Dear Doctors: I have hay fever, but usually it’s not that bad. This year, however, it has been awful. I’m plugged up, my eyes are itchy and by the end of the day, I have a headache.
The Ford Edsel. New Coke.
DEAR HARRIETTE: As we all know, there’s a lot of controversy happening in the world lately, which often makes for heated discussions. The other day, a few neighbors and I were in the common room of our building, talking about some of the maintenance issues we’ve experienced in the building. Out of nowhere, one guy began sharing his thoughts on immigration. I am cordial with my neighbors but not close with any of them. I was completely caught off guard, and so were other people in the room. While I know not all of us share the same views on immigration, I knew at that moment that most of us didn’t even want to broach the topic. What is a respectful way to end these kinds of politically charged conversations? – Avoiding Politics DEAR AVOIDING POLITICS:
My parents’ neighbor Rod told them, “I’m going to take the pontoon out tonight, and you’re invited to join me.” It was a nice night – not too warm, with very little wind. It was a perfect night for a pontoon ride around the lake.
Can Donald Trump be trusted? Can we rely on his judgment in a crisis? Those core questions have been raised by the president’s decision to reverse his campaign pledges and attack Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have some friends who recently celebrated a big anniversary. They went all out for each other, hosting a renewal of vows and everything, but just for the two of them. I thought this was so sweet. Meanwhile, my spouse and I barely said happy anniversary to each other this year. It was also a milestone for us, but these days, it feels more like drudgery. I don’t know what to do to rekindle any kind of romance between us, but watching what our friends did gave me a flicker of hope.
Dear Doctors: I have Type 1 diabetes. I try to stay healthy and keep my blood sugar under control, but it feels like a fight every day. I read there’s a study using stem cells for a cure.
CLINTON’S HISTORY 10, 20, 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO
DEAR HARRIETTE: Another manager within my firm told me a few weeks ago that she wants me to come work for her full-time. I have been temporarily supporting her because she recently lost her executive assistant, and we work together well. This switch could have me working in the human resources department, which I have been trying to transition into. My current manager is not aware of this potential full-time switch, though, which makes this a delicate situation. I haven’t seen much progress toward my permanent switch to the new team since the first few conversations I had with that manager. Should I bring it up again? Or would that put me in an awkward position with my current manager? – Being Poached DEAR BEING POACHED: Since you have been working for this other manager temporarily, it suggests that your manager is aware of the relationship. You can reach out to the human resources manager to find out the status of the offer. Let that manager know you are interested, but out of respect for your current boss, you would want to talk to them about it before making a move.
• It’s time to stop buying tennis balls to play fetch with your dog. Turns out the fuzzy exterior isn’t good for them or the environment: The soft coating is made of plastic, and when its threads are shed from the ball, they become microplastics that can end up in waterways and/or ingested by your dog. Plenty of alternatives are available, but among the best are plastic-free tennis balls, which have the same bounce, shape and feel of regular tennis balls but are totally free of microplastics.