Dear Carolyn:
My boyfriend and I have been together for five years now, and we are in our mid-20s. We both concur we are very happy together right now, as well as in the foreseeable future. He does not, however, really believe in projecting deep into the future and basing major decisions on how we might feel — for instance, “We might still want to be together in 45 years, so let’s get married now.”
...
Dear Carolyn:
My live-in significant other makes fun of me a lot. It’s never cruel and he never does it in front of other people, but it’s exhausting, and especially after long days, he definitely strikes a chord. When I protest or tell him to stop, he will pull the typical “Oh, you are so sensitive” or “Where did your sense of humor go?”
What is your stance on this annoying habit ...
Nine words: bikini-clad students, fresh Champagne powder and bluebird skies.
Though most of Colorado has been on timeout with Mother Nature’s snowmaking unit for the majority of this winter season, springtime is historically a celebration of deep powder, zany pond-skimming competitions and some of the ideal skiing in North America. Of course let’s not get too ahead of ourselves – most of the say reported fair amounts of snow in recent weeks, but we still need a few more inches ...
How about going to a place where you can relax, enjoy some sun, and get a tiny exercise and gourmet food? A place even your children could find interesting? This “spa” need not cost much; in fact, it will save you money.
It’s a home vegetable garden, and do not be intimidated if you have never planted one before. Vegetables are simple to grow, especially if you follow these 10 steps for first-timers:
1. Choose a location in full sun, which means ...
Back in liquor’s powdered-wig era, determining the strength of rum or gin required a technique with a tiny flash and dazzle. A small amount of gunpowder was doused with the spirit, and a match applied. If the flame fizzled out, the liquor was too watery. If it burned bright yellow? Too strong. A steady, blue flame was proof – note that word – that the spirit retained its firepower but could not be considered heavy weaponry.
Today, bartenders are more interested ...
Hi, Carolyn:
A very close friend stated she was never going to do XYZ and now, almost a decade later, she is doing XYZ. I was thrown by this decision. I thought she was the type of person to stand by what she believed in. Or, she was lying to me the entire time, and to herself.
We are no longer close friends. I do not regret my decision not to be ...
Routine prostate cancer screening can lead to harmful and unnecessary treatment and physicians should make the risks clearer to patients, the American Cancer Society warned Wednesday while issuing new screening recommendations.
The guidelines, the society’s first concerning prostate screening in more than a decade, come after two huge studies last year called into question whether the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test actually saves lives.
“The new guidelines give information on the discussions physicians and patients need to have before any ...
Dear Carolyn:
I’ve been dating my boyfriend for 5 1/2 years now, and we have been living together for most of that. He moved across the country to be with me, and a year ago I returned the favor. I realized I had been taking some frustrations out on him lately, so I wrote him a letter apologizing and telling him I’d be more supportive.
This led to a conversation that surprised ...
Hi, Carolyn:
Please help. My 6-year-old has all of a sudden started saying she doesn’t want to be around her daddy (my husband). She hates when I leave the house without her and cries before and after he takes her anywhere himself. She used to adore him. My husband is clueless about what brought on this change and so am I.
I have started to think terrible thoughts, like that he might have done something to ...
Dear Carolyn:
I would like to propose to my girlfriend of five years. But, my brother just announced his engagement to his girlfriend.
When I told him of my plans, he stated it was no huge deal and that I should propose. Later, however, I overheard him telling his fiancee, and she stated she’d be very upset because it would take away from their engagement.
...
Dear Carolyn:
Recently friends of ours announced they were getting divorced. The two families get together often. Obviously with a divorce is going to come separation of the parents, and the children will be shuttled back and forth. How do we deal with this as friends of theirs, and how do we discuss this with our children? What do we do if the children are here and bring it up? How do we talk to them ...
Hi, Carolyn:
Please help. My 6-year-old has all of a sudden started saying she doesn’t want to be around her daddy (my husband). She hates when I leave the house without her and cries before and after he takes her anywhere himself. She used to adore him. My husband is clueless about what brought on this change and so am I.
I have started to think terrible thoughts, like that he might have done something to ...
Dear Carolyn:
This feels like an absurdly specific question, but it’s a kind of question about courtesy that I have sometimes. I’m in college; sometimes, after class, a friend and I have lunch together. Her boyfriend lives near the cafeteria, so my friend tells me to go ahead while she uses the boyfriend’s bathroom and fetches him to have lunch with us.
The problem is that, often, I’ve been completely done ...
Dear Carolyn:
My mother has Stage IV breast cancer and is near death. My family has begun to discuss what kind of arrangements will be made following her death. Having lived in their community for 40 years, my parents have a number of friends and acquaintances that my dad and siblings wish to invite to a church service and gathering.
I have no interest in participating in ...
If chilly nights make you long for a cozy night by the fireplace – but you want warmth without the pollution of an old-fashioned wood fire – think about the more earth-friendly Enviro-Logs. Made from 100 percent recycled waxed cardboard boxes, Enviro-Logs burn cleaner and produce less emissions than real wood.
Because Enviro-Logs are made from recycled boxes that are used to transport food – one of the largest contributors to landfills – with no additional petroleum products or binders added, ...
Those tiny bunches of herbs at the grocery store add so much flavor to foods. But — cha-ching! — those bunches can cost a bundle, especially compared with pots of herbs from nurseries.
So why not grow the ones you use most?
Even without space for a full-on garden, herbs are relatively easy to grow, even for novice gardeners. Not only are the plants flavorful and pretty, they are also hardy and adapt well to containers.
If you are starting a container herb ...
Trying to lower your blood pressure through lifestyle modification or medication? Testing it at home with a blood pressure monitor is a good way to track your progress.
For a good picture of what your numbers are, check your blood pressure at the same time each day for at least a week , states Dr. Denise Flinn, clinical assistant professor of geriatrics at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
The 74.5 million Americans with hypertension, another name for high blood ...