Monday, October 22, 2007

I'm having a pity party

Yes, this past weekend was Rhinebeck. Did I go? Well, sort of.

The curveballs started flying earlier in the week. It was my Jonathan's 13th birthday. It's a big day for sure. For him, he has finally made it to teenagehood, for me, I get to endure another 7 years with a teenager.




Also going on that day was the first Knitting Club meeting at his school. No Jonathan doesn't knit (he pointedly reminded me of this fact) but everyone at his school knows that I knit so I was drafted to help. How do you say no?


That's the school nurse who bravely took on this challenge. Check out all of the boys! Jonathan waited outside really angry that this was going on on his birthday. Ugh...

After the club meeting, I had to race from there to an event my garden club was sponsoring. A youth garden day in town


For about a month we gathered up garden foliage and dried flowers for the children to assemble into garden sculptures.

Jonathan waited in the car. I was only able to snap a few pictures before I had to rush home to get the birthday boy cleaned and scrubbed for dinner which was to be at a restaurant called the Melting Pot. A fondue place, I thought it would be fun. Well $250 dollars later (I shit you not), not only did we have to "fondue" our own raw meat, but the new college student (oh, I didn't mention that he came home for the week?) is a vegetarian and he resented the fact that the restaurant brought out raw meat to be cooked in the same 'melting pot' as his "fondued" veggies. I was so mad at myself for this entire fiasco but had to put on a smiley face for the new teenager. The only thing I did right that day, it seemed, was to invite his friend along who sat between him and his 16 year old big brother who takes special pride in needling him every possible second.

So, yes, the college student was home from school that week. Have you ever had this experience? Welcoming home for the first time a newly minted college student? Somebody ought to write an owners manual for this event. I'll say no more.

What, you say you want to know about Rhinebeck?? Well there's more. Saturday, we were to take the college student to the airport at 10am. The 16 year old had the PSAT exam at 7:00am and a cross country meet at 11:30 am. The new 13 year old had to finish a school project plus get ready for a huge dance for a popular girl's 13 birthday party. Dad chose the airport. I didn't see him anymore that day. It seems he was overcome with a severe case of fatherhood regret that he missed the entire life of his new college student. He stayed at the airport evidently immobilized. The problem for me (other than the obvious) was that he had my car the family van because his car a late model midlife crisis convertible isn't really suitable anymore for long distance driving.

As the hours ticked away on opening day at Rhinebeck, I bit off all of my nails, ate all of the birthday boy's birthday cake and worked myself into such a tissy that I have very little recollection as to how I managed to empty my bank account, rent a car, drive the 1.5 hours to Rhinebeck, and stagger around the fair grounds until people began recognizing me (blogger bingo) and jolted me out of my daze. I did manage to leave behind my camara, patterns folder, my needles and little desire to do anything other than go to the wine tasting tent.

Well, I guess there's next year. The plan? To book a bed and breakfast for the weekend and not look back.

30 comments:

Adrienne said...

OH NO, but your post made me laugh lol. We have a melting pot here too and YES it can get pricey!!!

Max said...

Well, I envy you, because you're further along on the path of teenagerhood, oi, and at least you got to Rhinebeck for a little while! Next year, me too: booking a room. See you there :)

Anonymous said...

250, wow that is pricy...you pay by the item,I assume? One of my sons knits and has made hats, scarfs and is trying to make mittens! Thank goodness for a glass of wine a book and a loving bed when things begin to go south!

WandaWoman said...

Oh, my goodness, you had quite a lot of things happening. That's too funny a/b your hubby being immobilized at the airport.

I like the Melting Pot, but it is v. expensive imo. I've had the experience twice, once with a full meal and the second time, we went for dessert, which was a better idea, with dessert stuff and a bottle of wine for $20.

I'm not really into foods that I have to work hard for. By the time they bring out your "meal", you are hungry and you have to cook your meal, a few pieces at a time. it's a neat concept, but i found it not the right thing for me.

Lynn said...

OMG no wonder you hung out by the wine table!!! LOL Nothing like trying to do the right thing for our kids and have them find the ONE thing *THEY* dont' like. And I hear you on the melting pot. I've been to one and I have a problem with cooking my own food. If I'm going to a restaurant, I want THEM to cook for ME. However their dessert tray is SOOO YUMMY!!!

Here's to 7 more years of teenage fun! I'll be there in another 4 years, but then I'll have a GIRL as well. That scares me more than the boy.....

Ina said...

What a weekend! The photo of your new, official teenager is a classic, so great to haul out at some future family function. I'm sorry to have missed you at Rhinebeck - the plan for next year sounds wise.

Anonymous said...

Oh Deborah! You had a busy eventful day. BTW, did I pronounce your name right? I am so glad I got to meet you! I had just left the wine tasting event when I ran into you, so pardon my wide eye balls. I guess I should remember to taste, and keep it moving next time!

Necia

Beatriz said...

Well, you can look forward to the fact that you live close enough to go to Rhinebeck each year.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my gosh! you´re killing me.
Seems like my last week( with out a birthday party)
I so wanted to go to Rhinebeck, but the family choose to do homework, house hunting and I was thinking of all the good stuff I was missing out on and had the same thought about a B&B next year.
Its always next year.
Beate

Anonymous said...

Poor you! I hope Rhinebeck cheered you up after all the other disasters. Did you at least buy something soft?

Virtuous said...

LOL @ 7 more years with a teenager! Haha! :oD

I love the Melting Pot!! I am sure your mint college boy could have cooked his veggies in a different pot!

Well at least you were at Rhineback in body! :op Haha! I SO like the B&B idea better! I will go with ya!! :oD

Sheila said...

Man-o-Man did you have a lot going on... I would have carried around my jug of brandy to keep me focused....lol At least you made it to Rhineback and had the wine to soothe you. Oh!! 7 more years sounds good - my stepson is alreay away @ college and now my daughter wants to transfer to out-of-state... I'm so not wanting her to go, but know I need to let her go. I just love that she's going to college locally and having her around everyday.

LaVerna said...

Bless your heart!You sound like me last week.My oldest daughter turned 16 and we took her and 20 of our friends and family to a Japanese kabuki restaurant.I wont even tell you how much we spent.But it was cheaper than having one of those super sweet 16 parties!
One of these days,I WILL make it up to Rhinebeck.And we WILL have that margarita together!

Janice said...

Ok, you are too funny!! I am sorry for your weekend and all, but I love that you can blog about it and sort of laugh at the whole thing!! (tis a gift!!) I haven't been to the Melting Pot but heard it's good (and expensive) I can see a vegetarian having issues..... If you come across a manual of ANY SORTS on parenting.. pass it along :-) The best advice I've been given is just to hang on tight!! It's quite a ride!!

Mary Anne said...

It sounds like an eventful week and you give me so many laughs with your stories. I know it wasn't all funny but your writing is so perfect. I feel for you but I also laugh along (I hope that's ok).

Carrie said...

lol, you are so funny!!!!! How do you do it all??? Happy Birthday to your new teenager! Wow! And that cake looks delightful... next time I'll come over with a fork and help you out ;)

Kelly said...

Man, this weekend life definitely got in the way of knitting!

Crystal said...

I just love reading your blogs! Happy birthday to your new teenager! I feel you on the new college student returning home. My oldest daughter was in for a rude awakening on her first trip home after being in college for a month.

CrazyFiberLady said...

My goodness, what a weekend!! Your idea for next year sounds perfect. Now way would I want to spend $250 and cook the damn meal myself. Not.

Jeanine said...

WOW.. You REALLY did have some heck of a day. Sounds like a long one too. Again, I'm sorry we didn't get to meet. But I am glad you were at least able to make it. I'll see you there next year!

Steph said...

Oh my goodness!!! You poor thing!

Did you at least get some yarny goodness? Or were the wine samples enough?

I had a crappy Rhinebeck last year and a great one this year (with a new baby, none the less). There is hope.

Unknown said...

Next time drive his mid-life crisis car! What an arrival you would have made at Rhinebeck!

somebunnysloveDOTcom said...

I think next year, we should rent a limo together. Now THAT would make an entrance!
=:8

knitseashore said...

I'm sorry I missed you! I know you didn't mean for your post to be funny; at least you have a sense of humor about it! Hope you found some cool yarn to soothe your wounds. :)

Rebecca said...

events certainly conspired to leave you dazed at a major fiber festival. as i read, i thought "surely it won't get any worse?" poor you. next year will definitely be better!

always wanted to go to melting pot, but haven't had an opportunity. i've heard it's pricey, so it's one of those things i'll do while out of town with other foodie colleagues so my DH doesn't whine and complain about how pricey everything is. he's a wet blanket that way.

hakucho said...

One thing I must say about you is that you have the best sense of humor! Next year you got to have a plan though and stick to it ;)
I feel for you with all the teenagers. My baby will be 13 in a few weeks and it's no picnic...but we will survive right? some how, some way????
(Oh...and the college student thing it does get better...my college senior is amazing now...what a difference a few years and some maturity makes!! )

Anonymous said...

Am I to understand that you have 3 teenage boys? You do have my pity.

AR said...

Happy Birthday!
Cool knitting class. I'll start teaching kids at the school here again, soon. Fun stuff.

Anonymous said...

You are the only person that visit my blog and comments. Thank you for that. I love yours.

Anonymous said...

Deb. You're not on Ravelry? I can't believe it. Are you on the list?