Husband won’t stop boys’ RV rampages
JEANNE PHILLIPS
DEAR ABBY: My husband has moved our motor home into our driveway and lets our 8-year-old grandson and the neighborhood boys play inside without supervision. I am furious about it because they can — and often do — mess up a whole lot of stuff, and worse, it leaves us open for a lawsuit if anyone gets hurt!
I can’t convince him that it’s not OK to let the boys play inside. Actually, I think he knows it, but our grandson only has to whine or cry and my husband folds. Can you help me get through to him? — Concerned Grandma in Texas
DEAR CONCERNED GRANDMA: I probably can’t do much better than you, but I’m willing to bet that your family lawyer and your insurance agent can. Notify them about what’s going on, and let them tell your husband what the consequences will be if anything unforeseen should happen.
DEAR ABBY: I have started working at a cafe. My best friend works there, and she helped me get the job. I work with her often, and when I ask questions, she keeps doing stuff for me and won’t let me learn. I have to learn by doing.
When I go home, I feel like I’m not good at it, and I start missing my co-workers from my old job. I miss my old work because we had so much fun and always goofed around.
I don’t know how to enjoy my new job, and I get all quiet around my friend because she obviously realizes when I’m not doing something right. How do I keep up a good attitude or tell her she’s driving me crazy? — Sad Girl in Utah
DEAR SAD GIRL: A way to change your attitude would be to stop asking your friend to coach you. People have different learning styles. Obviously, yours is not the same as your friend’s. The person who should be teaching you is your boss. Have him or her show you the ropes so you can mirror what that person is doing.
DEAR READERS: After I printed the letter from “Can’t Believe It Down South” (May 13), about the grandfather who is insisting that his granddaughter’s Greek fiancé change his last name “because it is too long and impossible to pronounce,” I loved what you had to say. Some of your comments made me laugh, so I’m sharing them with you:
DEAR ABBY: I saw the letter from “Can’t Believe It,” and I have just the response for him:
“Dear Grandpa: Don’t worry. With the wedding eight weeks away, you will have plenty of time to learn to say ‘Mrs. Papageorgiou.’ By the way, we have decided on the reception menu: spanakotyropita, tsipouradika and kolokythoanthoi, all washed down with ouzomezedhes.” — Get Your Own Name
DEAR ABBY: Many years ago, my cousin was a rabid Burt Reynolds fan. Her friend, a flight attendant, was on the same plane as Burt, so she asked him for an autographed photo for my cousin. Burt spelled her name wrong, and when my cousin saw it, she said, “Oh, well. I don’t mind changing the spelling for HIM!” — “Abbdict” in Germany
DEAR ABBY: Dang! That granddad sure is a pain in the Acropolis. — Gene of Aquitaine