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Thursday, April 28, 2016

mother. in. law. in. town. day 2

An unusual phone call.

This morning was rather uneventful. It was actually nice to have my mother-in law (MiL) around to help entertain the kids so they don't get themselves in trouble. I left for work around 930am and that was that.

I din't hear anything from home during the day, but I got what should have been unusual phone call on the ride home, but it was all too familiar with my MiL around.

Soon after I got on the highway in Boston my mother called me. The call started with the usual pleasantries, where are you (she also works in Boston but takes the train half way home), how's traffic, good luck driving because it's a parking lot around here. There was a slight pause in the conversation, you know the pause where someone should say goodbye now but they don't, so you awkwardly wait for something to happen. The worst is when one person startes saying "Well I should get going now..." right as the person on the other line starts asking you a new question, hoping to keep you on the line a little longer, but I digress.

After a brief pause my mother asks "So is everything ok with (your wife) and (your MiL)?"

Oh god I thought, it begins. "Umm, yeah as far as I know. Why? What's up?" Hoping it's nothing major. I always hate walking into a fight that I know nothing of. Believe me, I've done that way too much in my life since I met my MiL.

"Oh nothing really," THANK GOD "she's just TMI all the time, you know?" That's a really good way to describe her actually. Why didn't I think of that.

"Yeah everything is ok I think. I haven't heard anything from (my wife) all day." I replied, trying to make myself feel better about my inevitable bad time.

The inflection in my mother's voice worried me. I felt like there was something she wasn't telling me and I was going to walk into a shit storm when I got home.

I pulled in the driveway as my nanny was pulling out. I was glad to know my kids were asleep. I love my kids and I miss them when I'm working all day, but it's nice not to have that added responsibility sometimes. I know my fellow parents can attest to that. I had a lot on my mind as I entered the house. What could have happened today? What will I walk into? What crazy TMI was my MiL sharing today?

I walked in, greeted everyone, and quickly went up stairs to change. Since I wear a suit and tie to work everyday, I wanted to be in comfortable clothes to face the shit sandwich I was about to be fed.

Well I wasn't fed a shit sandwich. I was fed left over Chinese food while we discussed the so so quality, lack of boneless spare ribs, and too high a price. My wife came home in the middle of this discussion and stated she had a ton of homework to do, but wanted to play a round of a new card game we just got, Funemployed, before she started.

That's an excellent idea! I thought to myself. The last thing we need to do is sit around and discuss whatever happened that my mom was worried about.

We all went down stairs and laid out the game. It's a great game, if you haven't heard of it. It's very similar to another game we play called Snake Oil. Anyway, each person takes a turn being a hiring manager and draws a job card. The other players have to chose 3 of their qualification cards, from their hand, and play them as their best qualifications for this position. Of course these are more detrimental than beneficial in some cases, and I'll link you a video of a hysterical playthrough here.

So we played this game for at least 90 minutes and it was hilarious! Bonus: turns out my wife has no idea what my mother was talking about. She is no more weird than normal. Yay...i guess.

mother. in. law. in. town. day 1

She's here.

Thankfully I was working. I was actually driving to work while my wife was driving to the airport to pick her up. Now I don't hate my mother-in-law (MiL), but man can she be annoying. She is like a 2 year old, and not in a good way. She's extremely selfish and childish and you'd think the world revolves around her.

Day 1 was pretty easy. I got home from work around 8, the kids were already in bed and my wife was still at school. My MiL was watching TV with my parents in the living room. I gave my MiL a hug and welcomed her, and she proceeded to tell me she was "really proud" of me. I didn't know what to say, especially since this was seemingly out of the blue, "Oh, well thank you." I replied with a smile. She didn't respond. What on earth was she thinking? Why is she smiling so strangely? She was smiling while slowly turning her head back toward the TV. She stopped briefly to stare off in the distance before locking on the Red Sox game we were watching.

I'm gonna need a beer, I thought to myself.

After grabbing a beer my wife got home and the three of us went down stairs to my parents finished off basement to hang out.

My family and I basically took over the basement. My parents have 2 refrigerators, a pool table, 2 couches, a big screen TV (yes big screen, not HD. It's a 65 inch square that weighs like 1000 pounds.), and a full bathroom. We moved our couch down there along with our old 46 inch HD TV, sitting in front of my parents big screen, and my whole speaker system. I have a pretty good system I've pieced together as I could afford things.

My MiL didn't immediately follow us down, and my wife started homework, so I booted up my Xbox One and played a bit of Rocket League (I fucking love this game). My MiL eventually started watching me for a bit before sitting on her air mattress behind our couch and typing away on her massive ipad. Not sure which version it is, but she's one of those people who will get the latest and greatest when it's released just because. She's not remotely tech savvy, she just hears there's a better version and has to upgrade, but she couldn't even tell you what the difference is.

I eventually couldn't listen to the typing anymore and went up to bed. I diapered up and considered myself lucky that no issue came up today.