Just a minute; they're just in jest

Not many of them have been too positive.

I just want everyone that doesn't understand this to get the information first hand: These articles are written in jest.

First of all, let me point out that Brad is a wonderful provider. In the past year that I've been out of work because of back problems, Brad has not complained once about my inability to add to the family coffers.

He has welcomed my youngest son into our house without complaint. In fact the two of them are getting along better than some fathers and sons I know.

Brad hasn't commented about some of the hare-brained schemes I've tried to make money from home and he's been very patient when I've had to tell him I can't help him with certain things around the house because of my back problems.

He continues to help around the house when I have a bad day and don't feel like I can move more than two feet away from my heating pad.

And he never complains when I tell him I won't be able to accompany him on one of his many trips to southern Kansas to pick up equipment.

Brad's normal workweek is usually at least 12 hours a day Monday through Saturday, so the fact that he gets anything done around the house is an amazing feat in itself. And regardless of my teasing and oft-times not-so-good-natured ribbing he does manage to get things done around the house when he can. It may take longer than I would like, but he does get it done, which is actually pretty amazing when you consider there's only 168 hours in a week, and he spends 56 of the remaining hours sleeping. That leaves him 40 hours a week for R & R, household chores and together time for us.

As has been pointed out on several occasions, Brad deserves a break (probably more from me than anything), so in 10 days he'll be heading off for his antelope hunting trip and Jeremy and I will be staying home and working at our new jobs.

While he's gone, Jeremy and I will be working together to get some of the things done that Brad hasn't been able to accomplish and from here on out, I promise to give him more respect. After all if it weren't for Brad, I'd be the one working 12 hours a day.

I can't promise I'll never vent in this forum again, but just remember, it's all in jest -- and Brad usually gets to put his stamp of approval on the column before its ever submitted -- if he thought I was serious about everything I'd ever written about him, he'd have left me -- or worse -- by now.