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Don’t pick at the produce please

Dear Heloise: I frequently see fellow shoppers in the grocery store produce section who snatch and eat bits of items there -- grapes, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, little peppers, and even a small apple one day. While individual instances are miniscule, this “grazing” over time can have a significant impact on inventory costs, which jacks up the prices that we all pay. Oh, by the way, it is also shoplifting ... theft ... stealing. Don’t do it. -- Jim R., in Houston Jim, it’s also unsanitary. You never know how many unwashed hands have touched the tomatoes or grapes. ...

A front-row seat to a midlife spiral

Dear Annie: My friend of 20 years confessed to having a crush on her executive coach, which then developed into a flirtation, which then became a sexting affair. I have always known she is unhappy in her marriage, but I cannot condone cheating and have told her so. She’s also started vaping, pierced her nose, talked about buying a new car (she just bought her last one two years ago) and even had an addition put on her house so she could have her own room away from her family. I’ve told her she’s exhibiting signs of a mid-life crisis. She told me she’s fine and that working ...

Having a phone for emergencies

Dear Heloise: As my grandchildren have gotten older, it occurred to me that their parents had gotten rid of their old landline. Today, many homes rely only on cellphones. Also, parents are wary of giving their young ones cellphones. This means that when young children are safely left at home without adult supervision for short periods, there is no way for them to call for help in an emergency. Parents might consider having a separate cellphone in the house to replace the old landline and teach youngsters how to use it if needed. Thank you for all your hints. -- Diane Hobbs, A ...

On this Date

In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland. In 1847, the first rescuers reached members of the Donner Party, who had been snowbound in the Sierra Nevada near the California-Nevada border for nearly four months. In 1878, inventor Thomas Edison was issued a patent for the phonograph. In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the internment of 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry, including U.S.-born citizens. In 1945, Operation Detachment began during World War II as the first wave of ...

Getting phased out of my friend group

Dear Annie: I am 52 and I have a good life on paper. I am married, I work full-time, and I have two teenagers who keep me busy. But lately I have felt oddly lonely, and I am not sure if I am being overly sensitive or finally noticing something I have ignored for years. I have a close group of friends from our kids’ elementary school days. We still do birthdays, group texts and the occasional dinner. Here is the issue: They have started doing a lot more without me, and I usually find out after the fact. It is never one big, obvious exclusion. It is the little things. A photo pops up ...

Using dry-erase markers on mirrors

Dear Heloise: A lot of people use white boards to make lists and notes. But did you know that you can use dry-erase markers on your bathroom mirror? It’s easy to jot notes on the mirror while you’re getting ready for the day, and more than likely, you will be back in that same bathroom throughout the day to see your notes. Additionally, you can write inspirational notes to yourself on the shower wall above where the water hits. -- Karen McV., via email ANTI-DAMPNESS PACKETS Dear Heloise: I read Erika B.’s hint about storing vitamins in the refrigerator. I use the ...