Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/37497
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 – Daily News 3B Bairn’s boss becomes beau Dear Annie: My granddaughter, ‘‘Tammi,’’ graduated high school at the end of May. She has been working at a pet store since last fall. This was her first real job, and she was both elated and proud. When I visited over the Christmas holidays, she took me to the store to meet her boss and the other teen employees. Tammi told me the boss had discussed the store’s finances with her, that he didn’t love his wife any longer, that he was getting a divorce, and on and on. I told her this is not something a 34-year- old employer would be sharing with an 18-year-old female employee unless he had an ulteri- or motive. The day after her 19th birth- day, Tammi left home and moved in with her boss, who is now divorced and shares custody of his 4-year-old child. She is absolutely enthralled with this guy, who is four years younger than her father. Our family is just sick over this. We’ve all tried talking to her, but she won’t listen. She said we should lighten up and that her friends are all OK with it. I know for a fact that her best friend doesn’t like this fellow and says he’s mean to Tammi. My granddaughter says she’s an adult and can do whatever she wants. How can we make her realize that this is a huge mistake? — Worried Sick in Illinois Dear Worried: Unfortunately, Tammi is right — she is an adult and can make as many lousy decisions as she wants. Often, kids are attracted to what seems most outrageous to their families. Perhaps if you stop fighting her, Tammi will have less to rebel against. Welcome this man into your family as best you can, and let Tammi see him in context. She may decide he’s not so outrageous after all. Or you might decide he’s not as terrible a choice as you originally feared. Dear Annie: Our son divorced after almost 21 years of marriage. The mar- riage was never particularly happy. As the mother of our two wonderful grand- children, we want our former daughter- in-law to remain part of our lives. Our son is engaged and is planning to marry next year. We are not close to ‘‘Mary,’’ but if she makes our son happy, that’s good enough for us. When Mary asked us to remove our son’s wedding photo from the wall, we did so. The problem is, she now wants us to remove all photographs that include our former daughter-in- law, including ones with the grandchildren and other family members. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Annie, there are memories that go along with these photos. We replaced all the photographs that included our son with his ex- wife, but we left the others. My husband and I feel this is our home and we should be able to display what we choose. What is the proper thing to do? — Con- fused In-Laws Dear Confused: Some second wives are insecure about their position in the family and try to control their environ- ment — and yours. While you are under no obligation to remove any photos from your home, we also know that you don’t want to create a rift with your son and his new bride. We suggest you take the con- tentious pictures and place them in your bedroom or in storage, or transfer them to a CD. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Married to Edward Scissorfeet,’’ who flails in his sleep and tears the sheets with his toenails. I’m a Vietnam vet who, in recent years, had become more and more vio- lent at night. After kicking my wife a couple of times, punching the walls and waking up on my knees swinging at ghosts standing by the bed, I saw a doc- tor who prescribed an anti-anxiety med- ication. I’m happy to report that I haven’t had any violent episodes since I started taking it. — Sleeping Better in Florida 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. Long-term colon cleansing inappropriate DEAR DR. GOTT: I cannot thank you enough for the inspiration to lose weight. I started a lifestyle change a month ago and I’ve lost 15 pounds. I feel so much better, but I’m struggling with bowel movements. I eat lots of fresh veggies and no fried foods, sugar, potatoes or white rice. The problem was that my bowels didn’t move on a regular basis. After I ate, I felt bloated and was miserable for days sometimes. I found a colon cleanser at my local health food store and now take one capsule twice a day and feel incredible, but the packaging doesn’t recommend taking it for more than a week or so. I have a family history of colon cancer. My mother and two of her three siblings died of colon cancer. I also just found out that five of my grandfather’s siblings died of colon cancer (he died at 91 of natural causes). I’m scared to death of get- ting it and want to keep my colon clean without hurting myself. Are colon cleansers harmful if I take the ones from the health food store that have all-natural products, especially if I take them over a long period of time? I feel incredible when I have two or more movements a day. I haven’t felt this good in over 10 years. DEAR READER: Congratulations on your weight loss. However, I am con- cerned about your bloating and constipa- tion issues, especially given your family history of colon cancer. You don’t give me your age, gender or any other medical his- tory. Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Reports “A Strat- egy for Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Consti- pation and Diarrhea” by sending a self- addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order for each report to Dr. Peter Gott, P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title(s), or print an order form from my website’s direct link: AskDrGottMD.com/order_form.pdf. DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently noticed that I have a hard, almost bony bump on my right collar- bone. Dr. Peter Gott It doesn’t hurt and I can’t remember doing anything to injure it. What could or would cause this? The right side is visi- bly larger (slightly) than the left. Any information on possible causes would be greatly appreci- ated. DEAR READER: Without How long have the bloating and consti- pation been an issue? Have you talked to your physician about your concerns? Have you had a colonoscopy? Do you have any other health concerns or medical conditions? Do you take any over-the- counter or prescription medications? Constipation can be the result of benign causes, such as poor diet, lack of exercise or diet modification; moderate health concerns, such as obesity or irrita- ble bowel syndrome; and serious condi- tions, such as colon cancer. I urge you to speak with your physi- cian. An examination, blood work and testing may be ordered. A referral to a gastroenterologist may be appropriate. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A mother and daughter in the Carolinas have three big lottery wins in the last 20 years between them. The Charlotte Observer reports that Kimberly McCauley won $100,000 this month playing a new instant-scratch off game 10X the Money. The North Carolina being able to examine you, I cannot begin to guess the cause. It may simply be a nor- mal bony protrusion. Have you lost weight recently? If so, the bump may have always been there, but is now more pro- nounced because the excess fat and tissue have diminished. It could also be the result of an injury, medical condition such as Paget’s disease of the bone, cancer or more. Given that you don’t remember injur- ing yourself and it doesn’t appear to be causing any pain or other symptoms, it is likely a normal bone growth. Talk to your physician and request an X-ray just to be sure. 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. If readers want to contact Dr. Gott, they may write to him at his website, or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106. Mother, daughter get big lottery jackpot 3 times Education Lottery says that in 2007, McCauley’s mother, Amy McCauley, who’s from Fort Mill, S.C., won more than $160,000 in the Carolina Cash 5 game. But the fam- ily’s big win came in 1991, when Amy McCauley won $15.5 million in the New York Lotto. She also snagged two $1,000 prizes playing the North Carolina lottery’s $130 Million Blockbuster game in 2009. Kimberly McCauley says she thought her mother had all the lottery luck, so she’s over- whelmed with the $100,000 win. ——— Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteob- server.com