Dear Heloise: I have charcoal gray slate flooring that was never sealed. It still looks good, except the areas around my potted plants. The slate is white around them. Is there something I can apply to the discolored areas to remove this white stuff? Love your column and your hints. -- Louise ...

Dear Annie: I have been married now for almost 23 years. Soon after the wedding, I found that my wife had virtually no interest in intimacy of any kind. Three therapists and many months later, the situation is the same. She does have admirable attributes, and I have made an effort to love her ...

Sooner or later, everybody pines for the good old days. For example, a preschooler who is waxing nostalgic might say, “Things were better back in the day. All of my meals were brought to me, and I didn’t have to bother with this nonsense of sitting at the table. I didn’t even have to ...

Dear Heloise: I have a suggestion for preserving pictures, or even contracts. Pictures developed from film will deteriorate over time, as do yellow copies of contracts and documents. So, I scan pictures and save them on my computer to preserve them. When I sign a receipt for work done on my ...

Dear Annie: I’ve been with my boyfriend for 22 years. It’s been up and down, and I’ve learned to keep quiet about things that upset me. He’s never reacted well to me mentioning things or asking for help with chores. If I do have to say something because I am out of patience, I’m ...

Parents of college-bound students know it’s not just academics and SAT scores that count for admission to top tier schools, it’s also extracurricular activities. Among the most influential activities is high school debate. If your child has participated in debate it was most likely ...