Life As An Old Bachelor

quick dog

Starter
My wife went back to work in Sacramento for a few months. So I am up here with Bill thinking. Bill doesn't think much anyway. My wife, the Inspector General, Social Director, and Chief of the War Department, comes home on the weekends. I schedule my activities around her departure and arrivals. There are self-evident facts that continue to dominate my thoughts lately.

Cleanliness - I am pretty sure that most guys are not as neat and clean as most women. I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to assess the perfect time to do the dishes, vacuum, wash clothes, and pick up dog poops in back of the house. I don't normally rush into these tasks. Most women would just get it done and move on. I am embarassed to admit that I avoid doing mundane cleaning jobs until the last minute.

Household Finances - Now that I am thoroughly unemployed and on a fixed income, it has becomie more difficult justifying random impulsive purchases. I want to get some new skis and boots, but my wife is working while I am skiing. I recently justified buying $300 worth of wine-making equipment and supplies because she drinks more wine than I do. Regardless, there were some raised eyebrows at even this non-essential and impulsive purchase.

Sleep - My sleeping pattern is all screwed up. I stay up too late writing notes to you folks, poking sticks at the fire, playing computer hearts and solitaire, doing cross-word puzzles, reading, or just generally wasting time. I don't like to get up at 5:00 AM to let Bill out, but I do, then try to go back to bed. If I try to sleep in until 9:00 or so, I get pangs of guilt. Not only that, the dog stares at me for hours waiting for me to get up, and my wife often calls at 7:30 or 8:00 just to see if I am still in bed. She can usually tell by the sound of my voice. I usually jabber a few sentences before picking up the phone to get my voice right.

Chores - I try to do at least one useful project per day. Stuff like fixing the hydraulic wood spliter, building a window frame, racking wine, or a massive house clean-up. It takes discipline, which I sometimes lack, to schedule real work every day. It's easy when my wife is home because I am too conspicuous just standing there while she is running around getting stuff done.

I am just wondering if stay-at-home women suffer from any of these problems? :confused:
 
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I have never been stay at home...but I when I get like that I start a REALLY strong pot of coffee and run on a caffeine buzz for about 8 hours to get stuff done and alleviate my guilt.
 
ILV said:
I have never been stay at home...but I when I get like that I start a REALLY strong pot of coffee and run on a caffeine buzz for about 8 hours to get stuff done and alleviate my guilt.

My wife drinks lots of coffee every day. I don't. I pet the dog instead.
 
I work from home along with my bf. It always amazes me how much more I accomplish in a day than he does. Don't get me wrong, when it's time for him to step up he KFA...but still.

Ah well, all of this basically confirms what I've known all along. Women are superior to men.
 
ILV said:
See us women like to be wound up....well your blood pressure thanks you.

My resting pulse rate is often below 60, and I don't run. I don't even let my doctor know that it often drops into the low 50s at night. He would probably attempt to put me in the hospital.
 
Well, if you'd like QD I could recommend a few good chick flicks to help you whittle away the interminable hours. :p
 
They say pets can lower your blood pressure...I think your just really laid back...your wife probably wouldn't change a thing.
 
Bricklayer said:
Well, if you'd like QD I could recommend a few good chick flicks to help you whittle away the interminable hours. :p

eeeeegaaaads you wanna ruin his good resting pulse rate or what????
 
Bricklayer said:
Well, if you'd like QD I could recommend a few good chick flicks to help you whittle away the interminable hours. :p

Do I get a KingsFans Gold Star from VF21 for not biting on this Sterling "straight line". I had a nice response already written, but thought better.
 
quick dog said:
Do I get a KingsFans Gold Star from VF21 for not biting on this Sterling "straight line". I had a nice response already written, but thought better.

Hey, just sounded like you were getting in touch with your feminine side. :p
 
Actually, I have part of this whole scenario figured out. I do a few things that allow me to screw up occassionally and get away with it.

First, the nest absolutely has to be clean when the Inspector General comes home Friday night. This is non-negotiable around here. The "Nest" is priority one.

Secondly, a nicely prepared dinner and fresh flowers is always a really good idea. It is amazing how far that goes. I am a better cook anyway.

Thirdly, on cold and rainy nights, there needs to be a fire in the wood stove and a glass of Bordeaux on the coffee table. I keep the house fairly cool when she is away, but that makes the warm living room more comfortable and inviting. I am fire boy, wine boy, and house protector.

Fourthly, doing something nice or showing some kindness to a mother-in-law is a big deal. Her mother is pretty nice, so that's not hard to do.

In my opinion, the bottom line states that you can have a lot a faults do a lot of things wrong, and still get along OK, if you do a few things right at precisely the right times
 
And then settle on down on the couch with her and pop in Bridges of Madison County and it will all be perfect. :D
 
Then there are those of us deemed unfit for cohabitation... clean house once a year wheather it needs it or not.
 
I am soooooo not a girl.

Every now and then, something comes along and reminds me of that fact.

Sure, I've got the physical and biological attributes of the female species (more than I want of them, frankly) but I am very much not a "girl."
 
HndsmCelt said:
Then there are those of us deemed unfit for cohabitation... clean house once a year wheather it needs it or not.

I have a bachelor friend like that. Listen to this.

He is a Stae geologist, and has two degrees from U.C. Davis. He is affluent by most standards, and owns two farms, one near Colusa, and a second in Yolo County. His house in un-heated. he has virtually turned off his water heater to save energy and money. I think he may a vegetarian. He eats things like a bowl of boiled wheat for dinner. His quirks are really too numerous to mention. Most women, in my estimation, are not into male quirkiness.

He rides a bike, rain or shine, snow or sleet, light or dark, every day from rural Yolo County to a State office near Bradshaw Avenue. This is a two-hour, one-way, ride on a "good day". The commute takes much longer when traffic is bad or when he faces a strong delta breeze. he rides everywhere to save gas. If he needs a part while repairing a vehicle at the farm, he rides his bike five miles to Davis to buy the part.

He has been building an "ultra-light" airplane in one of his barns for ten years. Ultra-light is a gross misrepresentation of this object. I think he is using galvanized iron pipe for the structure. Perhaps not, but it sure looks like it. Regardless, it would require an Air Force Titan missile to get this ugly cluge off the ground.

I am a veritable "Felix Unger" compared to this guy. Now, be advised, he is a really nice and generous person. He wonders why he is single?

There may well be a woman or two out there for this man, but if I were him I would skip the Russian Wife UPS deal and focus my search for the perfect soul-mate in rural Humboldt County.
 
GoGoGadget said:
I am soooooo not a girl.

Every now and then, something comes along and reminds me of that fact.

Sure, I've got the physical and biological attributes of the female species (more than I want of them, frankly) but I am very much not a "girl."

No man would use the moniker Go Go Gadget. Well, maybe in some places, but not in Placerville. Go Go Gadget just sends images. Lots of images.
 
GoGoGadget said:
I am soooooo not a girl.

Every now and then, something comes along and reminds me of that fact.

Sure, I've got the physical and biological attributes of the female species (more than I want of them, frankly) but I am very much not a "girl."

And I, of course, having very much the opposite attributes just want to hear more about this "more than I want of them frankly" angle. :p
 
quick dog said:
No man would use the moniker Go Go Gadget. Well, maybe in some places, but not in Placerville. Go Go Gadget just sends images. Lots of images.

Someday, I would like to get the recognition I deserve for turning down the obvious jokes and getting myself banned several times over.

Just sayin'.
 
Bricklayer said:
And I, of course, having very much the opposite attributes just want to hear more about this "more than I want of them frankly" angle. :p

Tsk tsk, Brickie. One can only imagine the possible revenge flicks waiting in the wings if you continue down this road. ;)
 
Ok, QD before I entirely hijack your thread by playing with GGG (three acronyms in one sentence -- feel like Joe Friday :) ), let me careen back onto topic.

Actually your supposition that homemakers might experience some of those same symptoms is not entirely off in my experience, also elderly people who are alone, unemployed people, and college students who decide not to go to class (not that I would know ANYTHING about that). :p

Work is a pain in the butt and takes up entirely too much of the ultimate precious commodity (time), but I think that people sometimes don't respect how much work helps to create a schedule/organization to life in a world where all of our basic needs are pretty much met. Without it, and especially alone, its pretty easy to fall way out of rhythm.
 
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Bricklayer said:
Ok, QD before I entirely hijack your thread by playing with GGG (three acronyms in one sentence -- feel like Joe Friday :) ), let me careen back onto topic.

Actually your supposition that homemakers might experience some of those same symptoms is not entirely off in my experience, also elderly people who are alone, unemployed people, and college students who decide not to go to class (not that I would know ANYTHING about that). :p

Work is a pain in the butt and takes up entirely too much of the ultimate precious commodity (time), but I think that people sometimes don't respect how much work helps to create a schedule/organization to life in a world where all of our basic needs are pretty much met. Without it, and especially alone, its pretty easy to fall way out of rhythm.

correct. and also getting bored out of one's mind after a while.
 
Bricklayer said:
Work is a pain in the butt and takes up entirely too much of the ultimate precious commodity (time), but I think that people sometimes don't respect how much work helps to create a schedule/organization to life in a world where all of our basic needs are pretty much met. Without it, and especially alone, its pretty easy to fall way out of rhythm.

Agreed.

For example, I am incredibly organized during the work week. I wake, dress, eat and sleep like clockwork.

But the weekends? I'm a complete wreck. Sometimes I'm up at dawn, sometimes I sleep until noon, and sometimes I go until 5 o'clock before realizing that I haven't had a bite to eat.
 
My dad went nuts when he retired due to lack of structure. Every school break I degenerte even further into sloth unless I am back packing.
 
quick dog said:
I have a bachelor friend like that. Listen to this.

He is a Stae geologist, and has two degrees from U.C. Davis. He is affluent by most standards, and owns two farms, one near Colusa, and a second in Yolo County. His house in un-heated. he has virtually turned off his water heater to save energy and money. I think he may a vegetarian. He eats things like a bowl of boiled wheat for dinner. His quirks are really too numerous to mention. Most women, in my estimation, are not into male quirkiness.

He rides a bike, rain or shine, snow or sleet, light or dark, every day from rural Yolo County to a State office near Bradshaw Avenue. This is a two-hour, one-way, ride on a "good day". The commute takes much longer when traffic is bad or when he faces a strong delta breeze. he rides everywhere to save gas. If he needs a part while repairing a vehicle at the farm, he rides his bike five miles to Davis to buy the part.

He has been building an "ultra-light" airplane in one of his barns for ten years. Ultra-light is a gross misrepresentation of this object. I think he is using galvanized iron pipe for the structure. Perhaps not, but it sure looks like it. Regardless, it would require an Air Force Titan missile to get this ugly cluge off the ground.

I am a veritable "Felix Unger" compared to this guy. Now, be advised, he is a really nice and generous person. He wonders why he is single?

There may well be a woman or two out there for this man, but if I were him I would skip the Russian Wife UPS deal and focus my search for the perfect soul-mate in rural Humboldt County.

ewww...think I'd decline any offers of a home-cooked meal from that guy. boiled wheat?? but I think there are plenty of hippie girls that would absolutely love him. just move to Santa Cruz.
 
ok, qd, you're just fine. relax. all is well. we all work in different ways. I personally, hate cooking. laundry is a bore, so I do it all in one day(usually sat or sun). the only thing i am fanatic about is having a clean kitchen and bathroom. my bedroom on the other hand looks like it's where all the stuff landed when the twister ran out of gas. lol.

no one is perfect and as long as it works out in the end.

(and the wife probably knows you wait until last minute to clean) LOL
 
I recently also have been contemplaiting how I spend my time and why I chose to do the things I do, and not do.

I haven't really come to any great conclusions expect to be more aware of how I spend my time. I mean, I don't want to do things I don't think are important, but I also want to enjoy myself and have a "purpose."

There was a recent article in the Washington Post that was reprinted by the bee about a lady that has spent $60,000 just collecting all things "M&M". He quoted someone with a perspective on collection as:

"Finding and buying things provides a sense of security. It allays a feeling of loneliness. It might help define one's identity. The need is instinctual, derived from an infant's earliest stages of development, when grasping onto objects takes the place of latching on to Mom."

While "latching onto mom" is suspect in my opinion, it leads to some interesting debate on how we fill time and why.

I enjoy the Kings and the nba, your friend sounds like he enjoys living a certain lifestyle.

To each his own, I suppose. I am just now more aware about the choices I make in time and money and how it affects my overall being.
 
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