My dad said all he wanted for Father's Day was an hour of peace and quiet.

We found him in the garage, deep in conversation with a loose bolt on a bicycle he hasn't ridden in a decade.

My dad said he didn't need anything for Father's Day.

Ten minutes later, I found him in the garage, 'just finishing up' a project he started back when I was in elementary school.

I asked my dad what he wanted for Father's Day.

He just wants an afternoon at the hardware store with no specific project in mind, just 'inspiration browsing'.

I caught my dad talking to the thermostat again

I guess you could say he's trying to have a degree of control over the conversation