Things to mitigate your findings:
1. I always wrap up the job by sittign with a cold beer and looking over my work.
2. Wait until the wife goes to bed for doing hot work and enjoying subsequent cold beer.
3. Well, not sure what to tell you there. My cars are usually stripped to the bare shell before doing any weld work. But thats because I have never bought a car that was mostly complete.
On the bright side, roses should be cheaper since Valentines day has passed.