I have enjoyed everyone’s replies so much. After reading them all, it boils down to a simple “Why?” for me, too.
Along the same lines, if asked by someone who knows me well enough I just say, “I haven’t been informed yet.” They understand. 
If it’s someone I know less well, it’s usually, “Not sure. Why?”
Working till 2:00 and then 9 holes of golf. Same as every Tuesday in the summer, Pinky.
I’m assuming I’m not the only one that answered the topic in their head.
For the record, I am working. I’ll also be exercising after work as always. That particular day is an “opposite” day, wherein I lead off weight lifting exercises with my left hand versus my right.
Also, I have no life.
From Miss Manners:
“Whatcha doing on Thursday?”
“Oh, I dunno. Coupla things I oughta be doing. How 'bout you?”
“Tuesday? I’m washing my hair. Or baking a cake. Or I’ve got an arms deal in Tangiers. I don’t remember which.”
This, many many Xs. I have no problem saying “no”. I am polite but I will say no. Just because somebody else doesn’t want to do something, or needs help doing something, I will say no if I don’t want to do it. The look on peoples faces sometimes is priceless. They never expect somebody to say no when they feel they are trapping you into something you don’t want to do.
Then there are times I will say yes if I want to help or do whatever they are bringing up. I don’t have people playing these games with me anymore. They will just straight up ask me and they know I will answer honestly and quickly. I hate games.
That would immediately put you on my “do I really want to hang out with you at all?” list. I don’t need a game of twenty questions. I want two things from people: Ask me directly and take “no” for an answer; i.e.
You: Do you want to go to the 8:00 showing of this movie on Tuesday.
My answer will either be “sure,” “can’t make it then, is another time good for you” or “no.”
I need to put this on a card to keep in my wallet.
Smile and say “I don’t know, why”? But it depends upon who it is asking of course. If it’s friends, family or friendly coworkers, that’s probably going to be my answer, said in an open friendly way that, if they have fun plans in mind, I may be interested.
If it’s like an IRS agent or something? I’m booked solid 'til at least after Christmas. 
Unless it is my wife asking, I refuse as a matter of policy to answer questions like that with anything other than “Why do you ask?”
Oh I like this. Or maybe “There’s a coupla things …”, so you don’t feel bad if you don’t actually do them.
I Stop what I am doing and stare at them for a few seconds. Then I glower at them as I ask Why?
Most of my friends know to ask me outright what it is they want. Every now and again I slip up and answer this question truthfully. If, after finding out that I have nothing important going on, they then ask me to do something I do not want to do, I say NO! If it is something that I would enjoy doing, I agree to it. If it is something I do not care one way or the other about, then I say no. (I do not reward bad behavior).
I then explain to them that I would prefer them to just ask me outright. Do not beat around the bush, just ask.
I usually say, “I don’t know! What’s going on?” like a deer in the headlights. It’s the truth 99% of the time. I have so much going on, always, I do have to look at the calendar to find out what I’m doing, who I have to pick up or drop off, or where I’m expected to be. Fortunately, most people who are asking me this question are doing it not to trap me.
I would have gone postal on the church coffee woman though! What nerve.
What nerve asking someone to help out with some coffee pots at church?
What religion tells you to be stingy with your time and effort? Why are you even there, just in hopes of lunch invitations?
It was nervy for them to ask what they’re doing after church, giving the impression that they might be asking the couple to lunch, THEN to drop it on them that they were then free to take a task that the nervy person had agreed to. At no time was the other couple nicely asked if they could help. It makes all the difference in the world.
The nervy person is the one standing around DRINKING of the COFFEE, but thinking they should never have to participate in the clean-up or help out a fellow church member who can’t cover their chore this week.
And if the askee was expecting a lunch invitation, why is that the asker’s fault? The asker said “would you be willing to…” which seems sufficiently “nice” and is obviously “asking.” If you can’t be bothered to wash out some coffee pots, which you personally just partook of coffee from, at church no less, you might want to look a bit closer to home for the problem.
Maybe, but more likely the nervy person is the person who originally agreed to help clean up afterwards and then decided they don’t want to and are looking for chump to do the work for them. The person they asked could have done all the prep setup work before hand.
[QUOTE=2 Starbucks 3:12]
Drinketh not of the urn if thou shalt not have bringeth washing up supplies and nondairy creamer.
[/QUOTE]
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