Hi there, guys and dolls! Friday’s upon us again. Rumor has it that plenty of you are stuck at home with your, er, loved ones. And how would that be going? I’ve got a couple of letters from some rather perturbed individuals. Let’s see how I can improve or interfere on the issues.

Dear Barbara Jean,

My husband is now spending plenty of time at home and quite frankly, he’s getting underfoot. Literally. He is following me around, making what he thinks are friendly, loving ‘suggestions’ (the man does not know what he is talking about). He has an idea about how I can do practically everything better, including darning his socks. What’s a wife to do?

Vexed Vera in Vail

Dear Vera,

Get him to put his so-called ‘expertise’ to work. Give him a long list of all the things you do on a daily basis (even if you have to make up a few, as if he would know the difference) and leave him to do them. Now go out, grab a girlfriend and make a day of it lunching and shopping. Be prepared to see the mess he has made of your well run house, but at least you’ve had a reprieve.

Good luck straightening what he’s screwed up, Barbara Jean

Dear Barbara Jean,

I am shocked and aghast to find out that my children have been running a gambling marble game in the back yard for money! I did not raise them to behave in such a manner. How do I handle this?

Embarrassed Edna in Ellensburg

Dear Edna,

Well, I have to admit that I would be admiring your enterprising children if what they were doing wasn’t illegal extortion. First of all, I guess get them to stop and then if they can figure out who they took money from, get them to give it back to their patrons. If they can’t figure it out, buy all the kids in the neighborhood ice creams except your own little fleecers. If there’s any left, use it to pay for a club house for the neighborhood, and make your kids unpaid janitors of the facility.

Fixing one little red wagon at a 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