Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/15673
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Grannies get guy grumbling Avoiding diabetic meds Dear Annie: I am a divorced male in my mid-50s. I cannot seem to find anyone to connect with. I am a fit, intelligent, success- ful businessman. I can prepare a gourmet meal, clean a bathroom and change the head gasket on a 1986 Pontiac. Most of the women my age tend to be rather fuddy-duddy. They are only interested in their grandchildren, quilting or gardening. Younger women seem to be looking for a mate to start a family. I have no interest in that. I keep myself active in social, theatrical and church activities. I live in a conserv- ative community, and relo- cating is not an option. It would be easy to lower my standards, but after two divorces, I would like to find a life partner. — Alone in Casper, Wy. Dear Casper: Serious- ly? Women in their 50s are only interested in quilting and grandchildren? Did you travel back in time to find them? Such stereotyping will not endear you to any female. Women of all ages are interested in many things, including social, the- atrical and church activities, just like you. They are sharp, smart, funny and compassionate. If you can- not locate any of them, you are look- ing in the wrong places. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Casper is a decent-sized city, and you may need to cast your net a lit- tle wider than your local community. Since you have already been divorced twice, you might want to con- template why you cannot seem to attract a compatible, appropriate partner. You sound like a nice catch. Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with ‘‘Charlotte’’ for years. We used to be ‘‘phone friends’’ but have recently started doing things together (walking, shop- ping, eating out, etc.). How- ever, every time I ask whether she’s available, she always says, ‘‘I’ll have to let you know.’’ She never says ‘‘yes.’’ Most of the time she is unable to meet me, although she does eventual- ly let me know. It makes me feel like she’ll spend time with me if nothing better comes along. Charlotte is retired but has a family that takes a lot of her time. I work two jobs, so my time is limited. Two weeks ago, I asked her to come to a lecture with me. I gave her plenty of notice, saying if she was unable to attend, I would do some- thing with my sister instead. Charlotte said she would be out of town that morning and wasn’t sure when she’d return. Later, she left a mes- sage saying she was hoping to make it, but wasn’t cer- tain. When I came home from work, I still hadn’t heard from Charlotte, so when my sister asked whether I was available, I went. I left Char- lotte a message, saying I wouldn’t be back in time to go to the lecture. I haven’t heard from her since. I called once, but she didn’t have time to talk. Was I wrong to do something with my sister before Charlotte gave me a definite answer? — Ohio Dear Ohio: Yes. Grant- ed, Charlotte seems a little reluctant to make social commitments, but that does- n’t mean you should behave the same way. Call her and apologize for running out on her. Then the next time she gives you a wishy-washy response, say, ‘‘I’ll take that as a ’no’ unless you get back to me.’’ Or stop arranging to meet up with her altogether and you’ll be less frustrated. Dear Annie: I hope you have room for one more story about stolen food. In high school, my mother had a problem with someone taking lunches from her locker. One day, she packed a lard sandwich. Her lunch was never stolen again. — South Williamsport, Penn. End of summer tips from Pacific Gas and Electric On very hot days, electric demand is high between 2 and 7 p.m. Try to do laundry, dish- washing, vacuuming and other high-energy activity before or after these hours to help reduce strain on the power grid and for less reliance on fossil-fuel power generation. In the cooling season, set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when you're at home, health permitting. Savings: 10 percent to 20 percent of cooling costs. When away from your home during the cooling season, set your air conditioner at 85 DEAR DR. GOTT: My fasting glucose has been averaging between 116 and 118 for the past 3-1/2 years. Now, all of a sudden, I’ve had a cou- ple readings in the 135 to 145 range. What can I do without going on medication? DEAR READER: There are a number of reasons why you might have a few random high readings. Perhaps you ate out and consumed something the evening before your testing that had a higher-than-nor- mal amount of sugar included. Or you’ve experienced trauma, had a minor illness, consumed alcohol, or have been placed on a medication that affects your readings. I would certainly keep a close eye on it Dr. Peter Gott someone has left to live. My infer- ence was that at 39, and under ideal circumstances, a person likely has 45 or more years of life left. In fact, average life expectancy in the Unit- ed States is nearly 78 years. I’ve personally seen all too often that a young person with so much to look forward to has the rug pulled out from under him or her. And I’ve also seen people who don’t con- tribute to society, defy what we perceive to be a good lifestyle, smoke, drink too much, drive too fast, are obese, eat all the wrong foods and live to a ripe old age. It doesn’t seem fair. In large part, quality time is what we but would not jump the gun to consider medication at this stage. Watch your sugar intake. Eat healthful meals, avoid sugar, reduce your carbohydrate intake, and exer- cise appropriately. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Diabetes Mellitus.” 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. DEAR DR. GOTT: In one of your replies to a reader who, at 39 years of age, was hav- ing severe hip pain, you said he had a lot of time left and that it should be quality time. First, I don’t believe you can determine how much time someone has left to live. Secondly, at what age does an individual’s right to quality time expire? As a senior with a family history of longevity, the issue of quality time greatly concerns me. DEAR READER: Well, you’re certainly right that I can’t determine how much time make of every day of our lives, and hopeful- ly, it involves good or relatively good health, not a life fraught with pain and the unhappi- ness of one serious medical condition after another. Human beings should not have a prede- termined age at which quality time expires. That would open a can of worms, and we would likely behave in inappropriate ways, knowing we had little time left. We would feel justified in drinking too much, getting in trouble with the law, failing to report to work or care for our loved ones, and behaving irresponsibly. Each and every one of us is different. Even within families, one individ- ual may suffer medical consequences beyond the scope of what should ever have to be faced, while another remains relatively healthy. An exemplary lifestyle can often be snuffed out like a lit candle at an early age. We simply have no control over that. I can- not play God, nor can anyone else and deter- mine an age at which quality is no longer important and we become mere shadows of our former selves. That’s why it is so impor- tant to make every day count. Smile at strangers. Enjoy the company of friends and family. Of greatest importance, take care of your health to fight off the unknown. Stay cool during heat and conserve energy and utility costs degrees. Savings: 5 percent to 12 percent of cooling costs. Provide shading for your air conditioning condenser. Sav- ings: 2 percent to 3 percent of cooling costs. Switch pool filter and sweeper operations to off-peak hours. Peak hours are between 2 and 7 p.m. Consider replacing pool pumps and motors with energy-efficient equipment. Savings depend on your use. Shorten the operating time for your swimming pool filter and automatic cleaning sweep — if your pool has one. For winter, two hours a day of fil- tering could cut your filter's energy use by 40 percent to 50 percent, yet keep your pool clean. Pool covers save energy and money — 70 percent of pool heat loss is by evaporation. Use exterior shading devices or deciduous plants to shade your home and windows from the sun. Savings: Up to 8 per- cent of cooling costs.