And the Holidays aren't even here yet!?!?

It's been a crazy time around here, with some minor family issues to be dealt with. Last Sunday I get a phone call around 9am from my mom, informing me that instead of leaving Tuesday for their fall trip, they were leaving immediately, and were we ready to take their pets? So we anticipated their arrival for 3pm, and waited. And waited. And waited. Turns out, they broke down in Brooksville, and could we come rescue the pets? So we drove down to Brooksville and picked up 1 human (Mom), 1 dog and 2 cats. Dad stayed with the car to get it to the repair shop first thing Monday morning.

Monday morning arrives, with a phone call from Dad stating that the computer in the car burned out, and a new one needs to be ordered, but they can't find any in the state of Florida. It must be ordered from Georgia. Estimated date of repair completion : Wednesday. This means I have my mother in my house for 2 1/2 days. Count 'em, people. 2 1/2 days of my mother dropping cleaning hints, eating hints, lifestyle hints and otherwise getting on my last nerve. Meanwhile, the part is supposed to be overnighted on Tues, and arrive on Wed. When Wed. arrives, the tracking number for the part states the part never left Georgia. Excuse me?? After many phone calls, it was determined the part is actually in Florida and should show up by noon. Sure 'nuf, around noon the mechanic starts work on installing the new computer. None too soon, since my sanity is now at a breaking point.

Fortunately, Big Dave and I had plans to go to a play on Wed evening, so we left the house, and when we returned, the 'rents had cleared out. But not before an additional note from my mother, which read in part, "Thank you for your hospitality. Found some franks and beans growing penicillin in your fridge. Didn't know what you wanted me to do with it, so I just threw it out. Hope you didn't want it for anything."

There are so many replies to this, I wouldn't know where to start, so instead I just tore the note into little pieces and went to bed.

I don't suppose I can boycott the holidays this year. Or can I?!?!?