I'll go hide in a corner and tell my DH to join you all. I am the enginerd in our house. I drive my DH nuts with all my plans for our future home (building furniture, tiered gardens, installing custom you-name-it).
Oh, and Adirondack chairs? I could totally build one.
I will say it's fun sharing this with my spouse. One of those bids for attention things - we both get really fucking into planning out our next project. He'll work up the big picture, I'll put together a spreadsheet with timeline and budget and supply lists - we'll go over it together - we actually enjoy this stuff. Thank god. Because otherwise we'd drive each other insane.
We've always got some project going - not always the house - but always something.
My husband claims he could do it all if I would just let him buy a table saw.
My ex, during our renovation, thought that, since he was an artist and painted n shit, he could knock out sanding and staining all of the 110 y/o wood trim and floors in our house, no problem. In like a week or two. Convinced about this. $30,000 and 3 months later after a professional woodworking team finished the house, he finally said, "Yeah, I don't think I could have done that.".
You don't say? lol
OH MY GOD. Yes. Can we talk about the CHRONIC UNDERESTIMATING?
My H thought he could dismantle, relevel and relay our 9x15' brick patio. In a day.
The "half hour job" is a running joke in my family because my dad would constantly be like "I have a job for you. It'll take a half hour." Three hours later....
Post by orangeblossom on Feb 27, 2015 15:09:55 GMT -5
I thought of one more thing as I was walking the dog.
Why is it when something breaks, and you mention it, they're like: Me: Xyz is broken DH: what do you mean xyz doesn't work"; "did you try xyz". Me: "yes, it doesn't work. (In my head, I done told you it doesn't work) I think ithe problem is Xyz. DH: No, I don't think it's that. DH/Repairman: It is what Orangeblossom said DH: Oh
Drives me up the damn well. This once happened when my card didn't start at 3am, and he's all like what do you mean it won't start. That didn't end well.
My ex, during our renovation, thought that, since he was an artist and painted n shit, he could knock out sanding and staining all of the 110 y/o wood trim and floors in our house, no problem. In like a week or two. Convinced about this. $30,000 and 3 months later after a professional woodworking team finished the house, he finally said, "Yeah, I don't think I could have done that.".
You don't say? lol
OH MY GOD. Yes. Can we talk about the CHRONIC UNDERESTIMATING?
My H thought he could dismantle, relevel and relay our 9x15' brick patio. In a day.
The "half hour job" is a running joke in my family because my dad would constantly be like "I have a job for you. It'll take a half hour." Three hours later....
Oh you mean like how we thought our house reno would be done in a summer? (2.5 years later...)
H doesn't tailgate because "there is an ideal distance from the car in front of you to optimize your gas mileage. It's science." - Mr. Tooshort
#hypermiling
If I hear about goddamn hypermiling one more time...
Also, I refuse to drive if my husband is in the car. So much so that my daughter thinks that if a man is in the car, he has to drive. I feel sort of bad about that, but he is the most critical backseat driver I can't handle it.
There's a mythbusters on that. You should make him watch.
My dad's an engineer. I think children of engineers have their own special set of psychoses.
H can definitely be overconfident in his dreams, but at least all I have to do is listen since he never implements them.
I thought of one more thing as I was walking the dog.
Why is it when something breaks, and you mention it, they're like: Me: Xyz is broken DH: what do you mean xyz doesn't work"; "did you try xyz". Me: "yes, it doesn't work. (In my head, I done told you it doesn't work) I think ithe problem is Xyz. DH: No, I don't think it's that. DH/Repairman: It is what Orangeblossom said DH: Oh
Drives me up the damn well. This once happened when my card didn't start at 3am, and he's all like what do you mean it won't start. That didn't end well.
Oh my god... every time something is broken, he responds with what do you mean it's broken?
I MEAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
I thought of one more thing as I was walking the dog.
Why is it when something breaks, and you mention it, they're like: Me: Xyz is broken DH: what do you mean xyz doesn't work"; "did you try xyz". Me: "yes, it doesn't work. (In my head, I done told you it doesn't work) I think ithe problem is Xyz. DH: No, I don't think it's that. DH/Repairman: It is what Orangeblossom said DH: Oh
Drives me up the damn well. This once happened when my card didn't start at 3am, and he's all like what do you mean it won't start. That didn't end well.
Oh my god... every time something is broken, he responds with what do you mean it's broken?
I MEAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
It is infuriating. Just come here and look at said problem.
I thought of one more thing as I was walking the dog.
Why is it when something breaks, and you mention it, they're like: Me: Xyz is broken DH: what do you mean xyz doesn't work"; "did you try xyz". Me: "yes, it doesn't work. (In my head, I done told you it doesn't work) I think ithe problem is Xyz. DH: No, I don't think it's that. DH/Repairman: It is what Orangeblossom said DH: Oh
Drives me up the damn well. This once happened when my card didn't start at 3am, and he's all like what do you mean it won't start. That didn't end well.
Oh my god... every time something is broken, he responds with what do you mean it's broken?
I MEAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
I do this. (hides)
I just realized this.
But MH has a habit of being like, "OMG XYZ THING IS DESTROYED AND MUST BE TOTALLY REBUILT/REPLACED." and I have to be like, "what do you MEAN it's broken." because half the time, no, it's just fucking scratched. Or it actually works fine if you'd stop twisting it in that one very specific and frankly weird way that makes it pop off the pins. Or actually it's just making a funny noise because it needs to be oiled. Stop it.
Like he wanted to rip up our entire BRAND NEW floating floor because some water got on one section and it temporarily swelled. We put the big fan and the dehumidifier on it, it went back to normal. If you know EXACTLY where it was, and you get down with a bright light and run your hand repeatedly over the area you can KINDA find the area where it happened. kinda. Which will be under a fucking TREADMILL once the room is in use.
I had to call in the BESTEST friend as backup to tell him he'd lost his fucking mind.
When I say something is broken - I mean that it needs to go to the dump and is entirely beyond repair or even creative reuse. If it can still perform it's essential function, it's not fucking broken. That might be my inner redneck coming out though. A little baling twine and some tape and we're good to go!
I will say that my fancy hairdryer has "broken" a few times because my SIL borrowed it and dropped it when she was visiting. And well, I've dropped it since. And he's been able to fix it every time.
So I am glad he is around; I just wish he wouldn't irritate me incessantly in the process...lol.
Oh my god... every time something is broken, he responds with what do you mean it's broken?
I MEAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
I do this. (hides)
I just realized this.
But MH has a habit of being like, "OMG XYZ THING IS DESTROYED AND MUST BE TOTALLY REBUILT/REPLACED." and I have to be like, "what do you MEAN it's broken." because half the time, no, it's just fucking scratched. Or it actually works fine if you'd stop twisting it in that one very specific and frankly weird way that makes it pop off the pins. Or actually it's just making a funny noise because it needs to be oiled. Stop it.
Like he wanted to rip up our entire BRAND NEW floating floor because some water got on one section and it temporarily swelled. We put the big fan and the dehumidifier on it, it went back to normal. If you know EXACTLY where it was, and you get down with a bright light and run your hand repeatedly over the area you can KINDA find the area where it happened. kinda. Which will be under a fucking TREADMILL once the room is in use.
I had to call in the BESTEST friend as backup to tell him he'd lost his fucking mind.
When I say something is broken - I mean that it needs to go to the dump and is entirely beyond repair or even creative reuse. If it can still perform it's essential function, it's not fucking broken. That might be my inner redneck coming out though. A little baling twine and some tape and we're good to go!
OMG yes. My husband is chicken little and "It doesn't work! Throw it away!" I nearly killed him when he tried to throw out my blender which just needed a simple part replaced that cost 50 cents and took me 2 minutes to fix with only a screwdriver.
Or when he insisted that our landlord needed to order a new dryer without even troubleshooting because the drum wouldn't rotate after he did 6 loads of laundry. It was an overheated belt! Give it 30 minutes to cool down and it's FINE. And don't dry 6 loads of sweaters, jeans, comforters and blankets with out a break. :?
I married a graphic designer. He just bores me with logo and advertising talk and then tells me why I always choose the wrong paint color.
Ah, I get to play one-upper. My H is an engineer, but he's also an artist. As a result, I not only suffer every engineering-related indignity, insult, and irritation listed in this thread, I am regularly told I have a terrible eye for color. And then I get the lecture on the science behind the colors and how we perceive them and why green is the most complicated color of them all and our kitchen would benefit from being this shade of orange because blah blah blah zzzzzz....
I married a graphic designer. He just bores me with logo and advertising talk and then tells me why I always choose the wrong paint color.
Ah, I get to play one-upper. My H is an engineer, but he's also an artist. As a result, I not only suffer every engineering-related indignity, insult, and irritation listed in this thread, I am regularly told I have a terrible eye for color. And then I get the lecture on the science behind the colors and how we perceive them and why green is the most complicated color of them all and our kitchen would benefit from being this shade of orange because blah blah blah zzzzzz....
That would drive me insane.
Did I ever tell you about the time DH insisted that this paint color was okay for our master bedroom. I was like it is way too bright. He was like no, it's good. Cue the realtor coming and saying we needed to reprint the room I'd just painted. So pissed.
Ah, I get to play one-upper. My H is an engineer, but he's also an artist. As a result, I not only suffer every engineering-related indignity, insult, and irritation listed in this thread, I am regularly told I have a terrible eye for color. And then I get the lecture on the science behind the colors and how we perceive them and why green is the most complicated color of them all and our kitchen would benefit from being this shade of orange because blah blah blah zzzzzz....
You do not know everything. Stay in your lane.
Now you know I'm going to say this to H the next time he tries to tell me something, and then we're going to have a big fight and probably get divorced. FYI, I will be blaming you when he takes me to the cleaners.
Now you know I'm going to say this to H the next time he tries to tell me something, and then we're going to have a big fight and probably get divorced. FYI, I will be blaming you when he takes me to the cleaners.
You know what really does suck? The rare rare times that MH defers to me when I'm not expecting it (and I'm never expecting it) - and then I drop the ball on something because I wasn't prepared to make a decision. I HATE when he does that.
And on that note, I'm going to remember to take care of the stupid 529 plan changes now...
Ladies, let's recap. The real lesson here is not to marry or be friends with or hang around or associate or even look at male engineers. Those of you fortunate enough not to find yourselves in this situation yet have been warned!
But if you give them a problem, they will go to the ends of the earth to fix it....which is great when you dream up some crazy shaped deck with a privacy wall, trellis, electric outlets, and water faucet/automatic sprinkler that you want built in the back yard. The more insane the project, the more they love it.
I married a graphic designer. He just bores me with logo and advertising talk and then tells me why I always choose the wrong paint color.
Ah, I get to play one-upper. My H is an engineer, but he's also an artist. As a result, I not only suffer every engineering-related indignity, insult, and irritation listed in this thread, I am regularly told I have a terrible eye for color. And then I get the lecture on the science behind the colors and how we perceive them and why green is the most complicated color of them all and our kitchen would benefit from being this shade of orange because blah blah blah zzzzzz....
In their defense, I do tell my cousin (she's 23 and is working at a company that my husband used to work at - it's full of mechanical enginerds) that engineers make good husbands. Most I know are reliable, responsible and good to have around. They just drive you crazy in the process. I suppose I can accept that because he does all kinds of shit I have no idea how to do nor do I have any interest in. But I will still complain about his personality. lol.
Last night mine asked me to help him solve a flow problem in a wastewater treatment plant. Dude, I know you talk about it all the time, but I still don't know shit (no pun intended) about wastewater treatment. I told him to use a flowmeter. He said "What a great idea!" and then drew a bunch of stuff on a napkin that he took to work with him this morning.
I get along really well with engineers in the work place because I can internally treat them like I am putting them back on the shelf and going home once the work day is done. I had good male friends in high school who ALL turned into engineers. As friends, it is great.
Having one as a husband? OH MY GAHD.
On the other hand, my bf is in IT, so that's another host of weirdness.
Ah, I get to play one-upper. My H is an engineer, but he's also an artist. As a result, I not only suffer every engineering-related indignity, insult, and irritation listed in this thread, I am regularly told I have a terrible eye for color. And then I get the lecture on the science behind the colors and how we perceive them and why green is the most complicated color of them all and our kitchen would benefit from being this shade of orange because blah blah blah zzzzzz....
Oy. I'd throw a stir stick at him.
He'd throw back a coffee table made from that stir stick.
ETA: I am totally lying. He's a tech guy. He'd throw back a motherboard made from said stir stick.
I told my husband a few years ago that my discussing these things with IIOY and origami may have saved his life because I didn't feel so alone anymore.
I do think enginerds love a challenge and sometimes I am grateful for that because i am quite the challenge for my H sometimes and despite how much he drives me crazy, he's a good balance and partner for me, lol. I'd likely be bored without him telling me how he is optimizing my life.
OH MY GOD. Yes. Can we talk about the CHRONIC UNDERESTIMATING?
My H thought he could dismantle, relevel and relay our 9x15' brick patio. In a day.
The "half hour job" is a running joke in my family because my dad would constantly be like "I have a job for you. It'll take a half hour." Three hours later....
THEY CAN"T TELL TIME!!!
"I don't have the time." , "I need more time.", "Where did the time go?" , "If I can find the time."
I can't tell you how many watches I bought that man. lol And I swear he was always slower than he thought he was. Either that or time just moves faster when I expect something from him.
For us, the joke was with driving because no matter where he was on the road he'd say "I'll be home in 10-15 minutes".
"Okay, see you in a half hour then."
What is this about.
DH is always like, yeah, we're xyz time away to whoever he's talking to on the phone, and I'm screaming in the background, "no, we'll be there in a half hour". I don't get it. He is constantly underestimating time.
As for the not having time to do a specific thing, I told him I don't want to hear it. He has time to do what he wants, so when he's all I didn't have time, I'm like, "Boy, bye".
My husband loses track of time so frequently and never knows what time it is. He set an alarm for his phone so each day he can let me know what time he will be home. Because otherwise he would forget to leave work.
I told my husband a few years ago that my discussing these things with IIOY and origami may have saved his life because I didn't feel so alone anymore.
I do think enginerds love a challenge and sometimes I am grateful for that because i am quite the challenge for my H sometimes and despite how much he drives me crazy, he's a good balance and partner for me, lol. I'd likely be bored without him telling me how he is optimizing my life.
Oh, what about trying to fix something and getting so engrossed in said problem, they don't realize it's time to go stop for a bit. This is especially grating when you have company or have to go somewhere. It's like they get caught in the weeds, and can't see themselves out.
I told my husband a few years ago that my discussing these things with IIOY and origami may have saved his life because I didn't feel so alone anymore.
I do think enginerds love a challenge and sometimes I am grateful for that because i am quite the challenge for my H sometimes and despite how much he drives me crazy, he's a good balance and partner for me, lol. I'd likely be bored without him telling me how he is optimizing my life.
Oh, what about trying to fix something and getting so engrossed in said problem, they don't realize it's time to go stop for a bit. This is especially grating when you have company or have to go somewhere. It's like they get caught in the weeds, and can't see themselves out.
Yes!!! And my H over engineers everything. Esp when his dad is helping him so it ends up taking twice as long.