Hi there, guys and dolls! Ever find that you’re in a dilemma that you just don’t know how to get out of? Never fear, I’m here to offer some smart (okay, actually not that smart, more smartass if you want the truth) suggestions to help you banish some of life’s little lows.

Dear Barbara Jean,

I’m sick and tired of my boss messing up my files. I take great pride in keeping them neat and orderly and all he does is rummage through the cabinet, take out random pages and either never puts them back or just sticks them in whatever folder he pleases. I’ve stayed late so many times that my mother no longer keeps dinner hot for me and just leaves me a sandwich that has gone stale by time I make it home. What do I do?

Filing Felicity in Fernie

Dear Felicity,

I understand that your filing job makes you felicitous (sorry, I couldn’t resist), and I respect the great care you take in your job. As I see it, you have a couple of options – one is that you keep the files under lock and key and only hand out what appropriate papers your boss needs, have him sign for the itemized list and give him the stern stink-eye so he knows you mean business. The other (and my personal favorite) is to just lighten up a little. Who cares? You just work for the company, you don’t own it – if your boss screws it up, make him find what he needs next time. He’s a big boy. And don’t stay late to clean up his mess. Remember – life first, filing second!

Here’s to filing your priorities accurately, Barbara Jean

Dear Barbara Jean,

My mother-in-law’s always dropping in unexpectedly all the time. She says she wants to check up on her boy and make sure I’m looking after him right. Barbara Jean, we’re newlyweds and her constant visits are cramping our style and it’s getting downright frustrating.

Ticked Off Trish in Tarzana

Dear Trish,

Hmm, you live in Tarzana? Well, that’s given me great inspiration for my answer. The next time your mother-in-law just happens to drop by, why don’t you have your husband answer in something a little daring, say a Tarzan loincloth? This will serve a couple of purposes – one, your mother-in-law will see for herself that her ‘boy’ has grown up to be your ‘man’ and hopefully will be appropriately embarrassed and two, you’ll have your young husband in a loincloth. That’s its own reward!

Have a vine swinging time, Barbara Jean

Keep your letters coming! I love to help or hinder any way I can. 

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more posts. And don’t forget to give my Poppy Cove Mysteries a try if you haven’t already. 

Toodles, Barbara Jean