Dear Doctors: My best friend has diabetes. She used to do finger sticks, but now she has a wearable glucose monitor. How do they work? It’s got me wondering if it might be a good idea for me to use one, too. I’m 66 years old, and as I’m getting older, I worry more about developing Type 2 diabetes.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I serve on a community board in my city that has done a lot of good over the years. I have had many different roles, and it has been a good run. I am getting older now and want to retire. The problem is that the board is small, and its members are pressing me to stay on. I appreciate the support, but I have had health issues and know that it is time for me to step down. I spoke to the chair of the board recently, and he refused to accept my resignation. To guilt me, he claims that if I leave, the board will be in violation because they are required by law to have a certain number of board members. I’m sorry if that is true, but that is not my problem. How can I extricate myself without things getting ugly? – Time To Go DEAR TIME TO GO: Because you are so committed to this board and its work, consider giving them a deadline by which they need to find a replacement board member, and agree that you will remain on the board in the meantime. Make it clear that when that date arrives, you will be leaving, period.
From the Associated Press Published in the San Antonio News-Express
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column. You’ve been keeping our mailboxes even fuller than usual, and we will continue to do our best to keep up.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been seeing someone casually for a few years. I stopped seeing him when I got into a serious relationship, but when that relationship ended, we began seeing each other casually again. Up until recently, we had never had a physically intimate relationship. Ever since we introduced physical intimacy into our casual relationship, he seems to be very interested in being exclusive with me.
From the Associated Press Published in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• According to The New York Times, nearly 1.5 billion pounds of shrimp are consumed every year in the United States.
DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my employees cannot take constructive criticism or own up to her mistakes at all, no matter how minor. She is a great employee, but every time I attempt to correct her on her mistakes, she gets defensive and argues with me. I am not sure if this is an ego problem or if she genuinely doesn't understand me, but I am her boss, and she shouldn't just argue with me whenever I give my feedback. Even as I think about addressing the issue of her argumentative nature, I fear that she will argue with me about that as well. How do I handle this? — Stop Arguing With Me DEAR STOP ARGUING WITH ME: Consider issuing a companywide notification that everyone will be receiving an annual review of their work over the next few months. Note that this is standard procedure for most companies and your way of checking in with everyone.
For most parts of the country, this has been a splendid summer, full of sunshine and sunscreen, the weather a welcome contrast to the political climate. Americans have flocked to the shore and the lakeside, wandered among the hills, lingered well after sunset at the state park or the backyard barbecue grill.
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