Hi there! First of all, never apologize for asking a question... the only stupid question is the one nobody asks, yada yada. Anyhoo, let's get crackalackin', no? If you're occasionally insecure, the only advice I have to tell you is that you feel the way you think. So if you think badly of yourself, then you're gonna feel like heck.

The good news to that is that is you present yourself well, you'll have that confidence that comes with knowing that you put one hell of a good package together.... and since you know it, he'll know it, too.

My first advice is to get a lot of sleep beforehand. Drink lots of water. If you have an eye gel or cream, stick it in the freezer so it also has cooling properties, this helps with the redness. Finally, as soon as you get up, place a chilly face towel on your face for five to ten minutes.

Makeup wise, investing in a darn good concealer helps me! (I occasionally work midnight shifts.)

Good luck!

I vote for low-impact yoga! Riding is always good, as well. Make sure to take your inhaler with you and have fun!

Hi there!

Aww, neat idea. I've never been to Cooperstown myself, but I did do an online search. Most towns, etc have an website where you can check out local attractions. You should definatly write for a travel brochure and town map, so you know where to go.

According to http://www.cooperstown.net/, and http://www.visitcooperstown.com/, other places to see are Hyde Hall (http://www.hydehall.org/ and looks really cool), Cherry Valley (http://www.cooperstown.net/cherryvalley/index.html)and the brewery (http://www.ommegang.com/).

While in Cherry Valley, dine on local fare at the Rose & Kettle, located on 4 Lancaster Street (www.roseandkettle.com), which is not far from somtheing called the Glimmerglass Opera (http://www.glimmerglass.org/).

Good luck and have fun!

If the sky is a funny yellowish-greenish colour, and there's a VERY large dark (nearly black) cloud that also goes up like a tower, and you swear to god you can see a swirl in it- that's the storm cell that can provide a tornado.

"A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and pendent from a cumulonimbus cloud." So says the U of Illinois's website.

Also, and this is going to sound weird, but check the local animals and wildlife. They usually know if something's coming down. Use your instincts. When one hit around here, I woke up that day with an awful feeling that Something Was Going to Go Wrong that day, and it really just persisted until the storm hit. Luckily, I only ended up with hail and a broken window- but some were no so. Nobody died, though, so it's okay.

Oooh, a terminal case of the shys. I'm right there with ya, and the good news is that you WILL grow out of it, 'cause you more or less have to.

I suspect that you might have a longer settle-down time to get comfy with someone than most. That's okay, it just means you really want to know someone before you trust 'em.

I'm not sure what you DON'T AND NEVER WILL is about, but if you do want to let this erm, bonehead... know that you aren't being stuck-up, then perhaps you could work up the nerve to just say "Hi. How are you today?"

You might want to practice that a bit so you don't think you look silly. If he continues with the conversation, then just relax and go with it. At some point, however, you might want to let him know that you really are shy, and are NOT a bitch. Whatever you do, though, don't just turn beet red and blurt out, "I'm shy!" at random like I did, because that really does look funny.

Also, check to see if there's a toastmasters, drama club, activist club, or 4-H group that you can get involved it, because it's really good that you work out the sjy-thing NOW, as opposed to when you're in collage and just about every class requires some form of oral communication.

Good luck, kitten!

See, darlin', when you say your mother isn't a child abuser... I'm inclined to disagree with you. See, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines emotional abuse as: "acts or omissions by the parents or other caregivers that have caused, or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. In some cases of emotional abuse, the acts of parents or other caregivers alone, without any harm evident in the child's behavior or condition, are sufficient to warrant child protective services (CPS) intervention. For example, the parents/caregivers may use extreme or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement of a child in a dark closet. Less severe acts, such as habitual scapegoating, belittling, or rejecting treatment, are often difficult to prove and, therefore, CPS may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm to the child."

The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child physical abuse as: "The physical injury or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby..."

So... I think you might be wrong. The horrible thing about abuse is the cycle of it: you hit someone, they cry, you apologize and say you will never do it again, they forgive you... and then you go and do it again.

I'm awfully sorry, but I really don't care HOW old you are or what you've done- no child ever deserves to be called a effing b***h. No child ever deserves to be hit. Hitting someone is a sign that you're angry and out of control. As the adult, you're the one in control.

YES, you can love the person who hits you and makes you feel like dirt. Yes, you can be best friends with her- except, of course, when she goes off. And I bet you start to worry about what you've done or said that's set her off.

Kitten... the thing is, you're still an adolescent. You're SUPPOSED to be self-absorbed, identifying who you are, what you value, what you want. That's part of growing up- internal self-reflection. By calling you out of it (and swearing at you, no less) she's interrupting that process. Sooner or later, things are going to head south.

You should tell someone that you trust. An adult, perferably, like a teacher or priest or neighbour friend or phone Child Protection Services. However, if you do, know there is a chance that you might be seperated from your mother. That's not supposed to make you NOT call CPS, but I don't want to lie and say that they'll fix everything. Also, be aware that the adult may phone CPS, and there's nothing you can do about it. In some places, it's the law.

IF YOU ARE ALMOST an adult, like- within a year or less of being old enough to make it on your own... then perhaps you should hold out and then make way. Or make way and then hold out, your choice.

You could also sit down with her (perferably with the adult you've chosen to tell) and try to figure out what the heck is the matter with her.

Either way, down the road, I advocate that you hie off to see a counsellor. Good luck, dear.

Good lady, darlin.

Isn't the real question here what YOU think? Just be yourself, and ta heck with someone else's opinion.

Witch! Gypsy! Dead person!

Hi. Um, forgive me for saying this, but experience says that you should let an adult know. Someone you trust. Because if she DOES manage to kill herself, or becomes seriously injured... you're going to blame yourself.

Other than that, I think what you're doing now- showing you care in spite of what she does- is the right way to go. Have a wonderful thanksgiving!

Hello. I'm a 21-year-old psychology student (go me!) and part-time museum grunt. (Which means I'm essentially doing whatever the museum wants me to do- it's one of those small community ones, so I'm a combination secretary, exhibit designer, conservator, tour guide, public relations, graphic designer, program planner... sigh.) I like just about everything, but my favourite things in the world to do are: reading, collecting rocks and bone fragments for my garden, gardening, feeding wild grey jays, working, going to school, and taking lazy Sunday drives around the countryside. Feel free to ask me any questions, although please be aware that I might disagree with you- and state it.

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