Comics & Advice

Parent's refusal to have fiance attend funeral has daughter upset

Carolyn Hax — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Hi, Carolyn:

I have been engaged for a few months and my parents disapprove of my fiance.

An extended family member is very sick and will probably not live much longer. When I was talking to my parents, my mother explicitly told me that my fiance was not welcome at the funeral, stating it should be "family only." It is worth noting that the visitation and funeral will be published in the local paper and open to anybody.

My fiance is incredibly hurt by this, but he respects my mother's wishes. I will be attending the funeral, but I am unsure how to deal with tensions between my parents and my fiance given this incredibly stressful and emotional event.

Of course I am deeply upset about this death in the first place, and I feel really overwhelmed with the vehemence of my parents' dislike for my fiance. I am not sure how to navigate this difficult situation.

-- Anonymous

Bridge column, May 25: What about transfers into a minor?

Philip Adler — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

We have been looking at transfers into the majors. But what about transfers into the minors? Look, for example, at the North hand. What would you respond after partner opens one no-trump?

Only regular and experienced partnerships should use transfers into the minors, primarily because their frequency is so low. Here, for example, if North's long suit were a major, he would transfer into that suit and insist on making it trumps. But since it is a minor and the hand has no singleton or void or strength for a slam, North should raise to three no-trump. Go for the nine-trick game, not the 11-trick.

Operation to restore hearing loss has risks and benefits

Ask Dr. K — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

DEAR DOCTOR K:

I've been gradually losing my hearing. My doctor says he can restore my hearing with a procedure called stapedectomy. Can you tell me about it?

Comics for May 25

AnnArbor.com Staff — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

Click on the link to download today's comics: AnnArbor.0525.pdf

Nursing student needs primer on rules of the dating game

Dear Abby — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

DEAR ABBY:

I'm a 21-year-old nursing student in college. I'm a "people person" and everyone says I'm easy to talk to. According to my friends, I am pretty, smart, funny, etc., but I have never had a boyfriend.

I was extremely sick throughout high school and during my early college years, and spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital. I missed not only a lot of schooling, but also learning some of the basic social skills most people my age have mastered when it comes to dating. It has been only during the last couple of years that I have been healthy enough to even consider dating, and now I have no clue what to do.

Horoscope for May 25, 2013

Bernice Bede Osol — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

You are likely to make some of your greatest gains just when it looks like everything is grinding to an abrupt halt. It will prove that you should never give up.

Crossword for May 25

AnnArbor.com Staff — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

Here is the daily Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle for May 25: 20130525pzdxl-a.pdf

Sudoku for May 25, 2013

AnnArbor.com Staff — Sat, 25 May, 2013 5 a.m.

Here is the daily Sudoku puzzle for May 25: sud_3col130525.pdf

Horoscope for May 24, 2013

Bernice Bede Osol — Fri, 24 May, 2013 5 a.m.

There will be more than one path leading to material acquisition for you in the year ahead. If you're smart, you will choose the one that offers you consistent returns and not the one leading to immediate gratification only.

New concussion guidelines take diagnosis away from coaches

Ask Dr. K — Fri, 24 May, 2013 5 a.m.

DEAR DOCTOR K:

I have a teenage son who plays high school football, so I'm interested in the new concussion guidelines. Can you tell me what they say?