Yeah, I've been single all my life and don't know another way to live, so I'm sure there's an amount of self-sabotage going on. This conversation has unexpectedly opened up a hole in my chest, so I think I'll just crawl into it and die. By which I mean I have an offsite today and need to not have this on my mind all day.

This conversation has unexpectedly opened up a hole in my chest, so I think I'll just crawl into it and die.

I snort laughed in empathy. Sometimes it just takes a little poke where we're very vulnerable to cause a whole lot of pain. See re: me and StW.

P-C, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to open any holes, I promise. You've seemed so unhappy about your dating life for several years. I really just want you to be happy. In whatever form that looks like for you.

What ChiKat said - both times.

P-C,

I know this is a cheesy suggestion, and you may have gone this route already, but what about online personals? That's how I got out of my rut (both times), and one was a 4 year relationship and the other is ongoing since "Matrix."

I had very little success before going online and it helped me know myself, become a bit more confident, and learn where I wanted to compromise and where I didn't. It can be hard to think of one's self as an interesting person who has value and can be loved until you find some people out there with whom you connect.

The added benefit of online dating is that I could regale my friends and relatives with stories about the people with whom I interacted on a weekly basis.

{{{Pix}}} I'm so sorry for your loss. I got my late kitty Josie in 94 and it was quite a blow to have to put her down at 14. Peace to you, friend.

Laura, use me as your good example. I flunked out of college at 22 (after being pretty out of control for a couple of years with partying and such) and worked a series of ick jobs and moved in with my boyfriend. My parents were very upset. At 23, I got a job as a receptionist at a company where a former high school classmate was working a real job, making good money. That was what I guess I needed to see as I got back in school and graduated with a BA two years later. I even went for Masters a few years ago at UCLA. Those early years are a time of flailing and discovery. He'll come around, I just know it.

{{{P-C}}} Sending warm fuzzies your way.

The added benefit of online dating is that I could regale my friends and relatives with stories about the people with whom I interacted on a weekly basis.

Ah, yes. I now have such fabulous tales to tell as "The Tedious Cokehead," "You Can't Map an Old Person Onto a Pet," and "Tell Your Fat Bitch of a Sister...".

"You Can't Map an Old Person Onto a Pet,"

Is this the guy you went on that picnic with at Audubon Park when you first moved here?

I remember that guy. I love that guy! (Not actually.)

My personal fav is "I have 6,000 sex toys and would like to use them on you."

Ummmm.......no.

Please note that this is not because I'm against sex toys. In fact, I am very much in favor of them. However:

1) This was an initial email. Not exactly nice to meet you conversation.

2) 6,000??? Really?? That's a serious monetary investment. And, let's do the math. Assume you were to use 3 per day. That's still several YEARS worth of toys.

3) And this is my biggest issue, how many used them before me? Not enough ngah in the world.

My favorite online dating story is "Once we figure that out, we can transcend being made in God's image, and actually BECOME GOD!"