not a machine & erroneously adding the other Ed

Remember when I joked about how I couldn't possibly:  fly with Curly to Arizona for Nationals of Irish dancing, be home for a few days, drive to Yellowstone, then race home and hop a plane for Dublin, where they were considering re-scheduling Irish dancing world championships? 

Then the stars aligned and they decided NOT to do Worlds in August (usually at Easter). 

Then Yellowstone was cancelled. 

That leaves National Championships in Phoenix. Curly and I leave July 6th late afternoon. Competition the 8th. Fly home the 9th. 

Then a situation popped up that caused me to be out of town this week. Long story to follow - at some point. I get home Monday the 5th and fly out the 6th. Writing this from my remote location while I stress over ALL that I need to do before I leave the 6th.

Backing up the bus to last weekend. Coach was out of town teaching a course in Michigan. I sensed a pout that I hadn't hopped at the chance to accompany him. Normally the draw of an empty hotel room/time to myself all day and dinner with Coach after his teaching duties would be tough to turn down. Often if I tag along, he takes an extra day to relax with me and explore whatever city he's teaching in. But getting called out of town at the last minute for a week the day after his Michigan thing followed by a quick turn around to AZ:  ACCOMPANIMENT DEAL BREAKER. 

I am quite capable of kicking things into overdrive, but I'm NOT a machine. Sheesh. 

It doesn't look bothersome,
but after awhile with
no one claiming it? 

While Coach was away I committed to kicking things into high-ER gear. Laundry. Food prep. Meals for the family. Meals for me to pack. Unseasonably cool weather:  bake-a-thon. 

Saturday night:  all the kids went out. Curly slept at a friend's. Normally when Coach is home, he and I would watch a movie or do something that would feel like a slight departure from tasks. I would temporarily FORGET that the house was a mess, etc.  

Guess what? With no rest for the wicked, the wicked get GROUCHY. 

I believe it was the partial muffin wrapped in a paper towel, inside a baggie on the counter for better part of a week that sent me over the edge. I drafted a group text to my 5 phone owning offspring and Coach to keep him in the loop. 

This wasn't just any text. It was an above average I'll-kick-your-ass mom rant. 

Since his party had started late afternoon, Ed came home shortly after I sent the epic text. I was pounding around the house. Still wiping away tears. How dare they leave their wet things around (remember the day I ran and got caught in the rain - this was later that day). Their wet caddy stuff was tossed on hard wood floors and my wooden buffet while they napped, later racing off to be social. Thoughtless. 

Confused Ed:  IS EVERYTHING OK?

Me:  JUST READ THE TEXT.

Ed:  I DON'T HAVE A TEXT FROM YOU.

I'll cry if I admit how long it took
me to add that writing in this text
 - supposed to say lake house.

A bit later I got a text from a young guy in my contacts, also Ed. Last name also starts with S. He's someone's nephew who works in sports marketing. I've saved his contact in case Lad ever wanted to reach out. I had inadvertently included him on my group family chat instead of the legit Ed. 

Other Ed:  HEY, CAN YOU REMOVE ME FROM THIS PLEASE.

Then, because my kids are hilarious, they continued to respond to the thread chuckling that some random guy ended up being subjected to my rant. Have another collective beer, somewhat-old-enough-to-drink offspring plus old-enough Lad AND STOP RESPONDING. THE GUY ASKED TO BE REMOVED NOT TO GET MORE MESSAGES FROM OUR IDIOT FAMILY MEMBERS.

Me:  OH NOOOO! ED HELP ME. GET THIS POOR GUY OFF MY GROUP TEXT. THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER SAW IT. SHIT!

Ed (who'd had a few adult beverages):  I'LL HANDLE IT. (5 MINUTES LATER) UM, NOT GONNA LIE. SORRY, BUT I ACCIDENTALLY INCLUDED HIM AGAIN. I THINK IT'S YOUR PHONE. HE JUST TEXTED BACK:  STILL ON HERE. BUT I FIXED IT THIS TIME. THE NEW GROUP TEXT NAME IS FAMILY THE REAL DEAL.

I HAVE set up group texts before, but my stupid phone acts like it's an impossible function. It never saves the group, even when I name it. Thus my need to recreate the wheel every-flipping time I send a group text. 

How embarrassing. The next day:  separate issue/huge frustration. That's the day I borrowed a phrase from Ally Bean when she recently posted:  SOME POSTS JUST WRITE THEMSELVES. Next time . . .