Kvetches about the week that was supposed to be awesome

[scarlettina]

Somehow, things have gotten screwed up. I was planning to leave for WorldCon on Wednesday. But it turns out that the friend with whom I'm driving is arriving Wednesday night and we're going on Thursday morning. I don't know how this happened. I thought she was arriving Tuesday and that we were leaving on Wednesday. I'm angry. I'm frustrated. I'm mournful. I'm irritated. I want to leave Wednesday morning. If I don't take her, she has no way to get there, but she's traveling across the country to go. I can't leave her stranded.

I want to leave for WorldCon on Wednesday morning. I can't. This changes my ability to attend panels I wanted to see, to have meals with friends that I planned, to have some breathing room before the con starts. It makes the trip more cramped and I miss, basically, a full day of events.

Last night, right before I went to bed--just a couple of days before I'm to leave--my cat sitter emails me to say that she's raising her prices by another $10 per visit. She did say that if this was an issue, we should discuss it--but what options do I have? Pay her or try to find someone else I'd trust my house keys and my cats with in, basically, two days? Not likely. And we're not talking about a woman who's rolling in dough, believe me. I suppose that, needing to cancel a night at the hotel means funds will free up for the cat sitter payment, but I'm pretty angry about this, too. I feel cornered and a little bait-and-switched, even though I know that's not how she meant for it to feel or to happen.

I was so excited about this trip, and already it feels like a disappointment.

I know that in the grand scheme of things, these are first world problems. I have friends who can't go to the con because of serious illness. I have other friends dealing with similar issues. Part of me feels like a spoiled child: "Wah! My trip will be shorter!" But part of me feels like this trip has been the One Good Thing I've been looking forward to for weeks, and events are conspiring to sour it. I need to find a way to bring the magic back. I just don't know how.

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about all the last-minute issues. I understand about the disappointment; I, too, have strongly visualized and anticipated events that got changed due to outside circumstances, and as real as they'd been to me, it was as if an actual disaster happened. (Fortunately, in most cases, the real-life events turned out just fine.)

Here's some good Worldcon karma for when you do get out onto the road, and get there. It sounds like it's going to be an interesting one, and I hope it's also fun.

[ckd]

I hear you, and I understand your frustration. I hope the trip (even slightly abbreviated) is even more wonderful than you had hoped it would be.

[lagilman]

Ugh. Sympathies, on all the above, and remember that disappointment isn't a contest - you're allowed to feel it appropriate to your situation, not anyone else's.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Hugs. I'm on pins and needles because the horse is having health problems, and I still don't know if I may have to cancel out at the last minute. We didn't need that vet expense. But still. I'm gonna have as much fun as I can, given that this is probably the last Worldcon I'll be able to attend unless another one happens within a decent driving range--and more sales happen (and that is a very sore spot right now).

[herself_nyc]

I'm sorry, I really KNOW that level of disappointment.

Did your traveling friend miscommunicate or was it that you just had a misconception in mind all along as to timing?

I ask because, keeping in mind your recent post about needing to say 'no' more, I'm inclined to advise you to tell that friend that this is HER problem to solve becuase you are going to be at the con site on Weds, and just go. It strikes me that might be better for you than making another big sacrificial accommodation to the needs of everyone else but yourself.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I thought about this thing exactly. I don't know whose misunderstanding it was, mine or hers. I've been over our emails. We had a couple of phone calls, too, and at this point I just don't remember. My hotel reservation was to start Wednesday night, my cat sitter was supposed to start late Thursday. At this point it's anyone's guess.

After sleeping on it, I've decided that it's kind of a fait accompli. That being the case, I'm looking for silver linings. What the change does do is saves me a day of hotel costs, gives me a day's cushion between work and the con to decompress, to clean house a little and get organized, to maybe get a manicure, rest and relax before a 4+ hour road trip. Time to spend with the cats, maybe to lay out on the balcony and soak up some sun--maybe even go to what passes for a beach here if the weather is decent. There are ways to rescue this. I just need to shift my mindset a little bit.

I'm going to be watching myself very carefully at the con, on the subject of saying no, though. WorldCon can be such a minefield because everyone's excited, the blood runs high, we all want a piece of each other. Prioritizing time will be key, and I've got to respect my choices--and myself--while I'm there. It's going to be a n interesting excursion all around.

[madrobins]

Can I buy you a drink when you get there? The first couple of days I'm going to be back and forth between the con and our house, because I'll be making the cake for the BVC party, but after that...

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yes! This is a yes I'm ecstatic to say. Do you want to plan or play it a little by ear and text message (which would mean I'd need your number and you need mine)? I was hoping very much to see you and spend a little time.