Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

Sherri’s Challenge

May 7, 2009  

Thanks, folks, for all your prayers as I slowly recover from a pretty rough Wednesday. I’m still a little woozy, but thankfully I’m no longer seeing the paint melt from the ceiling and tiny leprechauns dancing in front of me. But it wasn’t all bad. Last night, I had something to occupy my time.
Sherri over at Matter of Fact is always good for both laughs and insights, and her post on Wednesday was no different. She’s been leading an adult Sunday School class about the book of Matthew, and a recent class discussion revolved around what they treasured. In her words, “I suggested that the best way to find things out about ourselves is to ask someone closest to us to answer some questions honestly about how we view things, what ‘ticks us off’ and what we treasure.”

Sherri asked her husband.

I’ll let you read her post to fully appreciate what happened next. She did, however, throw down the gauntlet. She challenged the rest of us ( well, “Only the brave and transparent”) to do the same. I thought it might be nice to have a little male perspective on this. So as my wife and I relaxed on a lazy Wednesday night, I asked her those same questions. I also prayed that things would not descend into the sort of downward spiral that Sherri experienced.

Here goes:

What is my favorite comfort food?

What my wife said: ice cream.
What I hoped she’d say: banana pudding, complete with real bananas and Nilla Wafers. It’s an anytime food. I’ve even had it for breakfast (don’t make that face. It has fruit in it). But ice cream was a close second.

If money were no object, where would I like to go on vacation?

What my wife said: Key West, Florida.
What I hoped she’d say: I was leaning toward Yankee Stadium and thought I had my first “A-ha!” moment, but she was right. It’s hard to pass up a place where three quarters of the population stops what they’re doing every evening to walk down to the pier watch the sunset.

How do I feel about housework?

What my wife said: “Are you serious?”
What I hoped she’d say: “Are you serious?”

What is my least favorite household chore?

What my wife said: taking out the trash.
What I hoped she’d say: the same. Just because I always seem to have to do that when it’s dinner time for the neighborhood bears.

What brings me the most joy?

What my wife said: my family.
What I hoped she’d say: her. Guess I have to work on that one, huh?

I have a Saturday night with no commitments. How do I spend it?

What my wife said: Popcorn and a movie.
What I hoped she’d say: Popcorn and an old movie. There’s a difference, and it’s a big one. She really should know that by now.

What is my greatest gift?

What my wife said: writing.
What I hoped she’d say: that I can fall asleep anytime, anywhere. But I was happy with her answer.

What is my greatest talent?

What my wife said: seeing the big picture.
What I hoped she’d say: seeing the details. Lack of communication, anyone?

What do I enjoy the most?

What my wife said: television.
What I hoped she’d say: it doesn’t matter. Because television? Out of all the things I enjoy in life, she thinks television tops the list?

“You watch too much,” she said.

“I watch educational stuff,” I answered. “The History Channel, Discovery—”

“—baseball,” she interrupted, “football, basketball,—”

“—the Science Channel, National Geographic, —”

“–24, NCIS, The Andy Griffith Show…”

It went that way for a while, but then I cut the conversation short. Partly because I was tired of convincing her I was right. Mostly because it was time for Lost to come on.

What is my greatest fear?

What my wife said: not fulfilling your dreams.
What I hoped she’d say: the same. Because that meant she didn’t remember what my biggest fear really was: clowns.

What is my biggest pet peeve about other people?

What my wife said: arrogance.
What I hoped she’d say: arrogance. Because really, is any other human trait more annoying than that?

What is my favorite book of the Bible?

What my wife said: the Psalms.
What I hoped she’d say: the same.

What do I hate most about my body?

What my wife said: “I don’t know, nothing I guess.”
What I hoped she’d say: “You’re a guy. You people don’t care how you look.”

What do you think is your best feature?

What my wife said: my personality (now I understand how you felt, Sherri).
What I hoped she’d say: anything other than that.

What is my most annoying habit?

What my wife said: nothing, at first. Which was a good sign since I thought that meant she was really trying hard but couldn’t come up with anything. But then I realized she could also be wading through all the options and couldn’t decide on just one. She finally settled on the fact that all the clocks in the house are set five minutes fast.

Really? That’s it? My most annoying habit is the fact that I don’t want to be late for anything? That I’m punctual? I’ll take it.

What I hoped she’d say: You’ll never know.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print this article!
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter

Filed under: Uncategorized
Tagged:

Comments

  • lynnrush

    HA! I like this. I wonder what my hubby would say about those for me…..

    Interesting :-)

    I’m glad you’re not seeing tiny leprechauns anymore….Yeah, that’s a little scary.

  • Helen

    I am glad you are feeling better.
    I think your wife did great on the quiz. But you do know that we women stick together, so don’t trust me even a little on that.
    I am going to post same questions eventually. I just want to capture Bob’s (my husband) deer in the headlight look on video. He is soooo cuuute when he gets that expression.

  • katdish

    Helen – something tells me he gets that expression quite a bit lately.

    Scuse me…NEIGHBORHOOD BEARS?

    You’re such a guy.

    I’m getting a little nervous about my interview. Maybe I should tidy up the house a bit before the interview. And possibly go get some more Jolly Rancher jelly beans, and maybe wash his car…

  • Denise

    Hmmm…I have to admit this scares me. Even after 26 years, I am not convinced he wouldn’t look like a deer in headlights with these questions.

    By the way, I see nothing wrong with banana pudding for breakfast!

  • Beth E.

    I’m so glad you are feeling better, though dancing leprechauns sound mighty entertaining.

    Answering these questions sounds like a way to set up my hubby…I might have to give it a try!

    Oh, and one more thing…banana puddin’ is deee-licious! BUT, there’s no ‘g’ in puddin’…not when you’re from the south! ;o)

  • Annie K

    Glad you’re not seeing Leprechauns…now hombres in sombreros maybe (Cinco de mayo and all), but Leprechauns? What illness did you have Billy Coffey?

    I can’t stand arrogance either. As I mentioned last week it is sure to come up in my review.

    I’m too chicken (read:insecure) to ask my husband the questions. And if I did, I’d probably lie about it in my post. So to keep myself from sinning I’ll just avoid it all together. Ehem..

  • sherri

    I had to laugh outloud on a few of those Billy. CLOWNS? Are you serious? My son Jordan (a MMA CAGE FIGHTER) is also afraid of clowns. I think that’s hysterical. Sorry.
    And I’m so glad you got the “personality” answer too. Now I don’t feel so ugly. (Although Big Al is still in the doghouse over that one!)

    And Billy, tell katdish she can’t cheat and become someone totally different just to get the good interview. She won’t listen to me…see what you can do.

    veri word: dogging

    I’ll be dogging Big Al about the “personality” answer for years to come.

  • Blessed Mom of 8

    Thanks for sharing with us Billy!

    Not sure what our conversation would look like, but I trust we would have some areas that the answers would NOT be what the other hoped woudl be said :)

    Glad you are feeling better! More prayers going up for you!
    Jill

  • Julie

    What a fun idea. I’ll have to try that out…

    I too love Banana Pudding… but I’d be stuck between Banana Pudding and home made peach ice cream.. can it get any better than that? After all I grew up and have lived all my life in the south…

    By the way. I too live in the Blue Ridge Mountains… in Georgia…

  • Amy

    I should do this. I think my husband would fail miserably.

  • Candace Jean July 16

    What fun! I’m glad you agree on the really important things like housework, trash, and Psalms. The rest is just gravy.

    Have you ever had banana pudding with fake bananas? If you ask for banana pudding do you need to specify real bananas?

    I think I’d better get Ron Burgundy going on this one. It could be interesting – if I can get him away from the TV long enough!

  • LisaShaw

    I am sorry to hear that you have not been feeling good. I pray for healing over you in Jesus Name.

    Thanks for sharing with us and God bless you and your family.

  • T. Anne

    How wonderful that your wife is so insightful! But then she’s a woman so of course she is. =)

  • Billy Coffey

    katdish – Yes, bears. Lots of bears. Lots of hungry bears.

    Sherri – How can anyone NOT be afraid of clowns? It’s the reason my kids have never been to the circus.

    And I think we both know katdish knows how to stack the deck. The house always wins.

  • Annie K

    Ok, I think my comment got lost in Leprechaun land or something. Is this a new flu we should be worried about?

    I can’t do the quiz because I’m afraid of the answers Jon will give. And then I’d have to lie on my blog. To save myself from breaking the 4th Commandment (is thou shall not lie the 4th? Or maybe I should plead the 5th?) I’m just going to make excuses and put it off.

  • Lianne

    This is great. I have had a foggy brain lately, so this is good blog fodder for slow days.

    I am with you on the clown thing. You can’t read a clown’s true facial expression with the face paint. He might be smiling on the outside, but getting ready to feed you to the garbage bears on the inside…you just never know. I am also afraid of feet. The thought of a barefoot clown just gave me a chill.

  • Annie

    This was good! Clowns are scary-i agree! First in the movie-Poltergeist and then in It. OHHH!!!!! Don’t even want to think about it!
    As for this questionaire, when I get my hubby’s undivided attention, I think I will try it :)

  • sherri

    Came back to add that my favorite answer was:

    “It went that way for a while, but then I cut the conversation short. Partly because I was tired of convincing her I was right. Mostly because it was time for Lost to come on.”

    You’re such a guy.

  • Chris Godfredsen

    There are very educational things in watching baseball, basketball and football on television…and ending the conversation because Lost is coming on? Money!!!

    Good stuff, my friend!

  • Billy Coffey

    Lianne – barefoot clowns. Great, another reason to be afraid.

  • April

    This was so much fun to read! I’d really like to try it with my hubby. He’d better answer CORRECTLY! LOL! So glad to hear that you’re on the road to recovery!

  • Beth

    Nice. I’m totally doing this soon. And I think the annoying habit question will be the scariest part. The world might not be ready to hear how truly disgusting I am….

    And thanks for stopping by my lil’ ol’ blog.

  • Sarah Salter

    Interesting challenge, buddy! My problem is that I don’t know anybody that knows me well enough to give good answers. (Except my dog and she cant’ type.) I wonder what that says about me… :-)

  • Sockrma18

    KEY WEST….yes. My dream vacation spot. Actually, I’d like to pack up and move there. Put up a shack right on the beach and live like a bum. Yeah. That would ROCK.

    There DEFINITELY is a difference between a movie and an OLD movie. Right there with ya…..

    Seriously??? Your clocks are all 5 minutes fast? MINE TOO. And I’ve often wondered if because my clocks are fast isn’t that REALLY the correct time….in my little world??? Oh the things that make us kooky.

    :0)

  • jasonS

    That was great! Brightened my day- thanks. And I’m afraid my wife would say TV too, scary.

  • jasonS

    Oh and clowns freak me out too. Think about the doorbell ringing at 3 AM, you’re groggy and slowly open the door to find… a clown! That make-up and painted on smile. Those big, floppy shoes. Cue horror scream!

    Nothing scarier. I would probably die of a heart attack then and there.

  • Heart2Heart

    Billy,

    Love that you love banana pudding with vanilla wafers or Nilla wafers!

    I was shopping and grabbed a box when we were both grocery shopping and said, remember what these are for?

    Hubby’s response, “Sure! Eating them!”

    “No,” I said rather irrated, “don’t you remember, banana pudding, whipped cream and layered with vanilla wafers? Didn’t anyone ever make you that?”

    ” Uh, No,” and that was all he said, “Do you still want the cookies?”

    “Sure,” I said, “just toss them in the cart, we can eat them later.”

    I guess it’s either dating me since he is four years younger than I, or he was deprived of a childhood experience.

    I am scared to see how the quiz will go, but watch next week and see what happens!

    Hope you and your wife, enjoy a beautiful Mother’s day together!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  • Terri Tiffany

    This was great! And a fun fun read. Do all men love TV so much?? And oh yes on that banana pudding.
    Hope you get to feeling lots better!

  • Brenda

    How funny… about a month ago, I posted something similar, but not nearly as detailed.

    It all started sitting at the dinner table with my husband. I told him I realized that I didn’t know his favorite color. He laughed and said he didn’t have one and he thought that might be a girl thing. Then I started asking him several other questions that I thought for sure I knew the answer to, like, what his favorite dessert would be. I thought, “Funnies Vanilla Frozen Yogurt”. He said that was a good guess but it’s actually “Lemon Meringue Pie”. What?! I was stunned since I had no idea… after 26 years of marriage. How sad.

    I might print out these questions and have another guessing session with my husband. Fun stuff!