..........."It didn't help my case the last time when I handed her some of those ear plugs. What's a guy to do??? For the most part she has reluctantly accepted my nasty garage and shop habits as an embedded part of my genetic code. Of course she is perfect so I have no defense or a leg to stand on."

I had to laugh at your note Dave - especially since you posted it on a thread started by a Lady!

I've been a divorced single father of a 15 year old for 14 years now - that's why I'm restoring my 51 - to have that great "truck time" with my son the way my dad and I did it. My divorce had a lot to do with the service, wars, family separation and the substance abuses that sometimes accompany that. My truck is my girl now - demanding of time and money, but a pleasure just the same.

But enough about me...Dr. Dan is here to help, and I think with you being the conscientious and sensative guy you are ,the solution is simple.....The auto and truck thing is YOUR thing. It seems like she is a little resentful of the time and attention you spend on your hobby instead of together or simply on her.

One thing that might turn that completely around would be if you were to gain her interest in the old vehicles and some of the fun things you can do with them, like car rallys driving to neat places (I'm not familiar with Ohio) with other folks your age. Dances with the car club, etc. etc.

One of the best ways, I would think to do this is to buy her a classic all her own!!!!!! Somethnig that is pretty - a head turner that she can parade around in if she likes. Not a resto project, something pretty now (remember that instant gratification thing women are big on) - one that really doesn't need a lot, but a few little things. That way you can do little things on her car to spruce it up, and some of the attention is for her...and you still get to play with cars. Something like late 30s convertable!!!!! Give it a name: "My New Red Shoes" Sounds like fun! TOGETHER!!!

Of course if you've tried all that and still get no understanding, there is one other thing you can do:




















I'd try "My New Red Shoes"


PS Sorry MIZ59F-100 - just couldn't help myself - feel free to poke back!

 

That was fun... I would really be in hog heaven if that would work but she really doesn't have much interest in the old stuff. Her thing is a matter of new with A/C, PS, PW, PS, AM/FM-CD and etc. I bought that for her last year. I'll give her this, she is a stickler about keeping it clean. But that's about it.

She doesn't really resent me spending time in the garage and shop. Actually she wishes it was someplace else. I recently made the statement that if I were single I would have a big metal or pole building with several garage bays and room on the end for my camper inside where I would live. She heard me and said "Go for it". I told her I appreciated her understanding and said that I would go for it if I had the money. ...still waiting for that lottery win...

There is one area where I might get her interested. I think she would be interested in doing upholstery work. She does a lot of sewing and has attempted similar work as well as having made a really nice headliner for one of our cars some years ago. She has the machines that will handle the heavy stuff. I just need to get her a work room set up and a project. Unfortunately my 53 F-100 is far away from that point. I might try to get some seats I like and let her go to town on them. I do have a set from a Contour in the storage building that she might want to practice on. I'll have to look into that. One thing is for sure... You are right about getting the wife interested. I will have to talk to her about this.

 

I haven't had so many chuckles in a while. It is a 292, the fuel pump is an after-market electric (brand?) w/o a glass bowl, and I think the gift card is a nifty idea. Bob, my late husband wore the patch you so proudly display, so you are one up on my list, changing subjects or not. I am hoping to get started (pardon the pun) on Old Blue either this weekend or the next, depending on how finals play out. That is a whole other story. Thanks everyone for the tips and advice.

 

Sorry, Bob, about the reference to the patch. At first glance I thought it was the Home of Armor patch from here at Fort Knox, but my face is very red after closer inspection. I do like it though.