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: 587055


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

17/f

Over the weekend I met a guy. He cheated on his girlfriend with me (not sex) but at the time I had no idea that he had a girlfriend. When he told me he basically poured his heart out to me and explained how he screws everything up. From there he told me he has done hard drugs and has been involved in a fair bit of criminal activity.

Basically, he is bad. I'm not though. I'm a straight A student, a virgin, and 'good' compared to him.. although I'm really not a 'goody two shoes.' He told me a lot about all of the things he has screwed up in his life and how he just wants something to look forward to and something to go right. He immediately broke up with his girlfriend and explained to me that he rushed into a relationship with her and hadn't talk to her for three weeks. Either way, cheating is cheating. I would never put up with that. So why am I still interested in him?

Would it really be that bad to go on a couple of dates with him? Okay, he cheated on his girlfriend (first time apparently) and is practically a criminal. I'm not though. I don't do stupid things like that and I know from experience that I have no difficulty saying no. I would not rush into a relationship with him and I have no reason to trust him. My friends all think it's a horrible idea and I would feel the same if they were in my position, but he really did pour his heart out to me. He told me all about his past. He worked really hard and graduated early and will be going to college in September. I don't need to save him, there is no way to save the 'bad boy' but maybe he could use at least one good influence in his life. I'm interested in him and I want to try this. I think he is looking for another relationship to fall into so I would spend a few weeks or months getting to know him better. Perhaps from experience, could you tell me if this is absolutely a bad idea? Thank you! :) (link)
Its absolutely a bad idea. Pouring their hearts out
and making you feel special for having heard it is
a ploy as old as the hills. Makes you feel like he
trusts you more than anyone and that you are special to him. In reality, he will take what he can get from you and then pour his heart out to the next girl. Bad idea.


Okay so Ive been texting this guy for awhile
& he wanted to ask eachother personal questions over texting
So I agreed

But I had no idea what to ask

What are so good things to ask?
We're talking like
:do you wear thongs> send me noods> cup size?"
Those kinda questuions

What questions could I ask HIM

ALOT PLEASE (link)
As your profile shows you being 13 I suggest you don't send "sex text" to anyone. Did you know it is considered child porn? You could both go to jail should you get caught at it. Stick to what kind of music do you like, whats your favorite color, what do you want to be when you grow up...

*Edit*

If you don't think these are "sex texts"
perhaps you shouldn't be using a phone.
So is the answer you rated a 5. Personally,
I could care less if you embarrass your family
by being charged with child porn charges.
Just though perhaps it was useful information you may be unaware of. Forgot for a minute that "14"
year olds know it all.

"We're talking like
:do you wear thongs> send me noods> cup size?"
Those kinda questuions"


ok.... so im 19f in college and ive just recently found out that this guy in my roomies program likes me.
Im not sure how i feel about him, ive never given him and i much thought. Hes not realy attractive, but hes always been nice to me. He seems quite forward, and ive heard alot of him sleeping around. I dont just want to be another count for him.
Im not sure if i should get to know him more than i do to see how i feel...or... take it as the pig just trying to get some more.
I already know hes had a thing for both my roomates... he seems to "like" alot of girls. Yet he says hes just trying to find a relationship. I dont know what to believe and i dont want to get hurt.
what do i do? (link)
Hes doing what you do when you're trying to find
what you want. Sounds like he is at least an honest guy!

There is nothing saying you have to sleep with the guy. Get to know him if you want to. Tell him he
may "like a lot of girls", but you don't sleep with
anyone you don't love. You don't have to e a notch on his belt if you want to give him a try. :)


First I really need people to just listen and not to judge or warn me of anything because I already know it all. All I really want is some opinions on this. PLEASE. i dont need negative feedback or the crap about predators and danger.

Well back in October I met this guy online through a certain website and we talked a lot. After a month of talking online and on the phone we found that we really liked each other and he asked me out. This guy lives all the way in Washington State while I live in Massachusetts. I know that I truly love this guy and he loves me but i just really need some positive feedback since i cant always get it from my friends. I havent told my family about him and i dont really intend on doing it until things get fully serious. Me and him talk every night and we text nonstop, We are coming to our 3 months of being together. All though we can physically be there at the moment we find the presences of each other through the phone and we just have something different from other people. i just dont know what else to really say i mean i dont know if people are willing to say anything but i would like to have someone else to talk to about this. Thanks for taking time in reading this. (link)
You know, I'd love to be able to give you totally positive feedback. Really would! But your relationship being what it is, well, that's just
not entirely possible to do. So be patient and
hear me out.

Lets cover it all. First your age. You don't give
us your age but since someone older probably would, I have to assume you are a teen. You say you know the dangers and that's great. BUT, knowing the dangers you still haven't told family members what your up to. Thats not so great and the very thing that make those dangers you know about dangerous! SO, if you want to do what relationship you have right, tell your family about it.

I know as a teen you like to keep somethings private, but this is one of those things that your parents need to know your doing. If everything is legit with this guy, he isn't
going to care who you tell. That helps YOU.
You aren't keeping big secrets from your family,
and if he has a problem with it, it will (or should) throw a red flag up that things may not be as you thought they were. No excuse for hiding
is good enough.

Its possible your parents wouldn't approve. That
is why YOU will have to volunteer to let them see
or hear enough conversations that they are comfortable letting you talk without supervision.

Will it be a royal pain in the ass for a while?
Yes it will. But it would be worth it to you
in the long run. If everything seems fine, they
will back off. Trust me, they have little patience
for listening to teens in love talking. Remember,
YOU suggest it first.

Next, you are literally oceans apart. The chances of you having a real live meeting anytime soon are almost zero. Maybe parents could help there some time in the future. But, it makes it hard to
have a relationship, and in all honesty, not a very healthy lifestyle for your age.

Teens by nature just need social interaction with others their own age. Thats why they should be dating more people and being a little less attached to just one person even at close range.
Thats how you know for sure you have found the right person and that you get along. Face reality,
its easy to get along with someone when you don't really see how they actually do things.

That beings said, even if you think its true love,
and I know you don't want to hear this, but you
both probably need to see others close to home.
Not saying you don't continue your friendship and
even hold out hope for the future. But, you both
need to grow as individuals too. You can't do that
while your peers are at school dances and on dates
and you are warming a chair chatting on the internet. I don't say that to be mean or negative.
But neither of you want to wake up one day and find youth has passed you by.

I guess what I am saying is, there is always a chance you will meet and find you were right.
Even though odds are against it, it could happen.
Don't give up, but don't let it keep you from living life in your own neighborhood either.
Its important to do if you ever want to know for sure this one is the right one for you.

I hope you didn't find that to negative. Always
use the internet responsibly. You sound like you try to, but you can do better! Never ever attempt
to meet with someone, no matter how long you have known them, without your parents knowing where you are or accompanying you. I know you know that,
but we responsible adults will have to remind you.

Good luck and go talk to your parents about this.



I have placed youin my favorite category, I hope you do the same. Yes, I agreee that some of the advice given is a bit over the top. At some points, it's a child giving advice to a child. I want to try and guide these kids in the right direction as much as I can. (link)
I have you on my list! You give great advice.
Now if we can keep you from burning out! LOL!


this is going to sound retarded but....i need your help. my boyfriend asked me out on january 15th. is one month february 15th, 4 weeks from when he asked me out, or 28 days since hes asked me out?!?

thank you haha and sorry for not knowing this! xoxo (link)
February 15th. A month is at least 30 days.
28 days is for periods. :)


My wife and I have been married for a little over 2 years. Recently, my wife told me she wanted to have three somes. With girls or guys, she said it didn’t matter to her (she is bi-sexual). However, she stressed the idea that me watching her with another guy then joining in really turns her on. I have done this 2 guys 1 girl thing in the past with a former girl friend, and it worked o.k. for a while, but had a disastrous end. My wife assures me this wont happen to us, because she is just adventurous and her heart belongs to me. I really want to make her happy, but I’ve had bad experiences in this department before. Thanks for any help,

Guy #1
(link)
If you have had bad experiences in the past I don't recommend you take your marriage there now. There is no guarantee for a good outcome and that kind of experimentation is probably best left to singles.
Maybe you could just use it as a fantasy and talk about it during sex or something. Much safer way to go.


I just wanted to tell you you are probably not alone in the grandmother category. I also have been married for 33 years and we have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. I no longer work either and like you, I like to give advice to young girls having problems in their lives. See you in the columns. (link)
Welcome aboard! Glad I am not alone anymore.
We really can use some older advisers. I
think the young ones around here get plenty
enough answers that are simply what they WANT to hear. If not downright misinformation. Can't
wait to read your advice!


pls tell me about wisdom teeth? (link)
Here is a search that will tell yu all about
wisdom teeth!

only search advicenators.com


yes i have been posting a lot about this situation, im sorry to keep doing this but i just dont know who to tell anymore..
this guy that i met a while ago yeah we talk online and ive seen him twice and ill probobly see him at my friend's in a few weekends but anyways, first he pressured me into sending him pictures which i didnt do. now he is pressuring me badly and keeps asking me to give him a bj. ive said, no sorry i dont think thats gonna happen , tons of times. but then he makes me feel so bad. and no i dont want to, and i wont. but its almost like i feel like this is sexual harrasment. the way he talks to me now..its like he doesnt even care about my feelings or what I want. its only what HE wants. he keeps on saying things like, yeah so just suck it. or, oh yeah your a good girl who doesnt give bjs, i forgot.
this is pissing me off and he is making me feel stupid and bad about myself, really bad. like im only good for one thing for him. i am being so pressured by him. and last night after I IMed him. [usually he IMs me but he hadnt talked to me since saturday night and i didnt know why] anyways after i kept saying sorry but i dont think so [in other words, no] yeah he was on for two hours today same time as me, never IMed me. why not. i know im paranoid but..ugh. i dont even know why i want him to talk to me. i wish i didnt care so much and could just get over him. he doesnt even treat me nice, at all. he orders me to do things for him. and then whenever i try to stick up for myself in a nice way, he just says k. or basically doesnt give a shit. or he just makes me feel dumb. like the whole picture thing? saturday night he was begging for pictures. and..i didnt know what to do..i said, would you be mad if i didnt send any..and he goes, um yeah kinda.
he is mean. doesnt even treat me fairly. i cant do this anymore. and then i have to deal with him going on and off with talking to me. i wonder why he does that..i know that he likes this other girl who lives in new york who is obsessed with him [seems like it] an writes on his wall I LOVE YOU. dont know what thats supposed to mean....

someone please help me (link)
Inform this guy that sending pictures like
that is child pornography and no way will
you do that. Not to mention they will be floating around out there haunting you still when you are 80.

I really think you should just stop talking to this guy all together. Don't contact him and next time he contacts you tell him your parents are going to call the cops next time he contacts you. I know you think there are feelings there, but follow your instincts. Saying I love you and writing it on your wall is a cheap easy way to temp young girls into doing what he wants. Don't fall for it.


One day i found out that my penus is bent (curved)
and i want to make it straight like an scale can some one help
please tell any natural cure or any excercise
I will be very respectful n honourable to u.So sir plz help me........ (link)
Here is another article for you. Beware that there
are some sites out there that have some bizarre exercises. No good medical site recommends any of those. http://www.malehealthcenter.com/c_peyronie.html


I made my old yahoo e-mail account years ago. I need to access it now, but when I originally made it, I must have made up a fake birthday. Now when I entered in my "verification" stuff, it says that it doesn't match. Has anybody had this problem before? If so, how do I access my account? (link)
If you made the account years ago its probably been deleted. I never use mine and recently that happened to mine. Luckily, I am in a lot of yahoo
groups so I saw the notice in my account and reactivated it right away. You'll probably have to just make a new account.


18/f. ever since i was born my mom has revolved her life around me. even her job revolves around me. i'm very independent and i provide for myself and i like to do my own thing. but she's so immature and she tells everyone how attached to me she is and she treats me like i'm a child and it's mainly because she wants younger kids but she can't have them. so i get stuck with her treating me like one. and unfortunatley i spend a lot of time home, with her. she has to know every detail of my life. she doesn't have her own life anymore, it's so annoying. and she basically makes me live my life how she wants/wanted to live hers. she doesn't talk to anybody with daughters/sons my age, so she doesn't know how things should be. i'm so sick of this. what can i do? (link)
Sometimes if her child is all a woman
has, it is hard for her to let go. You
don't need to wait until you have kids
of your own. You live it everyday.

You don't mention if your dad is at
home or if she is a single mom? If
you could add that info, I could give
a better answer in an edit. :)

Thought so but wanted to be sure.
Do you have any friends with single moms?
Or Dads for that matter? If so try enlisting
their help. They have all been through it
themselves. Maybe they could even take her
to a movie or just get her out and about.

Is there a friend she has at work? Maybe you
could suggest she invite a friend for dinner
or something. As soon as things are going good,
make an exit.

An aunt you can talk to? Aunts especially
if single can get her out of the house.

Encourage her all you can. Spend an evening
with her doing a make over on her. Give her
some ideas. Shes probably clueless. If just
going out with people her own age isn't
something she has done in a long time, its
just a matter of helping her find the courage
to do so.

Just remember she isn't doing it to get on your last nerve, though she is! She just needs some
help letting go.Help her get involved in something she might enjoy, volunteering with
a kids group or something. Use your imagination.
Could she consider a foster child? They need
loving homes AND the attention of a good mother. :)


ok heres the deal..

theres this guy that i talk to & i like him and he knows that. He talks to other girls & goes out with them..and once he gets it leaves them. I kinda feel down because he doesnt seem to want a relationship with me & im not ugly..like i get alot of attention from guys...but idk maybe he doesnt want to hurt me. i need someones persective on this. (link)
It could be he isn't ready for a serious relationship. In this case it may actually
a good thing he isn't asking you out.
Maybe he respects you enough not to want
to use you.

Continue to talk to him. Get to be friends.
Maybe one day it will turn into more than that.


i need to download a font with really tight letter spacing (like where the letters are close together) for free but i cant find any. anybody know where some are at ? (link)
I just want to add that what you are
looking for is called a "narrow font".
That may help in your search.

As a matter of fact, try this search. :)

only search advicenators.com


I'm stressing out and have been google-ing everything remotely related to birth control pills and pregnancy. Please help put my mind at ease! Here's my story: I'm 17 years old and have been on yaz birth control for 5 months. At the beginning of my last pack, I forgot to run to the pharmacy to pick it up. So I didn't start my pack until the next day. 2 weeks later I missed a pill and took it as soon as I remembered the next day. Then I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend.. But he pulled out .. Idk if that matters. Anyways the past week I've been having brown discharge and I'm not due for my period for another 3 days. What are the chances that I'm pregnant? Thanks in advance.. (link)
After being on the pill for 5 months,
Chances are very, very slim that you
got pregnant from missing a pill. Don't
make a habit of it.

Thats the main purpose
of taking it same time each day. You
are more likely to remember it. You did
right in taking it as soon as you remembered.

When you do forget, for lack of a better way
of explaining, your period doesn't know if
its coming or going. That is the reason for
the brown discharge. If you forget and take
it as soon as you remember you should be ok.
As I said, DO NOT make it a habit. If you
forget often enough, you will get pregnant.


im only 19/f and i get way too many headaches. i ususally get one every day! i use to take advil/alieve then stopped. and i drink water so its not that. anyone else have any ideas to why this happens? also what type of doctor should i see for it? (link)
I used to have daily headaches too.
It was a rare thing indeed if I didn't
have one.

After years of suffering them I had sinus
surgery. Smells seemed to trigger them
more than anything. Just walking in the
soap aisle at the store would cause them.
Perfumes....oh boy, I know what Peeps is
talking about! I also had frequent sinus
infections to the point that taking
anti-biotics lead to an allergy to
amoxicillin.

Anyway, very rare headaches since I had
the surgery. They found a small bone/ piece
of cartilage in my nose where it shouldn't
have been. This caused a blockage in my
sinuses. The doctor told me this is really
not at all unusual. It usually happens when
you are a toddler and learning to walk! I
guess its just a matter of where it moves
to when you grow.

If you do as Peeps says she did and you still
have a problem... Try an ENT doctor. Ear, Nose
and Throat. Especially if you find smells
cause the headaches.

A neurologist if you have no triggers.
There is always your primary care doctor,
just beware because most of them will just
push "pain medication". Most of those meds
just lead to taking more and more to mask
the headache pain. They don't cure them.
After a while they may even cause them.

Best of luck. :)


on the front it said that it was a REAL diary. and that its a real story, and it really belonged to a young girl on drugs in the 70s.

but as i was reading it, i noticed that its written more like a book, and doesnt necessarily look like it was written by a 15 year old girl on drugs.

does anyone know whether or not its a real diary? because this story tears me apart and i really would like to know if its real. thanks!
(link)
I have to agree that while it may not be a true
autobiography it is still a good read. I read
it back when it first came out and loved it.

I'd always assumed it was a true story. After
reading the wiki article on it, I doubt too
that it is true. As they say, it comes off
to much like anti-drug propaganda and lacks
the gossipy, girl like talk a real teen
would put in her diary. Doesn't make it a
bad book.

Good question! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Ask_Alice


15/F
This guy really likes me and has for a few years, but we're just now starting to click. But he's kind of a player and is friends on MySpace with websites of girls in thongs and bikinis and stuff :/
He wants to be my first kiss and all that.
He isn't too attractive; he's sort of starting to grow a beard, he's breaking out, but he's considered cool. He hangs out with that crowd.

I can't tell if I'm attracted to him. I told him that I'm not ready for a kiss or anything but we hold hands and cuddle and stuff. Haaha he's so weird.
But I don't know if he actually wants to GO OUT with me. He hasn't asked or anything yet, but I've sorta been dropping hints about it.
Any advice? (link)
If you are attracted to a guy you will
know it. :)

You don't like this guys myspace habits,
you say he is unattractive. Never go out
with or make out with a guy just because
he is considered "cool".

A hint for you: A guy has no need to "go out"
with a girl who cuddles and stuff without a
commitment. I know its just cuddling but its
a start. If you want cuddles and kisses, wait
for someone who asks you out and who you are
in a committed relationship with. It saves
worry about what his intentions are.


okay so i have an annual tear in my back and my doctor recomended therapy for me but i hear that it makes it worse. I don't really understand what an annual tear is and i was wondering if one of you could explain it to me or if you knew of a way to cure it. Any help and advice is highly appreciated. Please i'm desperate.
thank you in advance!!!! (link)

Here is the explanation of what it is found at
http://www.bhpw.com/conditions/better_health_annular.html

For more info, follow the link to the site.
Key words are links to even more info. :)


Annular tear

What it is:
When healthy, the discs separating the vertebrae in your spine have soft, gel-like centers surrounded by layers of fibrous tissues. This outer layer is called an annulus.

Due to injury or just aging, small tears can form in the annulus. When the gel-like center of the disc pushes through an annular tear, this is called a disc herniation.

Where it occurs:
Anular tears can appear in the:
Neck (cervical spine)
Low back (lumbar spine)
Middle and upper back (thoracic spine)

The Symptoms:
Patients with annular tears may experience:
Swelling
Pressure
Pain
Sharp, stabbing sensations

What are my treatment options?
Chiropractic Medicine, Physical Rehabilitation, DRS Treatment and MCU Therapy






read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators

<<< Previous Advice Column
Next Advice Column >>>
humorist-workshop
eXTReMe Tracker