Dear Cr-Abby from Trapped in Calgary

DEAR CR-ABBY:
My father-in-law passed away in 2002 and had a friend I'll call "Roy," who was his skiing buddy. This "friend" now comes to Canada every winter for a 10-day vacation. He expects us to drive him to his destination two hours away, over icy roads and at times blizzard-like conditions, leave him there for a week, return the following weekend at night, stay the weekend and then host him for two to three days.
Abby, this is a busy time of year for me. It is not our vacation time. My husband thinks it's no big deal, but I feel differently. I have tried to get my husband to stop this "chauffeur" duty back and forth each year, to no avail. This year, Roy will be spending an extra two nights at our home. I am too busy to entertain, cook meals, etc.
Please advise! -- TRAPPED IN CALGARY

Dear Caged and Cantankerous in Canada,

Obviously your HUSBAND views this man as family (he probably played an important role during his youth as a friend of his father). He may simply view this as paying tribute to his father by tending to his father's friend.

As your husband is willing to do the driving...you are left with only one burden...
...Tolerating a houseguest and serving up a few meals over a 2 or 3 day period.

If you can't bring yourself to do it for your father-in-laws friend, do it for your husband and shut the F*** up! BTW, if it is just too big a burden to clang a few pots in the kitchen...ask hubby for a few Canadian dollars and go fetch grub at a take out!

I suspect your husband tolerates and accommodates all manner of fun folks on your side of the family tree. Judging by your lack of empathy and flexibility I'll bet he just loves it when your mom drops in...not!

Women!,... can't shut'em up, can't kill'em, can't train 'em!!!

Cr-Abby