The oddest thing just happened....

[Pixie]

My husband and I had planned a New Year's Eve  "Poker and Pajama" party..... we names it that so guests would know not to dress up and just wear casual clothes.  We cleaned the house, cooked all day, made sure there were a variety of drinks,   had everything ready and waiting at 6PM. Guests started arriving at 6:30, everything was going well.  Then at 8 PM we get a call from one of the guests, GEE,  who couldn't make it as he and his wife have a new baby and a toddler..... no problem, we knew his coming was iffy at best.....

Then my husband tells me that the party is moving to GEE's house.   Hubby and the guys packed up the food I spent all day cooking and off they went about 5 minutes ago. I was invited, but I really would rather stay home, I don't know GEE or his wife very well, and frankly, I have to clean up from our (what turned out to be) pre-party party, and I am tired.   

Is this normal? I have never had one of my parties moved to someone else's house before.  I'm not angry, I'm not upset.... I'm just stunned.

[sammycat]

WHAT??!!!    Odd doesn't even begin to describe it.  That was just soooo rude!!!  I'm sorry but I can't believe your husband agreed to moving the party (or suggested it himself).  If GEE wants to have a party let him clean all day, prepare food and do all the other organising throwing a party involves.  And it was rude of all your guests to just pack up and go too.

I'm so mad on your behalf and I'm on the other side of the world. 

[guihong]

How rude to just up and leave you like that!  At least it sounds as if being alone was OK, but wow...first jaw thud of (almost) 2007  .

For poetic justice, I'd fix a nice dinner one day soon, then have a friend call you and invite you over "last minute" (pre-planned).  Then take the dinner!

gui

[Pixie]

WHAT??!!!    Odd doesn't even begin to describe it.  That was just soooo rude!!!  I'm sorry but I can't believe your husband agreed to moving the party (or suggested it himself).  If GEE wants to have a party let him clean all day, prepare food and do all the other organising throwing a party involves.  And it was rude of all your guests to just pack up and go too.

I'm so mad on your behalf and I'm on the other side of the world. 

Oh no, I'm not upset with Hubby at all.  When he learned that all of his guests, guys he works with, were all going to GEE's house, he asked me what I thought.  I said, go and have a good time. I was only worried about him driving, but I just found out its close enough that Hubby walked.   Hubby also knows if he needs a ride he can call me and I'll come get him. 

I was just shocked that GEE and his wife called here and asked my "party" to come over to their house as they can't go out with a new baby and toddler in the house.  I am not at all upset with Hubby, he is the most considerate husband and would not have gone except that he was put in the middle. 

It just seems odd to me. But maybe that's how things are done here in Texas.

[Hawkwatcher]

My husband and I had planned a New Year's Eve  "Poker and Pajama" party..... we names it that so guests would know not to dress up and just wear casual clothes.  We cleaned the house, cooked all day, made sure there were a variety of drinks,   had everything ready and waiting at 6PM. Guests started arriving at 6:30, everything was going well.  Then at 8 PM we get a call from one of the guests, GEE,  who couldn't make it as he and his wife have a new baby and a toddler..... no problem, we knew his coming was iffy at best.....

Then my husband tells me that the party is moving to GEE's house.   Hubby and the guys packed up the food I spent all day cooking and off they went about 5 minutes ago. I was invited, but I really would rather stay home, I don't know GEE or his wife very well, and frankly, I have to clean up from our (what turned out to be) pre-party party, and I am tired.   

Is this normal? I have never had one of my parties moved to someone else's house before.  I'm not angry, I'm not upset.... I'm just stunned.

I have heard of people attending more than one party on New Year's Eve but I have never heard of anything like this.  I think that if I was in your shoes, this would be the last party I would host for this group for a very long time.  I also think that I would leave some of the cleaning for my husband.

[Alida]

Odd?  How about outside anything normal people would even consider doing.  That was beyond rude.

[sammycat]

Pixie - okay, now that I've calmed down a bit, I apologise for insinuating that your husband suggested the moving of the party.  I can understand about him being caught in the middle.  Am I right in guessing that the "guests" were going to go to GEE's place regardless of whether your husband agreed to come?  In which case I can see that he was caught between a rock and a hard place. 

But that in no way excuses (1) GEE for inviting everyone over and thus hijacking your party, and (2) the guests for actually going.

I don't know why this has struck such a nerve with me.  I've never had it happen to me but I have hosted a lot of parties, including 4 in the past month and another one tomorrow, so I know how much hard work goes into preparing for guests'.  Will you ever invite over or socialise with these people again? 

[kareng57]

I can understand it if had been a very casual gathering - i.e. potluck (everyone bringing something) and if the "hosts" hadn't been doing heavy-cleaning, decorating etc. to get the place ready.  Perhaps GEE's kids were a bit under the weather and they felt that it wasn't a good idea to transport them somewhere else - in that case, I can understand the "let's move the party here".

But the way it happened does seem to be quite odd.

[ZipTheWonder]

Wait.  Your husband went, too?   

[Pixie]

Wait.  Your husband went, too?   

Yes. He came to me when he realized our party was walking out the door and asked what he should do.  I said, "Go and have a good time."   There is no reason for both of us to stay home and stare at each other while we tend to the fire in the fireplace and tidy up the kitchen.  I can do that, and since these are his co-workers, he can go to the party.   Yes, he will owe me, and I do expect a very nice birthday gift and perhaps dinner in 3 weeks!    But there was just no way both of us should suffer because our guests decided to go with plan B.

[bibbety]

 His co-workers are beyond rude. Your husband should have said "no, the party is here, my wife has gone to a lot of trouble."

You need to have a long talk with him and not invite these creeps again.

[sammycat]

His co-workers are beyond rude. Your husband should have said "no, the party is here, my wife has gone to a lot of trouble."

You need to have a long talk with him and not invite these creeps again.

Agreed 100%

ETA: Even if your husband felt like he was between a rock and a hard place, did he at least try to dissuade people from leaving, or better yet tell GEE straight out 'no' that the party wasn't moving to his place?

[IndianInlaw]

What would they have done had you not catered their party?

For what it's worth, years (decades) ago, I went to a party as someone's date.  I didn't know anyone but my date.  We went to one party, then left for another.  Hostess #1 was distressed nobody was staying until midnight.  I felt terrible about leaving.

[JeanFromBNA]

Wow.  I would have been angry, upset, and stunned at the sight of guests turning into thieves as they abruptly departed.  If they had tried to pack up the food that I had spent all day cooking, I would have told them no, that "this food is for our guests."

I'm not willing to give your husband a get out of e-hell free card.  By following his friends, he demoted you from partner to caterer. 

Agree 100% with "You need to have a long talk with him and not invite these creeps again."

[arkzak]

Cue sound of another jaw dropping.  I'm just horrified and hurt on your behalf. How dare grown adults behave in such a cavalier manner.

As for GEE; did this new baby and toddler of his just appear out of the blue on New Year's Eve??? Funny how they weren't taken into consideration until the last minute.

I hope you had a nice peaceful evening, and I hope you never have to deal with these immature twits again.