Friend flip-flops on canceling plans

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend “Janice” is mad at me. We had plans to go to a food festival, and she canceled at the last minute. I had already bought both tickets, and since she said she couldn’t make it, I didn’t want the tickets to go to waste.

Cat has figured out how to find warm spots

In our household, my husband, Peter, and I have acquired nicknames which we imagine our cat, Felix, calls us by. To Felix, I am Mama and Peter is Mouse.We came by these names because I spend more time cuddling with Felix – although he is not much of a cuddler.

Trump, tariffs and affordability

Did something spook President Donald Trump? Recently, he announced that he would roll back tariffs on food, just days after he embraced a much more moderate tone on immigration.

Strong bones aren’t built by calcium alone

Dear Doctors: Does taking calcium help keep your bones strong or not? I am going through perimenopause now, and osteoporosis is on my mind. A friend says that just a calcium supplement isn’t enough, you need to think about vitamin K.I haven’t even heard of that. Can you please explain?

Friend’s inconsistent stories create confusion

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend always changes her story when it comes to small things, but I feel like the accumulation of all these small inconsistencies is starting to get to me.

DO JUST ONE THING

• While some popular houseplants thrive indoors, they should never be transplanted outdoors, where they can become invasive.The snake plant, for example, spreads rapidly through underground shoots and can crowd out native species.

Roommates step on each other’s toes

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work from home, and my roommate does, too. At first, it wasn’t a big deal; we thought we could share the space easily and just use headphones when we had meetings. Lately, our schedules have started to clash, and we both end up taking video calls at the same time.

Strategies for surviving the holiday season

Dear Doctors: My question is about the holidays, and it’s two parts. The to-do list just seems to get longer each year, and I’m already feeling stressed-out. Also, I just turned 44 and I don’t recover from the eating and drinking like I used to.

New living situation upsets parents

DEAR HARRIETTE: I moved in with my boyfriend recently, and my parents are furious. I come from a traditional background where living together before marriage is considered shameful. My mother won’t speak to me, and my father told me he didn’t raise me this way.

Old message, new megaphone

The Economist asked, “voters have spoken, but what did they say?” Good question, and the magazine provides a trenchant answer: “Democrats risk drawing the wrong lessons from one good day. Moderate governors offer a better model than a charming socialist in New York.