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Posted on 08/24/2005 9:50:25 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
New verse:
Upon the hearth the fire is red, |
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Still round the corner there may wait |
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Home is behind, the world ahead, |
As a wedding gift from ecurbh's family, we were given a gift certificate and promise for paid lodging for this: FamilyLife Conferences: Weekend to Remember (R).
Click up and read through it, and tell me if you can picture either me or ecurbh in one of these sessions: Conference Schedule.
Honestly, I dread it. I know that many of you are this churchy, but we just simply aren't. It sounds dreadful to me, and I think to ecurbh too. There is an element of guilt about feeling that way, it's not because we don't want to spend the time together bettering our relationship, it's that we'd be so much better almost anywhere else.
They paid the registration already. They will pay lodging if we go. We just feel it is such a waste. It is so much work for us to arrange animal care for a weekend we can't see wasting our one trip we'll muster in a year this way. If they were to pay for a weekend trip for us, we'd rather accept a trip down there to see them again than this. Or a weekend riding at some great horse hotel with trails.
For us, and our lives and who we are, it's a really back-handed present. ecurbh said "Why couldn't they have gotten us a normal present, like a power tool or a kitchen appliance, instead of some elaborate ruse to bring us back into the fold?"
They would probably refund the money to his parents.... but this is a mine field in terms of our relationship to his parents. ecurbh will ~never~ outright tell them we don't want to go. I know this. When they've asked, we've just said the dates and locations have not been really workable yet. But we are at deadline now... we have to register by Aug 31.
What are our ethical duties here? Must we go? And try to get the most out of what they intended to give us? Or can we decide that it would cause us headache and hassle, and extreme stress that we'll be put on the spot in discussions like they hold. Can we just say "NO"? Would any of you folk like to go, and just pretend to be us?
So there's that.
Then you have to do socks, shoes, belt, shirts and ties. But it's easier to find bargains for those.
Ok, belay that last. The MW website has 'em down around $250.
My last suit was under $200. But that was just the suit and I think it was on sale.
2J, you're not going to get anything decent for under $150. But you could spend much more than that if you want. You ~could~ go the Penneys route. The Stafford line isn't ~bad~.
But really, for a suit you can tell if it's off the rack or custom fit. It's an investment. And if you go with something basic like navy, black or gray, it will last him for years.
Heh...Olive green. I had one of those once. But it was AFTER I had the navy, the black, the gray, the tan AND the blue and white seersucker...
Er.... Hrm...
His other one was navy blue. The olive suit met with a sad demise back when he was commuting to DC so much. His briefcase caused the pant leg to wear where his brushed up against him. At one point the clasp on the briefcase actually snagged the fabric - those pants are very sad looking now. :(
I think you can easily say that it's just not feasible what with the horses and with Ecurb's job situation and thank you very much, but you won't be able to make it.
If it's anything to you, I'm one of those churchy types that don't like these kinds of things either! LOL!
Is there any way you can go and get the lodging and then just not show up for any of the workshops?
Oh!!! I was thinking $500! LOL!!
$200-$250 isn't much imo, for a wool suit!
One of them ~is~ in Bellevue next April. We could conceivably drive it each day and not need a farm sitter. That's the thing. We just still really don't want to go.
We've thought about that.... The towns are kind of Blah... I mean it's not like there's one in Mazatlan, there's choices like "Salt Lake City" and "Eugene".
Hmmm. Sounds like the movie Constantine, which we actually enjoyed very much!
I'm logging off for my visit with Celeste...see you soon!
Heh, I actually have considered that.
And it's not just the workshops, it's that any overnight trip is a real PITA for us. I think they really didn't know that when they thought up this gift idea.
They have since heard our horror stories about flying the farmsitter in from Ohio for our trip to AZ in March, so maybe the idea is getting through. But then they still ask if we're coming for Christmas, so maybe not. ;~D
But there is a conference in Seattle, so we don't ~have~ to overnight it, and we can come home to feed animals.
I'm no help to you. :(
Have peace!
There's a Western wear place right near here...in the same building as the really-good-shoe-store and a good craft store. Oh, and an office supplies place. And a bakery. It's a fairly scary building.
I haven't yet gone into the clothing place, mostly 'cause I'm scared I'll get the cold shoulder for being an Easterner. Heh. And because it looks expensive.
You know, I know so few chains, I dunno even where to start if I'm really going to look for a dress. Never heard of Chico's. And actually, I've never been to a Talbot's or a Coldwater Creek - I just used to drool over Coldwater's catalog when I was overseas, and when they had, as you said, a slightly more southwestern kinda look.
We don't have any of 'em at home. I'd like to find out if there's actually a good consignment place around, too.
I like Coldwater Creek clothes, but as soon as I get a sufficient number of the pounds off, I'm going to Chico's!
Heh, great fashion minds think alike! 'Cept you can wear them right now and I can't! ;o(
We enjoyed Constantine, also. I read TPD and the sequel many, many years ago and enjoyed them. They were clever and entertaining and more uplifting than Constantine.
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