Youve got problems, Ive got advice.
This advice isnt sugar-coatedin fact, its sugar-free, and may even be a little bitter.
Welcome to Tough Love.
I simply want to give you the tools it’s crucial that you enrich your damn lives.
If for whatever reason you dont like my advice, feel free tofile a formal complaint here.
Now then, lets get on with it.
I mustered the courage to ask her out, and she said yes!
Our date went perfectly fine.
The problem was the aftermath.
Before our attraction, we were fairly friendly, and struck up conversations whenever we felt like it.
But now, after that first date, something is… off.
And when I brought it up to her, she said she was feeling the same thing!
So whats wrong with us?
What do we do to keep moving forward in this budding relationship?
kindly light a fire under both of our asses!
Youre both caught up in how things have to change now that youre dating.
Before, you could have harmless conversation about anything and there were no stakes.
Now, everything you say feels like it has weight.
What if you say something and it all falls apart?
What if you express your likes and they think less of you?
You dont know what to say because youre too damn afraid to say the wrong thing.
You two have nothing to talk about.
So you better hope its problem number two because that one is at least fixable.
Its awkward right now because you two aremakingit awkward.
Stop thinking about all of this as aftermath when things havent even truly begun.
Chemistry between friends and chemistry between romantic partners are two different sciences.
It sucks, but it happens all the time.
This Dude Cant Get Over His Laziness
How do I get over my crippling laziness?
Even when the reward warrants the effort, I tend to stall out.
robot.kyle
Hey Kyle:
You need tolearn to love the process, dude, not just the reward.
I cant wait to get there… they say.
Other people, however, know theyre walking toward something, but allow themselves to enjoy the walk itself.
Ill get there eventually, they say.
You werent short-changed on motivation juice at birth.
Its about the journey, Kyle, not the destination.
And when in doubt, do what I do and follow the Nike rule: just do it.
I suggest you do the same.
The problem is that her husband and my husband HATE each other.
It hurts me and my friend to see the men we love hate each other.
The simple solution here is for each of you to tell your husbands how this is affecting you negatively.
Not at the same time together, but in private.
Lay it all out and explain how it makes you feel.
And if he cares about making you happy at all, he must find a way to adapt.
Do not give him a choice in the matter.
If hes going to act like a child, it’s crucial that you be the authority figure.
Their macho always have to be right mentality could be a way of posturing in front of you two.
Or at least it could be amplified by the scenario.
Or maybe theyll kill each other and you two can go out and find grown ups to marry…
HANG OUT WITHOUT THEM.
Seriously, screw those guys.
I know people love the double-date couples-hangout scenario, but damn, go have some fun.
Let those guys sit at home alone so they can feel like the most right person in the room.
Either way, Mo, you oughta put your foot down here.
Dont let some hotheaded punks keep you from finally getting to spend time with your best friend.
They need to get over it and grow the hell up.
Now wife and kids (11, 15) want a bigger house than our 1700 sq ft ranch.
2500-3000 sq ft houses run $300 to $350 vs $225 for what we have now.
I make $102k per year, but still have $1200/month in student loans.
What do you think?
Hi, MoMo… Can I call you MoMo?
I know theres another Mo up there, but is that alright?
Dont answer thatIm going to anyway.
Your gut instinct is correct, MoMo.
Pay those loans off first!
Sounds like you have a decent gig with decent pay and a mostly pleasant family to boot.
Tell them to suck it up and let MoMo do his thang.
BRO says:
I NEED ADVICE BRO
Bro, I know.
Heres what you do, bro: explain to people what you need advice on, bro.
Otherwise they cant help you, bro.
FIST BUMP
Overqualified Engineer asks:
Dear Patrick,
Do you mind being called Paddy Cake?
Sorry that was stupid.
There isnt much manufacturing in the SF bay area either.
What do you think I should do when I graduate?
Did I make a mistake going to graduate school for a masters degree?
Thanks
Thatwasreally stupid, but its okay, Paddy Cakes in a good mood and will help you anyway.
I know several mechanical engineers who work in the aviation and DoD contracting industry and they make bank.
Yes, you will succeed with those degrees if you dont completely give up.
If you werent about to finish, Id say getting a graduate degree isnt necessary, but neat!
You could always fall back on a teaching career or something.
Youre living at home to save money.
Id say your next move is, uh, getting a job.
Its time for your real life to begin.
