Miss Manners
Miss Manners: Elopement is romantic, not selfish
Dear Miss Manners: I am getting married next spring and had been planning a wedding of about 75 guests. The wedding planning has taken on a life of its own, and I have been overwhelmed by the details and the cost. (Updated: 11/19/09 8:44 AM )
Miss Manners: Keep news to yourself at wakes
Dear Miss Manners: Is it acceptable to announce your engagement when your sister is standing in the receiving line at her husband’s viewing? If not, what would have been the acceptable way to handle a situation like this? (Updated: 11/17/09 7:40 AM )
Long event is no excuse
Dear Miss Manners: On Thanksgiving, my husband and I have for a number of years gone to a family dinner at my sister’s. There are other relatives in attendance, usually at least eight, sometimes more. (Updated: 11/15/09 8:07 AM )
Miss Manners: Computer comments are hurtful
Dear Miss Manners: At a university where I teach as an adjunct, I had some problems setting up a projector and my personal computer before class. (Updated: 11/12/09 8:22 AM )
Miss Manners: Know-it-alls really know nothing
Dear Miss Manners: When conversing, I find a new trend—more and more people making assertive statements about me or my family. (Updated: 11/10/09 8:10 AM )
Miss Manners: To tell or not to tell?
Dear Miss Manners: A guest, who, like me, is a middle-aged bachelor (well, I am perhaps a tad beyond middle age, but never mind that) returned this summer—essentially homeless after many years out of the country—to undergo surgeries from which he is now recovering. He does not require in-home medical assistance, but is under doctor’s orders to avoid his usual athletic activities for a while, and he cannot drive now. (Updated: 11/08/09 10:05 AM )
Miss Manners: Be gracious, despite social inequities
Dear Miss Manners: My partner and I have attended several weddings of heterosexuals in Wisconsin, which, ironically, passed the first statewide Gay Rights Bill in the 1980s and now bans so-called gay marriages. My partner doesn’t like the fact that I now boycott straight marriages instead of attending them. His mother thinks it’s selfish. (Updated: 11/05/09 8:00 AM )
Miss Manners: How to dress to impress, sans stress
Dear Miss Manners: When I was visiting friends, I perused my hotel’s list of recommended dining establishments. Each restaurant listed their dress code and, to my consternation, I found each of the following variations: (Updated: 11/03/09 7:54 AM )
Vandalism is not the answer
Dear Miss Manners: When I parked my car in a public parking lot, I noticed a car had a bumper sticker that read, “If you have nothing to say, just shut the ----up.” (Updated: 11/01/09 6:44 AM )
Miss Manners: Don’t tell if they don’t ask
Dear Miss Manners: A married couple, both good friends of mine, are going through a very rough time financially. Together, they made some bad decisions that led to their current financial situation; those decisions originated with her. (Updated: 10/29/09 8:12 AM )
Miss Manners: ‘Literal’ humor not so funny
Dear Miss Manners: I have a question regarding the following scenario: (Updated: 10/27/09 8:08 AM )
Failing grades for e-mails
Dear Miss Manners: You could assist an entire profession if you would advise undergraduates on how to compose e-mail messages to their professors. (Updated: 10/25/09 7:27 AM )
Miss Manners: Tip of hat to manners
Dear Miss Manners: As I was going through the closets of my house, I happened across my grandfather’s old homburg hat, which had remained undisturbed in its hatbox for many years following his death. As it fit remarkably well and suited me excellently, I took to wearing it out and on special occasions as both an affectation and tribute to the grandfather I never knew. (Updated: 10/22/09 8:11 AM )
Miss Manners: ‘Your’ cake, but share it with others
Dear Miss Manners: When I left a job of eight years, my co-workers took me out to lunch on my last day and, back at work, presented me with a beautiful cake. I was stuffed from lunch and made the comment that I would like to wait until later to enjoy some of the cake. (Updated: 10/20/09 7:56 AM )
Sneezing into your sleeve
Dear Miss Manners: With all due respect to urgent demands of public health—yuck! (Updated: 10/18/09 6:41 AM )