Well here we go. My trip back to the midwest was primarily to visit my brother and his wife before they move to S. Korea, and also to see a couple old friends I used to work with that I haven't seen in YEARS. Guess what. My mother has now promised my attendance at this family thing and basically told me "just tell your friends you can see them another time." NOT. Then she didn't even bother to tell me which DAY she promised my attendance at said event. It's not that I'd mind going, it's just she totally discounted me wanting to see my old friends and reminded me basically that what i want to do is not good enough. Meh. I'm going to see my friends as planned. I'm not going to disrupt my plans for HERS this time. IT's not that I don't want to see my extended family. I just don't like her discounting what I want to do. Whatever. I'll still visit the extended family around MY plans. Screw her. Meh.

OMG so THAT'S why she sent me a check to "help with the plane flight". So she could feel justified in dictating what I do back there. I'm going to give her back her check.