Love *IS* War ... sometimes :(

When you're in love, there are always compromises to be made.

You like McDonald's, they like Wendy's. Pepsi/Coke; cats/dogs; etc. That's the joy of the compromise. Give a little, and rumor has it, you get a lot in return. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.

Then, there are those times when you don't want to give a little. You draw your line in the sand. You pick your fights, hopefully carefully, and figure out which one you feel is the appropriate battle to put your foot down, demand your way, and have the guts to stick out. You find, as a friend said, the mountain to die on, if it comes to that.

What I'm trying to say is every so often you have to say to your partner:

"LOOK. THIS IS HOW IT MUST BE BECAUSE THIS IS HOW I MUST HAVE IT."

Regardless of the issue. Because we all have those things we need to have our way. And hopefully you have a partner who understands, and lets you have those things. And hopefully you're as understanding to the things your partner needs to have a certain way.

I'm presently involved in such a fight with the one I love. Sigh.

And it's a long, ugly, battle. Really long and drawn out. Unending, I fear. Because neither of us is willing to compromise on this particular issue.

It's not a full-time problem. There are many times - in reality ...MOST times - I'm more than fine with the way things are. To be completely honest, I often prefer it the way it is most of the time.

But there are a few times - and I do mean few - where I need this thing to be done EXACTLY the way I want. In fact, I HAVE TO HAVE IT one particular way, without question, compromise, or hesitation on my love's end.

And that's where the problem is. (And no, I'm not talking about anything sexual. Get your minds out of the gutter, ya freaks!)

I'm talking about one of those general things in a relationship that becomes a problem. It's frustrating me to no end because I can't give this up, and my love shows no signs of compromise.

As I said, most times, I'm fine with how things are, which I see as a compromise on my part ... but when it's my turn to have things my way ... I'm left holding my compromise as a shield that, sadly, defends against nothing.

Is that fair?

No, of course not. But how do I make that clear to the other involved party?

Why, my love, can't you see things from my point of view?

Why, my love, must you torment me by NOT EVEN CONSIDERING MY (infrequent) REQUEST to this one thing, this one way?

Why, my love, won't you even attempt?

..

..

Sigh. Anyone have any other suggestions? I tried taking a quick mini-vacation. to get my way ... including a nice rental car (brand new). Hell, I even bought my love a new outfit ... but no luck. My love will not budge.

..

I'm frustrated ...

(Oh, for the record, "my love" is my iPod Touch. The "problem" is it plays everything in shuffle mode.

As I said, shuffle mode is fine most of the time, and in the car, on the bike or at home, I usually prefer it that way; however, when I try to play an album in order, or listen to a comedy album, or spoken word, it's a problem. And it really sucks when you're TRYING to listen to a concept album when the songs don't line up in the order the conceptualizer had in mind.

Worse yet, when you're trying to play an audiobook and you hear Chapter 1 followed by Chapter 25, then Chapter 66, then Chapter 3 ... and so on and so on and so on ...

I'm thinking it's just a software glitch that a good reformat/resynch will fix, but I'm not ready to try that yet. I need to figure out the exact songs I have and want to keep before just wiping the solid-state hard drive and starting over.

But can you give me some points for this take on the whole relationship vibe? No? Please? I'll totally give you points when you have a cool misdirection for a blog idea. Really. Deal?)