I am a cheap, stubborn, irrational male.
I know this about me.
And if this does not surface every time I act or open my mouth, it ABSOLUTELY surfaces when it is time to tackle a home improvement project. Take “The Floor”, for instance. I hated the idea of paying someone to do what I could do myself. So I sold this idea to my then pregnant wife, took a week of vacation, and started work on what was intended to be 900 square feet of glorious porcelain floor to replace our hideous green tile.

Now, 7 days sounds like a gimme for this project, and ample time to complete, despite never having taken on a project like this big, having no help, and lacking the know-how, patience, and experience to make such a thing go smoothly.

I spent 7 days hand-chiseling up the old floor.

You see, in addition to being cheap, stubborn, and irrational, I am a bit of a moron. I’ll spare you the play by play of “The Floor”, it is enough to know that it took…8 months. And in the end, with the birth of our son looming, I ended up paying someone to come in and finish it in 2 days. Now sure, I ended up saving about $2000 in the process, but what did it ultimately cost me and my wife? 8 months of arguments, frustration, and exposed concrete foundation….during a pregnancy.

That brings me to today’s lesson learned…The Rule of Threes.

1. Every project will cost you 3 times as much as you think it will, if you do it yourself. You may still save money, but it wont be as cheap as you initially thought.
2. It will take a minimum of 3 times longer than you set aside.
3. Your husband/wife will have, at minimum, 3 things to say that are eventually taken as nagging, hurtful, critical, or generally disapproving.
4. The project will require no less than 3 trips to Home Depot. If you do choose to do these projects yourself, buy the ENTIRE STORE on your first trip, and return what you don’t need. Don’t kid yourself, they are gonna hate you after a while, but you will be happier.

In the end, the ultimate lesson to be taken from this is…do what your spouse wants. If she wants to pay someone to do the work, save a little longer, and pay that professional with a smile. Your wife is gonna LOVE you when the job is done quickly and well by someone who works hard and then leaves her new beautiful home. She’s gonna love you easily 3 times as much.

Hello friends. This is the part where I sound like a total stick in the mud. A fuddy duddy. A complete jackhole. When I started blogging, I did a couple of MeMes, or tags, or whatever you want to call them. And that was fine, but then I found I didn’t really like spending my writing time that way. So now, I simply don’t do them. Like most folks, I like to get awards, but I decided too that I don’t like feeling like I have to jump through hoops to get one. So let me just put it like this…If you would like to give me an award or a button, I would love to post it here for you, with a linkback to your blog. Absolutely free awards for special things MAY get placement on my homepage. It is really sweet of you to think of me, and I thank you. However, I probably won’t tell you ten things about me, or pass that award on to 10 of my “closest friends.” That’s just how I roll, and if you read my blog you’ll find out WAY TMI anyway… But again, if you have a button you would like to see here, lemme know! Ill be happy to put it up! You could even make it easier on me and email me the posting code!

From time to time I will be posting tips to help make your blogging easier, prettier, or less infuriating for everyone who reads you…If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Good Luck!

Anything else you would like to see here? Lemme know!

Here’s the part where you get to ask ME a question, and if it is the least bit thought provoking, I’ll answer it in a post.

Or, maybe the question is stupid…in which case I will actually be QUALIFIED to answer it…

To ask your question, simply post it in the comments below. If it’s a short answer, I’ll answer it there…if it takes more, I’ll post it. Either way, I have a feeling I’m in trouble…

And keep it relatively clean, people..this is a family show…at least use the proper medical terms.

Steve Martin – Banjo 1
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Josh Grobin – Believe
Polar Express – When Christmas Comes to Town
Cambridge Singers – Angel’s Carol (Rutter)
Cambridge Singers – Christmas Lullaby (Rutter)
Carpenters – Merry Christmas Darling
Carpenters – Christ Is Born (Alleluia)
St Paul Cathedral Choir – For the Beauty of the Earth (Rutter)
Westminster Abbey Choir – The Lord Bless You and Keep You (Rutter)
Lucy Rhodes and James Eager – The Lord Bless You and Keep You (Rutter)
Lucy Rhodes – Count Your Blessings
St Augustine’s Choir, Adelaide – A Gaelic Blessing (Rutter)
Andrea Bocelli – Chiara

To suggest other great Daddy Jams, please email me.

A Buns Life
A Madison Mom
A Mama’s Blog
Alive in Wonderland
Apron Strings and Angst
Captain Pork Chops
Craft Magazine
Days Go By
Doodaddy
Eat Play Love
Gluten Free Girl
Harmony in Motion
I’m Hungry For Something
It’s a Dry Rain
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit
Playgroups Are No Place For Children
Suzanne Broughton
The Bloggess
Say It Dont Spray It

If you would like to trade links with me, please email me.