Yes, I'm an adult and yes, your advice was bad.

Does anyone else out there occassionally wonder why it is that everyone else in your life is absolutely certain they know what's best for you?

It is really awful when you finally have to make it obvious to your family that yes you grew up, and yes, you can now do things yourself and make reasonable decisions without the input of your parents. Then there's the big kicker: they may not know what is best for you anymore. You may be a completely different person for the one they knew and from who they are.

Now I have found myself in an ackward position. I accepted a very curteous offer from a "family friend", and I am now paying the price for it.

While, granted I have been very blunt about the problems with this apartment/house (whatever), I have also not been fully forthcoming about the drawbacks. I never said I was a quiet sufferer. Everyone who knows me knows if I'm unhappy every body is going to know it. It's the way I am. I'm open and mouthy, some find it endearing, others don't.

Yet I am still made to feel guilty about not beign overjoyed and happy about fake wood paneling, no bath tube, no privacy, 2 (count'em 2 packs) of diseased dogs with a serious grudge against runners. One even has a missing eye. No, it's not been stitched up, its just missing. Go figure.

Then there's the gate opening kid across the street. We've had one "accident" already. The girls were going on a little vacation thanks to that "lovely, happy, pleasant" little child.

The there's the neighbor who doesn't understand that: "(1) No, I'm married and I won't go anywhere with you, and (2) No, a week later I still don't want to socialize with you." "I don't care if it's date or not. I'm married, Go Away!"

Now, yes, he seems like a very nice person but I'm really not in a social mood. if I'm going to make any new friends in the next 6 weeks, they need to seriously have things in common with me, and I don't think this guy does. I may be wrong, but I don't have time to find out right now.

Yes, for those of you thinking I'm harsh, your right, I am. My niceties are being reserved for those who need them right now: my parents, Clif, Clif's sister, etc. I have a severly limited supply at the moment.

And I'm realizing I have enough friends and others in my life with whom I do not have anything in common.

I'm not a real socially, outgoing woman, I like to be left alone. If I want to be your friend I'll let you know. Otherwise just let it go. Waive be polite, but otherwise just stop. One of my best friends had to pretty much beat me over the head with friendship before I gave in.

That's not going to work for this guy.

I need to just be left alone to be cranky and anti-social, and everyone else should stop making me feel guilty about it. the girls and I are doing the best we can with what we've got.