Got it. Yep, you're totally right about that. I was actually shocked when I realized how closely the two were connected for me. I wish I would have put that together ages ago...

I've heard of wine causing that to other people I know. I bet you felt better when you put the two together. I wish it's been an easy fix. I don't think about it much at all anymore unless I'm in a social situation that centers around it (seemingly ALL OF THEM), but it's been a big change and sometimes a daily…

Word! Long, slow clap to you, my friend—that's huge. I can't wait to hit the Big 1-0-0.

I was a big red wine drinker until July of this year. That's when I realized, "huh. I wonder if the nightly consumption of 2-3 glasses of red wine might be contributing to my depression and increasing (and somewhat alarming) lack of desire to be around people of any kind?" I haven't had a drink since July 26 and…

Snow/rain/night running=the best therapy I've ever had! People think I'm crazy when I rush out of work early so I can get home in time to do my run in the rain. Something cathartic about it, for sure. And the quiet peacefulness of an evening snow fall? I could happy cry just thinking about it. Know what comes in…

god, I thought the exact same thing. I have a 12 year old boy and a 14 year old boy and they have to be the most naive, sex-frightened boys I've ever known. I know for a fact the 14 yo has never had a hand job (neither of them have). Last week I decided to tell him that masturbating is completely fine and totally…

Again, though. Who cares how someone took the whole thing? Who cares if anyone took it lightly? Are we supposed to go to a confessional, hem and haw for weeks, consult a therapist, toss and turn at night? I was so ready for my appointment, and so ready for it to be done, that now that I look back, I actually probably…

Who said anyone was "giddy" about their abortion? I don't recall anyone saying they were "giddy". Just because some women wrote that they were relieved when it was over because it was the right decision for them, and they didn't think twice about it, does not mean they are "callous" or "giddy". I have kids. I…

Right? Well, they claimed the doors were locked. They would walk in, turn on the lights signaling class was starting (ugh) and announce that once the doors were closed, no one could leave and a couple of them would claim the doors were locked and part of the "process" was just staying in the room and "being…

Can't stop laughing. I did, too. I'm embarrassed to say that I made it through 20 classes because I'm a self-loathing asshole who bought 2 10-punch cards and felt like I had to finish both cards. Why? I hated every single minute. I would dread it the entire time leading up to walking in. Then I would open the door…

I think I like you, Basenji! High five for our bad selves!

I'm so glad you had the courage to say this! I will now come out of the closet and also admit that I'm a bad feminist. I have 3 kids and I've worked their entire lives. I'm divorced now and I'm their sole supporter, but even when I was married I floated the entire boat (80-90%), so I have never had the "choice" to…

I love this thread because I find it so comforting. It makes me realize I'm not the only unforgiving, excessively prideful person out there. Your mother and my mother would probably get along great—although if they didn't, it wouldn't take long for one of the Qof SSs to coldly sever the other one out of her life with…

Haven't stopped laughing in the 10 minutes since I read this blurb. I thought it was just an Irish thing. I was raised by the Queen of Social Assassins and turns out, the apple didn't fall too far from that tree.

I'm 44. My experience has been this: I get one trillion emails from guys 20 (! is he kidding me?!) - 30; there is initial interest from guys who are 40-54, but as soon as they find out that my kids are still relatively young, they bail. By the way, I get that and respect it. When I meet a guy who has young kids…

I just came here to say the same thing. I'm just getting back out again myself and doing a really shitty job of it so far, I must say. Sending good thoughts to you! Along with lots of patience, endurance and thick skin...

Also, when responding to an ad, please write more than, "Hi. How are you?" or, "How was your day?", as if we're longtime friends just checking in with each other. What am I supposed to do with that? That is the epitome of the kind of small talk* that I find unbelievably painful and soul-sucking.

I was just going to admit (embarrassingly) that I run into the same problem I think a lot of guys do when their partners don't orgasm. I take it personally, like I'm inadequate or not sexy enough. My brain knows that's not true and that sometimes guys just don't come, but at the time, my ego does get involved a bit.…

Word. I have a clotting disorder (that I had to learn about the hard way) and in 2009 I had to stop taking the pill and switch to a low-dose IUD. I turned into a 14 year old boy almost overnight. 5 years later, my thoughts are consistenly raunchier than any of my guy friends and I have a new-found (and liberating)…

@Evel, I'm an old, too, relatively speaking, and I give you a long, slow clap for what you wrote. All of the guys I've been with in this phase of my life have shared your attitude and it's one reason why sex has been so much better the older I've gotten. You don't happen to live in Chicago, do you? (she asks,…