Going to prom alone leaves teen odd girl alone at table TO DO TODAY
DEAR ABBY: I'm a high school junior, and my school's prom is coming up. I don't have a date. I completely understand that I don't need a date for prom to have fun. However, within my group of friends, we are organizing who will sit at our 18-person table, and I'm the only dateless person at our table, which means I'm the odd one out (eight couples plus me for a total of 17 seats filled).
I know I should try to have fun even if I'm the only one by myself, but the situation makes me feel so alone. I asked two different guys if they wanted to go with me: One ended up going with a different girl and will be sitting at our table. The other didn't want to go with me.
How should I handle this situation and be able to have fun at prom, even though I'll be sticking out as the only person in our entire group they often talk three times in one day.
This happens hour after hour, and her friend loves to call at 6 in the evening, meaning we often don't eat until well after 7. Last week I clocked her at 16 hours on the phone with just this one woman. Do I have a problem here? Or does she?
— CALLING OUT IN FLORIDA
DEAR CALLING: You both have a problem. Hers is her addiction to her phone. Yours is the inability to convey to her that what she's doing deprives you of sharing dinners together on a regular schedule, and robs you of time that could be spent communicating with each other. And that presents a danger to your relationship.
DEAR ABBY: I am a 27-yearold married man with two kids. They are 4 and 1 years old. I love my little family, and there has been a lot of “newness” to my life over the past few years.
My issue is that I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my identity. I no longer go out with friends because I feel guilty leaving my wife home alone with the kids. I also work a lot, so many nights I come home late and just crash. I have thought about taking a weekend trip alone to sort of reconnect with myself and get some things done, but would that be selfish?
— IDENTITY LOSS
DEAR IDENTITY LOSS: It wouldn't be selfish if you gave your wife the opportunity to take a similar sanity break when she feels the need. Or better yet, find a trusted baby sitter and the two of you go together. — 7:30 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena; $79-$169; 1-800-745-3000. — 8 p.m., Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free.
— 7:30 p.m., Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; featuring a bluegrass-inspired concerto performed by violinist Tessa Lark; $12-$65; (860) 443-2876.
— 8:30 p.m., Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme St., Old Lyme; $35; (860) 434-2600.
— 7 and 9:30 p.m., Comix at Mohegan Sun; $30-$65; 1-800-745-3000.
— 4 and 8 p.m., Foxwoods’ Fox Theater; circus performance by The 7 Fingers; $25-$50; 1-800-200-2882.
— noon and 2:30 p.m., Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook; by the Missoula Children’s Theatre; $12-$16; 1-877-503-1286.
— 7:30 p.m., Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly; local murder mystery comedy; $20, $17 seniors, $12 children; (401) 596-2341.
— 8 p.m., Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St.; musical featuring the works of Burt Bacharach; $55, $50 seniors, $25 students, $20 children; (860) 767-7318.
— 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Velvet Mill, 22 Bayview Ave.
— 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Masonicare at Mystic, 45 Clara Drive, Mystic; with antiques, food and live music; free.
— 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St.; fourth annual festival featuring local writers of all genres; free; (860) 447-1411.
— 7-10:30 p.m., Montville VFW, 1 Raymond Hill Road; Irishthemed dance with music by The Illusions; $10 members, $12 nonmembers; (860) 889-5943.
— 8-11 p.m., Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Road; beginner lesson at 7:45 p.m.; open to all; $10 adults, $7 students; (860) 961-9321.
— 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mystic and Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic; giant Lego fun for all ages; free; (860) 536-7721.
— 2:30 p.m., Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road; presented by Pumpernickel Puppets; for ages 3 and up with an adult; free; (860) 444-5805.
— 2:30 p.m., Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Road; hosted by the Junior Friends; free, drinks available for purchase to support the library; (860) 441-6750.
— 5-7 p.m., Cragin Memorial Library, 8 Linwood Ave., Colchester; crafts for all ages to celebrate National Puppy Day; free;