A thousand words.. nah... some photos instead

[Ade]

So, Dave, now that you're over the initial settling in period, when are you two going to start producing sprogs? 

[Muzh]

So, Dave, now that you're over the initial settling in period, when are you two going to start producing sprogs? 

You know what they say, practice makes perfect. So keep practicing, Dave.

[Daveman]

AND, keeping with the thread title..

[mendeleyev]

Very, very nice! She is lovely Dave and you make a great couple.

[Daveman]

Very, very nice! She is lovely Dave and you make a great couple.

Thanks Mendy.. I'm one of those MoB'ers who definitely somehow landed a better woman than he deserves.  She's a gem.  When my time comes though, I'll wind up in the landfill.. 

You know what they say, practice makes perfect. So keep practicing, Dave.

It's tough, but I'll persevere... 

So, Dave, now that you're over the initial settling in period, when are you two going to start producing sprogs? 

We are currently in the negotiation phase.  I told her I'd do it for a new motorcycle.  She's not going for it.. yet...    I guess that only works in the other direction.

Congrats Dave--it is posts like your update here that I enjoy most on the forum. Happy guy talking about his new life-- I  am smiling as I visualise your reactions to situations !! LOL

Thanks Jay, for certain it's a trip sometimes.. you'll see.  Pudding really is good on top of brownies... I was used to frosting, but what the hey..  it's the little surprises that make life worth living. 

Congratulations, Dave.


Sorry about the "old" stuff. 

Thanks Boe.. I did manage to rescue the old cast iron kitchenware collection.. 

 
Congratulations Dave!  The joy that RW experience after adjustment is infectious.
 
I barely recognize the home where I have resided for 20 years.

Thanks Gator, Indeed it is infectious. 


This place is like living in a different house almost.. now if I could just get some spray to keep her from trying to arrange and beautify the "cave".  The concept and purpose of ManCave is still quite foreign.

congrats dave

if your still happy , and you have survived the first year or so , and a few bumps, then your going fine 

i think all of us have had those moments shopping , i read recently that blokes will have a brain haemorage if kept shopping with a woman for more than 20 mins , reckon iv survived a few of those then ,

its in their gene pool to spend hours aimlessly wandering in and out of shops ,'' looking ''

SX

Thanks SX..  My limit is about 10 minutes.  If I make it to 30 I expect a treat! I can't even prowl around in Sears or Lowe's/Home Depot (tools and building supplies) for more than about an hour and then I'm good for weeks.  I don't see how in the world she does those marathons.  Apparently "On Sale" is genetic as well.

Ditto with my wife the first year although her fascination lied with Ross. I can't believe the patience of having to go through that many racks of clothing hoping upon hope, then trying each one she picked on. So counter to how I shop. And if the entire day yielded even just one article of clothing - to her it was time well spent.

I'm so happy those days have gone by. That, and those annoying subtitles. 

Anyway, Congrats Dave!
 

Thanks GQ, unfortunately I don't see an end in sight for the TJMax addiction.  Prowling for clothes is her main hobby. 


HAH! yeah, we're still in the subtitle phase. Though now it's a little different because she has learned enough to make it into a game to find the subtitle discrepancies.  I guess you can get used to about anything..

Congrats Daveman!

I've discovered it is a life of perpetually turning corners. Many of those corners are in the first year. I have surmised that you've turned one of your most important corners the, "pick your battles wisely" corner 

Thanks FP - yep, I've mostly rounded that corner.  I've had to give up on some of my "it's not about the silly <whatever>; it's the principle here!!!" type battles. 

Thanks for the update Dave!
It's good to hear all's going well with your marriage. 

One man's meat is another man's poison!
I've been addicted to Kefir now for quite a number of years.
I have it everyday with my cereal.
I'm actually a bit of a Kefir connoisseur now. 

Thanks CM! I had a traumatic Buttermilk experience as a kid, mistaking it for whole milk before taking a couple of big gulps.  Never could handle even the smell of it after that.  Biscuits get a free pass though...

Hey Daveman, thanks  for the nice write-up re the first year.

We are 2 and a half years in, although not married.

The Kefir can be used to make some really great white mild cheese, which then can be used to make syrnike.  You will love it with chopped walnuts, honey and sour cream on top, so encourage her to make it.

Before the GRE, it may be best for her first to study for and take the TOEFL.  Most schools will require some minimum score on the TOEFL.  And without a good TOEFL score, one is unlikely to do well on the GRE anyway due to the reading comprehension skills needed.

But maybe the TOEFL is already finished up . . . you didn't mention.

No problem ML,
She's ready for the TOEFL but doesn't want to take it yet because of the expiration. She wants to wait until she feels that she's almost ready for the GRE and then go for it. 


As long as anything made from the Kefir doesn't actually taste like Kefir, I'll give it a shot. Cheese sounds good and the Syrnike she's made before is excellent.  Honey and Walnuts sound promising. 


--
Maryana also says thanks everybody for the warm wishes and that it's a good signal (yep signal) for us that she hasn't killed me yet.   

[mendeleyev]

The concept and purpose of ManCave is still quite foreign.

You might try explaining that the mancave is your "black closet" area. Some FSU apartments have a hallway closet that is without an electric light as it was created out of unused hall space or a corner of a room. (The long history goes back to a faraway time when European homes were taxed by the number of rooms and therefore the good old wardrobe to hold clothing substituted for our Western closets in every room.)

In most homes with a "back closet" the space is used for storage and in general the normal house rules don't apply. I can't guarantee that she knows of the concept but you might try to claim your mancave space as your black closet and explain that it is off limits without invitation. Good luck.

[Ade]

"Don't mess with my back closet". I'd be careful. There's a whole host of possible misinterpretations with that one.

[BillyB]

First time seeing this thread. I've always wanted to see what the famous ball breaking Daveman looked like! Here's a tip for you and any married man out there. Choose photos with your wife wearing a ring. Ade may make accusations, over and over and over and over(it gets old), that she's not in love with you or you're not married.

  She'll spend six hours going through an entire store.  I mean literally touching every single item in or near her size area,

My wife must be related to yours looking at every single item. This Black Friday she shopped 2 1/2 hours for clothes and couldn't find anything to buy in that time. As long as she looks good in what she buys, I can't complain much, but with you, I got to get away from there.

She has transformed the house into a quaint little home too.  Though we do have some battles over what gets thrown away. 

Give her the house! When you want something very important to you, you will then have more negotiating power. When it comes to living at home, if mama isn't happy, nobody is happy. Take your antiques and man toys to the garage or shed. I didn't like all the changes that happened at my home but everyone who's been here said it looks much better than the way I kept it. My dreams of becoming an interior designer have been shattered.

Though we do have some battles over what gets thrown away.  She has a rule of "Old or Ugly"

Lol, although my wife likes antiques, she has a similar policy.  I don't know how much more I'm going to last.

She regularly drinks that god awful Kefir but at least she doesn't grow anything with it... yet...

Against my free will, I've had to made numerous trips to the supermarket for that stuff. Someday I may just try it out of curiosity.

I guess that about wraps up this little update.

Don't wrap it up. We want more!

[mobob]

Daveman,

Don't forget Kohl's. And Gordman's. They're an integral part of our visits to the big city. Usually on payday weekend. Can you say 'Clearance'?! And then there's the outlet mall. After at least six hours of sale shopping, then it's to the grocery store. We have created monsters.

 


I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Jumper]

Thanks for the nice update and photo's Dave

It reads very  much like our first year, and the next , etc.
The TJMaxx, Burlington ,and yes Ross -also rings very close to home, lol!
Although in our case she was driving so I did not suffer, only find it amusing.
After three years that hasn't changed yet.
A small difference- I wouldn't have to trade  on the motorcycle thing, as the pile of them in the garage tends to grow ,not subside,despite which we are planning family.

We both wish you ,and the maiden™,  the very best!