We must be married to the same lady
We have a rule on buying things over $500. The item has to meet a certain degree of prudence, accountability and decorum. I knew the board was going to be a stretch from the start.
I actually waited for her night to watch Handmaid's Tale, her favorite night, and casually mentioned a new chess set I might get (I didn't want to get into the nitty-griddy that $599 was just for a board alone)
Me: "Sweetie, remember I told you about that chess set on ebay? The one
I could display on the wall? That might really go up in value?"
My wife: "Don't you have a chess set? with that little rubber roll-up board? That's really cute."
Me: "Well, now that I am no longer a teenager, maybe I should get a nicer board? And there is a 71 year old man on Subsim who mocks my playing while popping Aricept. I need to improve." (This was, of course, regarding my standing feud with Aktung, I was hoping to get some pity from her
)
My wife: "Aricept?"
Me: "Yea I dunno...some sort of chess doping I think..."
My wife: "Fine! get the stupid chess game....why are we talking about this anyways, how much is it?"
Me: "$599"
Roaring laughter