Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/133752
2B Daily News – Friday, May 31, 2013 FEATURES Woman finds mother-in-law insufferable For mild heartburn none of her other children Dear Annie: I have been could or would. But I'm married to a wonderful man done. for 35 years and have terrifMy husband has conic children and beautiful fronted his mother many grandchildren. Our martimes regarding her destrucriage has been great, except tive behavior, but she says for my manipulative and he doesn't see the ''real'' emotionally blackmailing me. Now I worry that she is mother-in-law. Our only fights have Annie's trying to come between my husband and his father, who stemmed from lies and is ill. My mother-in-law made-up stories this woman tells. She has by Kathy Mitchell doesn't return our phone destroyed relationships and Marcy Sugar calls or tell us when Dad is in the hospital. We hear with other family members and blames me for it even when we everything through a third party, live miles away. I support my hus- sometimes days after it happens. band in any decision he makes How do I handle this? — Daughterregarding her, and I have never bad- Out-Law Dear Daughter: Perhaps if your mouthed her. She recently pulled the ultimate husband had set stricter boundaries scheme. Knowing that I had never with more dire consequences years met my son's fiancee, my mother- ago, this situation would be better in-law took it upon herself to tell now, but there are no guarantees. her the ''truth'' about me. After a Some people are beyond reasoning three-hour visit with my soon-to-be with. It's time to step back and let daughter-in-law and her parents, the your husband handle his mother. As poor girl was in tears when our son long as she believes she can control came home from work. Our son him, she will do so. Your husband said if he hadn't known the truth, he should try to get his information would have believed his grand- about Dad through other sources mother. She was very convincing and bypass Mom whenever possiand even brought on fake tears. Our ble. It's terribly sad, but you cannot children are now so upset with their force her to be a better person. (She grandmother that they do not want sounds mentally ill.) Dear Annie: I am a skinny her near their kids, planting lies in woman with large breasts. I know their minds. I have tried to be the better per- there is a crazy stereotype that son over the years, welcoming my women like me are wild party girls. mother-in-law into our home, giv- I'm actually quite conservative. But ing her birthday presents and even other women seem to think it's OK planning anniversary parties when to poke my breasts or lift them, Mailbox probably to check whether they are real. Last week at a party, some insufferable girl I just met turned the entire conversation to my breasts. I walked away to cool off, but someone overheard me say that the girl was obnoxious. So ''poking girl'' started shouting at me, and you can guess how the rest of the night went. Annie, please tell your readers that just because a woman has large breasts doesn't mean she wants to be poked and prodded in public. Where have basic social graces gone? — Staying Classy Dear Classy: You hang around with some inappropriate, rather creepy women. Your body, all of it, belongs to you. If someone touches your breasts, gasp in horror and perhaps yell loudly for the police. What nerve. Dear Annie: Thank you for recommending the NAMI Family-toFamily class to ''Parents at Wits' End.'' When I took that 12-week class, I learned so much about mental illness, as well as finding support and hope from other parents. I have no doubt my son is doing better because of it. — Grateful Mother 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. Sierra Oro Farm Trail Dads & Grads CHICO – For the second consecutive month, participating farms on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 2 as part of a new Ag Tourism 1st Sundays program. Dads and Grads is the tour theme, specifically for foodie families who want to treat their fathers or recent grads to a special farm trail tour as a gift. All farm tour guests can explore participating farms and wineries on their own or opt to reserve an exclusive charter van tour. Lunch and a historical tour are included – and the tour is perfect for individuals, couples or groups of friends, families or colleagues. Launched in May, this new program will continue on the first Sunday of every month through 2013. "The Sierra Oro Farm Trail supports local agtourism efforts in Butte County and is proud to provide first Sunday of the month farm trail tour options for locals and visitors looking to explore Butte County," said Nicole Johansson, Sierra Oro Farm Trail event organizer. "We have been getting requests for many years about offering "bus" tours. The farms felt that if we could provide marketing efforts to support all the farms who are open the first Sunday, not just the farms on the charter van tour, it would be a great benefit to everyone participating." Pre-planned routes are listed at www.sierraoro.org. The planned stops for the June 2 tour include Maisie Jane's, Bacio Boxed Lunch, Dog Creek Cellars, Gale Vineyards and Bertagna Sunkissed Vineyards. Charter tour ticket prices are $50 for one person or $80 per couple and the price includes lunch and free tastings at each farm and winery. Ticket prices do not include purchases made at any of the stops. All 16 participating farms will be open for visitors to explore on their own, including self-guided trail goers who choose to drive their own vehicles. These tours do not include lunch or free tastings. The "plan your route" feature at www.sierraoro.org allows all visitors to customize their own tour. For more information, visit www.sierraoro.org or call 530-891-5556. you don't need PPI should also help. DEAR DOCAs a long-term TOR K: I've been PPI user, you taking Prilosec for should also conyears to prevent sider the possible heartburn. My drug interactions wife doesn't think and side effects of it's safe to take PPIs. They may any drug for that decrease the long. What do you Dr. K effectiveness of think? by Anthony L. clopidogrel (PlavDEAR READER: I've said it Komaroff, M.D. ix, others), a medication that helps before, but I think it bears repeating: No drug prevent artery-clogging is 100 percent safe. That blood clots. (This is condoesn't mean that you troversial, and irrelevant if shouldn't take one if you you're not taking clopidoneed it. But you should grel.) In addition, people takcontinually weigh the ing PPIs seem to be more risks and benefits. Prilosec is a proton likely to get pneumonia pump inhibitor (PPI), a than those who aren't. drug that reduces stomach Why would a medicine acid. We need stomach that reduces stomach acid acid to help digest food, make you vulnerable to but in excess or in the pneumonia — a lung wrong place, it's a men- infection usually caused ace. It can inflame and by bacteria? Because irritate the esophagus, some cases of pneumonia causing heartburn. come from regurgitating (Recurring heartburn is stomach contents up into called gastroesophageal the throat and having reflux disease, or GERD.) some of these contents It can also contribute to drop down into the lungs. ulcers in the stomach and Since acid kills bacteria, stomach contents that are small intestine. PPIs are the most com- low in acid are more likemonly prescribed drugs ly to contain bacteria. Stomach acid also for acid reflux and heartburn. PPIs include lanso- helps you absorb calcium prazole (Prevacid), in your diet. Theoretically, omeprazole (Prilosec) and that might mean that longterm use of PPIs would esomeprazole (Nexium). Like you, people often make you vulnerable to take PPIs every day for thin bones (osteopenia or years. This makes sense if osteoporosis). However, you have a chronic prob- the evidence for that is lem with stomach acid, weak. Experts do not recbut the occasional case of ommend, for example, mild heartburn does not that people taking longneed to be treated with a term PPIs get bone densiPPI. For that kind of spot ty tests, or take calcium duty, antacid medicines pills. Even if you have a presuch as Tums, Rolaids and Maalox will likely do the scription for a PPI, you trick. They directly coun- and your doctor should teract acid in your stom- review the reasons for it ach. So will drugs like periodically to make sure cimetidine (Tagamet), they're still valid. If you famotidine (Pepcid) and do need that prescription ranitidine (Zantac). Like — and many people do — the PPIs, these drugs it should be for the lowest cause your stomach to effective dose. make less acid, but they Dr. Komaroff is a work faster than PPIs. You can also tackle physician and professor Harvard Medical your heartburn with at School. To send changes that don't involve go to taking anything. Eat questions, or smaller meals and cut AskDoctorK.com, back on alcohol. If you're write: Ask Doctor K, 10 heavy, lose weight. Rais- Shattuck St., Second ing the head of your bed Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Free couponing clinic A free couponing workshop will be held by the Tehama County Community Action Agency from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at North Valley Catholic Social Service Red Bluff Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St., Ste. 101. Limited child care will be provided. Learn how to make the most of your money by shopping strategically with coupons. For more information or to sign up call Jana Wilson or Kristina Mendenhall at (530) 528-4174 or visit www.tehamacountycaa.com.