Domestic Dilemma

expatbrit

So I go into my toolbox a little earlier today. It's nice and tidy. Tools well arranged, bottom clean.

All very well and good. Except that I know that last weekend I left it messy, tools scattered, 1/4 of an inch of sawdust on the bottom. The way a man's toolbox should be, in other words.

What has happened? My wife has tidied my toolbox! Now, as any man knows, few things are as dear to him as his toolbox. It's personal. Nothing should intrude upon the sanctity of the toolbox.

So now I have a conundrum. What do I do?

Do I:

a) let it pass without mention? This will preserve domestic harmony, but at the expense of my quietitude. It will also send the unspoken message that it is OK to intrude upon my toolbox, with future tidyings resulting. Do women realise how difficult it is to find any tools once the toolbox has been tidied?

b) lambast the wench? This will restore the sanctity of the toolbox. Unfortunately it will also make me feel like a cad, because I reward an intended kindness with said lambasting. I will no doubt end up using the toolbox to build myself a doghouse to sleep in. Us men have to understand that women simply don't understand these things.

I confess my nearly nine years of marriage have left me entirely unequipped to deal with such an intricate and dangerous situation. This is obviously a "thirty year" problem, and quite why I should have to deal with it now I don't know. I'm too young to die.

Expatbrit

Reborn2002

LMAO @ expatbrit

This is truly a dilemma.

Almost as bad as:
What came first? The chicken or the egg?

I dont think you have any one good answer my friend.

-If you follow your heart, you'll piss off your wife.

-If you appease her and condone her tidying your toolbox, then your not being true to yourself!

Good luck.

It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.
WT 11/15/1963 page 688 paragraph 3

COMF

Expat, while your wife is away from the home, go in to the bathroom and "tidy up" the things around her personal space... eyeliner, hair curler, and those 146 items men can't identify. Arrange them neatly and lovingly, some in drawers, some in the cabinet under the lavatory, some in the medicine cabinet. Do not do this vindictively; do it with husbandly love.

When she asks you about it, reply, "Oh, honey, it was so thoughtful of you to tidy up my toolbox, I just felt moved to come do the same thing for you." Blow her a kiss.

COMF

Come, fill the cup, and in the fire of spring
Your winter-garment of repentance fling:
The bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter--and the bird is on the wing.

Reborn2002

LMAO yet again!

At first I thought there was no resolution for this quandry, but it appears COMF has found it.

Over time, COMF has earned my respect and admiration. He obviously has had experience in relationships!

Wonderful idea Fred (that is your first name right?)

It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.
WT 11/15/1963 page 688 paragraph 3

expatbrit

COMF:

Brilliant! But dangerous. It depends for success upon her taking the time to logically connect the two tidyings before removing my testicles with a curling iron.

My wife is also a very organised person. Having just peeked into the bathroom I can tell you that any moving stuff around on my part would be making a mess, disturbing colour coded makeup arrangements etc, rather than tidying.

I shall ponder the suggestion though. Your having survived into your forties is a hopeful recommendation.

Expatbrit

COMF

before removing my testicles with a curling iron.

Ah, then this course of action would indeed succeed in making its point. And then some, apparently. ;)

Reborn, I'm very pleased to see your remarks about me, because I also have respect you for your mature views and observations made here. I'm glad that our bumpy beginning didn't prevent this. Cool!

COMF

Come, fill the cup, and in the fire of spring
Your winter-garment of repentance fling:
The bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter--and the bird is on the wing.

Nikita

How 'bout just telling her the truth but showering it on with kindness "honey, thank you so much for tidying up my tool box, that was so very nice of you and I love you for it, but it just really makes it harder for me to find things when someone else organizes it."

I don't know, usually my hubby is better at expressing himself in these domestic dilemnas than I! This is probably what he would say to me had I trespassed on his turf!

Nikita

Hmmm

Spend a day in your work area making a mess. Run all the power tools, buy some wood and cut it up (it's not important to actually create anything beyond a mess). Hook a battery up to the toolbox (nothing life-threatening, a 12-volt will do) so your wife will get a little jolt upon touching the holy cannister.

I don't imagine it will take more than two or three weekends to train her.

That, or tell her you'll go back to the Hall if she never touches your toolbox again.

Hmmm

SixofNine

Love her for it. Not many women would do such a thing, and, while we seldom take time to organize it ourselves, let's face it, it needed to be done. Work is so much more enjoyable when you can find the tool you need.

Somehow, from reading your past postings, I'm guessing that you do appreciate her for it, and you are having us on, playing the traditional male idiot, which you are not. And if you are, what a beautiful, win-win situation from which to make leap to the smart side .

Valis

I agree w/Six...tell her thanks and now in appreciation you would like to organize hers...hehehe. You get the best of both worlds....she cleans your mess and expat gets a bit of the old in and out...know what I mean? Wink wink..nudge nudge..is she a goer?

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Domestic Dilemma

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