And that's why I was late to work this morning
The back blinker went out on GH's car a couple of weeks ago. I will not tell you how long it took us to realize this. This morning GH went to the store on his way home from work, bought a new light, and installed it in the car BY HIMSELF.
I knew he was doing this because I was awakened as he burst through the bedroom door demanding to know where the tools were.
I told him they were in the same place they always are (under the couch). Then I heard yelling because they were apparently pushed so far back under the couch that he did something to his back while reaching for them. I chose to stay in bed for all of this. After he went back outside I got up and got ready.
He returned victorious, having repaired the blinker. In the cold. In the snow. By himself. Like a handy, handy man of handiness. It was pretty hot, I can tell you. I expressed my pride.
GH: "Well, I figured I could take it in and spend 20 bucks to have someone else do it, or I could try to do it myself for 3."
Me: "I have never desired you more."
(ps question: Is anyone else trying out new money-saving techniques in light of our Current Economic Times?)
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
19 comments:
That GH. He's so hot right now.
Yeah, my husband lost his corporate America job of 14 years right before Christmas--it was very festive...We've cancelled satellite TV which basically means we have no TV, stopped going to the grocery store, put the kabosh on any spending, and rediscovered the joy of books by the fireside. I am experiencing first hand a walking talking slave/husband who fortunately is using the time to clean, cook, organize, and cater to my every whim as I am the breadwinner at the moment. It's not ALL bad.
This post makes me too jealous to even speak.
This deserves a wink, not an eyebrow. ;)
Mad Hadder, I'm so sorry your husband lost his job. That is crap. GH's workplace laid a bunch of people off right before Christmas, only it turned out that in the new year they would no longer be offering any sort of severance. So I guess it was an act of (some sort of) kindness to do it before then. Or something.
My dad just emailed after reading your comment about cutting your satellite. He says my aunt and uncle just set up one o' them new digital antennas. They don't get as many channels as you would with cable, but the signal is clear and it's free. They love it. I have no idea if this might work for you or not but wanted to pass it on.
I agree with Coolboy. I think we just changed GH's name to Hansel.
The digital switchbox thing works great! We have never had cable, and now we have five times more channels than we ever had. (Also, some guy gave us the switchbox for free at a yard sale last summer. Tip: Don't argue or try to bargain. Just stand around "thinking" and acting like you're not sure it's going to work. Then they bring the price down and/or just give it to you.)
And then one day last month my anti-freeze was leaking out all over the place and DB took the entire engine apart and put in new hoses and replaced some weird part and then put the whole thing back together. That was awesome, but it happens so often that I guess I forget to think about the hotness of it.
I share that last because you asked. Not to lessen the value of Hansel's accomplishment.
I have changed the light bulbs on my car. It was really easy. I've also changed wipers but those are much harder.
I am very proud of GSIL, so make sure you tell him so. Men who have skills are so to be appreciated! I just bought Cooldad a new cuttting board and he was so excited! He loves large cutting boards on which to chop large hunks of meat with large knives. Very sexy as well. With or without an apron.
I always tell Plantboy that if the girls can't call him handsome they can call him handy. (And if they don't call him handy then he can be called handsy. Which is a great lead in for the cheapest married entertainment of all. . . but your blog, is, after all only G-rated.)
I've been cutting coupons way more lately which makes me feel oh so mommish even though I have no children. But I do try to be organized about it so I'm not that lady at the check register trying to sort through stacks here and there. SO annoying. And on another note, I love that you love my hopefully one day bakery name. Maybe because of Utah, it'd actually do really well!
I really understand what you mean when you say it made you hot. I’ve often told my husband he is beyond sexy when he’s dirty and somewhat smelly from working really hard around the house. My husband has ripped out a bathroom and put a new one in, including the tile work – Laid tile in the foyer – put new carpet in 1 room – tiled the backsplash in my kitchen (its beautiful) – finished the basement – painted the entire house inside and out – turned our yard into The Garden of Eden – rebuilt transmissions and engines – AND builds the most beautiful custom bamboo fly rods.
I often say I married him because he is good with his hands.
As to saving money/cutting expenses – I don’t know anyone who hasn’t cut back. But it seems prices just keep going up at the grocery store.
My husband did the very same light-changing trick a few months ago. I was also very, very proud.
I clip coupons now, but find it hard to use too many of them since I refuse to feed my family processed food-like substances. I'm all over the diaper coupons and the like though.
OH and we don't have TV (at all), maybe I'll look into that handy antenna. Thanks for the link!
Okay, see, Rynell, THANK YOU for bringing up a very good point. I see coupons all the time but it's for stuff that I just don't buy, like soda or potato chips or Froot Loops or Hostess products or frozen pizzas. Which, hi, are they going to be giving me coupons for doctor visits and insulin shots 20 years from now too?
I think dating and marrying Jason has been good preparation for these tough times. We're both working (so thankful!), but Jason has always been super frugal man. I have learned to find almost as much joy as him at finding a good deal. One of the best parts about giving him a present is telling him how much I saved when I bought it. That's a gift in itself for Jason.
The other day we were at the store and I grabbed some pork chops. He asked me, "Are those on sale?" I looked at him incredulously and said, "Of course they are! I never buy meat unless it's on sale." I thought he was going to start crying with joy right there in the Stop N Shop.
I find that, in general, I'm watching the ads a lot more and trying to be frugal. I recently stocked up on whole wheat flour (never thought I'd say that!) and plan to bake more of my own bread, etc. I also buy things in bulk when they are on sale (i.e., toilet paper, canned beans, etc.). It seems to work well and saves us money in the mid/long-run too!
I've been fixing up Brinestone's car in the gravel driveway on the side of our house. In the cold and snow. It's made me feel all kinds of manly. Plus, it's probably several hundred dollars less than taking it in to a body shop.
I'm basically living in complete denial, saying "no" to myself for any purchase that is not vital to my existence. That's a lot of "no's" these days. :)
You know, you have one of the best writing styles on Blogger. I'm so glad there's no charge to read here. I'd not be able to give it up.
Lippy
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