RZ Stuff

Hello, fair reader!

Well, there’s no Advice Music this week. I know, right? Lame. And this time I actually do have questions to be answered. It’s just that this is a busy season. There are many balls up in the air. If I could be more vague I would say, “Stuff is occurring.” 

This kind of vague nonsense is not helpful, though. Don’t let me get away with that. In fact I’m tempted to write a whole fancy literary essay sometime about the evils of vague busyness. I’m sure I’d end up ripping off parts of it from other, better writers. But if I ever do it, I will present it in a series along with “the perils of inertia” and “the dangers of ambiguity,” which will most certainly involve an extended metaphor about a murky garden and weeds and a minimal harvest and ghostly activity but I haven’t figured it all out just yet.

So, the reason there’s no advice this week? Here, I began to write the reason, but reading it was even more boring than first experiencing it. So I’ll spare you. And I’ll offer a picture of my cat instead. Conveniently, I do have some gigs coming up, so the busyness excuse becomes easier to claim, whether or not it’s true. It also allows me this choice opportunity to promote my shows to you - which are all posted at http://rachelzylstra.com. “If you like me on [Tumblr]… you will also like me in concert. Pretty sure.” And until then, best. - RZ

(Source: advicemusic.blogspot.com)

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Dear Advice Music,

So what do you do if you have a mad crush on someone, but you’re not sure of their sexual orientation? This person is practically perfect in every way… but might be gay.

Thanks!
-Wondering Which Team
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{Lyrics}…

Though I’m sure you’re employing hyperbole,
Through the lens of mad crushing this is difficult to see
That no one is practically perfect – not even s/he
Regardless of being so lovely

And not responding to romance from you
Is a pretty big flaw in any prospective gal or beau
Gay or straight – it’s such a time waste
To pine for one who can’t reciprocate your desire
And can’t see your smoking hotness or rugged handsome face
(You gave me no pronouns to work with so I have to cover all my gender bases)

But which “not knowing” is worse – if s/he’s gay,
Or if s/he’s straight, but just not into you?
Your crush is obliquer than the average bear
Dang, what a fluffy, lovely, confusing bear.

I say just be bold, do some tactful asking.
As for which exact question – I leave it up to you
As for of whom, I leave it up to you
Based on what gives peace to him/her/all of you

The answer might make your life or your day, or might make you say, Okay, and Put this person in their place in your heart at the end of the day.
Clarity’s not easy but it takes away the queasy feeling of uncertainty.
And knowledge is power! - RZ

(Source: advicemusic.blogspot.com)

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Dear Advice Music,

My husband and I are ready to start trying for child #2.  The only problem is that I may be starting a new job in June. How long should we wait to get pregnant after I start a new job? 

Thanks!
Working Mommy
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{Lyrics}…

Rockabye, Baby #2 — who’s not even born, who’s not even yet conceived in your mother’s planful womb — your parents want the best for you, but to not screw her company, too, for when they must deal with the arrival of

You, my dear, little idea of a child. Oh, you’ll be loved alright, once mother knows you’re definitely coming to the world to smile, to disrupt her workaday world — it’s been done before — It’s called maternity leave And it offers a reprieve

No matter how high the glass ceiling gets, there’s no separating baby from the mother who delights in it

Your mom will work it all out with work And if the company has a problem with it/you/her I guess the worst they could do is fire her. But that would be totally illegal. So don’t worry, little baby idea. - RZ

(Source: advicemusic.blogspot.com)

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Dear Advice Music, A bit of an odd question I suppose, but what advice would you give to someone who is quite pessimistic about the future? Not necessarily pessimistic about the world in general — like that the Republicans are going to ruin the country, or that climate change is going to scuttle Copenhagen — though I suppose there’s a good bit of truth to both — but a fairly certain conviction that one’s own life is going to be a failure and end in despair? - Doomed?
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{Lyrics}… There are a lot of reasons it makes more sense to stay in bed Never mind the heart-bleedingest liberals or the right-wingiest Republicans I’ve surely got a bad attitude some of the time But barring a Brooklyn-based land mine just under our gas line - I’m stuck with a hopeful feeling, persisting thing that tends to catch Like a summer forest fire, laughter, or a sketchy looking rash But now, how do I give that to you while you’re feeling immobile Locked in, eyes down, sharpie-markering the futile? You’ve tossed me heavy but I’ll be so bold as to assert Someone loves you And you might be the best or the most hopeless wreck But still, someone loves you I know you have dreams and talents yet untapped Regardless, someone loves you And when you are down, it makes feel bad Someone who loves you Not that you ought to buck up for them The ones who love you but They could tell you, so could a therapist better than I – there’s reason to love Your life and get out from under The slab that’s pinning you down Did I mention someone loves you And their love will always stick around There is hope for your life, and deep down I think, hope, you believe it If there wasn’t you wouldn’t be asking, you would not even be curious. - RZ

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Dilemma? Ask anonymously or email advice@rachelzylstra.com

(Source: advicemusic.blogspot.com)