[Rhodes22-list] (OT) No good deed goes unpunished.

[pdgrand at nospam.wmis.net]

Todd,

I would ask your wife how badly she wants to preserve peace in the family. 
Surely she sees what's going on and understands your dilema.  I would
suggest to her that she should explain things to her sister so that her
sister can explain things to her husband.  It's their family, make them keep
the peace.

I've had to explain to my wife that sometimes "No" is an appropriate answer
to a question.  There are nice ways to do this such as, "I'd rather not"
etc.  If he asks you why, make up a story about someone else that borrows
your stuff and does all of that, so you finally decided not to loan your
stuff to anybody.  Remember, you can pick your friends but you can't pick
your relatives.

My brother used to always want to borrow stuff from me.  If I said OK, he
then had the nerve to ask me if I was coming his way and could I bring it
over next time I came.  Not only did he want to borrow my stuff, but he
wanted free delivery.

Paul
> 
> 
> The list is slow today so pardon me for airing my frustration in a rant. 
> 
> I guess I am the kind of person that can never say no.  Not having made a
> New Years resolution, I think it will start now.  My resolution is to
> just say "NO"
> 
> I have quite a collection of tools...both hand and power tools.  I take
> very good care of my tools...never abusing them and cleaning them when I
> am finished, etc. etc.
> 
> I also have a brother-in-law (wife's sister's husband) that likes to
> borrow my tools.  He never remembers to return them...usually keeping
> them so long that he eventually believes they are his and I have to argue
> to get them back.  My tools, most times come back dirty and/or broken.  I
> always bite my tongue because my wife doesn't want me to start trouble in
> the family.  (I am a very generous person, BUT I do have a short fuse)
> 
> A few weeks ago during a casual conversation he asked to borrow my
> pressure washer.  Not having the _______ to say no,  I changed the
> subject and never answered him.  A week and a half later, last Saturday
> morning, he called me to say that the first time he tried to start my
> power washer, the cord came out in his hand.
> 
> OH YEAH!  HE CAME BY MY HOUSE WHEN I WAS AT WORK AND TOOK THE POWERWASHER
> OUT OF MY GARAGE!?!?!  (I live way out in the sticks and up until now
> never locked the garage or sheds.)
> 
>  THEN HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO CALL ME--- TO SEE IF I WOULD DRIVE 15 MILES
> TO HIS HOUSE TO TRY TO REPAIR THE DANG THING!
> 
> OOOOOOOOHHH  was I mad!!!   Conger up images of Yosemite Sam jumping up
> and down, shooting his six guns at the ground----that was me.
> 
> I told him he needed to take it somewhere and have it fixed then.  I
> added..."better yet,  just give me $200 and keep it."    I have only run
> it for 30 minutes since I bought it---just to check it out----he has used
> it twice)  after about 20 seconds of dead silence,  I ended the
> conversation with a "see ya later" and I hung up.  My sister-in-law told
> me that he got it fixed for $20 and power washed his deck.---no mention
> of the 200 bucks.
> 
> I went to a party/barbeque yesterday and was gone all day.  After running
> to town this morning, I got home and came in through the garage.  And
> there was the power washer......filthy dirty and covered with oil.     OH
> BOY! was my fuse lit again.  It almost made me start drinking again.
> 
> Any suggestions or soothing words?  LOL     See attachments
> 
> Todd T. 
> 
> -- 
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> 
>