Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Woman's size shouldn't deter quest for love

Dear Abby: I'm 32 and a "large girl." I am also intelligent, witty and fun to be around. I make friends wherever I go. The problem is my mother -- who is also big -- keeps telling me that heavy women are not desirable and we must "settle" when it comes to choosing a mate. - 11/20/2009

Paul Donohue: Your Health

'Prolapse' is defined as 'dropping' of organ

Dear Dr. Donohue: I recently developed a prolapsed bladder. While I know it is not life-threatening, I want to take care of it ASAP. I am 74 and very active. My gynecologist wants me to do Kegel exercises and be fitted with a pessary. He doesn't want to do surgery. I would like the surgery while I am healthy enough to recover in a timely manner and get it over with. Please give me your opinion. - 11/19/2009

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Guilt mars comfort couple finds as lovers

Dear Abby: Is there anything wrong with having a lover solely for the purpose of sex? He is grieving for his late wife (my best friend), and I am separated from my husband. We're both lonely and have supported each other through our pain. A few weeks ago we decided to become lovers. - 11/19/2009

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Art of letter-writing suffers neglect in age of the Internet

Dear Abby: Please don't think I'm stupid for asking this, but I need some help. The practice of letter-writing appears to be a dying form because of e-mail and texting -- which I'm good at. But when I receive a nice gift, I know the proper way to acknowledge it is to write a thank-you letter. - 11/18/2009

Paul G. Donohue: Your Health

Lasting cough may signal lung ailment

Dear Dr. Donohue: For - 11/18/2009

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Men applaud the pleasures of being with older women

Dear Abby: In your response to the letter from "'Cougar' in New York" (Sept. 3), you invited your male readers to share their thoughts. Abby, cougars are nothing new. They're simply out of the closet. - 11/17/2009

Paul Donohue: Your Health

Herpes does not mean end of intimacy, kids

Dear Dr. Donohue: I am a 32-year-old woman who just learned that she has genital herpes. As I understand it, this means I should not have sex and cannot have children. I also understand that there is no treatment and that I'll have it for life. Can you paint a brighter picture for me? - 11/17/2009

Glenn Haege: Ask Glenn

Water-based polish will help eliminate dust from ceiling fans

Dear Glenn: I regularly read your column in the paper. You mentioned a product that reduces dust accumulation on ceiling fans. Could you tell me the name and where I might acquire it? - 11/17/2009

Brian J. O'Connor

The Grand Experiment: Cutting kid costs

My first thought was to furlough the young 'un two days a week to his grandmother's, where the savings on chicken tenders and Cheerios alone would put me over this project's $1,000 final goal. - 11/16/2009

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Wife draws line in bedroom in smoking battle

Dear Abby: My wife of 25 years, in an effort to get me to stop smoking, refuses to have sex until I quit. It's been more than a year since we made love. - 11/16/2009

Dear Abby

Character defeats peer pressure

Dear Abby: I'm a 14-year-old boy. I went to a party last weekend and some people pressured me to do some uncomfortable stuff. Can you advise me -- and other teens -- how to handle peer pressure? - 11/14/2009

Jeanne Phillips: Dear Abby

Night visitor next door raises suspicion

Dear Abby: My neighbors, "John" and "Marcia," are such a nice couple, I'm not sure what to do. I don't know them all that well, but what's going on is extremely upsetting. - 11/13/2009

Paul G. Donohue, M.D.: Your Health

Several signs point to endometriosis

Dear Dr. Donohue: I am 36 and have been married for four years. My menstrual periods are very painful, and have been so for at least seven years. - 11/13/2009

Know when to frame or toss kids' artwork

Having moved five times in the last nine years, Pam Syx, now of Venice, Fla., had many opportunities to chuck some of her two children's artwork along the way. - 11/12/2009

Paul Donohue: Your Health

Hemorrhoids have many treatments

Dear Dr. Donohue: What kind of doctor removes hemorrhoids? Mine are very irritating. Can they be removed in ways other than surgery? - 11/12/2009