Last Sunday, I told Relentless Salsero why I've been avoiding him like the plague. For 36 years I've relied on my Avoidant Persoanlity to deal with relationship problems. I figured that if it was good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me.

However, it's starting to get a little old to expect everyone to interpret my non-verbal cues. I also don't know any other way to deal with Lost Coffee Shop Creeps (aka, Schizophrenics Without Meds according to fellow Bitter Coffee Shop Writer). I have to say things like, "Go away, please." Large Blond Guy, who, according to Coffee Shop Manager, gets here at 6:00 am and leaves at ?? pm, starts a conversation with me anytime my line of vision falls within a ten foot radius of him. It gets to the point where I'm afraid to look up from my computer. Bottom line, I'm all growed up and I need to start acting like it.

So, I figured I'd start with the person I've been most recently avoiding, Mr. Relentless.

Plus, Relentless has always been big on honesty. So, here goes:

"Your constant sexual aggression is totally alienating me from you," I told Relentless.

(You go, girl!)

"I'm not going to change. This is who I am," he responded.

"I'm not asking you to change. But if you want call me to go out to dinner or work out, I want to let you know why I'm not going to call you back. I'm just being honest."

After that the conversation devolved into something like third grade banter ending with his request that I not tell anyone else about our conversation in case he wants to "pursue" her (of course I won't tell anyone, but I will write about it in my blog). I've always admired Relentless' integrity about his sleazeball nature, but, in the end, hanging out with him left me feeling like I'd just been run over by a snail brigade.

Needless to say, he's not thrilled with me right now. I don't think being honest is a good way to become popular. But it does give me a lot more to write about.

Just for today, I can be honest in relationships.