What is wrong with my questions?

Why is it nobody can answer the simple questions I ask, instead going into long, convoluted speeches about the whole project rather than just a simple answer?  It's happening a lot more lately and it's driving me nuts.

One example:  I asked my boss, "Which survey does Black Creek need to merge with?" and he goes on to say "Well, Black Creek has two parts, a north and a south, and the client is only interested in ...."  GAH!   I already know all that!  He finally did answer my question but only after a few more proddings.

My hubby did this same thing to me this weekend.  I asked him if this one phrase could use to be more sarcastic and he started pulling the entire dialogue piece all to shreds.  It took twenty minutes of intense discussion before he even got to the sentence in question!

I swear.  Am I that incomprehensible, really?