Lifestyles

Dear Annie: Unexpected birthday card full of questions

DEAR ANNIE: My sister and I have not spoken in three years following a falling-out over our mother’s estate. I won’t rehash the details — suffice it to say, neither of us came out looking entirely clean. We were never close growing up, but we were friendly enough as adults, and I miss that. Last month, she sent me a card for my birthday. No note inside, just her signature. I’ve been staring at that card for weeks, trying to decide what it means. Is it an olive branch? Is it guilt? I don’t want to make a fool of myself by reaching out warmly only to be met with a cold ...

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 ...