| UNIQUE HOBBIES MY THICKHEADED EX-HUSBAND SPENT A FORTUNE ON...and how you can learn to do them at a fraction of the cost! |
Yes, Beekeeping... Even though my ex is deathly allergic to bees, and most
other insects for that matter, he decided to try beekeeping. Said we could retire
on the money made from the honey. Didn't matter to him at the time that we did
not have health insurance and lived in an apartment that didn't allow you to keep
pets.
After several trips to the hospital and complaints from the neighbors, we had to
pay an exterminator to humanely remove the bees. He made a fortune selling
them to a breeder and we still have several law suits pending in circuit court for
medical bills, both ours and from the neighbors whose children were in the wrong
place at the wrong time. Definitely pays to know what you are doing!
Really interesting book and one my ex should have read first!! Just click on the
image of the book to get your copy.
other insects for that matter, he decided to try beekeeping. Said we could retire
on the money made from the honey. Didn't matter to him at the time that we did
not have health insurance and lived in an apartment that didn't allow you to keep
pets.
After several trips to the hospital and complaints from the neighbors, we had to
pay an exterminator to humanely remove the bees. He made a fortune selling
them to a breeder and we still have several law suits pending in circuit court for
medical bills, both ours and from the neighbors whose children were in the wrong
place at the wrong time. Definitely pays to know what you are doing!
Really interesting book and one my ex should have read first!! Just click on the
image of the book to get your copy.
Next Came Fly Fishing... Or more accurately, fly tying. After my ex came out of
his anaphylactic shock induced coma from the bee stings, he had some down time
and thought he could make his fortune tying flies and selling them to local
fishermen.
Only problem was his poor eyesight ( couldn't afford glasses, no insurance
remember?) and the fact that the nearest body of water with even the remotest
possibility of having any fish in it was more than 100 miles away.
We spent a fortune on band aids and aspirin for the migraines he developed from
squinting all day...flys are terribly tiny and he didn't realize or think to use any of
the hundreds of magnifying glasses available for the sole purpose of tying flies.
He never got around to actually selling or using any of the darned things. He
stuck a few in his "fishing hat" and sold it at a garage sale for a dollar so he
counts this venture as somewhat of a success.
his anaphylactic shock induced coma from the bee stings, he had some down time
and thought he could make his fortune tying flies and selling them to local
fishermen.
Only problem was his poor eyesight ( couldn't afford glasses, no insurance
remember?) and the fact that the nearest body of water with even the remotest
possibility of having any fish in it was more than 100 miles away.
We spent a fortune on band aids and aspirin for the migraines he developed from
squinting all day...flys are terribly tiny and he didn't realize or think to use any of
the hundreds of magnifying glasses available for the sole purpose of tying flies.
He never got around to actually selling or using any of the darned things. He
stuck a few in his "fishing hat" and sold it at a garage sale for a dollar so he
counts this venture as somewhat of a success.
Then There Was Backpacking... As my ex began to recover feeling in his lower
extremities (see proceeding comments about beekeeping accident) he though it
best if he get himself in peak physical condition for his next conquest.
Now you would think that backpacking would have been the least expensive of his
endless string of hobbies, but in fact, it was the most expensive. There were the
hiking shoes, the designer backpack, the camping gear, pocket knife, compass and
other necessary odds and ends.
By the time he had packed everything he needed to go hiking in his backpack, he
couldn't even lift the darned thing. So, he bought a dog to carry it for him.
Well, actually it was a $600 dollar Alaskan Malamute puppy. It took six months and
hundreds of dollars in food and chewed furniture before the dog was strong enough
to carry such a heavy load. He ran away the night before my husbands long
awaited hiking expedition..I don't blame him!
extremities (see proceeding comments about beekeeping accident) he though it
best if he get himself in peak physical condition for his next conquest.
Now you would think that backpacking would have been the least expensive of his
endless string of hobbies, but in fact, it was the most expensive. There were the
hiking shoes, the designer backpack, the camping gear, pocket knife, compass and
other necessary odds and ends.
By the time he had packed everything he needed to go hiking in his backpack, he
couldn't even lift the darned thing. So, he bought a dog to carry it for him.
Well, actually it was a $600 dollar Alaskan Malamute puppy. It took six months and
hundreds of dollars in food and chewed furniture before the dog was strong enough
to carry such a heavy load. He ran away the night before my husbands long
awaited hiking expedition..I don't blame him!
Model Trains?... The kids will love them, he argued. I wasn't sure how a one year
old or even our three year old daughter was supposed to get any enjoyment out of
watching their daddy make a huge mess slopping plaster of paris about, or gluing
his fingers together putting together little plastic train station buildings, but I let him
do it in hopes of him finally succeeding at something, at anything.
It wasn't until he shocked himself while trying to wire one of his little houses that I
thought the kids could be in actual danger and I prohibited them from spending time
"Helping Daddy".
What I originally thought was plaster of paris was actually flour and water, to cut
cost, and soon began to mold down in our damp basement. The smell was awful
and we had to pay a couple of teenagers to yank the thing out and throw it away.
The kids never did get to see the trains run like their daddy had promised. Be
careful what you tell your kids, their memories are a lot better than yours and they
hold you to EVERYTHING!
old or even our three year old daughter was supposed to get any enjoyment out of
watching their daddy make a huge mess slopping plaster of paris about, or gluing
his fingers together putting together little plastic train station buildings, but I let him
do it in hopes of him finally succeeding at something, at anything.
It wasn't until he shocked himself while trying to wire one of his little houses that I
thought the kids could be in actual danger and I prohibited them from spending time
"Helping Daddy".
What I originally thought was plaster of paris was actually flour and water, to cut
cost, and soon began to mold down in our damp basement. The smell was awful
and we had to pay a couple of teenagers to yank the thing out and throw it away.
The kids never did get to see the trains run like their daddy had promised. Be
careful what you tell your kids, their memories are a lot better than yours and they
hold you to EVERYTHING!
Next Up Was Bonsai Gardening... No, I have no idea where he came up with the
notion that I would actually enjoy this type of thing and it would strengthen our
relationship if we were to do it together. Said we could also make a killing selling
these little "money" trees on ebay.
Just because your father fought the Japanese in World War II, doesn't mean you
have a gift for Bonsai gardening. At least that's what I told my ex.
I can see the therapeutic value and serenity one could achieve IF they had the
patience for such a thing. Which, of course he did not.
This was by far his shortest lived hobby. Secretly, however, I took up the art of
Bonsai sculpture and get many hours of enjoyment every week. He was absolutely
right about them being "money" trees also. I've made a good chunk of change
selling them at fairs and on the Internet. You can to! Just click on the book.
notion that I would actually enjoy this type of thing and it would strengthen our
relationship if we were to do it together. Said we could also make a killing selling
these little "money" trees on ebay.
Just because your father fought the Japanese in World War II, doesn't mean you
have a gift for Bonsai gardening. At least that's what I told my ex.
I can see the therapeutic value and serenity one could achieve IF they had the
patience for such a thing. Which, of course he did not.
This was by far his shortest lived hobby. Secretly, however, I took up the art of
Bonsai sculpture and get many hours of enjoyment every week. He was absolutely
right about them being "money" trees also. I've made a good chunk of change
selling them at fairs and on the Internet. You can to! Just click on the book.
Okay, Here's The One That Stuck... Beer making. It saved us a fortune!
I figured that anything someone drinks by the gallon has to be less expensive to
produce yourself than to buy at the supermarket... and it was.
Although drinking beer is not necessarily a hobby I would choose for my husband, I
can't argue the fact that brewing it is a fun and rewarding thing to do.
For about six dollars a gallon, you can make wonderful tasting beer right in your
own home, and make some money doing it.
My ex was always to drunk to follow through with any type of business plan and
drank most of what would have been the profits anyway, but anyone with a bit of
self control can make an absolute killing selling your own beer.
Make sure you check with local, state and federal laws before doing so though.
I figured that anything someone drinks by the gallon has to be less expensive to
produce yourself than to buy at the supermarket... and it was.
Although drinking beer is not necessarily a hobby I would choose for my husband, I
can't argue the fact that brewing it is a fun and rewarding thing to do.
For about six dollars a gallon, you can make wonderful tasting beer right in your
own home, and make some money doing it.
My ex was always to drunk to follow through with any type of business plan and
drank most of what would have been the profits anyway, but anyone with a bit of
self control can make an absolute killing selling your own beer.
Make sure you check with local, state and federal laws before doing so though.
| There's a new man in my life, and with it the possibility of exposure to new and unique hobbies. If so, I'll add them as they appear. |