ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who is a wine connoisseur. She knows a lot about it and spends a lot of money on it. I don't have that kind of money, but I do enjoy wine and like to serve it when guests visit. I find my friend to be obnoxious about her wine tastes. I see her turn up her nose when she sees my selections. She has taken to bringing...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am wondering if it would be crass or in poor taste to give a new widow a thoughtful sympathy card with money in it, rather than sending flowers.

A dear friend just became widowed in her late 40s after her husband's somewhat lengthy and most unexpected illness.

My friend has been a stay-at-home mom throughout her marriage, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I feel like I'm in a toxic relationship with my roommate. We're both older and used to be good friends until we got a place together. I quickly realized she has somewhat of a hoarding issue and a habit of starting projects she never finishes.

I work two jobs and am gone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later. Meanwhile, she collects ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: In a few days, the second anniversary of my husband's death will be here. We were together for 40 years. They weren't easy years; he had many issues, both physical and mental. I was isolated because I didn't want others to know the extent of what I lived with every day. I cared deeply for him, and as his wife, it was for better or ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was recently offered a new job that I was excited about. It felt like a huge breakthrough for me -- the kind of opportunity I had been working toward for years. I went through multiple rounds of interviews, got the official offer, signed the paperwork and even started making plans to relocate. I told all of my friends and ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How can I politely invite someone to my home but also indicate that they should not bring their friends or family with them?

We moved a couple years ago to a different city, and made new friends we really like. We also have neighbors a couple of houses away who will just come over to join any gathering without an invite.

I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been dating my boyfriend, "Dylan," for almost two years. He's perfect except for the fact that he avoids conflict like the plague. If I bring up anything even slightly uncomfortable -- like that something he said hurt my feelings -- he either shuts down, changes the subject or tries to make a joke out of it.

At first, I ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 23-year-old college graduate who was lucky enough to land a job in my field of study. The job is located in my hometown. Because I couldn't afford my own apartment, I moved back in with my parents. The situation was supposed to be temporary, but now that I can afford to move out, my parents insist that I stay with them. They ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in a supporting role in the entertainment industry. With the work I do and the reputation my company has in this industry, I have met a lot of celebrities and high-profile individuals. A friend of mine is currently looking for new job opportunities and shared what her ultimate dream job would be -- it happens to be with a ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have discovered that my husband's small business has been sending out birthday/anniversary cards addressed to clients by their first names (i.e. Joe Smith). I believe that the envelopes should be addressed using a title (Mr. Joe Smith). I have been informed by my husband, and his young receptionist, that using the title is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have recently gone through a friend breakup with a friend we will call "Elizabeth." When I first met Elizabeth, she was pregnant with her first child. After about a year, we became very close friends, and she had a second child. After the second child was born, I offered to go to Elizabeth's house once a week to play with the ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Last year, my son, his girlfriend and two others were murdered outside a city where "things like this don't happen." My other two boys received a call to come immediately to their dad's home, where it had happened. My boys were the first to witness the bloody scene. They called 911. My son lived two days more. Today would have been ...Read more

Sexual expression is part of mental and physical well-being. On that, we agree. And as a single person, you also know how important it is to feel caring and commitment from a partner. The truth is that sexual union has the potential to be spiritual communion. Only when it joins soul mates can it express that high level of togetherness. It is ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I always feel pressure to be the "strong one" in my friend group. I'm the one everyone turns to when they're falling apart; I'm a level-headed, reliable friend who gives advice, calms tensions and somehow always knows what to say. I genuinely care about my friends and want to be there for them, but lately, I've been feeling ...Read more