My girlfriend and I were together for almost a year. Most of the time, our relationship was great. We started fighting about stupid things torward the end of our relationship, buut they were never terrible fights. Recently she broke up with me because she says she in uncertain what she wants to do with her life, and she cant be in a relationship with me. She says she still loves me, but just not enough to be my girlfriend. This girl is everything to me, and I miss her so much. I know if I was given a second chance our relationship would be great. I told her I still want to be with her, but she doesnt want to be together right now. How can I get her to love me again and give our love a second chance?

-Heartbroken...8/15/99

Mo: Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. Almost everyone at onetime or another goes through an experience like this. It leaves us defeated and for some, hardly able to put one foot in front of the other or get on with our lives. There are, of course, many reasons why it can happen, but the point is that it did happen. I believe that the best action for you to take at this point is no action. Unfortunately, when one person breaks off a relationship, if the other person keeps calling them or whatever, it only makes the situation worse. I know it sounds nearly impossible to do, but you should "hole up" so to speak and do the things that keep you reasonably happy. If it's reading books, do that. If you like to go to the horse races, do that. (You get the idea) Unfortunately, you won't really feel happy, but it will give you both a little breathing room. Sometimes after this "period of adjustment" when you are apart the two people may feel that they were meant for each other. Sometimes, because they get some perspective on the situation, they find that they have other interests and maybe it wasn't meant in the first place. In any case, the best thing to do is nothing for now. I wish you well and am sorry to hear that this happened.

I am a medicall student organizing a dance formal for our students. I am looking for a nice place but interesting or weird! I rather not hold it at a hotel ballroom but maybe a museum or ... If you have any suggestions please advise me! My budget is about $5000.00! Thanx

-Sam...2/26/99

Mo: There are several interesting places to hold events within DuPage County and outside. As you have noted, many of the museums will let organizations put on events of this kind. You would have to check with them individually on cost, availability, etc., but your best bet is with the Chicago area museums: Field Museum does this for sure and others may as well. Other venues include Navy Pier (in Chicago once again). Within DuPage County, a good place is the DuPage County Forest Preserve's Dan and Ada Rice Farm. They have a house that can be rented and if more space is needed an additional tent can be set up. The Glen Ellyn Boathouse is also available for this type of event. (Not sure if the GE boathouse has a license to permit liquor, however.) You would need to call the Glen Ellyn Park District to find out about the boathouse. You would need to call around for price, etc., but other options might be: College of DuPage Arts Center, Chicago Golf Club, Glen Oak Golf Club, Medinah Country Club, if you know someone who is a member of one of these clubs (or has a parent who is a member).

Without doing the research, here are some places that might be options, but I'm not sure if they have the space or not: Elmhurst Art Museum, The Chicago Athenaeum at Schaumburg (847-895-3950), Brookfield Zoo, Prarie Center for the Arts (Schaumburg), Sunny Acres Farm in West Chicago (maybe they'd set up tents), Cosley Farm (Wheaton), Blackberry Farm, Aurora.

Also, you might try calling the DuPage County Historical Museum at 630-682-7343. If they don't do it, they might have some other ideas, as well.

Hope something works out. You need to make your reservations well in advance with most of these types of places. Good luck!

Mo, I'd like to add my picture to my ad. I'm unable to do this! Could you please help me? Thank you.

-J_H_M...2/3/99

Mo: Dear J_H_M... This, believe it or not, is becoming a commonly asked question. We at BurbsWest, are perhaps assuming a bit too much when it comes to people's computer knowledge? It's a learning experience for all of us! Ok, here is what needs to be done:
1. Have a photo of yourself scanned, and here's the important part, SAVE IT IN EITHER .GIF or .JPG FORMAT to your hard drive. Those formats are the only two this website will recognize. JPEG is the most desireable format for photos, by the way.
2. On the entry page of the personals ad section, you'll see this: To create a free add, modify or delete an existing ad or check your messages, click here. (You can actually click the word "here" to be taken to this area of the website).
3. Type in your username and password to enter the next area, where you can modify, delete, or check messages.
4. You'll see this line" To modify or delete your ad, click here....Do so.
5. Follow instructions and when you get to the "PHOTO" part, with the "BROWSE" button, hit the browse button, to locate, on your hard drive, your scanned photo. That's it.

Hope this helps!

Hi Mo...I have been corresponding with a guy over the internet for several months now. We have spoke on the phone to each other for the last 2 months. Our conversations are, shall we say, quite "stimulating". We have agreed to meet in the near future. I really want to consume him, like a vulture to it's prey, but I don't want to come across being too aggressive.

-Missy...1/12/99

Mo: Missy, sounds like you're an aggressive soul and most likely, have exhibited this trait both online, and over the phone. Have you ever considered that your sig. other just might be turned on by your aggressiveness?

Mo, where does a guy draw the line regarding cologne and what constitutes too much? Some women claim to really enjoy the spicy, manly scent trailing off my person, as I walk past the rows of cubicles, then, others, whom I have been friendly with for a good stretch of time, always criticize what they deem, overuse of my cologne. Any advice?

-Biff Studly...1/11/99

Mo: Biffy, just whose opinion should you value anyway? I guess time will tell if vanity wins this battle.