Well of course the media and popular culture has given us skewed ideas about relationships. Heck, our parents and grandparents give us skewed ideas about relationships, too - because no one relationship is like another.

Instead of a perfect relationship, I'd really just like one with a little less heartache, please. While it's true that stress management isn't one of our relationship strengths, I'd like to think that any other relationship, when dealing with a constant stream of crap like we have for the last six months or so, would have similar signs of strain.

Sometimes it's nice just to reflect on the constants - the love, the commitment, the desire. That doesn't really mean I believe or even hope that our relationship is full of nothing but good times. But it also means I don't believe it should be full of bad or stressful times, either.

I'd just like a little balance, please.