I'd generally say "no", but really the answer depends on how much you want to improve your credit score and what you consider a short period of time.

The thing to remember is that it typically doesn't take a short period of time to ruin credit; that happens over time, as either bad financial decisions or tough times erode your record of on-time payments and throws your debt-to-available-credit ratios out of whack. If it took you two years for your FICO score to drop below, say 600, don't expect it to be 800 in a year or less.

Now, as a general rule, the things that help you improve your credit score the most are making payments on your debts on time, and paying down the balances on any outstanding accounts you have, especially unsecured accounts like credit cards. The faster you can pay off any overdue or outstanding balances, the better chance you have of seeing your credit score rise. But if you've got any blotches on your credit report like delinquencies, bankruptcies or accounts in collection, those will remain on your report and be a drag to your FICO score for as long as seven years.

Do what you can to be responsible with your credit from here on out, but don't expect things to turn around overnight.
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that'd be jet fuel.

I haven't read any, but I'm a Mario Puzo fan, so I'm going to go with "The Family," which I'll read once I get through everything already on my reading list.

Umm...this one I'm gonna wing: I believe knitting is when you start from scratch and create something and crochetting is when you begin with a pattern.

...or not.

The US Bank Tower, but I gotta admit a) I had to Google it and b) I've never been there (to the tower, not LA).

Well, thank God not the Patriots. And also thank God, the Steelers!

Jan. 28th. March 3rd. July 9th. WTF?

So many people ask that question because there's no one answer. There are underlying habits that anyone needs to have to increase their chances at financial stability, such as living within a budget and not using credit cards outside of emergencies. But other than that, there's no one size fits all for wealth building. Whether you start that process with saving up an emergency fund, investing in stocks, starting a business or paying off debt all depends on your situation. Start with an evaluation of where you are and what your goals are, and that will point you in the right direction.

absolutely.

no.

I've been a journalist for a decade but writing for mainstream media doesn't always give the opportunity to explore topics you want to. Self publishing/blogging was my answer to that.

I'm great. Busy but it's a wonderful busy. Why didn't you just call, email, IM?

Sounds like you have a lack of communication and I think you might need to ask yourself what role you play in that. You said you've been 'playing a back & forth' and pretending not to be in a relationship. But that's your perspective. I'd love to hear what he says. I wonder if he agrees that you've just been "pretending" not to be in a relationship.

Listening to your complaint makes me think you may have drastically different expectations for the relationship which could be at the heart of your consternation.

Personally I think if you're not ready for a relationship, the best thing to do is the simplest: don't be in one and tell whomever you run into that you're not ready. But I can't say I've always been that smart or honest. Sometimes a man is immature enough to want you to hang around until he decides what he wants. Other times he doesn't realize how attached he's letting himself get to you until you're gone or about to be.

My question to you is how do you know he's not ready for a relationship? Did he say that in his own words or are you extrapolating? Are you ready to cut him loose if what the two of you want aren't the same thing?

Doesn't everyone pursue things on their own terms? As a woman, you wouldn't go to a car dealership looking to buy a car for more than you wanted to pay, or negotiate a job at a lesser salary than you thought you deserved, would you?

So why does it follow that a man would pursue you on say, your terms, rather than his own? Everyone does, and rightfully so, things that they perceive to be best in their own interest and in their own ways. Not sure how or why that's a surprise to you or if perhaps the question you're getting at isn't about terms but something else.

I can't say I've been intimidated by a woman I was attracted to since maybe elementary or middle school. By the time I was old enough to really smell myself, I had the confidence to approach anyone. *shrug*

The word confidence is the best one I could offer someone in that situation. In a conversation I had with a friend of mine yesterday, I said that people with a certain amount of confidence in themselves simply attract other people to them. Confidence and security in oneself not only helps eliminate any fear you have of being shot down, it also has the effect of lessening the chances of you being shot down. Confidence is a magnet; when a confident person walks by, most folks want to know what it is that that person has that other folks don't. And that's typically a turn-on.

Good luck.

I think women do let us know they're interested but in ways men don't always understand. Women aren't necessarily going to walk up and ask us out, but no one flirts better than women do. I think that's a good thing that doesn't "ruin the chase" at all. In fact, it helps your case; you'd be surprised how far giving a man a green light to get at you will go, provided he's interested in you.

As far as I go, I can only say I remember one time that a woman came right out and said she was interested and that didn't lead to anything. That didn't have anything to do with her telling me. I just wasn't attracted to her.

I do answer questions. I haven't been asked a question for more than a month. When I have questions to ask, I answer them.

interesting question. ummmm, I can't really think of anything. I'm pretty much a fan of everything that happens in there. I could give you a list of stuff from the kitchen.

Anything. I love spending time with them and I'm happy when we're all together.