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Thursday, October 14, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Neighbor’s nuzzle not needed Plantar-wart remedies sought Dear Annie: I am 26 years old and happily mar- ried. We recently moved into our first home, next door to ‘‘Tom and Sophie,’’ a childless 45- year-old couple. My wife likes Sophie, and I enjoyed Tom’s company until he asked me to join him on a fishing trip. We rented a single- room cabin for two nights, sharing all expenses. In the middle of the night, I woke up to find Tom’s hands rub- bing my body. I pushed him away, offered a few choice words and began packing. He quietly drove us to our respec- tive homes. I told my wife about the incident, swearing her to secrecy. I don’t wish to be responsible for problems in Tom’s marriage. However, I find it difficult to contin- ue our relationship. We cannot afford to move to another neighborhood. What should I do? How can our wives continue their friendship with this awkward history? How do I relate to Tom? — Mike in Alabama Dear Mike: Here’s what you do: Act as if it never happened. Your wife can still maintain a friendship with Sophie, but you should find ways to be busy with other things. Do not encourage get-togethers, but don’t abruptly cut them off. If you gradual- ly back away from socializing, it will seem natural. Avoid any rea- son to be alone with Tom. He won’t question why, and we suspect his Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar wife won’t, either. Dear Annie: Last weekend, I stayed at an upscale motel where they serve breakfast in the lobby. After eat- ing, I went to the elevator, and a little boy, per- haps 6 years old, left the table where his father was eating and announced, ‘‘I’m going up to Mom.’’ Dad agreed, and the boy rode up to the third floor with me, chatting the whole time, before getting off on my floor and pound- ing on a door farther down the hall. Annie, this child could have been abduct- ed at any time. The ele- vator was at the intersec- tion of two hallways and was 10 feet from a stair- well. Anyone could have gotten on that elevator or been in the hallway when he got off. I was tempted to say something to the par- ents, but figured I would be told to mind my own business. Please remind parents that the world is not child friendly and safe, and even the most responsible ‘‘big boy’’ or girl could disappear in a matter of seconds. — Concerned in Texas Dear Texas: We appreciate the heads up. Most children are safer than we fear, but still, parents need to be cau- tious and alert. A motel is filled with strangers, and there are hallways, doorways and empty rooms where kids can be lost — or taken. It is foolish to allow young children to run around unseen and unsupervised in such places, not only because the child can lose his way, but because it presents an opportunity for those with malicious intent. Next time, speak up. Even if the parents tell you to MYOB, they might be more circum- spect in the future. Dear Annie: I strong- ly disagree with your response to ‘‘Modest Mary,’’ who was uncom- fortable when her friend held a conversation stark naked in the women’s locker room at the health club. You said it was ‘‘normal.’’ I have been a member of a health club for 20 years, and I have seen only one woman walk- ing around naked. It made me very uncom- fortable. I do not view this as normal gym behavior. All of the women I have encoun- tered wear a towel and change in a dressing room. — Debbie from Sarasota, Fla. Dear Debbie: Your health club must be more upscale than the ones we frequent, where women change in an open locker room area. While we agree that a towel would be nice, we also think some nudity is to be expected in an all-female changing area, and some women are less inhibited than others. 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.n et, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am see- ing a dermatologist for plantar warts on the tops and bottoms of my feet. He is using a com- bination of acid and freezing. This is painful, and I have diffi- culties walking, even two weeks after treatments that are every three weeks. Is there any- thing else I can do? DEAR READER: Plantar warts are benign growths caused by the human papillo- mavirus (of which there are more than 100 types), which enters the body through cuts or breaks in the skin. These lesions present as small, hard bumps and are most commonly found on pressure points on the heels or balls of the feet. Dr. Peter Gott as the freezing process done in a physician’s office. There are preventive steps people can take to reduce their risk of getting plantar warts. Initially, keep your feet clean and dry, since warts thrive in a damp, warm environment. Wear flip-flops or another form of foot coverage when around public swimming pools or in locker rooms. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching any warts. Avoid direct contact with another person’s feet or hands if they have warts. The virus can spread from person to person simply through touching or scratching. Because each person’s immune system responds differently, some people may not be troubled by warts, while others, such as you, are extremely hampered by them. Treatment is not necessary in all cases. When intervention is appropri- ate because of pain or lesions, a physi- cian may choose cryotherapy (freez- ing). With this treatment, liquid nitro- gen is applied directly to the warts, sometimes a blister forms, and the dead tissue sloughs off in a week or more. This therapy can cause pain, so for this reason it isn’t commonly used for young children. Other options include prescription cream, laser surgery, immunotherapy and cutting away of the warts. On the home front, over-the- counter salicylic-acid solution or patches, duct tape and cryotherapy products are available. There are a number of brands avail- able, but if the medication or patch is used, it should be a 40 percent sali- cylic-acid solution. Duct-tape therapy involves covering the wart for about a week, then soaking the area in warm water. This is followed by gently rubbing the lesion with a pumice stone or emery board. The process may require repeating once or twice before it is entirely gone. Cryotherapy products are also available without prescription; howev- er, they don’t appear to be as effective If you use an emery board or pumice stone to file off lesions, do not use that same equipment on your fin- gernails. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Compelling Home Reme- dies.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order payable to Newsletter and mailed 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 am a marriage and family therapist and treat many children with ADHD. You mentioned herbal remedies for this condition. Please tell me where to get more information on this. DEAR READER: As you are aware, herbals, OTCs and prescription medications are not always effective. However, ginkgo biloba, lemon balm, valerian, hawthorn, lobelia, oat straw and German chamomile are but a few of the herbals thought to assist with ADHD. An important consideration is the avoidance of sugar, because it may result in aggressive and restless behavior in some children. 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. Join the Job Training Center in celebrating great customer service this October. Secret Shoppers have been visiting all types of businesses throughout the county. While there were plenty of honorable mentions, just twelve are selected who go above and beyond. We celebrate them this week. New Asian Restaurant, Red Bluff What a memory! Marissa received a certificate of excellence and a gift certificate donated by Red Bluff Health and Fitness. Marissa Bathgate is the hostess at New Asian Restaurant. She amazed the Secret Shopper by remembering them. “She’s very good with names and remembering what you like to drink. During Lent, she asked me if I’d like my usual Diet Pepsi. I explained to her that I had temporarily given up carbonated drinks. So, she suggested their tropical iced tea (delicious). Months later, I visited the restaurant again. Marissa not only remembered my name, she asked if I’d like to go back to my original favorite (Diet Pepsi) or stick with the tropical iced tea! What a good memory she has!” Isabel Meraz, Customer Service Price’s Pharmacy, Corning Your first impression as a customer happens within seconds. Isabel Meraz is a natural customer service provider and makes sure to connect with the customers at Price’s Pharmacy in Corning. Her quick smile and warmth comes across both in person and over the phone. The Secret Shopper shared that Isabel is always ready to work, great with all customers and always pleasant. Isabel received a certificate of excellence and a gift certificate donated from Plum Crazy. Nu Way Market, Los Molinos I enjoy making my little trips to Nu Way Market, just because Trish will be there to greet me with her friendliness. Trish received a certificate of excellence and a gift certificate donated by Lattimer’s Pharmacy. The Secret Shopper values Trish’s friendliness. “I shop at Nu Way Market at least once a week. Every time I shop there and Trish is working, she always greets me with her great smile. She is very friendly and goes out of her way to please her customers. While waiting in line, I’ve noticed that she remembers other customers’ names, and not just mine. She’ll go out of her way to show me where an item is in the store, and she doesn’t mind. She always asks me how my kids are doing, and how my day has been.” Trish Karnes, Clerk Marissa Bathgate