DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Rock and a Hard Place

Well, unfortunately, I will be missing the Browns game Sunday (live that is) because I have to accompany the girlfriend to her brothers' birthday party at her family's house. She said I could stay home (knowing I've been looking forward to this since January) - but that is girlspeak for "you better come." Therefore, I will be recording the game on the DVR and avoiding scores all freakin day. The Bears game will probably be on the tube - the ticker will be my enemy.

Therefore, wanted to start a thread to vent my frustration and open it up to any stories of missing opening football weekend or any other major sporting event because of a wedding, family commitment, etc that you begrudgingly had to attend.

Man this sucks.

I'm sorry, but a birthday party would not keep me from the game. The only thing that may is death....and it would have to be someone close.

Our families know not to schedule anything on Sundays during football season. Sure, they get upset at times, but that's just too damned bad. We get 16 Sundays per year to watch the Browns. The families can have the rest.

It simply shouldn't happen. Unless this brother is sick in the hospital, he'll have several more b-days that you can attend. Why not "show up a little later" because you "had to go into the office" until 3pm on Sunday? Her family would never know.

This is Browns-Steelers.....

While we're all extremely familiar with "girl-speak", my wife and I laid down the law really early in our relationship.

If she says "no, you can stay home, you don't have to go", I ask "are you sure?" If she says "I'm sure", then I stay home, no more questions asked. If she wants me to go, she tells me so, and I go.

But don't put up with the "girl-speak" crap. If she says you can stay home, ask "are you sure?" and if she says yes, then call her on the carpet and say "okay, I think I'll stay home."

If she complains later, you say "well, I thought honesty was a big part of our relationship, and apparently you lied to me when you said you wouldn't mind if I didn't go."

I know you have to pick your battles, but you can't open the door for more crap like that in the future. If you or she is feeling something, just say it, don't beat around the bush. If she's beating around the bush, go with what she says, and if she complains later, it's her own fault.

JMHO

Yep - these Chicagoans are not as passionate about their sports than me or you.

If it was in Cleveland - its excusable because the game could be on at the event. Here - only Bears will be on the tele. I have Sunday Ticket - so the living room should be my destination every Sunday.

My gift for the gf's brother will be a pop in the face for being born on such a pivotal day.

Just curious...how old is this brother?

Man up and tell that girl of yours the way that it is. First Browns, then all the rest because everything else doesn't matter.

If you survive, let me know how that went for you.

I like how you think.

The event starts at 1 (game begins at noon here). She always runs a bit late too. Hopefully I stretch it to halftime - I may just say I'll meet you there in an hour then.

He'll be 20.

Strap on a set and tell her NO. Hell my family knows I won't even show up at my own funeral on a sunday during football season.

Yeah, who the hell wears the pants anyways?!

What's the worse that happens- her family hates you and she leaves you.

Then you can hook up with a Browns fan anyways

And I'm not being chauvanistic or anything. If my wife says she doesn't want to go somewhere that I'm going, and I say it's ok that she stays home (as in, I won't be mad), that's the last either of us hears about it, no questions asked, matter dropped.

It's so stupid and petty to say "no, it's fine, stay home", and then complain to you about it later.

Dude!,......that is psychological castration at it's best....this is your one chance to lay down the law or your life will never be the same.

The other thing is...when was this party planned? We've known there would be a football game on Sunday for a very long time, right? I'll even make a prediction that there will be a football game on September 13, 2008. See...your obligation came first.

Seriously, what's with significant others saying one thing and meaning another? That sucks. She said you could stay home, so ask one more time then stay home. If she sulks about it, it's her own damned fault.

It's the opener AND Squeelers game, Chicago. You can't miss it. That's two important games wrapped up in one.

I guess my stance is this, I'm getting married a week from Saturday, and I'm still gonna be down at the bar for the Cinci game on sunday. That point was made perfectly clear when the date was set.

Just have one of your friends "call you into work".

Dude, you gotta put your foot down on this one. My wife just knows not to schedule anything on Browns game day. And if it's something small like her brothers birthday party, she knows I wont be there until after that game.

Quote:

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...And by the way - talk to her right now and let her know that Saturday, Nov. 17th is absolutely off-limits.

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Good call. I'll probably actually be in Columbus for this like last year.

Something tells me we aren't helping him much.

Calling him a wimp and a bad fan isn't all that helpful.

I guess I justify in my mind by being able to watch it via DVR a few hours after it is actually over. Trust me - if there was no such thing as a DVR or VCR, I'd be right in front of the TV.

I'm lovin this thread - I'll probably be showing her when she gets home from work tonight.

Oh - and the work excuse will not work for me. I am a regional sales manager and I work out of my home. I'm looking for a new job though as we speak.

Ahhh, I have thick skin - no worries.

I hope for your sake the Browns game doesn't come up in conversation while you're there and someone tells you the score. That happens to me every time I tape a game.

Excuses for GF to tell family:

"Something happened with his car yesterday - it's in the shop, he'll be here as soon as it's done"

"He had to run to (pick destination within the Loop) this morning, he must be caught in traffic"

"(Insert pet's name) was throwing up this morning, so he took (pet) to the vet, he should be here around 3pm"

DVR'ing the games isn't horrible, though, you can zip through the commercials and the halftime/Vick report.

When the Browns are away, my wife and I usually wait about an hour or so after the game starts to actually start watching it, and we generally catch back up live by the end of the 3rd quarter or so.

Dude - that 1 hour must suck. Seriously.

We usually will watch a CSI or Without a Trace that we had DVR'd to pass the time, or pop in one of the Simpsons seasons DVDs. Also, now that we have the Wii, that should help.

We just make sure we don't get on the computer and don't answer any phone calls until we've seen the end of the game.

I like that method for watching network shows that are recording - skip through the commercials and get to the end in 45 minutes. The show flows much better as well.

There are a ton of commercials during a football telecast. I can't imagine how quickly one could get through a game by skipping all of the riff raff.

You have no "Marbles" Don't make us start calling you Pedro

Bats are afraid.

edit - you must've edited your post GM - I read where it said I couldn't hit a curveball. lol.

We do it to get through the commercials. I've found it's worth the wait.

And Chicago, we watched the super bowl last year in about an hour and a half. We had the game on in fast-forward and would only play it regular for big plays and for some of the commercials.

I forgot. Sunday's also my birthday. The only present I want is what I get every Sunday.... watch the game with me or leave me alone. Lots of people traffic on Sundays, but they know the rules. I've got a case of Sam Adams and I'll whip up some guacomole dip and nachos (real nachos).

If I've had enough to drink, afterward there'll be another game in the backyard with me, my son and the neighbor kids. They're getting bigger and I'm getting older....Monday morning's gonna suck.

That may be Girlspeak,,, But here's some MANSPEAK,,,

Thanks Honey for understanding,,, you go and have fun at the party,,, Or in Manspeak, Thanks, now get me a beer and leave me alone!

BYE BYE

They are funny as hell when they puff out their chests on a message board.

79...

i try to do the delay DVR thing as well...that's why i'll be watching my nephew's pee-wee game this sunday, then coming home to watch the game...

i don't see the big deal with not seeing it live, provided you don't have to hear anyone talking about it before you've finished...

The trick to a good marriage is that both the husband and the wife get to puff out their chests sometimes, with the other one accepting it