DEAR HARRIETTE: A recently retired former employee of mine is trying to build a friendship with me. We were never particularly friendly while they were employed, and I find the dynamic now to be awkward and uncomfortable. I want to be respectful and kind, but at the same time, I don’t want to be forced into a friendship. Can you help me come up with a way to set boundaries diplomatically? — Awkward Friendship DEAR AWKWARD FRIENDSHIP: Be cordial and clear.
Those little stickers you find on the outside of bananas, apples, avocadoes and other produce are both a nuisance and a marvel. They help keep the massive supply chain of perishable foods in check, but they can be a pain. Unfortunately, the stickers are not compostable or biodegradable. They are considered the worst offender in contaminating compost scraps, so keep them out of your pile. And never put them down the drain of the sink; they can clog pipes.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is in college, and the trips to visit him or bring him home for breaks and holidays are expensive. Recently, my husband asked me how much his spring break flight cost. When I told him, he hit the ceiling. This is not news. We talked about what college would cost before my son went there.
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, which legalized the sale of alcoholic beverages.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to an event and saw a lot of people I haven’t seen for a long time. One woman was very friendly, which was nice, but caught me off guard. She is what my mother calls “sometime-y.” Sometimes she knows me, and sometimes she doesn’t. On that day she saw me and thought she would even give me a hug. She is an important person in my social and professional circles, so I appreciated the acknowledgment, but I don’t want to make the mistake of thinking she likes me now — there have been too many occasions when I was invisible to her. I do think it might be wise for me to make some kind of meaningful follow-up while I’m still on her mind. I don’t have a project right now to talk about, though, so I’m not sure what to say if I reach out to her. What do you think?
Ilook forward to the Oklahoma Youth Expo each year and especially legislative showmanship. This year, I was paired with Grace Clark from Carnegie FFA and her sheep. Another one of my constituents, Tabrey Lierle from Hydro-Eakly FFA, was there with her goat. It was great to get to know these students and learn about their livestock projects that they have worked hard on all year to prepare for their local shows, and ultimately OYE.









