Party?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 8:04PM Conner being a creature of habit asked for his birthday party to be at the local bowling alley like last year. It was no hassle (as no-hassle as a birthday party can be for a parent) and the kids enjoyed themselves. Best part (aside from Conner having a ball): no clean-up.
So there I am last Saturday, a full month out from his actual birthday, calling said bowling alley in attempt to book this bash.
Me: Yes, I’d like to book a birthday party.
Asst Ball Polisher: Ok. When?
Me: <date>
ABP: … ooooh. Yeah. That’s not going to work. See, my manager told me that we couldn’t book ANY parties for the entire month of June because of a bowling tournament. I can get your information and let her call you back.
Me: …
So I give him some contact info and started to google. Number 1, there’s only 3 bowling alleys in this city (f*ck). Number 2, of those 3 this one was the only one not located in the ghetto. Number 3, EVEN IF I WANTED TO GO TO THE GHETTO AND BOWL WITH A GROUP OF 5-YEAR OLDS, I COULDN’T IN THE MONTH OF JUNE BECAUSE THIS TOURNAMENT OF DOUCHECANOES WAS GOING ON AT EVERY VENUE.
::facepalm::
I entered panic mode. I was ***not*** ok with having his party at my home for these reasons:
- Space:: We have a lovely house with 4 bedrooms/2 baths, but it’s just not conducive to 10 5-year-olds and their parent(s). Like, just no.
- Cleaning:: I loathe nothing more than busting my figurative balls for a full week all-the-while getting the cake and the food and the drinks and the favors and all other things that are applicable ONLY for my party guests to whirl through the house which then results in me being left with utter destruction. Which means, the next day, I have to clean the whole damn thing again.
- Weather:: Space would be less of an issue if we used our fenced-in backyard… but it’s June. The last week of June, to be more precise. And in Alabama that = 95+ degree, 80% humidity and 100% OMG SHOOT ME
- That’s about it. (Oh! But we also have 3 dogs. So there.)
Then, I entered a different version of panic mode because I live in this NO GOOD, HORRIBLE, CRAP HOLE of a city and as I googled other places to have this par-tay, I came up with these alternatives:
- Pump It Up - pretty much every other party we’ve been invited to has been there. Conner isn’t much for it. And it’s just rather “bleck”
- … THAT’S IT.
No other alternatives!
Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggh.
Can’t bring the party “home” to Birmingham (where I’d have like, 30923909320482043 options for venues) because all of his pre-school pals are HERE (and therefore unlikely to willingly drive 2 hours for a bday party).
Two days later, the bowling alley called and could “fit me in” on the FOLLOWING Saturday (note: in 8 days from the end of the conversation).
Me: …
NO.
So I emailed around to his preschool pal’s parents (PPPs) (noteworthy: the only parent I’ve ever seen do that is yours truly) and was all “so um, <insert dramatic story> could you come?> to which I received 4 “um NOs” within 3 hours.
Fabulous, but I don’t blame them. It was very short notice and a lot of these PPPs are AF families who all have 24/7 access to bowling on-base, so. Yeah. I get these things.
Then a brillant idea popped in my head: POOL PARTY.
But where? Oh where? We do have a YMCA membership but I’d never heard of a party there. So I called.
And we booked it.
THANK GOD.
Oh, but it costs $250 to rent the pool for 2 hours because they have to employee a lifeguard after hours for us (yes, we are literally “shutting that shit down”) and DUDE. That’s pricey. I still have cupcakes/cake, pizza, paper product, refreshments, etc OMG.
Oh, and I’m pretty positive I’m making this:
source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/3315119454_d719cabfc7.jpg
Reader Comments (4)
Ooh, I know those ghetto bowling alleys very well. In fact, I stayed in a hotel right next to one during my last show at ASF and we all went over there for a drink one night. Sketchy. Glad you booked the YMCA. Hope it's fun!
We need to have a lunch date soon so we can bond before BlogHer!
Yeah, sketchy bowling alleys suck, but they are the most prevalent kind. I love the YMCA idea though, good going! And that cake looks awesome. And also makes me want cake for breakfast. So, thanks.
CUTE alligator!!!
And- um- some of us might have driven 2 hours for a pool party... but whatever.... lol ;-) (You know I'm SO lying with my 2 small- screaming- non car trip taking- childern)