DEAR HARRIETTE: How do I, while in a heterosexual romantic relationship, manage and nurture healthy opposite-sex friendships without causing discomfort or misunderstandings with my partner? Are there specific boundaries or communication approaches I can adopt to maintain trust and ensure mutual comfort in such situations? — Establishing Friendships DEAR ESTABLISHING FRIENDSHIPS: It’s all about honesty and trust.
• Do your kitchen or bathroom drains have an unpleasant scent? Instead of dumping chlorine bleach down the drain to neutralize it, pour in regular salt as a nontoxic solution.
No wonder Trump won't show up on a debate stage. He's gotten to where he can barely keep it together in front of the adoring throngs at his campaign rallies. Somewhat smaller throngs, it must be said — but, hey, it's January, and everybody's seen The Trump Show many times by now.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm 32 years old and have recently shifted to a remote work setup for the first time in my career.
ASK THE DOCTORS
The circus has left town. No more walks down Main Street, no more visits to veterans' halls, no more fables about lessons candidates learned while talking to people in community centers in small towns. But for all the divisiveness and all the invective, New Hampshire's primary gave clarity to two things that will shape the campaign in the year ahead.
DEAR HARRIETTE: Several students in my daughter's school have died by suicide in the past two years. Now we are hearing of college presidents and other professionals who are taking their lives. This trend is frightening. Though I can turn off the news at home, my daughter is still aware of these tragedies. I am so worried for her and her friends.
My husband, Peter, and I are headed out to Mexico again, and before we do, I thought it was a good time of year to check in with some folks I care about, to see how 2024 had been treating them so far.
There's an old story about a dog food brand that was rapidly losing business. An emergency meeting was held to determine the cause. The can is the wrong color, complained one company official. The advertising jingle is off-key, said another. Finally, a fellow in the back spoke the truth: 'Dogs don't like it.'
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in a relationship where we've mutually agreed to exclusivity, yet we haven't formalized our relationship status. We value the natural flow of our connection, but I desire more clarity. How can I guide conversations about defining our relationship without putting undue pressure on the organic progression we've cherished? Sometimes the lack of an official definition makes me anxious, and I find myself pondering the future of our relationship. — What's Next DEAR WHAT'S NEXT: What do you want for your future? When you think about your life, what do you see, and do you see that potentially with this partner? Now is the time to talk to your partner about your vision of your future and ask about theirs. Too often, people drift together without clarity. For some people, that's fine, but often one partner is not as comfortable. That stems from not knowing how you fit into your partner's dreams for the future.