HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: The Super Bowl is tomorrow, and if you are like many, it’s time for a party. It may be all planned, or you might just want to have a few friends over, or maybe they drop by. Here are some quick hints:

Finger foods probably are the easiest to prepare and serve. Lots of veggies with dip, chips with dips, nuts, granola or anything that can be eaten by hand. Generally, whatever you put out, people will eat.

Paper plates, bowls and napkins are a good choice to serve on — less cleanup.

Make sure you have plenty of ice, paper towels and toilet paper. These are items you don’t want to run out of.

It’s about the game! If you think you are going to order a pizza at halftime, don’t. You and a million others are thinking the same. Order early — very early. If it’s not far, go pick it up. Trust me on this, you will be glad you did. If not, tip well. There are people working today so you can enjoy the game.

P.S.: A trivia question: Is it true that water pressure all over the country drops during halftime? How do they know? Flushing with curiosity? Yes, it’s true.

DEAR HELOISE: You can reuse the shipping packages sent by stores. To remove those address labels, use a hair dryer to heat, then peel off slowly.

This can leave a sticky area, which you can eliminate by rubbing in a pinch of flour. Blow away the excess powder, or remove with a slightly damp cloth.

— Dick N., Columbus, Ohio DEAR READER: Dick, that’s a lot of work! Just put a new label over the old one.

DEAR HELOISE: To anyone who gets annoyed and aggravated with family, loved ones, friends or anyone you talk to, take a breath and think for a minute. If they ramble on, talk about the same thing all the time or repeat themselves, you try to avoid this because it takes up your time, and you’ve already heard it.

Enjoy every second you have with that person now. One day, you won’t have them.

— A Reader, via fax DEAR READER: It sounds as if you have lost a loved one who “was not themselves” and talked on and on, or repeated themselves. It can be difficult. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be very hard on loved ones. Thank you for writing.

HELOISE