ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend always changes her story when it comes to small things, but I feel like the accumulation of all these small inconsistencies is starting to get to me. For example, she was just talking about how she plans to work at the company we both work at for five more years, but then not even two minutes later, she mentioned ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a very close friend I have known for a long time. I enjoy seeing her and her husband. However, whenever we go out to dinner, she always tells me to make the restaurant reservation, as supposedly I know all the places to go to.

Once we are at the restaurant, she always complains about the food. Last time, there were not...Read more

Dear Annie: My co-worker "Dan" and I started at our company around the same time three years ago. We hit it off immediately and became good friends. We'd grab lunch together, vent about work and even hang out on weekends sometimes. Lately, though, things feel ... off. He's been distant, takes forever to respond to messages and only speaks to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 19-year-old niece didn't finish high school and has been in and out of rehab for years. She's about to leave a residential program and is looking for a place to live. Her parents have implemented "house rules" she doesn't like, notably staying drug-free and away from her boyfriend.

I have three kids at home, and I'm not able to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work from home, and my roommate does, too. At first, it wasn't a big deal; we thought we could share the space easily and just use headphones when we had meetings. Lately, our schedules have started to clash, and we both end up taking video calls at the same time. Since our apartment is small, there's no real privacy, and her ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have added a dog to our family. We tried to work with many different animal shelters and rescues, but it just did not work out for us to go that route.

We also did a lot of research on getting a dog from reputable breeders, but we couldn't afford any of them. We ended up purchasing a dog from what some would ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm in a strange situation with my childhood best friend, "Lila." We're both 32 now, and while we've stayed close over the years, something shifted after I got engaged last spring. Lila has always been single, and she's made it clear she doesn't believe in marriage. I respect that. But since I got engaged, she's been acting distant...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I recently bought a first-floor condo because I am an older woman with a knee disability. Otherwise, I would have purchased a unit on the second floor of this two-story condo complex. I am only here part time because my husband is not ready for retirement.

The owner above me has two children who jump off the kitchen counter onto the ...Read more

When I started asking the unmarried about their sex lives, survey mavens told me this was the first study ever to define single people's sexual patterns. Whether that's true or not I cannot say for sure, but I do know my research covers the emotional issues that can make or break fulfilling sexual union -- feelings seldom put on paper.

Deciding...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I moved in with my boyfriend recently, and my parents are furious. I come from a traditional background where living together before marriage is considered shameful. My mother won't speak to me, and my father told me he didn't raise me this way. I understand their values, but I think this is a step toward building a healthy ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I work at a nonprofit that prides itself on being all-volunteer, with no boss. Decisions are made at monthly meetings. Having worked 35 years at a job with bosses, I understand that dynamic better.

With this volunteer group, it seems everyone is in charge, and personal feelings are expressed frequently. When a decision is ...Read more

Dear Annie: This Thanksgiving I will be meeting my new boyfriend's family for the first time, and I am already a bundle of nerves. His mom is hosting a big traditional dinner at their home, the kind with a perfectly roasted turkey, gravy from scratch and about 10 different side dishes. She is known for her cooking, and apparently Thanksgiving ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband of 4 1/2 years had an old girlfriend he was on and off with for 15 years. She passed away while he was in prison. We got married three months after he was released. The thing is, when he sleeps, almost every night, he says her name and how much he loves her. He says because he's doing it in his sleep, he doesn't know he's ...Read more