City dweller exposed to drug usage

City dweller exposed to drug usage

Mar 06, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: Today I saw and smelled someone smoking crack on a subway platform near to where I was standing. I was stunned. I know it happens all around my city – in theory – but I’ve never truly witnessed it in real time, only the aftereffects of it. What could I have done in that moment to help that situation? The subway platform was packed. There were little kids with their parents standing nearby, businesspeople and others. It felt unsafe and gross. None of us should be exposed to these sorts of reckless substances unknowingly. – Crack Exposure DEAR CRACK EXPOSURE: Sadly, many people continue to use drugs like crack, and enclosed public spaces are often where they use them, especially when it is cold outside and they are seeking shelter. That doesn’t mean, by the way, that it is OK or that you should look the other way. What you could have done is locate transit police and report the activity so that the person could be removed from the platform.

DO JUST ONE THING

DO JUST ONE THING

Feb 20, 2025

• Save money when you fly, and help save the environment, too. Opting for economy seating on an airplane is far more eco-friendly than flying in business or first class. More passengers can fit in economy, so the overall emissions per passenger are lower. Flying first class actually produces nine times more emissions than coach. So when you have a choice, opt for airlines that are all one class – like Southwest – which prioritizes overall efficiency.

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

New diabetes diagnosis can cause denial

Feb 19, 2025

Dear Doctors: My fiance, who is 24 years old, was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Isn’t that something that gets discovered when you’re a child? I can tell he’s not paying close attention to blood sugar control. It’s almost like he’s in denial. What can happen if he doesn’t start being more careful?

Customer wants to break up with hairstylist

Customer wants to break up with hairstylist

Feb 19, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been going to the same hairstylist for years, and while she’s always been kind and reliable, I’ve started to feel like her work just isn’t what I want anymore. The haircuts and color never turn out quite right, and I find myself walking out of appointments feeling disappointed more often than not. I know I should probably just move on and find someone new, but there’s one big problem: She goes to my church. It’s not like I can just disappear and hope she doesn’t notice. I see her almost every Sunday, and I know she’ll eventually ask why I haven’t been booking appointments. I don’t want to lie, but I also don’t want to hurt her feelings or make things awkward between us. She’s a genuinely nice person and I respect her, but at the end of the day, I’m paying for a service that I no longer feel good about. How do I gracefully “break up” with my hairstylist without creating tension between us in what’s supposed to be a place of worship? – Awkward DEAR AWKWARD: Your relationship with your hairstylist is often one of the most intimate ones that you have. They get to know you, and vice versa. You often share private details about your life, and, after all, they are touching your head.

DO JUST ONE THING

DO JUST ONE THING

Feb 13, 2025

• When you turn on the faucet to wash your hands or brush your teeth, do you turn it all the way on? When you don’t need the full force of maximum water pressure, consider lightly turning on the faucet to have less water flowing. You’ll use 30% to 50% less water this way. The same holds true when you’re simply rinsing out a cup or need a little water at the kitchen sink, too. Over time, this can add up to about 8 gallons a day in water savings.

Luxury apartment dweller has heat issues

Luxury apartment dweller has heat issues

Feb 11, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m currently living in a so-called “luxury” apartment that was built just last year, and I pay a significant amount of money in rent. Unfortunately, my room is absolutely freezing, and it’s making it nearly impossible to feel comfortable in my own home. I’ve already had maintenance come to seal the windows and walls, but that hasn’t solved the problem. I’ve had multiple meetings with management, hoping they would take responsibility and offer a solution, but they keep telling me there’s nothing they can do. I feel like I’m being taken advantage of because this apartment is advertised as a luxury property, yet the living conditions aren’t up to standard. I’ve tried using space heaters, but that’s just driving up my electricity bill and still doesn’t solve the issue. I don’t know what my rights are as a tenant in this situation or what steps I can take to escalate the issue further. Is there anything I can do to hold management accountable or advocate for myself in this situation?

Roommate annoyed by man’s nosiness

Roommate annoyed by man’s nosiness

Feb 08, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a roommate who is incredibly nosy, and it’s driving me crazy. He’s always asking questions that are way too personal, and it’s starting to make me uncomfortable in my own home. I try to be polite and friendly, but he doesn’t seem to pick up on the fact that some things are just none of his business. For example, the other day he noticed some medication that I had left on the counter and asked me what it was for. I was caught off guard because I didn’t think I should have to explain my private medical issues to anyone, let alone my roommate. I tried to dodge the question, but he kept pressing, and I eventually changed the subject just to get him to stop.

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