Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/28179
2B – Daily News – Thursday, March 31, 2011 FEATURES Canine come-ons create consternation Dear Annie: I desper- ately need someone to tell me whether or not I am crazy. My husband and I live in an upscale neighborhood. He has met most of the neighbors by walking our dog. Last year, a neighbor moved out and rented his home to a couple with two little children and two dogs. As my husband walked our dog, the woman came out with hers, and the dogs played while my husband and ‘‘Jen- nifer’’ got acquainted. He is 71, and she is 46. her house, dressed in tight miniskirts and revealing tops. I told my husband this Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar I am recovering from breast can- cer and at that time was so weak from chemo and radiation that I could barely walk to the bathroom. But I did notice that my husband was now walking our dog 20 times a day. I suspected it was to see Jen- nifer, but I’m not the jealous type and said nothing. When I was ready to build up my stamina, I told my husband I want- ed to walk with him. I led him in a direction that did not go past Jen- nifer’s house, but he steered me the other way. She came running out and said, ‘‘Thank you for the e- mail. It made my day.’’ They talked as if I weren’t there, and it was apparent that my husband had a huge crush on her. He started show- ering, putting on fresh clothes and combing his hair before taking the dog for a walk. As soon as Jennifer saw him, she’d come running out of was too much and that the e- mailing had to stop. His ini- tial reaction was to open a new, private e-mail account. I finally gave him a piece of my mind, and he promised not to walk by Jennifer’s house again. Apparently, he kept his word, because she asked where he’s been. I told her she was to have no fur- ther contact and threatened to speak to her husband about it. We have heard no more from her. I think I nipped something in the bud, but my husband tells me I’m crazy. My son thinks Jennifer was playing games with his father. Should I have handled it different- ly? — Kentucky Dear Kentucky: Jennifer was flirting with your husband, who was flattered and infatuated. It may not have gone any further, but your aggravation levels would have shot through the roof. We think you han- dled it just fine. Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our 70s, retired and on an extremely low fixed income. We have no savings. We barely have enough money for food and medi- cine. Our daughter is a professional who earns more than double what we make. However, every month, we have to help with her utilities. In the past, we’ve given her large sums of money that we had to borrow. With medical costs going up, how can we get her to stop relying on us financially? — Drained Dry Dear Drained: You must close the Bank of Mom and Dad. Tell your daughter you are so sorry, but you cannot afford to give her any more money. She will learn to take care of her own finances only when she is forced to. There is no reward for putting yourselves in the poor house so she can remain irresponsi- ble. Dear Annie: I have a simple solution for ‘‘Forgotten in Califor- nia,’’ whose co-workers forgot her birthday when she returned from vacation. In our office, we all take turns with this responsibility. It works like this: You must get the card and cake for the person whose birthday falls before yours, and then the person whose birthday comes after yours brings the cake on your birthday. We have a chart with everyone’s birthdays and their ‘‘cake baker’s name’’ so no one has the chance to forget. It has worked out perfectly. — Never Forgotten 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. Writers forum scheduled in Redding Writers Forum will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April in Eaton Hall West at All Saints Epis- copal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding. The forum is entitled ‘Nuts and Bolts: Build- ing a Market for Your Words’. Former educator Chloe Winston will offer advice on how to find and work with mar- kets for short pieces such as articles, essays, memoirs, and more. Winston has lectured on major cruise lines for many years, on a variety of topics, including writing. She's currently a blogger for the Record- Searchlight, and has been published in numerous markets throughout the country. She is also a novelist who writes mysteries and historical fiction. The public is always welcome to attend. Admission is free. Donations are requested only at the refreshment table. For further details or directions to the loca- tion, call 547-5303 or visit www.writers- forum.net to view a map. Writers Forum, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, is ded- icated to promoting writing as an art and as a profession and to sup- porting and inspiring writers from all over far northern California. Seizure-like activity frigntens reader DEAR DR. GOTT: Although I am seeing a neurologist, I want to run my situation by you because I love your column and trust your exper- tise. age? DEAR READ- I am a woman in my 20s in good health, not overweight. I try to work out three to five times a week, if not more. I don’t smoke or do drugs, but I occasionally drink. I am taking medication for birth control, anxiety and stress. I have what I would describe as occa- sional panic attacks. I have a high-stress job and other stresses in my life. Recently, I felt nause- ated and slightly dizzy at work. I also had a mild headache. Since a lot of people in my office were sick at the time, I figured maybe I was getting the flu or a cold. I left to get checked out by a doctor, as the symptoms didn’t improve. By the time I made the five-minute drive, I was sure I was going to throw up. I checked in at the office and quickly went to the bathroom and sat on the floor. After five minutes, I had not thrown up. That was when I real- ized I could not stand solidly on my own. Someone came, got me in a wheelchair and to an examining room. That’s when my motor skills were affected. My right arm would not stop moving up and down, and my right leg was also shaking. My speech was affected, reduced to stuttering. They took my vitals, and as I waited for the doctor, my back arched and my body started jerking. I had no control and could not talk. Instead, I mumbled loudly so someone would help me. They thought I was having some panic episode, but it would not stop. This continued for hours. During all of this, my mind was OK. I knew what was going on and could answer ques- tions. I just didn’t have con- trol of the stuttering or of my body movements. I had an EEG and MRI and will get the results soon. Could it have been a form of a partial seizure or severe migraine that many women get around this Dr. Peter Gott ER: Yes, it could. Let’s discuss seizures first. They are caused by abnormal electrical brain activity that may be provoked by high fever, low blood sodium or magnesium, low oxygen levels in the brain, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), alco- hol, medication with- drawal or may have no identifiable reason. A solitary seizure doesn’t imply epilepsy, but even mild forms of a seizure might require treatment because they can occur at inappropriate times, such as when driving an automobile. You may have experienced a par- tial seizure or a pseudo- seizure (pyschogenic non-epileptic seizure) that didn’t result in a loss of consciousness but manifested in confu- sion and jerking. Most migraine types in adults, and there are many, are associated with headache; however, a vertiginous migraine associated with recur- rent episodes of vertigo with or without nausea, vomiting, photophobia or headache in a setting of positive family histo- ry of migraine or previ- ous personal history might support the diag- nosis. Other possibilities include a nervous-sys- tem abnormality that resulted in seizure-like activity. Infection (specifically meningi- tis), hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle or medication may be the culprit. Overdose or abrupt withdrawal of many medications can trigger symptoms such as those experienced. Whatever the cause, you need the results of your EEG and MRI so your neurologist can pinpoint why you expe- rienced such symptoms and the best way to pre- vent them from happen- ing again in the future. 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 Tehama County’s Personal/Professional Service Directory Bankruptcy Attorney Local Bankruptcy Attorney Jocelyn C. Olander 530-824-0288 Free Consultation Payment Plans Available Web: www.jcoattyatlaw.com email: mail@jcoatty atlaw.com A federally qualified Debt Relief Agency under 11 U.S.C. 101(12(A)) Advertisement If this was your Service Directory ad customers would be reading it right now!! Call us at 527-2151 For more information AT YOUR SERVICE! $ 9900 3 month Clock Repair Eye Physician 530-736-7079 Grandpa’s Clocks Jim Paul 20910 Pebblestone Dr. Red Bluff Shelf & 31 Day Clocks Repaired Call for appt. Member NAWCC Cuckoo Clocks, Anniversary, Wall, Clock Repair James W. 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