Ask Rachel

Dear Rachel,

I know that running away to join the circus is a bit of a cliche?. But I’ve hit a point in my life where I don’t even care about filling out every stereotype in the book. I’m done with my job, done with my girlfriend, I’m even done with my dog. I think my best option left truly is to run away and join the circus. So what do you recommend I take with me when I go? Any insights into which circuses you’ve heard positive things about?

– Bearded Man

Dear Geek Show,

First of all, I think you need a rarer schtick than “bearded man.” But you’re in luck! The circus is performing here this very weekend. And it’s the first big show by Durango Aerial Arts & Acrobatics, so you don’t even have to run very far to join the circus. I recommend starting there, and then you can run farther abroad if you catch the bug.

– Ladies and gentlemen, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

How many no’s do you have to hear before you accept the no? I’m not talking in a #MeToo way – one no is enough in that case, obviously. I’m talking the socially annoying no’s. Like when you get invited to dinner, and you ask if you can bring something, and your hostess says no. And you say, “Are you sure? I don’t mind,” and she says “No, we’re set.” There’s like a teeter-totter balance here, and I think I tend to over-push it. What are your thoughts?

– No Clue

Dear Nonsense,

I’m a pretty big advocate of people saying what they mean. So I think one “no” is always enough no, ya know? If your hostess really means “yes,” and she just expects you to push back on her “no,” then that’s her freaking problem, and she can swallow her pride and make her own grapefruit salad if she’s not going to ask you to bring it.

– It’s the only business I no, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

My boyfriend and I are not actually together in any intimate, emotional or logistical way, but neither of us has broken up with the other. And the reason, at least for me, is that we run a business together. We’re basically business buddies. But I’m afraid that if I make the breakup formal, it’ll spell the end of the business. How do I back out of the relationship while keeping the professionalism?

– Pulling Out of the Company Ink

Dear Better Business Bureau,

Your mental and emotional health is more important than any business, unless it’s a business I rely on, in which case you better keep it running. But you’re in a unique position. What if you never break up, you just simply... fade away? And next time you want to date a fella, just do it, and when/if your business associate sounds surprised, you can put it on him: “Wait, you thought we were still together?” And if that fails, there’s always the circus.

– Please take our short survey, Rachel