A Good Inside Joke

One of my favorite things about being married is that I have this person who goes through (or at least hears about) the same experiences I do on a daily basis. He sees the same movies and commercials, participates in the same conversations, judges the same poorly dressed people, etc. So after 7 years together, we've developed our own set of inside jokes. "Do you remember the time I almost ate all that chili?" "Hey, honey... Utard." The list of things only Kirk and I laugh at goes on and one. But here's one I'll let you all in on.

I recently read that in an effort to curb whining, one mom implemented the following rule: if a person asks for something and the answer is no, asking again will never change the answer. The exception? If the person puts the back of his hand on his forehead like a maiden in distress and repeats the phrase, word for word, "Alas, I fear I shall perish without it," then maybe -- just maybe -- the answer might change to a yes.

Go on... try it.

Husband: "Honey, I'd really like to get that new golf game for the Wii."

Wife: "No, we just don't have the money."

Husband: "Alas, I fear I shall perish without it."

Okay, you'll probably still say no, but at least you'll both be laughing.