Centrum television commercials make me livid.  They go a little something like this:  "for all the things made just for women," they show a lipstick, a swimsuit, etc., and then they hawk a vitamin made "just for women."

The corresponding men’s vitamin commercial shows a power drill, a recliner and a backyard grill—"all the things made just for men."  I am excellent at using power tools, I can sit in recliners, and I have barbecued carrots (don’t knock it until you try them) on a backyard grill.  How could I possibly do these things?  Those items are just for men!

Whoever came up with those commercials is an idiot.  I would never buy their product now, not that I ever did before.  The world is not split up that way.

It pisses me off when any commercial reduces women to stereotypes.  

In my experience, generally, when a women has a problem, and expresses it to her girlfriends, they listen and commiserate.  When the same problem is expressed to a man, he tells her exactly how to handle it, what to do and when, and sits back, satisfied with himself, unable to comprehend the woman, staring back, underwhelmed by his arrogance. 

Oh please, tell me you have never run into this scenario, people.  There are exceptions.  Glaring, jaw-dropping, exceptions.  When I was laid off from my job, my sister called, told me, "do this, this and this, and then get rid of your apartment in the city and come live with me Upstate."  

She couldn’t believe it when I burst out laughing at her insolent seriousness—she has tried to run my life since we were kids.  It didn’t happen then, and it isn’t going to happen, ever. 

Living with her is not an attractive prospect, never mind that my boyfriend of 15 years is in the city too, and I would never leave him.  He sat and listened (and poured the Pinot Grigio) when I lost my job, thereby reversing the roles.  

So, I guess it is a guideline, not a rule.  And my gay guy friends are just wonderful about this time in my life—the best of both worlds.  There are always folks who will support me emotionally no matter what.  They are not the ones who tell me to disrupt my life and move; they are the ones who listen and pass the Pinot.

Beg to differ with Lee.  I know a lot of women who love guns. For hunting, for target shooting, and for personal protection.   As to who loves war…General Sherman said it was hell and so it is and I can guarantee you that all of the men (and women) serving in our military would agree with General Sherman. And I know of NO woman who is not mentally, substance, or conscience  impaired who would hesitate to shoot a gun if she had it to protect her home and hearth.   But maybe they aren’t making women like Melanie Wilkes anymore. 

Fortunately, I am married to a man who in our 24 years of marriage has left the toilet seat up no more than 3 times.   So I cannot complain on that score. 

But…and I’m sure I’m repeating someone…there is a male gene which will NOT ask for directions no matter how lost they are (thus the invention of the GPS which fascinates all men to no end…even to the point of looking at it instead of the exit sign and thereby missing the exit) and the refusal  to use public restrooms to do number 2 (and a disinclination to use any other toilet seat but their own for the same process).     It took me awhile to figure the last quirk out but I finally did.  They DONT WANT  TO SIT ON A STRANGE TOILET SEAT. 

Well, really, who does?   Unfortunately, we have no choice and are left with the toilet paper/toilet covers of previous occupants who have failed to fully flush them down….or the remants of the squatters who have preceded us.  Despite these numerous contacts with the unknown we manage to live longer than men on the average.   Oh well. 

Oh…a third thing…you have a system worked out to do something (doesn’t matter what it is) which is something that men don’t normally pay attention to but they get bored one day and decide they have a more efficient way of performing the task.   And they critique your system.   That is a bit annoying.