just...GAH

The body shop that the insurance company suggested to me for the appraisal/repair work for my car has not called me at work as they were supposed to be asked to do (to make an appointment for Monday, when I am off) but instead called and left a message at my house in which they asked for my husband (by using a last name similar to, but not actually the same as, our name) and indicating that they had limited openings on Friday, but none on Thursday.) I plan to call the insurance company back to tell them that I will have the work done at my dealership, regardless of whether it is part of their "network". blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah DH decided that he wanted to invite his staff over for a holiday dinner party, and the date he discussed with me weeks ago did not work for his staff. Yesterday, mentions to me that he's decided he wants to do it next Thursday (Dec. 22) and asks if anything in on the calendar. I tell him that it is my Mom's birthday, and that I need to check with Dad and Nic about whether we are doing anything. We have sort of vague "Yeah, we should do something" plans about it, but nothing firmed up in stone. DH then got all pissy about how I had not mentioned anything about doing something for Mom's birthday, and when else can this party work, since Thursday is the only day before Xmas that he and his staff can do it! Because I should be able to drop everything to get a dinner party (albeit a very casual one with a small number of people) planned on a week's notice?! So he calls me today and says he rescheduled it for Dec. 29, and "there's no way [I] am backing out of it!" Even though he said it in jest, it grated. blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah The holiday party from last Friday has been rescheduled for January, on the same day when we are scheduled to have our quarterly all-employee update meeting and our annual tenure awards. It's supposed to start at 10:00 for the meeting stuff, followed by lunch and a "free" afternoon. So, I will come to work for about an hour before I need to leave for the meeting. Then the rest of the day is shot. Good use of my commute there... blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah We have an option at the end of the year to cash in some leave if we have more than what can be carried over into the following year. I filled out my form and sent it over two weeks before the due date, and waited anxiously for the money to be in today's paycheck as promised. When my check did not include any extra money, and my leave balance did not show the hours being deducted, I emailed the woman who coordinates the process to inquire. Apparently, my form did not make it to her desk, so I filled it out again and faxed it to her this time (so I have proof that I completed the form) and she is going to find out of Payroll and Accounts Payable will process it for me. So, DH's Christmas present might be me taking a day and a half off, since I planned to use the money to purchase some electronics for him. blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah My brother, in an email today, proposed that "Good luck with the mayhem" replace "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" as the phrase of the season. Smart boy my parents raised, don't you think?