Kickstarter has lots of gray areas May 5, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: What do you do when a friend starts a Kickstarter for something you don’t think is appropriate? — Fundless I think as a society we are collectively sick of people using these social fundraising sites to, say, fundraise for a lavish wedding or a vacation. No one is making you have a $20,000 …
Hold the pickles and the piercings, please April 28, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: I went to the drive-thru of a chain restaurant in Ellsworth recently and the person handing me my food was nice enough but had all kinds of facial piercings. Half of them looked inflamed and infected. I almost threw up. I know these are entry-level positions, but aren’t there any standards? — Don’t …
Ask Nicole: What do I do about ignorant Internet commenters? April 21, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: How snarky can I be on social media? My wife tells me to dial it back, while my friends are encouraging me to snark away. — Signed, That Guy Here’s the thing, That Guy. We all kind of want to be you. We wish we could say the snarky things you are saying. …
Question of friends’ sobriety requires delicate handling April 14, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: I heard from a mutual friend that one of our couple friends (let’s call them Stan and Fran) are dry, even to the point of having gone to some AA meetings. Then not even two weeks later, I heard from a different mutual friend that Stan and Fran were splitting a bottle of …
Dear Nicole: How do I learn to date at my age? April 7, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Q: I am an older person just re-entering the dating scene. I saw you answered a letter a few months ago about a 30-something getting back in the game, but what about those of us who think “tinder” is a way to start a fire in our woodstove? — Aging and Dating A: Just …
What do women want? April 7, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, _Archived Dear Nicole, My coworker is on Facebook all day. She distracts me with her typing. I’ve tried to go to my boss with this but it is clear she’s not going to do anything about my socially networked coworker. Meanwhile I am picking up the slack. Help. Don’t Want To Be Your Friend Sounds like …
Acting your age is strictly optional March 31, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: Here’s the dilemma. We can’t act, look or live our age. Most of those in our four-score and 10-plus years (and many way younger) here are flabby, inactive, dull and wear old people’s clothes (you know, the baggy things). And, this includes both species: native and from away. Hey, can we say that …
When is it time to let go of a pet? March 24, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: My husband and I have a 13-year-old dog that we both love dearly. While still relatively healthy, Tink is starting to have some health issues and this is causing a rift in our relationship. My philosophy about pet ownership has always been straightforward. You love them, give them a happy, safe life and …
Blue collar guy seeks romantic doubles match March 17, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: What are your thoughts about shooting to date someone who’s out of your league? I’m just a regular guy, my pickup truck is only two-wheel drive, and I don’t have enough disposable income to vacation anywhere fancy (or anywhere for that matter.) There’s this summer girl over in Northeast Harbor who is gorgeous. …
Dear Nicole: Can “brotherly” love be forced? March 10, 2015 by Nicole Ouellette on Ask Nicole, Columnists, Lifestyle Dear Nicole: My son’s father is in a relationship with a woman who also has a child. They have been putting pressure on my son to call her son his “brother.” How can I help them understand that this isn’t OK to do that to him and he should be able to label relationships how …
