The Old Folks Home

[Wisher1000]

I take another approach. When he says, "Why did you buy those chicks?" I say, "Why did you buy those {insert latest or most frequent purchases}?" It could be camo clothes, truck or 4wheeler accessories, tools, whatever. When he says "because I wanted it" or "because I needed it" I smile and say "Me, too!"

 

[tick22]

Don't tell him, he'll probably figure it out on his own, sooner or later.......

Oh Wisher, now that is why so many men are unhappy. My missus brought home 6 biddies about 3 or 4 years ago. I was ****** and besides myself. Now what the heck am I to do with these, (like all of us, I knew nothing about chickens) since I always end up being the care taker. Well now, I have more chickens and they are as much part of the family as all the other animals she brought home... all surprises. The horse (5 years ago) was the worse one since I had no barn (had to build one), no pastures, (Had to fence in 80% of the property) and knew nothing about horses. (food, riding, caring, etc) Sure, I walked the horse daily til I had a small pasture ready. Lucky I was retired and had time. BUT!!! before that I was upset to no end. (I hate the censored words here!!!)

Insanity, tell the old man and let him yell if he needs to.. (You know what and how to mellow him out if you need to, snickers) But if he has been part of the chicken process, after the first "***", and "now what do I have to build", he should be ok and maybe even happy about it , of course after he plans the additions if needed...


mmm, old man wisdom again. I do not wear that well, do I???...

laughs

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm jealous, Tick! We had a chance of flurries, but all we got was cold..................

I'll send you the snow. Or the wind. Or the fox that ate one of my ducks today while I was at work.

Insanity, I ran across a similar scenario last year. DH was out of town when I "might" have ordered more eggs than could fit in my one incubator. Then I "possibly" went to the feed store and bought another incubator. I fessed up shortly before he came home (mainly because I was going to have to tell him at some point). I don't know how your DH is but after all of the worrying about how he was going to react, he just laughed. It might not be so bad to let him know?

Mine's learned that whatever makes me happy is good for the house.

We found his grandfather one day working in BF's uncles shop. Wondering what he was doing, we sidled up to him and asked. Turned out he had bought a new truck, but his wife didn't like the bench seats. He was removing the bucket seats from the old truck and installing them in the new truck. His comment was "A few hours of work for me will make her happy. It's worth it. A no-brainer"

I'm glad BF picked up that attitude.

 

[tick22]

I may get to see snow this coming Tuesday; forecast is for snow as low as 2000 feet. It's about 65 degrees right now, quite balmy.

Has anybody else seen the Animal Planet "Too Cute!" programs about puppies, kittens and other small baby house pets? Each episode showcases three litters of breeds from birth to the days they are ready to go to their Forever homes when they're 8 to 10 weeks old. Just the pretty and adorable parts; no peeing, pooping or vomiting going on.

The episode I just watched showcased Jack Russell terriers, Bull Mastiffs and Portuguese Water Dogs. The kitten episodes are equally interesting. I've got my DVR set up to record every episode and when I need a cuteness break, I watch another one.

I wish I had more energy. I used to be a go-getter, learning new things, trying new software, noodling around on the 'Net further afield than BYC and YouTube. I bought myself a new camera and all I've done is charge its battery; haven't even plugged it into the PC to download updates (it's an Olympus SP-720UZ, 14 megapixels. Never had a FANCY digital camera before, always got the cheapies. I already know how to take photos with my iPhone and that's easy, right now. Of course, I still have to upload and edit tons of pictures but I prefer sitting on the sofa and perusing BYC forums with my first generation iPad. Dunno how to handle those tasks without using the PC.

Is there a "funk" period of early retirement? I look at stuff I should be doing, but there's no onus for not doing them. Well, other than not having the satisfaction of getting them done. There's just more enjoyment in holding conversations with house chickens, napping with a hen or two sleeping on my lap, looking at their trusting faces, melting inside at hearing the trills of contentment they make. Even though Beth and Punkin go outside during the day, they often come back inside for their snoozes. Me, chickens, both dogs AND the cat take advantage of the recliner to snuggle together.

I've gotten much more recreational reading done this Winter than I have for quite some time, certainly before retirement last May.

Ooh - just discovered "Southland" is back on TNT again with a new season starting!

How's that for the other end of the entertainment continuum; from baby animals in totally protected, arranged environments to a gritty cop drama.

OMG!!! I love me some Southland, most realistic cop show there is, for TV.
Ok, When I first retired, the funk was NOT having to get up every morning to work 10 to 16 hours shifts. I still got up and would go sit on the front porch with my coffee and watch the birds. Soon, I had their habits down pat, could tell time from them and started setting up my Bird worlds in different areas. Heck, I even got up real early one morning to stand in the yard like a statue just to see what would happen with food in my hands outstretched . The birds by then were use to me and eat from my hands. To this day, if I have not gone out by a certain time, I have birds yelling at me. . (I wish I had more energy) I slowly had to find things to do as I always lived by the motto, MOVE TO LIVE and with people from my job not lasting a year after retirement, I knew I had to keep busy, active and using my mind and muscles.. I loved reading so that did not change. The missus keep bring home animals. I would research and learn how to take care of them. I used alot of good luck as well. I use to get upset every time she would offer suggestions on how I could make the work or chores easier til she learned, I do things the way I do it for the most usage of my body and mind. (sounds funny but as you age, things fall apart and I feel no pain when I am Moving) you are also most likely, smelling the roses for the first time in your life... (There's just more enjoyment in holding conversations with house chickens, napping with a hen or two sleeping on my lap, looking at their trusting faces, melting inside at hearing the trills of contentment they make. Even though Beth and Punkin go outside during the day, they often come back inside for their snoozes. Me, chickens, both dogs AND the cat take advantage of the recliner to snuggle together.) As young adults and adults we are too busy working, raising kids and doing stuff to survive that except for a few minutes every so often we never get to smell the roses. So yes, you have to learn how to live again in a different type of world, your world now. Where the pressures you have are your own doing. Where if you feel lazy, you can be lazy but again, if you keep busy as you do, things last longer. It's a life, I never knew existed but am so glad I finally reached. yes the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but mine little world here is a blessing....

You will pick it up, smiles

enjoy it, you have earned it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok someone shot me. 2 posts that were not of that kind . sheesh

 

[tick22]

alot of henpeck husbands out there..... sheesh

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Well they are for sale!!! Eventually . . .

 

[Wisher1000]

alot of henpeck husbands out there..... sheesh

Alright, Tick! You fixin to have a mob after you!

My husband never had to build anything, I did it. He never has to clean the coop, or feed, or collect eggs (although he beats me to egg collection every afternoon.)

He hunts. We have two ATVs and two pick ups, a safe full of guns, closets full of camo clothes, innnumeral amounts of hunting accessories, at least 4 game cameras, shooting houses, automatic deer feeders, not to mention the leases, greenfield seed and fertilizer, tractor and bush hog, and weekends away from home. I am happy he enjoys that and never say a word about how much it costs...................................unless he starts on my chickens................................
For the record, he started it. When our boys were little (4, and 2 and one on the way) he asked what I thought about getting them a 4 wheeler. I told him that they were too young for a 4 wheeler and that the $5500 would be better spent on other things. The next day he bought a new 4 wheeler, and tried to make it my anniversary (the following month) present. I was mad until I realized that he had joined a hunting club that had no roads and he needed a way to get to the good hunting spots. I didn't say a word, I just figured I had $5500 that I could spend without consulting him!

I wish he would have just said, hey, I need this and I am planning to buy it, is that a problem? I would have said, "If you need it, get it."

Edited to correct the ages of the boys! It was longer ago than I thought!

 

[Arielle]

alot of henpeck husbands out there..... sheesh

I'm listening . . . .

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I wish he would have just said, hey, I need this and I am planning to buy it, is that a problem? I would have said, "If you need it, get it."

And this is why I think my relationship works better now than my marriage did: separation of money. My paycheck: my house, animals, guns. Your paycheck: your house, guns, video games, CDs, student loans. I never have to ask for permission to buy something, and ask as a courtesy if it has the potential to impact him. I don't care how he blows his money because it's his.

When my ex-husband was living off my paycheck I would get very angry if he would buy something stupid and frivolous. It would have maybe been different had he actually been participating around the house with chores or maintenance... I work so hard and to have someone else blow my paycheck for me is frustrating. Especially when I come home from a 14 hour shift and that person is inebriated and watching South Park in a house he filthed up.

Bitter much, nah...

Came out bad, but I just have a better understanding of what works for me and what doesn't.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.