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DEAR ANNIE: It’s time for her to break up with in-laws for good

DEAR ANNIE: I’ve been married to a wonderful man for 30 years. His family has always made me feel like an outsider — rude, dismissive, the works. Ten years ago, I finally stepped back from them. We reconnected briefly five years ago when his father passed, mostly with his mother, but this year they’ve slid right back into their old habits. It’s to the point where it’s affecting my health: I’ve developed real anxiety, even depression, over it. I’ve decided to cut them off again, for good this time. I’ve given them more chances than they deserved. What I don’t know is ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Heloise asks: How to handle death of a pet?

DEAR HELOISE: My sweet little dog died two days ago, and I can’t stop crying. I know that in time, I’ll calm down, but I had him for 21 years. He was like a child to me. I found him at a shelter as a baby — skinny, scared and abandoned. He needed me, and I needed him. Any hints on how to deal with this heartache? I thought perhaps one of your readers might have a suggestion. — Corrine M., in Newport, Rhode Island Corrine, having lost a number of pets over the years, I can honestly tell you that it never gets easier. Please take comfort in knowing you took him out of a bad ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Benefits, risks of multiple statins

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a preemployment physical for my current position as a firefighter/EMT back in January. I had another preemployment physical for a new position with the fire department last month, and both physicians suggested a statin based on my high cholesterol. Both tests had similar results; my cholesterol was 272 mg/dL, my HDL was 52 mg/dL, and my LDL was 199 mg/dL. My other blood tests and electrocardiogram were fine. I figured that I should probably try to get on a statin and manage the situation. I had a telehealth visit with a physician’s assistant who put me on 40 mg ...

Bridge by Steve Becker for Aug. 14

1. Four notrump. Slam is a near certainty — you have 17 high-card points instead of the 13 you might have had for your first two bids, and strong trumps. The chief purpose of the Blackwood bid is to cover the possibility that partner has no aces. You plan to bid six clubs if partner shows ...

Der Annie: Tired of watching her choose heartbreak

DEAR ANNIE: My granddaughter has a boyfriend who keeps cheating on her — three times now, and those are only the times I know about. Each time, she takes him back, swearing he’s changed. I’m old enough to know how that story ends. She’s smart and kind, and I hate watching her with someone who doesn’t treat her the way she deserves. I’ve bitten my tongue up until now — it’s her life, after all, and she’s entitled to her own decisions — but I don’t have the heart to sit quietly through this when it inevitably happens again. How do I get her to see what I see before ...