Texarkana Gazette

Your checklist of smart ways to deal with virus threat "Contagion," the 2011 thriller about a dangerous virus spreading quickly around the globe, is suddenly in big demand on iTunes (ranking No. 8 recently) and it's now the second-most popular film in the Warner Bros. catalog, up from No. 270 last year. Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 11:47pm

Online therapy: 'This is new for all of us' There's a pandemic and people are dying and what if I get sick and my grandma dies and I lose my job and I start hating my kids and I run out of toilet paper and the economy tanks and I never see my friends and the hospitals shut down and this all goes on for months? by The Seattle Times Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 11:46pm

This is a day for autism awareness Dear Readers: Today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism is a complex and multifaceted developmental condition. Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 11:45pm

Man's closeness to mother creates distance in relationship Dear Abby: My boyfriend is 31 and still goes to his mother's house and spends the night, even though we live less than 15 minutes away. He knows it upsets me, yet every time she asks him to spend the night, he goes. He left our children home alone while I worked overnight because it was her birthday. Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 10:06am

Original Heloise tomato sauce recipe is a keeper Dear Heloise: Please, will you repeat your mother's recipe for Italian spaghetti sauce? I want to make it for visitors who are due in a month. — Ellen in Arkansas Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 1:30am

Loneliness can make you sick "We don't heal in isolation, but in community," S. Kelley Harrell, an interfaith minister once wrote. That is sure true, and recent studies confirm it. Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 1:30am

Long-absent dad chooses friend over family Dear Abby: My father has been mostly absent from my life. We reconnected when I was an adult. I have always had feelings of abandonment, and because of this, I have constantly tried to build a relationship with him and allow him to have one with his grandchildren. Published Apr. 1 2020 @ 1:29am

Loneliness can make you sick "We don't heal in isolation, but in community," S. Kelley Harrell, an interfaith minister once wrote. That is sure true, and recent studies confirm it. Published Mar. 30 2020 @ 11:12pm

Original Heloise tomato sauce recipe is a keeper Dear Heloise: Please, will you repeat your mother's recipe for Italian spaghetti sauce? I want to make it for visitors who are due in a month. — Ellen in Arkansas Published Mar. 30 2020 @ 11:09pm

Long-absent dad chooses friend over family Dear Abby: My father has been mostly absent from my life. We reconnected when I was an adult. I have always had feelings of abandonment, and because of this, I have constantly tried to build a relationship with him and allow him to have one with his grandchildren. Published Mar. 30 2020 @ 11:07pm

Marriage crumbles as couple's communication grows bitter Dear Abby: My husband barely speaks to me. We both work full time and are facing the empty nest very soon. At home, I have to initiate even the smallest of small talk. He'll never say "Good morning" or ask "How was your day?" Although I work hard to keep the house the way he likes it, he speaks up only to criticize the few times I don't meet his standards. There's never a word of acknowledgment when I have accomplished other elements of housekeeping. Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 9:08pm

Prepare to donate to animal shelters Dear Readers: It's spring, and that means it's puppy and kitten season. The animal shelters will be bursting with new babies. Call your local shelter and ask about the need for donations. If you want to help, here are some items that are very much needed and recommended by The Humane Society. Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 9:07pm

The health benefits of stress reduction We separately asked eight random people, "What's stressing you right now?" They each burst into laughter before confessing there were too many things to list. Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 9:05pm

In these times, it's normal to be afraid We are facing an unprecedented and life-changing event with the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who choose to listen have heard most all the info that is out there at the moment. Staying in is the order of the season, as is social distancing, but I wanted to offer a few pointers to help if things are emotionally difficult for you. Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 9:03pm

How often to brush your teeth; walking is good for your health Q: I just got back from my annual dental checkup, and even though I didn't have any new cavities, my dentist told me I should brush my teeth three times a day. Isn't he being a bit over-the-top? -- Marion B., Lambertville, New Jersey Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 2:31am

Avoidance of healthy choices could derail blooming romance DEAR ABBY: I've had an 18-year-old girlfriend for six months (I'm 24). She's a sweet girl who's caring, thoughtful and respectful. Every day typically goes well, and we never argue about anything — except for when it comes to her health. Published Mar. 28 2020 @ 2:29am

Early diagnosis of lung cancer is a game changer Television personality Larry King was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. "They said I was lucky and smart to get annual X-rays because lung cancer doesn't give you any signs until it's in the late stages," he told People magazine. At that point, King, a former smoker, knew that his three-pack-a-day habit from years ago put him in the higher risk zone. Published Mar. 26 2020 @ 9:32pm

Follow the rules about bringing seashells home Dear Heloise: I love to collect seashells when I'm on vacation. I was wondering if I'm allowed to bring home seashells from foreign beaches. Are there any laws preventing this? — Susan in Florida Published Mar. 26 2020 @ 9:30pm

Parents still in the dark about sibling's sexual abuse Dear Abby: I was sexually abused by a sibling for 10 years during my childhood. I never told anyone what happened to me until I confided in my fiance after we were engaged. I have gone through counseling sessions and am at a place in my life where I am happy and healthy. by Associated Press Published Mar. 26 2020 @ 9:29pm

Learn more about the amazing power of a vegetarian diet When Phil Michelson called a two-stroke penalty on himself for improving his life during the last round of the Greenbrier Classic in 2018, he confessed, "I just had a few bonehead moves today." But he did rebound, winning the WGC-Mexico Championship in March of that year and Pebble Beach in 2019. Published Mar. 26 2020 @ 2:40am

Old loan to daughter goes unpaid even after threats Dear Abby: I am an 83-year-old mother of four. I have been living with my second husband now for 21 years. Nineteen years ago, my husband loaned one of my daughters and her husband a large sum of money so they could buy a house and pay off bills and judgments. All the necessary paperwork for the loan was signed at the time of the closing with a lawyer present, and it was agreed they would pay us back a certain amount every month. Published Mar. 25 2020 @ 10:06pm

Get ready for spring cleaning Dear Readers: Spring is here! Are you ready to up your cleaning game? Let's stock up with cleaning essentials. Take inventory of what you already have, clip this list and take it with you to the store to grab what you need: Published Mar. 25 2020 @ 10:01pm

Use leftover oatmeal in baking Do you have any suggestions or recipes for an overabundance of cooked oatmeal cereal? Published Mar. 24 2020 @ 9:38pm