Husband should be flexible about hot flashes Annie’s Mailbox
Marcy Sugar and Kathy Mitchell anniesmailbox@comcast.net
too late. — Upstate New York Where It’s 20 Degrees Outside Dear New York: You think you’re uncomfortable? Imagine how your wife feels with an internal thermostat that periodically sets her on fire. The U.S. Dept. of Energy recommends that your home thermostat be set at 68 degrees in winter (78 degrees in summer). You can warm up more easily than your wife can cool down. We recommend a compromise. You of-
Musicals, Marines and fishing boats While fans of “Smash” wait for that drama to coalesce around its make-believe musical, “Great Performances” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) offers viewers the real thing: a presentation of “Memphis,” the 2010 Tony winner for Best Musical. With music and lyrics by David Bryan, “Memphis” recalls the pre-Elvis scene of that city in the 1950s, when white listeners (personified here as a charismatic and curious disc jockey) began to appreciate and popularize the rhythm and blues heard in black clubs and honky-tonks. Through song and dance, “Memphis” explores themes of integration and social change, as well as the well-founded fears among black performers that their music and culture were being appropriated and watered down for a broader white audience.
The 2011 documentary “Semper Fi: Always Faithful” (9 p.m., MSNBC) recalls how a personal tragedy shattered a Marine’s life before inspiring him to undertake a crusade. Sgt. Jerry Ensminger, a Marine drill instructor for nearly a quarter century, saw his life fall apart when his 9-year-old daughter developed a rare form of leukemia and died. After years of grief, Ensminger began to search for explanations and discovered that the Marine Corps base where his family lived was on the site of one of the largest incidents of water contamination in U.S. history. For nearly 30 years, the water at Camp LeJeune, N.C., was contaminated by toxic chemicals, sometimes at more than 280 times the legal limit. Ensminger not only unveiled a likely cause for his daughter’s illness but also exposed that upward of a million Marine recruits had been drinking poisoned water.
A cable tough-guy show comes to network TV on “Undercover Boss” (7 p.m., CBS) as the CEO of American Seafoods poses as a deckhand on a vessel working off Alaska.
Tonight’s other highlights
Actor Blair Underwood (“L.A. Law,” ‘‘The Event”) traces his family tree on “Who Do You Think You Are?” (7 p.m., NBC).
Less is more in Baltimore on “Kitchen Nightmares” (7 p.m., Fox).
A fight club for the fairy-tale set on “Grimm” (8 p.m., NBC).
Peter and the Fringe pull out the stops on “Fringe” (7 p.m., Fox).
BIRTHDAYS
Actor Abe Vigoda is 91. Actorsinger Dominic Chianese is 81. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., is 70. Actor Barry Bostwick is 67. Actor Edward James Olmos is 65. Singer-writer-producer Rupert Holmes is 65. Rock singer-musician George Thorogood is 62. News anchor Paula Zahn is 56. Country singer Sammy Kershaw is 54. Singer Michelle Shocked is 50. Movie director Todd Field is 48. Actor Billy Zane is 46.
fer to be comfortable in sweats if she will speak to her doctor about medication to control her hot flashes or visit a health food store for more natural remedies. A pair of slippers and some hot cocoa seems a small price to pay to save your marriage. Dear Annie: My mother has three brothers. My grandmother’s eyes are blue, and my grandfather’s are blue-gray. My mother and two of her brothers have brown eyes. From my college biology class and some Internet research, I understand this is genetically impossible. This leads me to believe my mother and uncles may not be my grandfather’s children. I also know that my grandmother had many miscarriages and a stillborn. My grandparents also have marital issues and have
JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS
For Friday, Feb. 24. This year you demonstrate your skills with dealing with financial changes. If you feel fortunate, buy a lottery ticket. Remain in tune with your budget, even if someone is talking about a risk. If you are single, be careful, as your work could become far less of a priority if you meet that special person. Romance flourishes through May and into 2013. If you are attached, learn not to play into a sweetie’s controlling ways. Be nonreactive. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult. Aries (March 21-April 19) Observe a tendency to do the unexpected or to experience quiet jolts in your life. Strap on your seatbelt. Tonight: All smiles. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Take your time making a decision. You might not be able to honor a request from your in-laws or someone at a distance. Tonight: Head home. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Zero in on your priorities and find out where your supporters are. A problem with a partner or loved one could force you to make a change. Tonight: Find your friends. Cancer (June 21-July 22) You see life from another perspective. An early upset could be somewhat difficult to come back from. Tonight: Chill out at dinner. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You hear news that gets you going this morning. Detach rather than react. You will make better decisions as a result. Tonight: Opt for something different. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
2/23
snack 8 Senseless talk
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UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD
MAYDAY! By Ruby Deswit
2/24
come close to divorcing on a few occasions. Should I speak to my mother about this? I’d like to know my biological family. — BrownEyed Girl Dear Brown-Eyed: Eye color is very complicated. While not common, it is indeed possible for blue-eyed parents to produce brown-eyed children. And if your grandparents carry a mutation, it would make sense that more than one child would have brown eyes. So please don’t jump to any conclusions. If you are concerned that your genetic background is inaccurate, speak to your mother.
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker February 24, 2012
— Send questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190 Chicago, IL 60611.
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Remain sensitive to a boss or higher-up who means a lot to you. Discussions occur on a one-on-one level that help resolve a problem. Tonight: Be a duo. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Others are direct and know what they want. You could feel unusually tense when dealing with a key person. Tonight: Where the fun is. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Pace yourself and take your time; you will complete what is needed with more precision. Communication forces you to take a different look at a situation, whether you are open to it or not. Tonight: Indulge in a favorite form of relaxation. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The fire associated with your sign comes out full blast. You need to handle a personal matter differently, especially if it revolves around a power play. Tonight: Act like it is Friday night. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Others don’t know what ails you, but they recognize that you are not feeling up to snuff. You might be suppressing more emotions than you realize, creating a withdrawn attitude. Tonight: Refuse to get caught up in a power play. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Keep communication open. You might hear something that is so surprising, that even you need to sit down. Tonight: Meet friends. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You might see a situation much differently because of a change with your finances. You pull the wild card financially. Tonight: Treat a friend to munchies and a drink. — The astrological forecast should be read for entertainment only.
ACROSS 1 They might precede bravos 6 Does one better than 10 Energyfocused org. 14 “___ for the sky!” (cry in a western) 15 Singular operatic performance 16 The Vatican’s vicinity 17 ___ allegro (very quickly) 18 Boxing officials (abbr.) 19 ___-Cola 20 SOS card 23 Volvo’s homeland 25 It’s obtained by leaching 26 “Do the Right Thing” director 27 Fall into decay 28 Economy size 31 Apply a bandage to 33 A very small quantity 35 Sallie ___ (student loan company) 36 Amateur’s antonym 37 SOS Bible book 42 “... ___ daily bread” 43 Howard Hughes’ airline 44 Evidence of healing 46 Church engagement
9 Backtalking 10 “Free Willy” animal 11 Sometimesdyed dog 12 Awards-show hosts 13 Discontinues 21 Inflame with love 22 California’s San ___ Bay 23 “Lanka” start 24 Seeks the affection of 29 Battle of Britain fliers (Abbr.) 30 “Beau ___” 32 CD-___ (computer inserts) 34 “Author” of many quotations 36 Emphasize the importance of 38 Hearty or keen enjoyment 39 Rent to ___
announcement 49 Home of Barack Obama’s father 51 Indecisive result 52 “How was ___ know?” 53 ___ chi 55 Ailing 57 SOS donation 61 Coil in the yard 62 1952 Winter Olympics setting 63 Administers (with “out”) 66 Portentous sign 67 ’50s French president Coty 68 Non-reactive, like some gases 69 Aphid, to a gardener 70 A cheese 71 “A Modest Proposal,” e.g. DOWN 1 Supply with guns 2 “Anna Karenina” author Tolstoy 3 Register for Tiny Tim 4 Appeared on stage 5 Snowremoving tool 6 Alpine lake 7 White-andblack stacked snack 8 Senseless talk
40 41 45 46 47 48 49 50 54 56 58 59 60 64 65
(purchasing option) Eightsomes (var.) Manicurist’s concern ___ paese (cheese) Certain chess piece In one’s abode Hangman’s knots Exchanged smacks Absence of societal values Earlier, in poetry Brown songbirds “They ___ thataway!” Bone below the elbow Rhyming literature “Big Band,” for one Barnyard pen
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THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.
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Dear Annie: For the past year, my wife, “Janie,” has been getting hot flashes. She is always broiling in the house while the rest of the family freezes. She insists on keeping the temperature at 70, while the rest of us are most comfortable at 74. She recently purchased warm slippers for everyone and suggested we wear long sleeves. Annie, I like to wear T-shirts and walk barefoot. I work long hours, and when I come home, I like to shed most of my clothes. I pay the mortgage and should not be freezing in my own home. Our family doctor said the hot flashes could last for years. I say she is disrespectful to all of us. She says I am insensitive. We are at an impasse. I found out she is looking for an apartment. I love my wife and beg you to help us before it’s
46 Church engagement
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.
Answer: Yesterday’s
(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: VOUCH PURGE IMPORT ENCORE Answer: When asked if she wanted gold or silver, she replied — EITHER “ORE”
BECKER ON BRIDGE