Texarkana Gazette

Advice

No reason to wait to get your flu shot; doctors recommend not drinking coffee while pregnant Q: Should I wait to get my flu shot until we know when a COVID vaccine is available? I don't want to get them too close together, do I? — Charlene R., Rochester, New York Published Sep. 18 2020 @ 6:52pm

Disruptive cousin unwelcome during weeklong family visit Dear Abby: My husband and I and our children moved across the country away from our families three years ago. My 9-year-old daughter is extremely close to my mom and sister. Mom wants to take a road trip and spend a week with us. We are all excited, since we haven't seen them in a year. However, she wants to bring along my grandma and my younger cousin, who is 12. Published Sep. 18 2020 @ 6:50pm

Newly sober mom regrets the pain she caused Dear Abby: After smoking marijuana for 20 years, I quit two days ago. My head is starting to clear now, and things are coming into focus. I missed so much, and I feel terrible about it. Published Sep. 17 2020 @ 6:30pm

Vinegar solution removes odors Dear Readers: Do you have a problem with odors lingering around the house? You may have noticed that expensive commercial products just mask the odor. It's time to try something you probably already have on hand — cheap, safe and effective vinegar. Published Sep. 17 2020 @ 6:24pm

Practicing yoga can help with anxiety Singer Britney Spears has been public about her struggles with bipolar disorder and anxiety, and how her mental health is often made worse by the magnifying glass of stardom. Her treatments of choice include medications, talk therapy and yoga. Published Sep. 16 2020 @ 8:33pm

Check the expiration date on medications Dear Readers: Is it safe to take a medication after its expiration date? According to the experts from the Food and Drug Admin-istration (FDA.gov), consumers need to be aware of the potential harm of taking an expired medication or one that may have degraded due to not being stored according to instructions on the label. An expired drug may have lost potency, lessening its effectiveness. If a drug has been improperly stored, it may degenerate and yield toxic compounds that could lead to unintended side effects. Published Sep. 16 2020 @ 8:33pm

Deleted texts to friend arouse wife's suspicions Dear Abby: My husband is currently at a job that, at first, he complained was a "drag." It later became a place he seemed to be OK working at. Published Sep. 16 2020 @ 8:31pm

Watery potato salad Dear Heloise: Every time I make homemade potato salad it gets watery if not eaten on the same day. What am I doing wrong? — Maxi R., Waterloo, N.Y. Published Sep. 15 2020 @ 4:43pm

Early lesson in social graces helps overcome shyness Dear Abby: When I was a young adult, I had difficulty speaking with strangers. I recall, some years later, attending a party in honor of someone I truly admired. Most of the people there didn't know each other. Published Sep. 15 2020 @ 4:26pm

Veggies with life-saving powers The English language is full of eccentric words that start with the letter C: cahoots (conspiring together secretly) and callipygian (a well-shaped backside) are two examples. But in our book, "cruciferous" tops the list. This word, used to group together several nutrition-packed vegetables, comes from a Latin term that describes their cross-shaped flowers and provides no clue about which veggies fall into the category. Published Sep. 15 2020 @ 4:20pm

Sobering up changes close relationships Dear Abby: I know I have been blessed with wonderful relationships in my life. I have been married to the same lovely man for 25 years. I am also fortunate to have had the same best friend for 40 years. The problem? They drink. Published Sep. 14 2020 @ 3:38pm

Store important documents safely Dear Readers: There are some documents, certificates and other valuable items that might be better held in your bank's safe deposit box rather than in a shoebox under the bed. Published Sep. 14 2020 @ 3:37pm

Watch your weight for healthy pregnancy Singer Jessica Simpson acknowledges that she gained 50 pounds when she was pregnant with her daughter Maxwell in 2012. Years later, while going through old photos of her pregnant self, she recalls asking her husband, "Babe, why didn't you tell me to put the brownie down?" Published Sep. 14 2020 @ 3:36pm

Antidepressants cause opposites to lose attraction For the last 20 years, my wife has been taking an antidepressant (prescribed by her primary care physician, not a psychiatrist), and she has every side effect of the drug. For years I have tried without success to get her to seek help. Published Sep. 12 2020 @ 2:01am

Health injustice is the most inhuman: Part 1 The stories of Black mothers' cries for help for themselves and their children that have gone unheard in emergency rooms, intensive care units and doctors' offices shatters the illusion that we doctors are fulfilling our oath to do no harm. Published Sep. 12 2020 @ 2:00am

How to wash your car safely and without wasting water Washing the car can be a fun family activity. Let's do it safely, and water-wise Published Sep. 12 2020 @ 1:55am

Surprise changes in plans put strain on women's friendship Dear Abby: I have a serious issue with my best girlfriend. We make plans together, adult plans, and then at the last minute, her kids drop the young grandkids off for her to babysit, curtailing any plans we have together. The past few times, we have changed our plans to a "kids" activity. Published Sep. 11 2020 @ 10:12pm

Say good riddance to roaches Dear Heloise: Some time ago you had a certain way to mix a sure cure to get rid of roaches using boric acid, I think. Please, I would like to read it again. — Richard C., Long Beach, Calif. Published Sep. 10 2020 @ 3:54pm

Dealing with ex-girlfriends causes man consternation Dear Abby: What is acceptable after a breakup occurs? Several years ago, I reached out to an ex-girlfriend. We had dated for six months, but she broke up with me to take a job in another state. A year later, I heard through mutual friends that she had recently moved back. I didn't call or text, but I did send an email asking how she was doing and if she'd like to talk. Dear Abby: What is acceptable after a breakup occurs? Several years ago, I reached out to an ex-girlfriend. We had dated for six months, but she broke up with me to take a job in another state. A year later, I heard through mutual friends that she had recently moved back. I didn't call or text, but I did send an email asking how she was doing and if she'd like to talk. Published Sep. 10 2020 @ 3:47pm

Carrots really are divine In the 1940s, Bugs Bunny declared, "Carrots are divine You get a dozen for a dime. It's maaaa-gic!" The magic, it turns out, is mostly from the beta carotene they contain. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and is an essential building block of vitamin A. Published Sep. 10 2020 @ 3:40pm

Depressed man who threatened suicide wants his guns back Dear Abby: My wife and I have been friends with another couple for more than 50 years. The four of us have shared lots of good times together. Published Sep. 9 2020 @ 7:18pm

Children discover the fun of getting birthday cards Dear Heloise: Because of social distancing rules, birthday parties for my young kids have been put on hold. However, we found a fun way to acknowledge each child's birthday. Published Sep. 9 2020 @ 7:15pm

Miscarriage risk rises with alcohol use early in pregnancy The list of court cases that can legitimately be called miscarriages of justice is long and upsetting. For an early example, you can go as far back as 399 B.C. in Greece, when Socrates was made to drink poison hemlock as punishment for "corrupting the youth of Athens and impiety." Scholars today say it was more likely punishment for the mistaken idea that he was in cahoots with enemies of Athens. Published Sep. 9 2020 @ 7:13pm