Tehehe, Love the stories!
I was about ten minutes late this year. I really didn't want to go and drug my but off the couch a little too late. Afterwards I fed everyone a line about poking myself in the eye with a make-up brush and everyone bought it.
The best part is I didn't really miss anything.
BTW I'm always late to the meat-ings; hey I figure every minute late is another minute not listening to their nonsense. I know this really irks my Mom too because she knows I’m punctual and hate being late (to anything that matters, that is).