As I first started reading Jodi’s book “Intimacy: How to Get More of It,” I gotta say I was moderately insulted. She was giving such simple common-sense advice. I kept thinking, “Really, we need to be told this stuff?”
And then I remembered: people are stupid lack any common sense whatsoever.
So, yes, we really need to be told this stuff.
“Intimacy” is a woman’s guide to getting more intimacy from her man. The best — most important — advice is number 17… although 19 is a close second; but I’ll let you read them for yourself. They are more profound to ponder than the other 18 points, and yet are simple enough to understand and put into use in your own life.
I laughed the loudest at the Author’s Note, Take Two (because I could totally see Prince Charming doing this!); but it’s no fun unless you’ve read the entire book first. So, no cheating by starting on the last page first.
I also read, “Sex: How to Get More of It” because I’m just the kind of girl who needs to know what some other woman is telling my man about how I think. As with “Intimacy,” “Sex” is full of very specific simple examples for a man to follow of how to make a woman’s world safe enough to have sex with him… frequently… and including the “good stuff.”
I especially loved the advice in number 10 in which she talks about making a physical connection with your partner, often but without any expectation that it will lead to sex. “If you can’t rub on your woman for 15 minutes without jumping her, she’ll eventually stop wanting you to give her the rubs. She’ll see them as you just trying to get some ass, rather than you trying to make her feel better and she’ll just get annoyed.” SO TRUE!
Bottom line: If you weren’t raised right by your parents, you might need to read one of these books. Remember the book, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?” These books are like that, but the end goal is a mutually beneficial sex life between you and your mate. They tell you to do nice things for your partner, compromise and set boundaries. (Sound familiar?)
If you want to change the character of your relationship, peruse one or both of these books. Your time will be well-spent.
I had both books in mind during the following exchange with Prince Charming. We were driving down to the City — an hour-long drive — for dinner with his mom. Generally, he listens to sports and I fritter the time away on my phone. (Or, I sleep… or pretend to sleep so I don’t see how many times we are in near-miss accidents from my control-freak perspective — but that’s a story for another day.)
ANYWAY, we’re toodling along and he has a basketball game on the radio, typical fare. While I’m not paying attention, he changes the station to music which he knows I like.
I said, “You can listen to the game.” (Playing my part from the “Intimacy” book.)
He said, “It’s okay, it’s half-time.”
I said, “Oh, I thought you were being nice.” (Playing his part from the “Sex” book — even though he hasn’t read it.)
He said, “Oh, I’m being nice, AND it’s half-time.”
You know what? He still got the brownie points. (As Jodi explains, we of the feminine persuasion use the point system.)
As to Jodi’s cookbook, “Darn Good Eats,” I have to say I love the two-headed dragon approach: half the book for those who hate cooking and half the book for those who love to cook. (I say dragon because Jodi uses a “Dragon-Breath-o-Meter Scale” to gauge how much yummy garlic and onions are used in the recipes.)
Anyway, per Jodi, before she met her hubby she thought the only food groups were “pizza, French fries and chocolate.” Here again, I swear Jodi and I are sisters from another mother. Really, there’s more to life than pizza, French fries and chocolate? Yes, yes there is. For instance, there is the profoundly life-changing “Dump Cake” recipe (for the hate to cook crowd) which really must be tried to be fully appreciated.
I, too, am proof that one can learn, as I now fall somewhere in between hate to cook and love to cook, but of course I’m helped along by my Tastefully Simple products. Jodi was blessed to have married an actual chef-like person. I’m just hoping Prince Charming knows how to cook in our next life together. In the meantime, we’ll be exploring Jodi’s recipes together… which of course will lead to a mutually beneficial sex life!
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