Comments on: The Element of Surprise

By: Mrs. J

Mrs. J — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:32:13 +0000

Aaaand, you Dad has joined the fold. Welcome GrandBee/Papa-to-Bee. Muahahaha…

1. Restaurants w/o online menus are just wrong. I mean do you want me at your restaurant or not?!

2. Awww, I remember that spreadsheet, and how I made (good-natured) fun of you for it. And look how much support you’ve gotten!

3. Didn’t we manage to surprise you for your baby shower?

4. I am just as controlling as the next girl, believe me, but I never got the present snooping! It totally ruins it! I want to know I’m getting something but don’t you date tell me what it is! So are the nuances of control freakery vs. anxiety, I suppose. Le sigh. oxo

Love ya monkey.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:25:56 +0000

Dude, you really ARE my twin. I am a mega-planner to deal with anxiety, too. I have made the packing spreadsheets just like you. And although my guilt about snooping for Christmas presents kept me honest, I too freaked out when I received Girl Talk.

SOOOO awesome.

By: Betts

Betts — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:10:38 +0000

I do Excel spreadsheets for vacations too. And I found my presents once and it was the worst Christmas ever, so I never did it again. You’re making me think I need therapy

By: Mama Bee

Mama Bee — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:40:50 +0000

Shockingly, my shrink said that it doesn’t have that much to do with control! It’s more about dealing with the unknown and that I deal MUCH BETTER when I have information and know what to expect. Whoda thunk?

PS: Dad, that would actually be a GREAT hiding spot since I don’t have a key to your place any more! But I could break in since I do have the alarm code…

By: Pearl Wisdom

Pearl Wisdom — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:27:18 +0000

awww, i loved that your dad commented!!!!

i am guilty of previewing menus too! in fact i get a little irritated when a restaurant doesnt post it’s menu online. the nerve!

honestly i think not liking surprises is a control thing too. but i can say that because i am the same way. i dont even like it when my husband takes a different route to the farmers market. he should go the correct way, MY way!!! hahahaa!!!

By: Mira

Mira — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:54:04 +0000

Has the word ‘control’ come up yet? Or is the therapist dancing around that one? People are always impressed at my scheduling for the triplets but there’s no choice in that matter. As for the rest of it? I’m pretty good at controlling the chaos. It may look like my house is a disaster, but I guarantee it will piss me off if you move one thing. I know what I’m doing here!

By: Dad

Dad — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:21:39 +0000

Make sure Mr. Bee knows he can always hide presents here if need be. I hope we’re more secure now than when you lived at home…..

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:14:03 +0000

I realized last year when beginning the pre-prep phase of planning my own b-day party (um, yeah, for the 20th year?), that perhaps people don’t surprise me because I would always rather do it myself so that nothing that is going to pop up that I don’t like. Actually, I’m lying. I didn’t figure that shiz out. Like 15 people told me. So, I realized that I either have to hand over the reins to my very capable & loving friends or not age. I did not have a birthday party this year

By: RandomGiggles

RandomGiggles — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:11:23 +0000

I loved your idea of the spreadsheet itinerary.. I loved it so much that I am actually in the process of making one right now for my trip to Boston next month.. it was such a great idea.. so maybe don’t give up that part of your “insane” planning techniques. Making a spreadsheet – that is just good sense.

By: Kassia

Kassia — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:00:26 +0000

Holy shit. We’re twins.
I opened most my Christmas presents and rewraped them. I give my family a short list of what I want so as to not be surprised. My birthday is on Christmas day and last year my husband had my mom decorate the house while we were at a movie…. would have been great but he texted my mom about an hour before we left for the movie and I read it over his shoulder. I found the receipt to my engagement ring and looked it up on the internet so I could really ruin it for myself. I didn’t want to find out what flavor baby we were having but bribed the tech to tell me at the last minute.
The list could go on and on.
Wow. Separated at birth I tell ya. Maybe we could get a two for one deal on crazy days at the therapist?