Dear Doctors: I heard a story on the news about a connection between your gut microbiome and whether you like to exercise. Is that really true? If it is, I'd like to know how the scientists figured that out. Is there a way to change your gut to make you like working out?
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm about to host my own birthday dinner. I want to invite a few friends out to a nice restaurant, but I'm stuck on how I should split the check. Do I pay for only my portion and expect everyone else to cover their own? Or should I ask my friends to split the total cost equally? I don't want to be tacky. How do I let my guests know that I do not plan to cover everyone's meals? The bill is sure to add up quickly, and I can't cover the full tab.
At the risk of taking the bait, let us consider Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s proposal for a “national divorce” separating the “red” from the “blue” states. First, has she scrutinized Georgia’s recent political history? Based on the last several statewide elections, there would appear to be a very small likelihood indeed that a Peach State referendum would result in that state’s voting to leave the United States.
Composting is a great way to take food scraps and yard waste and transform them into beneficial mulch for your garden. It's also an environmentally friendly way to keep organic matter from going into landfills. To achieve a successful compost, experts agree there are two musts: Keep it big, and shred everything. A large compost pile will create enough surface area for the material to heat up and break down. When the matter is broken down into smaller pieces from the start, it'll break down more quickly, too.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am about to turn 26. I am excited and nervous. I work for a small company that does not provide health insurance. I have been on my mom's insurance my whole life, but that ends now because that's the law. I don't think I will be successful in asking my boss to provide insurance for me. We took a hit last year when we lost a couple of clients, and I know the company is struggling.
I owa is ready for the onslaught of presidential candidates. But a vital question looms, less than a year from the Republican precinct caucuses here: Are the candidates ready for Iowa?
Dear Doctors: My father is being treated for colon cancer. It was caught early, and his doctor is optimistic. The problem is, he's getting really depressed. His doctor suggested a cancer support group. How do those work? Are they helpful? My dad isn't very chatty and would need to be persuaded.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I work on a project with a woman who drives me nuts.
My husband, Peter, is learning Spanish his own way.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My anniversary is coming up soon, and it's a big one. Normally I would go all out and host a big party, but I'm not feeling it. Half the time I’m so mad at my husband that I don't talk to him. The rest of the time, we either act nice to each other but it's pretty superficial, or we yell expletives at each other. It's a mess.