Story 1: Our first anniversary is approaching and I'm going crazy trying to source the perfect gift. I come up with something stellar, just stellar and I'm really excited for the day to arrive. That day, I get nothing...not even a post-it from her. Meanwhile I have provided the last ring in the set of custom rings (engagment, wedding, anniversary band) and it had been agreed that said band would be given circa 5 year maybe 10, because it was gonna cost LARGE. I took her to the only internationally rated 5 star restaurant in the city and had night booked at a Chateau. She was so depressed about forgetting/not planning for our anniversary she let me buy an RA-1 and an RS-1 that year.
Story 2: Early the following year, the Shanling was on the horizon and I really wanted one. She noted that my RA-1/RS-1 combo was dramatically under combined with my little PCDP, so she bought me the Shanling. She so supports me in this hobby. The catch was that at this point, now that I had the RS-1's, she wanted the SR60's. DEAL! Now she is a bigger Grado fan than I am! No joke!
Story 3: The next year, having been married now 2.5 years or so, my wife decided to take up the violin, which had been a long time dream of hers. I bought her a nice violin, she began to practice, it sounded like starving rodents devouring a fleet of cats. I was in hell and I suggested Etys. She agreed this was likely for the best, it was not "for the best" it was a necessity! Regardless...set of phones number 2!
Story 4: I had been reading about TT's, window shopping at vinyl shoppes and all around lusting after this area of the hobby. One day, my wife turns to me, and says: "instead of hankering after one, why don't you just buy one already, I think vinyl is sexy!"
Heh, thanks honey, CA-CHING in more ways than one!
Story 5: After 6 years of marriage and two children, I had not had a decent sleep at home. The best sleep is when I'm at a hotel on business. This past summer I was at the end of my rope, sleeping on the couch most nights, completely exhausted trying to sleep through snoring, horrible tossing/squirming/yelps/crying etc. Before I was married I would fall asleep to music every night and I would sleep like a baby. I get married, my wife hates music and I lose out on 6 years of rest. She blamed the tossing on a poor bed. So I go out and buy the top of the line tempurpedic + sleigh bed frame. No go, one year later and still sleep hell. Baby comes along, sleeps in our room and between the snoring and the baby yelps/crying, I decide to pack it in. Finally, I tell her we should get separate beds...no separate rooms, so when I do try to sleep a few hours, I can get a few hours. She pleads and asks if there is an alternative (the tempurpedic mattress essentially eliminated the tossing problems but that snoring! and the baby!). I tell her new IEM's ones that I could sleep on would do the trick. UM2's arrive! I sleep once again!
