Anyone remember this post, wherein I lamented Larry's poor listening and paint-choosing skills? Yeah, that one - the one where I criticized my husband's paint selection to the entire Internet? After our mandatory week-long cooling off period, Larry and I showed Anna the paint color strip and said, "Honey, which of these colors did you want for your room?" Great care was taken to shield her from any knowledge of which paint color Larry had so foolishly purchased. This experiment was undertaken at Larry's insistence, since he refused to admit that he was wrong, refused to admit that we had both selected Feathery Lilac and not Free Spirit and yet he brought home Free Spirit anyway.So I presented the color strip to Anna, confident in my assumption that she would affirm not only our Feathery Lilac selection but also Larry's terrible wrongness in not admitting to his mistake. She's my daughter, after all; I know what she likes; and Larry, truth to tell, is a guy - a guy so color-blind he doesn't even know whether he is wearing green or blue. How could he ever differentiate between Feathery Lilac and Free Spirit, anyway?
We all know where this is going, right?
Anna chose Free Spirit. And Larry? Vindicated is not strong enough a word for how he is feeling right now. Smug? Beyond that. According to Larry, he has won a victory for henpecked husbands everywhere, for men like my friend "Harry" who refuses to start a blog (c'mon, Harry!), so I get to steal his words and use them here:
[I] know what I would pick is never going to be chosen by "the committee" so it makes it hard to pay attention and remember which of the many "lilacs" is finally chosen, especially since there are various choices along the way that seem "final." "Ours not to reason why..."
"Ours not to reason why..." - the lament of beleaguered husbands everywhere, I'm sure. Well, today, gentlemen, you can hold your heads high and walk into paint stores without fear, and without "a paint chip in hand initialled by every member of the Paint Color and Wallcovering Selection Committee (PCWCS)" (Harry's words again). Larry has made one small step toward getting our daughter's room painted and one large step for married-mankind.
Now if he would just wipe that irritating grin off his face...
When they are right.. it is almost scary.. creeps me out sometimes
ReplyDeleteHow much do you think Larry paid Anna to pick his color?
ReplyDeleteAs the granddaughter of the guy who invented the system for mixing the paints in the stores: how well-lit is the room? What exposure, how much windowspace, etc. Because colored walls reflect off each other and a dark-ish room and all four walls painted in that color will darken the perceived shade considerably.
ReplyDeleteCase in point: we once bought a very light peach and in one room, where we only used it on one wall and left the others white, did indeed get a light peach.
In another room, however, we used it on all four walls and the window in there was just a window rather than floor-to-ceiling glass along that whole wall like the one-wall-wonder; we ended up with a deep sunflowery orange.
For a boys room.
Yeah, that went over well.
I got a friend to watch my four kids the day after DH had painted it into that hideousness, bought some light blue that was nearly white on the paint chip, brought it home, and painted right over that new orange. It came out a light but definitely blue blue. SO much better!
The hubby was incensed at first that I'd thrown away all his hard work, but honestly--it was such a relief. (Later we remodeled and put up new wallboard and went straight for plain white in there.)
@Jillybean, my thoughts exactly!
ReplyDeleteOh my. I hope he wasn't cooking dinner tonight... ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I were behaving smugly in a similar situation, my wife would probably give me the ol' "You're so good at picking colors? Great. It's your job now. Have fun and make sure you don't clash" Larry, well done.
ReplyDeleteOkay, here is where I will give a gratefulshout out to my hubby. I painted the upstairs bedroom blue. My husband knew that I had painted the room, and about a year later said, "hey, when did the bedroom turn blue?" As long as I don't want his help, anything goes.
ReplyDeletei found this on a blog (so i don't take personal credit for this) - i think it very much fits your color "situation"
ReplyDelete“To keep your marriage brimming
with love in the loving cup,
whenever you’re wrong, admit it.
Whenever you’re right… SHUT UP.”
franzi
Hmmmm...methinks the immortal words "I told you so" may have crossed someone's lips...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I didn't comment on your initial paint post. My husband and I have a long tradition of sparring over paint chips. (And who comes up with those names? Free spirit? Feathery lilac? Moonlit eggplant? AUGH) I once wrote a very funny column, back in the day when I wrote a column, about painting our living room. We had a happy ending, but it took a while to get there ;)
ReplyDeleteWhich goes better with crow, A1 sauce or Worcestershire. You'd think I'd know that by now, for all of it I've eaten. (Ouch, that one had to hurt.)
ReplyDeleteI would take the room's occupant with me, let them pick out the color chip they like, then get a color 3 shades lighter. Of course, that philosophy was implemented after I chose what looked like a nice light pink color for the girls room. Once I had painted the walls and it dried, it now looks like pepto bismol pink. Since they traded rooms with the boys, maybe I shoud repaint it? Atfer repairing the holes in the drywall, again. :)
ReplyDeleteTell him that smugness is unbecoming :) MIME
ReplyDeleteSorry about the paint fiasco... my husband wouldn't dare. Then again, he also wouldn't go pick up the paint either, so pick your poison :) And thanks for the blog comment educating me on the whole cream of tartar thing! What Grandma says, I do... but that doesn't mean I understand!
ReplyDeleteMan! I friggin' HATE it when the guys win one.
ReplyDeleteI've eaten a lot of crow. I think I might have had some just this afternoon. (You'd think I'd learn to shut up!)
ReplyDeleteWe've been in this house for 2-1/2 years, but I can't seem to choose the right paint for our bedroom. The best color has a name I don't like, and the names I do like are not the right color.
(Also, your package will go in the mail first thing Monday morning!!)
I thought I heard a tree falling.
ReplyDeleteAww, give the man his moment of victory. It won't last long.
ReplyDeleteWhat were you thinking sending the man to buy the paint??? That is just a recipe for a disaster. Only a woman can be trusted with such a crucial errand.
ReplyDelete