Update XVIII: 15 Miles From Lunch

[J-Mann]

You know what, I don't have to be ridiculed and mocked over a very trivial matter at best.  Nobody's opinion except mine and my boss's count.  Update is going on hiatus for a while.

When he RIP's you I want to hear how wonderful his opinion is.

Oh, but you've seen that song and dance before. That wonderful boss turns into a demanding ass (ya know, for insisting that someone do their job) and not a nice guy, and the job will turn out to be a "bust."

The only thing that's ever been a bust in this entire narrative is Jeff. Being nice and trying to encourage him hasn't done sh[ink].

[J-Mann]

I like how Bushie considers essentially quitting his job to be a "trivial matter at best."

And this is a guy who claims he's interested in "building a career." At some point, he actually has to help himself do that.

But, ya know ... "plans" ...

[J-Mann]

I made it to work.  The roads are a mix of wet and dry.

Like after a light rain? Treacherous!!

Grow up and use the tools available to you (ie: http://www.oktraffic.org) to check road viability on your own from now on, instead of wasting your time on here to giddily and proudly report another day of sitting on your ass. I have no doubt that if no one berated you for your laziness and total lack of responsibility, you'd be napping right now.

Be that as it may, you made a good decision to actually go in. That's thinking like an adult.

[J-Mann]

we all know bush was ecstatic when he learned today was 'optional.'

Of course he was. And if it weren't for people calling him on his BS, he'd have had us believe that Oklahoma City was like Hoth today.

[J-Mann]

I only worked five hours today, but I got a lot done in those five hours.  I started this latest project around lunch time on Friday and was able to get 7 drawings done in the four hours Friday afternoon.  This afternoon, I was able to knock out 9 more drawings.  All done correctly, too.  There are still 30 drawings left in this current project.  My lead will likely have me switch to something else either tomorrow or Wednesday while other workers continue on with the project I am doing now.  The goal is to get 2 projects moving forward at the same time.  I will pick up where I left off today when I get in tomorrow, and I imagine the change will come around lunch time or so as we have yet another a new person starting tomorrow at 0800.

So, can you take some pride in the fact that maybe ... just maybe ... you chose to earn money, complete more work and potentially position yourself to further your career by showing dedication when others didn't?

This is a much more refreshing update than the "pleasant surprise" child-like response from this morning.

[J-Mann]

I only worked five hours today, but I got a lot done in those five hours.  I started this latest project around lunch time on Friday and was able to get 7 drawings done in the four hours Friday afternoon.  This afternoon, I was able to knock out 9 more drawings.  All done correctly, too.  There are still 30 drawings left in this current project.  My lead will likely have me switch to something else either tomorrow or Wednesday while other workers continue on with the project I am doing now.  The goal is to get 2 projects moving forward at the same time.  I will pick up where I left off today when I get in tomorrow, and I imagine the change will come around lunch time or so as we have yet another a new person starting tomorrow at 0800.

So, can you take some pride in the fact that maybe ... just maybe ... you chose to earn money, complete more work and potentially position yourself to further your career by showing dedication when others didn't?

This is a much more refreshing update than the "pleasant surprise" child-like response from this morning.

It does feel good, to be honest, Jesse.  I really do like this job and I want to see it fulfill all the promises that it has for me.  I know God can use this job to further my professional life and my witness for Him if I would just stop getting in my own way.  My brother really hit the nail on the head in his response to a Facebook post from earlier today - "Start putting your job first."  I'm still taking it one day at a time, but for tonight, I can sleep peacefully knowing that I refused to waste an entire day and chose to further my career no matter if my peers were there or not.  I look to do the same thing tomorrow!

You know one of the things that infuriates the people who have genuinely tried to help you is that you have heard this from us for literally years. Yet an offhand Facebook post from your brother is the one that clicks for you.

Whatever it takes, but this is why I'm losing patience with you. You rarely listen and learn.

[J-Mann]

History shows that Mary was probably a 14 year old girl. 

History doesn't show anything about Mary. That doesn't mean that she couldn't have existed either, but the New Testament isn't any more historical than Le Morte d'Arthur.

Just given the social and societal norms of the time and overall shorter lifespans, she probably was young by today's standards. Jeff isn't wrong, in that historical context does point in that direction. "A 14-year-old girl" is rather specific, but the portrayal of her as a middle-aged white woman is as historically inaccurate as a blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus.

What I find very disturbing is how so many Christians of his background shun history / historical context when it challenges beliefs but embrace it when it supports them.

[J-Mann]

Adam and Polnut. are you seriously attacking my love of Christmas and my faith at Christmastime?

I'm trying to reconcile how you can be very firm about the "historical" truth of Mary, which is mentioned nowhere in the Bible (though is probably closer to the truth than the traditional depictions of her), yet you reject other proven or likely histories, ie: "Christmas" is born of a pagan celebration, Christmas imagery is totally pagan and Jesus, according to historians who study the available evidence, was probably born in the summer or early fall.

[J-Mann]

Another night, another night of ridiculing me and attacking me endlessly and for no good reason.  You guys are hopeless.

Welcome to our world. Frustrating, eh?

Since when is asking a question considered ridicule? I guess when you know you won't like the answer, it can be considered an attack ...

[J-Mann]

Another night, another night of ridiculing me and attacking me endlessly and for no good reason.  You guys are hopeless.

Welcome to our world. Frustrating, eh?

Since when is asking a question considered ridicule? I guess when you know you won't like the answer, it can be considered an attack ...

Some of these questions, though, are pointed questions.  They are not intended for informational value, but intended to point fingers and discredit everything I believe in or enjoy doing or something.  Adam is attacking my faith as a whole (he is currently on ignore).  Nathan is attacking my Southern Baptist beliefs which are nothing different than what I believe.  The Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in the country.  Our views are not that off.  We're not perfect, and we have never claimed to be perfect, but we are a Bible-believing denomination.  You are not really attacking, yourself, but it still seems you don't like my Christian faith and are trying to get me to not rely on God, but rely on myself.  That's hogwash.

I couldn't care less about any Christian's faith, as long as it's not contradictory or condemning of me.

But that last part ... I think the gap is that, often, you throw up your hands and don't do everything you (ie: a being created by God and given abilities by that God) to do things for yourself. You don't seem to ask the question, "What skills, abilities and environment did God give me to succeed and how can I use what he gave me to be better?"

That, if anything, would be my problem with your faith. You have so many abilities and so much latent potential. You just choose not to do anything with it.

[J-Mann]

Another night, another night of ridiculing me and attacking me endlessly and for no good reason.  You guys are hopeless.

Welcome to our world. Frustrating, eh?

Since when is asking a question considered ridicule? I guess when you know you won't like the answer, it can be considered an attack ...

Some of these questions, though, are pointed questions.  They are not intended for informational value, but intended to point fingers and discredit everything I believe in or enjoy doing or something.  Adam is attacking my faith as a whole (he is currently on ignore).  Nathan is attacking my Southern Baptist beliefs which are nothing different than what I believe.  The Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in the country.  Our views are not that off.  We're not perfect, and we have never claimed to be perfect, but we are a Bible-believing denomination.  You are not really attacking, yourself, but it still seems you don't like my Christian faith and are trying to get me to not rely on God, but rely on myself.  That's hogwash.

I couldn't care less about any Christian's faith, as long as it's not contradictory or condemning of me.

But that last part ... I think the gap is that, often, you throw up your hands and don't do everything you (ie: a being created by God and given abilities by that God) to do things for yourself. You don't seem to ask the question, "What skills, abilities and environment did God give me to succeed and how can I use what he gave me to be better?"

That, if anything, would be my problem with your faith. You have so many abilities and so much latent potential. You just choose not to do anything with it.

Every morning, I do ask God how can I use my gifts and talents to further glorify His kingdom.  I don't always follow through with the results of that prayer, but sometimes I do.  I do try to do everything I can to advance the kingdom of God and be a vessel that He can use for His purposes.  He has created me for a purpose.  That purpose is to know Him and make Him known.  Underneath that he has given me a job to use my talents as a computer-aided drafter.  I go in every morning with the hope and expectation that I can accomplish what He wants me to accomplish that day.

I know that you believe, through your prayer, you talk to God. So, does he every ask:

"Why do you abuse the body which I provided you?"
"Why do you squander your time and not hone your talents which I've allowed you to gain?"
"Why do you reject the advice provided by those I've brought into your life?"

Just curious as to why the things you know would be good for you to do don't seem to get yours or God's attention.

[J-Mann]

Actually King, perhaps I spoke too broadly.  Most of us are not bathed in prayer, but you are:

I wash my face with Jesus every morning.

Of course. Jesus is the King of Kings after all.

Yeah, but I heard he dries out your skin. Is there a version with aloe now?

[J-Mann]

Well, a power outage really would put the brakes on things. We lost our internet a few weeks ago, and I was pretty helpless. But Gramps is right, Jeff -- you seem to have a celebratory attitude about such things: snow days, power outages, etc. Those are bad things, you realize, because they're a total loss in productivity at a job AND hurting you financially, right?

Oh, and the Christmas thing ... not "wrong," but incredibly socially strange. You are an extreme outlier, sort of like if a 40-year-old only dated 16-year-olds because it was technically legal in his state. AND he makes a big deal about it. Not wrong. Just plain weird.

What are you doing to live your fullest for Jesus today and further his kingdom?

[J-Mann]

Once again it's looking like it's more expensive to keep Bushie employed than not.

Would you rather my back completely go out on me in a chair that doesn't fit me?

I'd rather you took care of your health and lost enough weight so you stand normal, human-style activities like sitting without hurting yourself. Alas, that won't happen, will it?

[J-Mann]

My life is going very well right now, I am living my life enjoyably right now.  I have a darn good job and I have a great God and great friends.  I am not letting life pass me by.  For you or any one else to claim otherwise is absolutely asinine.  Yes, I'm a big boy, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying life.  I'm not overly worried about it and nor should I be.  I don't lose sleep over it (obviously).

Jeff, you're no doubt tolerating existence (I hesitate to call it a life, aside from what seems like a warm family life), but enjoying? How are you OK with these things:

 - Your "great job" is a temp / contract position where you've missed 25 percent at least in less than three weeks. Granted, some of that wasn't your fault ... but some was. That means less money out of an already low-paying job (there's nothing wrong with the position itself ... it's just not allowing you to even get close to self-sufficiency based on the setup and the way you're treating it.)

 - You are totally reliant on your family to care for you. If you are indeed mentally sound, as you claim, you should be ashamed and be working your ass off to get out from that situation (instead of napping, watching sports, etc.).

 - You are in awful health. You're not a "big boy" and OK (that, by the way, is what obese children say to themselves because an idiot doting mother has said it to them) ... you're an obese adult who sees the truth staring him in the face and turns to another greasy cheeseburger to drown out the thought of doing anything to help yourself.

 - Again, health. It's so bad that it impacts every single thing you do. Too tired to do much at any time (your weight is impacting your energy level and you very likely have sleep apnea because of your fat chest weighing on your lungs). You can't even sit without threat of injury.

 - One more time -- health. You're not worried about it? Look in the mirror. Try to do 10 jumping jacks. Sit without hurting yourself. Try to spot your dick without looking in a mirror. Sleepy yet? Probably ... and it ought to worry the hell out of you.

I've come back to this so many times and you simply ignore it, but I don't understand how someone who can claim to "do everything I can to further God's kingdom" can justify the type of lifestyle you have.

You really think your God is OK with you being a sloth? When I ask you "what have you done to further God's kingdom today," I don't mean attending a church dinner or some cursory scan of a Bible. I mean what have you done to improve yourself so you can help others?

[J-Mann]

Once again it's looking like it's more expensive to keep Bushie employed than not.

Would you rather my back completely go out on me in a chair that doesn't fit me?

I'd rather you took care of your health and lost enough weight so you stand normal, human-style activities like sitting without hurting yourself. Alas, that won't happen, will it?

That takes time and needs to happen.  I needed relief IMMEDIATELY.  I can't lose 100 pounds overnight.  I'm going bowling Saturday night and I don't need a painful back while I bowl.

Had you shown an iota of dedication and follow-through five years ago when you started all the weight loss talk, do you think you'd be in this position?

You need to change your sedentary and lazy lifestyle IMMEDIATELY. No excuses.

[J-Mann]

My life is going very well right now, I am living my life enjoyably right now.  I have a darn good job and I have a great God and great friends.  I am not letting life pass me by.  For you or any one else to claim otherwise is absolutely asinine.  Yes, I'm a big boy, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying life.  I'm not overly worried about it and nor should I be.  I don't lose sleep over it (obviously).

Jeff, you're no doubt tolerating existence (I hesitate to call it a life, aside from what seems like a warm family life), but enjoying? How are you OK with these things:

 - Your "great job" is a temp / contract position where you've missed 25 percent at least in less than three weeks. Granted, some of that wasn't your fault ... but some was. That means less money out of an already low-paying job (there's nothing wrong with the position itself ... it's just not allowing you to even get close to self-sufficiency based on the setup and the way you're treating it.)

 - You are totally reliant on your family to care for you. If you are indeed mentally sound, as you claim, you should be ashamed and be working your ass off to get out from that situation (instead of napping, watching sports, etc.).

 - You are in awful health. You're not a "big boy" and OK (that, by the way, is what obese children say to themselves because an idiot doting mother has said it to them) ... you're an obese adult who sees the truth staring him in the face and turns to another greasy cheeseburger to drown out the thought of doing anything to help yourself.

 - Again, health. It's so bad that it impacts every single thing you do. Too tired to do much at any time (your weight is impacting your energy level and you very likely have sleep apnea because of your fat chest weighing on your lungs). You can't even sit without threat of injury.

 - One more time -- health. You're not worried about it? Look in the mirror. Try to do 10 jumping jacks. Sit without hurting yourself. Try to spot your dick without looking in a mirror. Sleepy yet? Probably ... and it ought to worry the hell out of you.

I've come back to this so many times and you simply ignore it, but I don't understand how someone who can claim to "do everything I can to further God's kingdom" can justify the type of lifestyle you have.

You really think your God is OK with you being a sloth? When I ask you "what have you done to further God's kingdom today," I don't mean attending a church dinner or some cursory scan of a Bible. I mean what have you done to improve yourself so you can help others?

Things don't have to be perfect for me to enjoy life.  Sure, there are many things I would like to and need to change, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying life.  My job pays pretty good.  It pays $15.00 an hour which for a bachelor in Oklahoma is pretty good.  It is going to get me a lot closer to self-sustenance, because 1) it's more money than I've made in a long time, 2) It has the potential to be a longer term job than what I initially thought.  You have to count today as a full day because I went to work and was sent home due to an uncontrollable circumstance.  Had that circumstance not happened, I would have stayed all day.  With today counting as a full day, I have only missed two full days plus 90 minutes in the 13 days.  That's much more than 75% attendance.  So, I reject your notion that life is not enjoyable for me right now.  I never said things were perfect and you cannot equate the two.

Whether I count it as a full day or not doesn't matter. Did they pay you for it. That's what matters.

And I have no doubt you enjoy your life ... for reasons that harm others. Taking advantage of others. Contributing little to nothing. That's enjoyable, when all your basic needs are met and you don't have to do much of anything to ensure they are. Enjoyable does not equal right, and you know it.

Also, you ignored the health pieces entirely. Your back giving out WHILE YOU SIT should be a screaming wake-up call to you. You are a walking health nightmare and your complete acceptance of it WILL KILL YOU. That should make you care. Sadly, you show no concern whatsoever.

[J-Mann]

My life is going very well right now, I am living my life enjoyably right now.  I have a darn good job and I have a great God and great friends.  I am not letting life pass me by.  For you or any one else to claim otherwise is absolutely asinine.  Yes, I'm a big boy, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying life.  I'm not overly worried about it and nor should I be.  I don't lose sleep over it (obviously).

Jeff, you're no doubt tolerating existence (I hesitate to call it a life, aside from what seems like a warm family life), but enjoying? How are you OK with these things:

 - Your "great job" is a temp / contract position where you've missed 25 percent at least in less than three weeks. Granted, some of that wasn't your fault ... but some was. That means less money out of an already low-paying job (there's nothing wrong with the position itself ... it's just not allowing you to even get close to self-sufficiency based on the setup and the way you're treating it.)

 - You are totally reliant on your family to care for you. If you are indeed mentally sound, as you claim, you should be ashamed and be working your ass off to get out from that situation (instead of napping, watching sports, etc.).

 - You are in awful health. You're not a "big boy" and OK (that, by the way, is what obese children say to themselves because an idiot doting mother has said it to them) ... you're an obese adult who sees the truth staring him in the face and turns to another greasy cheeseburger to drown out the thought of doing anything to help yourself.

 - Again, health. It's so bad that it impacts every single thing you do. Too tired to do much at any time (your weight is impacting your energy level and you very likely have sleep apnea because of your fat chest weighing on your lungs). You can't even sit without threat of injury.

 - One more time -- health. You're not worried about it? Look in the mirror. Try to do 10 jumping jacks. Sit without hurting yourself. Try to spot your dick without looking in a mirror. Sleepy yet? Probably ... and it ought to worry the hell out of you.

I've come back to this so many times and you simply ignore it, but I don't understand how someone who can claim to "do everything I can to further God's kingdom" can justify the type of lifestyle you have.

You really think your God is OK with you being a sloth? When I ask you "what have you done to further God's kingdom today," I don't mean attending a church dinner or some cursory scan of a Bible. I mean what have you done to improve yourself so you can help others?

Things don't have to be perfect for me to enjoy life.  Sure, there are many things I would like to and need to change, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying life.  My job pays pretty good.  It pays $15.00 an hour which for a bachelor in Oklahoma is pretty good.  It is going to get me a lot closer to self-sustenance, because 1) it's more money than I've made in a long time, 2) It has the potential to be a longer term job than what I initially thought.  You have to count today as a full day because I went to work and was sent home due to an uncontrollable circumstance.  Had that circumstance not happened, I would have stayed all day.  With today counting as a full day, I have only missed two full days plus 90 minutes in the 13 days.  That's much more than 75% attendance.  So, I reject your notion that life is not enjoyable for me right now.  I never said things were perfect and you cannot equate the two.

Whether I count it as a full day or not doesn't matter. Did they pay you for it. That's what matters.

And I have no doubt you enjoy your life ... for reasons that harm others. Taking advantage of others. Contributing little to nothing. That's enjoyable, when all your basic needs are met and you don't have to do much of anything to ensure they are. Enjoyable does not equal right, and you know it.

Also, you ignored the health pieces entirely. Your back giving out WHILE YOU SIT should be a screaming wake-up call to you. You are a walking health nightmare and your complete acceptance of it WILL KILL YOU. That should make you care. Sadly, you show no concern whatsoever.

See, this is why I don't enjoy Update any more.  This makes me seem like a bad guy who is purposefully abusing my family.  I can tell you my motives and intentions are pure.  I don't purposefully take advantage of anyone.  I love and care for everyone, almost to a fault.  Anybody you talk to would say the same things about me.  Am I misguided sometimes?  Of course I am.  They would tell you they are too, sometimes.

I did not ignore the health pieces at all.  I said things are not perfect and there are things I would like to and need to change.  That answers all the questions right there.  I don't need to elaborate on every subject.  You'll find whatever you can wrong with what I say and lambast me for it tomorrow night.

If you know things aren't perfect, CHANGE THEM. You insist on whiling away your hours napping, watching sports and gaining weight! You'd never have a goddamn back issue today if you had shown a single shred of dignity, self-worth and follow-through yesterday!

Do you love your family? No doubt. Are you a burden because of poor choices you made and continue to make? They'll never tell you that, but yes. You are. Again, IF you are indeed mentally sound, you are putting an undue burden on a family that can't afford it.

Your poor choices cost your family nearly $100 today to tend to your poor back. That's cause and effect, Jeff. Doesn't that make you feel bad? Because five years ago, you made a conscious choice to treat your body badly and never do more than talk about change, you cost your family money today. And in your failure to change your lifestyle or do anything more than "plan," you will continue to effect them in ways you don't want or intend.

[J-Mann]

My life is going very well right now, I am living my life enjoyably right now.  I have a darn good job and I have a great God and great friends.  I am not letting life pass me by.  For you or any one else to claim otherwise is absolutely asinine.  Yes, I'm a big boy, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying life.  I'm not overly worried about it and nor should I be.  I don't lose sleep over it (obviously).

Jeff, you're no doubt tolerating existence (I hesitate to call it a life, aside from what seems like a warm family life), but enjoying? How are you OK with these things:

 - Your "great job" is a temp / contract position where you've missed 25 percent at least in less than three weeks. Granted, some of that wasn't your fault ... but some was. That means less money out of an already low-paying job (there's nothing wrong with the position itself ... it's just not allowing you to even get close to self-sufficiency based on the setup and the way you're treating it.)

 - You are totally reliant on your family to care for you. If you are indeed mentally sound, as you claim, you should be ashamed and be working your ass off to get out from that situation (instead of napping, watching sports, etc.).

 - You are in awful health. You're not a "big boy" and OK (that, by the way, is what obese children say to themselves because an idiot doting mother has said it to them) ... you're an obese adult who sees the truth staring him in the face and turns to another greasy cheeseburger to drown out the thought of doing anything to help yourself.

 - Again, health. It's so bad that it impacts every single thing you do. Too tired to do much at any time (your weight is impacting your energy level and you very likely have sleep apnea because of your fat chest weighing on your lungs). You can't even sit without threat of injury.

 - One more time -- health. You're not worried about it? Look in the mirror. Try to do 10 jumping jacks. Sit without hurting yourself. Try to spot your dick without looking in a mirror. Sleepy yet? Probably ... and it ought to worry the hell out of you.

I've come back to this so many times and you simply ignore it, but I don't understand how someone who can claim to "do everything I can to further God's kingdom" can justify the type of lifestyle you have.

You really think your God is OK with you being a sloth? When I ask you "what have you done to further God's kingdom today," I don't mean attending a church dinner or some cursory scan of a Bible. I mean what have you done to improve yourself so you can help others?

Things don't have to be perfect for me to enjoy life.  Sure, there are many things I would like to and need to change, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying life.  My job pays pretty good.  It pays $15.00 an hour which for a bachelor in Oklahoma is pretty good.  It is going to get me a lot closer to self-sustenance, because 1) it's more money than I've made in a long time, 2) It has the potential to be a longer term job than what I initially thought.  You have to count today as a full day because I went to work and was sent home due to an uncontrollable circumstance.  Had that circumstance not happened, I would have stayed all day.  With today counting as a full day, I have only missed two full days plus 90 minutes in the 13 days.  That's much more than 75% attendance.  So, I reject your notion that life is not enjoyable for me right now.  I never said things were perfect and you cannot equate the two.

Whether I count it as a full day or not doesn't matter. Did they pay you for it. That's what matters.

And I have no doubt you enjoy your life ... for reasons that harm others. Taking advantage of others. Contributing little to nothing. That's enjoyable, when all your basic needs are met and you don't have to do much of anything to ensure they are. Enjoyable does not equal right, and you know it.

Also, you ignored the health pieces entirely. Your back giving out WHILE YOU SIT should be a screaming wake-up call to you. You are a walking health nightmare and your complete acceptance of it WILL KILL YOU. That should make you care. Sadly, you show no concern whatsoever.

See, this is why I don't enjoy Update any more.  This makes me seem like a bad guy who is purposefully abusing my family.  I can tell you my motives and intentions are pure.  I don't purposefully take advantage of anyone.  I love and care for everyone, almost to a fault.  Anybody you talk to would say the same things about me.  Am I misguided sometimes?  Of course I am.  They would tell you they are too, sometimes.

I did not ignore the health pieces at all.  I said things are not perfect and there are things I would like to and need to change.  That answers all the questions right there.  I don't need to elaborate on every subject.  You'll find whatever you can wrong with what I say and lambast me for it tomorrow night.

If you know things aren't perfect, CHANGE THEM. You insist on whiling away your hours napping, watching sports and gaining weight! You'd never have a goddamn back issue today if you had shown a single shred of dignity, self-worth and follow-through yesterday!

Do you love your family? No doubt. Are you a burden because of poor choices you made and continue to make? They'll never tell you that, but yes. You are. Again, IF you are indeed mentally sound, you are putting an undue burden on a family that can't afford it.

Your poor choices cost your family nearly $100 today to tend to your poor back. That's cause and effect, Jeff. Doesn't that make you feel bad? Because five years ago, you made a conscious choice to treat your body badly and never do more than talk about change, you cost your family money today. And in your failure to change your lifestyle or do anything more than "plan," you will continue to effect them in ways you don't want or intend.

I'm not going to go there.  Like I said, you'll twist whatever I say in response and attack me for it tomorrow night.  I do many, many things correctly.  I don't do everything wrong.  I am far from perfect, but I am not a horrible, good-for-nothing, family-abusing creep like you seem to suggest.

Now, can I close update without being accused of taking the easy way out?

No, you can't. An inability to admit that your refusal to change (in spite of all the sound advice and ENCOURAGEMENT from so many over the years) has COST YOUR FAMILY UNNECESSARY MONEY is cowardly.

You want us to focus on the good? I tried that with you. A lot. Didn't work. You're no better off today than you were when you started this whole saga. And it is costing your family more now than it ever has.

Maybe it's not intentional, but it's deeply rooted in, at best, ignorance. More likely, you prefer only happiness where no one calls you on your BS.

Your inability to implement the smallest of change to better yourself HURT your family today. Wake up, Jeff. Your inaction has consequences that go beyond you!