Surprise visits good or bad?

Do you like surprise company? Are you one of those folks that is just tickled pink & purple to have someone show up unannounced, happy they thought enough of you to come? Or does it burn your bottom? Do you get disgusted that your house isn't clean, you had no time to prepare a snack, and you have NO idea why they would come & not call first to make sure you're dressed & proper?

Survey says....

It burns my bottom.

depends on who it is...if it's my close in town friend who has seen my house at it's worse then sure come on in, but if it's REAL company then it burns my bottom!

I'm in Category 2. When unannounced visitors arrive I'm mortified that my house isn't spotlessly clean and I'm not wearing my best clothes, and I have no fancy cookies to hand out. On the other hand, if I know folks are coming, I work myself to exhaustion getting everything perfect, and then I'm too tired to enjoy their company! If only I could be as relaxed as my husband, who says visitors can just take us as they find us.

I ask this because a family member surprised a friend's wife with a surprise visit. The husband in that family knew about it, but kept it a secret from his wife. Now, my relative & that wife aren't speaking.. it's a shame, but I think I can see why she's annoyed...

Balls my stomach up to think about it.

It burns my bottom.

The husband didn't tell?!?! Ohh mine knows better! He'd be missing body part's he's really attatched to if he did that to me.

You got that right! Mine protects me from stuff like that. He knows how I despise that crap.

Well, you can't get in at my house unless you call first. There HAVE been 2 times that someone let themselves in, and I was NOT happy. It's rude. On the other hand, that HUSBAND was in the wrong. If that happened, my DH would be in the doghouse - er the barn.

IF I kept my house looking decent, I would not mind drop-in visits most times. Having said that, I am one of those folks who makes plans for company just so I will get the house clean! I don't like unexpected drop-in's, no. I don't mind someone stopping by if she sees me out working in the yard -- She just doesn't get past the yard. LOL

I don't figure people surprising us with a visit expect a snack or other refreshments, so I don't worry too much about that. Our friends know we always have coffee and water, so that'd better be sufficient. ;)

I wouldn't blame the company -- like Jenks said, the husband is the one who arranged it. It's not the company's fault his wife was unprepared. That's sad!

This message was edited Apr 5, 2007 6:56 PM

anyone who knows them well enough to get past my three large dogs already knows what the house looks like!

Anyone else who drops by uninvited is not invited in, and I don't make any effort to call off the dogs!

I would trade the husband in the post above for a smarter dog.

bonkers, I have never had to turn a good friend away, but I would if they came. I know, I'm not normal, but my house is where I 'LIVE', not where I showcase what I 'HAVE'. I just don't have visitors. The exceptions are my mom, my sister, my son, and his family.

I wouldn't be upset because the house was a mess, I would be upset because if I'm home at all, it means that I have a day off from work, and that probably means that I've either been cleaning house, working outside, or sitting on DG in my jammies drinking coffee. I most likely haven't even showered yet. I would be the one that wouldn't be presentable, not the house.

Nope, if you wanna get in my house, you best call first. I've been known to not answer the door if I'm not presentable.

I don't answer the door, either. The doorbell I have is inaudible (I can't hear it). But I gave myself permission a long time ago if the phone rings, or the doorbell rings, I don't have to answer them if I don't want to. It took a lot of pressure off!

Got that right, FlowrLady! Joan, I'm prone to having those jammie days, myself. :)

since most of our family leaves more that 2 hours away they always call first to tell us they are planing a visit which prompts my wife to start cooking for an army. all of our local friends always call before they come over but to be truthful even though we are all good friends we mostly do not show up unannounced. but it wouldn't matter to me and dw.

Most people I kno have cell phones attached at the hip, so there's really no excuse these days. It has nothing to do with the way my house looks. I just think it's the proper thing to do. :)

lol well if I come to visit you I'm not callin! :P~

I would never show up at someone's home unannounced, it's a courtesy to call first. Leave the suprises for something else!

I agree - trade the husband in for something.

Re: Trading in Husband - Yeah, but can you imagine what you'd get back???

It's a dilemma - I lovelovelove having folks around, and always want to have a home that invites people to relax and have fun. On the flip side, I *never* just stop in on anyone, hardly even call for fear of catching folks at a bad time (neurotic, I admit, but it has to do with my up bringing). And as mentioned, in this day of cell phones, it really shouldn't be an issue - just call.

Pagancat, I would trade him in for an equal amount of chocolate.

That feller has Awareness Issues... he should have known to tell his wife. But, maybe, just maybe there's a good reason for him forgetting to mention it (had to run out and purchase something from Tiffany's for Wifey, for example).

I am mortified when I don't have a chance to do the anal-retentive house cleaning and toilet flushing thing before people come over...

We get unannouced visits all the time. I don't care if house is a mess or not. We are messy people but not too bad. But my mom freaks and cleans like crazy til my dad and I both tell her to stop, the house is as clean as it's gonna get on a gravel road.

my own personal mantra is 'a clean house is a sign of a sick mind', so in the interests of my sanity, it is what it is. It's not spotless, it's lived in. OK, some days, you can ask, 'lived in by what?' lol

BTW, the gardens are tidy!

Oh it depends on who it is. If it's someone I haven't seen in a long time and they were in the area I would be OK with it!

My father in law AND mother in law both live within 5 miles of me (they are divorced.) In the beginning it was - "Oh we would NEVER just drop in!!" Well they seem to have forgetton that once we had their grandson!!! A call first please!!! I do try to hint though and although am not rude let them know if we are busy.

My next door neighbor on the other hand... Well he's that 'creepy' neighbor - know what I mean? Like he was coming over in the hopes of 'seeing something.' Our kids are the same age and for a long time he would just show up with her in tow - so the kids could 'play.' He finally stopped doing that after the last time... My son was running around with just a shirt on. He was only 4!! Anyway, the neighbor was MORTIFIED when my son raised his arms!!! LOL!!! He didn't want his daughter to see anything. Well my son is 5 now and there hasn't been one single drop in since!! ROTFLMBO!!!

Nicole

This message was edited Apr 3, 2007 9:46 AM

This thread reminds me of a story...

A couple's ne'er-do-well next-door neighbor frequently showed up unannounced around dinnertime, knowing they're feel bad and invite him for dinner. They were tired of his mooching, but didn't know what to do about it since their subtle hints went right over his head.

One evening after another dinner together, the wife said, "You know, if you don't mind, I think I'll get an early start on the dishes tonight while we have our coffee".

Removing the glasses, dinner plates and flatware, she put them on the kitchen floor. She then called the dogs over and let them lick every last morsel from them, retrieved the the settings from the floor and put them directly into the cupboards.

You know, the neighbor never dropped by for dinner again.

This message was edited Apr 3, 2007 9:21 PM

Unannounced company? I don't care for it.
If you are coming from a thousand miles away,
you could send a letter. If you are down the road,
you could call first.

It's not that I am worried about my house. You never
know about me. I could be digging a ditch. Truly.
Here, wanna hug this?

The thing most folks who just pop in don't take into consideration
is that maybe you have something planned. Maybe you
have a schedule? Maybe you are trying to work 24 hours
into an eight hour day and still have time to sleep. Shower?
A quick one. Makeup? Please.

I work at home, so many people think I do nothing, have
all day to eat bon bons and paint my nails. Hardly the case.
I don't even have time to shave my legs some days. Yes, I
take time to talk on the internet, but it is at my convenience,
and half the time I'm heading back outside to dig a hole or
something since I'm already filthy.

In fact, at certain times of the year, I am so busy that an
unplanned interruption throws me completely off track.

I like my life. I love my plants. But I'm not much into socializing.

Call me, we'll make plans to get together. :-)

I'm 100% with Pagancat April 2 at 4:10pm.
Love company any day any time.... I'm ready.
I Never drop in on other friends. TGF cell phones if I'm out and about.

"I don't even have time to shave my legs some days."

HAH! You can shave even every other day? I don't even have time for that!!!

springtime, time for the annual leg shave!






I was a Shire horse in a former life!

Amen, Drivenbonkers!

GW - BAHAHAHAHA!!! Loved that story!!! (and may use it one day... :)

Nicole

"I don't even have time to shave my legs some days."

LOL...some days, by no means is that daily. Ha ha!
I try to get in a swipe or two with the Intuition razor.
It comes with soap already on it. Don't have time to soap.

HA HA!

Oh Wuvie, I LOVE my Intuition razer too, but no, it does not get used every day. ;)

Edited because my spelling isn't too good this morning

This message was edited Apr 4, 2007 11:11 AM

I, too, prefer folks to call ahead if they are coming by, especially in the winter months. We don't hear folks coming up the lane till we hear the doorbell. But, most are welcome that show up. I also have bbqs, and stuff like that just to keep the house from getting to deep in layers... :) LOL

Diann

Three words. "Surprise visits BAD". especially if you have come to spend the night.

Surprise visitors - I have no use for them.

One time, my husband's old friend and his wife were
coming to town and I would be meeting them for the first
time. We had 4 small children, 2 dogs and 2 cats, and
it was early Spring, so the house was in bad shape from
us being cooped up all winter.

Well, I had pulled the drapes off to wash the windows,
had the duster for the blinds on the table, had the slipcovers
off the sofa and in the wash, and had dumped the lampshades
because they were cracked.

I had run to the store to buy new lampshades and to stock up
on stuff for dinner the next day and snacks, etc.... What do I see
when I pull up at the house but a new pink Cadillac, his friends
had come a whole day early, without calling. She was immaculate,
blond and bejewelled. I hate them to this day.

If you call and leave a message that you're coming, and I don't
call you back, don't come. I might be out of town, I might not want
to see you - there might be a family crisis right now, I may not
like you any more and am avoiding you, I might have my bills
all spread out and don't want you to know my business, I might
be sick, or I might be sick of company and want to spend the day
taking a nap or reading. And if you come and my car is parked
in front and I don't answer the door and you're my friend, I might
have gone somewhere in another person's car, so don't get huffy
and accuse me of trying to duck you - even if I was.

God bless my mother-in-law. Not once did she ever just drop in,
and she lived only 5 blocks away.

I love this thread. I feel so much better. My house is almost always a wreck, unless I'm expecting someone. The horrible truth is, most days, the only way for an unexpected visitor to get a warm and immediate invitation is if they are in great distress and/or bleeding. Bleeding is especially good. They get right in.

All others, please call, and we'll plan a lovely visit. :-)