Useful advice

[rocdoc]

An Amazon box arrived, containing various household items. Before opening it, I engaged in a conflict prevention strategy: I explained to my wife that the Amazon warehouse employees are notoriously over-worked and under-paid. Therefore, it should not be shocking if they make errors, such as inadvertently packing a new eye piece in a box with household utilities.
I am here to tell you that in spite of the brilliance of this strategy, it did not work. She seemed to see right through this ruse, like an oracle. Just a PSA folks, I tried it, it didn't work, we need to think of new approaches.
The eye piece mistakenly packed into our box through no fault of my own is a Celestron Luminos 10mm, for use with my refractor. Love the design of my 19mm for this purpose. They do not work well at all with reflectors, but with simple refractors they are great for the price.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[UlteriorModem]

Always wait a day or so before ordering anything 'special' so it will be shipped separately. That way you can be more stealthy

[Don Alvarez]

I told my wife for the new OTA I bought it was funded from the proceeds of me selling off some little used EP's. Which is partially true. About 70% of it was. As she has no real gauge of the full extent of my inventory, I likely could have sold nothing and just told her that - BUT, I try to be a good husband.

[DeanD]

I renovated the laundry to get my TV76: still cheaper than getting a tradie in to do the job (not that I would have pointed that out of course )...

[Bigzmey]

A few years ago I have ordered a small adapter from Amazon. Couple of days later I am getting an angry text from my wife: aren't we agreed on no more scopes?! Came home from work to find a huge box with Celestron 6" Newt. Honey I did not order it, they sent it by mistake! Ye, right, they just send scopes to random people! Looking back it was hilarious.

So, Amazon does make mistakes like that on occasion.

[DeanD]

A few years ago I have ordered a small adapter from Amazon. Couple of days later I am getting an angry text from my wife: aren't we agreed on no more scopes?! Came home from work to find a huge box with Celestron 6" Newt. Honey I did not order it, they sent it by mistake! Ye, right, they just send scopes to random people! Looking back it was hilarious.

So, Amazon does make mistakes like that on occasion.

So did you keep the scope for the price of an adapter?

[Bigzmey]

A few years ago I have ordered a small adapter from Amazon. Couple of days later I am getting an angry text from my wife: aren't we agreed on no more scopes?! Came home from work to find a huge box with Celestron 6" Newt. Honey I did not order it, they sent it by mistake! Ye, right, they just send scopes to random people! Looking back it was hilarious.

So, Amazon does make mistakes like that on occasion.

So did you keep the scope for the price of an adapter?

Since I didn't not order it, no. I also had hard time convincing Amazon to take it back. Probably because it was not that good.

[bladekeeper]

Congrats on the eyepiece, Codrin!

I sneak nothing. If I tried to stealth a scope in, I'd be wearing it for a kickstand.

[JayTee]

I did something completely against the grain: I went to my wife with the truth and just the facts (presented in a way that favored the conclusion I was pushing!) I brought her out to see my current mount in action and pointed to the massive guiding spikes in both RA and Dec, then showed her the resultant image and how the stars looked like short bright lines. She said, and I quote, "Those images suck!" After that, she agreed that I NEED a new mount. YAY! So I will take my Xmas money (Santa always leaves me some) and use that and whatever is short, she will make up the difference. I referenced my post where I addressed my three different levels of mount choice. She said that she will help with Plan B only - but hey, Plan B is better than what I currently have.

Well, I thought I would break down my request to Santa much the way we instructed my youngest on how to structure his college apps.

Dream: 10 Micron, MESU 200
Plan A: CEM 60 EC, CGX-L, SW EQ8R Pro
Plan B: CGX, SW EQ6R Pro, CEM 40 EC

It seems apparent that these are pretty much arranged by price. I hope Santa doesn't have to rob a bank to get me one of my "dream" machines. Even if it winds up being a plan B mount, I don't think I will be "settling", these are all high-quality mounts.

So Yay.

Cheers,
JT

[DeanD]

I did something completely against the grain: I went to my wife with the truth and just the facts (presented in a way that favored the conclusion I was pushing!) I brought her out to see my current mount in action and pointed to the massive guiding spikes in both RA and Dec, then showed her the resultant image and how the stars looked like short bright lines. She said, and I quote, "Those images suck!" After that, she agreed that I NEED a new mount. YAY! So I will take my Xmas money (Santa always leaves me some) and use that and whatever is short, she will make up the difference. I referenced my post where I addressed my three different levels of mount choice. She said that she will help with Plan B only - but hey, Plan B is better than what I currently have.

Well, I thought I would break down my request to Santa much the way we instructed my youngest on how to structure his college apps.

Dream: 10 Micron, MESU 200
Plan A: CEM 60 EC, CGX-L, SW EQ8R Pro
Plan B: CGX, SW EQ6R Pro, CEM 40 EC

It seems apparent that these are pretty much arranged by price. I hope Santa doesn't have to rob a bank to get me one of my "dream" machines. Even if it winds up being a plan B mount, I don't think I will be "settling", these are all high-quality mounts.

So Yay.

Cheers,
JT

The truth is always good: you don't have to remember the lie then!

My TSA102 came about because I was increasingly frustrated with the views that my (unnamed) and quite expensive refactor was giving, despite two trips to the manufacturer for collimating etc., and my my better half became fed up with my moaning every time I came back inside. I think her words were "Just sell it and get one that you wont moan about." Music!!! (...and I haven't moaned since)

On a more serious note: negotiated (and mutual) "pocket money" as part of the household budget and that needs no justification to spend is a useful way to go. Just save up for a while, like when you were a kid... Perfect for relatively "low" cost items like filters, eyepieces, etc. It might take a while though for that dream mount JT! Although, as you say, Plan B looks pretty good...

[pakarinen]

Since my kids usually give me cash for gifts now, I use that for astro purchases (plus whatever I've saved on the side).

[10538]

My wife has figured me out. She now checks the bank statements for PayPal charges! But I have to admit that if I break into tears I can usually get by with only a slight scolding!

[pakarinen]

I should mention that I've also used the proceeds from selling used gear to acquire things like my Manfrotto pod.

[stewe]

I must be lucky, my wife is also an optics junkie, so she tends to understand... Plus I always have the extra argument that eyepieces better keep their resale value than her cameras and camera lenses (except when they are dropped).

[Star Dad]

I kind of overspent my "budget" - on the ASI294MC - but I'm now content - and the wife greatly appreciates that. Except for my ranting on the weather. I'm feeling the pain, again, as the non-stop clouds, rain, and high winds thwart the new moon. I need at least a monthly fix of AP.

To compensate, I recently bought a cardboard "kit" dulcimer. Fun thing about those is that you can decorate them however you like. No precious wood is involved. So mine is plastered on all side with images I've taken. Probably the most expensive dulcimer ever made - well over $2,000 worth of images (based on the cost of AP equipment - mount, camera, number of images total so far). It makes me happy when I'm practicing to see those images. And a little sad that there aren't more. Someday there will be more, grasshopper. Moaning does seem to work for the expensive things. We have a his and hers budget/funding which the other doesn't get to complain about. It works wonderfully - even if I can't buy anything for another 8 months.

[Ylem]

Hmm, I need some ideas before I order a new mount, hey it just fell into that box might not work

[pakarinen]

hey it just fell into that box might not work

Maybe somebody hacked your account and the little pervs get off by sending random astro gear to people.