Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/105349
4B Daily News – Thursday, January 24, 2013 FEATURES Hubby's infatuated with high school flame be going through a major Dear Annie: After 44 midlife crisis. The old flame years of marriage, I can no makes him feel as if he's a longer trust my husband. teenager again. And the ''Steve'' reconnected with a facelift was intended to high school flame, and the make him look like one. end result was late-night Will he ever return to Earth? emails, texts and calls. He There are no guarantees. even bought throwaway Please don't plan your life phones so they could stay in touch and meet out of Annie's around what Steve may or may not do in the future. Get town. some counseling on your We went for counseling, and Steve took a stack of by Kathy Mitchell own, see a lawyer about pronote cards to the first ses- and Marcy Sugar tecting yourself, and figure out whether you are better sion with ultimatums for me. He accused me of being a les- off with or without him right now. Dear Annie: I live in a small bian and having affairs with women at work and in our neighborhood. community where many people volHe then shared the intimate details unteer for countless jobs, giving of of our sessions with his old flame their time and talents. I have a and invited her to come along! He friend who is becoming increasingwrote long multiple-page letters and ly critical of everyone's efforts, and slipped them to my therapist when it is depressing to be in her compahe thought I wasn't watching. ny. How do I tell her that we are tired Recently, Steve spent $12,000 of our money on a facelift, and he has of her constant complaining while set up at least 10 email accounts to still remaining her friend? I'm taking out my hearing aids at our next hide things from me. He finally promised to cut off encounter. — Florida Dear Florida: Some people, as communication with this woman unless it was about the upcoming they age, turn into chronic comhigh school reunion. We began to plainers. Sometimes there are medput things back together, and then ical reasons, but often, it's simply he again initiated intimate contact how they are. You could nicely with her and went to our high mention to your friend that she seems terribly unhappy because school reunion without me. Is there any hope of trusting this nothing pleases her these days, and man again? Or at age 64, am I look- then suggest she see her doctor for a ing at moving on? — The Faithful thorough checkup. We hope it helps. Wife Dear Annie: ''Worried GrandDear Faithful: Steve seems to Mailbox ma'' was concerned about her granddaughter, ''Kelly,'' who had difficulty modulating her voice and felt that men were turned off by her loud personality. Please tell her to look into whether Kelly has Asperger syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. Asperger's often goes undiagnosed until later in life, but its primary symptom is extreme social awkwardness and an inability to appropriately ''read'' the social cues of others. With special training, Kelly can learn how to modify her behavior and pick up on these social cues. But it's unlikely she can do it on her own. A correct diagnosis can go a long way toward repairing her selfesteem. I hope her parents will get Kelly the help she needs to succeed in this world. — Vermont Professor Dear Vermont: Thanks for your input. It is possible that Kelly has a mild form of Asperger's, although she should see a medical professional to find out whether this is the case. If it is, she can contact aspergersyndrome.org for more information. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Native Plant Society events Planned activities for February for the Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plants Society. For more information, visit mountlassen.cnps.org. General Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., Chico Public Library Greg Suba, Conservation Director for statewide California Native Plant Society, will discuss describe current efforts in native plant conservation, including the difficulties of siting renewable energy sources so that critical plant habitat is not needlessly destroyed. Greg has been Conservation Director since 2009. He worked previously as a watershed coordinator, science educator and biological con- sultant and also spent several years monitoring streams and surveying forests throughout the state. He has a BS in biology and an MS in Marine Science. CSU Chico Greenhouse Tour Sunday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. Meet at CSU Health Center parking lot at the corner of Warner St. and College Ave. From there we will walk to short distance to the greenhouses. Tim Devine has collected hundreds of unusual plants from all over the world and is eager to show them to us in temperature-controlled aquatic, tropical and desert settings. We'll see shield ferns, orchids, cacti, pticher plants, and many Utility named among best companies for disabled Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) was recognized by CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine as one of the nation's "Top 50 Employers for Persons with Disabilities," in the magazine's January 2013 issue. The annual list recognizes corporations for their commitment to employees with disabilities. The magazine's readers nominated the companies that they would most like to work for or believe would provide a progressive environment for people with disabilities. This is the first time that PG&E is included in CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine's "Top 50 Employers for Persons with Disabilities" list. As a part of the commitment to diversity and inclusion, PG&E strives to ensure that its online application process is accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. All opportunities are available at www.pge.com/careers. In addition, PG&E helps increase cognizance and understanding of disability issues through its Access Network Employee Resource Group (ERG). This ERG provides knowledge, support and company resources to employees and their families by collaborating with community based organizations, promoting volunteerism, and providing education. "In line with PG&E's core value in diversity and inclusion, Access Network ERG focuses on providing support to all employees whether directly impacted or seeking a greater awareness of disability issues," said Laurie Giammona, PG&E's vice president of Customer Service and sponsoring officer of Access Network. "This recognition is a credit to the ERG's commitment to living PG&E's values as we provide safe, reliable gas and electric service to diverse customers and communities." For information on PG&E's diversity and inclusion efforts and the company's supplier diversity program, visit www.pge.com/about/company/diversityinclusion/. others. Finish by noon. Leader, Tim 530-3458444. "Lost Arboretum" Walk, Lower Bidwell Park Sunday, Feb. 24, 9:30 a.m. Meet at Cedar Grove parking lot for a short guided tour to see an amazing collection of century-old trees. Bidwell gave these 29 acres to the state in 1888 to establish an experiment station/tree nursery to test useful woody plants from all over the world for distribution throughout northern California. There are still about 70 different species surviving from these plantings, including Italian cypress and Portuguese cork oak. Ends at noon. Leader Wes 530- 34202293. Yahi Trail, Upper Bidwell Park Sunday, March 3, 9 a.m. Meet at Horseshoe Lake parking lot E. Bring a lunch, water, sun/insect protection and wear walking shoes. We'll walk a short distance on the Upper Park Road to the trailhead. Walking along Big Chico Creek, we'll go upstream as far as time will allow us to return to our cars by about 3:30 pm. We'll pass through a diverse selection of flora, fauna and geologic features,We'll see many spring wildflowers and learn how to identify the area's most common shrubs and trees. Leader Gerry 530893-5123. Chew, yawn, swallow for ear pain or allergies. If DEAR DOCthese conditions TOR K: I fly a lot block the for work and my Eustachian tube, ears always hurt the natural way during landing. Is you have of balthere any way to ancing pressures prevent this? in your ear is comDEAR READpromised. ER: Yes, there is, So if you are ill and you're not Dr. K and have any flexalone. The ear by Anthony L. pain you experi- Komaroff, M.D. ibility, reschedule your flight until ence — barotrauma of the ear — is the you are better. If you must most common medical fly, take a decongestant problem reported by air one hour before your travelers. "Barotrauma" flight or use a decongesrefers to injuries caused tant nasal spray, or both. by increased air pressure. Antihistamines may also Here's why it happens. help if you have allergies. Special earplugs can Your ear has three parts: the outer ear (including slow down the pressure the ear canal), the middle change that affects the ear. ear and the inner ear. The These might give your eardrum comes between ears additional time to to pressure the outer ear and the mid- adjust dle ear. The middle ear is changes. If you experience the connected to the back of your mouth by a thin canal symptoms of barotrauma called the Eustachian during a flight, try the foltube. Air is constantly lowing — and before the moving through the symptoms start (for most Eustachian tube and into people, landing is worse the middle ear. This bal- than takeoff): — Chew gum or suck ances the pressure in the middle ear with that in the on hard candy. — Yawn and swallow inner ear. Ear barotrauma can frequently, tightening the occur when one (or both) muscles in the back of of two things happen: the your throat as you do (you Eustachian tube becomes often can feel and hear the blocked or partially Eustachian tube pop blocked, and the air pres- open). If these methods don't sure around you changes work, pinch your nose suddenly. Air pressure gets lower closed, inhale through at higher altitudes. When your mouth, and then try a plane takes off, and to push the air out through when it descends for land- your nose while keeping it ing, the altitude changes pinched shut. Don't push rapidly. While the plane hard, and stop as soon as has systems to reduce the one ear pops. If you blow sudden changes that occur too hard, you can tear during takeoff and land- your eardrums, so do it carefully. ing, some still occur. If you continue to When a plane's air pressure changes sudden- experience ear pain and ly, it can create a vacuum stuffiness after landing, a in the middle ear that pulls decongestant spray may the eardrum inward. This help. can cause pain and muffle Dr. Komaroff is a sounds. In more severe cases, the middle ear can physician and professor Harvard Medical fill with clear fluid. In the at To send most severe cases, the School. go to eardrum can rupture. For- questions, AskDoctorK.com, or tunately, this is rare. Barotrauma is much write: Ask Doctor K, 10 more likely if you're fly- Shattuck St., Second ing with a cold, infection Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Medical education loan applications The Ivy B. Horr Medical Education Loan Fund is now accepting applications for 2013. Loans up to $10,000 are available to students who attended high school in Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Modoc, Trinity, or Siskiyou counties. The deadline is March 29. To be eligible for this scholarship the student must be engaged in the study of medicine or in medical training at a college or university. Ivy Buchler Horr was a resident of Glenburn near Fall River Mills from 1930 to her death in 1982. Ivy lost a battle with cancer, but her legacy remains through the Ivy B. Horr Medical Education Fund. Ivy created a trust before she passed through which low interest loans are awarded to students from Shasta, Lassen, Trinity, Tehama, Modoc & Siskiyou Counties pursuing an education in medicine. The trust, which had been held at Shasta College, was transferred to the Community Foundation for permanent administra- tion. To date more than 150 people have benefited from the generosity of Ivy B. Horr, with many more to benefit in the future. For a loan application and eligibility requirements please visit www.shastarcf.org or call Jill Harris at (530)842.1122 with questions. Program in Red Bluff for ladies with cancer The American Cancer Society is offering ladies who are undergoing cancer treatments a free "Look Good, Feel Better" session to learn to cope with appearancerelated side effects of treatment and regain a sense of self-confidence and control over their lives. This program is offered every other month in Red Bluff with the next session 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 28. The session is hosted by St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. Registration is required. For reservations and more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800227-2345. "Look Good, Feel Better" is a free program offered in a group sessions, which provide education, information and support. In each session, volunteer cosmetologists or estheticians (all certified and trained professionals) teach women how to enhance their appearance using complimentary cosmetics and skin care products. Patients also learn how to disguise hair loss using wigs, tur- bans, scarves, and various accessories. The program is presented through collaboration between the American Cancer Society, the Professional Beauty Association/National Cosmetology Association and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation. Volunteers for this and other programs are also needed in your community, please call 1-800227-2345 for more information about The American Cancer Society programs and services to cancer patients and learn how you can make a difference. District to host snowshoe walks There's nothing quite like spending time in the forest during the winter. A snowshoe walk in the Lassen National Forest could be the perfect opportunity for you to take in the crisp, fresh air and enjoy the quiet beauty of the season. Fortunately, the Eagle Lake Ranger District will begin its winter snowshoe walks and education program in February. This is your chance to enjoy a unique recreation activity and learn more about the forest and wildlife in winter. Suitable for beginners and up, the first snowshoe walk is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 3:00 p.m. The location is to be determined, depending on snow con- ditions. The walk will last for an hour to an hour and a half. Cross country skiers are welcome to join in. Additional walks open to the public will be announced as they are scheduled. Special snowshoe walks are available by request for school and educational programs. If you plan to partici- pate, be sure to dress in layers, and bring snow boots, gloves, a hat, and sunglasses. You should also bring water and snacks. The Forest will provide the snowshoes. If you are interested in participating, you are asked to reserve a space. To do so, or for more information, call the Eagle Lake Ranger District at 530-257-4188.