I told him that I was painting the office a pink color and I thought he was going to flip. He was not one bit happy with me so I told him that I would paint it a different color if he made me a new desk. He then asked what color I would paint it. Surprised me a little I figured he would ask what kind of desk. Good thing I'm quick thinker and asked what he had in mind for a desk.
By asking him what he was thinking about for a desk it allowed him to go off on some big shpeel about good points and bad points on desk. Placement in room and everything that goes with it. I had to sit and listen to *engineer talk for a little bit but it was a good way of avoiding the color question. I needed to keep the color in my control for bargaining purposes.
Thankfully we were thinking the same thing for the desk so I didn't have to use the paint color bargain too early. He wanted it a little taller than I did but I figure it is easier for a short person to work around something tall than it is for a tall person to work around something too short.
I then told him that the wood didn't have to look great because I planned on painting it. Talk about instant mad. It was rather fun to watch but I told him if we stained it a cherry color and varnished it then he lost all veto power on paint color for the room. There by getting everything I wanted.
What I got-
- new desk
- my paint choice for the office
- total power over color theme and decorations
- nice cherry stain for the desk
What Austin got-
- tall desk
I clearly won that exchange and he thinks I don't know how to manipulate him.
Last night when I got home from work he had the desk portion finished and in the office. He isn't putting drawers under it. Instead we are putting our file cabinets under the desk. We don't generally have a need for drawers. I don't keep clutter and our pens and pencils are in a pencil holder on top of the desk. Envelopes are kept in the kitchen. Stamps are kept in my purse.
Next on my to-do list is to box up all my books and take the bookshelf up to Mason's room. It literally just collects junk and I'm tired of it. I figure it matches Mason's bedroom fairly good and he can keep toys or other stuff on it. We will have to attach it to the wall so I had better be sure.
I'm sitting here looking at my new desk thinking it is missing something and it dawns on me I need a little bookshelf/bench under my window. If only I had thought about all this on Monday to keep him busy. I need to brainstorm on how to get it from my husband without giving up anything I've already gotten. Maybe I'll mention it after I get the room painted.
My poor husband really never stood a chance. I'm the middle of 5 kids so I have been manipulating people for years.
*engineer talk is anything that I don't care about or am not interested in. Austin uses it as filler to formulate his arguments. After a bit it stops being 'engineer talk' and ZING! ZING!! ZING!!! All these reasons why we should or shouldn't do something. A couple times he has stopped mid-sentence. Annoying as crap.
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