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Ever sold a house to an engineer? That is a scream!!

I resemble that remark! Even worse, I was buying a van for the wife & the salesman had the nerve to try & show me the vanity mirror & internal bells & whistles. I had a lot of fun with that one, especially when I got out my calculator & started figuring payments. They really aren't prepared for anyone who knows what a car is worth, how much your trade-in is worth, what current interest rates are, or how much your willing to spend. Do your homework upfront & go in prepared & they'll crumble every time.

My favorite thing to do, though, is when you buy something that needs to be assembled, & the assembly instructions are all wrong (as they ALWAYS are). Well then I love to mark them up with suggested design improvements or process improvements in their assembly steps. I just know that its an accountant or manager writing those manuals somewhere who has no grasp on how things are supposed to go together.

I have a friend who is an engineer. She fools everyone, though, because right now she is an at-home mom. Her husband does not know diddlesquat about how anything runs. Vendors who come into their home for repairs refuse to talk with her unless the husband is present. She gets frustrated, but she and her husband have learned to enjoy the show after everything becomes apparent. They also have developed a good sense of humor.

Ever sold a house to an engineer? That is a scream!!

I resemble that remark!

My husband has driven a few realtors around the bend, but the funniest thing that he does is at antiques shows. The reason that it is so funny is that he is not trying to be funny. We collect 18th century antique furniture (when we can afford it). More than once I've seen him drop down on the floor at a big charity show, pull out his flashlight and magnifying glass and start examining the underside of a piece of furniture. Usually a crowd starts to gather, and then he proceeds to expound on new wood, old wood, reasonable wear, repairs, etc. The salesman is just left standing there with his mouth open while everyone is ooohing and aahhing and nodding and I stand there trying to melt into the floor.

At the fanciest show in Chicago one year he proclaimed 4 expensive high chests to be "fakes". When I say, proclaimed, I really mean "muttered" his observations into my ear. Then he started questioning the seller very carefully. The seller wouldn't give an inch on the authenticity and age of his wares. My husband had good reasons why these pieces were not 'right'. Sure enough, a year or so later, we read that the dealer had been sued by an unhappy (read cheated) Chicago buyer of these chests of drawers and run out of business. My engineer husband felt vindicated because he had spotted the phony goods first, and none of the dealers and collectors at the show would confirm his observations.

That is one of the big differences between engineers and ordinary people. Engineers have developed their powers of observation of physical properties to a fine art. (They are not as good at observing emotional qualities in the people around them, and that is how they get crosswise with wives and co-workers.)

You two should get together. One of my memories of showing my house to an engineer was of him going to every window and running his hands along every side to feel a draft. Knowing how engineers are, I just stood back and smiled. He finally bought the house. Also, the first time we went out to dinner with my daughter's boyfriend, who was also German (a double whammy), we were amused, when at the end of dinner, he not only placed his napkin on the table, but made a big deal of folding it precisely. I won't even begin with my brother-in-law. It would take pages.

I just know that its an accountant or manager writing those manuals somewhere who has no grasp on how things are supposed to go together.

It actually IS an engineer, who knows how things are supposed to work, but doesn't know how to tell anyone else.

"Too years ago, I cuddn't even spell 'enginear. Now I ARE one."

Take it from one who had to un-stick wastebaskets from their feet.