I just read an article in last Sunday's NYT about married couples in group therapy who constantly fight and have a corrosive way of dealing with each other. My gist of the article is that maybe marriage is just not "normal." It's more challenging than raising kids, a job, or even keeping the weight off. Every couple has their problems (even the most *irritating* kissey face pairs). So do we fight through the hard times? Is it that we don't want to die alone or is it possible that marriage is a relationship like all others? Some are easy, some are difficult? And if it's the latter, should we cut bait and look for the former? I'm sure we've all trimmed out the crazy friends along the way. Shouldn't it be the same for SigOs?

My best friend, who was formerly single (and fun), has recently become involved with THE MOST OFFENSIVE MAN ON EARTH. What's worse is that they seem to be on the road to matrimony. How can this be happening? The guy is not only unattractive and a moron. It's like he has Tourettes with the offensive comments. He'll say something like, "At least you don't need an advanced degree for your job." This refers to my job as a Real Estate broker as opposed to his job as an almighty accountant. It's typical for him to offend an entire group of people in under an hour. Before dessert, we're all edging for the door. I don't want to say anything to my friend but I'm getting tired of dodging her social invitations.

I was talking to my girlfriends last night. Some of us are married. Some of us live with our boyfriends. Some of us are single and/or dating. Many of us haven't had sex in weeks, months even and modesty aside, we're hot chicks. Shouldn't our SOs be chasing us around the bedroom? We spent the night talking about how long term relationships get boring. Dudes and football. Dudes and the dwindling romantic overtures. We are relegated to fantasies of busboys, ex-boyfriends, "What If's" and missed opportunities. In the words of David Byrne, "Well, how did I get here?" Without sounding like a lame Carrie Bradshaw column, "Is it really possible to combine sizzle and security. Or is a long, hot marriage only something that exists in movies and "Friday Night Lights"?

Once I break up with a guy, he is forgotten. I never had any regrets except this one time. At 19 I dated a tragic, sexy Spaniard. We slept together once. He told me over pillow talk that he wasn't the kind of guy to be in a serious relationship. I began seeing someone else. Seven summers later, I ran into him after I got engaged. He asked me out before I could show him my ring. We sadly joked about timing. Then last night after not seeing him for years I ran into him at the Soho House while having drinks with my girlfriends. We just kind of gaped at each other and spent the rest of the night catching up. He lives in Barcelona and was passing through New York for the weekend. I thought, 'Out of all the gin joints'... He asked me if I was still married. I showed him a photo of my husband and baby girl. We kept grinning like idiots and exchanged email addresses. Now comes the e-romance. The emails are totally harmless and consist of safe/innocuous topics for now. Maybe staying in touch with the Ex isn't such a good thing?...