Breaking News

Columns

Spooky Antiques to Enjoy at Halloween

We need a little spooky fun right about now. With the real fear of pandemics, quarantines and divisive politics, dressing up as a witch, goblin, ghost or any other ghoul, sounds appealing. Halloween takes folks of all ages into the world of make-believe and that’s a good thing. Collectors enjoy Halloween stuff tremendously. It seems as popular as Christmas in the vintage decorating world. Reproductions too abound. Vintage items like mid-20th century costumes and masks, treat bags, spooky lanterns and pumpkins are big in the collecting world. Of course, ghoulish masks are ...

Nuclear Stress Test Is Better Diagnostic Option For Heart Disease

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 64-year-old woman with a family history of heart disease. Both of my parents had heart attacks and open-heart surgery. At ages 50, 55 and 60, I experienced what I thought were signs of a heart attack. With each experience, I ended up in the hospital and was given a nuclear stress test. None of the tests showed blockages, and it was concluded I had severe acid reflux/GERD. (An endoscopy at age 50 showed a hiatal hernia.) Once again, I am experiencing symptoms that could be either heart- or acid-related. I take Protonix as needed. At present, the medication has ...

Family Fears Young Woman Is Addicted to Meth

DEAR ABBY: The 22-year-old daughter of close friends of ours has been living in a van during the pandemic. Her parents, my husband and I heard her on her cellphone talking about a party where her friends were doing meth. No one reacted except me. I said, “That’s terrifying!” and she answered, “Right?” I cannot stop worrying about this young woman, who I have watched grow since she was a baby. The red spots on her face, which I had assumed were from acne, now haunt me. What can I do? I had offered her the use of our driveway, if needed, but I don’t want meth users here ...

Trigger Finger Doesn’t Get Better on Its Own

DEAR DR. ROACH: My left thumb has been “clicking” and locking in position for the past five months. Moving it from one position (straight) to another position (bent) can be done with the help of my other hand. Trying to move it without the other hand’s assistance can be quite painful. It’s an acceptable level of pain during daytime, but it is unbearable during the night. I took to wearing a thumb splint, which helps, but the base of my thumb gets sore overnight. It clears up during the day. This cycle has been going at a steady level for the past four months. Is there a better ...

Daughter’s Questions Unsettle Parents’ Longtime Friends

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I recently hosted some longtime friends for a few days while they were passing through our area on vacation. We had a fine time reconnecting, although my wife commented after they left that they seemed to have “slowed down a bit” — to which I responded, “Yeah. Us, too, I guess.” We just received an email from that couple’s adult daughter, with whom we’re also friendly, asking about our perceptions of her parents’ well-being. We are not comfortable responding to her very pointed questions about their eating habits, bedtimes, taking of ...

Meatloaf Mania

Dear Heloise: My family loves meatloaf, so I have found ways to make it more nutritious and delicious. Here is what I like to do: * I take vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, celery and onions, shred them and add them to the ground beef. For families with children who don’t like vegetables, this works well. * Sometimes I put half of the meat mixture in a loaf pan, then sprinkle a nice, thick layer of cheddar cheese over it and then put the rest of the meatloaf mixture over that. This is a big hit! * I’ve also been known to add finely chopped jalapenos peppers for a little added ...