It's such a strong word.

Hate.

Opposite of love, or so close to it that at times it's indistinguishable?

I hate my current life.

I didn't sign up for this shit. How did I become the family caregiver? Why do I need to be needed? Where is it written that I have to give up any semblance of a life so the rest of my family can get on with theirs? And wtf is up with living in Alabama? Couldn't you have picked something further west? Or north? Colorado and New Mexico come to mind.

I hate my job.

Minimum wage. Hard work. Graveyard shift. Bigoted people with small (if any) brains.

I hate my internet connection.

Small town cable company. 750 customers. How hard can it be to keep me online?

I hate you.

You with your perfect life. You with a 'plan'. You with your goals and direction. I hate you because you have it all together. I hate you because you honestly think that I care that you have it all together.

I hate the state of the union.

This country has been going to hell in a handbasket for years and shows no sign of even a modest attempt to correct the wrongs in effect. I mean, seriously. Rule #6

I hate my hair.

Doesn't matter what I do, it's never just exactly the way I want it.

I hate your hair.

Your long, flowing locks of titian fire. Your perky blondness. Your mad riot of curls. Your insouciantly close-cropped bed-head look. I hate looks.

On the other hand...

I love my current life.

I have no bills for day-to-day living. If I don't want to come out of my room for days on end, other than to go to work, I don't have to. I do love being needed. And Alabama has a few good points. I like humidity a lot. And spanish moss groves.

I love my job.

Few if any customers to deal with. Hard work, sweating it off to the oldies after hours. I've lost 10 pounds in a month and let me tell you about the body toning going on! My legs haven't looked this good since running cross-country in highschool!

I love my internet connection.

It's cable. It's fast. I don't pay for it.

I love you.

You with your insatiable curtiosity. You with your need to be learning. You with your lust for life. The lines around your eyes. The way you dance with no shoes on.

I love the state of the union.

Well, no. I still hate this.

I love my hair.

It grows back.

I love your hair.

It looks perfect on you.