B4 Tuesday, October 19, 2010
COMICS
Garfield
Jumble
Family Circus
Beetle Bailey
DEAR ABBY: I recently gave birth to a beautiful, perfect baby girl, “Cassie.” I also just returned to work. I would love to stay home, but I cannot afford to financially. I am lucky that my best friend, “Mary Ellen,” doesn’t have to work and has offered to care for my little 8-week-old bundle of joy. My problem is, every day when I go to pick up Cassie, I must wait for Mary Ellen to say goodbye to her. She has started instructing me about how Cassie likes to sleep, be burped and held. While I appreciate her watching and caring for my little one, I am Cassie’s mom and I know what she likes. The time I have with my daughter is precious. I just want to pick her up and go home. How do I tell my friend it upsets me that she feels she should tell me about how to care for my own baby? I feel guilty and sad that I must work, and her comments make it worse. I know she’s only trying to help. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but what can I do? WORKING MOMMY IN BALTIMORE Dear Heloise: I am a longtime reader and really enjoy your column. However, I read advice about ATTACHING USER MANUALS and warranty information to newly purchased appliances. I have experienced a most unfortunate incident as the result of this, and I wanted to share it. My husband and I purchased a new stove and refrigerator. The clerk also recommended that we secure the manual and warranty information to the back of the appliances. We did so. Then our home was robbed, and the thieves took the new appliances. The police said they had information regarding where our appliances
DEAR ABBY UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE
DEAR WORKING MOMMY: Before your resentment grows any further, set Mary Ellen straight. Tell her you’re grateful she can watch Cassie, but when you come to pick her up you want the baby ready to go. Tell your friend the time you must spend away from your daughter is painful and when she “suggests” how to hold or burp the baby, it makes you feel it’s a reflection on your maternal ability. If Mary Ellen gets it, things will improve. If she doesn’t, make other arrangements for your child. Your friend may be becoming too attached to your baby and confused about her role.
HINTS
FROM HELOISE
KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
might be, but they needed the serial numbers in order to retrieve our property. Heloise, this information was taped to the back of the appliances, and we had no other copies. The police said that there was nothing they could do to help us since we could not produce the serial numbers.
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
DEAR ABBY: I run a successful restaurant business. One of my key employees, “Zayne,” has Tourette’s syndrome. He has been a loyal and valuable waiter for many years. When customers ask what is wrong with him because he makes noises or hits himself, how should I respond? Most of our regular customers understand his condition and ignore it. However, we do get the occasional socially inept customer who gawks or asks rude questions. I would defend and protect Zayne. He knows people ask about him, and if they question him, he tells them about his condition. What’s the best way to respond politely to people who don’t have a clue? ZAYNE’S BOSS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
DEAR BOSS: If you are asked about Zayne, tell the questioner, “That’s Zayne. He has been a valued employee here for many years. If you want an answer to your question, ask HIM.”
Please suggest to your readers that they not secure to appliances any information containing a serial number but instead keep it secured elsewhere. Kim in Ohio Wow, who would have thought? You do bring up a good point, especially with high-cost electronics. We have printed many hints about recording the serial numbers and even taking photos of the back of appliances and electronics where all of this information is. Your unfortunate situation does bring up another issue and is certainly something to consider. Thank you for writing. Heloise P.S.: The following hint also applies to the sales receipts of new purchases for electronics or appliances.
Hagar the Horrible
Blondie
Zits
Snuffy Smith
Dear Heloise: I agree that printed receipts fade and disappear in a short period of time. When my sonin-law and daughter started their business, they were advised to immediately copy all receipts. This way, they will have them at a later date. Rachel in California
Dear Heloise: Both my husband and I take several medications a day. His are somewhat easy to keep track of. I keep them in a drawer and mark the top and bottom of his bottles with the time of day each medication needs to be taken. Mine are much more complicated. I have a whiteboard on my refrigerator door with the names of the medications, and I mark the time when I take each pill. That way, I know if and when I took the medication. Mary Jo, via e-mail Dear Heloise: Whenever a friend has to go to the hospital, we want to bring the person something to show that we care. While flowers are always welcome, there’s something else we can bring that’s very useful. Get a small, plastic, seethrough bag or pouch and put into it a half-ounce trial-size deodorant, a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, a container of premoistened towelettes and a small tube of moisturizer or hand cream (nothing too fragrant). Your friend will be very grateful for your thoughtfulness. Louise, via e-mail
Dilbert
The Wizard of Id
For Better or For Worse
Roswell Daily Record