Spurning Curve I was feeding my meter the other day, and this guy started chatting me up outside his store and got me to take his number. He seemed sweet, but things quickly got weird when he wanted to come over the next night. I said that didn’t work for me, but I offered to […]
Amy Alkon
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Vicious Recycle & Driving Miss Crazy
Vicious Recycle I’ve started dating a guy that an estranged friend of mine was engaged to and dumped 25 years ago. She completely broke his heart. She’s been engaged eight times, married five, so I hardly think he was special. But some of my girlfriends think it’s not cool and say I’m breaking “girl code.” […]
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Once Upon A Crime & My Fare Lady
No forgiveness, no peace
Once Upon A Crime I’ve been with my boyfriend for nine years, and I’m still pissed off about stuff from like five years ago. I don’t know how I remember this stuff when I can’t find my keys half the time. I’d like to get rid of these resentments and not keep bringing them up. […]
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A Labor Of Leave & Fade To Bleh
A nice thick pane of bulletproof glass between two people is an underappreciated chastity helpe
A Labor Of Leave I haven’t had sex since my last breakup, and I’m all lusty. I really like this guy, but he seems to have some intimacy issues. We went on a coffee date, and the chemistry made things go further than I would have wanted or expected (making out like crazy in the […]
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Ingrate Expectations
We humans evolved to have a built-in accounting team
Ingrate Expectations My husband and I attended his niece’s wedding two years ago. Our gift was money earmarked to pay for their honeymoon. We were miffed that we never got either a thank-you note or any word that they’d actually used the money for a honeymoon. We recently got a note that they’re expecting their […]
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The Rid Carpet & Same Mold, Same Mold
When you break up with a friend, where do you go with that?
The Rid Carpet I’m a 30-something gay guy. When I moved to a new city five years ago, I knew nobody except two female co-workers, who became my first friends. I have since met wonderful, talented, artistic people who are more my style. I no longer work with these ladies, and I’m just not interested […]
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Captain Hookup & Mail Bonding
Just waiting for the tracking number
Mail Bonding My girlfriends are all writing out their visions for a partner, as if they’ve met him already (“Thank you, universe, for bringing me this man…”). They claim they’ve gotten boyfriends because of it. Is this just New Age crap, or is there something to writing down what you want? —Boyfriend-Seeking This apparently is […]
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The Dumpster Fire Within
It’s natural that you’d feel guilty about an apparent asymmetry in sexual grazing
The Dumpster Fire Within About six weeks ago, I started dating the nicest guy. I have some intimacy issues (basically, fear of abandonment), and having somebody be nice to me is new and uncomfortable. I freaked out one night and had sex with somebody else. I know this guy I’m dating isn’t sleeping with other […]
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Murk In Progress & Everything Old Is Nude Again
The uncertainty of life leads middle-aged singles to settle for “right enough”.
Murk In Progress I’m in a weird place in my life: My work situation’s up in the air, and there’s a lot of uncertainty in my romantic life and my living situation. Friends are telling me to be patient and live in the moment, but I’m finding all of this not knowing extremely upsetting. Is […]
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Friend Over Backward & No Way to Retreat a Lady
At least your anger hasn’t deserted you
Friend Over Backward A friend agreed to dogsit while I flew up to visit my ailing dad. She bailed at 7 p.m. the night before I flew out, saying she needed three days to pack for a vacation. She never even apologized. I don’t want to be friends anymore. She said, “You’re throwing a friend […]