Need to have a Stern Talk with My Husband

NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

I was reading an article to my husband about open water swimming, and made a crack about if I hadn't finished the Lake Memphremagog swim last summer, it really would have been because I was I didn't know what I was getting into.

"That was an important day. It was the day you became one of those insane knuckleheads," he said solemnly.

I was quick to point out I am still very much a wanna be in terms of marathon swimming, but he insists I am still an insane knucklehead.

I'd threaten to tip his kayak over the next time we're doing an open water session, but then I lose my escort. I guess I have to endure the knucklehead comments, huh?

rosemarymint

Comments

  • JenAJenA Charter Member
    edited October 2015

    If a stern talk doesn't work, you could always approach it from the bow. (And then tip the kayak. ;-) Stern? Bow? Oh, the kayak jokes!)

    dpm50NoelFigartSpacemanspiffmalinakaDanSimonellissthomas
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member
    edited October 2015

    I can't resist puns...a sickness on my part...:) As for your husband, it might be (in a weird sort of way) a compliment. ;)

  • IronMikeIronMike Northern VirginiaCharter Member

    Wait! You mean all wives don't have stern talks with their husbands weekly? Isn't that part of the marriage contract? You mean I could have declined the weekly invites?

    Damn, 25 years x 52....jeez

    JenANoelFigartSpacemanspiffChrisgreeneDanSimonellissthomas

    We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams

  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

    dpm50 said:
    I can't resist puns...a sickness on my part...:) As for your husband, it might be (in a weird sort of way) a compliment. ;)

    It totally was a compliment. I was just amused enough to pass it on.

  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    The first time I told her I was interested in swimming a 25k, my then girlfriend, now wife, knew I was crazy. After we got engaged, she paddled for me during that swim, and helped me get through a very hard time.

    When we went to Memphremagog in 2013 (before they added the border buster swim), she was amazed that we still had half the day left after "only" a 10 mile swim.

    Another anecdote: on a training swim preparing for that first 25k, there were a couple other guys who swam the same race. That day, one of the other guys brought his wife along to paddle for him. It was a windy day, and Marla, that guy's wife, is more experienced in a tandem than in a solo boat, and if I remember correctly, that boat doesn't have a rudder or a skeg, so it's pretty tough to control. We were all stopped to feed, and Marla is struggling to not hit her husband with the boat, because of the wind. Mike gets frustrated, and yells, about as loud as he can, "GOD DAMMIT, MARLA!"

    Amanda and I looked at each other. We weren't married yet, and had only been engaged for a couple weeks. She told me, "If you ever yell at me like that, I will beat you with the paddle and leave."

    Thankfully, we're still married, have a kid who seems to really like to swim, and she's paddled for me on quite a few swims. I lucked out, bigtime.

    evmogregocJenADanSimonelli
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    @Niek - Not yet.

    I did ask her for an anchor once during a swim, though.

    NoelFigart
  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

    He would have deserved getting hit on the head.

    Now, I've disagreed with my husband's navigation when kayaking, but I think that if you're ungrateful to your kayker, you deserve anything you get.

    Even when they call you a knucklehead.

    dpm50timsroot
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    @NoelFigart - I agree. His wife should be commended for not leaving him in the lake and gone back to the truck and driven home.

    Honestly, my wife and I have never really argued when she's paddled in support of my swimming. I've had dark patches, and who hasn't in a long swim, but I've never been frustrated with her. I have asked her to go to a different position relative to me for boat traffic or wind or something, but it's never turned into an argument.

    The first hour of us both paddling in a tandem kayak together, it gets close. But, after an hour or two, once we get a better feel for the boat again, we usually do okay. I'm very thankful for that.

  • NoelFigartNoelFigart Lebanon, NHSenior Member

    IronMike said:
    Wait! You mean all wives don't have stern talks with their husbands weekly? Isn't that part of the marriage contract? You mean I could have declined the weekly invites?

    Damn, 25 years x 52....jeez

    evilgrin It is possible you need special help.

    IronMike
  • emkhowleyemkhowley Boston, MACharter Member

    As a member in good standing of an open water group that proudly calls itself the Nahant Knuckleheads, I say welcome to the club.

    NoelFigartssthomasdpm50Jaimie

    Stop me if you've heard this one...
    A grasshopper walks into a bar...
    https://elainekhowley.com/

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