I'm 49, never married, no real relationship in over 11 years and I'm tired of the single life. It's depressing having to add that up.

I take absolutely horrible pictures; I hate glamour shots, and my lack of sleep shows on my face. I have a nice figure, but no money to go out, pay for dating sites or do a makeover.

So are the broke and those striving to be successful according to God's word just supposed to forget about marriage? What website would you advise or what would you advise in general? I've done the grocery store, Home Depot (when I owned a house), etc., but continually run into married men.

Mischon

Having spent four years in Nigeria as a teenager, I'm no stranger to the scams, con artists and hustlers who make up a disproportionate amount of the criminal element. I remember my parents' friends belying tails of thievery and murder, warning you to never stop when driving across certain bridges at night even if there was a body lying in the middle of the road. A typical ruse: once stopped, a band of armed men would leap into action, kill the passengers and steal the car.

My mother would regale me in tears with gory bedtime stories of a woman whose husband passed away, leaving her and her daughter his fortune... that is, until the ex-wife and her children showed up to ransack the house, steal his possessions and kill his wife and daughter. A typical Nigerian phrase that was bandied about the time: "A thief would sell his own mother for money."

Summed up: The perception many people had of Nigeria's greedy underbelly left a lasting impression upon my young psyche.

I've been in love with this guy for over 3 years but I know in my heart that it's going nowhere. I feel I'm being used and it hurts so bad! I'm also emotionally abused when I don't provide what he needs.

I've tried and tried, but I can't leave him. I'm also bitter about giving so much and getting nothing in return, so why am I still in love with him and why can't I let go? I am so scared of walking away. It physically hurts!

-Monique

I met a man that surely sits at the right side of Satan himself. This man tricked me emotionally by pretending to be something that he is not, and over a three-year period has shown himself to be an abusive psychotic. He has me walking on eggshells. He is moody and acts like he never wants me around, but when I stay away, he pulls me back.

He badgers me constantly about my education and accomplishments (he's a blue-collar guy, which is okay with me) through constant criticism and belittling. He is jealous, accuses me of this and that, and I am always defending myself.

He acts like he hates me, then talks about us spending our life together. He often stops speaking to me, then calls like nothing happened. I can't do anything right for him. He is unpredictable.

It seems as though Chris Brown insists on challenging Charlie Sheen for the 'bad boy' award of 2011, although his antics portray a guy who is, nonetheless, losing it.

Appearing on 'Good Morning America' Tuesday morning for an interview with co-anchor Robin Roberts to promote his new album, F.A.M.E, Brown went into a rage after his first performance. Trashing his dressing room and smashing a window with a chair, he tore off his shirt, threatened a GMA producer and stormed out of ABC Studios without completing a second scheduled performance.

I'm dating a very intelligent, progressive, attractive single parent who has been through a lot in life and knows what she wants with a no-nonsense attitude nor time to waste. She's quite comfy in her zone, but insecure in being alone. She seems very eager to move on with life; I feel she is "racing against her biological clock." I, on the other hand, am laid-back and take the time to get to know as much about a woman as I can.

In the beginning, while getting to know one another, she mentioned a "timeline" where she made it quite clear that she wanted to be either married or engaged within three years, and that after six months, she could tell if a man was serious or just wasting time and playing games. Two years later, she wanted to be married and in a house.

We've both been married before (to other people), and it didn't turn out well for both of us. We are, however, willing to work through problems that have made us reluctant to move forward at times. There have been times that I feel like she's self-centered and uncompromising, but other times I have felt like the "missing piece" to her puzzle of life.

Out of respect for her kids and herself, she refuses to have a man sleeping in her bed without some sort of commitment (we don't live together for this reason). I believe that a man should put a ring on a woman's finger when he's comfortable and ready to do so and not for convenience, and that there's no time limit as to when to do so.

She's repeatedly stated that I wasn't ready for a relationship because my plate was too full with other things, that I was "afraid" to move on with my life, and that I was "stuck." Recently, we argue almost to the point of breaking up, but when we're in each other's company, all is well!

I love her more than she knows. Recently, I feel like because I'm not going along with the plan, she's losing interest. Extracting the emotions from the relationship and looking at things realistically, I feel like maybe I'm just not the right one for her... I'm just not quite sure!

Brian, Washington, DC

Rebecca Brody and Mason Jamal lace up, face off and go at it on issues pertaining to men, women, love, and relationships.

OPK's (Other People's Kids): I'm dating a guy with a kid from his previous relationship. I always told myself I wouldn't get involved with someone who had baggage, because I don't care for baby mama drama, but he is an incredible man. Should I make this exception since I won't really be a full-time parent?

Rebecca Brody and Mason Jamal lace up, face off and go at it on issues pertaining to men, women, love, and relationships.

Walked in On: I've been married for 12 years. and my wife recently caught me masturbating. She was shocked and seemed angry, but our sex life has seriously slowed down, so what did she expect? We used to do it 2 to 3 times a week, and now I'm down to birthdays and anniversaries. We haven't talked about it. What's a guy to do?

I've been with my man for 7 years. 6 years ago, he had an affair with a co-worker. He promised to end that situation and I trusted him and moved forward.

However, about 9 months ago I checked his email and found out that he'd actually been cheating with that co-worker over a 4-year period. They'd had unprotected sex numerous times at work and outside of work.

They no longer work together nor are they in contact with each other. I, however, am beyond hurt by the situation. I wish I would have given up on him 6 years ago. I know he has self esteem issues. He was not raised with a positive male role model to show him how to treat a woman.

We now have a 3-year-old son and two children from previous relationships - one mine, one his - but I do not know if I can ever completely forgive him. I do understand that it could have been a phase - we basically grew up together, and we are now in our early 30s.

Now he wants to get married. He claims his cheating and lying days are behind him, but I have absolutely no trust in him. I love this man with all of my heart and have supported him through all of his hard times. I am the rock of our relationship.

I am torn because my heart is telling me to stay, but my mind is telling me to leave! I have invested so much time in this relationship that I don't even want to start over.

I need to add the fact that I did not leave when I found out because he was incarcerated at the time. He is still incarcerated, and I feel like he needs my support while he is going through this hard time. Should I leave or stay?

Tia

Rebecca Brody and Mason Jamal lace up, face off and go at it on issues pertaining to men, women, love, and relationships.

STD Dilemma: How do I tell my new girlfriend that I have Herpes?