Hi Bailey

Actually you shouldn't try to pick one. Do them all. Have you danced before, and how long have you been doing it? If you want to dance professionally, experience is absolutely key for success. My 13-year old sister has been dancing since she was 4.
Singing is about the same--start as soon as you can, and do it publicly, such as in church or school talent shows. It's hard to make it as a performer, but if you have a unique idea you can do it.
For a poet, I'd say read all the poetry you can. Don't overlook a book of poetry just because it is "old". Some of the most beautiful poems ever written are over a hundred years old. Read everything and it will help you feel the language in your head as you write.

Since you're only thirteen, practice everything you want to do, and when you get to high school and college you can begin to focus your classes and efforts into these things, and then see which one works best with you. But don't forget to try things you'd never think of otherwise. There are a lot, LOT of things you can do that might take you by surprise and are tons of fun.

It's hard to read stories like this because they are such a universal theme throughout middle and high school. It seems to me that your friend-love is severely depressed. I know that's obvious, but you gave me lots of triggers. I am willing to bet he's a rather spiritual person, in the way he says he wants to make others happy yet denies happiness for himself. In high school I knew someone who sounds extremely similar to your friend-love. He was a rather good writer and artist, cut himself incessantly, felt he was worthless, would never harm anyone, and had a terrible home life.
Your friend-love has probably heard over and over that he is a worthless and terrible person, because he really believes it. Yet inside him there lives a core of a person that, if he had confidence and the right friends, could become a very healthy person some day.
Unfortunately, 17 is a poisonous year. He won't admit he loves anyone or accept your love because, to him, that means he would be responsible for your happiness on a deep level. He wants to have your love, believe me, but he feels so shitty about himself he can't trust himself to care for you with the quality of care he thinks you deserve. His emotions are very dull and repressed, because emotions are doorways to vulnerability. Without emotions, even sex with someone he truly cares about would seem like almost nothing.
On that subject, don't beat yourself up about not climaxing, truly. If it was your first time, I would say you're lucky to get through it. Climaxing is a skill you must nurture through practice; it doesn't happen automatically for a girl like it does for a boy.

Yes, he's pushing you away because he feels like you are far too good for him and he is not qualified to make you happy. The more you give him attention, the more you tighten this noose--he wants to love you but he doesn't dare, and when you leave he misses you but he thinks he'll be better off far away where he can't hurt you.

If you are a spiritual person, I would suggest you give yourself and him some time together in a quiet, sacred space, such as a church or preferably in a beautiful outdoor spot. If you have the chance, try sitting outside under the moon. Give him quiet support. You are in love with him, but his strange action is hurting you. I won't tell you to leave him because that would be painful to you both. I also won't tell you to try to "cure" him because some things can't be fixed by one person. Time, love and talking his way through his pain may help. The most important thing is for him to feel that one person in the world looks up to and respects him. Let him feel that you aren't disappointed in his behavior when he does well and he might take heart. It will be a rough path, but you will probably be able to help him if you are steadfast and don't waver in your attempts.

In addition, don't let your friends (or anyone) suggest that he's not worth your efforts or that you're uncool for spending time with someone who's "messed up". There isn't anything as noble as helping someone away from their suffering. Believe me--the great majority of my friends are people who were, and are, terribly "messed up" people, but I care for them and they do respond.

If you need further guidance don't hesitate to come to me.

Catholics and Protestants all believe in Christ, whose name makes up the most part of CHRISTianity. They all have different beliefs because it's not possible for all people to feel the same way about everything.
Then there are those who say Catholics believe in the teachings of Cathol.
I suppose technically speaking, Catholics were there first, and Martin Luther got concerned, got activist, and got booted. Behold Protestantism.
Of course it may be prudent to point out that the Pagans were there before ANY of them, so longest-religion points don't go to any branch of Christianity.

Fat around your stomach and waist is fat that was put on quickly and can come off just as quickly. It was caused by sugars and overeating of fast sugars like sodas and potato chips and candy. Cut soda and *most* candy (the worst i can think of right now is Snickers with all that stuff inside, not just chocolate) out of your diet at once.
Diets are all right if you want to MAINTAIN your current weight, but fat is a two part process! You have to cut down the Intake and increase the Output. Walk as much as you can. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Try simple yoga such as the Sun Salutation (available ALL OVER the internet if you just search for "sun salutation"). Don't eat fried foods; those are just begging to sit on your thighs and belly. Drink water and eat dairy products such as yogurts and milk--the calcium helps your metabolism even out and burn calories, but having ice cream would just nullify the effects, of course.
It's not about having some specific diet, it's about just having A DIET. Just keep an eye on what you are eating, and use common sense about what's healthy. As some say, if you can't pronounce most of the things on the ingredients label, it's not good for you!
Oreos, Doritos, Snickers, and Coca-Cola are bad for you!
Apples, bread, lemonade, turkey, ham and grilled salmon are good for you!
Simple.

Wow, a Prius... that is my current favorite car.. *sigh*. If only!
What color is it? Blue or silver? There's a blue one wandering around near me and I love looking for it in the parking lots. But enough about my misplaced passions.
I recommend Turtlewax, the green sort, because it really is hardcore fine wax. I have a 1984 Buick Park Avenue--tan with chrome all over, and it actually looks NICE after it's carefully washed and waxed, the chrome shined and the tires washed.. The most important part is to keep it clean but I have never found anything better than Turtle wax for an almost mirror-like shine. Be careful not to get it on your clothes or you'll have a cool sea green stain forever.

FYI, there are not two religions in the world, Christianity/Catholocism and Satanism. Honestly. Try www.beliefnet.com and look around at what you see there. Look up Satanism and the Satanic Bible, but while you're out there, look up the writings of the Buddha or the Wiccan Rede or the Koran or the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. I think you're not Christian, so you assume the only alternative is Satanism.
Satan is an offshoot of Christianity. There is no such thing in most of the other religions of the world. It's a Christian invention and a Christian belief, and they've got *ahem* "Interesting" views on a lot of other issues, so I suggest you broaden your inquiring mind and go see what ELSE is out there.

And I agree, the Gothic mode is rather pretty, if you like that sort of thing, but like everything else there are the true devotees and there are the posers. Educate yourself, for gods sake, before you take anything up. Religion is NOT something you're born into. It's something you figure out for yourself.

If it's none of his business then tell him it's none of his business. If he persists, make up something. If it IS his business then tell him. Is it so difficult?

He's just a kid and he's going to act like this until he is at least twenty. Girls mature very quickly emotionally and *want* a relationship at thirteen, but boys don't know anything about girls at that point (except they look interesting naked). There's really nothing you can do because a thirteen year old male brain will not be able to process the emotions and things behind your arguments. Just wait for the boy pool to develop a little.

Because he is immature. This is a stage in the male development that lasts between the ages of thirteen and twenty-seven. He is a piece of crap for listening to his 'friends' but basically, he has no damn idea what he's doing and what's going on.

Pretty much any cardiovascular exercise (which is the important one really... nothing much will happen if you try to strain your muscles without upping your heart rate---keeping up your heat and heartrate is what burns the calories and fat) can be done at home. I have never understood the need for a gym anyway. Running, jogging, stretching, karate endurance-training (kicks, punches, stretches, stances) and aerobics are all effective and all right to do at home.
As to thighs, leg-lifts (lying on your side and lifting one leg straight) help the thigh and butt--and I know personally that there's nothing like a karate horse stance to cause lots of fun pain. A horse stance requires you to move your feet apart a bit farther than your shoulders and crouch down as if you're riding a horse--back straight, as low as you can and as long as you can. Usually you do this while practicing punches. It works, too.
Look up exercises online and you will get much more interesting and helpful answers.

It's the action (and resulting phobia of) of more than seven advice columnists all giving the same answer.

No, I am NOT a "dukie". I am an art major. I have no affiliation, which is fine, because no sports team wants my support (as it has been for hundreds of years in the western cultures).
I hate all sports and all sports teams.
Yes, that is a generalization, but it serves my purpose this early in the morning after staying up past three a.m. working on art projects.

I suppose that's a very good possibility. Try moving things like pennies, and if you can't, try it again later, or with a clear mind and clear intent. If you can indeed move things toward you, try moving them away... push paper balls or small things... cultivate this talent, if you do indeed have it. It's very rare but does exist.

Don't be freaked out--be happy. You are probably either traveling an astral plane to a higher level of consciousness, or traveling backwards to your previous incarnations (lives). Don't close your mind to these possibilities right away. Obviously you are not like everyone else. Don't lose this gift! You were born in this life with the separation between your waking-consciousness and your over-soul very close. These dreams come from a great power, a goodness; you might even call it God if you want, but it's not from a spirit. It exists. Pay attention to your form and your speech, your body and your surroundings. You may be dreaming of how you look in the astral plane; you can think of that as "heaven" if you want. It is your true form, without the burden of an earthly body.
If it's a human form, it could be a past life that you haven't forgotten for some reason. Think about it with a peaceful mind. The foresight you receive, the clairvoyant visions, are another sign of this great gift. Not everyone has these powers, and they are NOT unnatural or fake--be calm and welcome them, and you will soon be able to control them.

Don't necessarily listen to the people down there. I too am pagan, and found it through my own research and my own thoughts after feeling incomplete most of my life, though I went, and still am forced to, go to Presbyterian church for my entire life.
My parents are Democrats and think they're "pretty liberal", but they are Christian and very set in the belief that only christianity exists. They don't even THINK about others beliefs, or possibilities. They are unbelieveably shallow and closed-minded.
When they found out that I had found my own truth and my own religion, all hell broke loose. They refused to let me explain myself or debate with them, and everything I told them about paganism, they replied "That's just what they WANT you to think! Then they drag you down!"

After five years they no longer really bring it up as a battle point, but they still say when I'm home on vacation time, "you are part of this family and this family goes to church. You are going."
I go, but I don't sing, I don't pray, and I don't participate. This is silly stubbornness on my part because my religion has taught me that all paths of love lead to Deity, and everything that is love is respectable.
I know what tests you're talking about--I wandered across them too, several years after choosing my path, and they only confirmed my beliefs. Nothing, I repeat nothing, about paganism has "dragged me down" or made me hateful, closed or unhappy. My faith lifts me constantly. I am aware of life, I trust enough to love, and I have much less fear in my life. Through this path I have developed philosophies that I feel in my soul are correct--if not for everyone, then at least, for me. Do NOT give up what makes you feel whole---that is how you know it's true.

As to your parents, I would approach the subject as absolutely gently as you can---perhaps some time, while on a drive somewhere beautiful, say somthing like "Aren't the trees beautiful today?... They look so alive... I can feel the spirits inside them happy that spring is coming, can't you?"
Watch their responses, and if that goes well, involve them in a discussion about the cycles of the earth and life and death and beauty and love and awakeness... see how far they will accompany you into philosophies. If it erupts into a debate, tell them what you believe, but don't discredit their beliefs--remember that everyone is responsible for feeling god in their own way, and if you choose to call god Her or Goddess or jesus or Kali or Artemis, it is all the same to god... tell them how you've felt the touch of Deity, and if they understand, you're on a good track.
Good luck to you, and be sure to come back to me if you need any further help, or companionship.

It hurts. For the love of all the gods, it hurts like no pain you have ever experienced in your life. I would get really friendly with Midol Cramp and Pepto-Bismol if it were you. Check my column for a recent answer to someone who had a very similar question.

There are at least two methods I can think of immediately.

1. Kidnap the closest thirteen-year-old, preferably a female (you will be able to tell by the bright-colored plastic baubles all over it, the squealing noises it makes, and it will likely have a spaghetti-strap, striped top and a bare stomach), and stuff it in your trunk. It's not necessary to remove it from the car trunk. Thread a small wire into the trunk and into any part of the thirteen-year-old you can reach. On your end of the wire, affix a USB cable-end, and plug it into your computer. The chatspeak will be uploaded to your hard drive and, after the thirteen-year-old is unplugged, you may use this chatspeak as you wish. Some options are to fill chats with it and crash the server, or send spam over the entire AOL database (message header should consist of the repeating letters "Fwd:" over into infinity). Chaos and discord may result.

2. Building from the first option, once you have the thirteen-year-old in the trunk of your car, wire her and plug it into the USB-port where a digital camera or other image device would be hosted. Go to www.geeklife.com or some other similar technogeek gathering junction and inform them that you have a chatspeaker available for hacking. At least one will jump at the chance to acquire, as I think of it, the weapons of the enemy. You will likely be able to sell or barter for this resource, and I would hold out for over two thousand dollars or a time-share on the beach.

Come on now, Susie Bubba Fishy Bob, all y'all cain't be so all-fired surious bout them carolina cocks! It's them fried pork-ear, chitlin, fatback-eatin, prayin' rebel kinda down-home Dirty South Blue Devil boys that'll whup all ya'll's other teams like a red headed nigga stepchild. YEEEHAW!
Y'all come on down to muh Southern Babtist Revival tent potluck supper next Wednesday night, an' alla-us'll set right down to a big ol' heapin' platters of poke-n-beans an chicken gizzrds an cornbread an beer, we'll have us a pig roast, and there'll be tractor-pullin and a whole lotta sweatin and prayin to jeezus. It'll be a hellofa time, ya hear? Don'tchoo make no other plans, a'ight?

Yes, point her at the door and yell "GO HOME, FRECKLES!! BAD DOG!"

Yes. Sixth graders have not yet entered the phase of their lives where they become assholes--that is seventh grade through age 27.

People have been coming to me for advice so long, I might as well do this all in one spot. I watch a lot of unfathomable Japanese TV and drink a lot of coffee. I'm a freshly-hatched Illustration major, formerly trapped & dying in the American South, now busily teaching phrases to all of Nagoya Japan. I'm always on the lookout for more video games and sushi.
I have lots of interesting pets. Wanna see my beetle?

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