There are very logical reasons why I hate math

Say what you want, I believe there's girl math and boy math.

Not that the ideas and principles aren't identical, it's just how we get there that can be diverse. Not to be stereotypical with my paintbrush, but I find emotional people (usually women) approach things differently than those who are more logical (usually men), though there are exceptions.

Add to that early childhood math experiences that were mostly awful and I have grown into a person who despises numbers. A person who has had to call the kindergarten and third grade teachers to get help with her children's homework (I admit it).

As a child, I was one of those "gifted and talented" kids, which meant I had successfully completed several years of parochial school and by the time I entered public school in sixth grade, was so far ahead of my peers that I was an easy shoe-in for the program.

The next three years I was pretty much on auto-pilot, and my days included occasional visits to a person I believe was an educator/ psychologist (I was so terrified, I've blocked details) asking bizarre questions: "Mary goes to the creek with two, two-gallon buckets. Mary has to bring five gallons back to camp and she can only make one trip. What does Mary do?"

I realize this has more to do with logic than math or is it the other way around? I hated these questions. My answer? Mary drank a gallon, filled her buckets, got back to camp and peed out the other gallon.

Apparently that was not the correct answer.

Then again, no one ever did tell me what the right answer was.

Or there's the old, "One car is traveling west down the road at 60 miles an hour while the other car heads east at 80 mph. At what point will the two cars meet?"

My answer: "Who cares, as long as they're in their correct lanes when they do. And by the way, are they on the same road?"

Algebra was no better, with Mrs. Wilczinsky as my teacher. Bless her but I'd be so close to understanding one of her lovely math concepts, when she'd launch into a story about a relative's Midwest funeral and the quirky things that happened there. Math concept out the window.

She attended mass each Sunday at the same church, so you can be sure my parents were kept abreast of my abject failures.

Math should be taught in ways we find applicable in adulthood. I can figure out math so long as it relates to cooking. When it comes to banking, I am ever grateful for online or phone access and when it comes to taxes, I have a sister who fills in seasonally for H & R Block "for fun." She is very logical in her thinking; kind of like a man.

So girl/boy math came up in my relationship the other afternoon, in the discussion of "What exactly is the proper ratio of fuel to oil mix for the boat motor?"

Clint was logical about it, coming from his man perspective. Then I jumped in with my girl math and confused the hell out of him.

"If there's 8 ounces of milk in one serving and there are 20 servings in a gallon, then we have 160 ounces; multiply that by 5 gallons (of gas) which brings us to 640 ounces divided by 16 which equals 40."

Tadahhhhh!!!!

"So for five gallons of fuel, we need one bottle of oil," I pronounced. "Ratio of 40:1."

"No babe, I think it's supposed to be 48 to 1," he said.

Back to the fridge to start over ...

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In other news:

Dayton High School Boosters host Bingo tonight at 7 p.m., at the school.

Free dessert and drinks will be served, and an array of prizes given. Cost is $3 for adults and $1 for children, plus 50 cents per Bingo card.

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Dayton Valley Soccer is still accepting registration for boys and girls, pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. To get in on the early registration price of $65 for the first child of each family and $55 for each additional child, registration must be postmarked by March 15. Payment arrangements with a down payment can be made, and limited scholarships will be awarded upon parent or guardian completing requirements.

Registration fees increase to $80 per player if the deadline is past.

The cost includes a uniform, soccer ball, team and individual photos, insurance and end of season award. For more information, or to request a registration form, call 246-0707 or visit them on the Web at www.daytonvalleysoccer.org.

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The Knights of Columbus of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Dayton raised $1,100 during their annual Tootsie Roll Drive, conducted at Smith's last fall.

"Thanks to the community for their support and donations," said Vince Lonero, event chairman.

Because of that support, Nevada's Special Olympics has received $260 and Eagle Valley Children's Home in Carson City receives $897.67 today. The Knights raised about $800 over the previous year. The annual event raises money for these and other children's organizations.

For more information about their work or the organization, call Lonero at 246--5928 or John Bachmeier at 246-4641.

• Karel Ancona-Henry can be reached at (775) 246-4000.