Yes, I'm replying to myself. It looks like the custom printing demo store would at least get me closer what I need to do, but I don't see an admin demo to get a peek at how that's done.

I finally found what I was looking for. Conflict Management module.
https://www.earlyimpact.com/eistore/productcart/pc/428.htm the store owner didn't purchase it.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around how to set this up to get it to do what I need. Each time I think I got it... I don't got it LOL

Here's the product:

http://amishfurniture.ezsolution.com/ProductCart/pc/configur ePrd.asp?idproduct=4

What we need to do is have two wood type, Oak and Cherry (Cherry has an additional cost).

Each wood type has a variety of different possible finishes. The customer should only be able to select the finishes available for that wood type. I thought I had it, but it displays the wood type, but not the options of the wood type.

The store owner would love if it worked the way the cart at this link works:
http://www.dutchcrafters.com/Product.aspx?intprodid=1021 (if you select oak, you see only oak finishes, select cherry, you see only cherry finishes.

If someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong, I would truly appreciate it. Once we figure it out, we'll be trying to teach the store owner