Weather | Traffic | Surf | Maps | Webcam


   
 
Home Today's Paper Sports Entertainment sdjobs sdhomes sdwheels Classifieds Shopping Visitors Guide Forums
 Saturday
 »Next Story»
 News
 Local News
 Opinion
 Business
 Sports
 Family
 Wheels
 Front Page (PDF)
 The Last Week
 Sunday
 Monday
 Tuesday
 Wednesday
 Thursday
 Friday
 Saturday
 Weekly Sections
 Books |  UT-Books
 Family
 Food
 Health
 Home
 Homescape
 Dialog
 InStyle
 Night & Day
 Sunday Arts
 Travel
 Quest
 Wheels
Subscribe to the UT
 Sponsored Links








The San Diego Union-Tribune

 
HEY, CHERIE!    CHERIE BENNETT
The big question: Neale or no Neale?

July 26, 2008

HEY, CHERIE!

I am a 14-year-old girl who is working at a summer day camp. I am a counselor in training and so far the summer is going pretty well. I take care of second-grade kids, and they like me. The only problem is that I am falling in love with one of the lifeguards.

I am serious. His name is Neale; he is 17 and going into 11th grade. Neale is really hot and nice. We have had lunch a couple of times – he listens to me when I talk, which is a lot different from most guys who are my age; they only want to stare at me because I am more developed than a lot of girls. Neale has not asked me out on a date, but I can tell that he wants to.

I just want to know what you think about me dating someone who is 17. Many people would say it's wrong and I have no business, but it seems OK to me. This is just dating and I am not going to marry the guy!

– Neale-struck

HEY, NEALE!

Yes, you are Neale-struck. Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Isn't it time to update that amount? I mean, come on! It's the 21st century – $200 won't buy you great seats at certain concerts.

But I digress. No matter what you do, do not go on any kind of a date with Neale. No girl of age 14 has any business dating a guy who is 17, and the same goes for a 17-year-old guy wanting to date a 14-year-old girl. The maturity level is too different and the temptation is too great. Both of your hormones are rockin'; the last thing you want is for them to be rockin' and rollin' together.

I would hope that the reason Neale hasn't asked you out is that he understands it is a bad idea. Or maybe it's because he suspects that your mom or dad will throw a toaster oven at him the minute he rings your doorbell. (They will if I have anything to do with it.)

Neale, if you're reading? No. Neale-struck? The answer is also no. You had the good sense to write to me about this. Now show the good sense of following my advice.

HEY, CHERIE!

My parents only buy my cat cheap cat food. I am a girl in sixth grade, and our cat Marquise (it is pronounced Mar-keys) is 5 years old. I didn't realize when we adopted him, but Marquise only receives the poor cat food that's dry.

Why should the cat have to eat bad food when there are better kinds at the market? But my parents say they don't want Marquise to start begging for wet food. Help me!

– Cat Crazy

HEY, CAT!

Is Marquise happy? Is Marquise healthy? That's the starting point. The next point is to talk this over with your veterinarian. If you don't have a vet, it's time to find one.

Some high-test cat foods offer lower bulk, which means your cat will digest more of it. But this is the kind of thing that your vet can recommend or not. Dry food is better for Marquise's teeth. Really. Ask your vet.


© Creators Syndicate

 »Next Story»


 Sponsored Links


Advertisements from the print edition








© Copyright 2008 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. • A Copley Newspaper Site