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I started a new job three weeks ago at a university and am currently sharing an office with a coworker. We are getting a dividing wall after the first of the year, but, given her recent behavior, I don’t think it’s going to help things too much. I usually sit at my desk with my headphones on and focus on the tasks I’m assigned, but when I skip a song on Spotify and have a brief moment of silence, I will hear her making extended personal phone calls or singing to herself with her music blaring. I have to call students and it’s very hard to hear them over all the noise…

My husband and I have been married for nearly a year, together around six. We have a very healthy and happy relationship in all areas, but lately have been struggling with one basically minor issue – his weed smoking. We had extensive conversations about both of our expectations and wants relating to this subject before getting married, and we had come to a mutual, “meet-in-the-middle” agreement. I essentially wanted him to not buy or smoke weed ever again after our wedding, while he wanted to continue smoking every day. We agreed on once or twice a week, at most, would be okay post-wedding. Since the wedding early last year, he has not…

There’s this man — let’s call him “Handsome” — whom I’ve been intimate with, on and off, for four years. He is going on 38, never had a girlfriend, yet claims to be “lonely” and self identifies as having “issues” when it comes to relationships. Whether this means he’s just a player, or actually desires more intimacy and vulnerability with a woman, remains a mystery. Since I’ve known Handsome, I had a child with another man (whom I love deeply and dearly, but that’s another topic for another day). When my son was about 20 months, Handsome and I reconnected and it felt redemptive, like the reset we had both been seeking. Our…

While having lunch with my fishing buddy recently the subject of same sex marriage came up. I strongly support LGBT issues and was shocked when he responded with disdain of same sex marriage in particular and homosexuality in general. We’re both seniors and have enjoyed discussing our commonality and differences for several years. Homosexuality never came up in our conversations before. He’s well educated, non-religious and has accomplished many admirable things, thus worthy of my respect until now. The issue doesn’t impact either of us personally beyond its ideology. As the decades pass I’ve lost too many friends to the great beyond who had different views than I have on various subjects…