Letters February 1 -28, 2003

What is the disorder when a mother never accepts one of her children, because of imperfections?

Dear HB,

It's referred to in clinical terms as lousy parenting. There is no excuse for it. Parents can be disappointed, angry and even ashamed of the behaviors of their kids but they should never reject them. On the other hand the same is true for children. They may not be happy with their parents all the time but they need to accept the fact that their parents like them are also imperfect. It's a hard concept to grasp for some people. I hope you learn to accept your mother while rejecting her behavior.

happy(notperfectbutdamnnearclose)shrink

Dear Happy:

My family doctor put me on Paxil for anxiety three years ago. It helped me tremendously. Currently I'm on only 10 mgs. and I feel fine and have felt fine for a long time. While on this small dose, I'm considering discontinuing this drug. I hear that taking this drug should not be a long term remedy. Also should I expect a relapse of my anxiety. I think I'm ready to discontinue use. I need your advice. Thank You,

Without really knowing your condition, it's hard for me to give you specific advice. There are no assurances as to what will happen if and when you go off the Paxil. What I would advise you is to speak with your physician or better yet a psychiatrist who can monitor you while you are not taking this medication. Just as self medicating is not a good idea, self "unmedicating" can also be a poor decision. Make sure you do it the right way DJ. Good luck and let me know how things turn out.

My concern is for the last 10 years I am having a problem from being sexually abused by a doctor. During my psychosis, in 1990, I think I was having flashbacks of being a child being sexually abused. Well every year since then around August - December, I remembered actually being sexually abused at 16 months old. The psychosis presented itself as me as a child in a bathtub in water with a woman kneeling down beside the tub taking the end of a plunger and sticking it in and out of me.

I need verification that what my mind was doing was taking two incidents and putting it together as one. Because according to my mom she was in labor and she had given me a bath. Then I was the one who remembered the sexual abuse by the man who did it to me. It is very strange. Every year it becomes clearer and every year something physically happens to me.

Next question...... Is it because of being sexually abused by a doctor himself that I am finding it more and more difficult to trust another doctor man or woman? I feel so stupid sometimes. I walk into a doctor's office and my mind starts reeling back to that time. I don't have a clue as to make it stop so that I can focus on what is going on with me then and there. If you have any suggestion please let me know. Thanks,

Angel

Dear Angel,

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that millions have been diagnosed with and millions more have lived with without knowing the reason why they feel anxiety, panic, paranoia and hyper vigilance. These symptoms are not exclusive to PTSD but they often occur with people who have undergone childhood trauma such as physical or sexual abuse.

The best way for you to answer the questions you have as well as get relief from this condition is to see a therapist who specializes in treating people who were victims of childhood sexual abuse. I realize that you might have been treated for your psychosis back in 1990, but it is unclear if you have ever been treated for your PTSD. I would contact family service agencies and mental health clinics in your area to find a therapist. The process of being in such therapy will be a difficult one. Sometimes you may feel worse before you feel better. It is important though to be patient and work closely with the therapist.

There are also many support groups for people who were sexually abused as children. This may also be helpful to you. You might also want to call the local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill or "NAMI." To access their web site so you can find a chapter near you, click here. Good luck Angel. I hope you find the answers you are looking for and more important get some relief from your symptoms.

happy(gettingreliefalittlebiteachday)shrink

Please say you can help me. I'm at my wits end. I have been an attention seeker for a long time. I suffer from depression and am a self-harmer. I seek attention at all given opportunities. I used to work in a doctor's surgery practice and always tried to think up ways of getting attention from the nurses there, by fainting or hurting myself etc. I would never say I had abdominal pain etc. as in Munchausen Syndrome, but was wondering if this was a slight case of Munchausen. I am so fed up with attention seeking and it's taking over my life now. I constantly think of ways to get attention. My self harming is getting worse as I do it for attention sometimes now. Please help me.

While I don't like to make diagnoses for people who I haven't really met, your symptoms might indicate Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This is not a condition that can be cured with medication even though some of the symptoms can be treated with it. I don't know if you have been or are currently in therapy, but I would suggest you look into Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). This form of therapy has been the most successful in helping people with BPD to reduce their attention seeking behaviors, reduce self harm and keep focused on rational thought processes.

As in the previous letter, your should look into social service agencies and clinics that might provide DBT. Conditions like yours are not easily corrected D***. Get the right kind of help you need so you can live a happier life. Good luck.

You might want to start by getting a name that's easier to pronounce. You might also want to take courses in hypnosis, mind reading and ESP. After all of those suggestions have failed, you just might want to try and be yourself.

By being yourself, some girls will like you; some will not. That's just the way it is. Life isn't easy when you are 18 years old and insecure about yourself. It's even harder when you get older and still feel the need to be loved by every girl you find attractive. Don't be a "Shallow Hal" AJMALLALLOUS. Be nice and kind on the inside and you will find others who are also nice and kind on the inside.

There are not-for-profit mental health clinics who charge for services on a sliding scale. I would suggest you make some phone calls to these clinics as well as out-patient hospital clinics. If you are having trouble finding these clinics in your area, you might want to call the local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill or "NAMI." To access their web site so you can find a chapter near you, click here. Good luck with your efforts Cyn and please let me know how things work out.

Is there a depression medication that you can take without having sexual side effects.

Dear CW,

Antidepressants work differently from person to person. While antidepressants that are in the category of SSRI's do have a percentage of people who have "sexual side effects," many people are able to take them without these side effects. Wellbutrin is a medication that is not an SSRI and has less frequency of sexual side effects but there are instances where people have that reaction too.

What is important to remember CW is that all medications have some sort of side effect with some people. If you are in the care of a psychiatrist, you should work with him/her to find the medication that is most effective for you and has the least amount of side effects. Good luck and please feel free to write again.

happy(hasfrontandrearaswellassideeffects)shrink

For the last 12 months I've been suffering with feeling nervous all the time. It's getting worse when i go out and in the last 3 months I've been suffering panic attacks. I went to my doctors who prescribed Dothiepin tablets but i didn't feel much better. With this he sent me to a shrink who said that it sounds like I've got agorophobia so he prescribed me Cipramil tablets but when i started taking them i felt a lot worse which I'm told is normal. He has now upped the dose from 20mg to 40mg. I'm still not right. Does these tablets have to make you feel worse before you feel better because after taking them? For 2 weeks on 20mg i felt ok but after the 2 weeks I started to feel anxious again. Is this normal because he's upped the dose. I don't mind taking these if there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you know what i mean. Thanks for listening and i hope to hear from you soon. bye,

Most psychotropic medications will have more severe side effects when you begin to take them. Your psychiatrist is trying to get you up to a dosage that will reduce your symptoms, however it may take some time for your body to adjust to these meds. It is not uncommon to feel worse before you get better so you are not alone in your experience dawnxx.

It is important to report all of your symptoms to your psychiatrist. Cipramil (aka Celexa) is a very effective medication for depression, anxiety and panic attack. It should give you some relief once you have been on it for awhile. If it doesn't seem to be helping after a month, I would speak to your psychiatrist about other treatment options. Good luck and let me know how you are doing.

Our son became anxious and depressed last spring. He had to leave college and was treated with Effexor and for a brief period l mg. and then l/2 mg. of Risperdol. Now he is back in school and seems 100% again--thank goodness. He is on 1&1/2 mg. of Effexor. His doctor wants him to stay on this until next fall. We are concerned about his ability to come off this drug when the time comes. Do people successfully do this? Have there been studies? We know he would come off gradually, but our concern is whether his brain gets so used to elevated seritonin levels that it can't produce normal levels itself. He had one other two month generalized anxiety episode five years ago and was on Nortriptylene but came off it in 6 months and was fine until April of 2001. Thank you for your comments.

Concerned parents

Your son's ability to get off of the medication he is on is more dependent on his depressive disorder than the effects of the medication on his body. All medications taken over a period of time can have long term side effects. While this is not likely in your son's case it is a possibility. Depression may also be a condition he will be struggling with from time to time. It is the most diagnosed mental illness affecting tens of millions of individuals in the US alone. The good news is that there are more and more medications being developed that are extremely effective and have low toxicity levels. The fact that your son has responded well to medication is an indication that he can live a normal and productive life. Medication may or may not be a part of it and only time will tell. Good luck concerned parents to both of you and your son. Let me know how he's doing.

Glad you are feeling better .. Decided to give you some time before you had to start dealing with Edna and I. While you were out sick I had to be my own shrink .. Read many articles on PMS, change of life and basically EVERYTHING relating to a woman's body .. Here is something I learned and thought you might want to pass it along.

A study at the University of Wisconsin showed that the kind of male face that a woman finds attractive can differ - depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle. For instance, if she is ovulating she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. If she is menstruating she is more prone to be attracted to a man with scissors shoved in his temple and a bat jammed up his ass while he is on fire.

What are some tips for emotional health for people who suffer from Lymphedema? I run a support group and would love to be able to post some tips. Thank you!

Having a support group for people who suffer from Lymphedema is in itself a great tool for emotional health. Within such a support group should be education about symptoms, stages of the condition and treatment. A good web site you may already know is http://www.lymphnet.org/. There is very good information as well as links to other support groups. I would suggest you contact some other support groups for information and suggestions as they would be a better resource than I. Good luck Christine and please let me know how you make out.

One of my good friends was just diagnosed with PDD. I want to know more about it and was wondering if maybe you could assist me in learning more.
Thank You-

Postpartum depression or PPD is a mood disorder that occurs in many women after they have given birth. The nature of this condition varies greatly in severity and longevity. Any women suffering from PPD should see her doctor. There are a number of medications and treatments for PPD and it will depend on circumstance as to what is best for each person. Support groups as well as information about PPD is very critical in helping women understand that they are not alone and it does not make them bad mothers or wives. A good web site to learn more about PPD is http://www.ppdsupportpage.com.

As in the previous letter I will defer to people who are better versed than I in this condition. I hope you find this web site helpful.

I have recently been diagnosed bipolar. I have the rapid cycle with many ups and downs. When I'm real up, i tend to want lots of attention, i want to go out a lot. When I'm down and depressed, i start questioning everything because i didn't understand why I wasn't happy. I was in a 2 year relationship with a brilliant man Chris who I met at college.

I realized i had a problem and starting seeking help and medicine. I started to take Effexor & Trileptal for about 2 months. I was told i was level when i was on the medicine. I soon stopped the meds, b/c after feeling good, i thought i was okay. I couldn't see that i was OK and that i really had a problem after i stopped the meds.

Soon after i stopped the meds, my uncontrollable ups and downs appeared. When i was up, i wanted attention from every guy, and when i was down i would question the love i had for him b/c i didn't feel good so i thought it was his fault. Sometimes i would flip out and throw things & cry.

Because i stopped the medicines my boyfriend left me, because he has been on the roller coaster ride with me for 2 years, and I don't blame him for leaving because my emotions were just draining his emotions right out of his body. And by him leaving it also taught me that i have to stay on medicine if a want to be level again.

It's not that we stopped loving each other that we broke up. It was because of this fatal illness!! Should I move on because maybe he should have stayed by my side. What should I do? I'm hopeless

You are not the first and you certainly won't be the last person who was diagnosed with a mental disorder and had stopped taking medication because they felt better only to find that their symptoms had reappeared. Losing a boyfriend is a high price to pay and I can certainly empathize with your situation. What is really important for you to understand is that you can live a healthy and fulfilling life even with bipolar disorder.

What you need to do is be under a psychiatrist's care at all times. You need to take the medication that has been prescribed as well as maintain proper nutrition, exercise and sleep. From time to time, your symptoms may appear even while taking your medication and this should be reported to your psychiatrist so that you medication can be adjusted.

I can't tell you if you should try to get back together with your boyfriend or move on. What I can tell you is this. You have a choice on how to view your illness. You can view it as the reason for everything that goes wrong in your life and thus feel "hopeless," or you can see it as a inconvenience that may cause some problems from time to time but does not stop you from achieving your goals. You might also want to look into support groups in your area so you can see how other people with bipolar disorder are coping with it. Go luck ~ St and please feel free to write me again.

I've been suffering for about a year now with feeling anxious, uptight, experiencing panic attacks the doctor prescribed me dotheipin capsules which I didn't feel really helped I was on these for about 3 months so he referred me to a psychiatrist who said that it sounds like I'm suffering from agoraphobia. He prescribed me cipramil tablets but since I've started taking these I find myself much worse I'm more uptight than normal I cant go out because of fear of having a panic attack. Is this normal to feel like this after taking these tablets or could it be side affects from coming off dothiepin and will these tablets work eventually? It does say on the pack that for the first 1 to 2 weeks you may be prone to heightened anxiety which I am but I'm wondering will it ever get better? Thanks; I await your reply.

I'm sorry for the delayed reply to your letter. By now you will have determined if you adjusted to this new medication or had it discontinued as a result of your side effects. I am not too familiar with either dotheipin or cipramil. They are not medications that are commonly used in the United States. I would be curious about the cipramil and if it has had any positive affect with regard to your agoraphobia.

This much I can tell you about all medications. Sometimes it's hit or miss. A psychiatrist will prescribe medication that he/she has had previous success. They will take into account your reactions to other medications as well as your overall medical status. Sometimes one has to go through several medications before you find one that works for you. It is important to take a new medication for several weeks to see if it will have the desired outcome. Initial side effects often diminish with time and therapeutic levels of many medications may take a few weeks to occur.

My advice to you dawn is work closely with your psychiatrist and report all the symptoms that you are experiencing. The more your psychiatrist knows about how you are feeling, the better he can help you. Good luck.

There has been a diagnosis of bipolar II with rapid cycling of my 22 year old son. When he was 17 he was experiencing binge eating and craving carbs. He often procrastinated and had trouble concentrating and seeing down at times. I never even thought it might be depression (just a moody teenager) until after a while. After eight months of psychotherapy, Zoloft was suggested. My son was on Zoloft for three years and it seemed to trigger hypomania, then put on Wellbutrin for 6 months and he has stopped taking medication for the last 8 months. He is an artist and feels his work has been compromised as a result of the meds. I have read about the frequency of misdiagnosis. My main question and concern is the following (which I have read in several places): If you have been put on antidepressants and you are bipolar (it certainly was subtle never any high visible mania, but lots of obsessive writing), does it make the illness permanently worse creating rapid cycling and more difficult to treat in the long run. I am trying to get him to go another psychiatrist, as he does not have much faith in one at this point. Thank you for your response.

Bipolar disorder is one of the hardest conditions for psychiatrists to diagnose. Most often, people who suffer from bipolar disorder seek help when they are depressed and may not report mania. Mania can also take many forms and such as obsessive writing which may feel good and not be perceived as part of the illness. Individuals with bipolar disorder often find their "manic" phase exhilarating and a time of great creativity. Artists in particular who suffer from bipolar disorder have reported that treatment often robs them of their passion and creative abilities. I can certainly understand why you son is reluctant to seek help again. He may have decided that it's better to live with the condition and retain his talents.

I don't think that there is any long term damage done by your son having taken Zoloft and Wellbutrin. What is important now is assessing his current level of functioning. If he can manage on his own without treatment and continue to be productive, then perhaps he doesn't need help at this time. If he is struggling, it would be helpful for you to point out that his condition is making him unhappy and it might be better for him to get treatment even if it may sacrifice a piece of his creativity. There are no easy answers to this problem PL. I wish you and your son good luck and please feel free to update me on how he's doing.

first, i will tell you that my partner, as i got to know him, seemed to be suffering from borderline personality disorder along with bi polar disorder. we have a list of all the symptoms and he has displayed almost all of them at some time. he is currently taking anti depressants and trying to relearn, with my help to control his behaviour. he also shows a strong desire to change his behaviour as it is very destructive. the only way i know how to help him is from the information i learned when i studied psychology at university and books and the internet (also, my father has BPD, so i have probably more of an understanding of this illness than most people) my relationship with my partner has come through rocky times but seems to be stabilizing somewhat now and i believe he really wants to improve his life.

she has controlling tendencies.. these being the most dominant of her personality. throughout my partners life, she has basically made up his mind for him with just about everything, which brought about temper tantrums from either of the two of them as to who was going to have control. she also displays neurotic behaviour, reacting to small things with screaming, emotional blackmail, threatening to kill herself, generally over dramatising, saying she is 'afraid' of everything, thinking her son is still a small boy and cannot function unless she tells him how to....this in turn led to him believing it...and sparked him off! she seems very negative, thinks that he is going to 'catch cold' if he doesn't put his slippers on, is obsessed that because he has kidney stones he will die, (which is not true at all as since i have been with him he has been fine and his overall health AND mental health has considerably improved) no matter what he tells her, she will NOT listen and she INSISTS on interfering in his life. he has told her that he wants to do things for himself, as now he has found the strength to draw himself away from his mother and just wants to be left alone to 'give it a go'. there was one day when myself and my partner stayed in his room for 'too long' (in her eyes) and because we didn't come out, she went absolutely crazy, screaming and banging about. saying that we don't like her anymore. we have since tried to talk to her to say that we don't want to argue, but to talk (the most of her conversations with family members consist of mainly antagonistic screaming), we said that we wanted to be together as a couple and if we needed her help we would ask and that we preferred if she didn't interfere anymore (she would constantly insist on telling my partner to take his medication everyday and she didn't have to and no matter what...she still told him, he got sick of it and wanted her to stop) she wouldn't listen yet again. at the moment we are looking for another place to live (which is very difficult to do quickly so we are 'keeping the peace' at home for now) i really want to know what is wrong with his mother and how we can help our situation as there is no way that she will admit she has a problem, she blames her son. is there medication my partner can take that will help him? (he currently takes 'cipramol, 40mg')and do you suggest anything else that will help, i am open to your advice. herbs, diet, you name it.

In the United States there is a very popular movie that came out about 6 months ago called, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." If you are not familiar with it, it focuses on the efforts of a 30 year old Greek woman who is trying to establish her own identity in the face of smothering and intrusive family members. The reason why I'm pointing out this movie is that you can't diagnose someone accurately without understanding the culture of the family. Greek families tend to be very close and children are expected to obey their parent even when they become adults. Your partner's mother's expectation is that he will obey her and to oppose this is a sacrilege.

I'm not sure I have advice for you as far as what to do in your current situation, but I can suggest what not to do. Don't try and change your partner's mother. It won't work and it will only alienate her even further. What would be helpful is to find a way to move out of the situation you are in. This will be difficult and may result in your partner being shunned and even disowned by his family. The decision that he must make is whether or not to remain a part of old world culture or enter a new chapter in his life where he makes decisions for himself. I hope he makes the right decision for both you and him.

I am reluctant to suggest medications and that should ultimately be done by a psychiatrist that he should be seeing as opposed to a family physician. Good luck and let me know how it works out.

Just look at the beautiful gingerbread house Bubba made for me for Valentine's Day. Am I one lucky gal or what?

Dear Happyshrink,

I had a bad year and need help!!! Last year (Dec. 12, 2001) I got busted with 44 grams of pot. No big deal any place but Ga., but in Ga. I got 10 years probation and $12,500 fine. That I cannot pay. My little girl is missing and has been missing for over 2 years now. She is just gone. The cop's found her new car on I- 80 in Ind. Someone tried to cash her check in Canada and use her visa card in D.C. Then on 2-14-02 my X put a 12 gauge shotgun to her Adam's apple and really did it this time. I had to clean the brains, hair and bone off the walls. Then to top it off 4 young black kids burned my house down thinking someone else owned the house. I got to go to jail with no meds etc., for 5 weeks. The cops have yet found the time to check out my side of the story, I got the FBI to look into it thank god for that. But I'm still looking at 20 years but I can prove that I had nothing to do with the fire. But our cab company is gone and have no money, no insurance, income etc. I want to die. The kids don't need any more of this crap. Now to top it off I may have another brain tumor, my 2nd. I am in a lot of pain, the headaches are bad and my back is even worse plus I have TMJ and my shoulder is a mess from the seizures. Please help if u can !!!!!!!!! Truly

Dear Br,

Saying you had a bad year is an understatement. If all you are telling me is true, you certainly need help in the form of counseling and social services. Even in Georgia, they have that. I can't help you from my web page but you can help yourself by seeking these social services. Clearly a lot of your misfortunes were out of your control but some of them weren't. You need to take responsibility for those things that you could have avoided and deal with the other stuff as best you can. You need to look at the resources available to you at this time including friends, family, clergy, doctors and other caregivers. Make the most of your resources Br. They are there even if you don't see them. Good luck.

happy(can'talwayssolveproblemsbutalwayswillingtolisten)shrink

I NEED HELP. I LIE A LOT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP THIS PROBLEM MADE ME LOSE MY GIRL. CAN U HELP?

I can't make you stop lying. Only you can stop that. If you are having a hard time with it, you might want to see a therapist to figure out why you lie so much. There are many reasons why people lie. I don't know why you lie and you may not know why you lie, but you do realize it is hurting your life. Get the help you need now so you can stop lying and stop hurting.

I have been a consumer of mental health for 30 years. I am now 49. My first diagnosis was depression, caused from my attempt to commit suicide. Another diagnosis I have had was schizophrenic reaction; another was schizoaffective; another was adjustment disorder and the last one I've had is bi-polar disorder.

I am dually diagnosed w/substance abuse problems and mental health issues. What I want to know is how do I find out what my true diagnosis is as far as mental health is concerned. Also, I am now in recovery with substantial clean time and I am a born again Christian and I feel wonderful. My psychiatrist swears by the fact that I must continue to take my anti-depressant (Zoloft). Do we ever get well enough to get off of medication?

I can't give you a diagnosis merely by hearing what has been done in the past but clearly depression is a pervasive part of your condition. It is present in all of the diagnoses you have stated.

People can get off of psychotropic medication over a period of time. Your recovery from substance abuse may still be in it's early stages. Your psychiatrist may want you to remain on Zoloft until he/she feels your going off of it will not precipitate a relapse. As someone who is in recovery, I am sure you know that relapse is always an issue to be aware of. You might want to ask your psychiatrist how long he/she thinks it is necessary to be on Zoloft while in successful recovery. You may not get a concrete answer but it would good for you to have this dialogue with your psychiatrist. Good luck with your recovery SW and please let me know how your psychiatrist responds to your query.

A Polish lad married a Canadian girl after he had been in Canada a year or so and, although his English was far from perfect, they got on very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if he could arrange a divorce for him "very quick." The lawyer said that the speed of getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances and asked him thefollowing questions:

POLE: She bought a bottle at the drug store, and put on shelf in bathroom. I can read - it says, "Polish Remover."

I would like to know how long Zyprexa stays in the body? Someone told me 48 hours and it has been depleted. I heard somewhere else that it may stay in the system for a while possibly 3 wks, but with higher levels of stress it is depleted more quickly. I wonder if you could narrow that down a little more.

Your information is pretty much on target. Therapeutic doses of Zyprexa will stay in one's body for about 48 hours. This will vary depending on stress and metabolic levels. Trace amounts of Zyprexa may remain for several weeks but without any therapeutic effect. Everyone's metabolism is different so there isn't an exact time frame. Individuals who take Zyprexa or any other psychotropic medication should get as much information from their psychiatrist about their effects on the body. I'm sorry I couldn't narrow it down for you.

Dear Happyshrink,

How long does it take to diagnose depression in adolescents. And do you think it is right for a psychiatrist to take someone off a medication after talking with them for an hour. Also in that hour the psychiatrist told my dad that my ADHD was all in my head and that I don't need medication for it. What do you think about this?

Dear KM,

Usually, a child is diagnosed with ADHD after given a series of psychological tests. The psychiatrist will usually review the results and determine the treatment. If you had this testing and it indicated ADHD, then you should have been prescribed something for it. Sometimes though, kids are prescribed Ritalin and other medications without testing because they report having difficulty concentrating in class. There are many reasons why kids may have difficulty with concentration and not all of them are ADHD. If you weren't tested, I would suggest your parents request that you be tested in school. If you were tested a long time ago, it wouldn't hurt to be tested again. Let me know the results if this occurs.

happy(hopingforgoodresults)shrink

Dear Happy,

A quiet little man was brought before a judge. The judge looked down at the man and then at the charges and then down at the little man in amazement.

"Can you tell me in your own words what happened?" he asked the man.

"I'm a mathematician dealing in the nature of proof."

"Yes, go on," said the astounded judge.

"Well, I was at the library and I found the books I wanted and went to take them out. They told me my library card had expired and I had to get a new one. So I went to the registration office and got in another line. And filled out my forms for another card. And got back in line for my card."

"And?" said the judge.

"And he asked 'Can you prove you're from New York City?' ....

So I stabbed him."

JeWitch

Dear JeWitch,

If this same situation occurred in Orlando Florida (your home town) the old man would have shot him with a gun.

happy(andnon-violentaslongasyouBEHAVE!!!)shrink

Just so you know, Happy is fine. His network card, unfortunately, may be in critical condition. For that reason, he will be unable to update until he figures out what's wrong. But he's doing GREAT and back to work!

Postings from February 1-28, 2003