Lifestyles

Dear Annie: Generosity on wedding costs has its price

DEAR ANNIE: My fiance and I are getting married next spring, and my parents generously offered to help pay for the cost of the wedding. We were thrilled. Weddings are expensive, and money is tight. But I quickly realized that this might actually be a mistake. Their contributions come with strings attached, and my mother seems to think this is )her wedding, too. She already vetoed my venue and hired a florist I never approved. Every time I talk to her, she has a new idea. I’ve gently reminded her that this is not her wedding, but she always hits me with the credit card guilt. I ...

Hints from Heloise: Reusing leftover soap chips

DEAR HELOISE: Any ideas on how to turn leftover soap chips into a new usable bar? I hate to just throw them away if there’s a way to reuse them. I love your column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch! — Nita S., via email Nita, here are some ideas: — Using old but clean panty hose, place a handful of soap chips in the foot area, then tie it off and trim off the excess panty hose. Instead of using a wash cloth, you can use your new scrubber to wash yourself. Let it dry completely between uses. — Gather all the soap chips in a pan and add just enough water to make a thick ...

Religion news

GOSPEL GROUP: Living Lord Lutheran Church, 851 Niles-Cortland Road, Howland, will host the Hamilton Road Trio Gospel Group at 6 p.m. Saturday. The concert is free, but a free will offering will be taken. PACKING PARTY: Southington Christian Church, 3285 state Route 534, will host an Operation Christian Child party at 12:15 p.m. Sunday. The congregation will pack 120 shoeboxes for girls for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse that sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world. All are welcome to come and pack a shoebox. A potluck lunch will be ...

To Your Good Health: Immunity to CMV not fully protective

DR. ROACH WRITES: A recent column on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV, a herpes virus that is similar to EBV — the virus that causes classic mononucleosis) stated that pregnant women who’ve had CMV are protected from further infections. But an expert on CMV — Dr. Sallie Permar, MD, PhD — wrote in to say that it’s possible to reacquire CMV because natural immunity isn’t fully protective against reinfection. This is why it’s so important for pregnant women to be careful not to get exposed (or reexposed) to CMV. Since the major route of exposure is through young ...

Thursday evening TV

Bridge by Steve Becker

If someone aims a gun at your head, it is a good idea — as a matter of self-preservation — to disarm him if you can. An analogous situation sometimes occurs at the bridge table when a particular opponent poses a threat to your contract. In that case, you try, if possible, to eliminate ...