Mantis,
That sounds hilarious!!! (I hope it was said in good humor!) I'm going to have to use it sometime!!!
It's similar to the phrase my grandmother used on me. I was attempting some boring task or chore & was about 13, I was mopey & didn't feel like doing the chore & I said "Grandma I'm trying." Grandma's reply was, "I know you are honey but I love you anyway."
We have those types that come up every 2 - 4 singers, sometimes every rotation, so I won't have to wait long until someone says something like that!!
Susie