Here's a purly hypothetical situation for you to think about, and tell me what you think I should do.

My Explorer needs some serious deferred maintenance such as the radius arm bushings, all lubricants, plugs and wires, and it's enough that it will take me at least two weekends.

My Wife tells me that I don't go to enough of her family parties, where I can be guaranteed a day and night filled with bad jokes, beer in cans, and lots of questions about my prolonged intermittant employment status.

This weekend, I must choose whether to stay home and start the work on the Ex, or whether to spend it sixty miles away with my in-laws.

What should I do?

If your wife is starting to get really pissed and/or annoyed, I'd go. I know it's hard to believe sometimes, but your significant other is probably more important to please than your Explorer.

And I've found you usually get better rewards from your partner than from the truck ;)

Fix the Ex:D

Honestly, up to you. "technically" you should put your wife above all others and all things (besides GOD). But, you could say you need to do these things so your X is safe on the roads. If you work on the X, you'll be spending money. If you go with the wife, you'll be spending time.......


just my 2 cents...

p.s. sorry about the whole technical thing. Me and the wife are going through marriage counseling (sp)... right now i'd do the x thing... lol

So are you saying the the best marriage therapy is to be had flat on your back under your Ex?!!

Or in it....more comfy that way, isn't it?

Originally posted by Alec
Or in it....more comfy that way, isn't it?

At least in it you won't hit your head as much! :D

:D As many "Family" get togethers as I have been to ....willingly and unwillingly....I would have to stay at home and take care of the X!!! Its something YOU really want to do and going with the wife is something YOU really don't want to do...she shouldn't make you go or through a guilt trip or nothing like that...

But of coarse...this would be what I would do...each man must choose his own path.....

hehe.. he posted here in order to get a lady's input i'm guessin.. funny how guys post here so much too. :D

my opinion.. sometimes you do what you want to do.. sometimes you do what she wants you to do.
if you truly dislike going to the family parties and are miserable at them, she should see that and let you stay without complaining. maybe you skip this one and go to the next two without a complaint and really act like it is fun. its all about compromise!

let us know what happens with the "hypothetical situation" ;)

Just so you know...the correct answer would be that its all about mood. Do something super nice for her BEFORE the trip, then maybe she won't mind letting stay home and get a goal accomplished. Of course, if she really wanted you to go, you would have to compromise. Next time, ask if you can bring your own beer :) And leave early! :p

So, did you go?

Well, hypothetically speaking, I didn't go.

Now, I like the idea of bringing my own beer, but then I get labled as a snob, which of course I am so what the heck.

And then there's the great idea of doing something really nice for the wife beforehand, but come on folks! You know how when the wife is away for a couple days, then when she comes home she's all happy to see you and remembers how great you are? That lasts for about 24 hours if you are lucky, right? Well the same thing applies here I think, if you do the good deed the day before the family affair, then you're safe... until a day after the family affair and she remembers that you didn't go, but she forgets the really good thing you did for her!!!

So here's how I try to look at it. Going to the family affair is worth about two points. Failing to go is about minus one point. So you can stay home twice for every time you go. ( of course, she thinks going is one point for you and failing to go is minus two points for you so you're never going to win anyway).

I've tried the leave early thing but the earlier I try to leave, the longer it takes her to get ready, wer're talking an hour and a half to get ready to leave for home.

Oh ya, this is about Fords, right? Well the best thing I did when I got the Ford was to make sure it had AT and AC. Then, the second best thing I did was to make sure she gets whatever kind of car she wants. As for me, I got greasy, stayed home with the boy, and we had a great time, pretended I was a great barbeque chef etc. The wife went to the party, took the girl, and they had a great time too! As for the fallout, I haven't seen it yet, so I'm probably OK this time.

is she really pissed that you arent going or mad that you arent spending time with her..... they can be 2 different subjets into 1........... id go with her to make her happy, but if she isnt bothered by you staying home this last time to work on the truck than fix the truck