The kids have been more than a little off schedule lately which has made all of our lives kind of difficult over here. Last week, due to Kyle's foot injury, I had to cancel all of our regular activities. I (falsely) assumed that it would make for a more relaxed, laid back week seeing as how I wouldn't be driving back and forth all over Riverside on a daily basis. But on Tuesday night disaster struck; Isabella woke up at 9p with some sort of a stomach bug. Thankfully it was short lived and - quite miraculously - the rest of us were spared!! However, it was an exhausting time for me. In an effort to rid the house of any germs that may have lingered I washed all of the comforters, blankets, sheets, pillows and even a handful of stuffed animals. I think I did 7 loads of laundry in a matter of 4 hours flat. Kyle was so paranoid about the possibility of getting sick that he all but showered in Lysol. *I* was so paranoid about everyone else getting sick that I slept on the couch for 4 nights, anticipating having to get up with at least 1 child at some point. By Friday I finally felt comfortable in deeming everyone healthy. We had dodged a bullet for sure. Whew!
By the time Saturday rolled around I was running on fumes but there was no hopes of slowing down. Despite the fact that Kyle's Cub Scout pinewood derby car didn't advance to the Regionals, I still had to volunteer some time helping out in the kitchen, since our Pack hosts the Regionals. Originally I had planned on being there from start to finish but there ended up being a conflict when the date of Andrew's bachelor party was changed to the date of the Races. Andrew's friends had planned a fun-filled day of paintball from 9-2 followed by a Brewery Tour in Boston from 5:30-10:30. Knowing that I was obligated to help out at Scouts, Jim decided he'd skip the paintball part of the party and instead join everyone for the tour later on. Because the tour was in Boston, the guys decided it would be best if they took a train to and from the city, especially since one of the train stations is located in walking distance to one of their friends houses. So their game plan was to walk to and from the train station. Jim's plan was to go with them to the train station to get to Boston but then stay on the train to Providence on the way home. While their plan sounded solid I was incredibly skeptical and said as much to Jim. I thought it was a bad idea that their plan was to take the last train home from Boston. I didn't think it was smart to be on any sort of a tight time schedule seeing as how there would be 6 guys drinking unlimited amounts of beer for 5 1/2 hours before the last train. I was clear that no matter what he needed to get home - there would be no overnight stays in Boston (or anywhere else for that matter). Anyways.....
The day started out as planned. Both Jim and I were in agreement that it would be best if he didn't do any driving, given the circumstances of the "drinking" party, so I helped out at the Races from 9-1 and then rushed home to drive him to Andrew's (who lives 45 minutes away) for 2p. Our plan was for me to pick him up in Providence shortly after midnight. Sheila would come stay at the house while I did this so that we wouldn't need to interrupt the kids sleeping.
As the night wore on I was curious about how things were going but I intentionally didn't call or text Jim because I didn't want to be *that* wife. I knew that they were supposed to catch the train home at 11:10, so I sent a text to Jim at 10:30 just telling him that I'd be in Providence for him around 12. He didn't respond, so I figured all was a go. And then, little to my surprise, I received a message from him at 11:15. They had missed the train. The next 30 minutes were full of chaos for me as the guys - in their very poor state - tried to figure out how they were going to get home. Jim told me to pick them up in Boston, which infuriated me. Driving into South Boston, at midnight, was not in the cards but what choice did I have? My stress level sky rocketed, not only because I really don't like driving at night, but also because I had NO IDEA where I was going. I rushed out of the house in a frenzy only to have Jim call me when I was on the road to tell me they were taking a cab to Mansfield and for me to pick him up there. Although Mansfield was really no closer to get to than Boston, it was certainly EASIER to get to so I felt at least a little better. That being said, Jim was SO drunk that he couldn't give me an exact answer as to where I was supposed to get him in Mansfield, nor could any of his friends. They were giggling, joking and having a grand old time..all the while I'm driving North, but with no real destination in mind?! I was so angry with all of them - as they passed the phone from one drunk guy to the next. Finally, Andrew - who should have been the most drunk since he was the actual bachelor - got on the phone and sounded blessedly sober (although I'm certain he wasn't). He gave me an exact address and I was on my way. As for them, well the first couple of taxi drivers could obviously see how drunk they were and so they wanted to charge them top dollar to drive them the 30 minutes from Boston to Mansfield. Fortunately, despite being one of the most drunk people in the whole lot of them, Jim was smart enough to pick up on what the drivers were trying to do and so he negotiated a price with one of them. Yes, you heard me right. He negotiated a price. With a cab driver. Apparently the cab driver turned off the meter and got a little exact cash in his pocket as 6 very tall, big guys somehow squeezed into his tiny cab. I can only imagine what their ride was like...! 45 minutes later and I pulled into the apartment complex just minutes before the taxi arrived. Originally Andrew had told me to wait at home for 45 minutes before going to Mansfield but I knew that the distance from Boston to Mansfield was equal to the distance from my house to Mansfield and I was not about to let Jim have even 1 more second of "fun". I was DONE - and they all knew it when I pulled up in my mini van, got out and barked at Jim to get in. hahaha! As they were all standing there laughing and barely standing up I was thinking to myself "I am way too old for this...WAY TOO OLD". I don't think I would have been the least bit upset if there hadn't been that initial 30 minutes of chaos when they missed the train. If at least one of them had been sober enough to clue me in on what their plan was things would have been okay. I had no problem picking Jim up in Mansfield - and wouldn't have blinked an eye at it if they had just said that's where they were going from the get go. But during that 30 minutes they discussed having me go to Boston, discussed staying overnight, discussed a thousand different things - but it was all done in such an incoherent manner that I was furious. Ugh. I am SO glad it's overwith now, haha! I love my husband more than life itself. He works very hard to support our family and deserves to go out and have some fun from time to time...as long as it's done in a responsible, mature manner.
While I'm sure Jim's friends think that I'm the Wicked Wife Of New England, someday they will be wearing similar shoes when they are Married, 10 years older & have children at home!!
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