What Happened in July

Good question...let's see if I can remember...
Came back to Columbus after Florida trip. Origins was OK, but a fight with Kelley (1. I was inconsiderate during an event at Origins...wow what a shocker AND 2. we are over it and so don't worry about it) and a terrible set of exhibitors this year made it less satisfying than usual. Highlights included making Dealer's Choice poker tournament semifinals for the fourth consecutive year and top-4 in a 2 Headed Giant event with Shep. Found a great new game called Palabra, and if you like Scrabble or poker at all (or not really) you should go check out this game. Also bought Settlers of Catan which I am now addicted to, if only I could find others to play with lol.
Next up was the Iowa trip. Not much to speak of here as overall it was an OK trip. Having Yvonne there this summer while she waits to go home to Malaysia in August was great, as more people our age is always a good thing. We founnd the only adult shops in CR and there are only 2 small ones owned by the same family. I hear it is something about the "not in our backyard" people. C'mon, it's just porn. Get a grip people. Anyways, biggest news from the family was my new cousin Lucas Nelson. I am so happy for my closest aunt and uncle as they have been waiting a long time on the adoption list for this opportunity, and it is nice to have another boy in the family (the grand total is now 6 girls and 3 boys...much improved from the 5-1 ratio from 5 years ago). The second biggest news was my only older cousin Jackie going back to college, serving up her husband with divorce papers, and moving on with life. This is really good news for everyone who knows her. Got to go out on the boat with Kelley and my grandparents one day as well. I caught my first fish since early high school, but I haven't been trying all that much to be honest. And just when the trip seemed to be coming to an acceptable close, there comes the last two days which ruin the whole trip. Let's start with the family talk. My Dad and stepmom want to sit down and discuss co-signing a loan for next year at law school (they are the only relatives who have the credit and can do it for me). Let's just say I got grilled not only on the loan, but also on life insurance, our life plan (including kids and careers and retirement), the wedding (why did you pick the date? 2007 doesn't make sense. The wedding is too big. Don't expect help from your grandfather, etc.), and everything else which came to mind. They are so psycho, they are taking out a life insurance policy on me for the amount of loan they are co-signing on. We are only talking 18,000 total over the next 3 years. The life plan and wedding was the worst though, because Kelley is sitting on the couch not 15 feet from this discussion and is apparently not welcome to join in. Well sorry Dad, but you have to come to terms with the fact that Kelley and I are a unit now. A package deal. He did not say it to me, but I figured this all out after Kelley and I talked to my Mom about the situation the next week. My Dad is like the rest of my family in that they are really adept at alienating in-laws. I mean there is a serious pattern of this. But anyways, the discussion did not go well as I felt lambasted for things I should not be criticized for and Kelley was just cast aside in a discussion that obviosuly should involve her. PARENTS ARGH! But they did agree to co-sign the loan, so I guess there's one plus.
The next day my Dad went over the top as well. Before the kids had swimming I decided to play a game with them as I really had not done a lot with them over the two weeks due to busy schedules of theirs (not my fault). We decide to play Horseopoly and the kids ask Kelley to come play as well. My Dad says, "No this is sibling time, Kelley is going to play a game with us (meaning Yvonne and him)." Ummm thanks for asking her opinion there champ. So we play the games. Then off to Rick and Mary's for one final game night before we leave town. We play Rage. Then Dad insists on playing communal deck Magic, which would be fun for 4 of us but hell for Yvonne and Kelley. To put it shortly, my Dad completely steamrolled Yvonne and Kelley into playing this game instead of listening to the fact that they both hated the game and had no interest in playing. Anyways, I decide to help Kelley and she ends up winning the table over my Dad once it gets down to 2, so I took a little vindictive pleasure in that. Did not make Kelley feel any better of course but how could she feel good about that situation. Well, Dad is just totally going to have to accept that we come as a package now and my life doesn't revolve around spending time with my siblings playing games anymore. I had more fun going to CR bars for the first time with Yvonne and Kelley than I did with my siblings. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with them but I don't want it forced on me with a guilt trip if I don't.
So came back to my Mom's for a week and spent half my time there, half my time at Kelley's grandparents. Nice relaxing week. Kelley is really enjoying tennis and so we finally have a lifetime sport (bowling doesn't count) we can play together. It is a lot of fun even though she gets angry about not playing well. It took me 2 years of dedicated playing to just get decent, so I understand her frsutrations but tell her to be patient all the same. Kelley also got junior standing in school and will graduate this upcoming year, so that is great news for us. Don't know if she will be living with me next year but I hope so. We had a gaming night at Shep's when Kelley had band practice and I got the guys hooked on Settlers lol. Came back up to Columbus for a PTQ that weekend. Started 4-0 and choked, finishing 4-1-2. Third straight PTQ I missed top 8 despite being in contention in the final round...very frsutrating. I also got disqualified from the event for bribery/cheating in the last round, but it did not matter as we both got knocked out by our draw anyways. Rib fesitval in Columbus made me feel a lot better afterwards, and two nights of gaming at Villa's house was cool that weekend too. A couple guys in the group bought me a couple beers to get over the DQ and everything at the PTQ...thanks for your consideration guys. Kelley came up after church on Sunday and we spent the whole last week of July relaxing in C-Bus. Wednesday we went out to 4 Kegs with Tom and we all got trashed on Liquid Dope. This stuff comes by the personal pitcher (I'm guessing 60-80 ounces) and contains Gin, Vodka, Clear Rum, Cherry Brandy, Blueberry Brandy, Peach Brandy, 2 other kinds of liqour, topped with a little bit or Grenadine and a slightly larger amount of OJ. One makes you drunk, two makes you sick. Well we all had 2. I hold liquor pretty well so I did not get sick but I know Kelley did. I unfortunately caught a fever the next day and have been sick (mostly just stuffy sinuses since Friday) ever since. Lucky me. Kelley went home Friday and is at band camp this week. Which means I am all by myself. Hello Xbox...missed your time-wasting goodness. Well that's July.