I don't have my journal with me, so I'll just do a blog post and write any my journal some other time this break. Anyways... here's how today went:

So my aunt was really pissed because her boyfriend (who she has two kids and lives with) wouldn't change the baby. It seemed as though this day was meant to be after the last AOD class, because I was forced to mediate their arguments. I had to ask questions like "why don't you feel the need to clean the baby yourself?" and she'd respond "It's his turn, I always clean the baby." This went on for about half an hour, and they eventually came to an agreement, for the time being. After about two hours there was another fight about the baby, and I found myself in the same position. Some people just can't get along. Anyways, they came to another temporary agreement, which really pleased me, because her boyfriend and I were trying to play a video game the entire time. Well, I kind of wanted to get home as fast as I could, but ended up spending the night. Agh... as if the whole scenario was on repeat for the entirety of the night.

So I don't know if Jordan, Ashley, Ericka, Megan or Ben Fader wrote about this event or not, but we sort of set up a study group meeting for an hour. We ordered some pizza and all sat down in the College 100 room where we talked about history. At least, it STARTED as talking about history. We ended up talking about gay/lesbian marraige rights, I believe. Anyways, I believe this could be linked to Political Imagination, because we were looking towards the future based off of our morals.

We talked about the presidential candidates (Obama, Clinton, blah blah) as well as gay/lesbian rights. Also, abortion was a topic we hit. Pretty much all the hot button issues were adressed. We covered a lot of ground, and I've come to really respect each individual in the room as an intellectual friend. We really looked at the most positive or correct visions of our futures, and they were different for all of us. Some of us believed that abortions are correct, some believe the day-after pill should be illegal. Some believed that sex before you're married is a horrible thing. Religion meshed with politics, so things got kind of messy, but we entered and left the room as friends.

Today's class reminds me of last week when Rob was brought up. We were talking about negotiation and I voiced my opinion that I posted in my blog prior to this one. I told you and the rest of the class that there wasn't always hope. I mean, honestly, a win-win situation isn't always gonna happen, regardless of if it's the best possible outcome. I really don't think that it's fair to assume it can be reached with whoever you try hard with... because some people will not budge. Anyways, I got into a fight with Rob today, after school. I tried to get my negotaition skills out there, I tried to reason with Rob, but it's taken as sarcasm. I asked if he wanted to talk about 'the issue' and he started to go off about how there was no issue, I was just supposed to do what he said and everything would be peachy. There are some scenarious where you simply have to accept your place and sit back. Just because home life shouldn't go off of a hierarchical table doesn't mean that it won't.

Today's class inspired me to write about how often I DO NOT utilize the art of creative conflict in my house. We talked about problems we have at home or at work, and I told the class about conflicts that I have with my step-father. We tend to yell a whole lot, and the whole situtation gets really aweful. After we're done fighting, I go to my room and Rob goes downstairs. Don't be fooled, we're not cooling off to re-assess the problem, no... we're just stewing in anger for one another.

I honestly don't feel like any form of creative conflict will work with that man. He's a rock, you can't talk to him about anything. I know it sounds awful for me to say that, but it is true. He's too opinionated and in control. Nobody, not even my mother, holds power over him or his decisions.