Spouse used to understand my innate “Earlness” in this regard. But more recently, she just gets upset when I don’t know something that she knows perfectly well. Like telling me to get the bag of vitamins… “Where is it?”… “in the dresser (full stop).” There are three dressers within easy reach. Each has at least 5 drawers. If I just stare at her, she eventually says “WHAT?” without any understanding that she’s left me confused. If, on the other hand, I say “which dresser, which drawer?” she’s annoyed that I don’t already know.
One of my besties FIL would help him with various house renos. His go-to maxim to my friend was " You can do it that way, Jack. Or you could do it the right way."
My breaking dishes and burning food over 40 years ago got my wife to tell me that the kitchen/pantry/frig was off limits. Other than making coffee in the Keurig she got me for my birthday 8 years ago, and the brand new one she gave me yesterday, I am told if I want anything, she will get it for me.
It’s darned if you do and darned if you don’t, that’s why I don’t try anymore. Never could do it right to suit her, and if you don’t pitch in, I’m getting nagged for that too.
My Dad had that perfected. But then it didn’t hurt that my mom could and did do everything. Not just cook and sew. She could paint, hang wallpaper, manager tools. Her hobby was refinishing furniture. I remember as a teen she had me disassembling and assembling a couch that she was re-upholstering. I was never as good as my dad at feigning incompetence. She died of a stoke at 85 while she was laying patio paving stones.
40 years ago, when I was dating my wife, I made the mistake of showing off my culinary skills. She was impressed, but now she insists that I make most of the meals. That’s what I get for showing off!
My mom turned this around on my dad. He was a perfectionist, she wasn’t. Eventually he took over all the household chores. I asked my mom one time if it bothered her that dad thought her incompetent. She just smiled a kind of Mona Lisa smile and then I knew she did it on purpose.
I was a house-husband while my second wife was in graduate school. I did the cooking and cleaning but had one firm rule: nagging had to be done in a separate room with the door closed. :)
allen@home about 1 year ago
Earl you’re not the only guy that learned that skill.
C about 1 year ago
Training dividends
Templo S.U.D. about 1 year ago
if water the plants, Earl would drown them with too much water
yoey1957 about 1 year ago
Earl’s husband level: Expert!
sirbadger about 1 year ago
What they need is an iron that leaves a tie-dye pattern on t-shirts. Then she could let Earl iron his t-shirts.
The dude from FL (not bragging) Premium Member about 1 year ago
I LOVE Earl!
ꜝ about 1 year ago
Earl’s smarter than he looks!
Erse IS better about 1 year ago
Spouse used to understand my innate “Earlness” in this regard. But more recently, she just gets upset when I don’t know something that she knows perfectly well. Like telling me to get the bag of vitamins… “Where is it?”… “in the dresser (full stop).” There are three dressers within easy reach. Each has at least 5 drawers. If I just stare at her, she eventually says “WHAT?” without any understanding that she’s left me confused. If, on the other hand, I say “which dresser, which drawer?” she’s annoyed that I don’t already know.
Doug K about 1 year ago
And he gets to claim wanting to be helpful.
Cornelius Noodleman about 1 year ago
I’ll trim the bushes if I can use a chain saw.
GoPickled Premium Member about 1 year ago
Opal surely is fully aware of these rituals by her usually useless spouse…
jagedlo about 1 year ago
Training Nelson at an early age, Earl?
morningglory73 Premium Member about 1 year ago
No, he’s just lazy and never worked anyway. Now looking back he thinks he was clever.
jango about 1 year ago
One of my besties FIL would help him with various house renos. His go-to maxim to my friend was " You can do it that way, Jack. Or you could do it the right way."
ANIMAL about 1 year ago
So typical…… Good job Grampa.!!!
BearsDown Premium Member about 1 year ago
You’re an avatar of incompetence, Earl.
Bill The Nuke about 1 year ago
He should never have told his grandson. That kid can’t keep a secret.
sandpiper about 1 year ago
Today’s comments seem to indicate ‘just a touch’ of irritation between some couples.
ladykat about 1 year ago
Funny, my late husband never had to ask me what I would like him to do as we split the chores. There was never an issue.
JoshHere about 1 year ago
Nelson is learning a lot from Earls’ earls of wisdom. So are we, I’m taking notes
tung cha cha cha about 1 year ago
Do people still have irons and ironing boards? Clothes today are pretty much wash & wear, aren’t they?
timbob2313 Premium Member about 1 year ago
My breaking dishes and burning food over 40 years ago got my wife to tell me that the kitchen/pantry/frig was off limits. Other than making coffee in the Keurig she got me for my birthday 8 years ago, and the brand new one she gave me yesterday, I am told if I want anything, she will get it for me.
Zebrastripes about 1 year ago
This is when Opal needs to train Earl…but it’s too late for that!
IndyW about 1 year ago
It’s darned if you do and darned if you don’t, that’s why I don’t try anymore. Never could do it right to suit her, and if you don’t pitch in, I’m getting nagged for that too.
Joan Tinnin Premium Member about 1 year ago
Old, old joke.
rickmac1937 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Got that right,same here
zeexenon about 1 year ago
Trite. Hackneyed, and right on the money. Just normal husbands, no carefully engineered ploy involved, or capability.
David Huie Green ForceIsAUsefulFiction about 1 year ago
I came by it naturally. I am that good.
JudithStocker Premium Member about 1 year ago
Well, Opal can’t say Earl didn’t ask to help her do anything.
whelan_jj about 1 year ago
My Dad had that perfected. But then it didn’t hurt that my mom could and did do everything. Not just cook and sew. She could paint, hang wallpaper, manager tools. Her hobby was refinishing furniture. I remember as a teen she had me disassembling and assembling a couch that she was re-upholstering. I was never as good as my dad at feigning incompetence. She died of a stoke at 85 while she was laying patio paving stones.
carlsonbob about 1 year ago
40 years ago, when I was dating my wife, I made the mistake of showing off my culinary skills. She was impressed, but now she insists that I make most of the meals. That’s what I get for showing off!
Saurischia Premium Member about 1 year ago
I pity Nelson’s future wife.
ArcticFox Premium Member about 1 year ago
Time to wash the Studebaker???
Dianne50 about 1 year ago
My mom turned this around on my dad. He was a perfectionist, she wasn’t. Eventually he took over all the household chores. I asked my mom one time if it bothered her that dad thought her incompetent. She just smiled a kind of Mona Lisa smile and then I knew she did it on purpose.
T... about 1 year ago
Advanced behaviour modification (Beyon the bell)- Psych 301a…
mistercatworks about 1 year ago
I was a house-husband while my second wife was in graduate school. I did the cooking and cleaning but had one firm rule: nagging had to be done in a separate room with the door closed. :)
StephenRice about 1 year ago
I combine tasks to save time, so I would iron the plants and water the dust.
NoLongerWandering about 1 year ago
This is referred to as “fained incompetence”
Palani56 about 1 year ago
Everyday This comic never fails to make me chuckle and at times belly laugh.. it’s so spot on, at least in this household
akiprev04 about 1 year ago
Reminding of Joe Banana, If I had put all that energy into becoming a lawyer instead of crime, I’d be much richer.