Hugs - I am in the same boat and swing back and forth between wallowing in self-pity and trying to be proactive about making my life the best it can be. I know my problems are nothing compared to some people's, but it's still tough at times.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm 43, single and childless, but not really by choice. It helps to hear from parents who will admit that it isn't the end-all/be-all.

I'm so sorry MSG causes you problems but wanted to note that not *all* migraine sufferers are sensitive to MSG. I get multiple migraines every month but have no problems with pizza (or anything else with MSG in it as far as I know).

THIS. I've basically given up on finding something that fits who I am — a single 43-year-old woman with no kids. Went with a subscription to Entertainment Weekly, but that doesn't give me the fashion/lifestyle coverage that I still enjoy.

OMG - so funny! :)

Yep, me too. Some nights I'm out like a light; others I toss and turn. I'm not sure there's any clear pattern to it either. I didn't realize there were people who could plan on always falling asleep when they decide to! I'm very jealous now that I know this.

Gee, Tina Fey, thanks for contributing to my self-loathing over the fact that I basically have to wear glasses. :P

I would just claim repeatedly that you are busy, busy, busy. No one needs a "friend" like that. Hopefully in time she'll get a clue. It sounds like you are a people pleaser like me ... I struggled with a similar decision not to renew a "friendship" with someone who hadn't treated me very well. I still fight pangs of…

Woo hoo! :) Strep sucks. So happy for you. :)

Just wanted to say I'm so sorry. :(

I feel for you. I have been out of college for 20 years, but I still feel a little sad when I think about this girl who was in bio with me and wanted to "borrow" my notes for the whole semester before finals. We were friendly but not friends. To the best of my knowledge she had gone to class all semester, hadn't been…

I had a great time "swimming with dolphins" at Xel-ha nature park in Mexico in 2005. The photos of that experience that used to bring me so much joy now make me feel sad and guilty. It sucks.

Oooh, I remember being fascinated by that recipe on the Ritz box as a kid. My mom and I would laugh about it — "really? tastes like apple pie?" I did always wonder if it was any good or not, though.

Sorry, they're totally weird! ;) I grew up in Texas and have never heard of them.

LOL! Eeeeeewwwww!

WOW. Your parents sound like a piece of work, to say the least. Congrats on surviving that.

I'm with you, shanparker. I live in a decent neighborhood, but still, an unexpected knock on the door can shake me up for several hours. I think especially as a single woman living alone, it's scary. I would have no problem talking to someone who approaches me politely in the parking lot during daylight hours. I…

I drank 2% milk growing up but gradually switched over to skim as I got older and went on Weight Watchers. At first skim tasted terrible to me, but now I can't stand anything *but* skim. It's so frustrating to me when the "rules" change like this. :P

I have moved my clock radio across the room, so I do have to get out of bed to hit snooze, but that hasn't helped ... maybe in another room is what I need to try! :D Thanks for the tip!

I so feel your pain. I have to set my alarm for 6:30 to have a hope of getting out of bed at 7:45 ... and that really isn't early enough to for me to get ready & out the door on time, so I am perpetually late to work. I rue the day my old wind-up alarm clock my grandmother gave me died. Once I got a clock radio with a…