Where major decisions are concerned, the husband and I are more often than not on the same page.
New countertops? We tend to like the same thing. New chesterfield? We're usually in agreement. New flooring for the TV room? There's hardly any discussion.
It's the little things that create the clash.
Take pizza. He likes pepperoni. I like Hawaiian. He likes an extra crispy crust. I prefer it softer.
"How about that place around the corner?" he'll suggest, usually on a Friday night.
"I don't like that place," I'll say. "You know I prefer that other spot on the main drag."
Pepperoni or Hawaiian aside, this is often how it goes: we can't even agree on a restaurant - let alone the size of the pie.
"OK," he'll say. "How about pepperoni with salami and bacon and ham and green peppers?" "Too much meat," I will inform him. "And you know I hate green peppers."
Sometimes, of course, we will go for the halfand-half option, but that's seldom suitable, given that he'll eat two-thirds and a bit.
Shopping for a car? Not a problem. Last time we pondered the options, we were in agreement in less than 10 minutes flat.
Not so when we're wanting Chinese.
"Let's see!" I'll say, waving the delivery menu. "I want beef and tomato chow mein. And beef and broccoli."
"Hate those," the normally agreeable husband will respond. "I want sweet and sour boneless pork."
"Nope," I will say. "We always get that, and you know I'm not a fan."
"Pork fried rice?" he will ask.
"Chicken fried rice," I will counter.
We both like breaded almond chicken, but heck, when most people feast on Chinese, they want more than a single dish.
And so it is: the couple that can decide on a new exterior paint colour for the house in less than half an hour (trim included) will spend twice that amount of time trying to determine whether it will be wonton soup or hot and sour.
The solution, I suppose, is to abandon the order-in process altogether, and instead head to a restaurant where I can nosh on fish and chips, while the partner eats fish tacos.
It's one idea anyway. Either that, or we limit the choices to paint.
