| quidveritas | 02 Oct 2009 1:03 p.m. PST |
I am a contractor's kid. I have probably helped build 50-60 houses in my early life. My wife talked me into painting my mother-in-law's kitchen. My mother-in-law is a nice lady that suffers from Parkinsons and has a selective memory. She lives about 40 minutes from my home. Took two trips to the paint store to get the 'right color'. We then had to have a long discussion about the relative merits of enamel v. acrylic paint in a kitchen, followed by further discussion about gloss v. flat colors. Sheesh! So I start the project and do the ceilings in a gloss white enamel (should be easier to clean next time she smokes up the kitchen). That's all I had time for that day and told her I would be back the following weekend to do the walls. Well by that time, the paint color had to be changed. I dug my heels in on the ceiling but went and got another color for the walls. I started in on this when I got a call from my wife. She had been to military funeral and had lost her keys, wasn't feeling too good about things and . . . well I put away the rollers and brushes (much to the chagrin of my mother-in-law) and spent the rest of the day retrieving my wife and her car. -- actually she called and told my mother-in-law she had found her keys and I didn't need to come but that was after I left (took me about 3.5 hours to drive home, get the spare keys, drive to the funeral site, and wander around for an hour looking for my wife before someone told me my wife found her keys and left). So . . . then I get incessant phone calls from mother-in-law -- when are you going to finish this? I will give her this, she manages to call me at home every morning just as I'm going out the door and ties me up for 30 minutes. Since I own my business, she cannot understand why I cannot just take a day off and come out and paint her kitchen. Besides I didn't need to leave the other day -- I should have stayed and finished. I have some painting I need to get done before Tactical Solutions. These are figures and resin buildings. WELL, when she found out I was frantically working on this stuff in the early morning and late at night (I often get home after 7 p.m.) she was totally put out. It is clear I have time to paint -- why can't I finish her kitchen!!!! Tomorrow I will finish painting her kitchen. A few minutes ago, I get a call from her . . . If you tear out my old flooring and molding, I can save $$$$ on my new flooring. Don't you think you could do that too this weekend? . . . . Why me? mjc |
| x42brown | 02 Oct 2009 1:45 p.m. PST |
The words I really use to fear "Could you just …" it sound like you are suffering from them. x42 |
| Streitax | 02 Oct 2009 1:46 p.m. PST |
Because you are a sinner and must pay for your sins. Oh, you didn't know this is Purgatory? Oh yes, and if you mess up this life, Hell is a 257 room dilapidated mansion you have to fix for your mother-in-law. It never ceases to amaze me how demanding folks can get when they're not paying for the work. |
| quidveritas | 02 Oct 2009 2:08 p.m. PST |
If beer was free they couldn't make enough! YouTube link Or maybe . . . mjc |
| nazrat | 02 Oct 2009 2:09 p.m. PST |
Just say no. Until you are properly appreciated then I wouldn't go out of my way for her. Life is way too short for aggravation like this. |
| La Long Carabine | 02 Oct 2009 2:24 p.m. PST |
Get a cell phone, then your wife could have called you and told you she found her keys. You could have stayed and painted the house and all would have been done. And your mother in law could reach you when ever she likes. You could walk on out the door and she could talk while you drive. :-) I sympathize. I have gotten the "if you have time for your hobby you have time for XYZ" from ungrateful wretches myself. I have no good answers, but if you get some I'd love to hear them. Good luck, LLC aka Ron |
| Pictors Studio | 02 Oct 2009 2:44 p.m. PST |
I second the cell phone idea. I'd tell my mother in law where to stick it, honestly. Too bad if she can't get her kitchen painted. |
| quidveritas | 02 Oct 2009 2:54 p.m. PST |
Wife allegedly misplaced her purse -- which contained keys, cell phone, etc. She actually had a cell phone but . . . She was grieving at the time. Didn't think to call me. mjc |
| kyoteblue | 02 Oct 2009 7:11 p.m. PST |
Wow !!! My sympathize Dude. |
 John the OFM  | 02 Oct 2009 7:47 p.m. PST |
Tell her she is being a pain in the ass and this is what other people pay you to do. Yeah, that'll work. |
| Greyalexis | 02 Oct 2009 8:18 p.m. PST |
Just tell her you hate being taken advantage of. And since beggars cant be choosers she will just need to wait. Then tell your wife she needs to talk with her mother about harassing you. |
| Streitax | 02 Oct 2009 10:49 p.m. PST |
Spray paint it purple and ask her if she's satisfied now. |
| Mikeeeean | 03 Oct 2009 6:19 a.m. PST |
La Long Carabine,
"if you have time for your hobby you have time for XYZ" from ungrateful wretches myself. I have no good answers,…" You do have a good answer, its your time and its something you enjoy, XYZ is someting they want you to do with your time. "No" is all the answer you need. |
| Klebert L Hall | 03 Oct 2009 7:03 a.m. PST |
Fire solves everything.
-Kle. |
| Raynman | 03 Oct 2009 8:48 a.m. PST |
Submit a bill for your services and tell her you will go easy on her and make it a monthly payment plan. All future jobs require payment up front for all supplies, paint and time. Then check your schedule and fit her in like any other customer. Sounds heartless, but that's how you get the moochers off your back. |
 Murphy  | 05 Oct 2009 8:00 a.m. PST |
And next week, the color she wants it will change…again… |
| Murphy | 05 Oct 2009 8:01 a.m. PST |
and that's why I don't offer "free computer help" to any of my family, or friends..(except my folks)…because then they think that it's okay to call me at 3:36 am and have me come over to "fix their computer which is acting goofy since they went to that porn site"… The moment you bill them, they quit that crap REAL fast… |
