I can certainly respect that. You do seem to always paint the most optimistic scenarios possible. Then again, I probably paint the most PESSIMISTIC ones, but that's why we're here -- to keep you straight.
I would add that people of your wife's personality type (the residents of Stubbornville are also often dual citizens of Entitlement Heights) rarely respond to appeasement or even passivity; in fact, it's a turnoff and often seen as a sign of weakness. Again, as MWD advocates, I would use this time to go back and -- as objectively as possible -- think about what actions of yours have worked. I would contend it is the times when you've been the most forceful.
