Monday Hubby and I celebrated 19 years of wedded adventure.
About two weeks previous, Hubby had asked what I wanted to do/get to celebrate the occasion and after some I don't know's, and we could's, or maybe's, out of the blue I asked what about a fish tank?
"You mean get a fish tank?" says he.
"Yeah. A real one.
After lengthy discussions on where we would actually put a fish tank, freshwater vs. saltwater and all those other important fish tank acquiring matters, we decided to go for it with both of us pretty enthusiastic about the whole idea.
Before I get into my story any further, you need to keep in mind that Hubby is an engineer - with a 100% tried and true engineer personality. The kind of engineer personality where A is connected to B and only B and even then it's with an absolutely ruler straight line and once that is established perhaps a straight line connection to C can be made, but only after further thought and testing. I, on the other hand, am much more artsy fartsy, more of a "yeah, that looks about right to me" kind of personality.
Many of our conversations are interrupted by me with a "yeah, but can't we just . . . ." I don't even think that "can't we just" registers in an engineer's mind.
Last Friday night we went out and shopped and looked and touched and questioned and talked and came home with a 29 gallon tank, with the new (or so the salesman said) in the hood filtration system with the Bioguard spinner, blah, blah, blah. And it's so pretty! On Saturday we drove from one end of the county to the other looking for the perfect, not too expensive, but not totally tacky looking tank stand to hold a tank that weighs (alot, says I) (297 pounds says Hubby). We decided on stones and colors and plants and rocks and this and that, came home, rinsed it all and set up the tank. I spent about 3 hours with my arm submerged to my armpit placing those plants in the perfect location, moving them a fraction of an inch cause it would look so much prettier. I was so ecstatic and it was so pretty with the lights on and the plants and that new state of the art whatever you call it filtration system. I made the kids look at the tank and say it was oh, so pretty. (Keep in mind there are still no fish.)
Then . . . and that's a big THEN, Hubby sends me all kinds of web links to read and now I know more about phosphorus and PH and ammonias and nitrates and nitrites and the "cycle" than one could imagine possible. Now we need to go out and get tests kits and syringes and suction thingies and a bucket and a rock vacuum (vacuum? this to the person who vacuums the floor compulsively - now I'm going to be vacuuming the fish tank??? -- compulsively?)
We have long discussions (well, perhaps not really discussions since my side of the conversation was really only some Yeah, but can't we just's . . .)on cycling the tank, how to begin the cycle and heaters and timers. I knew fish tanks were work, I had a 10 gallon tank for several years long ago and many states away. We tried setting one up when we first moved to Florida with no success - the kids were babies and we just gave up. I also have two 2-1/2 gallon beta tanks - one at school and one at home but this . . . this was different. This was THE fish tank and Hubby knew I'd be pouting if my fish were dying left and right. Procedures are discussed, methods and plans . . . . and I'm starting to doubt that I'm ever going to put fish in this tank and even if I do how am I ever, ever, ever going to keep them alive without staying awake at night worrying about the nitrates and the good bacteria and the bad bacteria.
THEN today . . . . . . .the first thing Hubby says this AM is "the tank has to be emptied." Ha, ha, ha, I laugh cause SURELY he is just kidding. Nope, gotta start over because A, B, C and D. So he gets a big rubber trash can and that sucker vacuum thing and starts sucking the water and the big rubber trash can has a hole and it's leaking water everywhere and I say, Oh, gosh, look at the time - I'm going to work . . . . .
I only work half day but my days are very hectic and I don't think about the fish tank again until I'm driving home at 12:30. And I walk into this . . .
and this
and this
and this
and this
and Oh my, I think, I am so NOT touching any of this . . . .
A while later Hubby calls from work and I say "ummm, so...... was that fun or what ..... so..... um....."
And he talks a while and then says something about Bad News/Good News . . .
What?, I reply.
Hubby: Have you been out on the porch?
Me: No.
Hubby: You haven't been out on the porch today??
Me: First thing this morning, but not since I got home from work . . .
And then there is just silence. Nothing but silence.
Me: Hold on . . .
And this is on the porch:
Perhaps a closer look <you've done the math, right -- TWO tanks????>
And taped to that nice new shiny tank in the family room, the tank that he drove all over town before noon this morning looking for because he didn't want me to come home to a smashed tank . . . right, on that tank is this note:
This was just supposed to be fun! And relaxing!