Dear Cloudy...

Dear Bitter Amanda,
My case might be a bit particular but my question is pretty universal. After recently ending (not in a good way) a long-term and often long-distance relationship and spending a year abroad during which my parents moved across the country, I will spend my summer living at home and working in Denver. In short, the forecast for my summer is heavy loneliness with a chance of culture shock. I would really like to make some friends, preferably of the male persuasion, but I am completely lost as to how to go about doing that after not being single for the past 4 years, not being in the US for the past 10 months, and never being to Denver ever! Do you have any tips on how to meet people? How to avoid too much parent-time? Any good summer airline deals so I can visit my friends around the country?
Merci,
The Lone Ranger


Dear Cloudy,
I freaking wish I knew about good airline deals! The few people who can tolerate my attitude for long periods of time are scattered around the country/world.
Summer is quickly coming to an end, so I have managed to dodge the too much parent-time question. Hooray for me! And once again, my extreme procrastination has yielded positive results. (In fairness, I did warn readers that I would be away. But you all have lots of issues, so it couldn't be avoided.)
Meeting people is tough. Meeting boys is even harder, unless your standard for male companionship is quite low. If that's the case, dollface, head to your local bar! Any bar will do! Please be prepared to discuss the finer points of Transformers and your position on beer pong vs. beirut. If you're looking for something more, then I'm out. I have no idea where the nice ones are hiding. I can't imagine they've formed some sort of underground society, but it's entirely possible...since they are nowhere to be found. As for friends, go sit somewhere public and either play Solitaire or do a Sudoku puzzle. I've never been able to do either without someone over my shoulder wanting to help. (Which, by the way, family and friends, is SUPER AWESOME OF YOU. Really. I mean that.) (Oh, wait. No, I do not. Alone time is alone time, dammit.)
Solitarily yours,
Bitter Amanda

Dear Contestant...

Dear Bitter Amanda,
I was recently dumped by my boyfriend of two and a half years. And to be honest, I still haven't figured out why. He called me up one night, we chatted for 10 minutes, and he asked if he could come over. Since he goes to school an hour away, this was an unexpected visit, and I was happy. And he brought me a gift, and I was very happy. And then he dumped me, and I was fucking pissed. He thought that "things might go downhill later" and didn't want it to get ugly. He refused to fully explain himself. So the question is...what kind of a douchebag brings a present when they break up with someone??
Dumped in the D


Dear Contestant,
Thanks for playing our game! Nothing shouts true love like "parting gift." You sure had yourself a winner, pumpkin. Normally, I'd suggest that he was cheating and that you should go all Carrie Underwood on his ass. But here's my theory--he's not very bright. Doesn't strike me as very charming--so I'm not sure he sounds like the kind of guy who could juggle two women at once--that requires a certain amount of skill. And the man who brings a present doesn't really have any.
Since this is by far one of the most absurd break-up stories I've heard, I have compiled a list of the worst. Please note that these are not set in stone, and I am willing to amend the list at any given time. I now present...

Bitter Amanda's Top 5 Lamest Break-Ups

1. Flavor of Love, Season Two. He brought New York back a second time, only to dump her AGAIN. On national television. That's cold, Flav.

2. Rory, Gilmore Girls. Please follow this link-----> HERE to find out what I mean. My BFF will kill me if I ruin anything for her. A girl has to have priorities.

3. Legally Blonde. He lets her get all excited for the big night, new dress and all. Takes her somewhere nice. When she's expecting him to pop the question, he drops the DUMPED bomb on her, and then has the nerve to tell her it's because she's not very smart. Classy.

4. Carrie and Berger, Sex and the City. The infamous Post-It note. Not even a real letter. Just a sticky yellow piece of paper.

5. This reader and her ridiculously stupid ex-boyfriend, the bringer of presents you'll never want to look at again. "What a lovely necklace**! Where did you get it?" "Oh, you know, Buttface brought it for me when he decided he didn't love me anymore. Sparkly!"

Again, these are negotiable. But you'll have to prove that you deserve to be on the list!
Anyway, pumpkin, I'd say you're better off without such a loser tagging along.
Solitarily yours,
Bitter Amanda

**It should be noted for readers that the nature of the consolation prize was not mentioned.