Work Background:
I am part of a team at work that goes out to high profile national or international events (Presidential Inauguration, Olympics, etc. etc.). I havent been afforded an opportunity to travel internationally yet (although Ive been days from going to places like Iraq and Afghanistan, yet the assignments have been cancelled), but I have a fairly large desire to do so. Thing is, it seems like everytime my name is associated with an international event or trip, it gets cancelled for one reason or another. I kid you not, I think I've been cancelled on 6 or 7 times in the past year now. It's almost become comical.
Girl Background:
Went to a wedding for one of my best friends about 3 weeks ago. Flew across the country to be part of it, and while I was there, fell fairly hard for the maid of honor, who happens to be (my friend) the brides cousin. We've been talking back and forth since and her (MoH) birthday is around the 4th of July. We decided we'd meet up in Vegas (bride lives there now) for a week to visit both the bride and each other. I went all out, buying a suite at a very nice hotel with a jacuzzi overlooking the fountains at the Bellagio and generally planning to have a great time with this girl. She bought her airline ticket yesterday, I was planning on doing mine today.
Fast forward to today at work...
I get a visit from the program manager of the work team. He says he needs me to go to London to work at Scotland Yard for 10 days to support the US and their interests in the G8 summit. I'm thinking "how cool is this? Scotland Yard, London, make a ton of $$$ in OT and expenses," hell ya I'll go. Then he tells me the date. The same damned week that I was planning to go to Vegas. I'm completely crushed, thinking well damn, guess I can't go. I state my previous plans to him and tell him if I am the only person on the team that can go, I'd be willing to do so IF they can guarantee I'm not going to get cancelled on again.
This would require me to break a certain girls heart, cancel my flight, hotel room, etc. etc. If I was to cancel all my personal plans and find out that I am getting the shaft 2 days before we are supposed to leave, I'd be fairly upset. He understood my point and reiterated that I was the only person that was qualified and able to go. Granted, it's hard to say no to my employer, but what's a guy supposed to do? I asked him to look over his list again and see if he could find somebody else, but if not, I was willing to do it. (No no, please don't force me to go to London...)
On one hand, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to London and work at Scotland Yard. I've been trying to get on an international trip for nearly 2 years now, and here's another chance to go (I just got passed up on to go to Morocco and Saudi Arabia last week). Yeah, there will be others later, as there always is. But both the project manager and my direct supervisor think this is a great opportunity for me to get my international feet wet.
On the other hand, I already have big plans (both literally and figuratively) with this girl. I'm not one who takes to bailing on somebody lightly, especially in a situation like this. I called her this afternoon when I found out about all this and was very up front and honest, saying I may not be able to make it and why. She was crushed, yet understanding. She said not to worry, if I can't make it we'll plan it again for another time. She even said I could just fly her out here and we'd call it even.
So, what do I choose? Work or the girl? Yea, I can always take the girl to Vegas again. I can't just go to Scotland Yard anytime I want to though. But I hate disappointing people, especially ones I am trying to get closer to. But do I shoot myself in the foot at work and say no? Do I be a team player and just go? Which do I go with, my head or my heart?
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and remember, don't mistake my old age for maturity. Just because I grow old does not mean I grow up. 
" -Merlin
Originally Posted by CrystalDuck
), the stakes are raised, making the decision not so simple!
if it's possible for you to take the time off of work, I say go to London and then go visit her when you come back. It becomes a win-win situation.
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