Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/29660
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Nervous Nellie nettles nosy neighbor Dear Annie: We have lived for six years in a love- ly neighborhood and have great neighbors on both sides. My wife and I travel extensively, often for months, and both neigh- bors, ‘‘Jim’’ and ‘‘John,’’ have keys to our house and keep an eye on things, reporting to us via e-mail even when our grown chil- dren or in-laws stop by. Last week, a police offi- cer came to our door saying that the neighbor across the street had reported seeing Jim and his wife walking through our yard, looking at our house and in our win- dows. It’s possible this happened while we were traveling, but we were last away from home nine months ago. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar apparently created a huge problem. Should we go across the street and speak to the neighbor and explain that Jim watches our house for us? Why didn’t they come to us instead of going to the police? Should we encourage Jim to speak with the neighbor? — Perplexed and Confused Dear Perplexed: You were not wrong to tell Jim about the complaint, although his reaction seems Jim and his wife have two small dogs and spend a lot of time out- doors, occasionally running through our unfenced front and back yards, with our permission. We told the policeman this, and he was bewil- dered why the other neighbor would make the effort to call and even take photographs of Jim looking at our house. He said he’d talk to the neighbor and defuse the situation. I called Jim the next day and told them what happened. My wife and I believe they have a right to know someone called the police to com- plain about them. The next morn- ing, there was a ‘‘For Rent’’ sign in Jim’s yard. Were we wrong to tell Jim? It The Lassen Park Foun- dation has increased the number of grants it provides to help underprivileged kids go camping. However, with two weeks before deadline only six groups have applied for the 25 grants available from the foundation. “This is unusual,” said Executive Director Jane Ziad. “We’re usually scram- bling to find additional donors to help all the groups that apply. We promoted the grants as we always have with calls, emails and pub- licity, yet we’re far short of the number of groups we can fund” The LPF’s Youth Camp- ing Grants are given to not- for-profit youth organiza- extreme. If you want to play media- tor, go ahead, although first check to see if there is a neighborhood mediation group. If your other neighbor did not recognize Jim, his call to the police was perfectly understandable. But you can gently explain that while you appreciate his watching out for you, you often ask Jim to keep an eye on your home when you travel. Dear Annie: I married a widow- er. Every time it’s our anniversary, my birthday or even Valentine’s Day, he says he didn’t have time to buy a card or a gift, telling me, ‘‘I never know what to buy you. It’s better if you buy what you want.’’ This isn’t true. He knows what I like. What really hurts is to hear him talk about the lovely things he bought his late wife. We come from different cultures. He doesn’t like my music, my lan- guage or my family. Every time I’ve gone back to visit, I’ve had to go alone. He makes no effort to be part tions and schools for the purpose of providing disad- vantaged children equal access to experiencing the natural beauty of Lassen Volcanic National Park. They provide for three to seven-day camping trips, which include funds for transportation, food and equipment costs or rental. “All a group leader need do is demonstrate that their kids need financial support in order to experience the national park,” Ziad said. “Then, a date is set for the group to camp at the park’s Crags group campsite, which can accommodate up to 25, 18 youth and seven adults. The youth groups are responsible for organiz- ing their trip and must have of my world. Annie, is this really love? — Lost in Times Square Dear Lost: Love isn’t measured by how many gifts or cards you receive. And plenty of spouses steer clear of the in-laws. What matters is how he treats you the other days of the year. You are the only one who can decide how important his acceptance of your culture is in the overall picture and whether his other qualities make up for these slights. Dear Annie: This is in response to the letter from ‘‘Help, Please,’’ the daughters-in-law who are searching for options for their aging in-laws. They should also speak to their local Department of Family Services, as they are the ones who deal with the Medicare and Medic- aid payments for seniors. We had the same issues with my father-in-law. He, too, was worried about what would happen when his money ran out. The DFS people were invaluable with their help and in answering our questions. — Been There in Wyoming 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. Park foundation seeks grant applicants adult supervision and insur- ance. Other than that, it’s a no-strings grant.” The LPF particularly seeks youth groups or schools from Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama coun- ties, though youth groups from any Northern Califor- nia county may apply. The deadline for applications is May 1. These trips are life- changing for the kids,” Ziad said. “It exposes them to things many have never experienced and helps build their self-confidence, inde- pendence, pride of accom- plishment and a love of the outdoors. We established the program to help youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park. It would be a shame for the summer to pass, knowing that deserving kids missed this chance experi- ence camping." The Lassen Park Foun- dation is a 501 (c) 3 non- profit organization whose purpose is to provide phil- anthropic support to pre- serve and interpret the nat- ural and cultural resources of Lassen Volcanic National Park and its environs, for present and future genera- tions. To apply for a Youth Camping Grant or for more information about the LPF call 898-9309 or visit www.lassenparkfounda- tion.org. Spur causes pain for senior DEAR DR. GOTT: My left side hurts me a lot. I went to my doc- tor, who said it was a spur. He gave me some pain pills to take four times a day. So I am writ- ing to ask whether there is anything else I can do or take aside from this pill. He also told me that I have to live with it the rest of my life. I turned 85 last August and hope you can tell me what I can do. Thank you. Dr. Peter Gott simply occur on their own. Howev- er, the possibility remains. Also, you neglected to indicate whether an X-ray, CT or MRI was per- formed before a proper diagnosis was made. There are instances in which a physician can physically palpate a spur, but this should be followed up with radiolo- gy testing in order to con- firm the diagnosis. DEAR READER: I’m a little confused about where the pain is. Is it your neck, your chest cavity, your abdomen, thigh or lower leg? The location definitely matters. Because your physician has already diagnosed you, I will bypass other possible causes for left- sided pain. In general, a bone spur (otherwise known as an osteophyte) is a bony pro- jection that presents along the edge of a bone. Spurs can form on any bone within the body but are often found in the joints. The spur itself doesn’t cause pain but what it rubs against does, causing joint pain and loss of motion. Those on the spine can push against the spinal cord or nerves. When the neck is involved, pain and decreased range of motion may occur. Rarely, breath- ing can be compromised and blood flow to the brain might be restricted. When the shoulder is involved, range of motion may be quite limited. Spurs are common on the heels and can cause pain when walk- ing. Because of your age, my guess is that you may also have osteoarthritis that has caused a cartilage breakdown. This is not to imply that everyone with osteoarthritis will have spurs because they can It may be that because of your age and medical history, your physician does not recommend surgery. Anti-inflammato- ry drugs or pain pills are commonly the first step. Options for any surgical procedure will depend on your full medical history and where the spur is located. Keep in mind that even if you are a candidate for surgery, the spur may be located in an area that is difficult or impossible to operate on. In the interim, avoid any activity that aggra- vates the pain. Try apply- ing an ice pack to the area several times a day for 15 minutes at a time. If you don’t choose to take the pain pill, try over-the- counter nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory ibuprofen. If no relief is experienced, make a list of your ques- tions and go back to your doctor for some direct answers. If you are still dissatisfied, request a referral to an orthopedic specialist or pain clinic. 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. 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