Tell Us About Your Mate - Woodworking Talk

cabinetman · 06-26-2009, 12:57 PM

My wife (#3) is quite a remarkable woman. I met her a bit over 20 years ago. She was the office manager for a general contractor that I was doing ongoing work over a period of a few years. Needless to say that we flirted quite a bit whenever I went there. Flirting worked, and we became a couple.

She earned a nursing degree in a part time program and was honored by Phi Theta Kappa. To be brief, she is smart as all get out. She also fills the bill as a computer geekstress (I guess that's a female geek) whenever I get stuck. She has spent many days in my shop helping out and is very much into woodworking. She happened to be there one day when I was doing some hand fitted inlays, and wanted to try. So, I showed her what to do. After a few hours, she remarked how much patience it required.

She enjoys going on installations with me. She says she likes seeing the "before", "during", and "after" actually happen. She carries the other end very well, and knows what all the tools are when I'm jammed in a cabinet and call out for something.

She is not frail by a long shot, quite the opposite. A very athletic woman. We roller blade, and ride bicycles together. She's not tall...about 5'8", and has dirty blond hair. She looks a bit like Lindsay Lohan. She's not a very social person, hates crowds, and most people, appreciates status quo, and tolerates very little crap. She can play the banter game forever.

She is a cooking genius. Being Italian, loves pasta, red wines, bakes bread, and has an array of specialty meals of her own recipe. She has three grown children, and five grandchildren, that I call my own.

She loves DIY'ing, and partakes in all phases of renovation like laying tile, installing ceilings, painting, and...well, just about anything. We get along great, and never had a heated argument. We respect each others' opinion and individuality, and share the input on all decisions that are made.

I could go on for a whole lot more, but I want you guys to have a chance.

Gene Howe · 06-26-2009, 02:23 PM

We met at a wedding reception. She was in college studying to be a special ed. teacher. We dated for about 6 mo. and got married. That was 38 years ago. She is also #3 for me.
She could be Cabinetman's wife's twin! Physically and personality wise. She also loves DIY and brooks no crap from me or anyone else. She likes to work in the shop but truth be known, I think she likes gardening and stitchery a little better. She's good at all of it. She's just a little intimidated by the table saw and the routers. She handles every other tool quite well, though.
Gene

rocklobster · 06-26-2009, 06:10 PM

I met my wife, the only one I've had, in Japan when I was teaching English there for a few years (yes, she's Japanese). She was a freelance jewelry designer that sold designs to some department stores in Tokyo. She doesn't design anymore, but still draws and paints some pretty neat stuff.

She, too, is an amazing cook that does a lot of international stuff and does it from scratch. I eat like a king.

We both enjoy snow skiing but, while I like woodworking and DIY, she likes horseback riding and photography. She will do a little bit in the woodshop with the Dremel on occasion, though, and I'm hoping to teach her to use the scroll saw sometime.

Age treats her better than it does me. She has a metabolism that makes most people envious. We both like to work out, but I have to try harder than she does.

Best of all, she puts up with me, and that's no easy task. We've been married six years now and I consider myself a lucky man.

Rob

rrich · 06-27-2009, 10:25 PM

Not on your life!

I couldn't afford it.

rrbrown · 06-28-2009, 04:21 AM

I met my better half through my cousin during high school and we have been married for almost 23 years. I can really use the term other half because although we have a lot of things in common we are like total opposites in personalities. Staying married this long these days is hard enough but being married to a Marine this long takes a special person and allot of love. She likes to work around the house, she's a great cook, Smart and she has put up with more crap from me then any one person should have to. I put her through hell our first 10 years between my Marine Corps days volunteering for hurricane rescue teams, deployments and wars, injuries, catching on fire, to many hospital stays to count and not realizing how those things affected her. Since she has always been there for me and has made me a better person. I have tried for the last 10 years to always put her first, although she still finds a way to undermind my efforts more then she should. I know she is the only one for me and that is confirmed by her as she like to remind me “Nobody else would put up with my crap".

We plan on getting remarried for our 25th in Las Vegas and traveling around the country as soon as the kids are gone. (5 Years or so)

rrbrown · 06-28-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocklobster

(yes, she's Japanese)

Rob

Hey Rob while we were in Japan I fell in love with Sukiyaki. I would love it if your lovely wife could help me out with a recipe for it. I have tried to find one with no luck . I have even tried to find a "Japanese resturaunt" that serves it butas you probably know that just don't happen. If I am so lucky to get her help with this recipe please send me a PM.

I was stationed in Iwakuni for a year and we visited Heroshima, Kentia, Miyajima and surrounding areas. Of all the places we went I think Japan is our favorite.

Gary Beasley · 06-28-2009, 04:23 PM

My wife needed a shopping fix....we had a Woodcraft coupon so we went there and she bought about $100 worth of bowl blanks from the greenwood bin. That and a bowl polishing rig for the hand drill. We also hit Microcenter and an Italian restaurant. I have such a hard life....;-)

Roger Newby · 06-28-2009, 05:24 PM

My wonderful wife and I celebrate 41 years together tomorrow

That should tell you what a saint she is. We've known each other since the late 1950's, grew up in the same neighborhood. She is helpful on DIY projects and routine maintenance around the house, a very good cook and mother to our son and daughter.

If I think I need a tool and can justify it, she says go get it (within reason)

No Sawstop or exotic woods, but a very satisfying lady who is willing to help and makes sure I don't run out of projects

Roger

rocklobster · 06-28-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrbrown

Hey Rob while we were in Japan I fell in love with Sukiyaki. I would love it if your lovely wife could help me out with a recipe for it...If I am so lucky to get her help with this recipe please send me a PM.

Gotcha covered with the recipe. Thanks for asking. My wife decided to make it for dinner tonight.

Rob

ACP · 06-29-2009, 11:50 AM

Rocklobster, I am in the same boat. Love sukiyaki but haven't had it since 01 and can't find it. Hey, there may be a money venture here for you!

RHarkins · 06-29-2009, 12:33 PM

I got you all beat with my "How I met my wife' story.

When I was 17, I was out on a 'date' squaredancing with my 16 year old sister when I saw her, (my future wife), a beautiful red-headed girl, long legs, with the cutest freckles. Needless to say, I very quickly 'dumped' my date & stole her away from her date & we've been going together now for over 37 years. We just celebrated our 33rd wedding aniversary.

RHarkins · 06-29-2009, 12:47 PM

Yep, I took my sister out on a date.......

So..... I guess I'm abligated to explain that one.....

I was a squaredancer in highshool & I was promoting our club's aniversary dance as well as working toward earning this special badge/pin that you got if you danced every night for 30 days in a row straight through. I had 3 different girlfriends at the time & I was up to dancing 20 some nights in a row & all my girlfriends & other girls I knew counldn't go out with me on this Monday night...... so I took my sister out on that fateful date. She didn't even mind being dumped.

When I met that beautiful red-head, I just added her to my list & made her my 4th girlfriend. She quickly moved up to the #1 spot & somehow became the 'one-and-only' I still give her a hard time about how I met her while dating my sister & how she was my 4th girlfriend.

She just says she won the overall race.....

But I think that I'm the one who really won the biggest prize....

She's the best........

**TexasTimbers** · 06-29-2009, 05:17 PM

I met my wife in jail. We shared the same cell for a couple of days before I realized she was a female. The cops had thought she was a guy. She's so flat-chested, so muscular, and well so danged masculine they just assumed she was a guy. She had beat the sense out of 15 of them before they finally tazed her repeatedly. They had been trying to arrest her because some Hells Angels had crossed her, and she was stringing 3 of them up from a major intersection light pole to teach them a lesson.

Though our wild hell-raisin days are long over, we still have fond memories. But she still outweighs me by about 200 pounds, so I don't give her any lip. You never saw such a fat woman who can move so quick, and throw grown men through windows (just ask me how I know) like she is tossing a dirty rag in the corner. I cook for her, do all the laundry and dishes, and essentially wait on her hand and foot. I don't like black eyes and busted lips!

Although she doesn't lift a finger around here, and doesn't let me do much of anything in the way of what most husbands get to do, I have finally talked her into taking a shower occassionally, so that has helped. She has also agreed to let me buy her some dentures too, so I can understand her better when she orders me around.

But I don't want to just brag about her good qualities, she has some short-comings too, so I have to admit that. I don't want to list them though as she might see this and I'll end up doing another 3 or 4 day stint in the hospital (just got out today from a harsh beating last week). I wouldn't take for my sweet Bertha Joe, though. She's my darlin'.

While the above description of my wife is less than accurate, I just thought I would try to balance this thread out a little.

**Daren** · 06-29-2009, 05:47 PM

Mrs. TexasTimbers is the only members wife I know here, nice try TT

Now maybe what you describe is what you deserve...but not what you have.

frankp · 06-30-2009, 09:05 AM

I was going to say... I know I've seen people post pics of their wives in various threads on here and TT is definitely telling tales here. Funny, though.