Author Archives: Tough Talk: An Advice Column

Tough Talk, I have a couple of friends who never respond to my calls, texts or messages as soon as I would like and take forever, always seeming to blow me off as they miss a party or other get-together.  I want to express my disapproval, but don’t want to come across as uptight.  WhatContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 14, 2024”

Tough Talk, I am a single middle-aged man and although I’m not with anyone, I’m very happy.  There’s this one woman at work who I’ve been told accused me of being stuck-up and arrogant which is totally untrue TT.  I think she likes me, but I find her repulsive both physically and mentally.  What doContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 13, 2024”

Tough Talk, I’m not a spring chicken, but look young for my age and sometimes people confusing me for a teenager.  I have three children and although I’m not perfect, I am a very good mother with a lot of experience.  What is bothering me is that some of my neighbors always lecture me onContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 12, 2024”

Tough Talk, We just moved to a new neighborhood and immediately hit it off with a wonderful couple just down the street.  We have the same interests and my husband and I thought we had found friends for life.  Everything was going great until we learned that we are of the opposite political party.  ThenContinue reading “March 11, 2024”

Tough Talk, My son is really smart and has won several scholarships and grants to attend several colleges of his choice.  There will be costs, but these will be manageable and he has solid career goals and I know he will succeed.  However, my second wife wants him to attend community college and stay inContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 8, 2023”

Tough Talk, My wife and I take cooking lessons with a tutor who comes to our house on a weekend morning.  I always have questions with everything to ready to go.  My wife however is always getting distracted and is always ignoring what he says or manages to do things when he’s talking, like startingContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 7, 2024”

Tough Talk, I have a group of friends who work at this social services organization that takes donations and goods on behalf of the less fortunate.  They have worked really hard and gone beyond the call of duty over the years.  It has paid off and one of them has been promoted and now canContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 6, 2024”

Tough Talk, I have a friend that for years we spoke on the phone anywhere from one to three hours a day as our jobs allowed us to regularly check in on each other.  We talked all the time.  The last week, I get an email from her husband and a snotty text from herContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 5, 2024”

Tough Talk, My cousin is smart, well-off and a bit of a character.  I have always been there for him and helped in ways big and small.  But lately he’s been nasty, rude and condescending if not arrogant.  Not sure why, but he’s really getting bad.  I want to be there for him in hisContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 4, 2024”

Tough Talk, My cousin’s boyfriend ripped me off some tickets to my favorite band.  He denied it, but he was the only one who could have taken them and he later bragged about it when he was caught in lie and drunk.  I’m very angry, but what gets me TT is that my cousin isContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 1, 2024”