Do you live in SoCal by chance? I’ve been here 7 years and have a similar struggle. I’m also not originally from here, and I realize people in my age group may not be as open to making new friends.

I am too, and for me lactaid pills really work! As long as I pop one right before eating , I can happily enjoy crema and soft cheeses.

Was there any reciprocity in your friendship? I got the sense that she was doing a lot of taking. The drama in her life is also all her doing, and she tries to drag you into it. I also got some codependency vibes from what you described. And yelling at her boss like that, when she deserved to be reprimanded?…

I remember that story! I read that whole series in the LA Times, that was batshit crazy.

Lol I’m dying that it was a carpool couture MK bag

Holy shit these people are incredibly tacky. I am so sorry that they are treating you this way. But seriously fuck them and what they think!

That’s a huge reason as to why I’m single now. Call me lazy, but I am not willing to put in the work and effort that is required to find someone (going online), much less the effort in trying to get to know him (the interview questions and forced conversation).

I live in Southern California too, and I’ve got to say that it’s rough out there. This is an amazing place to date when you’re in your twenties, but once you pass your early 30s (for women) it gets really difficult, more so than other cities—I’m sure the youth and looks obsessed culture plays a part. Men here are…

I know this sounds mean, but I’m totally passing judgment on your coworker. Around age 32 is usually when we graduate on to better quality products, and want make up and clothes that work for us, and stop falling for hype.

Same! I don’t find anything special about the colors. Plus, there are so many brands out there that make decent matte liquid lipstick, even at the drugstore (like Nyx), for a lot cheaper.

I have an irrational dislike for LV’s monogrammed bags, especially the tote. It’s really unfortunate, but my hometown ruined it for me.

Agreed! I think it was in the early aughts when they came out with the logo bags? Same thing with Michael Kors and that tacky logo tote I still see around. Overdone logos were the trend then (Dooney & Bourke bags and Juicy Couture!) but now it looks really dated.

I saw the same thing at Costco last weekend lol and thought the brand must be worse off than we thought.

You are my hero. Truly! Thank you for taking the time to share your story with me, a complete stranger. I’m glad to hear that you are so much happier and that things are working out for you.

How did you get out? What has been your new career path?

I just read your other posts and they resonate with me so much. Every time I achieved, I said the same damn thing: “This is when I’m supposed to be happy, right? Why am I not!?” I was consistently advancing in my career, but it was never enough.

I was for most of my life, in both school and work. I got a high position and title in my field when I was only 25 years old, and I spent my entire 20s and early 30s busting my ass. Now I’m 38, and don’t want ANY of this. I’m really over the stress and horrible work-life balance in my career. I’ve been feeling this…

So happy to see a Hawaii food post! I’m a kama‘aina living in SoCal, around Los Angeles and Orange County Spam musubis are available (even though everyone pronounces them “Mah-sue-beeee”). Poke bowls are also a big trend here, but the “poke” isn’t recognizable to anyone who is from Hawaii and the fish quality is…

This is good to know. There is a fairly-new place in Los Angeles that’s selling “authentic Nashville Hot Chicken,” and it’s a freaking four hour wait!

I gorged on so many of those when I was in college at UW. And I miss them! I live in a city in Southern California now that doesn’t have any street vendors like this out late at night near the bars (I think they’re banned).