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The Vicksburg Post Tuesday, June 16, 2009 B5
Bridesmaid looks for graceful way to bow out
Dear Abby: I’m in my early
20s and have worked for this
company for a few years. One
of my co-workers is my age
and has always been very
sweet. We talk occasionally
about casual events in our
lives, but I have never socialized
with her outside of work
and don’t consider her more
than a “work friend.”
When she became engaged,
I told her I was happy for her
and admired her ring. Out of
the blue she asked me to be
a bridesmaid! I was taken by
surprise, but she looked so
hopeful that I agreed. I realize
now it was a huge mistake.
She is a nice girl, but we talk
DEAR
ABBY
ABIGAIL
VAN
BUREN
only at work, maybe three
times a month. She has also
asked two other girls from
work to be a bridesmaid and
maid of honor. They are in the
same boat as I am, and both
were also shocked to have
been asked.
The wedding is a year and a
half away. I am worried that
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
BY BERNICE BEDE OSOL • NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION
If tomorrow is your birthday: The year ahead could turn out to
be one of your more exceptional periods, especially with regard
to personal projects or enterprises that harness your imagination
and creativity. Don’t discount political situations, either.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Your own personal interests and
ambitions have excellent chances for success. Although you
might be involved with others in your pursuits, the good developments
come from your personal input.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Lady Luck herself might take over
the management of your affairs, particularly with regard to an
arrangement of some importance to you. She will place you in
the right spot at the right time.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — An alliance into which you’ve recently
entered might prove to be of far greater significance than either
you or your counterpart anticipated. You’ll get the first signals of
this development.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Some constructive trends should
start to override any recent undesirable circumstances, especially
those concerning your career and financial circumstances.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Vigorously pursue any enterprising
ideas you conceive at this time. Don’t treat these perceptions
indifferently, because you could be on to something extremely
valuable.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Look for signals that tell you the
timing is right to make those positive changes in your life. If
your blueprint is strong, you could build a new future.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — What’s your secret for working
out winning arrangements or agreements? You want to share
everything with the other guy. Much good could come from
your efforts.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — This is likely to be an extremely
fortunate day with regard to furthering your worldly ambitions.
Establish meaningful objectives for yourself, and take positive
measures to achieve them.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Be alert for a new venture or enterprise
that could suddenly drop in your lap. Even if it appears
iffy at first, check it out because, upon further investigation, it
could prove to be big.
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — A situation that has caused you
a degree of concern looks as if it will work out beautifully. More
important, however: What happens could be a harbinger of
something far more promising.
Aries (March 21-April 19) — An outside influence on which
you hadn’t figured might eclipse your plans. However, it will
provide some terrific benefits and lots of fun.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — This could be one of those days
when everything you touch turns to gold. If you’re smart, you’ll
concentrate your efforts in this area. Big things might result.
TWEEN 12 & 20
BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE • NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION
Dr. Wallace: I get A’s and B’s in all of my classes — except
math, where I only receive C’s. My math grades have kept me off
the honor roll. I have taken two years of math (algebra, geometry)
and that fulfills my math requirement for graduation.
My dad, who is a math genius, is always on my case to get better
grades in that subject. I study hard and do all my homework,
but I just don’t find math easy. My dad is insisting that I sign up
for calculus next September when I will be in the 11th grade.
I’d rather not take any more math because I want to become a
high school English teacher, and I want to make the honor roll
my last two years in high school.
I know that my father will make the final decision, but I’d like
to hear what you have to say about this. — Nameless, Toledo,
Ohio.
Nameless: Sounds to me like something doesn’t quite add up
in your relationship with Dad. He loves math and is forcing it on
you. I fear all he’s going to accomplish is inculcating in you a lifelong
hatred of the subject. He needs to let up.
In my opinion, you should be allowed to take other challenging
courses in your junior and senior years — not merely so you
can make the honor roll, but also to maximize the benefits of
your high-school education.
No one learns when a subject is forced down his or her throat.
Dr. Wallace: When I was 5, my parents divorced and I went
to live with my grandmother in the country. I am now 13 and
have been with my grandmother for eight years; I love her very
much. She is more like a mother to me than my own mother.
About three months ago, my mother remarried, and now she
and my stepfather want me to move in with them. This means I
would leave all my friends and teachers in Arlington, Tenn., and
move to Memphis, Tenn., with my mother and a stranger who
would be called daddy.
I do love my mother, but I’m a country girl and Memphis is a
big city. At home with Grandmother, I’m needed and wanted.
— Alyssa, Arlington, Tenn.
Alyssa: If I were in a similar situation, I would feel exactly the
same as you.
If you must move, your best bet is to look at this as an adventure
rather than an uprooting. If your mother and stepfather
have a positive and loving attitude, and truly welcome you
in their midst, then your move to Memphis could be a growing
and learning experience. And I’m sure you will make new
friends once you have settled in at school.
•
Dr. Robert Wallace writes for Copley News Service. E-mail him at rwallace@Copley
News Service.
it will cost me money. Don’t
bridesmaids have to buy their
own dresses? I would never
want someone in my wedding
who didn’t want to be there
and who honestly didn’t consider
herself my friend. Is
there an appropriate way to
get out of this and not hurt
her feelings? — Distressed in
San Diego
Dear Distressed: It is not
necessary to tell your coworker
that you do not consider
her a friend. But do tell
her that, while you are flattered
that she asked you to be
a bridesmaid, you responded
impulsively without thinking
it through and that it would
create a financial hardship for
you — which is why you must
decline. Obviously, this young
woman has no close friends, so
do her a favor by not making
this a topic of conversation at
the office.
P.S. You are correct that it
is the responsibility of the
bridesmaid to pay for her own
outfit.
•
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van
Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips,
and was founded by her mother, Pauline
Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.Dear
Abby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles,
CA 90069.
Nighttime twitches
should be checked out
ASK
THE
DOCTOR
DR. PETER
GOTT
Dear Dr. Gott: Once in a
while, my body will “jerk”
involuntarily as I fall asleep.
What causes this? Does it
mean I have a heart condition
or other problem?
Dear Reader: You appear to
be describing a type of myoclonus.
These sudden, involuntary
muscle twitches are most
often a symptom of an underlying
disorder, some of which
are more serious than others.
Of the more than eight forms
of myoclonus, potential causes
range from Restless Legs Syndrome
to multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s and epilepsy.
Based on your brief note, I
cannot give detailed information
about a diagnosis but suspect
you are suffering from
sleep myoclonus. This form is
characterized by twitches of
a muscle or group of muscles
that occur during the initial
phases of sleep, most often at
the moment of dropping off
to sleep. Most people with
this type of myoclonus don’t
require treatment but should
be examined by a physician to
determine whether there is an
underlying cause.
Because you don’t give an age
or gender, I cannot give specific
advice with regard to testing,
but I recommend you discuss
the situation with your physician.
Be sure to tell him or her
about the frequency, severity,
immediate preceding events
(such as whether there was a
loud noise, flash of light, etc.,
just before the jerk) and how
long you have been experiencing
the symptom. Because of
the possibility of RLS, a sleep
study may be beneficial.
If your physician is uncomfortable
ordering testing
and attempting a diagnosis,
request a referral to a neurologist,
who should be familiar
with the symptom.
Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 58-yearold
widow. Recently, my regular
doctor retired, so I went to
a new one for my yearly mammogram.
As the doctor was
examining my breast, he told
me that he found a lump and
asked me if I had felt it during
my self-exams. I hadn’t. He
sent me to get the mammogram,
but nothing was found,
so I was then sent for an ultrasound.
Again, nothing was
found, and the technician also
did a manual exam and found
nothing. When I returned to
the doctor, he said I needed
further testing, and, when I
asked why, he said, “Because I
definitely feel a pea-size lump,
and it needs to be taken care
of.”
My insurance has paid only
one-third of the costs incurred,
and I cannot afford any more
tests at this time. Why would
my doctor want me to have
more tests when I, both tests
and the sonogram tech can’t
find anything abnormal? This
has been a scary and costly
experience. What should I
do?
Dear Reader: You are in a
bind. On one hand, you may
have early breast cancer. But
on the other, you may not and
will have wasted a significant
amount of money.
I take breast cancer very
seriously. One reason is that
the disease usually responds
well to therapy if diagnosed
in its early stages.
Your best course of action
is to obtain a second opinion
from a surgeon who is especially
experienced in treating
breast lesions. If the surgeon
cannot feel the breast lump,
he or she may suggest holding
off and retesting you in three
or six months. If everything
continues to appear normal,
resume your yearly mammograms
and follow your doctor’s
suggestions.
•
Write to Dr. Peter Gott in care of United
Media, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-
0167.
JUST ARRIVED!!
OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, June 16, 2009
ACROSS
1 Italian ball game
6 Neatnik’s bane
10 Sgt. Friday’s force
14 “What __!”:
“B-o-o-o-ring!”
15 Forbidden
perfume brand?
16 Arced molding
17 Wasp-waisted
shape
20 Palm phone
21 Tolkien’s
Treebeard, for
one
22 Accept reality
23 Emeril catchword
25 Prefix with hertz
26 Cleaning item
29 What a big
spender has
plenty of
35 Ovid’s “I love”
36 How the euphoric
walk?
37 “Look here, old
chap!”
38 Raps with barbs
40 EPA-banned
pesticide
41 Harry Potter’s
Potions teacher
42 Dix plus un
43 Moray hunter
45 “Vamoose!”
46 Boardinghouse
sign
49 Wynn and
Sullivan
50 Knight titles
51 Thé, basically
53 Snapple product
56 Hollywood VIP
58 “If I Only __
Brain”
62 Godiva gift
65 The Auld Sod
66 Wait in hiding
67 Meal that can
precede the start
of 17-, 29-, 46- or
62-Across
68 Head of France?
69 Online auction
site
70 Chap
DOWN
1 Bangkok
currency
Unscramble these four Jumbles,
one letter to each square,
to form four ordinary words.
NUKKS
2 Glade target
3 Rock’s Mötley __
4 Poor substitute
for 62-Across
5 Quiche base
6 Baseball’s Musial
7 At the end of the
line
8 Delivery docs
9 Self-serve meal
10 Lincoln’s
birthplace
11 Flulike symptom
12 Gilpin of “Frasier”
13 Insect repellent
compound
18 53-Across flavor
19 “Othello”
conniver
24 “Famous” cookie
man
25 South Carolina’s
__ Beach
26 Stubble remover
27 Kind of
protein-building
acid
28 Bonkers
30 __ Raiders:
consumer
advocates
31 Down-yielding
duck
©2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
BYLUR
DROOVE
NEW JUMBLE NINTENDO www.jumble.com/ds
THROOC
Answer:
Yesterday’s
By Betty Keller
(c)2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
“
Jumbles:
Answer:
(Answers tomorrow)
FAUNA ALTAR ENTITY CHARGE
He became a roadie for the rock band
because he could — “CARRY” A TUNE
Huge selection of
reclining sectionals
By Catnapper
Thomas
Furniture
2009 Drummond Street • 601-636-7341
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
32 Utilities bill datum
33 Speedy
34 Dmitri’s dissents
39 Emerald or ruby
41 Span. miss
44 Año Nuevo
month
47 Lord’s holding
48 Prophet at
Delphi
52 Ryder rival
53 “Fat chance”
54 Pear discard
55 Sign over a door
56 Cartoon explorer
57 Eliciting an “Ugh!”
59 8, for oxygen:
Abbr.
60 Pack of cards
61 Queens tennis
stadium
63 Atlanta, for Delta
Airlines
64 Barrister’s deg.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
xwordeditor@aol.com
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
by Mike Argirion and Jeff Knurek
Now arrange the circled letters
to form the surprise answer, as
suggested by the above cartoon.
”
06/16/09
06/16/09