ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been dating my boyfriend for six months. Most of the time, he is a really great guy. He takes me out on thoughtful dates and is a great communicator. However, sometimes when I ask him to do a small favor for me such as opening a pickle jar that's too hard for me to get or get me a glass of water, he will blow up at me. He ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Will you please write something about people not talking from their windows, especially from a second-floor window to someone below at the door?

GENTLE READER: While she agrees that it is impolite to yell at all hours and disturb the neighbors, Miss Manners cannot agree to the more absolute ban you seek. It would do away with...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife (40) and I (53) have been married for almost a year and a half. A few weeks ago, she moved out and took our daughters, ages 3 and 4, with her. When she left, she said they'd be back that evening. They haven't returned. I haven't seen or spoken to my girls in almost a month.

When I ask to see or talk to them, my wife says ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: When I was 16 and my sister "Daisy" was 18, I found out she was in a sexual relationship with my boyfriend, "Tyler" (also 18). I broke it off. She then asked if I minded her dating him. I'm sure I said I didn't, but I thought, "Why ask? You were already having sex with him." (He and I hadn't.) Tyler and I remained friends through the ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am new to dating and honestly feel at a loss. I'm a male college student who has never had a real relationship. I feel like I let things slide in the pursuit of forming a relationship, and I end up getting hurt.

I'm currently seeing this boy who I am head over heels for, but he says one thing and does another. The last time we...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I were on the coast and stopped at a quaint place for lunch. I ordered a lobster tail, which came with the shell on. When I started to open it, it suddenly flew off my plate and out into the dining room somewhere.

Being an independent and adventurous woman, I decided to go track it down and found myself ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our 70s, and although our adult children live nearby, they rarely visit us. It is always considered "more convenient" for us to go to them.

For years, I decorated our home from top to bottom for Christmas. I loved the tree, the lights and the feeling that I was creating something special for our family. But...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I don't care for my son's girlfriend, "Trish," and he knows it. He seems to date needy women. It may boost his ego, but it doesn't reflect well on the young lady.

Our initial encounter with Trish wasn't a good one. We found her to be rude and disrespectful. He claims she was "nervous." It's common courtesy to acknowledge those in a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I announced to my team at work that I am pregnant, and my manager's response was not what I was expecting. She said congratulations, but she looked devastated, and I saw tears starting to fill her eyes. Then she ran out of the room, leaving us all confused. Later, we found out that she has been trying to get pregnant for seven ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the correct way to deal with being stood up for social plans?

Over the years, people have said things to me such as, "I'm going to break off our lunch plans for today, OK? I'm going to lunch with someone else." Or, "I can't meet you for breakfast on Saturday like we'd planned; I'm going to go and play golf with ...Read more

Dear Annie: My best friend, "Ashley," and I have worked at the same marketing agency for three years. We started on the same day, bonded over bad coffee, and we have been inseparable ever since. We have lunch together almost every day and text constantly. We have even taken a few vacations together. She was the first person I told when I found...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 20-year-old nephew, "Conrad," has anger issues. His girlfriend recently broke up with him. He was upset and went to see his grandma, my mom. When Conrad pulled into her driveway, my mom's boyfriend, "Rob," was standing outside. Conrad told Rob to "stay out of the house."

Conrad's girlfriend was there talking to my mom. Conrad was ...Read more

Last year, the waves lapping on the beach convinced a mountain girl that the sea has its own charms. This year, the waves reminded me that parts of me that I feared had sailed away were actually just in murky depths, waiting to be stirred up and brought forward by the tides of change.

Our second trip to Puerto Penasco got a bit of an upgrade, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am not someone who talks easily. Most of the time, I respond when spoken to, but otherwise I keep to myself.

I grew up in a home where silence was a weapon. When my mother was angry with my father, she would stop speaking to him. Sometimes it lasted for days. Sometimes, believe it or not, it lasted for years. Somehow, they are ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 35 years. The week we were to celebrate our 34th anniversary, he invited a female friend to our vacation home for an overnight rendezvous. He was unaware that our adult children had placed a trail cam in the woods -- and he was caught red-handed. He was called out for his behavior, forcing him to...Read more