1.DRAG
HIGH PRICE OF MOM'S HELP IS DRAG ON FAMILY BUSINESS
DEAR ABBY:
Twenty years ago, my sister and I bought a business from our mother. We all love and respect one another and get along well.
We will be finished paying off the business in two years.
Our problem: Mom, who is now 77, still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business. Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should. She could do all of her work in one
day and lessen the burden of her salary. However, she says she'd "go crazy" if she retired. We don't want that. She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork, banking,letter-writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at "work" -- on the clock.If we try to discuss this, Mom gets hurt and says, "Just let me know when I'm not worth the money."We don't want to do that. We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.Business expenses are going through the roof, and there are updates we should make, but we can't do it as long as we are paying Mom at the level we are, on top of the money for the buy-out.
DAUGHTERS DEAREST
2.Day of the Dead
I arrive in Guatemala on The Day of the Dead, November 1st. I'm curious about this holiday, so I go
to the cemetery to see what's happening. What I find is quite interesting.The atmosphere is like a party. There are people everywhere. Families are sitting around the graves of their dead ancestors. They clean the graves and add fresh flowers. I walk through the cemetery and admire the beauty of all the colorful flowers.There is also color in the sky, because many kids are flying kites. Some families are having a picnic next to the graves. They eat, drink, and chat together. People laugh and smile.
In the Unites States, cemeteries are always somber. We certainly never have festivals or parties
next to graves. We don't laugh or play music or fly kites in cemeteries either.I find that I prefer the Guatemalan approach. I like the way they remember and celebrate those who have passed away. I like that they acknowledge death, instead of denying it the way Americans do. I like that there is life, as well as death, in their cemeteries.Guatemalans call it "The Day of the Dead", but it is also a day to appreciate life.
3.A Kiss
Carlos buys a new car. It's a very expensive car. It's a huge, blue,fast car. While driving down the street, Carlos sees a girl on a bicycle.She has long blond hair and is beautiful.He yells to her, "What's up?"She ignores him.He yells, "How's it going?"She keeps going and ignores him.He yells, "Hey, why won't you talk to me? I want to go to dinner with you. I'll take you to an expensive restaurant."
The girl turns, gets off the bike, and looks at him. She says, "I don't want to go to dinner. But if you give me your car, I will give you a surprise." Carlos says, "OK!" He jumps out of the car. He gives her the keys and says, "Here are the keys." The beautiful blond takes the keys and then kisses Carlos on the cheek. Then she jumps into the car and drives away. Carlos stands on the sidewalk. Now he has no car and no girl. He says, "That's it, just a kiss on the cheek?" He gets on her bike and rides home.
huge: adj. very very big / What's up: a greeting,"hello" /ignores: v. doesn't listen to/
How's it going: a greeting,"How are you?" /keeps: v. continues/
That's it: idiom. "That is all",there is no more, that iseverything
4.Bubba's Food
Sara Smith, who lives in San Francisco, went shopping for cat food.Sara is 30, and lives at 3037 Market St. She has lived there since 1990. Sara is married. She is married to a man named John. She has been married for 7 years.They have two children, and one very big cat. Their son Bob is five years old and their daughter Nancy is three. Their cat, Bubba, is 2 years old. Bubba is huge. He weighs 258 pounds (117 kilos)! At 9am, Sara got into her car and drove to the pet store. She bought 68 bags of cat food for $10 each plus tax. The regular price was $15, so she got a good deal. The total was $680. She paid by credit card.On her way home, Sara stopped at a convenience store to buy milk. Bubba loves milk. The milk was $3.00 for one gallon, and Sara bought 30 gallons. She paid $100 and got $10 back in change. Sara got home at 11 a.m. Bubba was waiting at the door. He was very hungry.
5.Changed
NO AFFECTION ANYMORE
DEAR ABBY:
My husband of 39 years no longer hugs me or shows me any affection. I have seen him through
cancer and diabetes. We have four grown children, and we have been seeing a therapist for a year
and a half. He is kind, generous and friendly, but there are no compliments or any of the flirtatious
banter we used to enjoy.
He swears he's not having an affair, and he doesn't know why he has changed. Perhaps you do?
-- GRACE IN PHOENIX
6.Intimacy
DEAR ABBY:
My husband, "James," and I have been married only three years. We are both in our 20s.
Everything is really great between us -- except our sex life. As far as he is concerned that's fine,
too, but I am not satisfied. It may seem odd to hear the female wants to have sex more frequently
than a young and healthy male, but that's the case in our relationship.
Abby, I work with the public and I get frequent remarks about what a beautiful woman I am. This
makes it hard for me to believe that I don't attract him at all. I have expressed many times that I
wish we were more intimate. I have even expressed it to him in more than one letter, hoping to
reach him.
I am at a total loss as to how to make him realize how important this is to me. Is there something
wrong with my body? I just don't know who to turn to for advice on this subject. Please help me.
-- SHORT ON INTIMACY IN OHIO
