DNA Donation

By msarko on 1/27/10 8:18pm
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I'm a 25-year-old guy and I'm feeling this financial crisis just like a lot of people today. While I'm on the job hunt I'd still like to pay my bills, so I've been looking for some ways to make a quick buck. So, I've been thinking about taking part in some medical testing and also donating sperm. I'm still not sure these are things I want to do, so some advice would be nice.

-Matt



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Stress Relief

By msarko on 1/19/10 5:48pm
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My question is pretty simple. I've been having some minor health issues (headaches, trouble sleeping, etc) and I think it's probably stress related. Got any tips on how relieve everyday stress?

 

Before I get into the long-form answer to today's question, I'm obligated to once again recommend that this reader, as well as anyone else who has similar problems, to consult a medical professional if these issues persist. Sure, headaches and irregular sleep patterns can be indicators of unmanaged stress, but they can also be symptoms of a variety of other problems. Not to stress you out even more, reader, but it's not a good idea to self-diagnose. See a doctor. Even if you're a stressed but healthy person, you'll at least get a routine check-up out of the deal. Now, onto the meat of your question.



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Coping With Suicide

By msarko on 12/29/09 2:33am
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My name is Brenden and yesterday a friend of mine decided to commit suicide. He was only 24 years old. The reason I'm writing to you today is because I'm trying to make sense of it. I've never experienced anything like this before and I just don't know how to react. Is it my job to call his friends? What do I do at the funeral? What should I say to his folks when I see them? This is all so messed up and confusing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



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Constructing a New Career

By msarko on 12/17/09 6:31am
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After a little bit of time off, Ask Bloggy is getting back into gear with an eye on 2010. We've got more questions than ever before and plenty of folks are here to help. The rules are still the same. Send us your question via email and we'll answer it to the best of our abilities while completely respecting your privacy. Let's get into today's virtual letter bag.



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We Band of Brothers

By msarko on 8/5/09 9:31pm
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Dear Bloggy,

I'm in a band with some good friends of mine and we're starting to get more professional, gigs, studio time, that sort of thing. The problem is that one of us, I'll call him J, hasn't really applied his talent like the rest of us. The other guys in the band have noticed and we've started talking about replacing J. The problem is, J's our friend and we don't just want to fire him, but we also want to move on with our careers. What should we do? Let him down easy, cut and run, or wait in the hopes that he gets better?

-B

 

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A Guide To Sainthood

By msarko on 7/23/09 2:59am
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Bloggy,

A friend of mine is in pretty dire straits. Her relationship with her husband has been shaky for years now and she told me recently that she wants to leave him. She doesn't work because she has to take care of her son full-time (he's 2). So, she doesn't really have anywhere to go if she does leave. I was wondering if I should offer to let her and her son stay with me while she tries to get on her feet. I live alone and while my place isn't a palace, there should be room enough for all of us. Is this crazy, or do I have a responsibility as a friend?

-CJ

 

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Gimme (a little less) Shelter

By msarko on 7/14/09 10:49pm
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Bloggy,

Because you're always asking for ages and specifics, I'll do my best here. I'm a 20-year-old guy going to college in (city redacted). I didn't start school until this year. I basically woke up one day last week and realized that I have no social life. I go to class, I have a job and I pretty much just stay at home. I live a bit off-campus in an apartment. It's quiet and everything, but I guess that's my problem. I really don't know how to meet people and it's really starting to bug me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Weeding the Garden

By msarko on 7/8/09 3:04am
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Dear Bloggy,

So, my girlfriend just dumped me, which sucks. The reason I'm writing isn't because I want to get her back, I don't, but because of something she said. One of the reasons she said she broke up with me is because I smoke pot. Is that really a reason to dump someone? Or was she just pulling excuses?

-F.



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Proud Father

By msarko on 6/24/09 2:50am
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Hello, advice-seekers and advice-readers. Here in Seattle we're in the middle of Pride Week, culminating in the annual Pride Parade this Sunday. Running with that theme, I figured the following question would be apropos.

 

Bloggy,

I'm a single father with a 14-year-old son. We share a computer and a couple weeks ago I found some porn websites in our search history. I know this has pretty much become par for the course in parenting and the fact that it's porn isn't why I'm upset. What concerns me is that a lot of it had homosexual themes. I had no idea my son might be gay until now. If he is, I want him to know that I support him. Should I approach him about this? If yes, then how do I broach the topic?

-Concerned Dad



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Interfaith Relations

By msarko on 6/11/09 11:14pm
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Bloggy,

I'm a 26-year-old man and I'm deeply in love with a 25-year-old woman. I'd like to ask her to marry me, but there's one thing that makes me hesitate. She and I grew up with very different religions. Her family was very strict and basically fundamentalist, while mine was pretty moderate. As a result, she has some strong negative feelings about religion and doesn't want it in her life. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, except that I know I'd like to have kids one day. I don't know if I would be comfortable raising my children in a home without faith. Am I right to have second thoughts about marrying this otherwise wonderful woman, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?

-Unholy Mess

 

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