I Was Doing Good- Until I Wasn't

Like many of you- I enjoy wasting time on TikTok.  I enjoy watching: dogs, kids, and DIY, sometimes cooks.  There are a lot of women DIY-ers out there.  Watching their TikTok's has emboldened me.  I have been an assistant and an apprentice to Doug for 20+ years.  I know how to do stuff.  I can work power tools.  I'm not afraid of a saw- hand saws (with no electrical power) or saws that require electricity.  I have a preferred drill.  I can interchange drill bits and hole cutters.  I know the difference between a cordless drill, a corded drill, and an impact driver.  I can use a stud finder . . . about 92% accurately.  I use levels because otherwise Doug will gripe.  I have a self-centering tape measure that has been a total game changer- if you don't have one- you need one.  

Because I have become emboldened, and therefore more confident- I want to do things by myself.  I want the satisfaction of knowing- I did this!!!! I did.  All.  By.  Myself.  I didn't need Doug to coach me, or problem solve it, or do it.  I did it.  

The trouble is . . . I have to wait until Doug isn't home to do things by myself.  He cannot help himself.  He has ideas or tips to offer.  Unfortunately- they're typically good ones.  He doesn't offer his tips in a rude, arrogant way.  He is gentle and kind about it.  I know he truly wants to help. But then I don't have the satisfaction of knowing I CAN do it.  Sometimes you just want to know you can.  

This spring I have done a number of things on my own.  

This closet I have talked about- excessively. I just love it so much.  I'm sorry.  

I hung these shelves in this weird half closet that we store random technology things in- like our printer and internet junk. Those battery operated puck lights have come in real handy in there too

I also did this circular shape all by myself.  It used to be a triangle, but got overgrown and several of the things planted there- died, so we decided to plant new stuff and make a circle.  I did the circle in the most mule-headed way possible.  Doug offered to help.  I think it killed a bit of his soul that I refused his help- but I was determined.  It's a pretty dang good circle.  He helped plant the rose bushes- mostly because we encountered an old tree root that required a lot of manly strength to get rid of.  

Wow- I am just so good.  Except I've done one other thing . . . without Doug's input.  This one is a big one.  When we bought our house- our new fridge wasn't making ice.  I called the warranty people- who infuriated me and to show them . . . I vowed never to interact with them again.  I am sure they are sad about that- as I have really shown them; when I go out and buy a bag of ice a week . . . for 5 years.  HAH in your faces you dumb warranty people.  Or not.  They may not be the dumb ones in this scenario.  Perhaps.  

Lately- maybe because it's just been so hot already?  It has been so annoying- we never realize we need ice . . . until we don't have ice.  At which point- we're dirty, sweaty messes from working in the yard.  The price of ice has gone up.  The price of gas has gone up- and it's just feeling a "bit" ridiculous.  Surely we could get this ice maker fixed- right?!  I mentioned it to Doug- who immediately dismissed the idea.  But . . . I wasn't done with that topic of conversation.  Sooooo I waited until he was at work and scheduled to have a guy come out and fix it.  As a general rule- I don't like being sneaky.  It actually doesn't sit well with me.  It's not a cool or respectful thing to do- to your partner.  But I plowed ahead, because when you think about buying a bag of ice at $4 a bag, and right now we buy 2 bags a week minimum . . . that seems really dumb.  The the guy came- quoted me a price, and I agreed.  He "fixed" it.  Except he didn't.  As soon as he left- I knew it wasn't fixed because I couldn't get water from the water "thingy."  Unfortunately, the kids ratted out this ice maker situation before I had a chance to confess.  Which is even more uncool.  Doug should have heard from me- instead I ignored him, called a repair person anyway, and paid a good chunk of money- without talking to him first.  Instead- he heard about it from a kid- who was complaining it still didn't work.  (Damn kids.  Ratting me out)  Needless to say . . . the ice maker remains unfixed.  The repair person was supposed to come back today- they did not.  I have called him again- and not heard back.  And this is all karma- for going behind Doug's back.  I do not want to be ugly with this repair person- but dude. I paid you a fair amount of money, snuck around behind my husband's back (again- not the repair person's issue- that's my issue) and I want this resolved and that ice maker to make a CRAPTON of ice.  I want so much ice I have to throw it in the plants to water them because we will never use that much ice.  Not really.  I really don't want that much ice.  I want a normal amount of ice.  Enough that I don't have to buy it.