I was there a couple years ago. I'm not a tofu girl and I don't want to spend $$ on ingredients. I highly recommend the Moosewood Low-Fat recipes cookbook. I really like the bean recipes (I know!) and I make the red, black and gold chili frequently in the winter. Oh and the Moosewood brownies? hello.

OMG, I think I would have totally lost it. I would have taken in that dog and found it a yummy home with lots of treats. I hate people.

Honestly, I don't know. When people tell me these things, it's very hard for me not to go into a Red Zone and start yelling about how animals aren't some Xbox game you can toss when you're done. Usually the look of horror/anger on my face makes them stop talking. And to be honest, if I find this out about people,…

I realize I'm a crazy animal person, but in the last week I have had three people give me the dumbest reasons for giving up their animals. One said she gave up the cat she'd raised as a kitten b/c her boyfriend didn't like cats. Guess what, he's gone, now she's thinking about getting another.

I got so frustrated with my one friend that I finally said - look, I love you. But you have nine million friends with kids. I am the friend who gives a damn about how YOU are. How is your job? Are you doing yoga anymore? What's up with YOUR health?

Erm, why didn't you take the dog with you when you moved into your dog-friendly apartment? maybe your parents took that as a sign you weren't interested?

Do you want to end the friendships completely? If so, just continually decline their invitations. You're single. You are just swamped with work and parties and dates and traveling to Europe, but you'll call them when your schedule frees up. Which will be never.

yeah, I thought you had a teenage kid who was peeing on everything. There's a spray that allegedly keeps them away, but why are you waiting until next month?

I'm in!

Tulipe - It's kind of interesting what you're choosing to see and what not to see. Nowhere did I say I expected them to spend the same amount on their children as on me.

That is part of what kind of sucks - I totally love getting presents for other people. Finding fun creative things - stuff they mentioned long ago that they wanted. I love that surprise!

My brother stopped giving my sister one because she couldn't be bothered. But they talked about it. We always exchanged presents. And the two of them have other people who give them presents as well. If they stop giving me presents, that's it. I get zero. Which is kind of sad.

I would send you a real one, with a stamp!

The result of that thinking is that I feel worthless. Literally. So because I'm not a valued family member, I don't really want to spend $$ on their kids or get them thoughtful presents. And they get upset about that. Apparently when you become an adult and you're not married and you don't have kids, your role is…

Bambitlk - I love that idea. I would do it.

I think you misunderstood. We all spend the same amount. They don't spend more because they have more.

Am I wrong to be pissed? A majority of my family makes way, way more money than I do. But in the XMAS swap this year, where we each pick two names, they decided we'd spend $20 on each person, rather than $40 from last year. Note that they spend thousands on their kids and spouses. They own other houses, etc.

I'm so sorry. I just got over one and everyone around me is sick. A hot shower will help open everything up. You can also boil water and stick your head over the pot (I had to resort to this recently) with a dishtowel over your head. I also highly recommend hot water with a chunk of lemon/lime in it.

I just saw it. I thought it was good but I didn't walk out of there freaking out about it. George Clooney, as always, is fine. But I thought he was actually better in Up in Air. What did you think?

Annie - It's nice that your husband is your best friend. But doesn't it occur to you that sometimes your single friends might actually need you? All my friends are married. I like their husbands, but there are some things I don't want to share with them. Even in my long-term relationships, I didn't expect my…