Need to rant/rave....

[PYROhafe]

Well... dont know how many of you have seen it, or payed any attention to it, but Ive been in the market for a nice black rifle. Ive really been looking in the AR direction as this would be my first black rifle. I really picked up my search/want after the colorado thing cause of the slight fear they might actually get away with passing another "assault weapons" ban. So I sold off some things I had laying around to fund the new rifle. Well....(heres where the rant begins) after selling previously mentioned items, and getting enough money to buy a decent AR, the girlfriend realizes thats also enough money to put down on an engament ring and starts giving me crap (discreetly) about how Im willing to spend the money on a gun, but not on a ring. So now im SUPER stuck! Do I buy my gun, and deal with a super pissed girlfriend or.... do I buy a ring (it was in the plans anyways) first and just hope they dont pass an assault ban before I have the funds again? We've been together almost 3 years and the ring was in the plan before we hit the 4 year mark, but now I dont know if it needs to preceed the rifle.....

[Tinman507]

Buy the ring. They're not passing any bans before the election.
If you don't you're liable to be alone with your new black gun.

[southsound]

A good friend observed, "Happy Wife, Happy Life!" Since I have almost 30 years experience in verifying this concept, I can only assume that the same holds true for a happy girlfriend.

Get the ring - then ask her to help you save for the new rifle.

[7shot]

You'll never get out of the whole (with her) if you don't get the ring. Time to man-up and marry that women. Then when you get settled in get your AR. In marriage you want to start off on a good note. Just make sure you "tell" her that the AR is coming next. She's got what she/both wanted. Good luck...

[greyhoundafw]

AR for a wedding present......

[PYROhafe]

AR for a wedding present......

Thanks for the help guys.... I kinda figured thats what I would end up doing...

I do like the way you think though greyhound!

[MikeyKahr]

AR for a wedding present......

Amen just what I was going to say. Ring... then the scope-ring... then the suffering. Does Bed Bath and Beyond carry Rock River? If so I'd add it to the gift list.

[7shot]

Amen just what I was going to say. Ring... then the scope-ring... then the suffering. Does Bed Bath and Beyond carry Rock River? If so I'd add it to the gift list.

No reason you couldn't add Cabela's to the gift list:o

[Tinman507]

The Man Registry at Cabelas (http://www.themanregistry.com/gifts/cabelas-50-dollar-gift-card.html)

[PYROhafe]

Amen just what I was going to say. Ring... then the scope-ring... then the suffering. Does Bed Bath and Beyond carry Rock River? If so I'd add it to the gift list.


gee..... thanks Mikey!

[GROTMAN]

gee..... thanks Mikey!

I think the saying is marriage is like a 3 ring circus.
first comes the engagement ring, second comes the wedding ring and 3rd comes the suffering !

If you don't buy that ring first.. 3rd may come first and 2nd not at all. :)

[espresso]

If there's one thing I've learned being married for almost 20 years

If the wife ain't happy......nobody's happy.
I use to think that was BS but it ain't, at least not with me

[Armybrat]

That's why whenever I buy a new gun, the wife gets a new comparable value piece of custom jewelry.

Everybody's happy....except my wallet.

[Bawanna]

Set the record straight so she knows priorities. Buy the AR. Guns are forever.

If you alive afterwards share with us your complete strategy. I also never say no when the wife wants anything. Never.

But I still get no often.

She did ask me today if I wanted money in our debit account or cash for the small items I asked for a week ago. I told just a little cash. The items I wanted will be here tomorrow, 5 Thompson mags and a pair of wheelchair tires.

Never stand between an old man and his wants.

[TheTman]

If she's "The One" I'd get the ring, you learned a valuable lesson, keep financial info to yourself whenever possible. If you have any doubts at all about her, get the AR, and see if she sticks around. If you get the ring, maybe you could get the groomsmen and some buddies to quietly start an AR fund for you as a wedding gift.

[Alfonse]

Congratulations on your engagement. If you have it right, it will be worth every penny and more.

[TheTman]

You could give her a line about her ruining the surprise you had planned for her. And was this your stuff of her stuff that you sold?

One other thing, DON'T pay retail on a wedding set. If you wait until Christmas Time, a lot of that stuff is discounted 40-60% off. I have a bridal set, a Marguis cut solitare and a wedding band with several diamonds on it. I can package em up to make them look very nice, with little wooden boxes and everything, but I'd wait for one of those sales around Christmas before spending twice what you need too. That way she's getting a box with Zales, or Kay's or whatever, that seems to mean a lot to the lady's, they know you didn't get it at a pawn shop or something.

[LorenzoB]

Get the ring - then ask her to help you save for the new rifle.

+1

Involve her if you can, don't make her think she needs to compete with any of your hobbies. Maybe you can enjoy shooting together. But that won't happen if you make a bad choice now, and she resents your AR.

[les strat]

Get her the ring. BUT, do not wait to purchase the AR until after you are married. Things change when they get that wedding band on. Buy the AR ASAP after the ring purchase. I'm tellin ya straight.

After that, keep all man-hobby purchases covert.

[Bawanna]

I've told my sons to get everything they want and can possibly get before marriage. Then try to keep it as long as you can.

Hope none of my cyber brides are putting a contract on me.

[Cokeman]

Walmart sells ARs and rings. There's your answer.

[MikeyKahr]

WalMart... Selling ARs?! Since when?

[LorenzoB]

thetmanski said Zales or Kay box not a Walmart shopping bag. :D

[tv_racin_fan]

I have a couple fancy jewelry boxes I can let ya have for cheap.. The wife no longer cares where it comes from.

To be honest I never got the wife an engagement ring nor a wedding ring. Fact is I was checking out the tax situation and just up and told her we need to get married before years end. We stood in front of a justice of the pece who happened to have his revolver on his desk as he was cleaning it when we walked in. The wife picked up a ring that one of her coworkers was selling cheap because she needed money.

Just the same my advice is to get the ring if you seriously believe she is the one. You will be able to pick up an AR later.

Oh and 30 + years of marriage and I can tell you that when the wife aint happy aint no one happy. We recently moved, renting a house... while the wife and I should have been plenty happy we got the run around by the cable co and the wife went without TV for 2 months.

Another word of advice.. I found that my wife is extremely happy when I bring her flowers just out of the blue. I get extra points if I take them to her at work so her coworkers get to see them. I joke and tell people that I have my wife well trained as she buys herself flowers now and again and I still get the credit, heck she loves it if I cut flowers from the yard or off the side of the road and bring them to her. I suggest you find what little something does that for your lady as it aint the item so much as it is that you think enough about her to do it.

[Cokeman]

WalMart... Selling ARs?! Since when?

Mine has had them for a few months. Lately they have been stocking even more. Other stores have had them even longer.

Check out this thread. (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=669076)

[Scoundrel]

That's why whenever I buy a new gun, the wife gets a new comparable value piece of custom jewelry.

Everybody's happy....except my wallet.

Buy the ring with the cash, and get a new credit card to buy the AR with. Buy them both on the same day if you can. Make sure she knows she's your priority (if she is), but that your hobbies are also important. Cut up the card as soon as you have the AR so you won't be tempted to buy anything else with it, and pay at least three times the minimum payment on it every month.

I also am in the habit of buying something for the wife that I know she wants when I buy something big for myself. It works pretty well.

[yqtszhj]

Lots of wisdom in all of these statements posted so far.

You have got to get them both. Buy one for cash, and the other for credit if you have to. Tell her that you couldn't marry her without having the AR to protect her and your future family. Tell her that you as a couple have to prepare for possible hard times. She'll might think you're her hero.

She will always want something of equal value for everything you purchase. Mine has had a thing for Coach purses lately. She's been buying them with her earnings this but we operate as a "group fund" so that means lately when I want LOTS more ammo there is no question after the cost of those purses.

Take her shooting if she'll go. Just his and her time together. If she doesn't have a gun ask her what she would like. A .22 pistol or rifle and target shooting is just like going to the county fair.

[yqtszhj]

Here's a compilation. you can print it out since this stuff is important:

Armybrat:
That's why whenever I buy a new gun, the wife gets a new comparable value piece of custom jewelry.

Bawana (Grand Poohba):
Set the record straight so she knows priorities. Buy the AR. Guns are forever.
If you alive afterwards share with us your complete strategy. I also never say no when the wife wants anything. Never.
I've told my sons to get everything they want and can possibly get before marriage. Then try to keep it as long as you can.

Thetmanski:
If she's "The One" I'd get the ring, you learned a valuable lesson, keep financial info to yourself whenever possible. If you have any doubts at all about her, get the AR, and see if she sticks around.
You could give her a line about her ruining the surprise you had planned for her. And was this your stuff of her stuff that you sold?
One other thing, DON'T pay retail on a wedding set. If you wait until Christmas Time, a lot of that stuff is discounted 40-60% off. I have a bridal set, a Marguis cut solitare and a wedding band with several diamonds on it. I can package em up to make them look very nice, with little wooden boxes and everything, but I'd wait for one of those sales around Christmas before spending twice what you need too. That way she's getting a box with Zales, or Kay's or whatever, that seems to mean a lot to the lady's, they know you didn't get it at a pawn shop or something.

Les:
Get her the ring. BUT, do not wait to purchase the AR until after you are married. Things change when they get that wedding band on. Buy the AR ASAP after the ring purchase. I'm tellin ya straight.

ALL of this is really good advice. You have to get the AR. You'll be glad you did. She will too in the end.

[les strat]

Lots of wisdom in all of these statements posted so far.

You have got to get them both. Buy one for cash, and the other for credit if you have to. Tell her that you couldn't marry her without having the AR to protect her and your future family. Tell her that you as a couple have to prepare for possible hard times. She'll might think you're her hero.



Brilliant!

[TheTman]

Another thing, if you get the rings at Christmas, then you can make that one of her Christmas presents, and have her open it Christmas Eve or sometime you're alone, and propose. Very Romantic. And saves you a Christmas present or two. I did that with my wife and she was VERY happy. I took a great big box, and filled if full of bricks and old shoes and stuff that would make noise when it was shook, and down in the bottom hid the ring in a little Zales bag. She was wondering what the heck was up with all these bricks and shoes and crao, then found the ring, and opened it, and I proposed. Christmas Eve 1983.

[DKD]

Many good ideas and recommendations, however I thought I might chime in here a bit. First I have been married over 37 years and yes to the same lady.

I made no bones about my hobbies before getting hitched so no surprises there. Secondly after marrage you will also learn that loose lips sink ships! Do start a little separate hobbie fund stash or run the risk of never having much of anything you want ever getting fulfilled due to other pressing issues which come up constantly.
Lastly, the rifle is for ever and costs far less to maintain and feed than getting hitched and thats for sure and for certain. "Just sayin"

[Bawanna]

I think the solution for me is to marry Melissa for real. She has habits as bad as mine and some really cool toys too. Not sure we could support our ammo and firearm needs though.
I shall ponder this.

[Scoundrel]

Hell is being locked forever in a room with your friends.

[dkmatthews]

If she appreciates firearms the same way you do, then you know she is "the one." If she does not ALREADY appreciate firearms the same way you do, then it may take some doing on your part. You may need to take her shooting with you, but it will pay off. Don't give up who you are for the sake of someone else.

[PYROhafe]

She does enjoy shooting and firearms (were going together to get our cwp next weekend) and she originally had no problem with the rifle purchase when I expressed my reasoning for wanting/needing one. It was when she learned the price I was going to pay for the rifle (a price that could put a nice down payment on a ring) that she started to slide the sly comments in. Ill go ahead with the ring first, and just make sure she's aware that the AR will be very close behind. Now what I need from u guys is some positive married talk.... its always the married people that tell u not to do it but they did it, and many do it again.... so which is it????

[dkmatthews]

now what i need from u guys is some positive married talk.... Its always the married people that tell u not to do it but they did it, and many do it again.... So which is it????


no comment

[Alfonse]

Now what I need from u guys is some positive married talk.... its always the married people that tell u not to do it but they did it, and many do it again.... so which is it????

My second marriage is great! Is that what you wanted to hear?

[Bawanna]

Marriage is great but it ain't easy and it's best when both halves are flexible. In my case we're half way there. I'm flexible.

I got a good one and she's worth the pain and suffering I go through to live in blissful matrimony.

[muggsy]

Sounds like the majority of the men(?) on this MB are P whipped. If yer a man, do whatever the hell pleases you. You're not going to be able to please her no matter what you do. There ain't no pleasing a woman, but a hunk of raw steak will soothe your black eye. Get the AR-15. You only live once even if it is for just a very short time. :)

[yqtszhj]

Sounds like the majority of the men(?) on this MB are P whipped. If yer a man, do whatever the hell pleases you. You're not going to be able to please her no matter what you do. There ain't no pleasing a woman, but a hunk of raw steak will soothe your black eye. Get the AR-15. You only live once even if it is for just a very short time. :)

Hey, I'm not whipped, even my wife ways get the AR. (Life is good :D) She says it's more important and we've been married 25 years. Hey, she is even the one who told me we need to get the first one that we bought (and then the second one too for her.)

My daughter said she would take the AR in place of an engagement ring (Don't get any ideas, she's only 16 and she wants a 1000 yard sniper rifle.) My wife says get the gun, set the wedding date, and then get her a ring and if she don't understand, she needs to get over it. It's for protection for crying out loud.

Share all this with your lady. She'll understand. And if not, get the rifle anyway :p

Hey, let her talk to Melissa or Haven to understand.

[Bawanna]

Hey, I'm not whipped, even my wife ways get the AR. (Life is good :D) She says it's more important and we've been married 25 years. Hey, she is even the one who told me we need to get the first one that we bought (and then the second one too for her.)

My daughter said she would take the AR in place of an engagement ring (Don't get any ideas, she's only 16 and she wants a 1000 yard sniper rifle.) My wife says get the gun, set the wedding date, and then get her a ring and if she don't understand, she needs to get over it. It's for protection for crying out loud.

Share all this with your lady. She'll understand. And if not, get the rifle anyway :p

Hey, let her talk to Melissa or Haven to understand.

Any chance of photo's of the daughter? Jocko made me write that, it never even occurred to me.

I do have a 1000 yard sniper rifle for what tiny little bit that might be worth.
It's old school, just like me. My son has a modern one but he's on his own, I don't troll for babes for him.

[dkmatthews]

Jocko made me write that, it never even occurred to me.

WHOOP! Jocko's got some 'splainin' to do!

:behindsofa:

[yqtszhj]

Any chance of photo's of the daughter? Jocko made me write that, it never even occurred to me.

That's what I thought. If she found out that he had a motorcycle too she would give me nothing but trouble. Ya'll gotta wait at least 2 more years. I'm still teaching her how to size up guys that are just vultures.

Watch out when she's fully trained. She'll hunt, fish, camp, whatever you like. But if you misbehave :40:

[Bawanna]

Vultures? I think I resemble that remark.

I reserve the term Vultures for folks that flock around waiting for their free hand outs and stuff they feel they deserve. I do so hate vultures.

I'm the local go to guy for scaring off suitors and such. I have a very good track record too.

I had quite a string with my daughter. The dude she married earned it, I can tell you that and he knows I'm still everywhere and see everything.

[jeepster09]

Get her the ring. BUT, do not wait to purchase the AR until after you are married. Things change when they get that wedding band on. Buy the AR ASAP after the ring purchase. I'm tellin ya straight.

After that, keep all man-hobby purchases covert.

+1 They say things don't change BUT THEY DO :7:

[Jeremiah/Az]

Life is so much more simple WITHOUT a wife! I've had some & don't want anymore! Girlfriends are so much easier to get along with!:D

[ltxi]

Yeah....kinda with you on that. But at 26 years into this one, number four, it's pretty comfortable, she's no longer all that annoying, and I'm getting too old to want to go out looking for a new app.

[Cokeman]

Life is so much more simple WITHOUT a wife! I've had some & don't want anymore! Girlfriends are so much easier to get along with!:D

You obviously got the wrong one. I wouldn't trade mine for anyone. That would be the stupidest move ever.

[TheTman]

I had a pretty good marriage, until I got sick, and was laid up for about 4 years, and had to go on disability. I think the wife got a resentment that she went to work everyday, while I "got" to stay home, and I guess she thought watched tv all day or whatever. Usually I did what work I could, and then rested, and often she'd come home and I'd be asleep. The nagging and snide comments got to the point that I had a migraine everyday for about 8 months, until I went on a trip with my brother for a couple weeks, no headaches at all. Come back and they start up again. So I left and got an apartment, and life got much better. We tried marriage counseling and things but nothing seemed to take for long. Things would get better for a couple weeks then slide back into the same old crap. Now I'm back in my home and things are even better yet. We parted friends, and remain so, and that part is great. She finally accepted that she had a role in my leaving, and I think that helped. Not having another woman involved also helped us remain friends. We had a very good 20 years or so and 3 great children. I guess she forgot about "in sickness and in health" part of our vows. Oh well, I have to say, it's really nice not having someone to gripe at me all the time, or tell me I need to turn the TV down, or shut the guitar amps off. Or feel quilty about going on a bike trip and not taking her. No one gripes if I buy another gun, or anything else. We are stlll close, almost like we are still married but not living together. Things work out much better this way for both of us I think. Anyway, I guess I'd do it again if that were possible. If you plan on having kids, get married, if you don't want kids, then I don't see the point in it, except maybe for religious reasons. There's my 2 cents + on the matter.

[LorenzoB]

We've been married for 16 years. I can honestly say she makes me a better man. Yep, there is a good chance I would have been a lazy looser without her encouragement and without the responsibility a family brings. She loves and respects me, and I love and cherish her.

I am not a country music fan or a Brad Paisley fan, and this song is kinda sappy, but it "says it well" if you listen closely to the lyrics. I suppose you could have a marriage like this, or it could go the other way, but it will take work from both of you to be able to look back after a decade or two and really understand or own this song... I will say we are not quite to the last verse yet, but I do actually look forward to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVJTiRzLKn4

We all wish you two the best.

[robdnor]

Well I will come in late, and play devils advocate, as a just graduated college bachelor...
GET THE AR...
but bite the bullet and put some stupid ol' pink grips or some crap that appeals to her, tell her its her rifle... then later get yourself one.. or go big and get 2 ar's... like I said, i'm young and reckless and know it, so you may not really want to take my advice if you really love her, but if nothing else, if ya'll ever see hard times financially, it'll sure be easier to sell the rifle for bill payments than it would to sell the ring

good luck with making a choice, kinda a toss up (IMO in my current stage of life at least)

[LorenzoB]

.....if ya'll ever see hard times financially, it'll sure be easier to sell the rifle for bill payments than it would to sell the ring....

That's a good one!!

[downtownv]

A gun sits in the closet a good woman sits elsewhere..... Don't be stupid!

[yqtszhj]

She does enjoy shooting and firearms (were going together to get our cwp next weekend) and she originally had no problem with the rifle purchase when I expressed my reasoning for wanting/needing one. It was when she learned the price I was going to pay for the rifle (a price that could put a nice down payment on a ring) that she started to slide the sly comments in. Ill go ahead with the ring first, and just make sure she's aware that the AR will be very close behind. Now what I need from u guys is some positive married talk.... its always the married people that tell u not to do it but they did it, and many do it again.... so which is it????

Marriage has been good to me and we're at 25 years this year. Like Bawanna said, both people have to be flexible. The wife is flexible and I try.

Sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut when it's over something that's not productive and doesn't matter. I had a hard time with that one but I'm getting better.

If she likes a few firearms around, that's good. You have to have at least 2 of every caliber you shoot that way. Maybe even 2 of each size of each caliber.

Would I marry again if something happened to the current Mrs?? Probably not. I'm too old to train another one and I too old to be retrained. That's my thoughts on that at the moment anyway. I almost lost her to a bad drug reaction 9 months ago which wasn't fun so that was the first time I ever thought about that. Had to give her mouth to mouth till the ambulance arrived and then the ER Dr. was a !@#$%^* knucklehead and charged me $900 to boot. Damn doctor caused that whole incident by not asking the right questions. Freaked out the youngest daughter really bad.

Get married to the right one (as long as you have no doubts), relax, work toward some common goals, and do the little things that make her happy.