I need to vent and I apologize in advance for this novella of complaints....
Eesh.
My parents live on the east coast. I haven't seen my mother since April 2012 and haven't seen my father since October 2011. He's recently developed a "dislike of flying" although he blames it on how expensive it is. We were supposed to have seen them at Disney, along with my brother who lives in FL, this past January but both my parents and my brother decided not to come down. (First my dad was going to have the lap band surgery and therefore didn't want my mother to come on her own -- the surgery which didn't actually happen until February. Then, my brother realized that he wouldn't have my parents to foot the bill for him and he decides not to drive the 3 hours down to Orlando to visit. Okay then.

)
Since the beginning of the year, Miss M has asked if they would come out for her birthday in April. My mom obviously wants to come. My dad said he wanted to as well, and that they would drive. I was a bit shocked that he sounded like he really wanted to come and because we haven't seen them in a while so I was pleased that they were both going to be coming.
This afternoon, I had two missed calls from my parents so I call back and my dad answers -- those missed calls were both from him. This is where I usually say a mental "Uh-oh" because multiple calls from him only result in one thing -- complaining about my mom. The first bit of the conversation was pleasant enough; I even managed to get him off the subject of harking on about my mother buying a tea towel. (Yes, this is the level of things he would let ruin his day -- my mom buying a tea towel.

) I made a comment about how Miss M was going to be excited to see them in April. He then uses this as a segue and starts in on how no one has ever complained about his driving ... except my mother. And now, I can see it coming.
When I get into conversations like this with my dad, I really don't understand what he wants to hear from me.

I told him to either act like adults and be pleasant to each other on the drive out, fly or don't come. Simple, right? He had an excuse why he couldn't do either of the first two options... so the only thing remaining is don't come. I tell him that I'll let Miss M know they won't come and he gets angry at me and hangs up the phone.
Eesh. All I can say is eeeeeesh.

Those APs are sounding better and better by the moment.
And with that, I thank you for letting me get these mundane family-drama issues off my chest.