tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:34:49 +0000Life in GeneralFriendsRelationshipsFamilyWorkInfo for ReadersGiveawayAging ParentsKidsParentingBusinessCouplesDogsIllnessLifeMoneyNews about usPoliticsSuicideTeenagersconnectionfathers and daughtersfriendshipisolationmothers and daughtershttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)Blogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-8889339463125413024Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:23:00 +00002010-10-15T16:32:40.681-04:00FamilyDear Alisa and Gina,My sister and I are very close. We are 29 year old identical twins and have always lived together or close by and have even run a business together.She has been dating someone for over four years who is completely wrong for her. Everyone who loves her makes the same observation but we are mostly all too polite to let our feelings known to her.It's not as though he is mean or http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/10/opposites-attract-or-bad-boyfriend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-1098587819199049515Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:12:00 +00002010-10-10T21:39:06.642-04:00connectionfriendshipisolationMy birthday came and went and my very dear and best friend ignored it. We are both in our mid 50's so perhaps she doesn't think it's important anymore. The thing is, I am very lonely and sensitive and she knows this. A month ago she told me that she does not acknowledge friends birthdays anymore; except for mine. We were co-workers for awhile (that’s how we met), but I got laid off. I don't http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-my-birthday-and-ill-cry-if-i-want_06.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-4736641781773303871Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:57:00 +00002010-06-08T15:59:32.540-04:00Familyfathers and daughtersParenting<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/06/growing-up-is-hard-to-do.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-876417830371651573Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:00:00 +00002010-04-09T12:00:06.196-04:00FamilyIllness<!--StartFragment--> Dear Alisa and Gina, Two years ago I received an urgent babysitting request from my son. My daughter-in-law had been hospitalized because of an eye disorder and I drove my grandson to school for five months until she could see out of that eye. The eye incident occurred at the time her parents moved five states away for no real reason. She and her two sisters in NJ were http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-in-family.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-5199481945026735654Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:29:00 +00002010-03-21T12:35:11.975-04:00KidsDear Alisa and Gina,My daughter was recently interviewed for admission to a college she really wants to attend. At the interview, the woman who was asking the questions (she’s an alum of this college) made stereotypical comments putting down women -– implying they have fixed roles, are the weaker sex. (This was especially odd to me because this college used to be an all-women’s school.) These http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/03/college-gen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-1000854094062207026Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:20:00 +00002010-03-15T09:20:00.271-04:00Info for ReadersHow can you win a wonderful gift from “Should I Say Something?” You just have to ask. Questions that is. Over the next two weeks in addition to answering questions we’ll also be rewarding one of you (chosen at random) with a gift basket from Clean Ridge Soap Company. (Makes of all-natural beautifully scented handmade soaps, soy candles and more.) How to enter: Think about a pressing issue in yourhttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/03/ask-to-win-great-prize-for-our-readers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-1770989619695541013Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +00002010-03-01T12:00:00.722-05:00WorkDear Alisa and Gina,Many of the people where are work tend to come in late, waste time, and don’t really get started until late in the day, then work until late at night. I come in on time, and would like to leave at 5. Many of them are single, but I have a family and want to get home to them. The only thing is, it’s hard to leave at 5 when everyone else is staying until 7 or 8 or later. Every sohttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/03/working-stiff.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-2333811635470776015Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +00002010-02-22T12:00:02.097-05:00KidsLife in General<!--StartFragment-->Dear Alisa and Gina,One afternoon last week I ran into a woman at the supermarket who I know because our older children are in the same school. When I asked how her children were she told me that they were home alone while she was running errands. Her kids are only seven and four! She must have seen the look of surprise on my face, because she said the seven year old is very http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/02/home-alone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-2440142235207907120Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:22:00 +00002010-02-15T17:24:49.463-05:00CouplesLife in GeneralRelationships<!--StartFragment-->Dear Alisa and Gina,Last night my husband and I went out for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. A family sitting a couple of tables away starting taking flash pictures, mostly of their baby. I wouldn’t have minded if they took a few pictures, but they must have taken a few dozen. The flash was distracting and disturbing. Should we have asked the waiter to say something? Or http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/02/picture-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-9050498274441811755Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:46:00 +00002010-02-08T10:49:48.006-05:00Life in GeneralDear Alisa and Gina,I have a problem that I’m sure other people can relate to. People always mispronounce my name. It’s not a difficult name, but I get called variations of it all the time. My question is, should I correct people when it happens, or just let it slide? ~ Unsure I think this happens to a lot of people – and as parents these days get more and more creative with their progeny’s nameshttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/02/miss-pronounced.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-6647599477388887474Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:36:00 +00002010-02-01T08:26:03.963-05:00FriendsLife in General <!--StartFragment--> Dear Alisa and Gina, I recently bought a gown for a family event. Throughout the alterations I tried it on and everything was fine. The day of the event, as I was getting dressed, the zipper broke. We tried to fix it but it wasn't working. I ended up wearing another dress in the car on the way while a friend worked on the zipper. It was finally fixed well enough to be wornhttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/01/not-all-buttoned-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-8892508957140036058Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +00002010-01-25T12:00:00.203-05:00<!--StartFragment-->Dear Alisa and Gina,Simply put, my next door neighbors don’t shut their blinds. Our bedroom faces theirs, and unfortunately we've seen more than we care to on occasion. Should we tell them?Accidental Voyeurs If you want to. But before you do think of what you'll do on those evenings when there's nothing to watch on TV. ~ Gina <!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment-->Just http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/01/too-revealing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-4492369571102273001Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:31:00 +00002010-01-18T09:47:41.345-05:00FamilyDear Alisa and Gina,I really try to be a good long-distance aunt, but I am getting tired of sending gifts during the holidays and birthdays and not getting a thank you! At what age can I stop sending presents? My nieces and nephews are getting older (22, 19 and then it drops to the little ones - 7,5, 2s) and I think there must be a cut-off point. - Tired of No ThanksYou’re not the victim, you’re http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-thank-yous.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-1751770256601706525Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:20:00 +00002010-01-18T09:31:40.790-05:00BusinessDear Alisa and Gina,I know a solo practitioner who is eager to build her business. She often forwards interesting e-mails to me – and I assume a lot of others on her e-mail list. Recently she sent a piece of news in an e-mail written by someone else who does the same kind of work. I found myself looking into the other person’s Web site and I’m seriously thinking about taking a class from her – http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/01/shooting-self-in-foot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-6552556262658354075Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:54:00 +00002010-01-04T10:55:43.733-05:00Life in General <!--StartFragment--> Dear Alisa and Gina, One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more patient. But I’m having a hard time knowing when I’m being patient and when I’m being stepped on. For example, I was at a store doing some post-holiday shopping, and while in line the woman in front of me steps away from the register (where her stuff is being rung up) and goes to find another item that washttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-years-convolution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-2666614178161458486Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:04:00 +00002009-12-28T10:06:56.298-05:00Life in GeneralTeenagers<!--StartFragment--> Dear Alisa and Gina, As I am driving my 15-year-old daughter and her best friend to a singing rehearsal the other night, the best friend pipes up: “Oh, look, there’s Joann and her new boyfriend.” My daughter replies, “I didn’t know she had a new boyfriend.” “Yes, and this is on the QT, he’s 22!" Joann is my daughter’s age. While they are not as close as they were in http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-boyfriend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-4750478570014474940Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:54:00 +00002009-12-23T20:24:48.793-05:00Aging Parents<!--StartFragment--> Dear Alisa and Gina, At my mom’s nursing home there are a number of staff members who aren’t always courteous to the residents. Sometimes residents are ignored, and other times I’ve seen downright nastiness. I’m afraid if I complain there will be consequences for my mother or other residents. Any suggestions? ~ Worried Nastiness is completely unacceptable, and fear should http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/12/not-home-sweet-nursing-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-3432529457559758159Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:58:00 +00002009-12-14T14:58:00.670-05:00FriendsLife in General<!--StartFragment-->Dear Alisa and Gina,A neighbor of mine who I would consider a casual friend started sharing news of a family trauma with a large email distribution list of “friends,” after his son was in a terrible motorcycle accident. Our friend has been issuing daily (now weekly) updates on the situation, the condition of their son etc. since the accident occurred. These emails have http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/12/too-much-information.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-8680762626073755957Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:39:00 +00002009-12-07T10:39:00.116-05:00Life in General<!--StartFragment-->Dear Alisa and Gina,I’m been meaning to write about this for a while because it happens all the time. I get on the commuter train, and someone is using the opposite seat as a foot rest. How unbelievably rude. Not to mention unsanitary. I’d ask them to move their feet so I could sit down (it seems it’s always a choice seat) but the idea of sitting where their feet were is http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/12/feet-off-seat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-8594946530188525964Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:41:00 +00002009-11-23T10:41:00.436-05:00Life in GeneralWorkDear Alisa and Gina,With the pervasive power of social networking tools I am connected with lots of people I haven’t actually worked with in some time. This is great but it also has some challenges."I just received a request to write a recommendation for someone I worked with 20 years ago. I'm not in the same field and I haven't been for a long time, so I feel like I can't comment on anything http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/11/fishing-for-compliments.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-4724446491656568163Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +00002009-11-20T10:44:16.662-05:00Life in GeneralDear Alisa and Gina,My cleaning lady comes in while I am at work. While she was there the other day (and I was 25 miles away) I remembered that I had left a kind of gross personal thing in the bathroom (I’ll leave it to everyone’s imagination — but it’s probably not what you think.) Anyway, I’m sort of mortified. Should I apologize or just let it go? ~ EmbarrassedI’ll tell you what I think if youhttp://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/11/ick-factor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-6656360533102147033Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:26:00 +00002009-11-15T18:41:39.610-05:00LifeDear Alisa and Gina,I called the phone company operator today because I couldn’t get through to the number I was calling. The operator couldn’t have been ruder. She acted like I was annoying her. She interrupted me, and implied I was an idiot because I didn’t understand why the number I dialed (in my own town) required that I dial the area code. I stayed calm, but she could tell I was annoyed.I http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/11/smooth-operator.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-998684209332924197Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:04:00 +00002009-11-02T09:07:14.671-05:00FamilyLife in GeneralDear Alisa and Gina,My boyfriend wants his parents to meet me. This is a big step for us and I’m really looking forward to it. The only problem is I have a dog whose name is Fred and my boyfriend’s father’s name is also Fred. I’m afraid his dad might be insulted. What’s your advice? - I Know This Sounds like a SitcomStart calling your dog Fido immediately. He’ll never know the difference. ~ http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/11/rough-rough.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-6567884559637966365Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:56:00 +00002009-10-26T11:56:01.013-04:00Life in GeneralDear Alisa and Gina,My new doctor has bad breath. Should I say something? ~ Trying to be PatientNo, just grin and bare it. ~ Gina There’s no right or wrong answer for this. Most important though is that you choose an option that allows you to deal with this issue once and move on.Here are some other ways to handle it: Offer a breath mint. Let the doctor know why you left your old doctor and http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/10/diagnosis-halitosis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198620189516895301.post-2408284952205843523Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:49:00 +00002009-10-18T20:51:41.404-04:00FriendsLife in GeneralDear Alisa and Gina,Sometimes when I’m with a group of close women friends the subject of sex comes up. I’m not the kiss and tell type. I consider my sex life private and don’t want to discuss it with my friends. However, several of them openly discuss all sorts of things, from frequency to experiences. Uggh. I like my friends but I don’t like it when the conversation ventures in that direction. http://shouldisaysomething.blogspot.com/2009/10/intimate-details.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gina Bruce)0