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2B – Daily News – Wednesday, June 23, 2010 FEATURES Missing money mystifies mother Dear Annie: Last week, our 22-year-old grandson flew in for a visit from col- lege. We celebrated with lots of barbecues and swim- ming. The entire family was here for the weekend — our older son, his live-in girlfriend and her 17-year- old daughter, along with our younger son, his wife and their three teenage girls. Annie’s Mailbox On the morning of my grandson’s departure, he noticed that a $100 bill from his wallet was missing. He also found a hair barrette on the floor near the dresser. The 17-year-old is the only child who wore barrettes. But our 16- year-old granddaughter has a histo- ry of lying. None of the bedroom doors has a lock, and with all the confusion of changing clothes after swimming, anyone could have entered the bedroom and stolen the money. We reimbursed our grandson for his loss, but here is our dilemma: Our sons were notified of the miss- ing $100, but they both said they did not believe their children were involved. We don’t know if either of the girls in question was told. Do we broach the subject next time we are in the company of either of the girls, or should we just let it go and do a better job securing our money when they are in the house? — Saddened Dear Saddened: Four teenagers and four adults were guests in your by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar home, and any one of them could have taken the money. You have notified your sons, and the rest is up to them. Unless you want this to become an issue every time you see the family, you will have to let it go. Sorry to say, the next time the kids visit, you might want to lock up any rooms that have valu- ables in them. Dear Annie: My hus- band has subscribed to adult magazines since the early 90s. I have no problem with that, but I hate that he collects the maga- zines and stores them in dozens of boxes in our garage, taking up space we could use for other things. At any given moment, there are 10 such magazines in bathrooms frequented in some cases by guests, and also by our growing children. I have spoken to him about this, and he either changes the subject or tells me to stop nagging. He says the magazines will be collectors’ items one day. Is this true? Could I just toss them? I am ready to take whatever action is necessary to get the maga- zines out of my home, even if it means I have to do it without his knowledge. I know more will take their place. — Hate the Trash Dear Hate: It’s possible these magazines may someday be worth money, but probably not as much as your husband believes. Suggest he check out their value online, and if he still plans to sell them, they need to be in good condition, not scat- tered around the house. Tell him to rent storage space elsewhere, or you will throw them out. Then he can decide how much they are worth to him. Dear Annie: Your response to ‘‘Concerned Grandparent’’ really aggravated me. She asked whether a 7-year-old girl was right to tell Dad that she saw her mom kissing another man. I agree that a 7-year- old couldn’t possibly know what sort of response is appropriate. However, you blamed Dad for not controlling his emotional outburst, which was directed at the child. At no point did you address the cheat- ing wife. She is the only guilty party in the entire mess. The father’s reaction was understandable. But it’s the mother who caused the problem. Quit covering for the bad behavior of cheating wives. — Lafayette, Ind. Dear Lafayette: No one’s cover- ing for anybody. The question was how to help the child. After three years, Dad still cannot control his reaction in front of his daughter, which makes her feel responsible. The entire family needs help. 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. Miracle in a jar I believe the most recent time I touched a jar of Kraft Miracle Whip was when I was but a mere child. I'm not fond of the taste, but as soon as I am done writing, I'm off to the store to buy a jar. It's for an experiment. I'm going to give myself a Miracle Whip facial. Stop laughing. I've heard it is miracu- lous. And cheap. Before you dismiss the idea altogether, let's think this through: Mir- acle Whip contains vinegar (acid), oil (moisturizer) and egg (protein). Doesn't that sound a lot like the ingredi- ents lists on any number of skin care products? But please, don't try this at home. Not yet. Let me offer up my face as our experi- mental laboratory. I'll report back with everything you need to know. In the meantime, here BOOK BARN Used Books Tues-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-2 Serving Tehama County since 1994 619 Oak St., Red Bluff (530) 528-2665 are other ways in which you just might be able to cut the cost of your personal care: FREE DENTAL CARE. Our local community college has a dental hygiene program that offers free dental clean- ings. The dental stu- dents need a certain number of clinical hours to complete their degrees, so they need patients to prac- tice on. The cleanings are supervised by an instructor and a dentist, so patients get quality care. This is a great way to save money while making sure you get routine dental cleanings. -- Joan B., New York MASCARA MAGIC. I usually have a professional touch up my hair coloring once a month, but I've learned how to cover up my gray so I can stretch my col- oring appointments to three Pick a Rib with Us Daily Specials Jack the Ribber All you can eat ribs $ Friday Night Rib Dinners 1400 1150 Monroe St. 527-6108 months if I have to. I do my own mini touch-ups with cheap mas- cara. I choose a color of mascara that matches my hair color, and I use the small wand-shaped brush to apply the makeup lightly around my hairline. The color stays on all day. It doesn't smudge, nor does it get stiff or become a prob- lem in bad weather. No one Mary Hunt Everyday Cheapskate has guessed my secret because my hair looks so natural. -- Veronica E., e- mail LOTION MOTION. When my lotion tube or face cream tube gets low, I cut the tube in half. That way, I can reach down into the cream that is left at the bottom and get the remaining product out easily. I can use every drop of the cream or lotion without having it dry out. - - M.S., Alabama BEA UTY BUDGET. I pay only $10 to $20 to get my hair cut or colored at the local beauty school near my home. My beauty shop was charg- ing $80 for the same services. I recom- mend trying local training schools before paying full price for beauty services. -- Sonnie B., e-mail NICE NECKLACE. Rather than buy different lengths of necklaces, I use tiny, clear hair or orthodon- tic elastics to shorten my long necklaces to the length I want for the neckline I am wearing. I fasten the neck- lace and then use the elastic around the end that is at the back of my neck to shorten it to the desired length. The extra length of necklace hangs down my back on the inside of my shirt, sweater or jacket. -- Margot K., Utah Can aspirin cause bruising? DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 66- year-old female in good health. I have been on an 81 milligram aspirin a day for the last six years. I had a pacemak- er inserted in 2007, owing to an electrical prob- lem in my heart. Since then, I have had a problem I attribute to the aspirin, but I’m not sure that’s the culprit. I have blood that pools right under the skin on the lower part of my arms. The blood is very dark — almost black — and sometimes a bit raised. It takes from three to four weeks to fade away, and when it does fade, it leaves a brown spot where it was. I don’t have to hit or scrape my arm. The blood just appears. Right now, I have four large spots on my right arm near the wrist. They are most unsightly, and I have taken to covering them with Band-Aids, but then people ask me what hap- pened to my arm. The only way to hide them would be to wear a long- sleeved blouse all the time. Since I live in Louisiana, where the summers are steamy, I just could not do that. Is the aspirin causing this? My primary-care doctor said my skin is thin and there is nothing I can do about it. My skin doesn’t seem thin to me. This is upsetting, because I am never with- out one or more spot on my arms. The right arm seems to get more (I am right-handed), and it seems worse in the warmer months. By the way, I take fle- cainide 50 milligrams twice a day, Tegretol XR 900 milligrams once a day (to prevent seizures due to a blow to my head last fall) and Premarin 0.625 milligrams. Can you please give me some help and hope? DEAR READER: To begin with, your doctor is correct that your skin is thinner. This occurs because a portion of the protective fatty layer of skin that helps cushion blood vessels against Dr. Peter Gott injury is lost as we age. There is also the possibil- ity that excess sun exposure over the years has broken down the collagen and elastin fibers in the deep layers of your skin. One more possibility is a side effect of medication you may be on, including the 81 mil- ligrams daily aspirin that acts as an anticoagulant. I should indicate it is common for aspirin, even the 81-milligram strength, to be pre- scribed to people with abnormal cardiac condi- tions. The Tegretol XR you are taking has uncom- mon side effects of severe allergic reactions, including unusual bruis- ing or bleeding. I am not saying this is the cause of your bruising, but adding this to your aspirin regimen might be the cause. Speak with your physician or cardi- ologist for his or her interpretation. Take extra precau- tions to avoid direct stress to your skin. Your physician(s) will likely continue you on your current medications because of your medical history. As such, you may find yourself wear- ing long-sleeved shirts when out in public. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Con- sumer Tips on Medi- cine.” 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.AskDr- GottMD.com. 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. CARE TO COMMENT? At redbluffdailynews.com, scroll to the end of any story, click the link and type away. TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH 23820 Tehama Ave, Gerber CORN FED ANGUS BEEF Aged 14 to 21 days Satisfaction Guaranteed AVAILABLE NOW!!! Find us at the FARMER’S MARKET and get your 40lb. Variety Pack! For more info call: 385-1570 or e-mail: borror@theskybeam.com Hrs: 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday Choice Angus RIB EYE 80-85% Lean GROUND BEEF OR PATTIES 81-19% $ $ Plain or Marinated COUNTRY STYLE RIBS $ 899lb. 279lb. 229lb. 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