Post-Nuptial Contract
Whereas, the aggrieved party (husband) and the aggrieving party (wife) have
been involved in a long standing dispute, and whereas we're tired of
arguing over this stuff all the time, and whereas if you'd just listen to
me you'd see that I'm right,
Therefore come the parties together in a post-nuptial agreement, which I
expect you to sign and then there's no need for further discussion.
Clause One: Whereas, there is one correct way to arrange the furniture in
the living room, and whereas the husband's back is still sore from last
weekend when, after moving the chair into the corner for about half an
hour, the wife made him carry it back to where it was in the first place,
it is now understood by both parties that the furniture is in the correct
arrangement. There is no need ever to move it again.
Clause Two: It seems like the husband just got the Christmas decorations
put up and now you want them taken down! So the wife should make up her
mind. If the house looks pretty with lights on it, why not leave them up
for awhile? The same is true for Halloween decorations, and no, I do not
think it looks silly to have the scarecrow out there next to Santa Claus.
I think it looks festive.
Clause Three: The wife shouldn't tell the husband that she is fat and then
get all upset when he suggests ways to lose weight. The husband is just
trying to help, for Pete's sake! And for the record, the husband did NOT
say you were fat! YOU said you were fat. All I did was fail to disagree
forcefully enough!
Clause Four: Whereas the wife already has like thirty-two thousand pairs
of shoes, that's enough. The wife should stop buying clothes for which she
doesn't have appropriate shoes.
Clause Five: The wife is allowed one "favorite part" of each movie, and
that's it. You can't keep saying "This is my favorite part" in the same
movie. And stop asking me what my favorite part is, because the answer is
"none." I wanted to watch Die Hard again!
Clause Six: Speaking of movies, for every movie with subtitles that the
wife wants to see, the husband is allowed one movie in which there are car
chases. And any time a man and a woman on the screen stare at each other
without speaking for more than a minute because they're in love but can't
bear to talk about it for some reason, the husband is allowed to leave the
room.
Clause Seven: Whereas, the wife has made abundant and repeated reference
to the supposed "proper" position of the toilet seat lid, and whereas there
is no such stated position in the owner's manual, and whereas the family
dog needs to be able to get water, for crying out loud, the debate about
the toilet seat lid is now over and the subject need never be mentioned
again, ever.
Clause Eight: The thermostat is not a toy. The wife has lost her
thermostat privileges. From now on, the thermostat will be turned up only
on days when the husband is cold.
Clause Nine: The wife may not cut her hair and then wait for the husband
to notice it and then get mad when he doesn't. And THEN get mad when he
doesn't like the hair cut! Doesn't it make sense that if I notice you got
your hair cut, I'm not going to like it?
Clause Ten: It is entirely inappropriate to wake someone up to tell him he
is snoring. What's he supposed to do about it when he's AWAKE? And
there's no concrete evidence that I snore, anyway. I think you faked that
tape recording. If you believe I may be snoring, the proper action is to
make sure I am entirely comfortable, and then maybe I'll stop. Instead of
digging an elbow into my ribs, try fluffing up my pillow.
Therefore, since the wife is locked in the bedroom and refuses to come out
and sign this contract, it is deemed automatically in effect, so now
there's nothing more to argue about. What's for dinner?