er instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wed

Most of you know that my podcast co-host, best friend and overall "main squeeze" Emily and I are getting married in December. I couldn't be a happier guy about that. After all, she's a fantastic woman. This means, of course, we've spent much of the last month since our engagement (which happened during "X & Y On The Fly" podcast episode 11) planning our wedding and everything associated with it. Over the course of that relatively brief period of time, I've already come to a profound conclusion.

Real men don't plan weddings.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that real men don't get married. Quite the contrary. Most good men seek to find genuine love with one great woman sooner than later, and look forward to coming home to her every night. And that's a great thing.

That said, however, I believe I've come up with a previously undetected reason why men seem to have trouble taking that step towards the "lifetime commitment" of marriage. Thousands (if not millions) of women everywhere have long wondered how a man can be so eager to have her around month after month without "popping the question". Months can turn into years, and still no ring and no date.

Is it really that all of these men are "commitment phobes" who are looking for "better options"?

Possibly. But if that were the case, why would those same guys be spending so much time sitting around watching the tube and drinking beer instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wedd

dding and everything associated with it. Over the course of that relatively brief period of time, I've already come to a profound conclusion.

Real men don't plan weddings.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that real men don't get married. Quite the contrary. Most good men seek to find genuine love with one great woman sooner than later, and look forward to coming home to her every night. And that's a great thing.

That said, however, I believe I've come up with a previously undetected reason why men seem to have trouble taking that step towards the "lifetime commitment" of marriage. Thousands (if not millions) of women everywhere have long wondered how a man can be so eager to have her around month after month without "popping the question". Months can turn into years, and still no ring and no date.

Is it really that all of these men are "commitment phobes" who are looking for "better options"?

Possibly. But if that were the case, why would those same guys be spending so much time sitting around watching the tube and drinking beer instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wed

look forward to coming home to her every night. And that's a great thing.

That said, however, I believe I've come up with a previously undetected reason why men seem to have trouble taking that step towards the "lifetime commitment" of marriage. Thousands (if not millions) of women everywhere have long wondered how a man can be so eager to have her around month after month without "popping the question". Months can turn into years, and still no ring and no date.

Is it really that all of these men are "commitment phobes" who are looking for "better options"?

Possibly. But if that were the case, why would those same guys be spending so much time sitting around watching the tube and drinking beer instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wed

ound month after month without "popping the question". Months can turn into years, and still no ring and no date.

Is it really that all of these men are "commitment phobes" who are looking for "better options"?

Possibly. But if that were the case, why would those same guys be spending so much time sitting around watching the tube and drinking beer instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wed

er instead of searching out "options"? It all just doesn't add up, does it?

Well, ladies (and gentlemen), the sensible explanation for all of this is disarmingly simple, although most likely subliminal in the mind of every guy it affects.

It's not that we're afraid of marriage or commitment. It's that we are utterly terrified of planning the wedding.

I first presented this groundbreaking hypothesis to Emily, and was met with skepticism. "Oh, c'mon. How can that be? Putting all of this together is exciting. Don't you think it is fun?"

I responded simply. "I'd rather do sudoku puzzles."

She looked at me in shock. After all, I'd famously rather do my taxes and / or watch paint dry than touch any blasted sudoku puzzle with a ten-foot pencil. At least tax returns involve number crunching that is actually necessary and may result in a refund check.

"Seriously...", I elaborated, "...name one guy you've ever known who was excited about planning his wedding."

She named a few. After brief consideration, I countered that those guys had to have been merely demonstrating "sympathy excitement", which doesn't count.

I therefore revised my challenge. "OK...well...short of anyone who is a clinically-problematic 'control freak', name one guy who ended up arranging all the details himself, according to his own thoughts and wishes."

"Yeah, well...you've got me there.", Emily retorted, punctuated with a snicker.

Really now. It's a downright silly thought. What guy feels that passionately towards flowers, table settings, elaborate dresses and throwing social parties? Even if he did, there's no way he could wrestle control of such from the bride while remaining engaged.

Exactly! Wedding ceremonies and receptions are a