DEAR ANNIE: My wife and I have been married for nearly half our lives, and we’ve always had a strong relationship. The problem we’re facing now is her family — specifically her younger brother and his household. Her brother has never been particularly motivated, and although we’ve ...

DEAR HELOISE: In response to all the letters that you’ve printed in your column concerning “thank you” notes, I wanted to add an important element. Not only is a thank-you note a kind way to show appreciation for something that was done for you or given to you (whether you liked the gift ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have calcium buildup throughout my vascular system. My legs were operated on, and the surgeon had to drill through the calcium to open up the blood flow. I am now told that there is calcium buildup on my aortic valve, which I had replaced four years ago. I also have prostate ...

The expert declarer runs into just as many difficult guessing situations as anyone else, but usually manages either to guess right or to somehow avoid the guess altogether. For example, take this deal where West leads the four of diamonds against three notrump. Declarer wins East’s jack ...

DEAR ANNIE: I’m a 75-year-old widow who has lived in the same little Cape for 43 years. I still do my own shopping, I drive myself to church, and I host Sunday supper when my joints cooperate. I’m not fragile, but I am ... older. And lately, I feel like everyone is determined to treat me ...

Marcus Samuelsson has a recipe he calls true comfort food. It’s an oxtail pepperpot recipe from his cookbook, “The Rise.” This is a traditional Caribbean dish, mainly from Guyana, that combines oxtail and dumplings in a rich gravy. The gravy is flavored with cinnamon, brown sugar, hot ...