I was the kind of kid who despised school. School was just a waste of time, an annoying delay in my plan to launch a career in farming. I informed my parents that I would probably have enough education by the end of third grade. They didn’t agree and instead insisted that I attend classes ...

We all have bucket lists of places we want to visit. I’ve never been to Hawaii. That is on my list. Perry, Iowa is also on it. The allure of that town in the middle of Iowa isn’t its beaches, although the Racoon River does flow through it. Rather, it’s a unique connection between Sleepy ...

Last year, scenes of striking workers and picket lines dominated the news. Workers from all corners of the American economy — from writers and auto workers, to teachers and health care professionals — came together to fight for their fair share. The labor movement had a big moment in ...

Dear Annie: My boyfriend’s kids hate me for genuinely no reason. He sees his kids twice a week for dinner, a dinner which I cook, but then I have to leave the house while the kids are visiting with him. It’s been five years of his kids ignoring me and kicking me out of the house when they ...

Dear Heloise: I needed a small toothbrush to clean certain areas of my home. I went shopping for one and found that most were too expensive. Finally, while I was in the grocery store, I went down the toothpaste and toothbrush aisle and found what I was looking for. Now I use a stiff toothbrush ...

Dear Heloise: Lately, I’ve seen a few letters in your column about how to make traveling a bit more easy and comfortable. Well, I travel alone most of the time for my job, and a woman alone on the road needs to be extra careful. Here are a few of my own hints for women who also spend time ...