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DEAR ANNIE: She’s feeling forgotten by one flaky friend

DEAR ANNIE: My best friend has become impossible to make plans with. She says yes to everything, then cancels at the last minute with a vague excuse. Sometimes she says she is “too tired,” other times she says work got crazy, and once she forgot completely until I texted from the restaurant asking if she was on her way. The worst was when I saw on social media that she had gone out with another group the same night she canceled on me because she “needed a quiet night.” I know people are busy, and I do not want to be needy. But after the third canceled dinner, the second missed ...

Grill vegetables and toss them in bacon vinaigrette

Want to make your vegetables taste better and have your friends love you? Char the hell out of some on the grill and then toss them in a bacon vinaigrette, using this recipe from my cookbook “Chasing the Gator: Isaac Toups and the New Cajun Cooking.” These are vegetables so unhealthy a ...

Making sushi can be fun

TOKYO — No food says Japan more than sushi. But few people make it themselves, even Japanese. The art of making sushi traditionally meant decadeslong training to become a master. But times are changing. Now, just about anyone can enjoy it. “There is no sushi that tastes better than the ...

Babysitting 10 grandchildren and playing jokes

Supper is over and everyone is retiring for the night. I fried chicken and made mac and cheese to go with it. Now it’s time to call it a day. I washed laundry this morning, and it’s all folded and put away. Daughters Verena, Loretta and Lovina came this afternoon for a while. We had snacks, visited and, of course, enjoyed the sweet little ones. Brooklyn fell asleep on me while we were talking and had a short nap. Denzel, 3, and Byron, 2, were everywhere and always so full of energy. Kylie, 1, is the little tag along and tries to keep up with her older brothers. Tomorrow morning ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: He’s still constipated months past operation

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 66-year-old male in good health. I’ve always had very regular bowel movements, usually spending less than 5 minutes in the bathroom daily. About six months ago, I had a colonoscopy. Since then, I’ve been constipated with very hard stools. My doctor recommended fiber supplements three times a day and Colace. I’ve been doing this for four months without relief. My diet hasn’t changed in the past year. I drink more than the recommended amount of water and exercise daily. What can I do to get back to normal? — B.L. ANSWER: Constipation for a few days ...