Things your better half does that amazes you

[John DiFool]

[Converse thread] (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643456)

Especially if it is something that you can't do and he or she finds it ridiculously easy. Also includes but is not limited to extreme displays of romantic affection which go way beyond the pale.

Since I don't have a SO (yet :D), I'll leave the first example to the next poster.

[TheFaerie]

Plays guitar. Sounds simple and silly, but I admire his ability.
I'm pretty sure that he is amazed by my needleworking abilities; knitting, sewing, quilting, beading, etc.

[Zsofia]

Yeah, mine also plays the guitar, which impresses me because I used to play the piano, which seems easy to me, whereas the guitar just doesn't.

He also has the best work ethic. Until right now he was telecommuting, and it was amazing to watch how hard he worked knowing how much I'd need the external motivation.

[Mr. Accident]

She'll go out of her way to help anyone and everyone she can, regardless of price. Just this past weekend, despite not really being able to afford it, she gave the Shriners a $20 just because the guy was standing at an intersection taking donations.

[Anaamika]

He remembers everything I want. In March I'll wistfully talk about something I really want. Come my birthday or maybe some other random time he wants to give me a gift, I've got that thing as a gift. Even if I literally don't mention it in all that time. Even if it's something he totally doesn't have any interest in. He's always looking for things for me. Regularly he asks me "Do you want X Doctor Who thing?" Even though he doesn't watch.

Last year I was looking for something Rabbit, since I was born in the year of the Rabbit and wanted something to represent, but something nice. Not just a cardboard cutout or something. Couldn't find it, and come this year, Year of the Dragon, there's tons of Dragon shit everywhere and his mom sends him (us) a beautiful Dragon statue. Love it, but still wistful about the Rabbit. Come Valentine's Day, which we normally don't celebrate, and I get a pendant with the Chinese character for "Rabbit". I was thrilled. And he's apologizing to me because it's not 22K gold!

[Sister Vigilante]

Mine is very, very patient with me when I get irritated at him or any situation. I can even mouth off to him and he'll just take it for the grain of salt that it really is when I blow things out of proportion.

Also, he remembers my TV programs and when they're on, and which channel, so I don't have to. I work in a different room a lot with another TV, so he can watch his reality shows, but now and then he'll come, and without a word, turn my TV (which I'm barely watching) to something he knows I'll like, then he leaves the room again.

The conversation inevitably goes, "Oh, I forgot that was on, thanks!"

Or:

"Hey wait I was actually watching that!"
"But Princess Bride is on."
"Oh, okay. You can change it."

[zoid]

My wife can sit down, close her eyes, take a few deep breaths, think about what she wants to do, and start entering assebmler code off the top of her head - and it usually works.

Maybe some other folks here can do that and don't find it that impressive but it blew me out of my socks.

[Sicks Ate]

What a great foil for the 'other' thread! This is much more fun to read :)


No S.O. right now, so I have nothing more to contribute.

[Laggard]

She can take off her bra without even taking off her shirt I'm sure it's not that hard but it seems like something that if I tried would result in accidental strangulation.

[panache45]

I suffer from chronic depression, and my partner is the opposite. Oh, of course he reacts when something bad happens, but otherwise he's the most positive-spirited person I've ever known. And amazingly, he understands my depression, and never tries to get me to "snap out of it." More than anything or anyone else, he has the power to life me up when I need it.

Another thing that amazes me: When he's on the toilet, he has to rest his junk on the front of the seat. Otherwise they hang down into the cold water.

[panache45]

Last year I was looking for something Rabbit, since I was born in the year of the Rabbit and wanted something to represent, but something nice. Not just a cardboard cutout or something. Couldn't find it, and come this year, Year of the Dragon, there's tons of Dragon shit everywhere and his mom sends him (us) a beautiful Dragon statue. Love it, but still wistful about the Rabbit. Come Valentine's Day, which we normally don't celebrate, and I get a pendant with the Chinese character for "Rabbit". I was thrilled. And he's apologizing to me because it's not 22K gold!

Stuff for my year is never hard to find; I was born in the Year of the Cock. :)

[purplehorseshoe]

...More than anything or anyone else, he has the power to life me up when I need it...

I like this typo. :) I pictured you as a video game character, almost dead after a big battle with the level boss, and suddenly your long-junked partner appears onscreen and your life icons all fill up.

Mine has the most amazing handwriting. He was trained as an architect, and I'm told they all have this kind of handwriting from all the drafting they do** but his is so lovely to me, doubly so because of my chickenscratch.



** Now that the industry is getting computerized, I sense this will change. Lord knows my handwriting - never any great shakes to begin with - deteriorated rapidly once I started working F/T in front of a computer.

[MsWhatsit]

He's about a million times better at parenting than I am. I tend to be overly sarcastic with the kids and have very little patience. He has infinite patience and is always up for a game or an extra bedtime story or whatever. Some people are just meant to be dads, and I think he's one of them.

[The Devil's Grandmother]

My SO is the nicest, politest person on the planet without being saccharine or humorless. He can be nice to anyone, even people he really doesn't like. To me it's an amazing skill, the way he can interact with almost anyone. When I don't like someone, everyone can tell.

[Cat Whisperer]

His sense of direction and geography. If he's gone to a place once, there is a very good chance that he can find his way right back there. He always knows what direction he's going and where the damned car is. I'm not bad at these things, but he's a Master.

He says I'm the gentlest person he's ever met. That stopped me in my tracks when he said it - I have never considered myself a gentle person - just a regular person.

[Why Child]

He can make and/or fix ANYTHING. It's like the "Gods of Howto" have a direct line to his brain.
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall, squeaks in the floor, the clockwork in my Dad's old mantle clock, it's absolutely amazing. I asked him once if there was anything he couldn't fix. He asked, "Have you found anything?" I said "No..." and he gave me a grin and said, "Me neither!" He looks at whatever's broken, asks, "What's it supposed to do?," "Did it make any noise before it quit?," and "What's it do now?" He closes his eyes a moment, nods, and starts fixing it. (I think the only reason he asks about the noise is for his own amusement. :dubious:)
A friend has a two-cake suet feeder in the shape of a red-headed woodpecker. I wanted one. He said it had to be a flamingo. (I love yard flamingoes, but I won't have any of the original design. Mine are 4' tall or have rotating wings. So cheesy I gotta love it.) A week later he said, "Ok, here it is, but you have to paint it." It's in the yard.
I had 2 hummingbird feeders. One (a standard feeder) worked, the other leaked. It was the pretty one. (Beautiful iridescent purplish-blue glass globe.) I mourned that it was the one. He looked at it, and asked if he could make some adjustments. (Yay!) He stuffed a small string of white Christmas lights inside, cut off the plug, and attached it to the little solar panel from a solar light. It's in the yard.
I could go on, but there's no need for a list. I'm pretty handy at putting a band-aid on whatever's broken, I once sewed a friend's toilet back together... but he could put together the universe with duct tape and some super glue.
I look at things and say "This would be perfect if only it would do this..." He appreciates a challenge.

[gracer]

He is the most patient, kind and understanding listener. In fact, he is so lovely to talk to his boss cries on his shoulder when she has a hard time at work. And he doesn't even like her.

That, and he is just so intelligent. The speed at which he thinks, at which he can explain vast philosophical concepts or maths or anything amazes me. As a philosopher, sometimes he will say he is going to do some work and I see him sitting, literally, like Rodin's Thinker. What must be going on then...

<3

[Unintentionally Blank]

She made my kids...that's pretty spiffy. She's smarter than me, too. (Except for that last month of pregnancy when the twins were stealing every single calorie. I didn't LIKE being the smart one in the family.)

[Zsofia]

Another thing that amazes me: When he's on the toilet, he has to rest his junk on the front of the seat. Otherwise they hang down into the cold water.

I'm so sad for you. Mine has to arrange a block and tackle sort of thing from the ceiling.

[Battle Pope]

He's about a million times better at parenting than I am. I tend to be overly sarcastic with the kids and have very little patience. He has infinite patience and is always up for a game or an extra bedtime story or whatever. Some people are just meant to be dads, and I think he's one of them.

This for my wife. We decided she would stay to home with our two boys (3 1/2 & 2 this Sunday) and they are a real handful. Even when I've had a bad day at work and have no patience she will invariabley summon some cheer from somewhere and put us all on the right track again.

Plus, she laughs at all my wise-cracks, even though I have the knack of saying them when she's drinking and has to race for the kitchen sink so the liquid doesn't come out her nose. :D

[missred]

His generosity.

The Fella came from a very blue collar background. He is the first in his family to graduate from college. He lives fairly modestly, but gives generously of both his time and material resources, many times anonomously. For example, not only did he help a son through college and is currently helping another, he's also helping a sister in her return to higher education. He has sponsored a Pre-K child who otherwise wouldn't qualify for governmental aid but still in need of financial assistance to attend a decent program annually for several years. He sponsors community projects and does considerable volunteer work. All this and he still has time for me and his family. :)

I give, but I'm a bit more stingy with both time and money.

[panache45]

I like this typo. :) I pictured you as a video game character, almost dead after a big battle with the level boss, and suddenly your long-junked partner appears onscreen and your life icons all fill up.
Yes, that typo is better than what I intended.

I'm so sad for you. Mine has to arrange a block and tackle sort of thing from the ceiling.
I've suggested this to him. He may actually construct it. I promise pictures.

[Poysyn]

My SO catches a lot of flak since I am the really outgoing, affectionate one, so most people assume he is a grump. And he can be, but he can fix anything, do really complicated mathe equations in his head and has gotten me to a point that I have to be careful what I say I want (material items) because he will work himself to the bone to get it for me.

[Dervorin]

I once sewed a friend's toilet back together...

I was just skimming this thread, but that caught my eye. Please tell me this wasn't a typo for "toilet case" or "toilet seat" and that you really sewed a toilet back together. In which case, of course, we demand details!

[Loach]

It makes her happy to make me happy. Whats better than that?

[pbbth]

He has lots of talents and abilities that impress me but I think the most amazing thing is that he provides me with unwavering support in everything no matter what. There is nothing I could ask of him that he wouldn't provide and nothing I could do that he wouldn't be completely behind my choice.

I decided I wanted to be a stay at home mom and he was behind me 100% without a moment's hesitation. I decided I want to start my own business and he didn't even question me, just asked if we have enough in savings to cover start up costs or if he needs to get a second job so I can make my dream happen. When I was pregnant and dealing with sciatica I could wake him up in the middle of the night to massage my sore spots and he did it with a smile. When I told him I hated pregnancy with the fire of 1,000 suns and never wanted to go through it again he didn't once mention how we would feel about never having more kids in the future or anything, he just asked if I would rather get my tubes tied or if I wanted him to get a vasectomy. When I mentioned the possibility of perhaps moving to another country someday he jumped right on board with my plan without even asking which country I had in mind.

I've never met anyone else who would give of themselves this way. And the best part is he feels like he is getting the better end of the deal in this relationship when I obviously found the very best guy in the world to marry me.

[Sigmagirl]

He will help me at any time when I have a migraine. When I have to wake him up at 4 a.m. to help me take a shot. When I have to throw up he is instantly there, even if he was soundly asleep, and he gets the cotton balls and alcohol and bandaids out of the cabinet so I won't have to. He loads up the dose for me and holds my hand when the needle hurts. And tells me to wake him up again if I need to.

[Dendarii Dame]

Have you ever thought of a really funny thing to say three hours too late? My SO comes up with it immediately.

[enipla]

My Wife races IronMan triathlons.

[Anaamika]

How could I forget the most important thing? His wit. I crushed on him way back when because of his biting wit, and it still has the ability to reduce me to helpless tears of laughter. It's razor-sharp, pointed, and really fucking funny.

[janis_and_c0]

I could mention lots of stuff here. He's patient. he's generous. he's wicked smart. But I think it's his understanding and total acceptance of me as a person that impresses me the most. At the risk of cliche, he..gets me.

[The Great Sun Jester]

The speed at which her brains work. A situation can come up that we're both equally familiar with and the solution just comes to her. I can usually get to the same place, but I have to mull, and 'not think' about it for a couple days.

Related to this: her patience with me for being so slow.

[Lasciel]

I could be super-gooshy, cause he's pretty darn amazing just in general, but the one thing that really really gets me is that he can whistle and hum at the same time.

It sounds like a bad sci-fi- made for tv spaceship, or a demented theremin.

He's also totally tone-deaf, so it's even more amusing.

I have tried, and tried, and our friends and families have tried and tried, and we can't do it. He just... whums away happily. It's the coolest thing ever.

[olivesmarch4th]

He's extraordinarily gentle. He is the gentlest person I know. In word, in deed, in the way he touches me or comforts me when I'm sad.

I try not to put him too high on a pedestal, but gosh, it's so hard not to. I'm still utterly amazed that he is in my life.

[Mrs. Cake]

He plays the harp like an angel.

He is a really good helicopter pilot - recently he safely landed without jarring the patient in back after a birdstrike took out his windshield 1000 feet over pitch-black North Dakota in the middle of the night.

He has an amazing memory - he can hear someothing once or twice and remember it weeks later. He has made good use of this performing Shakespeare and Moliere.

And every once in a while he'll tell me that he thinks I'm too good for him - and he'll say it with a straight face. Bwahh haa.

[Ají de Gallina]

She has sex with me, yey.
She never forgets a name, a place, a situation, anything.
She's always thinkng of 100 things.
However she never remebers simple computing stuff like attaching, finding files, calling files "files" and not "icons", the difference between "file" and "folder", etc; the freaking basic basic stuff.

[Lacunae Matata]

He remembers people - names, faces, details. If he sat next to you once on a commuter flight for an hour, 20 years ago, he will remember you. It might take a minute for him to dredge up the association, but he will remember you and ask about whatever you conversed about on that flight. I, on the other hand, call my own children by nicknames because I can't recall the names I personally chose for them half the time.

His job: I could not survive a week in law enforcement, but he has done it for two decades. That doesn't sound like a huge accomplishment, but he has done it for two decades without becoming a power-hungry control freak, a politician, or (much) of a cynic. His calls might be anything from a donkey on the loose and in the middle of a rural road in the middle of the night to an armed crackhead to a car wreck involving people he knows, and he handles them with resourcefulness and compassion (when needed) and the kind of calm impartiality I'd never be able to exhibit. (And he's not a robot - the emotion comes later, and some calls are terrible and haunt him, but he somehow keeps his cool until later.)

And on his own time, I'm amazed at his ability to show his emotions. It no longer surprises me when my rough, tough, manly husband gets teary-eyed over the sight of his baby girls sleeping, or when he grabs me by the waist while I'm cooking dinner and tells me that he's the luckiest man on earth, or when his heart breaks over the older kids' teenage insecurities and tribulations.