MissBonne's advice column

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Q: i know that everyone likes the popular guy but i really like him. i have lunch with him and we talk but normally just about sports or the math homework. he's a year older than me. basically i want to know how to talk to him and have a decent conversation and hint to him that i like him without publically humiliating myself and getting hurt if he doesn't like me back.

Just keep taking your lunch with him and talking to him. You're talking a popular guy, which many girls can't even do that. Solidify a friendship first and see where that leads.

Q: ok well some of my freinds have started to act like im not there. and well they would tell me everything and now they tell me nothing. my ? is ... should i just stop hanging aroud them???? help

Yes, but explain why you are not hanging around them. They may not realize they're excluding you.

Q: my boyfriend is in basic training for the army and i wont get to see him for a few months. i am dieing. i miss him so much. i try to fill my time with my friends. But it still doesnt work. i cry everynight. how do i make this feeling go away.

Take it one day at a time and recongize that he is serving our country. Start writing him letters, volunteering or putting together package goods for him and his group.

Q: if someone stole your picture off of a website and made a fake myspace of it .. is there any way possible for them to get in trouble with the cops or something about identity theft or some type of law. or do you just let it go?

The only thing you can do is to contact myspace and inform them of a breach of the code of conduct/etc.

Q: Could someone tell me why they stopped making pontiac grand am's please?

So they could focus on the newer models, like the G6 or the Vibe. Most times, car companies like to be exclusive when it comes to their vehicles.

Q: anybody got any suggestions for a good first car? anyone HAVE a car thats great that can tell me about it? im looking for something pretty much just to get me back and forth but also something decent- in a 6 or 7 thousand dollar range- on a tight budget. any help is appreciated!!!

Good old cars that are reliable and cheap to ensure: Ford Taurus, Chevys or Buicks.

Cars not to get: Camry, Accords (stolen most often) or trucks (tough to insure)

Get a general idea here:
http://www.progressive.com/car_insurance/compare_car_insurance.asp?lt=Prog_btn

Q: Iam a 17 year old female and i babysit my cousin who's autistic but my mom dosn't want me to babysit him anymore becouse he throws fits and he dosn't relize he's own strength like one time he broke the hinges off the bathroom door but he was just scared becouse it was his first day at new school and it was huge and he dosn't like changes or big crowds how can i exsplain this to my mom becouse i really like babysitting him becouse it makes him happy and he loves me to pieces what should i do? please help me.

Your mom may not have had the experience babysitting a special needs child like you do. Discuss with her what you do when he gets in one of his moods (do you talk to him, play music, distract him)? Explain to your mom that you understand your cousin and his behavior and that you can accomodate his needs accordingly.

Q: hello, iwas just wondering if anyone knows some exercises that i would be able to do at home. i just want to firm up a bit, and work on my legs and flattening my stomache. i cant really get to a gym, so i need stuff that i can do at home. thanks

http://www.toneteen.com is great for excerising at home and advice.

Q: my friend, lets just call her stacy and i used to be inseperable. we were best friends, we would hang out everyday, cuz we were neighbors so we could. anyway, lately shes been hanging out with a popular girl, lets call her lily. so stacy has been hanging out with lily, and its really sad cuz she never hangs out with me anymore. and a couple weeks ago, she said she didnt want to be friends anymore because i was "clingy" and i wasnt clingy at all! but now we are kind of friends i guess, i mean, we talk and stuff. bt i just looked at her AIM profile and im not in it she has all her other friends except me. and shes not friends with any of her old ones, except me and i guess were not bestfriends anymore. and not she is really popular, and she ignores me during school, and lily is more important to her than i am. and, shes just not the same old stacy anymore. i want my old stacy back! i miss her so much! please! i need help!

They have always been shows about high schools reflecting this situation. Just wait it out, eventually the new friends won't be as good as her old friends, and keep the door of communication open. IM her every now & then, and say hi in the halls while you pass her.

Q: I recently upgraded my AIM and now I keep getting kicked off AIM after a while.
This used to happen to me but it stopped after a while and now it started again. It is very frustrating. Why does this keep happening & what can I do about this?

Isn't it horrible when you upgrade, it doesn't work and you like the older version better?

http://www.oldversion.com/

Get the old version again, works just the same minus a few features.

Q: I have a lot of necklaces. But I have no way of keeping them organized. Right now they are all tangled in a little box.

Do you guys have any ideas/advice on how to help me get more organized?

The cheapest was is thumbtacks and bulletin board.

Q: I have a mom tht is a control/protect freak she always wants things her way. I have to have my room the way she wants it my computer has to face the way she wants it and she always says when im with her im on her time and the problem is tht she always wants me to do her stuff. I run to the car, get the mail, take out the garbage(sumtimes), and do everything to care of my dog and she still doesn't appreciate me. She is way over protective. She doesn't like me goin places without her or my dad even tho i end up goin it usually takes hours of fighting and begging and crying. I am tired of her controling my life especially my room. I want my room to be MY room not hers. I like my room messy cuz then it feels like i actually live in it. What should I do? I dnt know how to talk to her cuz she always blocks me off but she never blocks my brother off when he is having problems. I dont get it she always says i have to wait till my dad comes home to discuss what is happeneing When i try to talk to her she takes things away and says she is in control!!!! i hate it she always says i dnt understand anything and i never will. When my brother calls me slut, dunce,bitch, etc. and i tell her she doesn't do anyting about it she just tells him not to and when i do those sort of things she punishes me. i cnt take it anymore HELP MEE!!

Under her roof, its her laws. Yes, its your room - but she gave it to you.

Things you can do:
First, take control of your emotions. If you can't talk about the situation without yelling or crying, try writing a letter.

Next, write down a list of the chore you do. Is it really too much? Is there something else you can do? Maybe make an arrangment that if you keep your door closed, then you could pick up an extra chore. (I started to do my own laundry to prevent cleaning my room.)

Next, you and your mom need a 'codeword'. If someone is out of control, say the codeword - take a break (a nap, a walk around the block) and get back to the situation.

Finally, grin and bear it. They raised you, they gave you your room and they feed it. In a few years you can be gone and doing things your own way.

Q: I have a cold right now. It isn`t too bad, but my nose runs alot and I cough like crazy.
Tomorow school starts again, (because I was hoping I would be better by then time the weekend was over)
Anyways, I`m not really sure if I should miss school, because it isn`t anything too serious, and I would fall behind in school.
AND >>> I have field hockey every day after school for two hours, and so I don`t know what to do about that.

Yes, you should miss school. Runny nose, cough - whatever you have you can give to other people. That stuffs spreads like crazy in close quarters. As for homework, contact someone their (a teacher, a guidance counsler), they can give your assignments to a friend so you can keep uptodate.

Q: female/13
im turning 14 and need some birthday party ideas.
i would like different ideas for boy-girl party ideas and for just girl party ideas.
i don't want the boy-girl ideas to get FREAKY if ya know what i mean haha.
my birthday is in the fall/winter. so nothing outdoor please.

any ideas will help.
thanks.

Off the bat, a few ideas are: Mystery Dinner or one with a pirate theme

other ideas are here: http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Teen_Birthday_Party_Ideas

Q: Last Saturday this boy gave me his phone number. Its now a week later and I finally decided I want to call him (after a week of trying to get over my shyness lol) but I'm not sure if its still appropriate since its a week later. Is it too late?

No, its not too late. It just lets him know that
a) You're aren't that anxious and
b) you actually have a life.

Q: WELL heres the thiing

theres this guy he gets mad easily like i say somwething and he tells me off he says im childisha dn i doitn say anything bad like i act normal he gets mad really easily ill ask one thiing and he gets into a bad mood i have tried talking to him but he turns it into a fight please help what can i do or what conversation can i start with him not to annoy hiim

He does not sounds like someone you need to continue to communicate with - mood swings aren't any fun.

Q: 13/f
I was at a sleepover about 2 years ago (I know.. a long time ago) and we were playing truth or dare at night. Well somebody dared me to shave my THIGHS!!!! and I had no chickens left. (chickens are the 'no thanks, I pass' thing in truth or dare) So I took my friends razor and shaved everywhere on my thighs. Well about a few weeks after I found some hairs on my thighs. I know it's normal for a girl to shave her legs, but what about the thighs??? is that normal?? and what should I do?? I have gym class in school next quarter and we're wearing shorts, I really dont want people to be disgusted about my hairy thighs. So what should I do? Continue to shave it? Please dont say wax them because I REALLY dont want to do that. Please and Thank you!!!

Unfortunately, once you start shaving - you have to continue. The new hairs are darker and longer. Yes, continue shaving or use Nair.

Q: There're twelve days 'til homecoming & I need a reasonably priced dress. Where's a good place to buy one?

Go vintages and be unique. Shop at the local Salvation Army or GoodWill store.

Q: is there any place online or any store where i can sell my old magazines? (seventeen, vogue, cosomogirl, etc.) i have a stack of about 50 and i would love to make some money off of them! websites or stores would be great!

Ebay works wonders. Sell them all at once to the highest bidder.

Q: My dad says that I'm too skinny and need to put on about 10 pounds. I'm 5"1.5, and I'm 86 pounds.

I'm almost literally skin and bone. If I put on weight, where would the weight go? Is there any way to control where it goes, so it doesn't all go to my belly or my thighs?

Yeah, don't you love people when they tell you you're too skinny? Usually I just give them 'the look'

http://www.toneteen.com is a good place to start to tone up and gain some weight. You're BMI states right now you are underweight, but going to 97 would be healthy.

Usually, if right now you are moving and excersing and working out, you're healthy. But it also means the amount of food you are taking in, is being burned to quickly.

Take note of your calorie in take, normally people have around 2000. Right now, to maintain my weight (108 lbs and 5'4"), I take in about 2500 calories.

Limit your cardio to 15-20 minutes, 2x a week. Any more cardio, you'll be losing too many calories.

The other days, work on toning and weight building. Doing so will make those calories you keep turn into muscle, not fat.

Good Luck!