You know he's going to end up blending the Foreman Grill on the first try.

{{Suzi}}

MM, that is so awesome. And I know exactly how you feel.

I once had to listen and respond politely while a co-worker insisted that I needed to start watching baseball so I could feign interest in the topic for my husband. Otherwise we wouldn't have anything to talk about, she said. I suggested I might wind up marrying a man who didn't like baseball, but she was adamant that it was a necessity.

And then there's my situation, where I've had well-meaning but utterly condescending people tell me what a "catch" I am simply because I love baseball. Excuse me? I think there's a bit more to my appeal than my love of baseball. At least I hope there is.

And then there's my situation, where I've had well-meaning but utterly condescending people tell me what a "catch" I am simply because I love baseball. Excuse me? I think there's a bit more to my appeal than my love of baseball. At least I hope there is.

I really have nothing to add to the notion that women should fake an interest in... well, anything. (Wallybee has, since meeting me, become genuinely interested in: animals, especially penguins; board games; The West Wing; Battlestar Galactica; modern music. BtVS was ok, but didn't really grab her. I've become interested in Chinese language and culture.) I am, however, musing a future that includes - for the first time ever - attending Aussie Rules matches, as I'm guessing Ryan will form an attachment to one team or another.

MM -- happy weeks of learning

I think there's a bit more to my appeal than my love of baseball. At least I hope there is.

Well yeah. Plus in both cases I take issue with the idea that the only thing men and women could possibly talk about is baseball.

I can't talk about baseball to other men, let alone women.

Plus in both cases I take issue with the idea that the only thing men and women could possibly talk about is baseball.

Yes. This, too.

I don't think I've ever gotten advice to fake an interest in something. I'd be pretty bad at that, anyway. My mother has told me to pretend not to know things that I do know, because men don't like women who seem smarter than them.

Response from Mom: What if he can't cook?

then he'll starve or go out.

What if he's really not happy unless he comes home to a meal, and he wants that meal to have meat?

then he should find someone else to marry

This whole "helpless male" bullshit annoys the hell out of me. You are a fucking adult. Either you learn to fend for yourself or you find a way to get what you want by yourself. I don't understand why it's acceptable for men not to be able to take care of themselves or to do anything other than sit on their asses and be waited on. Learn how to cook, clean or whatever, or pay someone to do it for you.

It's kind of like the way that my brother gets pissed off when someone says that he's "babysitting" his daughter. He says "I'm not "babysitting", I'm parenting my child!"