I've been on and off dating sites for years and despite a few dates, and making some GREAT friends with the complementary sex, it's been a wasteland of unrewarded breath holding.

So why is it that love escapes many of us? Is it the test of one's faith? Is is character building? Is it punishment for writing on the school desk in 1968? And what about these close calls, when people enter our lives and we're happy to have them, ready to feel this is headed for love, only to have them turn into hyper critics who find restorative glee in expanding on every fault they can find in us? Or they use us? Or they just have no idea what they want? Or we remind them of a poodle that once bit them and they shoo us away.

And what's with AMAZING first dates when you know you connected, you laughed and talked and found acres of things in common, and that first kiss goodbye effortlessly merged into a passionate public lip lock that was better than most of the nookie you've had. Including in the car. And then of course, no second date. Poof. Gone. Not today. "I NEED to see other people." Ah yes, more notches in whatever notches are made in these days. And what about the whole "so near but so far" thing. When you actually meet people face to face as opposed to profile to profile, and you have a huge attraction. But the check list of why-nots appears like a proverbial black cloud.

Dating sites can even add to this craziness. "XYZ wants to meet you." No they don't or they'd write me and say I want to meet you. I've been added as a favourite? A favourite what? We've never danced... I've never cooked for you... I've never pruned your tree or arranged your furniture. Exactly what do I do that places me as one of your favourite anythings?

So what's my point? What's the answer? I have no idea. Welcome to my emotional happy meal. I guess we're asking the question, not giving the answer. I'm not a toad... I can speak... love...laugh, cry, if I had to - make a cake out of a box. I have the drives of passion, presence of mind, elegance of thought, inspiration of dreams, milk in fridge. Why doesn't someone "get me". Why doesn't someone want me? Why am I being denied? Hmmmm. Dunno. I have no idea. It's a bloody romantic mystery. —Me

Want people to move to Nova Scotia? Lower property tax, sales tax, land transfer tax, income tax (Provincial Portion) and all the other taxes. This province, and Halifax, is taxing people to death. Stop asking why so many of your sons and daughters are moving to Alberta, the high rate of tax makes it impossible for them to get ahead. Alberta doesn't tax people until they have to move to get away from high taxes. —Frank

Why are there no good single guys in this city? I've lived in Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and many other cities, even places smaller than here, and was always able to find a great guy to go out with. What the fuck is wrong with Halifax? Every decent male catch around here has a girlfriend/wife/fiance. I've lived here for almost 8 months and I swear to fuck, every single man I've met was either a weirdo, a loser, or an asshole! Seriously, I've met tons of guys through friends, family, at work, even online, and all of the dateable ones are taken. The single ones are single for a reason--they have absolutely nothing going for them! I've never been to a place with such a horrid dating scene. It seems to be one-sided too. I've met plenty of great single WOMEN here. Unfortunately, I like penis, not pussy. But thankfully, I'm only here for another month and will be moving back to Toronto for a new job I'm starting, so I don't have remain single or settle for any of these yahoos. I just feel so bad for the great single gals who are stuck here with such duds as prospective mates. —Picking Through Scraps in Halifax

I get that you'd like to get paid and are only volunteering for us so you can further your skills and move ahead in a career, but you took this administrative job knowing it wasn't going to be paid. You have the worst attitude. Every time I send something back to you and ask you to redo it, you grumble! Just because you're working for us for free doesn't mean you don't have to do a good job. Our reports we get you type up have to be perfect, both in its info and appearance. I know you don't think it's that important to have a certain font size or structure, etc. but it matters to us! And the odd time we ask you to get refreshments for our meetings, you give an attitude there too. You told me you're not here to be a caterer and that if you were, you would have taken a hospitality course! Now you're always leaving earlier than you used to. Ok, we're flexible about when you work (usually you work two 6-hour days per week, and it can be any day Mon-Fri), but for the past few weeks, you've been putting only 5 hours in all week. Of course, now you're getting behind and you don't seem to care. I hope you realize that we have fired volunteers in the past and you're on thin ice. You better get your act together and lose the shittude if you want a reference from us. —It's Hard to Find Good Free Labour

To the bus driver who pulled over all crooked at that inlet on Victoria Road just past Albro Lake Road. I took a double take when I saw your piss poor pull over job when you were stopping at that stop in front of the grocery store on Primrose. It's set up to make it easy for you to pull in there, you must have almost passed it and realized you needed to stop. Your ass end was all in the road, after I had to drive around to pass you I looked behind me and saw you texting at the wheel! Another lazy unprofessional overpaid POS that doesn't take the job seriously. People's safety is in your hands, FFS, smarten up. —I Called and Reported You

To the woman who is so darn concerned with sidewalk safety: Thank you for stopping next to me and my bike. Seriously, thank you sooooo much for glaring at me as you spit out, "You know, you're not supposed to have your bikes on the sidewalk." If you stopped for a minute and actually looked, maybe you'd notice the blood streaming from my hands and knees, and the concerned pedestrians around me?? Maybe you'd realize that yeah, it WASN'T MY IDEA TO BE ON THE SIDEWALK EITHER. My brakes failed while going down a hill, forcing me to bail to the side and avoid crashing into a car or killing myself.

Maybe next time take a minute to look around, and ask a question or two before you make your self-righteous claims. And by the way, if my bike and I are WALKING together, we have as much fucking right to be on the sidewalk as you do. Pompous ass. Oh, and to the sweet woman who held my bike and the cute biker who offered me his gloves post-crash?? So much love to you. So much. —The Brakeless Bitcher

So, you said you liked me. The very next day, you act as if you're the most wanted man on this face of the planet, and told me I had "competition," because this old bitch of a "lover" was coming back into town. You then proceeded to mess with my head saying that this Miss Competition and I should be friends. Also, you pointed out that you wouldn't even like to be in a relationship right now, and that I was competing for a "good fuck".

My god, and here I thought you were kinda sweet, and one of the few guys left in the world who would like to have a normal, progressive relationship. Wrong! Get off your high horse and realize that my whole world doesn't revolve around you. —I'm Not That Cheap, and You're Not That Good

I'm tired of your shitty, hipster-filled coffee shops that serve shitty coffee. I'm also tired of all you hipsters polluting any decent place there is left to hang out in this city. There are no decent jobs left here. Everyone is a stoner. People are INCAPABLE of having educated conversations and what the fuck is up with all you slutty tweens? Also, FUCK YOU homeless people who beg me for my money. I'm a student! I can't afford anything either, so kiss my ass! One last thing, why is Halifax so DIRTY? There's garbage EVERYWHERE and not nearly enough garbage cans lined up on the streets.

I can't wait until I get my degree. I am way too good for this city. Haters gonna hate (I'm one of them). —Too Classy For This City

To the asshole that walked into my store raving about "faggots," claimed I "tried to hump your leg" when I walked passed you and yelled "he's one of 'em" when we kicked you out. Guess what pal, I AM one of "them," and if I ever see you again... I don't care if you are a crazy person, nobody should have to put up with your delusional paranoid homophobic bullshit. —Pissed Off Queer

I have just witnessed an accident. Two large vehicles involved. My "BITCH" is this, why would anyone who had a brain cell expect to get through the accident scene? You purposely pulled out of your driveway and came toward the accident, then expected to get through... SERIOUSLY!!! You could see the situation from your driveway. There was a better route and other options. The person involved, who I'm sure had a million things going on in their mind, had to move the truck. You sir are an IDIOT for NOT turning around and getting to your destination another safe way!! GEESH! Where's the humanity? —Observer