I feel I've won a small battle tonight. 

To most of you it might not seem like anything, to me, it definitely does.  I have mentioned in the past how it just does not feel at all like this house is mine, even though my dad SAYS he wants it to feel that way, since after all, I'm supposed to take it over when he dies and we pay rent.  Well, I'll have you know ... that's what he says, but it's not how he acts ... and when he's mad he's the first to make it well known that it's HIS house. 

I had talked to my dad twice about reorganizing the cabinets.  Basically it was to be a swap, to put things in one cabinet that would fit better in there instead of having to fight to get those things out of the other cabinet.  It was a logical decision, it made sense, and it would make lives easier for all of us.  Initially he told me I could do it but it was in that way that said 'Yes, you can do it' while shaking head vigorously NO.  Then the second time we talked about it he said he thought he had told me I could do it, I explained to him the way it came off an he said again that I could do it, but just to let him know about it.

Let me go back a spell.  Three days ago we aquired some corn to boil.  We made plans on what to cook it with so it would get cooked and eaten before it dried out.  Well he screwed up and didn't cook the meat we were going to have it with, so we never made it.  Yesterday he said 'It's going to dry out, we need to boil it before it dries up.  I'll do it later and just put it in the fridge and we'll eat it as a snack or something.'  So I agreed to that.  Then tonight he comes in at 8pm and says 'We really need to boil that corn.'  Well without all the details, yeah he procrastinated and dicked around until I HAD to do it ... which told me that all of those times he said he'd do it really meant I was suposed to jump up and do it I guess.  Instead of just asking me to do it, he more or less cornered me into doing it. 

So I got a little pissed after he left ... and after an initial "I WANT THE FUCK OUT OF THIS PLACE BEFORE I MURDER SOMEBODY OR RIP ALL MY HAIR OUT!' rant to my husband ... I rearranged the cabinets while making the corn without talking to my dad about it first to 'prepare' him (like it's some life changing event, right?).  I then called him when the cabinets were rearranged and the corn was finished and told him of both events, and that if he'd like to make sure to come home soon (he was down at the other house talking to my uncle) I'd be more than happy to show him around.  I kept the fundamentals within easy and familiar access and moved the correct things around. 

It's nothing major, but what I'm curious to see now is how long it'll take him to bitch about it.  Also, he already made comment tonight 'Well do you think this will fit in there?' or 'Do you think that's really going to be tall enough?' in a doubtful way as to whether a couple of dishes that are in use currently will fit in there once they're washed and put away.  I stood my ground and told him 'YES, I am completely confident that they will fit one way or the other.  I'm determined for this to work and it WILL.'  I didn't back down and I left no room for doubt.  So that issue is settled and yes, I feel I've won a battle.

Phew, I'm tired now.  No more battles tonight, 'kay?