rykna
Active Member
Miracles are rare, and I thank God for every on he has given me...but this miracle caught me way off guard, and I mean waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off....
Last night my husband, Brian, and I were talking. I brought up my salt hobby...again. Brian has never liked my fish hobby...didn't like to look at it...the word "fish tank" makes his eyes glaze over with boredom and frustration. Last night I tried to communicate to Brian how I like to show some interest in his hobbies(reading books), it helps me to understand his interests and also spend more quality time with him. He said he understood what I was saying, but he couldn't see himself falsifying interest in something he did not value. I completely agreed with him. We both thanked each other for our honesty, said good night, and drifted off to sleep.
I woke up around 10:30 am, the house was empty. I assumed Brian and Aria(our 7 year old daughter) had gone out for a "Daddy-daughter Day", which they do from time to time to let me sleep in.
So I took my time getting up...enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee, puttered around on the computer, researched more fish info, the little things you like to do when no on else is around to interrupt you.
Brian and Aria arrived home for lunch. Brian said "Aria and I have a surprise for you! While shopping Aria found some plastic toys for the new computer game "Spore". She was all excited about the new toys they had found. I listened while she laid out of the "cool" details of each one. After she was done, I turned to Brian and asked what his part of the surprise was.
"I want to go get myself a fish tank today." He said.
...that's nice dear...
...
You..want to set up your own fish tank???????
"Yes, I want to learn about your hobby. I want to learn about fish tanks to better understand them and spend more time with you. It really made me reconsidered my view point on your fish hobby when you pointed out that you take interest in my hobbies to know me better and spend quality time with me. So let's go to your LFS and set up a tank for me."
I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I started crying. After getting over the initial shock and stopping my water works we made up a list and headed of to the LFS.
After going over many, many options of fish equipment, he picked out 2 yellow tipped damsels and a narsisus snail. He even bought me a brand new 38g sump tank, since I discovered a crack in the one I was going to use!!!!!
We spent 2-3 hours setting up his tank. Brian used one of my 15g. He purchased a CORALIFE 28 watt compact fluorescent fixture(I'm so jealous!!!! That's the one I need for my pony tank!). We transfered LS from my 55g sump, a couple of LR from the sump, and add his 2 damsels.
He set the tank up on his desk down stairs. We turned all the lights off, except the tank, and we waited. The damsels started to come out and explore. Brian started commenting on how timid they were at first. Soon he was laughing at the "fish argument" over who was the boss!! I pointed out to him how their colors were different. The grumpy one is really dark he said, and the other one is much lighter. I explained how color relates to stress and comfort levels. The lighter damsel is at ease, while the darker one is more stressed. After 10-15 minutes the darker damsel's color had begun to lighten up. The two started darting from rock to rock, popping out from different crevices in the rock.
"Looks like they're playing peek-a-boo said Brian, chuckling."
So Brian now has a brand new 15g with two damsels name "Peeka" and "Boo"!
WOW....what a day. Thank you Lord for your gifts of Love and communication!!!Amen.
Last night my husband, Brian, and I were talking. I brought up my salt hobby...again. Brian has never liked my fish hobby...didn't like to look at it...the word "fish tank" makes his eyes glaze over with boredom and frustration. Last night I tried to communicate to Brian how I like to show some interest in his hobbies(reading books), it helps me to understand his interests and also spend more quality time with him. He said he understood what I was saying, but he couldn't see himself falsifying interest in something he did not value. I completely agreed with him. We both thanked each other for our honesty, said good night, and drifted off to sleep.
I woke up around 10:30 am, the house was empty. I assumed Brian and Aria(our 7 year old daughter) had gone out for a "Daddy-daughter Day", which they do from time to time to let me sleep in.
So I took my time getting up...enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee, puttered around on the computer, researched more fish info, the little things you like to do when no on else is around to interrupt you.
Brian and Aria arrived home for lunch. Brian said "Aria and I have a surprise for you! While shopping Aria found some plastic toys for the new computer game "Spore". She was all excited about the new toys they had found. I listened while she laid out of the "cool" details of each one. After she was done, I turned to Brian and asked what his part of the surprise was.
"I want to go get myself a fish tank today." He said.
You..want to set up your own fish tank???????
"Yes, I want to learn about your hobby. I want to learn about fish tanks to better understand them and spend more time with you. It really made me reconsidered my view point on your fish hobby when you pointed out that you take interest in my hobbies to know me better and spend quality time with me. So let's go to your LFS and set up a tank for me."
I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I started crying. After getting over the initial shock and stopping my water works we made up a list and headed of to the LFS.
After going over many, many options of fish equipment, he picked out 2 yellow tipped damsels and a narsisus snail. He even bought me a brand new 38g sump tank, since I discovered a crack in the one I was going to use!!!!!
We spent 2-3 hours setting up his tank. Brian used one of my 15g. He purchased a CORALIFE 28 watt compact fluorescent fixture(I'm so jealous!!!! That's the one I need for my pony tank!). We transfered LS from my 55g sump, a couple of LR from the sump, and add his 2 damsels.
He set the tank up on his desk down stairs. We turned all the lights off, except the tank, and we waited. The damsels started to come out and explore. Brian started commenting on how timid they were at first. Soon he was laughing at the "fish argument" over who was the boss!! I pointed out to him how their colors were different. The grumpy one is really dark he said, and the other one is much lighter. I explained how color relates to stress and comfort levels. The lighter damsel is at ease, while the darker one is more stressed. After 10-15 minutes the darker damsel's color had begun to lighten up. The two started darting from rock to rock, popping out from different crevices in the rock.
"Looks like they're playing peek-a-boo said Brian, chuckling."
So Brian now has a brand new 15g with two damsels name "Peeka" and "Boo"!
WOW....what a day. Thank you Lord for your gifts of Love and communication!!!Amen.
