I've been through many rejections, which left sourness about relationships. However, my recent "rejection" is baffling.

I was hooked up with this girl, we hit it off well, and I heard I made a good impression on her. I like her, and she likes me.

But - typical Chinese superstition - those who hooked us up, because "the stars aren't aligned properly" for a good relationship to flourish, called it off. My phone calls go unanswered. I wanted to hear her say it, for actual closure.

Even the cosmos conspires to ensure I stay single entering my 30s! A direct, straight, no BS rejection I can take. But this - coupled with my previous bad experiences - I don't know if I can take it anymore.

Fed Up

You're trying too hard, dramatizing too much. This wasn't a near-relationship. You're not even suited to her, since she believes such superstition.

Instead of trying to be "not-single," try to meet people on your own, as friends. Then you can build a dating relationship, knowing there are things in common and mutual comfort.

For two years, I've dated a widower of four years. He has two very nice adult kids, mid 20's. Both do nothing all day, every day, since before their mother died.

One, a high-school dropout, was diagnosed with depression and advised 18 months ago that a short-term residential program is needed... but there has been no movement on this.

The older "child" has twice dropped out of college, yet lies to her father, saying she's attending.

The father is successfully employed, active, with several pursuits. The kids are "stalled" in life. Their father refuses to address this with them, nor allow even polite conversation about it from his own family members or me.

I don't see any possibility of moving forward in this relationship. Before I cut my losses - any advice?

Uncertain

Cut your losses. You have no respect for their father's attitude towards his grown children. And though they're "nice," you have no great affection or compassion for these young adults who'd be in your life if you stay with him.

Worse, you don't have any sense of partnership with this man, since he won't talk to you about the obvious problem that would divide over the long-term. In fact, it already does.

I've been dating someone for a year, we seem to "get" each other deep down, and are both great influences on each other's lives.

However, he comes from an affluent family, with tight-knit "neighborhood" friends. I finally broke things off after he blew off my birthday for a cottage weekend with these friends.

After eight months apart, we both realized that we don't want to get over each other and are trying to ease back. He says that I am "the one." However, I am sitting home alone tonight because he's already making me feel excluded again.

One of those "friends" was flying in from Chicago, would be staying with him, so we couldn't hang out as planned.

What do I do? He seems to get the problem but not how to change. I love him but I deserve more then this.

Lost

Tell him you must meet his friends and be included, or the relationship is a lose-lose for both of you. He's young, and clearly doesn't know how to break through the "clubbiness" of his old neighbourhood pals. You're young too, but wisely self-confident, which is what he needs to learn to feel about his own choices.

Give him one more chance.

Too many people leave urine on toilet seats (women, when they squat) or dripped onto toilet bases or the floor (men, when they stand).

This practice is filthy and offensive to others who use the toilet, let alone the cleaning staff. I think of children possibly sitting on the mess left from the last person.

This is really prevalent both in workplaces, public washrooms, and schools, even among visitors to private homes. Education on cleanliness is needed.

Disgusted

Speak up on the spot. When you enter a soiled toilet area, say aloud that it's disgusting and hopefully you'll raise an alert that people do note who created the mess.

Put a note up in your workplace washrooms (it's even better if you can convince a boss or Human Resources to do so). If you're a parent, urge the school to do the same and to include bathroom etiquette in health class.