Quirk compatibility among Couples
by Judy Reiser
It isn't Mental Cruelty that’s the primary cause of broken marriages. Nor is it Adultery, Abandonment, or Habitual Drunkenness.
The first and foremost cause is Toilet Paper. And the second is Toothpaste. If she likes the toilet paper going “over” and he insists it hang “under” or if he squeezes the tube neatly from the bottom and she messes it up by squeezing in the middle, those are grounds for divorce in my book. What did you think Irreconcilable Differences meant, anyway?
Quirk compatibility is essential among couples.
The next time you’re at a party, instead of asking, “Are you a Leo?,” find out whether he’s a Folder or a Crumpler. It’s a good way to avoid serious problems in a relationship.
Your honeymoon was a big hit with both of you jockeying for the same side of the bed. The marriage vow you took was, “I do—claim the right side for the rest of my life.”
Are you a Blanket Hogger? Someone with an overwhelming but unconscious need to slowly and systematically wind yourself up in the blanket in the middle of the night so there is no hope for your poor half-frozen partner to retrieve even a corner. Worse than having a Blanket Hogger for a spouse is having one who is a Diagonal Sleeper. Don’t plan on getting any sleep if you’re late to bed.
Some of our and our partner’s quirks are very funny, some of them are strange, some are charming, and some are damn good ideas! All of them are very human, intriguing, tasteful, and absolutely true. Quirks transcend gender, age, race, nationality, income, and marital status. Everybody's got 'em!
I should know. I interviewed thousands of people about their outrageous, outlandish and downright ridiculous eccentricities for my books, "Admit It, You're Crazy! Quirks, Idiosyncrasies and Irrational Behavior" and "And I Thought I Was Crazy! Quirks, Idiosyncrasies and Meshugaas". From hilarious bathroom behavior to funny money and unconventional clothing habits to eating and sleeping peculiarities to germ-a-phobia and more. People do the darndest things!
Here are some quirks you may have observed your guy doing:
- When he gets dressed, he’ll put on his pants, zip up the zipper, button the button and buckle the belt. Then he gets his shirt, unbuckles the belt, unbuttons the button, unzips the zipper, tucks his shirt in and then does the whole thing up again. Why doesn't he put his shirt on first!!!?
- When he gets home at night, does he remove all the contents of his pockets and stack it on the dresser?
- And, of course, how many times has he driven miles out of the way rather than ask for directions?
Ladies, don't laugh. We may dress more efficiently, but we’re just as quirky as the guys:
- In a social situation, women usually go to the ladies' room in pairs or groups. If two couples are out to dinner and one of the women excuses herself to go to the ladies' room, the chances are pretty good the other woman will go with her. Can you imagine a guy doing this? “Hey, Charlie, I'm going to the men’s room. Wanna come?”
- And for those gals who are fortunate enough to have a housekeeper, I bet you tidy up before the housekeeper is due to arrive!
After reading some of these strange but absolutely true goings-on, you will be amazed that hardly an hour in your life goes by that you don’t witness some of these quirks…either in yourself (who me?) or in others. You’ll finally understand your friends, enemies, bosses and partners a lot better.
My books are not attempting to solve, define, or make excuses for some of the more common or uncommon idiosyncrasies. Its intent is simply to help you recognize them, laugh at them, and breathe a little easier.
Admit it, you're crazy!
About The Author
Her humorous / human interest books have received much media attention and excellent reviews/excerpts in prestigious publications. Judy has been a guest on numerous radio and television shows. She lives in New York with her husband, who insists that if she had written the quirk books as autobiographies, they would have been much longer!
