If you are in a marriage where you feel like your husband would rather spend time with the dog/golf club/TV/car/bar/buddies/his right hand than you - skip this entry because I have so much bragging to do on my guy that it would make even the most “happily married” person gag.   You’ve been fully warned.

If you have been reading my posts you know that recently my husband left his job at a new home builder and has decided to work from home as a professional handicapper/horse player.  I know most women would cringe at the idea of their husband being home.  Honestly, I wondered how we would fare being in a confined space for an extended period of time.  Turns out - I NEVER WANT HIM TO GET A REAL JOB AGAIN.

His chosen career allots for plenty of time to do other things around the house.  He creates his own “honey do” list and works on it with vigor.  Example one: I asked him this past summer to help me transform our downstairs living room (AKA the place where we pile the clean clothes as it waits……and waits for me to come down and fold it) into a play room for the kids.  The wintertime in Southern Indiana can get rather mundane to put it nicely and it would be so nice to have somewhere else to go.  Plus, play dates would hopefully be a BIT quieter and more fun for the kids as well as the Moms.  Well, my Mr. Tolerable worked his cute little tail away for the past 2 days moving furniture, a Big Screen TV, rewiring the TV so we have a VCR AND a DVD player, removing doors, and vacuuming.  I didn’t remind him, I didn’t harp at him.  He listened when I said it the first time over 4 months ago and just did it.  How many men do that?  He has also been “wiping the rest of this place into shape” as he like to put it.  Hanging new binds, measuring our back door to be replaced, organizing his offfice, mowing, grocery shopping, doing laundry (since he is downstairs anyway, where the machine is - his words, not mine) ordering a new fridge and me a new Palm Centro (AWESOME).  I just keep saying, “You spoil me so bad!”  His response is always the manly, “Cuz you sex me up baby.”  Followed with either a butt squeeze or a boob honk.  What can I say, he’s still a man.

Jackson and Alex absolutely adore their Daddy.  It has been so awesome watching their relationships grow in just a few months.  They now get to see Daddy anytime they want.  Yesterday morning Jackson made his Daddy blue berry muffins (with a touch of help from Mommy).  He was so proud of himself and couldn’t wait for Daddy to wake up.  As he was stiring the mixture he looks up at me with those huge hazel eyes and says, “This make Daddy so happy!”  My heart melted.  Jackson was right.

Our relationship and marriage is better than ever.  Our finances (thanks in part to inheritances) have never been better.  Our sex life is amazing.  Our friendship is even more solid than before and we’ve always been best friends.  He no longer comes home pissed and stressed out about that “stupid company.”  The overall demeanor of the household has lightened and become so happy.  I feel so blessed to be where we are right now.  I pray that he never has to return to a “real” job and can stay home with us forever.

As most of my loyal readers know (both of you) my husband left his job of 7 years selling new homes about 2 months ago.  It was hard to adjust to having him home every day.  We moms have our routines and having Daddy home usually throws a wrench in things.  But, once I realized I now have help with the kids all day long, someone to split house chores with and a man who is more than willing to cook me lunch AND dinner, I decided this way is MUCH better.  Well, if things go as planned this will be the way it is forever.  How?  Well, I will attempt to answer that question….

My husband is taking his best stab at becoming a professional horse player.  I’ll pause a minute while you let that set in and shake your head in disapproval disbelief.  Let me explain.  First of all, yes that means he will be gambling and yes that means it will be on horse races.  No, that does not mean he will lose the house or make us live in our car.  Yes, I believe he can do it.  Yes, he is good at it and yes, he has made money.  It is hard to explain how it works but I’m going to give my best shot.

Jim has been studying for a while how to do this.  Much to my surprise people really DO this for a living.  They pay income taxes on their earnings just like any other job.  It’s like professional poker players, pool, etc.  His talent just seems to be in reading The Daily Racing Form and deciphering all those crazy looking numbers and picking a winner.  He calls it his esoteric set of figures.

What he didn’t really know how to do was manage his money like it is a business.  Even if you are the best landscaper in town, if you don’t know how to run a business you will fail.  He has been researching different methods that people who have been doing this for a long time use and has found one that he believes in and will work.

He has a “bankroll” which is a set amount of money that he starts with.  He bets a percentage of that bank roll, only bets to win, and maintains a discipline to not bet more because he is either on a “winning streak” or “to win back losses.”  The goal of all of this is to grow the bank roll similar to compound interest.  I have told him, I am willing to see if he can pull this off because we know once his “bank roll” is gone, he is done and has to go and get a “real job.” (he hates when I say that).  So far, much to my amazement he has grown his bank roll by $1400 in 2 weeks.  He just started this method only 2 short weeks ago and so far, I’m cautiously excited.  The idea that this might actually work seems almost too good to be true.  But, for all you nay sayers out there (I know there will be some) the truth is in the puddin’ right?  If in a year Jim is still a professional horse player and we are playing our bills, living a good life, and I have my husband at home (of course, he goes into his office for several hours 4 days a week) will people be ok with it?  I am just asking out of curiosity…not that it really matters.  The big question is if in a year from now he is still doing this and everything is paid for and taken care of will I make up things when people ask me if Jim “has a job yet?”  Right now I can use the excuse that his previous employer is still paying him until around November.  That gives us some breathing room.  After that, I don’t know what I will say.  Hopefully, I’ll get over my fear of what others think and just answer proudly, “He’s a professional horseplayer.”

This is a small business adventure that we are going to take a shot at.  If it fails, we will move on. But, I believe if anyone can do this it is my hubby.  He’s the smartest guy I know and when it comes to something like this that has to do with numbers he seems to just excel at it.  I trust him whole heartedly.  Plus, I’m going to need some help home schooling these two little geniuses that took after their Dad!  I have alterier motives for wanting this to work you know…..

I’m not the most religious person in the world.  I’m a Christian, that is true, but I have a hard time spouting phrases like,

“What great fellowship we had.”

“That song really spoke to me.”

“I feel I’m being led by God to  ________.”

There are times, though, when I cannot ignore the “Old Man” as my hubby likes to call him.  My family is going through what should be total turmoil but I believe God will provide for us (another phrase I usually would not spout).  Today Mr. Tolerable called me and said his boss told him he did not have to work out his full 30 days he gave for notice he was leaving.  Honestly, we were hoping that would happen because it does not affect his pay and allows him to spend some time with the family before he starts a new job.  The HR department has assured him his commissions that are due to him for the next 3 months are his regardless.

On this same day, Mr. T also found a position that he is so excited about.  He has already submitted his resume  It is at a local horse racing track as an administrative manager.  I know it might sound like something not everyone would be excited about but for my husband it is a great opportunity.  There are MANY responsibilities such as hiring, firing, organizing, training and (his favorite part) making sure accommodations are made for the horsemen, owners and trainers.  He will get to meet (if he got the position) those that he reads about and looks up to.  It would be the “in” that he has been looking for.

I have a hard time believing this is all coincidence.  If I were to make a made up position that I wanted my husband for, I would have put almost the same things as what was on this position AND it’s at a horse racing track.  Divine intervention?

As I type this, Mr. Tolerable is packing up his belongings from his office to come home.  Saying goodbye to a job that he did well, very well.  One that only a year ago he enjoyed.  But after almost 7 years, going through ups and down.  The original company being bought by a bigger “better” company.  We can both finally say, “Good bye and GOOD RIDDANCE.”

Do you out there think God works that way?  That He creates opportunities for us?  Or, are we just reading into these events and since we like them we think they are from Him?  Have you ever had God show you a path to take and DID IT?  What was the outcome and do you regret anything you did?  Did you ever NOT do something that you now see probably was an opportunity opened up by God Himself?  Why did you not follow that path?  What happened afterward?  I guess I am just looking for someone out there to confirm to me that we are not completely insane!

Maybe I am just full of ignorant optimism and in a couple of months we will be living in my parents back yard in our camper eating Ramen noodles and beans.  Maybe then I could break out my plastic high heels and bracelets and head down to my local Wal-Mart and apply for a job.  Heck knows I’ll be there enough with my dirty, shoeless, shirtless kids buying my Camel Lights while my kids scream that they want a WWE Nascar toy.  Nothing against people who work or shop at Wal-Mart; I go there all the time.  That is why I know what the patrons look like.