DEAR ABBY: My life is boring, repetitive and I am often depressed. I have trouble talking to others, which makes things harder. Every day is the same: Get up, go to a long day of school, come home, do homework, play video games, draw, go to bed.

The weekends aren't much better. My family never does anything, we never go anywhere. I don't have friends (the one I'd consider hanging out with is always busy), and at 15, I can't drive anywhere, get a job or do anything on my own for another year. I have never kissed, dated or even had a crush on anyone (I'm not sure why, it's not like I'm gay or too embarrassed), so I haven't got much to talk about with my peers anyway.

I'm alone. I'm not popular, I'm a complete nerd and I'm afraid to tell others what I enjoy. If I tell anyone I like video games and Dungeons and Dragons, I know I'll be mocked for the next few years of my life.

I'm pretty smart and I do well in school, but I'm not good at much else. My social skills are borderline nonexistent. My entire life is school. I just want some attention, some friends, something to do with my life. I need help, some advice, something, anything! -- BORING LIFE IN WISCONSIN

DEAR BORING LIFE: Having never met you, I can't surmise why you have difficulty interacting with others. However, there is nothing wrong with playing video games unless you substitute them for real-life experiences.

Surely, there are activities at your school that you could join that would give you more contact with your peers -- sports and special interest clubs, such as art, come immediately to mind. If your family belongs to a church, there may be a youth group that would welcome you.

If you need suggestions for finding an activity at school that might be a good "fit," talk to a counselor there. Explain how depressed and isolated you're feeling and ask for help. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

And remember, things will change when you turn 16 and can drive and work.

DEAR ABBY: Many times, my co-workers make grammatical and punctuation errors in emails they send (both internal and external) or misuse words on conference calls. Is it in bad taste to mention to the individuals their misuse of the word "there" versus "their" or "your" versus "you're"? One of the most common spoken grammatical mistakes is, "I seen it" instead of "I've seen" or "I saw." I am not sure if they would appreciate knowing they are misusing words or if they might become offended. -- HELPFUL IN FLORIDA

DEAR HELPFUL: If you see a co-worker consistently make grammatical errors, it would be doing the person a favor to point it out -- once or twice -- in private. However, to continually harp on it would likely cause embarrassment, come across as one-upmanship and cause resentment. The same is true about errors that are spoken.

DEAR ABBY: I have never received a romantic Valentine, and that's OK with me. With all the sappy movies on TV and the stores blooming in pink and red, we often forget that St. Valentine wasn't the one in love. (He was a Roman priest who married Christian couples and was killed for his trouble.)

My advice to others, particularly singles, is to take a page out of St. Valentine's book and focus not on yourself, but on others. Every year on Feb. 14 I give everyone I encounter a kiddie Valentine, and every year at least one person is delighted. I have been doing this for the last 20 years and my St. Valentine's Days have been happy because of it. It's amazing the difference that focusing on giving rather than receiving can make. (And it works any day of the year.) -- KID AT HEART

DEAR KID: I couldn't agree more with your positive philosophy. Reading your letter lifted my spirits, and I hope it will bring a smile to my readers as it did for me. Thank you for sharing.

DEAR ABBY: I am wondering about the proper way to handle something. I found a dentist I really like and plan to continue seeing for regular cleanings. I asked my dentist to complete an estimate for orthodontic work, and the cost was several thousand dollars. I got a few more estimates and found another company that can do the same work and will charge a lot less.

I plan to go with the least expensive option. However, when I return to the dentist, I'm afraid it will be awkward or that I'll be perceived as rude for not accepting their service bid. Help! -- WHAT'S RIGHT?

DEAR WHAT'S RIGHT?: Talk to the dentist you like and tell him/her you received other estimates for the orthodontic work. Then ask if he/she can match the lower estimate. You may find the dentist is willing to do that. But if not, the dentist will understand that your budget is what dictated your choice to use someone else. That's not rude; it is pennywise.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 57-year-old male, married to a nice enough lady, but I am no longer in love with her. We're more like roommates. It has been like this for 15 years.

I want to leave. In fact, I've planned it. But now I feel like, seven years away from retirement, maybe I could stick it out. The thing is, I don't want to. My kids/grandkids are in another state, and I'd like to move there. Should the promise I made to my wife on our wedding day hold me back? -- TORN IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR TORN: I'm sorry the flame of love has fizzled on your part. Does your wife know how you feel? If she doesn't, you're both overdue for a serious talk.

Before tossing aside your long marriage, you should give marriage counseling a try to see if you can rediscover what attracted you to her in the first place. If that doesn't work, a move for you may be in order. But first, a warning: If you leave their mother, the "kids" may not be as glad to see you as you might assume they will be.

DEAR ABBY: I had planned to wait until my daughter was 12 and in the sixth grade to teach her about sex. Unfortunately, she was given a very thorough, graphically described education by a playmate. At the time, her playmate was in second grade. My daughter was in the third grade. I was devastated. Not only did I feel she was too young, I felt robbed of an experience that should be cherished between a mother and daughter.

I strongly believe that parents should decide for themselves when to teach their children about sex, and the children should not have the experience forced upon them. The playmate's parents like to think of themselves as progressive and nonconformist. When I confronted the mother, she deflected by becoming offended that I would assume they weren't responsible parents. She defended her daughter by saying, "Kids will talk. I'm sure she wasn't out to ruin your daughter's world." Am I wrong to be so offended? -- OFFENDED IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR OFFENDED: Yes. Children do talk, and 12 is far too late for them to start learning about sex. By then they have probably received an abundance of misinformation about it from their friends. Children are naturally curious about the world around them. That's why "the talk" should start as soon as a child begins asking questions. The facts don't have to be given all at once; the conversation should be ongoing, with more information added in an age-appropriate way.

DEAR ABBY: My "boyfriend" and I are in our mid-40s. Three-and-a-half years ago he was in a bad accident. Because our relationship seemed to be getting serious, he moved into my house. He was planning on returning to construction work a few months later, once his doctor cleared him. Unfortunately, the doctor said he would never be able to resume work in construction. He applied for Social Security Disability and, after two years of paperwork and waiting, he was denied.

He keeps himself busy by painting pictures. Occasionally he sells one or two paintings online or through art shows. However, what he earns is not nearly enough to support himself. I had to take a significant pay cut at work, and I'm having a hard time supporting both of us. My savings are being depleted, and my credit card balance is skyrocketing.

I have told him repeatedly that he needs to get a job. He's not totally disabled. He could work -- he just can't go back to construction. He insists he's going to make it big selling art. I tell him art is his hobby, not his career. I have also told him that I'm a financial wreck and that I'm going to lose my house, but he doesn't care. He says, "Buy a smaller house."

I tell him he has to get a job or move out, but he doesn't do either. I'm ready to sell my house and live in a small apartment by myself. But I can't get him to leave. What can I do? -- OVER THIS IN ILLINOIS

DEAR OVER THIS: Because this man has lived with you for so long, getting him out of there may take the help of a lawyer. He's not an artist; he's an ingrate and a freeloader. Although you are having financial difficulties right now, it will be money well spent. Please don't wait.