I decided to hire a limo for a winery tour. It sounded nice and mellow, and something the senior set might be into. Her party is on Friday and I made the reservation in April for the tour, including the pickup location.
Today the limo company calls me to say that the traffic is too heavy on Friday afternoons and that I would have to choose a pickup location closer to the winery in order for them to fulfill my time requests. I booked a four hour tour w/ two winery locations and tastings and tours at each winery.
I call the company back to find out what our options are as far as what would be a good pick up location, and the guy that answers the phone tells me that he isn't able to help me with my info and the manager will call me back tomorrow with alternatives.
I went back and looked up the locations of the wineries we are supposed to be touring, and the location is at least an hour in good traffic situations. During Friday rush hour traffic in Portland, it is likely to be closer to two hours travel time. I feel like I've got a real problem. I either have to pay for more limo time to sit in rush-hour traffic ($175 ugh!) or I ask my guests to brave rush-hour traffic after drinking a bunch of wine. Neither option sounds like the ideal situation.
The Limo service suggested a 10:30am pick-up. I may have to go that route, but I'm not real pleased about it. I don't even know if I can get anyone else there at 10:30am, and I would have spent $1000 on just my mom and me.
I just feel like crying. I've put a lot of work into sneaking around to get everyone's address and email, so I can surprise my mom. Many people have taken the day off from work just for this party. There were a few RSVPs that came back with note's complaining that "most people" have to work on Friday's and party planning should be reserved for the weekends. My mom and her husband both work weekends, so this wouldn't have been a surprise if I said "Hey Mom, take the Saturday after your birthday off. Why? No reason, you just work too much."
I've got adult goodie bags that cost like $10 each, thankyouverymuch. I bought a nice coffee table book on wine for the winner who solves the murder mystery. I even planned an early dinner at a very nice restaurant that features live music in the summer in their outdoor dining area. The restaurant was supposed to be the pick up and drop off location, so that people had a chance to sober up and eat some hors D'Oeuvres and birthday cupcakes before driving home.
I feel so frustrated now. It isn't like I can't change my plans, but asking 20 people to change their plans is a bit much. Sigh.
Sorry for the long rant.



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