GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Can someone who knows me please explain exactly what it is about me that says "If you want to take a vacation, but can't quite afford it, go with Amie, she will front you until you can come up with the money!". I actually thought I've been quite vocal in my annoyance at that happening before, I've shared the story, in fact, I've shared the story with the new parties involved, but it didn't appear to sink in. Apparently, what ever it is about me that says "If you want to take a vacation, but can't quite afford it, go with Amie, she will front you until you can come up with the money!" is way stronger than anything else that I actually have vocalized.

Currently, I am sitting in a beautiful condo right on the ocean in Florida on the 22nd floor and I am so seething angry I cannot even go sit on my balcony to enjoy the view. Well, I also can't go because there isn't wireless internet and the cable won't reach the balcony.

This trip was planned weeks and weeks and weeks ago. The dollar amount was discussed multiple times before anything was booked. I booked the condo at the end of June and paid for it in the beginning of July. And by paid for it I mean with a check, not a credit card...there was no grace period. The rental car was discussed, the dollar amount was discussed, and I paid for it on MY credit card. I'm not sure what about this was difficult to understand...just because something is paid for on a credit card does not mean that you have eternity to pay it off, it's not a free ride, paying it off during that billing cycle is sort of important otherwise the cost just goes up. And, when something is paid for with a check, there is NO GRACE PERIOD. This was all stated, although a little nicer than how it's typed above.

I was asked before we left it would be okay if I were given some money ahead of time and the rest when we returned, and I was fine with that. Only it didn't happen. Last night the guy from the other couple asked me if it would be okay if he and his wife paid me $50 each from their pay checks until it was paid off. I said okay. Now, you might be going "well, why the heck did you say okay?!?!?!"? I'll explain. This couple is my boyfriend's best friend in the world. It was obvious as this conversation took place that there was not an alternative, saying 'no, that's not okay' would not have accomplished anything because they obviously did not have the cash to hand over to me. Starting a disagreement with people that you have to spend the next day with and drive with for twelve plus hours on the way home would not be the ideal situation. It can be discussed later, but now isn't good.

My annoyance is that first of all, why in the heck would someone just assume that I have the cash to back their vacation? What about me says that I do? Secondly, why in the heck did this conversation take place DURING the vacation? Obviously the other couple knew well before mid-trip that they didn't have the cash available, wouldn't you mention it before hand? And, thirdly, if you want to make payments out of your paycheck every week, why the heck didn't you start that BEFORE we left, not after we return?

Let me also state that I did not want to go to Florida in August. I did not want this other couple to go on vacation with us, I wanted a vacation with Marc and I by ourselves. I also did not want to front this trip for them, but apparently I just don't get what I want. (Shut up, you're on vacation in Florida...I KNOW!).

And, while I'm complaining I'll also throw this out there....I spent hours and hours of time, and had the assistance of a friend in locating this condo. *I* found it. I checked condo after condo looking for the perfect one. The contribution of the other couple in the search for where to go in Florida was "Where ever is cheaper", because I'm a freaking travel agent and have the time and resources to look at every city and location in the entire state and figure out where the cheapest place to travel is. I booked the condo. I paid for the condo. We get inside, they waltz into the master bedroom and declare "We would like to have this room!". Really? You want the master bedroom with the view of the ocean? With the kink sized bed? With the private attached huge bathroom? Really? You want that? You don't want the tiny other bedroom with the double bed and small not so private bathroom and the crappy view? Really? Of course, take it...that's fine, I'll pay for your trip AND give you the good bedroom. (Marc actually told them that was fine they could have that room. I said we could switch half way through. Marc didn't see the big deal. Until we switched last night...now he gets it). I also see that "where ever is cheapest" should have been a clue, but when things are discussed MULTIPLE times and NO ONE indicates that price was a problem how in the heck should I know that it is?

Seriously.

Okay, I'm finished now. Venting here will allow the next couple of days to go by peacefully. I hope.
Cheers!