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Enjoy St. Nicholas Day and Santa Collectibles

Santa is tops at Christmas. The jolly elf remains universally known as the symbol of giving, goodness and cheer. This Christmas, I have a new-old Santa to place on display, one that carries with it a background of friendship and antiquing. This particular Santa figure is stoneware, gray and blue. It was a gift from the estate of antique enthusiast, local museum owner and my friend Betty June Wymer. Not your typical Santa look, it’s a small statue of the German Santa, Belsnickel, who was a crotchety old man that could be the bearer of good or bad news depending on the ...

Steroid Rage Ruined 17-Year Marriage

DEAR DR. ROACH: After five years, I still have questions after my husband (at the time) started getting more and more critical, until culminating in a few weeks where he started ranting, calling me profane names and leaving me emotionally depleted and confused. We had been married for 17 years, and I had never seen this type of behavior from him. Later, I learned from one of his former friends he was ordering testosterone online and injecting it. At the time, I noticed many “men’s clinics” in my town featuring testosterone, although now it seems the push has moved to online ...

Friends Are Short On Sympathy After Possible COVID Exposure

DEAR ABBY: My husband came down with COVID and has been having a hard time getting over it. When he first started showing the symptoms, I took him to a drive-through medical clinic and got him tested for COVID. The results were negative, so a couple of days later, I carpooled with a friend to another friend’s house where seven other friends had gathered. Several days later, when my husband still wasn’t improving, I took him to an ER where they did another COVID test. This time it came out positive. I thought I owed it to whomever I was around at the get-together to tell them about ...

A Bitter Taste

Dear Heloise: I recently purchased some jars of fruit preserves that were labeled to have been prepared with Splenda. I did not read the label nor realize my huge mistake until tasting. Horrible after taste. Is there a way to rid the preserves of the Splenda, neutralize that taste, or do I accept reality and toss them? — Ralph K., Lafayette, La. Ralph, artificial sweeteners are blended in the recipe at the factory and there is no way to remove the sweetener used. Some leave an aftertaste, but most do not. You might be especially sensitive to the flavor, or the aftertaste might not be ...

Trust Issues Are Remnants Of Past Toxic Relationships

DEAR ABBY: Marriage is considered to be imperative in my religion and culture. I’m 29 and still not married. I have commitment and trust issues with guys. I have been in only three relationships my entire life. Every time things are going well, I tend to self-sabotage and make excuses to push the guy away. I start arguments for no reason or create problems or issues that I fabricate out of thin air. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that my past relationships were toxic and tumultuous. They were cheaters and liars. I have carried that baggage into my relationship with my ...

Savvy Senior: What You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2021

Dear Savvy Senior, I know there will be a small cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits next year but what about Medicare? What will the Medicare Part B monthly premiums be in 2021, and when do the surcharges kick in for higher income beneficiaries? — Inquiring Senior Dear Inquiring, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for 2021 and the increases for premiums and out-of-pocket costs for most beneficiaries will be modest. But if you’re a high earner, you’ll pay more. Here’s what you can expect starting in ...