The Joys of a Take-charge Spouse

[Veer_G]

I'm sitting in my back driveway, with my phone now at 16%, in 55° weather, not enjoying hot coffee. Thank God for USB in the truck.

Nope, it's an iced Dunkin' (Donuts) Mocha, and my bagels and cream cheese have become store-brand donut holes.

The missus went down to the basement loo yesterday morning to go potty, and came half-screaming up the stairs that the electrical utility wanted to shut the power off, right then and there.

Um, excuse me? We aren't Rockefellers by any means, but we make bills and manage some luxuries here and there.

It turns out that Miss "I'll Do Everything, Watch Me!" tried to pay on-line, couldn't get it to process, said nothing to me, and assumed that it would resolve itself with enough unicorn flatulence fumes and faith in the kindness of karma.

Well, it didn't.

So, she got sent out last night for water, the largest quality cooler our one-horse exurban Mao*Mart could provide, and enough ice for a three-day-weekend frat kegger.

And then she proceeded to be allowed the honor of fridge triage and packing away our perishable victuals. Thankfully, the chest freezer is still languishing, with power, at the other place.

My coffee is nearly gone, my phone is at 27%, the breakers have all been switched off, and it's warmed up to a semi-normal 58° outside here at Chez Veer II.

23 years later, and I think she's starting to get it. I hope. Today we're going to discuss paperwork SOP from here on out.

 

[FishDr]

Good luck.
I tried …it did not go well, at least for me.

 

[johnnycat]

Kudos to her for trying. I don't think my wife knows you even have to pay for things like utilities.

 

[Veer_G]

Good luck.
I tried …it did not go well, at least for me.

Well, I'm on v2.0. I figured out my necessary parameters on v1.0 and a couple beta models in between. Not the first v2.0 glitch, just not a completely minor one.

 

[FishDr]

Obviously, im still new at this. Id say still on version V.1.12

 

[Veer_G]

Obviously, im still new at this. Id say still on version V.1.12

Yeah. You'll undoubtedly discover that some of us have boots older than you. We're (some of us) the crusty old characters down at the other end of the bench muttering at their rifles. Just don't forget to bring coffee every now and then. We run on caffeine and Slim Jims, just like Stanley.

47% power. Wheeeee ...

 

[FS1]

I think if you bought the wife an old Mil surplus bike pedal generator for these occasions...she would be more thorough in the future. _

 

[Spblademaker]

What the fuck are bills??

 

[pmclaine]

My FIL passed away back last November.

Apparently FIL took care of "things".

Unfortunately now MIL is having hell trying to understand the running the house "things".

Im gone wifey wont miss a beat save for coming to the realization how much I spent on guns and than pissing on my grave.

I think to an extent MILs situation is a generational thing. More often its probably the surviving FIL that is lost on running the house.

Either way its not a fun situation watching wifey try to explain to MIL that she needs to pay her health insurance, etc.

 

[Bender]

What the fuck are bills??

Exactly, my version 1.0 does everything. I barely know how to wipe my ass.

 

[Spblademaker]

Exactly, my version 1.0 does everything. I barely know how to wipe my ass.

After the 10yrs shit I dealt with, post V1.0, I deserve to be spoiled.

 

[Veer_G]

I think if you bought the wife an old Mil surplus bike pedal generator for these occasions...she would be more thorough in the future. _

SG, here we come. Gonna make my Club membership finally pay off.

58% ...

 

[Bender]

I married mine early. 22 years old. I knew how good she was and didn’t want some random guy at college to figure out what I already knew. I was not wrong. I picked right the first time and have been spoiled ever since. Threads like this only validate my choice I made 19 years ago....

 

[Shadow knows]

What the fuck are bills??

Move out of your parents basement

 

[Spblademaker]

??

 

[MtnCreek]

The fuckers cut the power without a phone call? Do you buy power from a co-op or big power company?

 

[Shadow knows]

My glam ver 1.0 was a lot of show no go but ver 2.0 has a degree in accounting so it works for me. She is lazy though, well more than me which I like to stay busy so I get annoyed.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

That's a heck of a 'learning experience' to go through, Veer. You'll all get through this though, and will be the stronger for it. I'm waiting though, for when you tell us "what you're really thinking...."

THAT is going to be "colorful", to say the least!

 

[Spblademaker]

The fuckers cut the power without a phone call? Do you buy power from a co-op or big power company?

Seen it a bunch of times. I get called to a house that suddenly has no power. First place I go is the meter. The power company will either put a special lock on the meter base, put a form of marker on it, or just sleeve the load side of the meter.

 

[Veer_G]

The fuckers cut the power without a phone call? Do you buy power from a co-op or big power company?

Small regional outfit. Out here in the semi-boonies, it's either that, or go off-grid with a massive investment in infrastructure and an operational learning curve. If I decide to terrace the ridge and log out the walnut, I'd just as soon plant grapes, and not banks of solar power panels.

 

[FS1]

Seen it a bunch of times. I get called to a house that suddenly has no power. First place I go is the meter. The power company will either put a special lock on the meter base, put a form of marker on it, or just sleeve the load side of the meter.

Down here we have electronic meters. They turn you off from the office.

 

[Spblademaker]

Down here we have electronic meters. They turn you off from the office.

We are getting those a lot here now. I think PPL has mostly everyone in our area on them, while MetEd is slowly upgrading.

 

[Veer_G]

That's a heck of a 'learning experience' to go through, Veer. You'll all get through this though, and will be the stronger for it. I'm waiting though, for when you tell us "what you're really thinking...."

THAT is going to be "colorful", to say the least!

69%, and no, I haven't shared my innermost feelings. I'm not entirely in a touchy-feely mode right now.

 

[FS1]

69%, and no, I haven't shared my innermost feelings. I'm not entirely in a touchy-feely mode right now.

Your wife is just trying to make you more sympathetic to the Storm victims by sharing their pain.

 

[Spooky68]

Wow.... your elec utility doesn’t mess around. Usually you get a nasty gram or two before shut-off.

 

[Veer_G]

Your wife is just trying to make you more sympathetic to the Storm victims by sharing their pain.

She's gonna need an elephant load of Thorazine and about twelve hours of forcing me to watch old Bob Ross painting shows at this point. We are not fuckin' amused.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Veer_G. That sucks. Will the utility hit you for a "hook up" charge to turn it back on.

Around here the gas company does at least, not sure about electric company.

To a couple others here, it sounds like you married my wife's sister. Not her real sister she is a bitch, but her proverbial twin.
My wife is going to get some extra attention this weekend. She runs the house like clock work. I would be a lost cause without her.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Wow.... your elec utility doesn’t mess around. Usually you get a nasty gram or two before shut-off.

If Veer_G finds those hidden under the mattress his head might explode.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I'm sitting in my back driveway, with my phone now at 16%, in 55° weather, not enjoying hot coffee. Thank God for USB in the truck.
Nope, it's an iced Dunkin' (Donuts) Mocha, and my bagels and cream cheese have become store-brand donut holes.
The missus went down to the basement loo yesterday morning to go potty, and came half-screaming up the stairs that the electrical utility wanted to shut the power off, right then and there.
Um, excuse me? We aren't Rockefellers by any means, but we make bills and manage some luxuries here and there.
It turns out that Miss "I'll Do Everything, Watch Me!" tried to pay on-line, couldn't get it to process, said nothing to me, and assumed that it would Resolve itself with enough unicorn flatulence fumes and faith in the kindness of karma.
Well, it didn't.
So, she got sent out last night for water, the largest quality cooler our one-horse exurban Mao*Mart could provide, and enough ice for a three-day-weekend frat kegger.
And then she proceeded to be allowed the honor of fridge triage and packing away our perishable victuals. Thankfully, the chest freezer is still languishing, with power, at the other place.
My coffee is nearly gone, my phone is at 27%, the breakers have all been switched off, and it's warmed up to a semi-normal 58° outside here at Chez Veer II.
23 years later, and I think she's starting to get it. I hope. Today we're going to discuss paperwork SOP from here on out.

So I take it you didn't have a generator ready and a bunch of gas for it, along with an outdoor full cooking setup with plenty of fuel for that?
Even in Suburbia, just have a small generator that can run the fridge and freezers and a couple lights, stick it outside in the back yard and run it.
Then fire up the old grill with side burner and cook everything like normal.

Add in a Japanese Kerosene heater that runs on batteries or AC and you are in business.

 

[Veer_G]

So I take it you didn't have a generator ready and a bunch of gas for it, along with an outdoor full cooking setup with plenty of fuel for that?
Even in Suburbia, just have a small generator that can run the fridge and freezers and a couple lights, stick it outside in the back yard and run it.
Then fire up the old grill with side burner and cook everything like normal.

Add in a Japanese Kerosene heater that runs on batteries or AC and you are in business.

I've got a beautiful, new generator with a Briggs & Stratton engine that runs the essential half of the house and fuel for at least 36 hours. We about went tongs and hammers when I told her that I was going to go fuel it and cut it in to the mains.

Apropos of your comment, now she wants to seriously discuss a hand crank option for the well and a wood-fired "summer kitchen." Having plucked her feathers at 21, with her growing up on top of a ridge well outside of town, I would have thought her to be more adversity-proof. I guess two decades of suburban living have changed her.

 

[lightman]

I married mine early. 22 years old. I knew how good she was and didn’t want some random guy at college to figure out what I already knew. I was not wrong. I picked right the first time and have been spoiled ever since. Threads like this only validate my choice I made 19 years ago....

This could be me except she was 19 and it was 43 years ago! She pays the bills and pretty much runs the house. We've never been shut off or even late on a bill. Our credit rating is off the charts., thanks to her. I made the living but she paid the bills. And she has put up with my dumb ass!

I recently retired from an electric utility as a serviceman. Part of my duties were collecting, the part that I hated. I could write a book about this! Usually it was the same ones every month. If a stranger popped up on the list I usually noticed it and being in a small town, probably knew them. A quick phone call before I had to actually go to their house usually fixed it. But, I have been propositioned, threatened and called lots of names. Different utilities have different rules but my company would send out a bill and if it was not paid would send out a shut off notice. Then they would attempt an electronic contact the day before I was sent out. But that depends on having valid information in the system.

Sorry you were disconnected. Hope you get reconnected soon.

 

[Veer_G]

If Veer_G finds those hidden under the mattress his head might explode.

Well, it'd be ape-ugly, for sure, as it would be a shaped charge.

 

[m6z]

It's easier to take care of bills myself and give her a set amount for groceries and misc.

There would be no money for gun parts otherwise.

 

[2ndamendfan]

It's easier to take care of bills myself and give her a set amount for groceries and misc.

There would be no money for gun parts otherwise.

That is funny, 'cause if I was in charge there would be no money for groceries.

 

[Veer_G]

That is funny, 'cause if I was in charge there would be no money for groceries.

Send noods!

 

[Nik H]

Well, I'm on v2.0. I figured out my necessary parameters on v1.0 and a couple beta models in between. Not the first v2.0 glitch, just not a completely minor one.

I did exactly the same thing with v1.0. Only thing I can't figure out after the list of parameters was determined was why I went with v1.0

 

[Nik H]

It's easier to take care of bills myself and give her a set amount for groceries and misc.

There would be no money for gun parts otherwise.

The only financial stuff I manage is investment strategy and transactions.

My wife handles all other financial transactions and does an incredible job. I hate doing that kind of crap. It is liberating when you don't need to any longer. I also get a quicklook report every month showing where all the money went....LOL

 

[Veer_G]

Veer_G. That sucks. Will the utility hit you for a "hook up" charge to turn it back on.

Hell, I won't even notice it. The dog went into the hospital Wednesday at 0300. She's got pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, and fluid in the aabdomen. So far, about $3K. Thankfully, we've been living like squirrels to balance two mortgages until we're shut and clear of the town house.

 

[diverdon]

Kudos to her for trying. I don't think my wife knows you even have to pay for things like utilities.

When I accused my wife of thinking that gas tanks filled themselves and garbage took it's self away her response: just like dishes and laundry do themselves, and the floors mop them selves.

 

[Redmanss]

My ex was atrocious at paying bills. I worked overseas and made well over $10k/mo, way more than enough to pay all the bills with, and she perpetually failed to get her fat homemaker ass two miles away (and on the way to the kids' schools) to pay the utilities. She was too "busy" shopping and getting her claws done to pay jack shit. I'd come home every few months to a stack of unopened bills full of late notices/charges and disconnect warnings. Off I'd go to pay off everything, there would go my gun money I'd been saving up, wondering where the fuck all my earnings was being pissed away at. I tried everything, checking with her each month to see if everything was paid, setting up a bill board in the kitchen for her to check off everything each month, you name it. Nothing changed because she really didn't give a fuck about it.

Essentially after just shy of 12 years marriage, I paid her off to get the fuck out of my life. Best half mil I've ever spent, and worth every last penny.

My lady now, we talk about bills every month and it certainly isn't on any one person's shoulders alone. We write them all out and go through together to get them all paid. We've never been late on a thing that way, as we catch each other's mistakes if we forget something that isn't a regular bill like a toll or something, the other typically remembers. Sometimes money is lean, other times abundant, but we always get the bills paid first because it is our #1 focus come paydays.

I've found communication is key, not just in finances but all things relationship related, it just has to be a two way street at all times though.

 

[Veer_G]

Some of us gravitate towards "fun" types the first time or two around, who are exciting as hell but not very functional otherwise. V1.0 was, as was the one beta model in between, but v2.0 has been fairly solid. It's cool as hell to nail the homecoming queen, but once you realize that, while you can bring the steak home, she can't land it on a plate next to some sides, the sheen starts to wear off. That's where I got to with the in-between beta after about a year-and-a-half of a serious looksie. Two decades later, yeah, I'm grousing a little over this, but I'd hate to think where I'd be with the beta model, or, worse yet, v1.0.

Anyway, they just switched us back on, and now i can return to my semi-rural modern lifestyle of electronic dependency in order to make my post-industrial, information-based living. Thanks to everyone for playing and comparing notes!

 

[XLR308]

Exactly, my version 1.0 does everything. I barely know how to wipe my ass.

Damn you wipe your own ass, like with your own hand and toilet paper ?
Man I must really be spoiled ??

 

[W54/XM-388]

I've got a beautiful, new generator with a Briggs & Stratton engine that runs the essential half of the house and fuel for at least 36 hours. We about went tongs and hammers when I told her that I was going to go fuel it and cut it in to the mains.
.

Did she not want the generator to be used so it would stay "Brand new" or was she not liking the noise or something?
Seems a bit odd to be willing to get ice for the freezer and do all kinds of work instead of using the generator.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog, that really sucks. Hopefully for the $3k they are able to get them fixed up for you.
Last time I spent $3k on a dog in a single go, they still couldn't save him.
I did however just manage to drop $2k on vet visit & regular checkups and some meds for my 2 dogs the other week. That kind of hurt.

 

[Veer_G]

Did she not want the generator to be used so it would stay "Brand new" or was she not liking the noise or something?
Seems a bit odd to be willing to get ice for the freezer and do all kinds of work instead of using the generator.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog, that really sucks. Hopefully for the $3k they are able to get them fixed up for you.
Last time I spent $3k on a dog in a single go, they still couldn't save him.
I did however just manage to drop $2k on vet visit & regular checkups and some meds for my 2 dogs the other week. That kind of hurt.

Noise was a factor. I think she was intimidated by setting it up, and didn't want me to have to lift a finger, since this was purely her shit show. Outside of running the generator, the only options were to pitch everything, or ice it down.

Apparently, doggie girl is coming home later today. Daddy's shotgun money went into her, which is a helluva lot easier to deal with than the alternative. I'll probably settle for a Remington or do some renovation on something already here, instead of buying something sexy and Italian.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Good luck.
I tried …it did not go well, at least for me.

You're far from being alone........it usually doesn't go well......

 

[W54/XM-388]

Noise was a factor. I think she was intimidated by setting it up,

You could always add one of those little Honda EU2000i / EU2200i generators, they are really quiet, small & light, something for the corner of the garage and light enough to stick one in the back of your car for a camping trip.

 

[Tazman]

I haven't paid a bill in over 15 years. I am very lucky that my wife keeps a tight ship and ass!! But in my defense, I do provide her with sex...just sayn"

 

[Spblademaker]

I haven't paid a bill in over 15 years. I am very lucky that my wife keeps a tight ship and ass!! But in my defense, I do provide her with sex...just sayn"

Trophy Husbands Unite!!

 

[Dewey7271]

You could always add one of those little Honda EU2000i / EU2200i generators, they are really quiet, small & light, something for the corner of the garage and light enough to stick one in the back of your car for a camping trip.

Two with the parallel cable are pretty cool. Pretty damn quiet too.

 

[Barneybdb]