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More carbon monoxide safety tips

Dear Heloise: The letter about preventing carbon monoxide poisoning by getting a monitor for your home is a must but, it didn’t go far enough. You should get a monitor that you can also travel with. How many articles have we read about carbon monoxide poisoning in vacation rental homes, condos and even hotels? Vacations are a relaxing getaway, but you shouldn’t let your guard down while you are staying in places that probably do not have an installed monitor. Taking that home monitor with you, or a separate unit, could save your life. -- Kagey in Prescott, Ariz (reading the Orange ...

Life’s messy moments count the most

Dear Annie: Every December, my life starts to feel like one of those “year in review” videos -- only mine looks more like the blooper reel. Back in January, I sat at my kitchen table with a brand-new planner, a cinnamon latte and all the determination in the world. I even wrote, “This Is Jenna’s Year” in big blue letters on the first page. I was going to lose 15 pounds, pay down the credit card, stop doomscrolling at night, clean out the garage and be more present with my kids -- “Scarlett” (16), “Mick” (13) and “Lucy” (8) -- instead of snapping at them while ...

Scheduling a doctor’s visit

Dear Heloise: I sympathize to some extent with the writer in a recent column of yours lamented how doctor’s offices will say the appointment is at 10:00 a.m. but ask that you arrive at 9:30 a.m. for paperwork. However, I think it actually makes sense to do it this way. Ten a.m. is the time you could actually get called back to be seen. If you arrive late for the paperwork appointment, you could theoretically catch up by filling the paperwork out quickly. I don’t think medical offices really expect everyone to arrive the full half hour early for paperwork, but you do need to be ...

GETTING TO KNOW Brayden Heiderscheidt

Sleepy Eye H.S., Jr. Interview by Ari Selvey Heiderscheidt helped Sleepy Eye to a 91-82 comeback victory over Nicollet on Monday, scoring 24 points along with six rebounds and seven assists. Q: What is your favorite holiday tradition? A: Just gathering with my family for Christmas. Coming ...

When healthy habits turn into unhealthy critiques

Dear Annie: When my boyfriend decided to get serious about his health earlier this year -- cleaner eating, regular workouts -- I was super proud of him. I cheered him on and swapped out our snacks without complaint. For the first few months, it brought out the best in him. But somewhere along the way, his personal reboot turned into an ongoing critique of me. If I bring home a loaf of bakery bread, he reminds me how “simple carbs kill energy.” If I skip a workout because I’m tired, he sighs with disapproval. Last week he told me my evening glass of wine was “a bad coping ...

Tracking down animals

Dear Heloise: I would like to share an idea I came up with recently -- using ID dog tags on horse bridles. It struck me that if a horse gets loose, having a tag with the owner’s contact info could make it much easier to get them back home quickly. We already do this for dogs, so why not horses? They can wander off, get spooked, or end up far from familiar ground. A simple tag -- secure, readable and comfortable -- could be a game-changer for reunions. It is a small thing, but sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest difference. I hope others find it useful and maybe even put it ...