ask karenR



read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators



I have gone from younggrandma to just yg. Now,
I am using my real name.
I don't think anyone who knows me will have trouble figuring out who that is!


I have been gone a while dealing with things in my own life. I am back now to help once again. Do not expect answers from me that just tell you what you want to hear. Life is to short for nonsense. :)
Website: advicenators forum
E-mail: karenrickel@gmail.com
Gender: Female
Location: KANSAS
Occupation: Homemaker,EMT, ER worker, Medical assistant
Member Since: March 4, 2005
Answers: 10132
Last Update: July 29, 2022
Visitors: 587002


Favorite Columnists
ammo
DangerNerd
SilentOne
adviceman49
Razhie
isis
Xenolan
flare
Erinn_the_bamf
selectopaque
storageanddisposal
more...

I was wondering a few things about steroids.

- First, I'm not taking them for sports or anything, I have bad asthma and I have to take them to control my attacks.

1. What are the risks.
2. Do they make you eritible/angry all the time
3. Do they make your muscles large

I'm a girl so I wouldn't want my muscles to be the size of a man's! (link)
The risks of NOT taking them for something such as asthma is death. You gotta breath so the benefits outweigh the side affects. Besides you aren't getting mega doses that athletes sometimes take. So you won't get nasty tempered and you won't get muscular legs.
So, don't worry about it.There are many kinds of steroids and you are taking it for totally legitimate reasons not abusing it.


Hey. um. well when my friends and I play truth or dare. I usually just watch ya know..well they;ve been getting on my nerves about me being a chicken.. the truth 'how far have you even been'..always comes up..and well when I was 8 years old I was, well raped.. and I dont want to say that I was raped..but other then that, I've never been anywhere (still severely afraid of guys and what they're capable of)..and if i say that, well i'll be considered prude..which i guess is the case..any way to avoid this??

Sorry-its so long. (link)
Since the question is how far have you been, and since an 8 year old was hardly a willing participant I think you could say you haven't been anywhere without it being to much of a lie.

Let them think you are a prude. Who cares.They most likely are lying about what they've done anyway. Is there nothing else you can play? Don't let them get to you okay?


alright so last month around feb 9th my boyfriend fingered me and i wasnt sure if he had anything on his fingers or not..well i freaked out because my period didnt come till feb 28!! (and im positive it was my period not just spotting) well this month i havent got my period yet and its april tommorow..i havent done ANYTHING whatsoever with my bf at all this month. maybe my period is just late because i didnt end my last period till march 6 or 7th. im not sure. so ive been REALLY freaking out about this. and today i took at pregnancy test and it said i wasnt pregnant. but what if it was lying? could i be pregnant? the test only costed 10$ so it was kind of cheap.. (link)
It can come yet. You really need to stop stressing about it. I realize it's stressful but it just makes it worse. Don't try it again for at least another week and a half. If no period then worry about it ok. And no sex. You can't handle it right now.I have been down the road you are on and will be more than happy to help okay? just give it more time before you panic,Let me know what happens ok? send me email
(address in column) if you want to talk in more detail.


ok, this is a really good question i know a lot of people struggle with. expecially at our shitty school.... anyways, i dont really understand why people call other people posers, or why they say things like "you dont listen to that band!" or "you dont skateboard!!" i mean, how do they know!!? why are they judgeing me and other people form our school!?!?!!? it makes no sense!!! i mean, the only way they would know you dont like something is if they were a crazy ass stalker person!!! PLEASE HELP!!! (link)
I don't understand it either. Seems people aren't happy unless they can stick a label on something/someone. Like it matters.

Guess they aren't smart enough to realize there is more to a person than what they do. Pity the poor fools.:)


Does anybody know a way to get rid of a sour milk smell? I spilled coffee with milk in it, and didnt even realize it until it started to smell...I've cleaned up the mess, burned incense, sprayed odor remover, I've tried everything, but my room still reeks. Anything I can do? (link)
ok try this if you want to. It's supposed to work on cat pee so sour milk should be EZ!
take a bottle of club soda
stick your finger inside and shake to get a fizz going.
With your finger still in bottle spray on milk stain.Get it wet but not soaking.
It say's the smell might be worse at first but that it will go away as it dries.
If you should try it let me know if it works :)


I can never eat breakfast- one because I'm a bit lazy because I'm tired and two because I'm not a big fan of it, but I know it's unhealthy not to eat it and I know you can gain weight from not eating it because then you pig out at lunch and the rest of the day. Any suggestions [besides fruit] and please note that I'm on a tight scheduale and don't have alot of time to eat or prepare it [no cereal suggestions, please] (link)
What about a granola type bar? I can't stand them myself but they are quick. I prefer yogurt.
You can try that to!:)


my friend wanted to know if getting braces affects kissing ??? (link)
I don't think so. Might feel funny at first, but just because it's new.


Ok, here goes. This might be a long one so please bear with me!

My friend Mike and I were at this school event called History Day (Science Fair except for history). I was bored, so I was hanging out with him and his friends. Then, his friend asked em if I like him and I said I don't know...and shrugged my shoulders. As I walked away, I looked back, and he was smiling at me. It's really obvious (though I haven't said it directly) that I really like him, but out fear of rejection, I semi-denied it. Do you think that I sent I like you vibes or I hate you vibes...and guys, what would you think of me now? Also, we flirt a LOT every day!! Thank you so much! (link)
I think he probably knows no more now than he did before! Be more direct.

What's with the guy's ( and girl's) who have their friends ask all the questions? Don't go out with him unless he has balls enough to ask himself. If he can smile and flirt he can ask a question of you!


Kind of a dumb question but...

How do you make pancakes with a mix? Like what do you add? I lost the box and I can't remember...

Also, where can I find info about the history of pancakes? I've already googled it and asked jeeves but i can't find anything. (It's for a project)

Tres merci! (link)
You need an egg and milk or water to desired consistancy.

Go to search engine WEBCRAWLER ....type in history of pancakes. It has 76 sites for you to visit. :)


ok im confused at school i get made fun of alot because im smart. well normally i just bottle it up and dont do anything because im weak but what i have noticed is sometimes i will get so pissed off that if anyone who hasnt even done anything to me so much as slightly bothers me i blow up at them. i guess i just want to know how can i channel my anger more so at the ppl who piss me off because i hate blowin up at my friends but i cant blow up at the ppl that make fun of me cause im weak as shit and im just confused i dont know wut to do can someone please help me.. (link)
It's always easier to blow up at someone you care for. You know what the reaction will be and you know they will love you anyway!

You are smarter than they are so just ignore them as best you can. Stupid people are always loud and obnoxious but most people don't pay any attention to them. They are just to stupid to bother about okay?

I think if you got angry at them it would just give them encouragment.I remember when I was in middle school I had just moved to a new school. There was this boy who decided it would be a hoot to tell everyone I had cooties! Being me I decided if I had them I might as well share. So the next time he started in I said 'yes I do here ya want some of them?' I kept after him for a bit but ya know what, never got teased about anything again. Try to handle it with a sense of humor.


i have a guy friend that i like for a while and i still do like him and he likes me one problem is that he gots a gf and we close and he always tells me that he loves me and we can talk for hours and not worry about who knows we talking but my question is is it a bad thing that he has more feeling for me and not his gf? plz help! (link)
Well, it's not real good if he likes you more and continues to string her along.

Maybe he just likes you as a friend?
You need to ask him these things.


In high school, we get to choose which language we want to take- French or Spanish. I signed up for Spanish, but I'm having second thoughts. I like French a lot more, but I want to do what's best for me. Does anyone have any pros or cons for taking a certain language, or just general advice on what I should do? Thanks! (link)
I've always heard that spanish is easier to learn but I don't know if this is fact. I don't speak any other language but I can tell you what I have heard. By the way, if you like French it may be easier for you to learn it.Do what you like most of all.

I worked one time with an older hispanic gentleman who told me that all these people who take Spanish in school aren't learning the true languge. He claimed that if you went to Mexico you would find that it was mostly useless! I don't know how true that is.

I do know that my daughter in law told me (she's hispanic) that her brother flunked Spanish in high school, and she never took it. Her father speaks very little English so the older gentleman may have been right. After all DIL's brother heard Spanish every day but didn't pass the class. Possibly he just didn't study enough I really don't know.

Whatever you go for, good luck with it! :)


My bf and i (together 2 years) took a break and during the break i had interest in another guy who just came out of a 2 year relationship. Well my parents found out, w/out knowing about the breakup of me and my bf, and stepped in right away telling the other guy to stay away from me. After about a 3 hour talk with my parents they apologized to guy yet still say they dont want me with him, want me to quit my job, cuz thats where i met him (although he only works weekends, and since of late he has quit), and they tell me that there is something about him they dont trust even though they've only seen him once! They also think i am rushing too quickly into a new relationship and that i am not ready when in reality they arent ready! I am still friends with my ex who is tryiin to do everything and anything to get us back together and the other guy and i have agreed to be friends and cool things down until everything is settled! I just dont know what to do! Should i just go back with my ex or try working things out with this new guy?

if You would like to know the WHOLE story then just email me and ill email you...
Boriquenlyfe@aol.com (link)
I don't think you should date someone just because your parents like him. That is a bonus but it isn't their relationship.

If you honestly can't decide which one you want date them both. I would talk to your parent's again to try and understand what it is they didn't like about boy number 2 just so you know.
It seems that you have a pretty good relationship with them. But let the final decission be your own.


I have been going out with this girl for like 3 or 4 months and we haven't kissed not even like hug but i dont want to bring it up like... you know so can SOMEONE PLEASE HELP i love her and she loves me but im to afraid of asking her or some thing so help!! plz! (link)
Don't ask her just go ahead.Get it over with. She's probably sitting on pin's and needle's waiting for it too! Once you break the ice it will be easier the next time.


13/f
i can really get a guys attention weather i want to or not. the problum is im a really big flirt and people who like me think i like them, they ask me out, and get really imbarrised. i dont like turning guys down cause it makes me feel bad sence i made them think i like them but i also love love LOVE flirting for some strange reason. some people get jellous 2. it would be really hard 2 stop flirting sence i sometimes find myself flirting without meaning to. can someone help me? thanx (link)
It just comes naturally to some people.Sound's like you might be some people!

Yea, some girls will get jealous.You don't mean to but they will think you are coming on to the boy they like. It's gonna happen. Hopefully when they get to know you they will realize it's just part of your personality and won't be offended by it anymore.

I'd tell you to just stop, but I really don't think you could. It's just part of your personality.


there is this kid in my grade that likes me, the only problem is that he is a total geek and i don't even like him as a friend (not because he is a geek though, because he is annoying)
Now he told everyone that he IS stalking me and that he likes me!
what should i do without hurting his feelings?
(link)
Tell him stalking is against the law.
The thing is that some annoying boy's can grow up to be very nice!

Just tell him you don't want a boyfriend right at the moment and that he needs to stop bugging you or you will never ever like him. Hopefully he will lay off. :)


I have these friends, some of the time we hang around in a group together, but a few of them are friends with this other group of people too. I went out with one guy when he used to hang around with us, but he doesn't hang round with us anymore and he hangs out with this other group.
One of my best friends is also part of this group. But the thing is, most of the people in this group I either know to say 'hi' to in lessons, but I don't really know most of them. They tend to know me as 'Liams bird', which is stupid because we havent gone out for months.
But how can I break the ice with these people? Occasionally this friend of mine will hang round with me at the same time as one or two members of the group, and I was wondering how to get myself noticed and become friendlier with these people.
Sorry for the long question but I really need some advice on this!
(im 14/f btw) (link)
Please just be friends with whoever you like and forget they whole group business.

Why would you want to be friends with a group anyway? Much better to have one friend to tell secrets and dreams with than a whole flock of them where you really don't have anyone special to talk to. :)


I really like this boy, Derek. I think he likes me also. But i also like this other guy. What should i do?????????? (link)
Girls, girls, girls........Why this need to tie yourself to one guy? So not necessary!

The whole idea of dating is to find the right boy for you. Well, you won't find him if your're
tied to someone else. You go out with many different guys. I don't mean you have sex with all of them either. You get to know them. You will have plenty of time to be in a committed relationship when you are older and really looking for someone to spend the rest of your life with. So, until then just date as many as you like until that right one comes along!:)


Hey, I recently had sex with this guy I only knew for a week, and I found out the other day that I am pregnant, and he has giveing me some kindof STD but I dont know what because I havent been to the health department about it yet but I plan on going soon, the day befor yesterday I found out I was pregnant, and I'm thinking that I have no other choice then to get an abortion because whatever I may have it could affect the baby and the baby could be born with all sorts of problems, but I am so confused on what I should do, I talked to my ex boyfriends friend today and his friend told me that my ex boyfriend has been giveing people who he has sex with something but I dont know what and I am scared that I am in danger myself and that it could be deadly and I dont want to get my first child that I am ever pregnant with get an abortion because I know thats going to be with me for the rest of my life...my ex boyfriend doesnt know that I am pregnant and any of the other girls he has given something he doesnt care at all and he doesnt use a condom with girls...I am scared though I am only 15 and haveing to make up my mind about what I should do and everything leads to haveing an abortion because I dont want to have my baby suffering...does anyone think I am doing the right thing by haveing an abortion? Thats my question am I doing the right thing?...I know I shouldnt have had sex to begin with and I have heard of STD's but I never thought I would be the one haveing one...I know that I have made mistakes and believe me I am paying for them, but could anyone who has been through this tell me if I am doing the right thing by getting an abortion....Thanks, I'll rate high to any answers that are not being sarcastic..thanks Bye (link)
When you go to a doctor he/she will be able to answer all your questions for you.

The main thing right now is to get to a doctor.Be sure that you tell the doc. all your fears and concerns.

All this is exactly why young girls should not hop into sex with boy's and why youo should insist they wear condoms if they do. Get to know a person first.

ok enough of that. How do you know for sure you a pregnant? Home tests can be wrong. See a doc. to be absolutely sure.Missed periods can be from stress too.

If an STD is treated before a babys birth its
usually fine. It's those that go untreated that cause the problems.So, if you get treated now, and you are pregnant, chances are good that the baby will come out perfect.

All STD's put you in danger. You must get it treated immediatley. okay?

I personally do not believe in abortion.I got pregnant at 16 so I know what youo are going through. I never even considered it myself. I am not telling you what to do because you will have to make that descision for yourself. I just don't want you to rush into something you will later regret. Adoption is also a choice to consider.

Where do your parent's stand on all this? They need to be told. Once they get over the initial shock of it they will hopefully be of great help to you.

Whatever you decide I would like you to feel free to email me at address on my column. It has been a few years since I went through it but It isn't something that I forget! I got married myself, though that option is not advisable in your situation. My baby is now almost 30 yo with 5 baby's of his own! So please feel free to write and I will do my best to help you out with anything you care to ask. :)



ok i have a friend and her boyfriend keeps flirting with a new girl in skool.and hes not always affectionat to her but when he is he sometimes changes.....she dosent know what to do....he also acts like other things are more important that her and they have been together 1 year and 4 months...what should she do (link)
It sound like he's tired of being tied down to one person. She needs to turn him loose and look for someone who really wants to spend time with her.




read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators

<<< Previous Advice Column
Next Advice Column >>>

eXTReMe Tracker