The New York Times Husband’s exes keep popping up

ACROSS 1 West Coast law force, for short 5 Insurer whose name rhymes with “quack” 10 Q-tip, e.g. 14 Regions 16 Where the Dolphins play 17 Prey for cats 18 Characters in a play, formally 21 Unit of corn 22 Loopy from drugs 23 Some herding dogs 24 Monarch renowned for his wealth 28 N.Y.C. subway inits. 29 Down Under hoppers, informally 30 Overlook rudely 33 Ice cream treat 36 Veer, as a ship 37 Miracle-___ (garden brand) 38 & 39 Doomsayer’s assertion … or a phonetic hint to 18-, 24-, 51- and 61-Across 42 Santa ___ winds 43 “How stupid of me!” 46 More tidy 47 Trail mix 49 Japanese noodle 50 61, in old Rome 51 College team from the land of Lincoln 57 How TV series DVDs may be sold 59 DNA sequence 60 Gen ___ (millennial forerunner) 61 Yom Kippur War clash 65 Response from a greatly amused texter 66 Better aligned 67 Goes way, way up 68 Bellow 69 Comic Bruce with a foul mouth 70 Big Board inits.

DOWN 1 Stows, as cargo 2 Pianist Claudio 3 Gem strung on a necklace 4 Beaver’s construction 5 Mexican friend 6 Popular Friday feast 7 Once around the track 8 Soul: Fr. 9 Ringling Brothers offering, once 10 Round-the-campfire treats 11 Going off script 12 Smoothie “superfruit” 13 “Subjects” of a queen, not a king 15 Like the climate of the African desert 19 Like some auto windows 20 “Like father, like ___” 25 Beach washer 26 Breath-taking snake 27 Specification on an airline ticket 31 Desire 32 Physics Nobelist Niels 33 Without a date 34 “You might think so, but …” 35 Grave, as injuries 39 Queued 40 Strictly platonic 41 Hammer’s target 43 Bit of an ellipsis 44 Japanese sash 45 Do a surfing maneuver 48 Glock, for one 49 Jewish village of old 52 Dr. Scholl’s padding 53 Architect Frank 54 No, in pig Latin 55 Comes closer 56 “And Still ___” (Angelou volume) 57 With competence 58 Uncreative bar order, with “the” 62 Metal before refinement 63 When said three times, a Beach Boys hit 64 Charged particle

Dear Annie: My husband’s first marriage ended when his son was 6 and his daughter was 3. His children are now 25 and 22 and have their own children. My husband and I have been together for nine years and married for four years. His ex-wife remarried 12 years ago, but she is not happy in her marriage. We talked about the kids when we needed to when they were under 18, and we still all share in the grandkids’ birthday parties. Otherwise, after the divorce, she didn’t associate with my husband’s family until he and I got married. She has now friend requested all his family members and friends on Facebook. Every time I make a comment on one of their posts, she jumps on and comments. She kept his last name, so I get to see that, as well, with every comment. Now she has gotten a job within a few miles of my husband’s work. It’s at a bar her sister owns, and she takes shift pictures letting people know she is there and eager to serve them, and those pix go to all my husband’s family and friends every weekend, including my husband.

I can’t warm up to my supportive family with the ex always in the picture. My husband doesn’t see a problem with it, but I feel she is so unhappily married she would love to have my husband back. I am at a point of giving up. It is one thing having to see her for birthdays; it’s a whole other thing that she pops up everywhere. This woman never comments on the pages of his family members or friends unless I do first. What is going on?! Help! — Ex-Wife Issues

Dear Ex-Wife Issues: First, try to keep in mind the possibility that she isn’t trying to bother you — that you’re reading too much into her posts and it’s all purely coincidence.

But if she is trying to get your goat, I’ve got great news: You don’t have to give it to her. Rise above it however you can, even if that means tuning it out; you can block her account in your Facebook settings so that you no longer see her posts and get notifications when she comments on the same things as you.

And if your in-laws occasionally catch up with your husband’s ex-wife, so be it. She is the mother of their niece and nephew or their grandchildren and was a part of the family for many years. They can love her without loving you any less.

What’s most important is that you have a strong relationship with your husband, and from the sound of it, all is well in that department. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.