I don't see why it is bad to say what you want rather than waiting for him to guess. Granted - I am more like your husband and I feel really trapped or manipulated when I am supposed to guess at what to say or do. If someone says they have a lot of work - I would not know that meant what you are describing you mean or want. If I said I had a lot of work and someone responded the way you describe you want - I would think they had gone nuts - for me I would just be saying a fact - not looking for something.