My daughters refuse to talk to me, my dog ignores me even when I have treats, my boss is threatening to fire me, and my wife is on the verge of leaving me- all because of my obsession with turning.
I am desperate, where can I turn for help?
Cody, Cody, Cody. . . you're going about this all wrong. Here's some good advice.
I recall (
and found the thread) where you lamented having to participate in wedding planning for your two daughters, one of whom is
a fantastic teacher. Plus, you said that your wife
was not pleased with your assistance.
You have an out, man!
It might be a little painful for you, but spend the next week letting them know you recognize you've been a little distant and have spent too much time in the shop. Constantly offer helpful suggestions for wedding ideas and designs for all of the puffery and trimmings, do searches for photographers and offer ideas of places to take them, ask tons of questions about organization, who and when stuff is happening, and generally make a pest of yourself. Then they'll either be totally unnerved and think something is really wrong with you, get aggravated and want you to butt out, and tell you to just worry about wearing clean clothes on the wedding days and go to the shop and turn something.
This accomplishes two things. First, your daughters will at least talk to you for a little while about something other than turning, until they suggest that you leave the planning and details to them and to get out of the way and go to your shop.
Second, your
wife of 34 years might think she knows you and your peculiarities, but she'll be wary that "something must be up" and she'll request that you just let the girls take care of the important stuff. She's not going to leave you, but will suggest that you leave the room so they can get stuff done. You'll have no place to go, but the shop.
The boss, well, make Boss a few pens, put a cake on a cake server, and tell him your shop work expands your creativeness and clears your mind for important work stuff.
None of that helps you with your relationship with the dog immediately, but it could have benefits. See, you're probably lamenting too much to the dog, a species which I just learned
understand more human speech than we suspect. Dog is probably shying away because you're grumbling too much and it's thinking, "Dude, (I'm guessing it thinks you're Dude) you're harshing my mellow with all of this grumbling. Don't expect me to fix it, because I can't talk back and I lack hands. Plus, the treats are stale and give me gas. I might be your best friend, but you've kind of left me to my own devices lately."
Now that you have your daughters and wife and boss off your case, Dog will be happier because you'll be sharing verbal cues of happiness of all of the new things you accomplished, and a new bucket of ttreats will be most welcomed.
Glad I could help.
it does sweeten the heart, so they say...!
