Is this what it is like to be a man?

So here I sit on the couch with swollen, itchy eyes. Often a little ritual after I return home from farm sitting is that my cat, Katie, decides she missed me and wants lots and lots of attention. Now, part of me really appreciates this gesture of kindness but part of me hates it.

Katie is a great cat. She is low maintenance and is generally pretty aloof. She's totally self-sufficient as long as I provide her with enough food and water...er...or leave the toilet seat up in case she spills her water bowl. So part of me really feels special when she sits a few inches away from me on the couch, purring and kneading while I rub her ears.

Then there is the other part of me. The part that is allergic to cats. So I sit on the couch, very appreciative that she is gracing me with her presence and not giving me dirty looks or the silent treatment, so I give her attention.

Shortly after we begin this scenario, my eyes begin to itch and the lids start swelling ever-so-slightly. As if she can sense this happening, she stands and does that body rub thing that cats always do. After about three rubs I can barely see.

When I can open my eyes all the way again, I notice she is lying on the floor twitching the tip of her tail and almost grinning at me. Although I like to have those occaisional moments with her on the couch and think she is quite deserving of ear scratchings, I do still "suffer" through it.

Now that my eyes are less itchy and my shirt is covered in cat hair, I think to myself...hmmm...I like to give her attention but there is a risk of a negative effect on me and she seems to gloat in my risk...now I wonder...is this what it is like to be a man?

Maybe I just have too many guy friends telling me their tales of woe. ;)