All articles filed in Banter

Dear Lola, I need some guidance on what to do when my colleagues use words erroneously. If it were a friend I would never equivocate – I would instantly rectify their gaffe. However, I don’t foresee that endeavor producing a positive result with my colleagues. My trepidation is that my colleagues will persist in using these words…

Dear Lola, I’m writing in for my 10-year-old daughter. She happened to see your photo on my phone and she needs a bit of help with her two younger twin brothers. No matter what she puts on the television, her brothers fight. She will try to appease one, then the other brother gets vocal. If…

Dear Lola, I have two children that I walk to and from school each day. When dropping off my daughters, the other mums stand around in small groups and chat with one another. I’ve also overheard them inviting each other to the coffee shop just around the corner. I have never been approached by any of the…

Dear Lola, My office workplace is made up of a room with cubicles. Due to the noise level, I’ve begun to wear earplugs while concentrating on my work. I cannot concentrate without them in and sometimes I even wear them as I eat my lunch and catch up on the news. However, my coworkers have reacted as…

Dear Lola, I live in a house full of practical jokers. Every time I walk down a hallway I have to be prepared for something to jump out at me. Eating snacks in my house is fraught with danger – chocolate gets laced with hot sauce and salt is dumped on food for an unsuspecting…

Dear Lola, First off, let me just say that you are a genius! I look forward to your column each week and I nod along with all of your ideas – especially the ones requiring subtle warfare against the other humans. Today I fear I will begin a campaign against my own fur baby –…

Dear Lola, My neighbor has a dog that barks all day long. They are new neighbors and the dog looks to be older than a puppy but not an old dog. I was trying to be patient, seeing as how I have dogs and understand that he may need time to adjust to his new living…

Dear Lola, What would you suggest I do when I find empty boxes in my refrigerator and pantry? Just last night I went to get a fudge pop from the freezer, only to discover that the box of pops was empty. I cannot begin to tell you how upset this made me – I was…

Dear Lola, I’m having some trouble in my marriage and it’s becoming a larger problem with each passing day. My husband hates my cooking. I don’t mean he’s ambivalent about it, or just doesn’t care much about food, I mean he hates it. He complains about every single dinner I cook. It’s too spicy, too sweet, too…

Dear Lola, Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I say they are a figment of the imagination, but my daughter disagrees. She says that I believe in things I haven’t seen all the time, like a million dollars. (She gets her biting wit from her mother.) Please side with me on this one, I’m quickly…