Frustration....and tears

I think that my day has been well captured by the title of this entry and the picture above. Today has been a stressful day. My dad got back last night with his new wife. Everything was fine, or so I thought, until we got home from church. They brought back with them another dog and another cat. The dog was shut up downstairs while our dog was upstairs. If I had known that the dog was downstairs, I would have locked my cat up in my room. That was a big mistake. When we got home, we discovered that the dog had peed in my room and my cat was nowhere to be seen. We commenced to call his name, search his favorite hiding places, try and entice him with a treat and a feather, but he was no where to be found. Finally I got out my flashlight and started shining it in dark spaces. That is when I found him hiding under my bed. I tried once again enticing him out, but he wouldn't budge for anything. I had to move my bed and pull him out. When I pulled him out, he was shaking.

I went upstairs to find out who was going to clean up after the dog because I refused. That may sound cruel, but she's not my dog and I wasn't about to clean up after her. But then again, if the other dog had peed in my room, I would have had the exact same response. In fact, I've made my sisters clean up things like that when I consider them to be partially at fault. Anyway, I went upstairs and my dad sounded like he was telling me to clean it up. I told him that I wasn't going to clean up after that dog because she isn't my dog. He said, she's a family dog, and I replied, she's not MY dog. We did that a couple more times before my dad freaked out on me telling me that Deb was his wife and that I needed to respect her and lots of other things like that. I finally said, what does that have to do with the dog peeing in my room? But by then I was so upset and so frustrated at my dad and at the fact that he just doesn't get it, just doesn't understand that I put on my shoes and my coat, got my cat, and went outside to sit on the porch. My sisters followed. I guess my dad mopped up my floor and when I came back inside, we disinfected and tried to comfort my cat. But he was still traumatized and kept trying to hide under the bed.
After lunch, we had family home evening (like we usually have on Sundays) but my dad wanted to talk. That was hard and more tears followed, but I feel better because at least now my dad knows how we feel about most things. At least he cared enough to listen, though I wonder if it will make a difference. Right now I feel like things are too late. As much as I love my dad, it may very well be too late for us to have any kind of relationship. That is, unless my dad cares enough to work on it and put some effort into it. Only time will tell.
Anyway, I guess that is about all for now. I am in Bismarck until Saturday morning. By then I will need to have my suitcase packed and ready for Jerusalem. Then hopefully I will meet Heather in Montana on the way down.
Other than that, I started teaching my sister Elizabeth to drive. Unfortunately, we've had to use my brother's car which is NOT automatic and so it is much more difficult, but at least she is starting to learn. That's what matters.
As for me, I'll be fine. I am going to Jerusalem in barely over a week, and then when I come back, I will be at school until I graduate and have to go into the real world. That is why I say it may very well be too late.