HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017
Look inside for these specials and many others.
GIFTS Holiday gift-wrapping tips • Gardening chores • Ken Moon
Holiday gift-wrapping
TIPS AND TRICKS fter all the holiday presents have been purchased, the task of wrapping can begin. Although some people find wrapping is relaxing and provides a chance to embrace one’s artistic flair, many others find wrapping gift after gift becomes tedious quite fast. While there are no statistics on just how many gifts the average person purchases over the course of the holiday season, the National Retail Federation says the average consumer will spend around $800 on all things holiday. That means there will be a lot of gifts to wrap before the big exchange. Those who want to make giftwrapping less tedious this holiday season can consider these ideas to streamline the process.
A
about repurposing fabric into beautiful wrapping for presents. A square of leftover fabric, a piece of a t-shirt or even a portion of a sweater that has seen better days can be transformed into an innovative package for gift-giving. Tie the gathered ends into a bow and skip the tape as well. Dress up with ribbon and a tag for extra flair. Fabric bends and moves, making it more forgiving for oddly shaped gifts as well.
GATHER ALL SUPPLIES
DIVERSIFY GIFTS
METRO SERVICES
BROWN PAPER BAGS MAKE FOR STURDY AND VERSATILE WRAPPING MATERIALS.
HO26HO HO
Natural Guard Soil Activator
Reduce Watering Up To 75% 2 BAGS Covers Up To $
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1948
Voted Voted GOLD Colorado Springs’ in Garden Favorite Garden Center! Center!
Garden Center
1827 W. Uintah 632-8491 www.RicksGarden.com
West of I-25, Across From Uintah Gardens Shopping Center
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
SAVE SOME % OffGREEN 20 HOLIDAY Seed Potatoes • Rhubarb • Asparagus Onions • Shallots • Horseradish
Local Raw HONEY 1 BAG
2699
$
100%
This Spud’s For You
We Carry
$5 off
2 Off
2000 Sq. Ft.
(Reg. $15.99/Bag) Organic Coupon valid at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Expires 5/31/14
OPEN 7 DAYS!
All Rick’s Lawn Fertilizers Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
$
SAVE 6 $
2015
40 lb Bag
3 BAGS
75
OR $
(While Supplies Last)
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
All Vegetable Roots
Coupon valid at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Expires 5/31/14
$10 off
(Limit 12) Garden Soils Residential
(Top Soil, Sheep & Peat, Cow & Compost)
3 for 12
Commercial $ Industrial Insured Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
25% Off 20% Off $ 2 Off Any Christmas Tree Any Christmas Tree
All In-Stock Concrete Bird Baths & Fountains (Excludes Sale Items)
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
Garden Mulches
(Limit 4)
Cypress, Cotton Burr, “Monkey Hair” (Cedar)
All Vegetable & Flower Seeds
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
VALUED AT $39 OR MORE!
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Expires 5/31/14
VALUED AT $69 OR MORE!
Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 12/23/17
Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 12/23/17
Any “Potted” Christmas Tree
ALL Remaining Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees
$10 off
50% off
5 Gallon or Larger! Then plant them in your yard! Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 12/23/17
Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 12/23/17
Our fresh cut trees really are FRESHLY CUT!!!
NATIVE GROWN TREES From Westcliffe, CO Pinon Pine & White Fir (Cut Nov. 20th)
Delivery & Setup available. Call for details.
PLANTATION GROWN TREES Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir & Canaan Fir (cut mid-November)
Must present coupon. Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 12/23/17.
HG 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
When the time comes to wrap gifts, there’s nothing more frustrating than hunting for wrapping supplies. Have paper, bows, bags, tissue, pens, tape (doublesided tape streamlines the process), scissors, ribbon and any other wrapping accoutrements at the ready. Set up a folding snack table near your wrapping area to hold the supplies so they don’t get in the way.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCATION
Always wrap on a large, flat and sturdy surface. Avoid wrapping on a carpet, which will give gift wrap a wrinkled look and increase the amount of time needed to wrap.
SQUARE IT UP
If you are a master at wrapping rectangular or square gifts but fail when presents are oddly shaped, place misshapen gifts into boxes and then wrap the boxes. Gift bags also can be used for such gifts, but wrapped boxes may look more appealing under the tree.
FABRIC OVER PAPER
If you think gift wrap is wasteful, think
STOCK UP ON PAPER SHOPPING BAGS
On your next trip to Trader Joes or Whole Foods, bring home more than organic produce. Walk away with paper bags and free gift wrap. Craft a DIY stamp roller or handmade stamps to dress up plain brown bags. Or wrap the gift in twine and add a sprig of evergreen for a rustic look. Children can even use markers or crayons to create their own designs on gifts, personalizing even further. Identify each recipient’s gifts by wrapping in a different color or style. Just jot down the key to decoding the wrapping, and you’ll save time on individual gift tags. Wrapping presents doesn’t have to be a chore. With some time-saving tips and tricks, the work can be a breeze.
Your December calendar of gardening chores
A METRO SERVICES
s I look outside my window, red twig dogwoods are beginning their striking display, evergreens have taken center stage and the twists and turns of bare tree branches beckon. Exfoliating bark forces me to notice my neighbors’ river birch, while the dried seed heads of not-quiteforgotten perennials sway in the wind. Soon, we’ll be lighting the fireplace and ushering out the year, but until then, alas, the daydreaming must stop – there’s still plenty of work to be done. Here’s a chore for every day of the month. 1. Did you know parsley is biennial? Mulch it now, harvest for most of winter and expect a resurrection in spring. 2. Add compost and lime to the vegetable bed now. They’ll work their magic over winter and soil will be rich by planting time. 3. Store seeds in glass jars or paper envelopes in a cool, dark spot. The refrigerator is fine, but keep away from stored fruit. 4. Clean, disinfect, dry and store garden tools.
5. Snap photos of plants you’d like to move so you’ll remember where they are come spring. 6. Prune dead, broken or weak branches from trees to prevent damage during winter storms. 7. Rinse dust from houseplant foliage to help them “breathe” and absorb maximum sunlight. 8. Terracotta and clay pots may crack if left out in the cold. Empty, clean and store indoors. 9. If deer tend to visit, protect rhododendrons, yews, azaleas and other targeted shrubs with chicken wire. 10. Watch my video for tips for selecting a healthy Christmas tree at newsday.com/ gardening101. 11. Check arborvitaes and junipers for bagworms, then remove and destroy. 12. Happy Hanukkah! Light the menorah and grate your stored homegrown potatoes for latkes worthy of the holiday. 13. If you’re hanging real mistletoe, keep it out of the reach of pets and children, and
All Discount
22. Make a list of seeds you’ll want next year, and check it twice. Those catalogs will be arriving soon. 23. Turn the compost pile. 24. Check stored cannas, caladiums, colocasias, dahlias and gladiolas, and mist if they’re drying out. Discard any that have shriveled or rotted. 25. Merry Christmas! 26. Honor the colors of Kwanzaa with eggplant, and red and green peppers on an mkeka. 27. Start lilies indoors now for blooms in time for Easter. 28. Gently knock snow from evergreens with a broom to prevent buckled branches after each snowfall. Arborvitaes and Leyland cypresses are especially vulnerable. 29. Look under leaves of indoor hibiscus. If you find white flies, treat with insecticidal soap. 30. Most houseplants slow down over winter. Decrease water and don’t fertilize again until spring. 31. Ring out the old and have a wonderful new year!
“We discount the price not the service”
Vacuum & Sewing Center
833 N. Circle Drive ∙ Colorado Springs, CO 80909
(719) 597-5700
While Supplies Last
Get an
XL®
UPRIGHT
• Incredibly lightweight NOW at about 9 lbs* $ 99 • Saniseal® bag locks in dirt • 102 mph airflow • Powerful pile-lifting rollerbrush removes dirt in virtually one pass
es Last
an
ensure leaves and berries won’t fall in their path; it’s poisonous. 14. Make trees and shrubs for free: Bury hardwood cuttings upside down in sand outdoors. Transplant in spring. 15. Keep plants off radiators and away from heating vents. If possible, group them together and run a humidifier nearby. 16. Disrupt the life cycles of hibernating insects by turning the soil in vegetable beds now. 17. Before bringing poinsettias home, inspect carefully for white flies and their eggs. 18. As long as the ground is frozen, you can apply winter mulch. If the ground isn’t frozen, you can plant more bulbs. 19. Refill birdfeeders, and don’t forget fresh water. 20. A healthy Christmas tree drinks a lot: Check the reservoir in its stand daily, and add water as necessary. Keep away from heat and turn off lights before turning in. 21. Drain and store all hoses if you haven’t already, but keep one handy to water newly planted trees during winter dry spells.
199
XL®
GHT
ght
s in dirt
NOW
$19999
g rollerbrush ually one pass
ght without cord. may vary by store.
7146 N Academy Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (719) 266-9204
*Approximate weight without cord. Product appearance may vary by store.
Did you know all DYSON Vacuums require regular maintenance?
Keep your yoru Vacuum at it’s Peak Performance with All Discount Vacuum
NEW SEWING starting at $198 MACHINES CALL AND ASK
about our wide selection of high-quality sewing machines
DYSON TUNE-UP SPECIAL $44.95 (reg. $89.98)
Includes a routine clean and lube, suction test, check all seals and cleaning of roller brush. Offer good only with coupon. Expires 12/31/17
SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3
HANDMADE GIFTS
ebt Relief
for friends and colleagues
t Flat Fee ebt Relief nsultation
t Flat Fee nsultation
gs Law gs LawDIVORCE nter DIVORCE LOW COST nter
W
BY GINA CRONIN, HOME AND GARDEN
hy spend your free time this holiday season on hectic lines, when you can get crafty in the comfort of your own home with a hot glue gun and a nice mug of hot chocolate? Creating your own gifts by hand is cost-effective, thoughtful, and allows the recipient to enjoy a one-of-a-kind item that can’t be found on the shelves of any store. There are three things I’ve noticed about the handmade items I’ve received over the years:
y, AttorneyLOW COST y, Attorney LEGAL SERVICE LEGAL SERVICE nies ies Your Divorce Your Divorce DAVID DAVID arr Does NotNot Need Does Need KELLY ToToBeBeDifficult KELLY Difficult Attorney at Law Attorney at Law
ado rado ars ears Get
Over 50 Years FREE Over 50 Years FREE Experience CONSULTATION Experience CONSULTATION I GET MORE COMPLIMENTS.
I can’t tell you how many times I hear Get “awesome scarf” about the scarf my SPRINGS LAW CENTERsister crocheted me a few years back. d SPRINGS LAW CENTER And I can’t tell you how happy it makes
719-602-5775 2-5775 719-602-5775
02-5775
HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
me to say “thanks, my sister made it for me.” It reminds me again and again of what a sweet gesture it was, and often brings inspiration to others as well.
I DON’T LOSE THEM.
I lose things. A lot. But when someone gives me something they hand-made, you can rest assured that I’ll likely have it for the next decade — probably longer. My friend made me a picture frame 15 years ago and I still have it. Another friend wrote me a song 6 years ago and I cherish it. My great grandma knit my mom a couple blankets probably 30+ years ago, and guess who has one now? Me.
I NEVER FORGET IT.
While all gifts are special, handmade are more so. It allows me to learn more about the person who is gifting me, and even makes me feel closer to them in many cases. The fact that their time, love and energy went into the item makes it very special. I have gifted poetry to many loved ones over the years, and they will still mention what it meant to them to this day. It shows appreciation and gratitude, and the world can certainly use more of that! Christmas is just over two weeks away — that gives you plenty of time to get started on your handmade present. Don’t wait until the last minute though,
End-of-Season Clearance Sale
as handmade gifts often take a bit of time and a rushed project can end up looking messy. Here are a few great gift ideas:
Now On
ART
Let’s start here. If you are an artist, make art! Yes, not all of us can be artists for a living, but the artist within can come out and play during the holidays — and friends, colleagues and family get to be the lucky audience. Whether you paint, sketch, make music, shoot films, write poetry or do photography, a personalized piece of art is absolutely priceless. Break out your supplies or just your raw imagination and get started on your masterpiece.
It’s Time To Get The Best For Less
BEAT THE RUSH SNOWBLOWER AND CHAINSAW TUNE-UP
$49.95 (+ PARTS)
For a limited time
Save 10%
on select inventory. While supplies last.
Mowers, Tractors, Zero Turn Mowers, Trimmer Mowers. Husqvarna, Exmark, Toro, DR.
FOREST JEWELRY
Coloradans are oft lovers of the outdoors, so they’ll likely delight in jewelry made from forest materials. On your next hike, pick up some adorable little acorns and tiny pinecones for some DIY fun. Once home, get started by affixing a jump ring to the top of the acorn near the back. Once completely dry, coat once completely with pure gold spray paint. You can use silver or rose gold if you prefer. Let the paint dry for at least 20 minutes, then spray with a clear finish for extra shine. Once that dries for another 20 minutes, string one or multiple charms onto a matching chain.
ESSENTIAL OIL SUGAR SCRUB
Slow it down with this aromatic and luxurious gift — that can be made for cents! All you need is sugar, coconut oil, essential oils of your choosing and cute little jars that can be tightly sealed
(like mason jars). Mix a half cup of sugar and half cup of coconut oil together in a tightly-sealed jar. You can then mix in 15 drops of the essential oil of your choice — popular options include lavender, orange, lemon, peppermint and eucalyptus. Always make sure to properly dilute your essential oils per instructions. You never want pure essential oil to come directly in contact with your skin. If you want to add some color, mix in one drop of natural food coloring.
FIREWOOD TOTE
This is the perfect gift for the woodsman in your life! To make, according to HGTV, you’ll need a twoby-four flat-weave rug, small hack saw,
no-sew hem tape, 1.2 inch diameter wooden dowel, iron and scissors. First iron out the rug and remove any fringed edges; next, fold the rug over four inches to create a pocket for the dowel, then fuse the rug together with no-sew hem tap and an iron — repeat on the opposite end; to make a handle, cut out a rectangle at the center of the rod pocket on both ends; finally, cut the dowel to six inches wider than your rug with a small hack saw, repeat for the opposite side, then slide the dowel into the pocket. No more making multiple trips and lugging armfuls of firewood to build a fire or start up the fireplace — now your loved one can conveniently carry more wood with your durable firewood tote.
ASPEN LEAF OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 777 Conrad St.
Colo Sps, CO 80915
1 blk Southeast of Powers & Galley
719-591-2816
SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5
GOREN BRIDGE
WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 6 ♥ J 8 6 3 ♦ A k 5 3 ♣ q 10 7 3
♠ 6 5 ♥ A k 7 3 ♦ 10 4 2 ♣ A 10 6 4 weST NOrTH eAST SOuTH 2♠ 3♥ 4♠ ? What call would you make?
weST NOrTH eAST SOuTH dbl* ? 1NT 2♥ *Negative, values with no clear bid What call would you make?
q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:
q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:
Partner opens two no trump, 20-21. What call would you make? q 6 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:
weST NOrTH eAST SOuTH 1♠ Pass 1NT ? What call would you make?
♠ 6 ♥ A 10 5 ♦ A 7 4 2 ♣ 9 8 5 2
♠A83♥AJ32♦J764♣k4 Right-hand opponent opens one heart. What call would you make? q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
Tips for efficient heating BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Dear Ken: How many degrees do we need to reduce the temperature at night to save energy? – David
♠AJ83♥J96♦k962♣A5
♠kJ54♥Ak63♦6♣Akq5
q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:
AROUND THE HOUSE
eAST SOuTH weST NOrTH 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass Pass ? What call would you make? Look for answers on Monday. (Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)
rs ininnnneeers iouuusss FFRREEEEE DDDin rs 222DDDeeelililicccioio !!!! !! S! IE ILILIT UTIL URUT YOUR DUCE YO REDU S!S! IEIE ITIT CACALLLLYYRE TI TITICALLY REDUCE YOUR UT AS ASAS DR DRDR
It’s a balancing act. On the one hand, you don’t want the furnace to run while you’re asleep (except on the very coldest nights), and on the other, you don’t want it to take too long to heat up the house in the morning. I think eight degrees is about right. For example, at my home I maintain 71 degrees when I’m up and about, and then at about 11 p.m., the thermostat automatically lowers itself to 64. I hope you have a programmable thermostat at your house. They remember to make the change when you don’t, and so they can save as much as 10 percent on your heating bills (and also A/C expenses in the summertime). You can buy a decent one for less than $20, and it will pay for itself during the first heating season.
KEN MOON
Dear Ken: I have those turbine vents on my roof. I notice that my neighbor covers his this time of year. Should I also? – Dan
HOMEOWNERS: HOMEOWNERS: HOMEOWNERS: REDUCE REDUCEUTILITIES UTILITIES It’s a pretty good idea. These vents REDUCE UTILITIES % are quite efficient at pulling air through %% UP UPTO TO UP TO the attic. With the stronger winter winds
52 52
coming our way, they will spin just that
much faster, create a bigger vacuum and Have WARMERHOME HOMEininin winter winter and and COOLER inin Summer • Have a WARMER andaaaCOOLER COOLERHOME HOME in Summer ••Have aaWARMER HOME winter HOME Summer suck even more warm air out of the attic Lower utilities.Uses Usesno noenergy. energy. Pays ••Lower utilities. Uses no • Lower utilities. Paysfor foritself! itself! space. Also, the bearing that supports Absolutely noselling sellingdone done - nothing & 5&min. Dinner and ••Absolutely selling done and Demo DemoDemothe spinning top is not all that durable. • Absolutely nono nothingtotobuy! buy!1 1hr.hr. 5 min. Dinner and So, cover the whole thing with a plastic Developed NASA ••Developed NASA • Developed bybybyNASA garbage bag secured with a bungee cord. ••Over NINE times more effective than Over NINEtimes timesmore moreeffective • Over NINE thanstandard standardinsulation. insulation. You’ll not only retain more heat in the InInover 11,000 homes the Colorado Colorado Springs house, but also lengthen the life of the over 11,000homes homesinininthe • In••over 11,000 Springsarea. area.
A+ A+ A+ Rating Rating Rating
Call Brian atat Call at CallBrian Brian
Near Woodmen
Near Woodmen Enjoy Taste Woodmen & Academy ComeCome Enjoy a ofaFranceNear of France & Academy TasteTaste of France & Academy Come Enjoy a
719-602-5798 719-602-5798 24 Hour Reservation Line 24 Hour Reservation Line
24 Hour Reservation Line
HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
vent itself. One precaution: If these are the only vents own the attic, leave at least one of them uncovered. Why? Because you need to release unwanted moisture from the attic. Otherwise you can encourage mold formation up there. Dear Ken: We have a large three-car garage with a high ceiling. One side is a workshop. How can we heat it to keep it
warm enough to use the shop? – Nancy First, you’re not allowed to use the existing furnace system to heat the garage because there’s a danger of fumes (and maybe even a fire) getting into the living space. If you only use this area once in a while, an electric system is a good choice. You can install either baseboard strip units or a ceiling mounted blower — like you see in tire shops. Either one will be inexpensive to install and easy to use. Keep in mind, though, that electric heat costs three or four times more than natural gas to provide similar BTU’s. So if you can afford the extra initial expense, consider running a gas line to a heater hung in a corner of the ceiling. Dear Ken: How do you stop a floor squeak from above? I have a bad one in my bedroom which is on the second floor. – Carol Sometimes you can cure this problem by driving nails right through the carpet; it sounds worse than it is. Choose 16 penny finishing or casing nails (they have almost no heads). If you can find the appropriate floor joist, they can be driven straight through the carpet and pad. One way to pinpoint an underlying joist is to start at the edge of a heat vent and then count over 16 inch, 19 3/8 inch, or 24 inch, depending on the spacing. There are also special screws you can buy at the hardware store with a break-away head that snaps off after they are screwed through the carpet. One problem with this fix is that you can damage the carpet by winding up fibers in the screw rotation — especially if you have a Berber style. If these methods don’t work out, the one sure-fire way to eliminate squeaks is to roll the carpet back and then attack the floor with regular three-inch deck screws. Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m. Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.
denniS The menaCe
The Family CirCuS
by hank ketcham
Sherman’S lagoon
PiCkleS
by Brian Crane
mr BoFFo
by Joe martin
by J. P. Toomey
by Bil keane
rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price
marmaduke
by Brad and Paul anderson
Baldo
by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos
SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7
Blondie
by dean young and John marshall
muTTS
by Patrick mcdonnell
Funky winkerBean
luann
by greg evans
PeanuTS
by Charles Schulz
by Tom Batiuk
HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword
non SequiTur
by wiley
edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis
lola
by Todd Clark
BeeTle Bailey across 1 Arctic Winter Games gear 10 Follows a cookbook direction 15 Apparent 16 Red River city 17 Nomadic 18 Pertaining to 19 Nucor and POSCO, industry-wise 20 Steak __ 22 Fragrant shrubs 24 Stretches out 25 Try 27 Con game 28 Longtime foe of Rafael 31 Apparent 34 Commotion 35 Rap sheet entry, perhaps 36 Jar head? 37 Available employment 40 Songwriter Green 42 New Brunswick neighbor 43 Propellant in ion thrusters 45 Patellar and Achilles 47 Hired help 51 Popular blend of seasoning 52 Small 1-Down 53 Ulyanov’s alias 54 Unyielding 57 Player selection process 58 Browbeats 59 Long-eared critters 60 Party decorations down 1 Quake 2 Like some dressers 3 Flexible wood 4 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee 5 Finer than fine 6 Fools (around) 7 Baja bear 8 Poetic contraction 9 Roman numeral
10 11 12 13 14 21 23 26 28 29 30 32 33 35 38 39 40 41 44 45 46 48 49 50 55 56
Penn’s business school Moves quickly Childish Unfortunate one Many retired Kentucky Derby winners Forestry workers Flier that delivers? County in four Northeast states Indian filmmaker Kapoor Devices used on trips Freak out Lugs Old Tokyo Air Canada Centre, e.g. __ crisis Consecrates, in a way Bullfight “Did Hamlet so __ with his envy ... ”: Shakespeare Aggravate Alternative nickname to Mattie, perhaps Hardly humble sorts Knock over Observant one Barrette target “__ I digress” Type of camera, briefly
by mort, greg, and Brian walker
hagar The horriBle
moTher gooSe
by Chris Browne
by mike Peters
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
Tundra
by Chad Carpenter
SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9
Bizarro
by dan Piraro
argyle SweaTer
by Scott hilburn
CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
B.C.
by hart
ziTS
by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
JumP STarT
Frazz
by robb armstrong
by Jef mallett
HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
dilBerT
by Scott adams
Sally ForTh
by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe
BaBy BlueS
by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman
PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis
PooCh CaFe
by Paul gilligan
SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11
TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE
Dear Amy: I feel my situation is
more common than most folks are aware of. Let me explain: I’m a 48-year-old woman. I was widowed six years ago. I have no family left (our children are now adults), and I am lucky to be exAMY tremely close to my in-laws. DICKINSON Here’s the problem: About two years ago, my in-laws and extended in-laws decided that I was “too young to be alone.” Amy, they have started showing up with random “thirsty” men from work, church, the grocery store, you name it! I’m at peace being by myself. I don’t need money. I love to work in my garden and play with my two cats, while waiting for grandbabies. I simply don’t want the stress/drama of another relationship. The holidays are coming, and I have a feeling I will be presented with a string of unwanted random men, either wanting a hook-up, or a traditional (per their faith) subservient wife. How do I tell everyone to leave me alone, without destroying the deep bond I share with these family members? — Confused
ADVICE
I’m head over heels for my new significant other, but he hates using condoms. I trust him, but with all the STDs DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN going around, I just have to insist on it. How can I make it a better option for him? — Gladys K., Brooklyn, N.Y. Question:
Dear Confused: If you don’t want to be surprised by a poorly curated selection of randos this holiday season, you should contact all of your in-laws and say, “I love you and appreciate your efforts to see me with another partner, but I’m happy now, and I intend to stay single. Please don’t introduce me to anymore men. It’s awkward for me, and it’s not fair to them, because I’m just not interested.” I can’t resist the temptation to add that, like you, I was once a very happy and solitary 48-year-old woman, definitely not looking for a relationship, when I met the love of my life (NOT through a family introduction, I might add). My life changed radically from that day on, and while I love my crowded life, I often look back on those aloneyears wistfully. My point is this: Keep being you. Continue to advocate for your right to live the life you want to live, but I hope you will also remain open to the possibilities.
Answer: The second-best way to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and practice birth control while you’re at it is for the man to wear a condom. Unfortunately, many guys say that for one reason or another, the prophylactics are uncomfortable: too big, too small, too tight, not tight enough. But that doesn’t mean you or he can skip using one! You are smart to be concerned about STDs. This past year in the U.S., cases of chlamydia increased by 4.7 percent to 1.5 million cases; gonorrhea is up 18.5 percent to more than 460,000 cases; and primary and secondary syphilis is up 17.6 percent to almost 28,000 cases. And we haven’t even mentioned human papillomavirus (HPV) — it’s virtually universal among sexually active people. Fortunately, there’s a new product that might help make condoms a more appealing protection. After getting FDA approval, an American company named ONE has started marketing custom condoms in 60 different sizes, under the brand name myONE Perfect Fit. (They’re an extended partner of the U.K.-based company TheyFit, which has 66 different sizes.) The Long and the Short of It: The company offers a downloadable measuring kit on their website or you can enter your own numbers if you know them (length and girth). They also provide recommendations. Sources claim that soon after myOne came to market, customers had ordered condoms in all 60 sizes ranging from 4.9 to 9.4 inches long and 3.5 to 5 inches in circumference. We hope that helps Gladys, and good luck with your new beau.
Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 434 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611.
Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@ sharecare.com.
—
—
ADVICE
Dear Readers: The Christmas season is in full swing. If you have furry family members and your house is decorated for the holidays, please heed the following suggestions from the American Society for the Prevention of HINTS Cruelty to Animals (www. ASPFROM CA.org): HELOISE • Artificial flowers, holly and mistletoe may be a safer bet than the real deal. Pets can chew on live plants, and the plants can cause tummy trouble, and worse. • Decorations on the tree are another temptation. Be sure the tree is secured in its holder, and place decorations higher up on the tree. Also, tinsel can appeal to cats especially, but ingesting it could result in abdominal distress. • Rich, spicy, sweet and fattening foods are terrible for pets. A tiny bite could be OK, but it’s best to stick to the animal’s regular diet. Enjoy this special time with your family — your entire family, including the furry ones! — Heloise Dear Readers: Good-quality makeup brushes are important to the application of a pretty look; they can really make a difference. Have you cleaned your brushes lately? You should wash them every other week to keep bacteria at bay, and it’s a good weekend project. Here’s how: Hold the brush under cold running water, but don’t get the handle wet — you don’t want to loosen the glue. Lather baby shampoo between your fingers, and then between the bristles for a few minutes. Rinse well. Squeeze the brush with a paper towel to reshape it, and lay it flat to dry; don’t stand them, leaning on the handle end. They should be dry overnight. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I sprinkle foot powder into the lid of a shoebox and keep the lid on the floor of my closet. I step one foot at a time into the lid before slipping into my shoes. — Sharon P., Columbia City, Ind. —
Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio TX 78279-5001.
TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) Moderation makes the best motto. Set reasonable spending limits and don’t let peer pressure stop you from thinking for yourself. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Something better will come along soon. Romance begun under these stars may not make it to the finish line. Focus on making steady financial progress. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Use your business sense. Investigate before you make a key decision. Just because others live carefree doesn’t mean you should follow their example. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Make every penny count. Run your home like a business. Accepting an offer or following through on a new idea might cause unanticipated complications. Impulse buying might leave you drained of resources.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You could be blind to hidden expenses or drawbacks. It may be tempting to begin something of major consequence that involves a financial risk. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pay attention to the compass bearings before raising your sails. You may be required to navigate the complexities of intricate family relationships. Act only from love to avoid aggravating the situation. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Best intentions may be challenged by misdirection. Joining a group may give you the knowledge you lack. A new project may quickly drain your energy. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Smooth talkers can smooth the way. You may become aware of subtle signs of disagreement with a loved one. Take these signals to heart and try to do a bit more to please those whose opinions matter.
HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 9, 2017
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Timing is everything. Your caution is necessary to the process. It’s not that there is anything wrong, but you need reassurances before committing. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) While everyone else is plotting and planning their holiday gifts you might be focused on ways to turn your nest egg into a cash cow. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You may feel that you need to impress your colleagues or out-Jones the Joneses by having the finest possessions. The fact is, no one will notice. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) To be seen as reliable you must rely on yourself, not others. You might be too eager to please, so unless you watch out you might end up doing someone else’s work. There might not be enough time for love.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Dec. 9
Your business expertise is at a peak; the next three to four weeks could be ideal for making a major purchase or entering into important contracts. The first half of January can be the perfect time for a vacation. Accept any opportunity that knocks on your door in late April or early May as in some way it will improve your life or be of great benefit. Late May and early June can be ideal for romance and glamorous experiences.