Time off for Birthday
We celebrated my wife’s birthday the other night so I stayed home and made her dinner and we opened presents. Normally, I would be coming home late because I had gone to the gym. We don’t go big on birthdays for her or I (just the little one) so there wasn’t much festivitating of festivities. Gifts and dinner. A little singing. That’s it.
I think it meant alot to her that I gave up a workout to be home for her birthday. Me and my workout. Definate burden on relationships, you know.
Here’s the problem: Since I missed my workout, I would normally request that I disappear for another evening (on rest day) to make up for it. But since I had skipped the workouk to be home with her, is it considered rude, selfish, and otherwise husbandly annoying, to request a makeup day for taking time out? Would most wives be annoyed and think I didn’t really give up anything, knowing full well I would get my time back by working out again on a rest day when she would normally get that evening free?
Just checking. I wasn’t going to ask for it. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing an opportunity, but at the same time I didn’t want to fall into the ever-so-common inconsiderate husband trap of being selfish just before a major holiday which often seems to make women tense anyway.
And if my wife is reading this, this is just good humor, honey, and its all just silly nonsense and I would never be really considering this. It was only a strength training workout that I can skip whenever I want. Not that I wasn’t giving up something big, its very important to me. But not half as important as skipping it so I can be home. No need to make this one up again. Saturday will coming soon enough. Did I mention I’m buying you a piano?
December 17th, 2004 13:41
haha! ONLY a strength training workout? jon, you doofus! you’re supposed to say, “honey, i gave up the most important workout of the week for your birthday”.
December 17th, 2004 13:45
Ditto on Jeff’s comment. I mean c’mon Jon…they might have to revoke your man-membership if you can’t get these simple things right! Tee hee.
December 17th, 2004 13:50
I think you did the right thing by staying quiet on this one, Jon. :)
Happy belated birthday to your wife!
December 17th, 2004 14:49
You could have got your workout by pretending to be extra husbandly by carrying her up and down the stairs a few times. That would have been like doing squats with a little bit of weight.
December 17th, 2004 15:03
TENSE! What makes you think women are TENSE this time of year! I’m certainly not. Noooo, no no. a tad bit highly strung at the moment, perhaps (huge understatement).
Nothing a good run, a little chocolate, and someone else pitching in with the laundry wouldn’t fix…
December 17th, 2004 15:54
If you wanted to switch a day, I don’t think that would be too big of a deal. unless you had made plans with her on your normal rest day. In that case the answer would be no. Never break plans with a woman unless it’s an emergency or unless you are trying to be the fool!
December 17th, 2004 19:09
I’m with Christy.
December 18th, 2004 09:41
Excellent fence-straddle - you’d make a great politician!
December 18th, 2004 17:28
I think it’s reasonable to switch a day. I’m sure your wife realizes how important your workouts are to you.
December 18th, 2004 17:30
By the way, I forgot to reply to your comment in my blog about the NPR party. Yes, I was looking forward to it. One of my friends is a producer for “All Things Considered,” and she invited me. Also, one of my paper’s former editors is now a nat’l editor at NPR. Small world, eh?! I heard that there was going to be a band (composed of NPR employees) playing at the party. Also, non-NPR attendees had to bring a non-perishable food item, which would be donated to a local food bank. Is that so NPRish or what?! Love it.