Bitter Butch Columns – Haddayr Copley-Woods

Dear Bitter Butch: Why Can’t He Take Teasing?

Dear Bitter Butch, I’m a lucky woman in many ways. I’ve been married for 12 years to a great guy who earns well, is a great dad to our two boys and is mostly fun to be around. Trouble is he can’t seem to tolerate any teasing from me. I always back it up, apologize honestlyContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: Why Can’t He Take Teasing?”

Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Cope After the Election?

Dear Bitter Butch, The fallout from this election is causing personal emotions similar to those I felt when the family rallied to support a sexual predator and to turn me out. Any advice? – Triggered Dear Bitter Butch, I have neighbors in my very rural, agricultural little neck of the woods, who work on farmsContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Cope After the Election?”

Dear Bitter Butch: Should I Admit My Celebrity Crush?

Dear Bitter Butch I have a huge crush on a celebrity. He is simply the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid on eyes on. And I’d like to send him a fan e-mail/message, just saying I think he’s very attractive, nothing more, but there are two problems. First, he’s not a huge celebrity, so there’sContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: Should I Admit My Celebrity Crush?”

Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Thank Someone For an Offensive Gift?

. . . It was a Christian/Inspirational autobiography by a woman with polio, all about how turning her life over to Jesus helped her overcome her depression and the tragedy of her affliction. Not only had I never thought of my cerebral palsy as a tragic affliction, at the time, I was a budding Neo-Pagan witch. Mostly,Continue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Thank Someone For an Offensive Gift?”

Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Let Him Down Gently Without Breaking His Heart?

In which I tell a woman to RUN RUN RUN from an infatuated Internet admirer. Dear Bitter Butch, I am newly single, and have just started playing the online dating game. So far, I’ve been having a blast. I love dating in my 40s, as I am older and wiser, and can weed out the drama so muchContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Let Him Down Gently Without Breaking His Heart?”

Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Deal With My Beyond Difficult Ex?

Dear Bitter Butch, I spent eight terrible years in a relationship with a crazy person. I mean she is certifiably batshit crazy. (I was in a bad place, what can I say?) We’ve been apart for four years now. I have a wonderful new partner who is perfectly sane. I often get threatening texts fromContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: How Do I Deal With My Beyond Difficult Ex?”

Dear Bitter Butch: What Can I Do About the Office Skeeve?

Dear Bitter Butch, One of the senior executives at my workplace is a bit of a skeeze in that he showers women at our workplace with ambiguously inappropriate attention. From what I’ve seen, the attention ranges from overly friendly hugs, to hands at the small of the back when opening doors, to fairly frequent officeContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: What Can I Do About the Office Skeeve?”

Bitter Butch Needs You!

Dear Darlings, Bitter Butch is in need of more letters! Please send your questions about heartache, parenting, sex, work, disability, queerness, etiquette, or any old damn thing to bitterbutch@bitterempire.com and I will do my best to do it justice! Bitterly, Bitter Butch

Dear Bitter Butch, Can I Correct Misused Idioms at Work?

Dear Bitter Butch, I just got an email from my supervisor that says, in part, “We need to flush out the agenda area with this additional content.” I need guidance. Is it appropriate to point out that the phrase is “flesh out,” not “flush out?” Or should I ask if she wants me to huntContinue reading “Dear Bitter Butch, Can I Correct Misused Idioms at Work?”

Dear Bitter Butch: Should I Teach My First Grader to Swear?

Dear Bitter Butch, My son will be entering 1st grade in the fall and the worst swear word he knows is “poop.” Should I give him a heads up of words that some of his colleagues might start using soon or is this just silly? – Dad Dear Dad, I’m going to answer your question; I am.Continue reading “Dear Bitter Butch: Should I Teach My First Grader to Swear?”