Loved the scolding from Mr. Altruistic Peace Corps volunteer.

Oooooh, we're bad, we're brats, and he's Big Daddy and he's NOT GOING TO MARRY US.

You know, I think I'll survive.

It is presumptuous to talk down to people in that fashion. If the "women" you're meeting permit it, I suggest you stay marry your audience and stay there.

The funny thing about women who "let" their men take the lead is that they don't compromise. They insist on control, in ever-so-deferential, subtle a fashion.

And if you import her, good luck! She may be a perfectly nice, accomplished woman, but if she sees other women not listening to pontificating beards&belly, how long do you think you'll keep your sweetheart? Or your sweetheart deal.

So, yes, I'm impressed, and I'm abashed, and I am going to go work for a living now where no one talks down to me or rewards me with his grubby presence in return for my autonomy.

First, I think you're feeling this tremendous sadness now because you -can-. You've arrived at a point where you don't have to devote all your time to survival for yourself and your child and can move up a Maslovian step.

But if it were I (and it's been), I'd get myself checked out first by a GP and an OB-GYN. There is a test they can do on your blood to determine estrogen levels. You are at an age when perimenopause isn't just possible, it's likely, and one of the possible symptoms is this sort of sadness.

If you're in perimenopause, there are various options for treatment to regularize your estrogen flow, which is all over the map in perimenopause (this could last for years, and believe me, you DON'T want to be a watering-pot for that long). I'd also get yourself checked out on general principles and be sure to mention this tremendous sadness. Again, speaking just for myself, I would not allow my GP to prescribe anti-depressants. I would ask for a referral to a therapist your GP trusts or a referral from someone else.

You might be able to deal with the sadness via talk therapy. Or, you might want another referral to a psychopharmacologist, who can prescribe meds and monitor you. Bring to any meetings a list of ALL the meds your taking; the things can interact.

You're doing so well. Cry out as much as you need, and then do get yourself checked out so you can enjoy what you've already achieved.

My best wishes for you.

It would go to a tie in the ninth inning of Game 4 and then the world would end.

This feminist is as weirded out by sex with robots as with Real Dolls.

Anyone ever read Tanith Lee's THE SILVER METAL LOVER?

Only he got the gender wrong. Nehemia Scudder, anyone?

These are the crazy years.

One thing that's NOT wrong with you is lack of moral courage. Many adults wouldn't have faced this possibility, reasoned it out, and asked for help in public. Whether you believe it or not, you deserve a lot of credit for that and it's going to stand you in good stead.

Cary's given you good advice. Get the evaluation, get started on working things out, and drop a line from time to time to let people know how it's coming.

Wouldn't hurt to brush up the spelling, but first things first. Good luck to you! If I were still teaching, I'd be proud to have you in class.

This is without Google, but not without humor.

TOS, Season III, "The Enterprise Incident."

There is no such thing as a Vulcan Death Grip.

I suppose I could have used some will power. Now, killing off megacomputers -- Nomad, Landru, Vaal...there's more...consider The Motionless Picture.

Even if I weren't a third-generation member of Red Sox nation.

Well written. Last time I turned off the radio before a game ended, I missed Bill Buckner.

And I don't mean Palin.

Mr. Bennett's comments are the sort of defense of one woman by attacking others. If you called him on it, he'd probably say something like "why are you being so defensive?"

I'm just sayin'.

Better to respect yourself on your own terms than wait for it to be bestowed upon you by some soi-disant authority who can remove it -- rather like alimony or child support.

Who died and left you judge of what feminism is and isn't, or what each of us believes?

Do you get away with this when you're at home?

It's utter and presumptuous bull.

If you were female, you would have been shut up by the likes of men like you.

Bathroom's thataway.

When you're done barfing, assuming it wasn't just a rhetorical pose, get back out here and let's see if you can practice what you're preaching.

You like the attractive, perky, mommy with the retro agenda. That's your right, even if we find each other on other sides of the battle line -- especially when it's my body or that of other women that you're pontificating about, just like Sarah.

But what happened to "the best 'man' for the job"? Can you honestly say that Sarah Palin is the best qualified Republican to be selected as a vice presidential candidate? You can rationalize that you like her, that you think she's qualified, or some theological claptrap, or whatever, but the best? I don't like Dick Cheney, but take a look at the two of them. Is she anywhere NEAR on his intellectual level?

Come to think of it, is McCain on that level? He wasn't the "anchorman" at Annapolis (the lowest-ranked graduate), but he was close (I heard that from a Marine officer/male), but I knew it already.

Where's the best person for the job? In the makeup chair?

GMAFB. You don't sicken me, but you're tripping over your verbal feet. Yeah, that's right. They're in your mouth.