Speaking of wives supporting your hobby...

[Apollo]

I wasn't going to share this but my wife has been so supportive and just basically awesome in the last 24 hours I thought I should let you guys know what happened.

I was in the garage finishing off my latest cabinet and expecting to be able to post in project announcements any day now (minus artwork at this stage but what the hell). I was just working away with the wiring and getting the cp on the cab and everything was going fine. I moved to the back of the cabinet to bring the wiring through and was talking to my wife about something, I turned around and felt a slight knock on my elbow. When I turned to see what I had bumped in to it was my worst arcade nightmare come true and I heard the hiss of escaping entering air as my 26" arcade monitor lost it's vaccum. The neckboard had been knocked and taken the very end of the tube with it, the tube is screwed.
In New Zealand aracade parts like this are quite difficult to come by and are often 2-3 times the price that you would pay in the USA or UK, I have had this tube and monitor in storage for a couple of years and even moved house with it all the time guarding it with my life. My wife knows this and she takes enough of an interest in my hobby to realise the importance of this event. Needless to say I was absolutely gutted and I don't have the $500NZ (second hand) or the $900NZ (new) for a replacment tube and monitor (the monitor wasn't in great condition so it would need to be replaced as well).
After consoling me for a minute or two my wife said that I could buy a replacement either new or second hand, whatever I could find and that even if it cost $1000 she realised how important it was and that we would find the money somehow. She's pretty damn cool.

[SirPeale]

Hiss wasn't escaping air, rather, but the introduction of it into the vacuum tube.

That sucks, man.  But you need not get a whole new monitor, you can get just the replacement tube.

[Apollo]

Hiss wasn't escaping air, rather, but the introduction of it into the vacuum tube.

Hey good point.

I would have gone for just a new tube ($200 second hand or $500 new) but the monitor needs a cap kit and a new flyback and transformer (and possibly other work) so my wife agreeing to purchase a new monitor and tube was pretty great.

[delta88]

8liners chassis. you DO have normal tv's down there right

[shorthair]

That is kind. Though, to avoid future incident, perhaps all the wiring should be run first?

[Apollo]

Good news I have found a replacement tube and monitor second hand for $440NZ. The whole sage will delay my project by a couple of weeks. Pictures in project announcements soon.

[Chris G]

Very cool wifey story. 

Let us know when the other shoe drops and she wants a new wardrobe or whatever...