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Feeling sting of supporting daughter’s family

DEAR ANNIE: My husband and I have a 34-year-old daughter who has lived with us all her life (except for maybe a year). She brought her freeloading boyfriend in. I had cancer at the time, and they didn’t even bother to do anything, so she ended up pregnant. I kicked her boyfriend out of the house after finding out he couldn’t even take her to the hospital to have his baby. The baby brought such joy to our lives, but she works at a very part-time job, doesn’t help around the house and stays in her room while we watch the boy. She wanted to get him a dog, so we helped her. If we ...

Spice it up

LONDON — Spicy drinks are having a moment, and it’s no longer just standard spicy margs and bloody marys. Bartenders are getting experimental to create the perfect combination with a kick. “The same way that you want to season a steak or a pork chop, you want to add multiple layers. ...

Drain grease safely

DEAR HELOISE: For years, I drained greasy foods on paper towels but ended up having to pick off tiny pieces of paper. Finally, I found a better way. We bought a new stove and oven combo, and I saved the oven rack from the old one we had. Now I place the oven rack over the sink with newspaper underneath to catch the grease and fried foods that get placed on the rack. I don’t let grease go down the drain because a plumber told me that this just clogs the pipes. Lately, I’ve used old cardboard cut out from delivery boxes to catch the grease. — Agnes D., in Lexington, ...

Daughter Verena writes about first anniversary and vacation

Hello readers! This is Verena writing. It’s been such a hot week and I hope you are all staying cool. We are finally getting back into our normal routine again after Daniel Ray had two weeks off for July 4. Although we enjoyed our 2 weeks of no work and just enjoying our vacation, it is ...

Type 2 diabetes resistant to insulin

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 73-year-old female who has Type 1 diabetes that began as Type 2 diabetes more than 30 years ago. I have a very strong family history of coronary artery disease, and I personally have a cardiac stent. I use an insulin pump and have good control with carb counting. I struggle with my weight (160 pounds at 5 feet, 2 inches tall) and with controlling my insulin dose. My A1C is 5.8%. I have ocular hypertension and some diabetic retinopathy. I receive Avastin injections in my eye approximately every two years. My physician has ordered Mounjaro for weight loss. My ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

This deal occurred in a match between Italy and the United States many years ago. The bidding went as shown when an American pair were North-South. West led a low club, and the Italian East-West pair quickly collected five club tricks and the ace of spades to put the contract down two — 100 points. Three notrump was a very poor contract, and the question is whether the much better contract of four hearts should have been reached. Of course, North could have bid four hearts over two diamonds or three notrump and gotten to the proper contract that way, but most analysts felt that ...