I think thats rather funny !

Did you think it was funny Scarlett?

Perhaps you needed to specify what you wanted, you didn't ask him to take the lights out of the box, did you, so its obviously your fault (said in jest...seeing they manage to blame us for everything!).

Happy Chrissy.

P

I remember your story. I would bet my life saving your hubby does these things so you'll stop asking him to do anything. My ex was a total screw up like that. Then I overheard him telling his best friend that he's screws things up so I stop asking. And it worked! I couldn't trust him to do anything. It worked so well I'll never be asking him for anything again. He's some other womans problem now. My current DH just does things that need to be done without being asked. He's a gem. There are a few out there, though very rare.

Funny from the outside looking in... but... you've either got one really dumb man on your hands or one really passive agressive one. I'm hoping for your sake, he's not so smart...

not funny at all, it sounds blatantly passive-aggressive to me.

been there, done that, you can't win, & he enjoys mocking your requests.

Passive-aggressive people are like 2-year-olds;

They'll refuse to do something even if they really want to do it, just to exercise the power of refusing.

You can't get any fulfillment with that kind of behavior, only frustration, & that's what they like about it.

Every time they win, you lose.

I wish you the best.

I gave him his return in kind. Last night I set the table very nicely and arranged the food attractively on his plate - raw. Neither of us commented at all.

Hopefully you have a history of such jokes together. Otherwise, if this tit-for-tat is how it works between you, I sure glad I'm not part that household!

Actually a husband who has a sense of humor is valuable. I think its hilarious. Our lights aren't up yet either. We aren't having an open house until Dec 30 so there is plenty of time. You have a terrific sense of humor too.
Scarlett, you live in Southern California--there are companies who will put lights up for you. Frankly if my husband doesn't get to it I will just wind some up the olive & fig trees and out on the balcony. Its been rainy here so I'm not enthused either. I just got my final Christmas card out (150 including clients). I think there are fewer lights up this year --a sure sign a recession may be on the way.
My hubby has been doing a lot of repairs around the house, and he only has so much time.
Sometimes people have a tough time being excited about holidays --especially as you get older.

Well *I* think it's funny --
And your response was perfect.

For future items, I'd just bring in a professional. Assume he's either too lazy or too incompetent and hire it done. If he complains about the cost, tell him that doing it himself is always an option, and that you'll agree to give him that opportunity in the future.

Alrighty, then... So, did he eat the food raw or just skip dinner altogether? I guess it could be funny, in a way, maybe.. oh, well, I don't know... I don't have a good sense of humor, I guess. What did he eat for dinner? And, even more importantly, did the lights get put up, and by who? I would think that answer would be more telling into if it was an actual joke on his part or more of a passive aggressive move.

Yea, did he put the lights up eventually.

Here (in Australia) the new thing is to pay people to come around and put up all the outside lights for Christmas.

Not too good for reducing carbon.

Yes, he put the lights up. I am not going to pay somebody to put up lights inside two front windows. You don't even have to go outside or get on a ladder. I told him it looked great.(Trying a little positive reinforcement.)

First we ate the salad, you don't have to cook a salad. Then we ate the raw veggies, then we sort of eyeballed each other to see how far this was going to go. I began cutting up and eating my raw potato and he did the same. We both passed on the raw meat and the cold coffee. All this while having polite conversation: "Do you think it will rain tonight, Dear?" "Yes, I believe it will." etc.

Gee scarlett he might have been a little worried you were losing your mind and was afraid to say anything about the food. At least with raw food he didn't have to worry that it was poisoned.
My husband recently complained that I was watching all these diagnosis Unknown t.v. shows where it turns out the mystery illness is actually the spouse poisoning their mate. I told him he had nothing to worry about unless he saw me taking notes.

Sounds like an episode from Everybody Loves Raymond, he did everything wrong on purpose so his wife would stop asking, he also taught that to his brother. Wives eventually figured it out. lol

That is a hilarious story. I tried all these things with mine, until I figured out that being nagging and/or passive-aggressive makes me angry with myself. So that changed really quick.

Then I did the "If I'm working, you're working!" thing. If I'm up doing things, he is too. If he's up doing things, I am too. Then we spend time together doing things AND relaxing. After a while, when one of us got up, the other did too, automatically -- he said he noticed that there's a lot less nagging, the house looks better, and he feels better about himself. I said I noticed the same things, and also that I'm less of a b*tch now. Wins all around!

Now, our chores get done before lunch on Saturday instead of 11 PM Sundays, and we have the whole weekend to play. It's not perfect (yet)...but it's better!