Lifestyles

Hints from Heloise: Reader writes in with her comments

DEAR HELOISE: Physical newspapers and the people who deliver them aren’t gone. I receive our local paper seven days a week, as well as the Wall Street Journal six days a week. I live in New Orleans. And what’s with pinning socks together? You take them off, fold them, unfold them to wash them, and refold them before putting them back in the drawer. I have them arranged by color, and I’ve never lost a sock in my life. — Carolyn W., in Louisiana Carolyn, how nice to still get home deliveries of your newspaper! Sadly, not everyone has this service these days. I get letters ...

To Your Good Health: Numbness persists after years of injections

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was in excellent health until December 2020, when I was admitted to the hospital with high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). I’ve been participating in a Phase 2 clinical trial since January 2021, and I was fortunate to achieve minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status in November 2023 — a milestone that is reached by only 10% of over 20 participants. However, as a side effect of four years of treatment, including Velcade injections (16 total), I’ve developed neuropathy, mainly in my feet. My primary issue is overall numbness and a lack of feeling in my feet. ...

Friday evening TV

Bridge by Steve Becker

Win the queen of clubs with the king, discarding a diamond, and continue with the ace of clubs. Then: 1. If East ruffs, overruff, cash the ace of spades, and lead the queen through West’s king. West must play the king of spades on this trick or the next one, whereupon you ruff in dummy and ...

Caregiver robots give seniors new lease on life

DURHAM, N.H. AFTER OUTLIVING BOOKER T. Bones, their second service dog, Brenda and Brian Marquis still needed help with some of the more difficult parts of daily life. They found Robbie, a robot that rolls out of a hallway into their living room several times a day. “Do you want to ...

When new friends outshine old friends

DEAR ANNIE: My dearest friend and I go back over 50 years. We’ve seen each other through everything, high and lows. Recently I became disabled and can no longer drive. I’m also a widow. I’m not asking anyone to chauffeur me around (I have that handled), but a phone call here and there would be lovely. She lives just a short distance away, yet she visits only about once a month and texts or calls infrequently. She has never once offered to run an errand. I always tell her how much her visits mean to me. What makes it sting a little more is that friends I’ve known only a ...