Holiday impotence

Calm down, this post won't direct you to anything that belongs in your spam folder.

(Although you might be interested to learn Jimmy Johnson, an ExtenZe spokesman and former football coach, will appear on the upcoming season of "Survivor." More details here.)

Anyway, a Boston Globe advice columnist uses the phrase "holiday impotence" while responding to a woman complaining that her boyfriend of about seven months did nothing for her birthday.

Guys might not understand, but this is a SERIOUS issue for women.

In a way, it's kind of an unfair approach, since a lot of us expect the royal treatment regardless of the relationship's seriousness.

That's why the aforementioned inquiry ends with the woman asking if her boyfriend's birthday negligence is a deal-breaker.

In her response, the advice columnist notes that some people suffer from holiday impotence. She explains:

When given a challenge (as in, "It’s my birthday -- surprise me!," or "Plan a romantic vacation for us!,") these people think so hard about what they're supposed to do that they wind up doing nothing. They just can't deal. It sounds like your guy has that problem.

Well said.

So don't be too hard on your significant other if he/she can't rise to the occasion on what you consider a special day.

Better yet, be specific about what you want -- remember, not everyone considers a birthday cake standard celebration protocol.