RSS Feed

DEAR ABBY: I recently took a cross-country trip to visit my pregnant best friend before she gives birth. She has a new fiancé and soon-to-be stepdaughter I hadn’t met before. She is 12, and we enjoyed some outdoor activities together.
I have a marijuana vape pen I smoke occasionally to relieve nausea and anxiety. We both live in states where it is legal.
While we were outside, I discreetly hit my vape pen. The stepdaughter noticed and later asked my friend if I was smoking weed. My best friend proceeded to get extremely mad at me for doing it in the presence of the girl, and she no longer wants to be my friend.
I have apologized profusely. I have little experience with kids, and now I’m scared that I have lost my best friend, who refuses to speak to me.
Abby, was what I did a friendship-breaker? Was I so in the wrong, or is my friend being extreme and overreacting?
FORMER FRIEND
IN OREGON

DEAR FRIEND: Your friend is not being extreme or overreacting. You vaped in front of the child she is going to be responsible for.
Underage children should not use marijuana because it can negatively affect their still-developing brains. Your friend may have ended the friendship because she wants to teach the girl by example to avoid people who do this. What you did showed extremely poor judgment, and I don’t blame her.

DEAR ABBY: I dated a man for a year and eight months. It seemed to be going great. The relationship took a turn around the eight-month mark.
I realized through thorough observation (we lived together) that he was a textbook narcissist. He responded just like my research showed he would.
He claims he has no mental issues, but I learned a lot from this relationship about narcissism and how to recognize abuse.
Narcissism is real, but most people don’t know much about the signs and difficult behavior. As a result of the relationship, I am now in therapy.
My question is, how (when I’m ready) do I approach the dating scene again so I don’t encounter an experience like this?
BURNED
IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR BURNED: Continue working with your therapist. By the time you are finished, you will know what to look out for.
You may also realize that there aren’t narcissists lurking behind every bush. We form healthy relationships by getting to know people before jumping into a live-in relationship.
Abusers of both sexes try to gain an advantage over their victims by chipping away at their self-esteem and making them doubt themselves. Keep your eyes open and listen to your intuition, and you won’t subject yourself to this kind of relationship again.

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for 35 years. She’s the best. However, for the last few years I feel like she fits our relationship in between her texting and emails, and not the other way around.
Should I feel hurt or just roll with the times?
NEGLECTED
IN FLORIDA

DEAR NEGLECTED: Neither one. What you should do is tell your wife of 35 years that she is making you feel like No. 3 on her list of priorities.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

***

To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Tuesday, June 29
9:20 a.m. 900 block of Fourth Street; Forgery.
10:27 a.m. La. 182 and Roderick Street; Accident.
1:39 p.m. Apple Street; Civil matter.
1:47 p.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Theft.
1:57 p.m. 700 block of Marshall Street; Disturbance.
2:00 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Medical.
4:18 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Removal of subject.
4:32 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Hit and run.
4:42 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Criminal damage to property.
5:46 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Disturbance/arrest.
6:11 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:35 p.m. 400 block of Belanger Street; Telephone harassment.
6:38 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Warrant/arrest.
6:54 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.
7:06 p.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Animal complaint.
7:18 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Found property.
7:25 p.m. U.S. 90 Westbound near Martin Luther King Boulevard; Stalled vehicle.
7:58 p.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical emergency.
8:16 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Complaint.
9:35 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Fireworks.
10:06 p.m. Friendship Alley; Assist St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
11:48 p.m. Sandra Street area; Alarm.
Wednesday, June 30
12:05 a.m. 600 block of Kentucky Street; Complaint.
1:07 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
6:54 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Five Discussion Number 1
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL052021
500 PM AST Wed Jun 30 2021

Satellite imagery indicates that the convection associated with the
low pressure area over the central tropical Atlantic is becoming
better organized. However, earlier scatterometer data showed that
the circulation was elongated and not well defined. Since the
system is about 48 h away from the Lesser Antilles and is expected
to become a tropical storm before reaching the islands, advisories
are being initiated at this time on Potential Tropical Cyclone Five.
The initial intensity is set to 30 kt based on the scatterometer
data and satellite intensity estimates from TAFB and SAB.

The initial motion is 285/18. The disturbance is currently on the
south side of a strong subtropical ridge, and for the next 72 h the
system should move rapidly west-northwestward. Indeed, the forward
speed may exceed 25 kt as the system moves through the Lesser
Antilles. There is excellent agreement in the guidance on this
part of the forecast track. After 72 h, the system is expected to
approach a weakness in the ridge caused by a mid-latitude trough
over the eastern United States. The should cause the system to slow
its forward speed and turn more northwestward. The track guidance
become more diverse during this time in regards to how far north
the system will turn, and this part of the NHC forecast track is
most similar to the GFS and UKMET forecasts. Note that the track
forecast is more uncertain than usual since the system does not yet
have a well-defined center.

The disturbance is currently in a favorable upper-level wind
pattern. However, most Atlantic systems in this area moving near 25
kt have trouble strengthening, and there are indications that the
fast forward speed may produce some westerly shear. Thus, the NHC
intensity forecast for the first 72 h is near the lower edge of the
intensity guidance. After 72 h, the intensity forecast becomes
highly uncertain due to possible land interaction and differences in
the model forecasts of the upper-level winds. This portion of the
NHC intensity forecast maintains a constant 50-kt intensity due to
the level of uncertainty.

Key Messages:

1. The system is expected to become a tropical storm before reaching
the Lesser Antilles and tropical storm conditions are possible
beginning Friday in portions of the Windward and southern Leeward
Islands.

2. Heavy rainfall will move quickly across the Windward and southern
Leeward Islands, including Barbados, on Friday. Isolated flash
flooding and mudslides are possible.

3. There is a risk of wind and rainfall impacts in portions of the
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba, the Turks and Caicos
and the southeastern Bahamas through early next week, although the
forecast is more uncertain than usual since the system does not have
a well-defined center. Interests in these areas should monitor the
system's progress and updates to the forecast.

4. Interests in Florida should monitor updates to the forecast for
this system, but it is too soon to determine what if any impacts
could occur there next week given the uncertainty in the long-range
forecast.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 30/2100Z 9.6N 43.7W 30 KT 35 MPH...POTENTIAL TROP CYCLONE
12H 01/0600Z 10.2N 46.6W 35 KT 40 MPH...TROPICAL CYCLONE
24H 01/1800Z 11.1N 51.0W 40 KT 45 MPH
36H 02/0600Z 12.4N 56.0W 45 KT 50 MPH
48H 02/1800Z 13.8N 61.2W 45 KT 50 MPH
60H 03/0600Z 15.4N 66.3W 50 KT 60 MPH
72H 03/1800Z 17.0N 70.9W 50 KT 60 MPH
96H 04/1800Z 20.0N 77.0W 50 KT 60 MPH...INLAND
120H 05/1800Z 22.5N 81.5W 50 KT 60 MPH...INLAND

DEAR ABBY: My adult daughter is married. She also has a boyfriend. Both of these men live with her and share her bed. Her children are horrified by it and want nothing to do with their mother. They are embarrassed and ashamed, as am I. Her older children are of age but still in school. They would like to move out but can’t afford to; the youngest is a minor and afraid of the boyfriend. My daughter’s husband doesn’t object to the share plan. Is there anything I can do to help the kids?
CROWDED BED
IN COLORADO

DEAR CROWDED: Why is your youngest grandchild afraid of your daughter’s boyfriend? Has he been physically or emotionally abusive or “grooming” her? If you don’t know the answer, it is important you find out so you can intervene, if necessary. If there is physical abuse or possibly grooming going on, CPS should be notified. A potential solution might be to invite your grandchildren to live with you until they are out of school and able to live on their own. Your daughter, her husband and her boyfriend may be happier with all of the children out of the picture. Parents of the year, they are not.

DEAR ABBY: I need your advice on a certain topic. I’m in my early 30s, and my husband is in his early 20s. We’re currently living with my mother-in-law, who has put a damper on my and my husband’s relationship. She tells my husband what to do, tries to make decisions for him and doesn’t give him a choice about anything.
My husband and I have been talking about moving when the time is right, but she continues to put her 2 cents in. I have been treated like crap by his mother after doing everything possible to help her. I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m slowly pulling away from the man I love, and he doesn’t seem to care. What should I do?
STUCK IN OHIO

DEAR STUCK: Your husband is barely out of his teens. It may have been an oversight, but you omitted the most important fact from your letter. WHY ARE YOU TWO LIVING WITH HIS MOTHER? She treats him like a child because that’s the way she has always treated him. If you want to save your marriage, move heaven and earth to get the two of you out of there so he can grow up to be independent.

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s birthday is on the same day as our grandson’s first communion. Our grandson’s family lives out of town, about a day’s drive. The problem is, my husband is not Catholic and doesn’t want to go because he doesn’t want to spend his birthday driving and sitting in a church. I am so torn. Should I push it? He was upset when I told him I wanted to go. He feels I should put him before the children and grandchildren.
IN THE MIDDLE

DEAR IN THE MIDDLE: Your husband is being childish and selfish. Your grandchild will have only one first communion, while you and your husband can celebrate his birthday on another day. Can you get to the site by other means of transportation to spare him the driving? He should be ashamed of himself. I hope his candle goes out before he makes a wish!

***

Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.