Nick

I'm kinda frustrated. I'm 17, and I just want a break. Im definitely overtired, and I just want a week where no one tells me I have to do something, or that I need to be somewhere or get something done or rush to finish something or go faster or keep telling me I'm behind on something. Id really like to travel. In all brutal honesty, I have been in the same place for 17 years. I have never in my life been more than 2 hours from my house, because no matter how much I try I cant afford to make the time for it, either Id miss a lot of work or Id miss too much school and be ambushed with piles oh homework when I got back. I can't say anything though, because everyone just says "well I'm sorry you're life is so boring" or "be honest you haven't really been working that hard" (even though I feel like I am). And I have this feeling like even though I am trying really hard people are just telling me that I haven't been working hard or to work harder still. I'm not angry at all or anything, but I have this gut sort of 'feeling' that I won't be really happy till I'm actually doing what I want to do, and feeling like me trying hard like iam is actually good, not hearing all the time how 'were really behind' or really need to get moving' so they slather twice the work on me and expect me to do it in less time. I think Im kinda overwhelmed, and I have this feeling of trying hard but its not enough. Anyone got any advice?

One of my high school buddies just invited me to a birthday party he's having. But I'm just not a party person, I just never got into them. I know everyone there, and II really like talking to people, but I feel like after everyone's been talking to each other for at least an hour, you just kind of run out of stuff to say. I'm not antisocial or anything, I have lots of friends, in fact I'm friends with at least half the people that'd be at this party, I just find it really tedious to make small talk for 3+ hours with the same people, not to mention I can't stand the awkward silence I get when I run out of things to say. Half of the party is a movie, so I feel like it might not be so bad, but I'm just thinking about the other half. I'd really hate to be rude and act like I'm bored or something, the guy that invited me is one of my best friends, not to mention his friend, who is my girlfriend, will also be there, but I'm just not a party person. I'd consider myself a more casual 'chat' kind of person, you know, talking to a couple buddies for and hour or maybe two, but not all of them for 3+ hours. Is it rude to just lie that I can't go?

So half my family is Mennonite. Lately it just seems like they're judgemental, closed-minded, and they don't like you if you're not like them. I want to be a doctor, and they're okay with that, but I never want to talk about evolution (which I partially support) because I feel like they'll shun me or something. I do also support creation (I believe in God), but I don't want to go to church or anything else they do. I'm scared to introduce a potential girlfriend, because I'm worried she'll swear or something and everyone will disapprove of her, or because she won't be wearing a dress and head kerchief, like all the other women do. AND I'M TIRED OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH GROUPS ON THE STREET TELLING ME I'LL ROT BECAUSE EVERYTHING I DO IS A SIN! My dad keeps pushing me to be more religious, and I never know what to do, because he's a really great dad and I don't want him to be mad at me, but I don't support his religion anymore. Once, when going to a family reunion as a kid, I had to change my clothes, because I was wearing a black and red shirt. I asked my mom (she was catholic, converted Christian) if my dad would be upset if I didn't want to be a Christian anymore, and she said he very likely would be. I don't want everyone to be mad at me, but I'm tired of being in a religion I don't support. What should I do? Can anyone suggest a potentially lighter religion? Maybe Catholicism or something like that?

I played a student level fiddle for about 2 years, and I loved it. Just recently, I bought a new electric fiddle, around 1800 for it and some really nice amps and cables, and wow! It sounds incredible! Everything is and bright and powerful and clear!!! The onle problem is, now I can barely stand to hear my old one! If I play the same song, the same way (they even have the same strings) it sounds five times worse than I remember it before. There is this 'mush' in between the notes, and it a sounds off tone, even if I play while using a tuner. If it's important, the bridge did snap. I had if repaired, but the new bridge they gave me is really thick and a lot shorter than the old one. Also when I liked the sound post was severely of centre, almostnear the right f-hole. Is it possible it just sounds bad because its compared to a great sounding one? Why wouldn't I have noticed any of this 'mush' or anything else before?

I've been a fiddle player for about two years. I play with a set of d'addario zyex light strings. These are by far my favourite strings, out of the many others I have tried. They have worked absolutely perfectly until now. When I was plucking the A string to tune it, there was almost a hissing sound that followed the note. Then, as I was playing, the A string literally started unwinding. And not out of tune or anything like that, the string itself started unwinding! I've never had this problem before! I just changed this set three or four weeks ago, and they're fairly expensive to have to replace that often. Is it possible that this string was just a dud, maybe a production error? Sorry I'd upload a pic but I can't seem to right now.

I recently saw someone in my neighborhood was selling an old looking car, probably between 70s to 90s. It looked lice a nice car, the owner was asking 5500 for it. The only thing is, I've never heard of the manufacturer! Apparently it is a one of a kind 'Brookland' or something like that. I've never heard of 'Brookland" vehicles, and apparently neither has the internet. Can anyone tell my if they have ever heard of Brookland? Or is I'm saying it wrong, maybe a car brand that was/is close to that name?

Okay so I wanted to slim up a little bit and build some muscle. So, I went to a personal trainer. Essentially she put me on a paleo diet, which was more or less no refined sugar. That's fine, I honestly somewhat new I ate too much sugar. Then she told me to essentially cut dairy products, except greek yogurt. A bit surprising, I thought some dairy was good for you, but sure. THEN she tells me I should do my best to avoid grain products. Granted, you kinda know those things are bad for you anyway, but are you telling that any other healthy-weighted person on the planet doesn't eat a sandwich once in a while? I have three servings of non-white grain products a day before this diet. So next, she tells me grapes are essentially sugar (I'm exaggerating a little but you get the point.) My only little thing is: ALL FRUIT IS PRETTY MUCH SUGAR. Is she really telling me to not eat certain fruits? Because, apparently, what nature intended for us to eat is actually bad for you! I'm 17! I need food! Anyway else think this diet is a bit extreme, I only told her I wanted to lean out a little bit!

Source: The guy who's about to make a freakin' cheese sandwich.

With grapes.

I think I'm a hypochondriac. I am always worried about things, from ticks to forgetting to the lock the door (Even though I just locked it). I always seem to imagine the worst-case scenario, and if I read about an illness, I'll think I have it. It is frustrating and debilitating, always having to quadruple-check that I turned the stove off (sample scenario) because I'm worried the house could burn down, and it will be my fault my family is homeless because I would have left the stove on, even though I know I did turn it off. I'll get out of bed 3 times during the night to make sure the thermostat was turned completely off. I'm a 17 year old guy. I just want to relax and not worry about every little thing.

Okay so I have been playing the fiddle for about two years now, and recently I've considered buying a more professional instrument, since I have only a student model violin now. My fiddle teacher told me that he was looking to sell one of his for $2000.00. He said it was appraised at 3 grand. I've seen it, held it, heard it and even played it, though only a little bit. But my parents think the money would be better off being put towards my education. So, should I buy this instrument, or follow my parents suggestion and just stick with my student model until I finish my education (which will take a good 8 years to finish.) ?

That's actually pretty much it. Nothing really seems to 'fizz' on me. When someone comes up and says there's a problem or something, I always just say something like "No worries, it's all good. We'll just deal with it and fix it." and then I just work on a solution. I have been told I'm too calm, and I actually seen some people almost get excited asking me how nothing bothers me! I'm just asking because I'm wondering if this is one of those "passive" situations or something. Why doesn't anything bother me?

Im a fairly shy guy. When I was a kid, I had a really hard time fitting in and making friends, and I never knew how to interact with people. I've only had one girlfriend, and it didn't work out because I could never think of things to do or say. It's getting a little better now, but I still don't go to parties or anything else because I feel like I don't have anything interesting to say/do.

I recently saw an advertisement for free acting lessons, and I was wondering if anyone else also thought this could be a good way to learn how to act with people, to get better with friends, be more spontaneous, maybe even get better with girls.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers!