to wonder why my DH fills up the dishwasher but doesn't turn it on?

[Twiceover]

Sometimes, not all the time. He fills it up...and then he leaves it. So that when you open it the next morning to get out the breakfast dishes they're still dirty. And there's no clean dishes. Why does he do this? What possible logic can be running through his head?

• Oh, there might be room for another teaspoon, I'll just wait?
• Ooh, something shiny over there? Now what was I doing?
• There, I've tidied away all those dirty dishes, now the kitchen looks lovely, job done. Drives me mad. Does anyone do this? Why????

Mine loads it completely full, and then puts it on a rinse cycle. The next morning I'm confronted with semi-dirty dishes that still need washing. Why?

Mine claims he doesn't know when the dishwasher is clean and waiting to be unloaded or gathering dirty dishes before going on.

Yep, mine does both of these.

I hate wasteful dishwashers put on when not full so am with your husband. We put dirty dishes in the dishwasher but only put it on when it's full. We aren't on economy 7 so electricity isn't cheaper at night and rumbling dishwashers when trying to get to sleep can be annoying. If you haven't actually ran out of mugs or something what is your problem with just adding more dishes to it in the morning and then putting it on?
Otherwise just discuss how full it has to be before you wash things.