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Friday, May 28, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Won’t let daughter stay over unsupervised Dear Annie: My daugh- ter is 13 years old. She has a 12-year-old friend, ‘‘Tasha,’’ who is often left home alone, sometimes watching a younger sibling, while her mother works a second-shift job. Mom doesn’t get home until 1 a.m. My daughter is upset that I won’t let her sleep over at Tasha’s on the occa- sions when she’s by herself or watching her sibling. Apparently, her other friends are allowed to do this, but I have my doubts that these friends’ parents are aware that Tasha is alone so late. I like Tasha and her mother, but I question the parent’s judgment. Tasha has come here for sleepovers, and I allow my daughter to go to her home during the early evening, but only for a couple of hours because of the lack of supervision. Am I being too overprotective? — Con- cerned Mom Dear Mom: No. We’re sure Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar my friends are quite active on Facebook and have recently been posting pho- tographs of parties I’ve attended, including some from many years ago. I do not wish to have my picture posted on Facebook and have said as much. These friends are ignoring my request with replies like, ‘‘But you look so good!’’ and ‘‘It’s a great picture of you.’’ I have asked my friends to let me preview any pictures before they post them, to no avail. Am I being unreasonable? I am a very private person and am selective about sharing my life with others. What can I do? — Want My Priva- cy Dear Want: Not too much. You Tasha is a perfectly responsible young girl, but if you would not leave your own child alone in the house until 1 a.m., there is no rea- son to allow it in someone else’s home. There are also legal issues about children under 16 being left unsupervised. We imagine Tasha’s mother does this because she cannot afford a sitter. It would be a great kindness if, on the days when Tasha is alone and not taking care of her sister, you would offer to let her stay with you. Dear Annie: I’m a professional single woman in my 50s. Several of have asked these friends, nicely, to remove the pictures, and they have refused. They should respect your wishes not to have your face plas- tered on their pages, but they don’t care. You have the option of indi- cating your displeasure in more forceful terms — becoming angry, not attending any future parties, un- friending them in cyberspace or in reality — or you can accept that this is the price you pay for having clue- less, inconsiderate friends. You are lucky these are good pictures. Too many people post the least flattering shots they can find. Dear Annie: ‘‘Grossed Out in the Silver State’’ was upset about overweight people wearing ill-fit- ting clothes that show body parts. You agreed it ‘‘isn’t pretty.’’ You know what else isn’t pretty? The assumption that obese people can afford new clothes. It is well known that poor nutri- tion is a class issue. Many people have trouble eating well because they cannot afford healthy, fresh ingredients, or they don’t have the time to prepare home-cooked meals. Eating right and exercising is easy when you have the time and resources, but if someone has put on extra weight and lacks the funds for a new wardrobe, one can hardly expect them to stay inside all the time. We are not guaranteed a public environment that is personally appealing. I find those who openly gawk at others to be quite unattrac- tive, but I wouldn’t demand they stay home. — Massachusetts Dear Massachusetts: We agree that poor nutrition and insufficient funds can make it difficult to main- tain a healthy weight, even though jogging around the block doesn’t require a lot of time or resources. What would help is for people to be better educated about the dangers of fast food and processed foods (which contain high levels of fat, salt and sugar), and for healthier alternatives to be cheaper to get. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Strumming up donations for auxiliary Chills in summer vex one reader DEAR DR. GOTT: I have cold chills all the time. Even in the sum- mer, I wear long sleeves and pants while others are wearing shorts. It started about five years ago, when my father was dying in the hospital. I thought I may have picked up a virus while vis- iting, but it hasn’t gone away. I don’t take any meds, don’t smoke, I am healthy, and my thyroid is OK. The doctors can’t explain it. My nose is red all the time, and people tease me and say I drink too much, but I don’t drink at all. I get goose bumps, and the hair stands up on my arms. I’m a 52- year-old female. Is it possible to be having cold chills instead of hot flashes? I hope you can help me. DEAR READER: You have certainly set up a con- fusing smoke screen for me. Tobacco use is known to affect circulation, but you don’t smoke. Alcohol can adversely affect the system, but you don’t drink. Some medications cause chills, but you don’t take any. Your thyroid is functioning nor- mally, so that isn’t a con- tributing factor. Daily News photo by Chip Thompson The St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Auxiliary received a $1,300 donation from The Southtown Strummers, who held a free concert for the community benefiting the auxiliary. The concert was sponsored by Rolling Hills Casino, Cornerstone Bank, the Daily News, The State Theatre and St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and included rag time music featuring Daily News Publisher Greg Stevens on piano and audience sing-a-longs.The auxiliary thanks Southtown Strummers for their time, talent and generous donation. Free Shasta Dam summer tours The Bureau of Recla- mation will start the summer tour schedule at Shasta Dam Saturday, May 29. Daily tour times are 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tours are free and informative for visitors to the area. Shasta Dam is about 10 miles north of Redding. Take Shasta Dam Blvd. Exit 685 off Interstate 5, then drive west 6 miles to the dam. Tours of about an hour take visitors down an elevator, through the dam, out to the spillway area at the base of the Dam and inside the pow- erplant. Visitors are encour- aged to arrive 30 min- utes before tour time and check in at the Shasta Dam Visitor Center to receive free tickets. There is ample parking. As many as 40 people are allowed on each group. Tours begin after a short walk on the dam to the second tower. Visitors may not carry bags of any kind; elec- tronic devices, such as music players or weapons, including small pocket knives. Visitors boating to the dam for a tour should leave lifejackets aboard. They are not allowed on visits. The Visitor Center is open year-round, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A free video ver- sion of the tour, exhibits on the dam's construc- tion and a gift shop are at the center. For more information, call 275-4463 or visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ ncao/. Mobile Pet Vaccinations RAIN OR SHINE LOW COST VACCINE CLINIC Now Available Organic & Heirloom Spring Vegetable Plants 1 1/2 miles South of Red Bluff 12645 Hwy 99E (530) 529-2546 Emergency Preparedness Fair For Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Care Providers, & Community Members Saturday, June 5th, 2010 Red Bluff Community Center 10am to 2pm. Anniversary Special: FREE Regular or N.G. glass with all custom frames during May. Must persent this ad. Offer Expries 5/31/10. Oversize glass not included 857 Washington St. red bluff 530-527-3369 Low Cost Lunch available FREE Event BE PREPARED Call 528-2829 or 528-2130 x 0 DOGS ON LEASH Distemper/Parvo (6-in-1) and Rabies.............$ 15 Distemper/Parvo (6-in-1) Corona, Rabies & Bordetella.......$ Distemper/Parvo (6-in-1).............$ Rabies Only....$ PRESCRIPTION FLEA PREVENTION ALSO AVAILABLE 25 10 7 CATS IN BOX Feline Distemper (3-in-1) and Rabies............. $ Rabies Only.... $ Leukemia.........$ All Three..........$ 15 7 12 25 SATURDAY, MAY 29TH RED BLUFF Reynolds Ranch & Farm Supply 501 Madison, Red Bluff 12:00-2:00 MOBILE PET VACCINATIONS (916) 983-4686 (Not affiliated with any other vaccine clinic) discount CASH ONLY 3 or more pet Now through the month of June all Fountains & Statuaries 30% off Red Bluff Garden Center 766 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff • 527-0886 Menopause can cause hot flashes but can also, in a small percentage of women, cause chills. However, you were 47 when you visited the hospital. That’s relative- ly early for menopause, which is common for women in their early 50s. This natural biological process occurs once a woman has been free of menstrual periods for one year. Perhaps you have per- imenopause, a transitional condition prior to menopause that can occur as early as the mid-30s or 40s and last up to eight years. As with menopause, hormonal changes occur and estrogen levels rise and fall. A common symptom, however, is hot flashes, not chills. Your physician can order simple laboratory test- ing to determine whether you are in either stage of menopause. Other possible causes are Dr. Peter Gott infections of any type, such as strep throat or dental issues, autoimmune disorders, leukemia and lymphoma. Along these lines, you might choose to speak with your physician regarding additional testing to rule out other possi- ble causes. Once you cover all the bases, you can put your mind at ease on at least a few of the possibil- ities for your chills. To provide related infor- mation, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Menopause.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com. DEAR DR. GOTT: I get severe leg cramps when I use Benadryl. Is it because I get dry mouth from the medication? DEAR READER: There are a number of dif- ferent Benadryl products on the market, each con- taining different inactive ingredients. And, as I have reported on countless occa- sions, all medications can carry side effects. As you have discovered, a common one in many Benadryl products is dry mouth. Fur- thermore, diphenhy- dramine/ibuprofen can cause numbness of an arm or leg and unusual joint or muscle pain. Consider a trial without this medication. If your symptoms stop, you will have the answer. If you feel you need an antihistamine, speak with your physician regarding a substitution. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com Cottonwood Hills project Caltrans announced Thursday that construction will begin Tuesday, June 1 on a $24.7 million project that will build new truck climbing lanes on Interstate 5 in Shasta County. The project is funded with $22.9 million from Proposi- tion 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by vot- ers in 2006. During the next two weeks there will be lane closures between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. nightly to do restriping in antic- ipation of shifting traffic. There will be a reduction in the speed limit during lane closures. The project is expected to ease traffic congestion by con- structing new lanes for trucks on I-5 between Cottonwood and Anderson. Caltrans will resurface nearly 14 lane-miles of existing highway pavement within the project limits. Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2011. For more information, call 225-3260.