Waking up to get ready, I hop in the shower and get ready. They also woke up as they heard me moving about. And then, as I'm getting out of the shower and Michelle is telling me that her mom has to go to the bathroom. I am quickly getting dressed and then I hear some conflict going on. A bathroom situation involving her mom ensues. I wrote about it but Michelle has asked me to not put it in as it is quite embarrassing. (this is why I should write when I'm alone..) So anyways, Ray shows up at my house with my family. (we all wanted to meet up) Her mom and dad freak out because Hing is going in Ray's car. Though we needed to swap because I needed to be in their with Michelle and the baby because I knew the directions as well. (serving as a backup if he couldn't keep up with Ray) Still, things aren't that bad yet. We find some parking and then we put on our gowns. We walk over to be with the grads.
As a happenstance, we happen to be the last ones in the line. We sit down. Commencement ensues If you load the video, you'll see our lil motto, "let there be light" that has an open book in the background. I couldn't help but think about what they were implying. I mean, isn't that what God said in the bible? Anyways, boring speeches follow. While sitting there, Michelle literally falls asleep. During that time, I decided to forgo the typical shaking of the hand and walking across stage. I had a plan. I wanted them to call both of our names, and then we'd hold hands and kiss, then shake whoevers hand. And as you can see if you fast forward to 2 hours and 27 mins and 20 or so seconds, you can hear both me and Michelle called. (though you won't hear the name Michelle but her legal name) The kiss was only slightly captured on the camera but we did hold hands and walk across together. If you look back at the video, you can see how all those in the background have a broad smile. And with that, we are the very last ones to walk across and a huge applause follows.
After taking some time to find our respective families, its pictures all around. Ray, Vanessa and her family are all taking pics. The best pic by far is the following. 
I think it is so cute. I want to add it somewhere on my diary.
Once all of this is done, we are starving and want to go eat. This would turn into a major conflict. They say they have to go and don't have time. But soon it is learned that they both don't have work the following day, nor does Hing have anything. So then they say they would have time if the baby weren't there as they couldn't sleep. (OMG, seriously, like it was so hard to sleep through while they were in a different room with the door shut. Didn't they survive 4 children?) Yet, we asked my mom and she said the baby could stay over her house. They no longer have an excuse. So we say that we want to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. They refuse. They say they don't like American food. I find that a weak excuse in that I don't like Chinese food yet we always eat their food. So then they say they don't want to pay for my family. I say they don't have to pay for them and that if money is the issue, we could pay for them. I also point out that we are more than capable of paying for our own food as we pay for our own food all the time and that last time, it was them that initiated the offer to be treated out. Still, they refuse.
I'm pissed off and so is Michelle. Her parents are quiet on the ride home. My family and Michelle still decide that we are gonna eat American food even without them. They decide that they are gonna eat Chinese food anyway. Michelle tries to persuade Hing to eat with us because we never see her. She decides that it will be less conflict if she just eats with them. Michelle makes the valid point that they'll be pissed anyway but Hing isn't bending. Hing and Michelle then discuss their communication issues but Michelle isn't saying it all that articulately and I have to interpret her behaviors but try to stay out of it. Essentially, Michelle has to learn to respect Hing's decisions and not cut her off. Hing I guess has to learn not to but into disagreements me and Michelle are having. (among other stuff) We get to my house I'm just fed up with her parents, the bickering and negativity. I state that since they aren't gonna eat with my family that they should just go like they originally had planned. (the whole point of sending the baby to my mom's was have them eat with us and stay over and have a good nights sleep) That gets interpreted as though we're throwing them out so Michelle says that they could stay. (I did tell them not to come back and that I don't want to hear any sort of critique anymore from them and only then should they return) We give them a key and then they take off.
Shortly thereafter Ray shows up with just my lil brother. My mom had a headache and Vanessa had to work. We drive and I tell Michelle that if she wants them over that I understand that she doesn't want to throw them out but that I don't want to have anything to do with them. I say that I'll stay at my mom's till they leave. She says that she too then wants to stay at my mom's. I initially don't want her there as I find it odd that they just stay there alone. She still decides to come stay with me and then calls her family to let them know that they can stay but that she won't be there. They then decide to leave that same day.
Meanwhile, Ray takes us to BJs restaurant. I then tell Ray that I'll pay for his meal because he has done a lot for me and even picked up my family and all that stuff. Ray then tells me, "No, today is your guys' graduation and I got this." I tell Ray, "You're killing me man. I have to pay you back somehow; let me pay for this" Ray says, "I got this, don't worry about this" Michelle intervenes and insists but he insists back and he gets the tab. He also got us some funny cards. I'll find it later and post it. At the end of the meal, Ray went to the bathroom and took a peak at the tab, $67 and $20 tip! Ray returns quickly and notices we're looking at him funny. Michelle then says, "OMG, that is a huge tip, that is way more than 15%" Ray says, "I'm feeling gratuitous, what can I say" He then drives me to my mom's.
At my mom's, we watch the NBA finals. Michelle decides to go shopping and Ray even waits for her to return before leaving (and taking us home) My mom is there and hugs Ray and says that he is "lindo" ;which is Spanish for lovely. My sister shows up and right before we leave my mom blurts out, "I want you to marry Vanessa!" I start to walk out quickly and Ray says, "I don't know about all that yet" And Vanessa says, "What's wrong with me, I'm not ugly or anything" I am unsure what is said next but Ray was trying to handle the awkward situation as best he could. No one brought it up in the car. Instead, we talk about me needing to exercise and my habit of needing to be dragged to do something. (but that I do it once there) Ray remarks its good to have a right hand man who isn't trying to be the man when they can't be. (analogies of me being Robin and Scottie Pippen etc follow). Ray takes off and the next time we see each other will be Sabbath (or Vespers if he decides to do that too)
I have more to write about (convo with Hing today) but Michelle says I've already taken too long to write. So I probably will break that down tomorrow. That is all.
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