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Gifts for Grandkids Are Left Behind at Grandma’s House

DEAR ABBY: I raised my kids right as a single mom. I took pride in supporting them and giving them what they needed and wanted. I have a daughter who lives out of town with her husband and children. I don’t get to see them often, so I love buying them gifts that are waiting for them when they get here. For the kids’ birthdays and holidays, I always have nice gifts for them, too. For the past few years, my daughter has refused to take any of the gifts home with her, so the toys sit in my spare rooms. She smirks and laughs when someone says something about leaving behind the gifts ...

Don’t Be A No-Show

Today’s Sound Off is about breaking appointments: Dear Heloise: I have a full service beauty salon with five other chairs and stylists. This is how I make a living. You can’t imagine how annoying it is when a client doesn’t keep their appointment and doesn’t call me in a timely fashion to allow me to book someone else. Some people think it’s not a big deal but for me; it is. I have two boys to feed and clothe. I have bills to pay. I know there are occasions where something happens last minute, and I don’t get angry over that. But to not call and not show up is just plain ...

Change in Dinner Party Guest List Draws an Angry Response

DEAR ABBY: I’ve known my friend “Ashley” for a lot of years. She is single. Several years ago, I introduced her to another couple, the “Smiths.” We all have a lot in common and take turns inviting each other for dinner. This group and a couple of other couples are the only people in my social circle I have seen periodically during this pandemic. Two weeks ago, Ashley invited my husband and me and the Smiths for dinner. Three days before the dinner, Ashley sent me a text that the Smiths will be bringing another couple, and she wanted to be sure it was OK with us. I called her ...

Christmas In The House Of Children

Despite the overwhelming task of fulfilling wish lists, Santa did a darn good job most years of my childhood. It started on Thanksgiving Day when we would put the names of all the siblings in a hat and each of us pulled a name. We would try to keep it a secret whose name we picked, but that often fell short before Christmas Day. My favorite gifts of my youth included Barbie dolls, Nancy Drew books and records. One year my sister Denny wanted a pair of expensive penny loafers. That was pretty much all she got due to the expense, but she was happy. Plus, I shared my Nancy Drew ...

Ornaments, Old or New, Are Perfect Collectibles

Do you have a favorite ornament on your Christmas tree? That’s one of the things that make the tradition of the tree so important — the precious ornaments used for trimmings. Vintage ornaments dating to the mid-20thcentury are popular right now and you can still find these at antique shops, second-hand stores or in an attic if you’re lucky! Other collectors seek genuine antique ornaments and look for Victorian treasures or German examples from the early 1900s. But there are many new ornaments that are collectible and just as lovely. One of the big names that collectors ...

A Urologist Treats ED Caused By Blood Flow Blockages

DEAR DR. ROACH: Some months ago, you wrote that the blood flow to the penis could be reduced by blockages in the arteries. What kind of doctor should a guy go to, and what tests should be asked for? — J. ANSWER: Low blood flow to the penis is one common cause of erectile dysfunction. Without adequate blood to the arteries supplying the penis, an adequate erection may not be possible. It is unusual that those arteries are the only ones blocked. This symptom occurs most commonly in people with multiple blockages, although ED is occasionally the first indication of atherosclerotic ...