Nothing Worth A Damn Is Easy
I’m starting to feel sick again; the type of sick induced by stress. I don’t feel overwhelmed per se; more so that shit is going to hit the fan 
and I’m going to have to go through it whether I like it or not. Blech. So let’s go down the shit list:
Work
We’re moving into a new suite upstairs. The boss is out and it’s my duty to take over the reigns. Not a big problem. As a part of the move, we’re putting in a new phone system and I’ve been tasked to order a new server as a part of that setup. So last week I call up our vender asking about a specific server and when it would ship if we ordered it that day. So I call up today and it turns out may ship out either this Thursday, 2006/12/28, or next week Thursday, 2007/01/04. Well shit, that’s no good. Phone system is going in next week.
Getting Married
So Rachael’s mom isn’t happy about us getting married. That’s putting it lightly. Livid is a bit more accurate. I asked her for her blessing to take her daughter’s hand in marriage; she told me "I’m not saying ‘yes’ and I’m not saying ‘no.’ I need to talk with my daughter some more." She told Rachael "no." So it’s "no." Honestly, I did it out of courtesy and tradition. We were going to go forward with or without it. The screwed up thing is her mom is pissed because I asked instead of Rachael asking.
Right…
So fast-forward to about 02:00 Sunday, 2006/12/24. Her mom is prepping for the guests she’s going to have over that day and the next. She did take the preceding week off, but ended up working from home. I agree; that kind of defeats the purpose. So her mom is hauling ass all over the house to get things sorted and in the middle of her frantics she tells Rachael that there needs to be a "business meeting"
with her, her brother, Rachael, my dad, my step-mom, and myself.
I get with my dad and he isn’t too hot on the idea of going over to her turf to discuss our engagement; it’s just asking for conflict and a pissing match. Our consensus is to have this in a more public place, like a coffee shop, with either a 1-on-1 between her mom and my dad or everyone at the coffee shop with a preference on the former. Rachael and I are not interested in bringing it up over Christmas; it’s a happy time.
Christmas Eve Rachael’s brother is staying over at their place and he rails into her about getting married. As I’m told, he even knocked over a lamp in the process. His sentiments changed a little after seeing how we got a long with each other during the Christmas Day party. So after Christmas dinner at their place Rachael, her brother, and myself go to drive him to his GF’s place and to talk about things. He’s cool with me and how her and I get along with each other, but feels that we’d be taking a complete shit on the family if we got married in July. He believes we need to humor their mum and wait till after she graduates. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole family feels like we’re taking a shit on them if we go ahead with this. I don’t intend to sound mean, but that’s their problem for feeling that way; if that’s truly their stance, bar none that is Emotional Blackmail. That’s like telling someone you love them and can’t live without them even though they have no interest in you. Should that person not be with whom they choose because it would hurt your feelings?
Her brother still stands by with his opinion on the matter. After dropping them off we head back to her place so she can give me a backrub. Of course after everyone is gone, Rachael finishing up on my backrub, and me tired making my way out the door her mom asks about the "meeting." I inquire about exactly what the topic is. She replies with something along the lines of it’s to get together, discuss the engagement, but "not to celebrate the engagement," and to meet each other. The "not to celebrate the engagement" bit is the only direct quote I could remember. I tell her that they’re more interested in doing it over coffee in public which she seemed open to, though is contrary to what she expressed to Rachael previously. I’ve arranged for her mom and my dad to communicate and nail out the details.
I was shaking and having random muscle spasms this morning from the stress of this shit on my mind, but I’m doing better now. Maybe I need to start giving out fines to people that increase my stress level. Just got a call from my dad and everything is arranged to meet at a café. His take on her mom is this:
Things are moving too fast. I agree it’s quite sudden and we probably didn’t handle things in the best possible fashion. What’s done is done and we can only move forward.
She’s worried about Rachael finishing college. Not a problem. Rachael and I are quite adamant on her finishing her bachelor’s degree and willing to do what is necessary.
She doesn’t think Rachael is mature enough and ready for marriage. Perhaps and perhaps not. If she truly is not ready, we will work through it and make it work. Not to mention, is anyone ever truly ready? I leave that up to God’s discretion to make such decisions.
and I’m going to have to go through it whether I like it or not. Blech. So let’s go down the shit list:
Work
We’re moving into a new suite upstairs. The boss is out and it’s my duty to take over the reigns. Not a big problem. As a part of the move, we’re putting in a new phone system and I’ve been tasked to order a new server as a part of that setup. So last week I call up our vender asking about a specific server and when it would ship if we ordered it that day. So I call up today and it turns out may ship out either this Thursday, 2006/12/28, or next week Thursday, 2007/01/04. Well shit, that’s no good. Phone system is going in next week.
Getting Married
So Rachael’s mom isn’t happy about us getting married. That’s putting it lightly. Livid is a bit more accurate. I asked her for her blessing to take her daughter’s hand in marriage; she told me "I’m not saying ‘yes’ and I’m not saying ‘no.’ I need to talk with my daughter some more." She told Rachael "no." So it’s "no." Honestly, I did it out of courtesy and tradition. We were going to go forward with or without it. The screwed up thing is her mom is pissed because I asked instead of Rachael asking.
Right…
So fast-forward to about 02:00 Sunday, 2006/12/24. Her mom is prepping for the guests she’s going to have over that day and the next. She did take the preceding week off, but ended up working from home. I agree; that kind of defeats the purpose. So her mom is hauling ass all over the house to get things sorted and in the middle of her frantics she tells Rachael that there needs to be a "business meeting"
with her, her brother, Rachael, my dad, my step-mom, and myself.
I get with my dad and he isn’t too hot on the idea of going over to her turf to discuss our engagement; it’s just asking for conflict and a pissing match. Our consensus is to have this in a more public place, like a coffee shop, with either a 1-on-1 between her mom and my dad or everyone at the coffee shop with a preference on the former. Rachael and I are not interested in bringing it up over Christmas; it’s a happy time.
Christmas Eve Rachael’s brother is staying over at their place and he rails into her about getting married. As I’m told, he even knocked over a lamp in the process. His sentiments changed a little after seeing how we got a long with each other during the Christmas Day party. So after Christmas dinner at their place Rachael, her brother, and myself go to drive him to his GF’s place and to talk about things. He’s cool with me and how her and I get along with each other, but feels that we’d be taking a complete shit on the family if we got married in July. He believes we need to humor their mum and wait till after she graduates. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole family feels like we’re taking a shit on them if we go ahead with this. I don’t intend to sound mean, but that’s their problem for feeling that way; if that’s truly their stance, bar none that is Emotional Blackmail. That’s like telling someone you love them and can’t live without them even though they have no interest in you. Should that person not be with whom they choose because it would hurt your feelings?
Her brother still stands by with his opinion on the matter. After dropping them off we head back to her place so she can give me a backrub. Of course after everyone is gone, Rachael finishing up on my backrub, and me tired making my way out the door her mom asks about the "meeting." I inquire about exactly what the topic is. She replies with something along the lines of it’s to get together, discuss the engagement, but "not to celebrate the engagement," and to meet each other. The "not to celebrate the engagement" bit is the only direct quote I could remember. I tell her that they’re more interested in doing it over coffee in public which she seemed open to, though is contrary to what she expressed to Rachael previously. I’ve arranged for her mom and my dad to communicate and nail out the details.
I was shaking and having random muscle spasms this morning from the stress of this shit on my mind, but I’m doing better now. Maybe I need to start giving out fines to people that increase my stress level. Just got a call from my dad and everything is arranged to meet at a café. His take on her mom is this: