Up there among things I hate to do

Overseeing or even being in the house when there’s carpentry or electrical stuff going on. The wires, the wood scraps, the noise, the dust, the intrusion… ugh. Being consulted on the right shade, the right angle… saying something because 'I don't know' sounds too lame the fifth time and then having my random opinions stay on the walls for years. Yikes, let me out of here.

My mother hates all of it too, but see, there’s this aspect to her character – an inability to shirk responsibility; her strength, her trap. Me, I like cop outs and I know how to use them.