you even missed your plane, for goodness sakes, b/c of your kindness! Ayiyi, it's beyond comprehension. I know that not everything goes perfectly on these perfectly planned trips, but to have so many things go wrong through no fault of your own, it's just too sad.
Can you imagine the embarrassment of her being caught stealing? I can't comprehend the thought of being arressted for the sake of some tee shirts. Even if the shirts were found on the floor of the candy shoppe, that's still part of the DL shops, it wasn't like they were laying out in the parking lot.
I was amused, in a sarcastic sort of way, by the "Are you mad at me?" comments in the car. I can just see myself in that situation "NO I'M NOT MAD!" while my face is crimson!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

tink...I think sending a bottle of mudslides is a lovely idea.

Doesn't this whole thing just make you crazy with anger? I still can't find the right words to express how I feel about what happened to her and her family.

The friend's actions go beyond my comprehension. To shoplift??? What the heck kind of an example does that set for one's child?

We better send 2 bottles.

Sidebar...I think this whole topic started about Express Jet. For anyone else looking to fly with them, I have found out a few little tidbits. The seats are leather-like, they serve sandwiches and such instead of just fishy crackers, you get the WHOLE can of pop when you ask for one (not just the dinky plastic cup full), you get your own headphones with XM radio, and my personal favorite...beer is a buck. All that, and a 2.5 hour trip to San Diego...what could be better?

Ok, back to villains...I feel just awful for her. While I enjoy our chats each day, and while I consider many of you to be friends(as much as we can be), I wish I could give her and her daughter a big giant hug. Sometimes, this venue just isn't enough.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Well - Hubby finally went back to work and now I can use the computer - we have 5 in the house - but only one with internet (kids and preditors ya'know)...

Thank you for all your kind words and support - I have decided I will never talk to this "friend" again... I gladly gave up my seats on the plane for her - otherwise I would have had to sit around for an hour and wait for her to get there - by letting her go - I didn't have to see her again!!

My sis told me I should just forget about the money she owes me (close to $900 - not all given at once) and the ring of mine she has (hubby bought a ring through her when she worked at Kays and it came in the wrong size) and not speak to her again...I feel like she wins then - she got a trip and whatever else for free and still has no responsiblity to pay for it - so I will be sending her a bill for all of it - every red cent - no rounding off!!

I asked DD how it's been at school and she is so much like me - and says she has been nice to HD... Although she was very upset when HD asked DD what she did over the weekend - DD said she just looked at her and said you know what I did you were there - HD said very loudly "that's right we were in DL together" DD just said well sort - of!! DD didn't want to tell anyone where they were just because she knows not everyone can do DL as much as we do! She is a very good girl - However friend constantly made comments to HD about how jealous the girls at school would be when they found out the two of them went to DL together!! I have half a mind to invite the whole class to DL for a weekend without HD!! Wish I was rich!! I know that wouldn't be right and I wouldn't do it - but it is fun to think about it!!

DD has another friend who's mother I am friendly with and they are DL freaks like us - she knew about the trip and I finally saw her yesterday and when she asked how it went I about cried - She wanted to go beat up "friend" and I found out from her daughter that HD had been bragging about the trip since monday!! DD said she didn't want to tell me because she was already embarrassed about how HD was acting and didn't want to think about it at home too!!

Well I gotta go pick up DD from school - I try to get back on line when I get back!!

Thank you all for all the kind words - unless you are a Disney person I don't think you could understand how all this feels and how it is such a big deal... You guys, even though not here with me have made me feel so much better about how this was making me feel!! Even DS18 who says I overreact about everything has agreed with me that this was bad and told me to put it on here because you guys would make me see I wasn't just being overly sensitive!!

THANKS

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Glad you popped on here...I love ya, and have been thinking about you.

Yes...we ALL understand what Disney means. When it comes down to it, it has little to do with the rides. It's about how it makes you feel inside. It's about how good it feels to hold your kids hand, and laugh together, and share a churro. It's about the connection our hearts make with those we love most.

You get that, villains...all of us here do. Your DS was right in telling you to come here...smart lad.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

The trip you have planned for your DD sounds like a perfect mother/daughter weekend. It's nice to take the time and enjoy our children and do something for them out of the ordinary. Having just one may make it easier sometimes - but I do enjoy taking each of mine to do something with just them. It is one of those things as the kids grow up - one day you are their whole world and then one morning you wake up and they are starting kindergarted/middle school/high school/ or college - in my case I have now experienced all of these (DD9 and DS18 actually started Kingergarten and High School the same day). I never imagined at 41 my life would be pulled in so many directions. I am so happy no matter what's going on in any of there lives they are all willing to sit down with me and share their everyday happenings with me...some with to much info (thanks DS18)!! I love each of them and along with all the regular memories we have as a family - I have worked hard to have the individually memories with each of them - be it dinner and a movie, a musical, or Disneyland - we will always have each other to lean on and that's whats important...

Cherrish the upcoming birthday weekend with DD as it will be something she will tell her own kids about. We are lucky to have DH's that encourage these trips and events with one on one time without being jealous - that is something that makes a truely loving father and husband...Aren't we lucky

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

First of all, how dare MollysMom take this thread that she started and bring it back on topic! Seriously, though, Express Jet sounds awesome! I'm jealous b/c I will be flying SWA for about 9 hours with no tvs, no music, a 4oz beverage, but, I can't complain b/c you'll yell at me again!

Villains, I think I need a bottle of mudslides b/c I was having a hard enough time handling all of the things your "friend" did during your trip (like MM, I have been telling my family,DH and DS, all about it, and you have their sympathy, too) but, now that I've read that she owes you $900 I am definitely ready for a drink! Now, is the $900 including the ring, or is the ring in addition to the $900?

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

In addition...- I know I am a sucker - about $550 is from a while ago - and the rest is from this trip - She mentions the past amount alot so I was never really worried about it too much - but after last weekend I am realizing sometimes I am so nice I am stupid!! This is a very hard realization and makes me terribly sad. I will be talking to Mr Mudslide tomorrow night and we will commiserate on how whimpy I really am!!

I am past angry now and just plain sad over the whole deal...DD is being great about it and I just heard her telling her dad that even though "they" don't understand Disneyland she still had a good time with her mommy when they went away!! I asked her what made her think they didn't understand Disneyland and she just looked up at me with those cute hazel eyes and said they didn't even ride any fantasyland rides and if you don't ride fantasyland rides you really haven't been in disneyland...That's my girl!! Oh yeah one last thing friend and HD kept complaining about DCA not being open long enough - since that's where all the good rides were!?!?!? Their idea of fun was to ride Screamin, boomer, TOT, Space, and splash over and over again...

Oh well it was a lesson learned and I won't let this happen ever again!! I am going to toughin up and stand my ground - well at least try to... I think I will just avoid going with "friends" in the future!!

2 more weeks and I can go back for a fun filled weekend of costumes and such! Then another 5 weeks and the holiday magic will be there - Tink I hope we can meet up for a little drink - we can toast MM.

MollysMom - I hope you two have a great trip - I can't wait to hear all the details - oh yeah stay off topic will ya!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

villains and tink...yes, I admit that I went "on topic", but it was only BRIEFLY, and it WAS surrounded by "off topic" paragraphs, so it cannot be considered a major party foul. Besides, what if somebody came to this topic looking for actual Express Jet info? True, they would never find it within these posts, but if someone were diligent enough, they might find my little tid bit. Perhaps I should just start a new topic "Beer for a buck on Express Jet". That's the only important thing anyway.

You're right, tink...I got NO sympathy for your SW flight to DISNEYLAND!!!!! Glad to see you didn't even bother trying to garner any from me. Maybe villains will feel bad for ya.

villains...I hope you and Mr. Mudslide have a good therapy session. My DH has alwasy said, "what goes around comes around", and for the most part, I agree with him. However, I DO think that you DO need to let this woman know how she made you and your daughter feel, and I DO think she should pay you back the money she owes you. You're a wonderful woman, villains, but you should not let people that call you their friend take advantage of your family. That's not what friends do. Your kindness to this woman and her daughter should have been appreciated, but it is obvoius that it wasn't.

I will have Senor Corona over this evening and we will discuss your case. We will also have a meeting saturday and sunday, as this is a difficult case, and I still am experiencing anxiety and stress over it all. I'm sure tink will be glad to join in as well. I have heard that group therapy is quite helpful.

Well, I got my teenager this morning...Molly turned 13. Doesn't seem possible. She still thinks we're going to Seattle next weekend, so for now the secret is safe. I'm looking foreward to "chick days" in San Diego. It's supposed to be in the 70's so I packed shorts and t-shirts. DH said I'd better start working on shaving my legs now if I want them to be silky smooth by next friday. He's such a stinker...correct...but a stinker.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Doesn't the time go by so fast - one day you are teaching them to walk and the next they are walking away - off in their own world of teenage fun... Teenagerism doesn't seem like that long ago -
It seems weird when the kids are telling you about stuff they are learning (especially in health class) and you suddenly have that flash back to how embarrassing those classes were!! Oh the fun you are about to experience...
I think you are right about the money - I think I will drink some confidence tonight and let mr mudslide do my bidding...
Hubby is so mad about the ring at this point - he is ready to call about all of it - but I think at 41 it's time to fight my own battles!!
Well I hope you have a great weekend - maybe I'll get back on line, but we have 2 soccer games tomorrow and a party for my nephew on sunday so I'll have to see where I get a break!!
When are you going to tell DD where you are going, or are you just going to wait until you are boarding the plane to see how long it takes for her to catch on...I hope the weather holds out for you - it was weird last weekend -warm on thurs, cool on fri, warm on sat and Hot on Sun... It's was just raining here in the east bay of SF...

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

I don't plan on telling her at all. I'll just sit back and wait until she figures it out for herself.

My friend reminded me today that Molly will be going off to college in 5 years. I about cried. This past 13 has gone by so darn fast, another 5 is not enough, I want more. She's my baby, and the only one I have...I miss her already.

Good for you, woman! It's ok to get mad and speak your mind to your "friend" and demand your money back. It will come in handy for your next trip to DL. Seriously, it's ok to be nice...it's ok to be generous...but it's NOT ok for someone to use you as a doormat.

Good luck on the soccer games this weekend. I'll catch up with you on monday. Say hi to Mr. Mudslide for me.