Is this a guy's thing?

I have this male friend,one can pretty much say he is my best friend (besides hubby of course).He is about to turn 40,going through a divorce and pretty much acts like a big ole jackass lately.I guess one can understand that,considering.However,he also experiences lack of brain and common sense,more then ever right now.Here is what happened:
I sent him an early Holiday card,including an early Birthday wish as well as a little reminder that I still exist a/k I included a picture of him and I taken in Seattle in May.I told him this card was from someone he seems to have forgotten about lately,someone who still loves him even tho he doesn't deserve it (note:this was put in a sarcastic way which pretty much everyone who knows be understands,everyone but him).Two days ago he called me and told me "Thanks for the card,that was just one of your little ways of being a smart ass and make me give you a call,right?"
WTF?????Well,yes,I was being sarcastic but not being a smart ass to make him do ANYTHING.
As my friend for over 10 years you'd think he would know me by now,right?WRONG!Unless you stand RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM,he has NO clue about sarcasm or jokes.Not on the phone,email or IM....he can not read between lines,nada.Last month I told him that it pisses me off once in a while that he appears to be better friends with his new girlfriend (whom he knows 3 month) then with me,since he's in the divorce....only to hear this "Why?Are you jealous?You are married,not like I can be with YOU!"
UGH!I pretty much had to spell is out in good old fashion NAVY style what I meant before he understood.
A few years ago he spelled out some pretty gory details about what he had done with one of his side-liners,he even felt it necessary to provide me with visual proof.Fine.......but next time he wanted to do so I asked (no I BEGGED HIM!) him to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE spare me the details followed by him telling me....."I am sorry,didn't mean to hurt your feelings,won't ever tell you about my girlfriends again".I guess I must have said it in a teary voice...TEARS of disgust!!!!!
Ahum...FYI: you didn't hurt my feelings,I just had no urge to see my best friend fuck one of his girls.Ahhhhhhhhh,he says.....gottcha!
So my question here is.....is this a guy thing not to use common sense??Or am I just dealing with a very blond male version of Barbie here??Or is he maybe so damn full of himself that he thinks every woman wants him (well,OK,he's a hunk..ahum,don't tell Jim I said that)??Because I am about to give up here...he is driving me CRAZY!And I am 2000 miles too far away to slap him across his damn face!
I have invested almost 12 years into this guy...he should be behaving by now!

BTW:since he is in the divorce it all got even WORSE!