Footing the bill for unwanted house guest

@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "NewCenturySchlbkLTStd-Bd"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }.MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; } Dear Annie: I have been a single mother for 20 years. Four months ago, I was talked into letting one of my daughter's friends stay with us while her ...

Real world doesn't offer the same atmosphere as college

Dear Annie: I had a fabulous time in college. I was president of my sorority, a peer mentor at our advising center and active in many organizations. I also was granted many awards and honors. I loved rushing around with little sleep and juggling many things on my plate. Now my life is a different story. I struggle with severe clinical depression and debilitating anxiety. After graduating, I took a job that ...

Proper etiquette for taking wedding cake home from reception

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently attended my niece's evening wedding. We are not well, and I told my sister that I didn't know how long we could stay. When she told me the wedding cake would be cut at 11:30 p.m., I asked her to bring a slice home for me.

Mother-to-be struggles with sister, fiance

Dear Annie: Five months ago, I begged my sister to move in with me to get her away from her abusive boyfriend. It took some convincing and tough love, but she finally ceased contact with him completely. Three months after she moved in, my fiance and I found out that we were expecting a baby. We set a wedding date, and he moved in immediately.

Chain-letter e-mails don’t keep friendships alive

Dear Annie: I am constantly getting chain-letter e-mails from a friend I met in a class years ago. The e-mails usually contain vague threats about how something bad will happen to me if I don't forward the letter to five friends, or how good luck will follow if I do. The last straw was when she sent me one that said, "Forward this, and something good will happen. If you are not a believer in God, delete."

Widow grieves loss of husband, relationship with in-laws

Don’t forget the reason behind Memorial Day weekend

Dear Readers: Today is Memorial Day. We know for many, this is simply part of a long weekend. But we hope you will keep in mind the reason behind the holiday -- a day to remember those servicemen and women who have died serving their country. Please honor our fallen heroes by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of veterans. It is also customary to fly the flag at half-staff until noon.

Woman wonders how to help an estranged neighbor

Dear Annie: How can I help a friend who is convinced his neighbors are bombarding his house with rays that have affected his health and caused the death of one of his dogs?

Grandmother wonders how to handle grandchildren who turn into wild animals around parents

Dear Annie: My daughter has five beautiful children whom we love very much. My husband and I often take the kids overnight and on weekends to give some quiet time to their parents.

Husband refuses to work, wife at wits end

Dear Annie: I married "Theo" three years ago. The marriage started out OK, but then I discovered he had a drug addiction. After a great deal of pushing from me, Theo finally got clean two years ago. The problem is, he has not held down a job since he moved in with me six years ago, while I have worked a full-time third shift to support my children and household. It's not enough to make ends meet.

Helping teenagers learn the consequences of reckless driving

Dear Annie: You recently printed a "Contract for Drivers," by John Violette. It requires teenage drivers to maintain decent grades, follow all traffic laws and never drive impaired or get in the car with a driver who is. It reminded me of the essay "Dead at 17," which relates what happens when kids don't follow those rules. Every year there are new teenage drivers who haven't seen it. Maybe if parents attach it to the ...

Woman’s friend lies to husband, asks for help

Dear Annie: My good friend "Lara" is three months pregnant with her third child. She recently confided in me that she purposely didn't use birth control. She told her husband, "Joe," that the pregnancy was "an accident."

Adoptive parent frustrated with child’s actions

Dear Annie: I'm a 47-year-old father of four kids. My oldest, "Janet," is 24 and lives on her own. I adopted Janet when she was 2. Her mother made it clear that Janet is to never know that she is not my biological child. Janet's mother and I are now divorced, and I have moved on to a happier life.

Sister’s husband shames family after death

Dear Annie: My beloved sister, "Dawn," died last year following a long battle with cancer. Her husband of 43 years was a caring and capable caregiver. At the memorial service held in their church, "John" spoke tearfully of their love.

Sister-in-law cuts brother off before heart surgery

Dear Annie: My brother was scheduled for open-heart surgery involving three different procedures. I hadn't seen him for several months and wanted to visit before the operation, as I feared he might not make it through.

Woman concerned about husband’s faithfulness

Dear Annie: I have been married to the love of my life for several years.

Man seeks advice regarding marital assets between him and his ex-wife

Dear Annie: My wife and I are going through a divorce after 23 years of marriage. We just grew apart.