Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/60392
4B Daily News – Saturday, March 31, 2012 FEATURES Wife won't let retired husband help with housework Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married 42 years, and she plans to retire in a few months. I am unem- ployed, cannot find a job and consider myself retired already. I do the grocery shop- ping and have dinner on the table by the time my wife returns from work, except two days a week when we go out to eat. However, my wife won't let me touch the laundry, the dishes, the hardwood floors, the bathrooms or the vacuuming. It's hands off, her way or no way. I know I need some train- ing. I certainly don't want to use the wrong cleaners on a $5,000 floor. But my wife refuses to teach me and argues when I ask. Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ask my wife all the time what she wants me to do, but she won't say. Am I supposed to read her mind? I have even asked her to please leave me notes, and the answer is ''no.'' So my wife has decided to resolve our arguments by sleeping by herself. I don't feel this helps matters at all. Any suggestions? — Jim in Peoria Dear Jim: First, please Our friends often comment on how spotless our house is. I know how refreshing it is to hear from a man who actually wants to do more housework. The problem, of course, is that your wife considers this her "territory,'' and she is reluctant to give up control. She believes if you can do what she does, it makes her less valuable and necessary. There is no reason to fight over this. Do what you can and ignore the rest. If she doesn't like it, let her complain. We suspect she enjoys doing that. Dear Annie: I am a 60-year- old man, divorced for one year and living alone. I recently joined a dating website and cor- responded with a number of women. Then, out of the blue, I got an email from a 24-year-old Russian girl who happens to have a visa to travel to the Unit- ed States. I responded to her, and now, after 10 days, I have received numerous long letters and many risque pictures. She is a beauty. I so much wanted to believe she is real, even though every ounce of brain matter told me this is a scam. Today, I received a letter, and as I sus- pected, she needs money because of an unexpected mishap. She wrote, ''Only $5,000 is needed and I will be in your arms in a few days.'' I will not be writing her back except to say, ''No way.'' I realize now that in her enticing letters, she never referred directly to anything I wrote to her. This is because these letters have been copied and pasted. She (or he) proba- bly devotes many hours to working on ways to relieve me and other lonely fools of their life savings. Warn men to keep their sav- ings in the bank and meet real women our own age here at home. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. — Lone- ly Old Fool Dear Lonely: You are not a fool. You are lonely, yes, and hopeful of finding love again. But you are also smart enough to recognize a scam when you see one. We wish you the best of luck in finding someone who will truly make you happy. Dear Annie: I understand why ''Over-Seventy Attitude'' doesn't care for email cards. Here's an even more egregious etiquette error. After attending the wedding of a relative, we received a pre- printed card saying, ''Thanks for sharing in our day and for your gift, Love (names).'' Not even a personal signature, never mind an acknowledge- ment of the actual (generous) gift. We would have opted for a personal email any day. — Baffled Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Treat uveitis early to prevent serious eye damage later Q: I'm 64 and have been diag- nosed with anteri- or uveitis in my right eye. What causes this condi- tion? What's the best treatment for it? A. The uvea is a complex struc- ture that makes up the middle layer of the tissues that surround the fluid-filled interior of the eyeball. These three layers — the retina (the inner layer that contains nerve cells responsible for vision), the uvea, and the sclera (the protective outer "white" of the eye) — surround the cavity of the eyeball, which con- tains the gel-like vitreous humor. Uveitis is inflam- mation of one or more of the parts of the uvea. The uvea has three parts: the iris, the colored part of the eye around the pupil; the ciliary body, the structure near the iris that produces the fluid inside the eye; and the choroid, which contains blood ves- sels that nourish impor- tant parts of the eye, including the retina. Uveitis can develop suddenly and can affect one or both eyes. It can cause painful reddening of the eyeball, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and floaters or other debris in your field of vision. Depending upon the part of your uvea that's affected, you may have all of these symptoms or none at all. In any case, it's a serious condition that can result in scarring and even blindness if left untreated. Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. Uveitis can be caused by infec- tions, autoim- mune conditions or trauma to the eye, which can include complica- tions of eye surgery. Some of the autoimmune disorders linked to uveitis are ank ylosing spondylitis, lupus, juve- nile rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Infections that can trigger uveitis include tuberculo- sis, toxoplasmosis, her- pes, syphilis or cytomegalovirus (espe- cially in patients with AIDS). Rarely, medications can cause uveitis. Possi- ble culprits include bis- phosphonates (especially when given intravenous- ly), the antibiotics rifabutin (Mycobutin) and moxifloxacin (Avelox), and the antiviral drug cid- ofovir (Vistide). In about 30 percent of cases, the cause of uveitis is unknown. Some patients develop "mas- querade syndromes" that resemble uveitis but have other causes, such as a tear in the retina or a type of lymphoma. The most common form of uveitis — and the one you have — is anteri- or uveitis. This form affects the front part of the eye, which is made up of the iris and ciliary body. But there are two other kinds. In intermediate uveitis, the inflammation affects mostly the vitreous humor. And in posterior uveitis, the least common form, the retina or choroid at the back of the eye is be injected into the eye or taken by mouth. Lastly, there is an FDA-approved surgical implant that slowly releases steroids within the eye for severe uveitis. All forms of steroid affected. Sometimes the whole eye is affected. To diagnose uveitis, an ophthalmologist examines the eye with a slit lamp. This is a magnifying instrument that gives the doctor a detailed view of the eye structures. Choosing the right treatment for uveitis depends on diagnosing the cause. Infectious uveitis is treated with an antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral or other medica- tion. Noninfectious uveitis is usually treated with steroids applied topi- cally in the form of eye- drops. Steroids can also therapy can cause glauco- ma or cataracts. Unfortu- nately, uveitis can also cause cataracts and glau- coma. But it must be treat- ed to preserve your vision. If cataracts or glaucoma develop during your treat- ment, your ophthalmolo- gist will recommend appropriate additional therapy. Treating uveitis may require both an ophthal- mologist and an internist. Once your ophthalmolo- gist has confirmed the diagnosis, you should inform your internist or primary care provider. She or he may want to take a detailed history, perform a physical exam and order laboratory tests to determine whether your uveitis is related to a treatable underlying condition. It's also important to follow up with your ophthalmolo- gist to make sure the treatment is working and to check for complica- tions. With treatment, most cases of anterior uveitis improve within a few days to a few weeks. But relapses are quite com- mon. Your best bet for preventing permanent eye damage or complications is to begin treatment early and follow your doctor's orders to a T. Submit questions to harvard_adviser@hms.h arvard.edu. The California Depart- ment of Fish and Game (DFG) Tuesday announced a new marine and coastal map viewer, called MarineBIOS. This interac- tive map is a new tool for accessing California statewide marine spatial planning data. Users can visually explore and retrieve pertinent marine and coastal MarineBIOS, marine and coastal map viewer Writers Forum scheduled in Redding spatial planning information compiled for past and pre- sent DFG projects, includ- ing Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning. Located at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mari ne/gis/viewer.asp, the web- site is an in-depth source of information about Califor- nia's MPAs, as well as some of the more common spatial #Spring into shape and bronze that bod at TFFC! • 1 month unlimited tanning Free with new membership. EFT • 1 month unlimited tanning only $25 • 3 month unlimited tanning only $60 • No enrolment fee on new EFT memberships Tanning specials limited to one per person Tehama Family Fitness Center www.tehamafamilyfitness.com 2498 South Main St Red Bluff 528-8656 planning data that was used to create those MPA regula- tions. For example, users may look up information on the distribution of kelp canopies, benthic and inter- tidal habitats, important marine managed areas or points of interest relevant to marine user groups. The site is a strong start- ing point for potential addi- tional data and customized tools in support of DFG projects and constituents. "This map viewer marks a significant milestone in our effort to manage and make available planning data for marine and coastal constituents," DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham said. "It's also cost-effective as it was done in-house, using existing department tech- nology and expertise." DFG's Marine Region and Biogeographic Data Branch collaborated to develop this new website by building on the depart- ment's existing Geographic Information System capa- bility. This map viewer was developed entirely in-house and is part of a larger pro- gram called Biogeographic Information and Observa- tion System (BIOS) that provides data-rich web map viewers for the department, its constituents and partners. More information about the DFG Marine Region is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine. The DFG Biogeographic Data Branch website is located at www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeoda- ta. The next Writers Forum meeting is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, in the Memorial Hall of All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding. The topic is: What You Need to Know About Blogs and Blogging Writers Forum webmaster Alicia McCauley will present a brief explanation of the func- tions and features of the newly designed Writ- ers Forum Web site. Special media consultant Kate Bourland will educate our audience on the nuts and bolts of blogs and blogging. Writers Forum members will come away inspired by the many ways they can utilize the organization's Web site to their advantage, and by the enormous potential value of blogging as a way to enhance a writer's career. Writers Forum, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, is dedicated to promoting writing as an art and as a profession and to supporting and inspiring writers from all over far northern California. The public is always welcome to attend. Admission is free. Donations are requested only at the refreshment table. For more infor- mation call 547-5303 or visit www.redding- writersforum.com.