Sometimes, my girlfriend and I don't see things the same way

[ZenLefty]

True conversation:

ZENLEFTYGIRL: The kitchen countertop is filthy!

ZENLEFTY: What are you talking about? I just wiped it clean.

ZENLEFTYGIRL: It's disgusting! There's dirt all over it. It's just gross!

I look at the countertop. It sparkles in its cleanliness. Mr. Clean's reflection winks at me.

ZENLEFTY: I don't see anything. It's perfectly clean.

ZENLEFTYGIRL: No, it's not. It's filthy! It needs to be cleaned.

Well, I take out my handy electron microscope and, lo and behold, there are indeed four (4) subatomic dirt particles in one corner of the countertop. I guess I was wrong.

That's about the time she walks in with the high-pressure hose and the 5-gallon bucket of Ajax.

I try to see things the way she does, but sometimes I just can't.

EDIT: We have different vocabulary, too. Words are defined differently in our language. For instance, she says "Crap. I just spilled mustard and now it's all over the floor. It got everywhere.

I picture the entire floor slathered with 2 gallons of mustard. I go into the kitchen and see three drops, 2 millimeters in diameter, on the countertop. Which is now filthy, gross and disgusting. ;-)