HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR READERS: May is prom month. The excitement of graduation, summertime fun, freedom and friendship all combine for a festive celebration, a night of memories and a rite of passage. But what should always come first? Safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) put out the following hints:
In the rush to get glamorous, there can be dangers.
Tanning, crash diets, too-tight gowns, sky-high shoes and upto-the-minute skin and hair treatments can all end badly. A natural, fresh, healthy, conservative and pretty look is best.
Tell your teen: Have a plan. Make sure someone is available if an emergency arises. One obvious no-no: using drugs and alcohol.
Never ride in a car with someone who is drunk or high; going as a group and pitching in for a limousine is a safe option.
After-prom parties can be fun, but ensure you and your teen know exactly where the after-party is, who is hosting it and what time the party ends.
Talking to your teen about safety will certainly elicit an eye-roll or two, but carry on.
DEAR HELOISE: No doubt you receive hundreds of hints by email and mail, which I dutifully read. Do you have a particular selection criterion for determining which hints are suitable for printing?
— Richard W., Hedgesville, W.Va. DEAR READER: We try to publish a variety of hints that will appeal to a broad range of people. We do receive hundreds per week, and we pick the most popular, and seasonal, for publication.
DEAR HELOISE: Parking in the striped area next to an accessible (also called handicapped) parking space is not allowed. The striped area allows room for a van to lay out a ramp for a wheelchair to lift folks up and down. You can be subject to a big fine, so leave that space for people who need it. — Randy W. in Indiana
DEAR HELOISE: I save mesh pouches from bagged onions, oranges, etc., and wrap them around sponges for more scrubbing power.
I smear petroleum jelly around the top of a tube of instant glue. The cap always screws off again.
When I walk into a room and forget what I came in for, I walk back to the room I came from. Then I remember it. Works every time for me.
— C.H. in San Antonio