-
2 days ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I have an acquaintance who frequently walks her dog at the same time I do. She is a nice person, and we get along well; our dogs even like each other. We are both female. The issue is that her skirts or sundresses keep getting shorter. I avert my eyes, but I have seen more of her anatomy than I care to. I have also seen a certain male neighbor looking at her in a not-so-nice way. Should I say something to her? If so, how do I do so politely?
-
3 days ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: To prevent party guests from driving impaired, I came up with a fun game using a $21 breathalyzer I bought online. I call it “Have I Had Too Many?”Guests who are at, or even close to, the legal limit get a prize — a free ride home!Everything was going great until one guest tested at well over twice the legal limit, but then refused the free ride.
-
4 days ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: What is your opinion on handkerchiefs? I prefer them to tissues. I have seen brides, at weddings that cost thousands of dollars, crying into wadded-up tissues. If they really find it so disgusting to reuse a soiled handkerchief, they could invest a few dollars in a multipack and get a fresh one each time. Also, I believe that it is better for the environment.
-
5 days ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I remember growing up, when we had visitors who were new to our house, my mother would give them the “grand tour.” I now do that with all of my first-time visitors. I have, however, noticed that nobody else does this when I am a first-time visitor — making my initial query about the bathroom a little awkward. Did people stop showing their houses?
-
1 week ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I’ve noticed that some mature women do not change how they apply makeup as they get older, which makes their maturing features begin to look, well, clownlike. For instance, their lipstick may be too dark for their skin tone and may be applied beyond the natural vermilion line in an effort to give the lips a fuller appearance, instead looking like the exaggerated mouth of a clown.
-
1 week ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: My daughter is turning 9 soon, and we will be having a small party with four of her closest friends. We are hosting the party at the clubhouse facility in our condo complex. There is a fifth girl we know, “Kiara,” who also lives in the complex, with whom my daughter sometimes plays. I consider her mom somewhat of a friend, though we do not spend time together without the kids. Our older sons are friends, as well.
-
1 week ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I am a Ph.D. student in a college town where the local public bus also serves as the campus bus, and students get free fare. As a result, it is often very crowded, mostly with undergrads. At my advanced age of 30, I have learned (or at least thought I’d learned) that on a very crowded bus, it is accepted practice to get off the bus briefly to let other people off if you are blocking the door. It seems, however, that NO ONE does this.
-
1 week ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I have skills and interests that are rather unusual in modern times. I enjoy these hobbies immensely, though I make a point of not bringing them up with new acquaintances, since they are not likely to make a two-way conversation flow.
-
1 week ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: I have had season tickets to the orchestra for a couple of decades. For evening concerts, the orchestra wears white tie, and women soloists wear evening dress. For afternoon concerts, the soloists still wear evening dress, and the men in the orchestra wear black suits, black shirts and black ties.
-
2 weeks ago | 
washingtonpost.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin
, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinDear Miss Manners: After several decades of typing on keyboards, I have lost my ability to write nicely by hand. My solution is to send electronic notes — for expressing appreciation, recognizing significant events, etc. There are several lovely e-card forms available. Using them results in more timely responses, as well as significant savings over printed cards and postage.
