Dear Dr. Sadie,
My nephew is a bright and articulate young man, but he's had a rough go of it for a long time. He's always had a hard time fitting in with his family. They're all very academic and driven. His father's an actuary, and his mother's a doctor. Both of his sisters are engineers. My nephew's always been a little more artistic, and he suffered from their inability to understand the legitimacy of his desire to pursue art as a serious line of study and a potential career. He has always come to me, his favorite uncle (and a design architect) for compassion and understanding.
Needless to say his studies and professional life have had lots of bumps in the road over the years. Recently, however, he's been very, very excited about a new "creative opportunity" that he's found. He's said very little about it, but I agreed to invest a few thousand dollars to help him get his project off the ground.
He just unveiled his "masterpiece," and it's very strange. As far as I can tell, he took lots of plastic toys (barbie dolls, army men, toy cars, etc) and used a magnifying glass and sunlight to burn holes in them. He then mounted them on miniature pedestals. He says that he wants me to have the "best piece in the lot," which is a doll in a toy stroller that's melted almost beyond recognition. He also wants me to pay for it, at the reduced family price of $900.
What should I do?
- Wants to be Supportive, but Really?
I don't think you should buy the art, because if you don't really want it, you shouldn't have it.
This might hurt your nephew's feelings. Maybe you should buy his art, but put in in your attic so you don't have to look at it.
Maybe you can get some coupons for your nephew. He could use the coupons to buy art that isn't so weird.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Where's the Beef?
Dear Dr. Sadie,
I am 15 years old. In my school, we studied the agricultural industry, and, as a result, I want to become a vegetarian. I told my parents this, and they laughed at me. They called it a "phase," and told me to "let us know when you outgrow your idealism." They are refusing to prepare vegetarian meals for me, saying that I'll have to make my own meals if I want to go on a "crazy diet."
I am sincere. I can't believe the conditions they make these animals live in. I don't know how anyone can eat meat knowing about this.
How can I convince them to support me in this?
- Thinking of Going Vegan, Too
Maybe you should try making your own meals for school lunch, and your own meals for dinner and your own meals for breakfast. You could make a salad without any meat in it.
You could also try tricking your parents with vegetarian meat. When they eat it and see that it's good, you can tell them that they are eating vegetarian, too.
We eat a lot of vegetarian meals in my house. My parents are vegetarian, but I'm not. We eat a lot of eggs, and I like that. I also like to eat dolmas. It's my favorite food. Dolmas are grape leaves rolled in olive oil with rice stuffed in the middle. You could also eat vegetarian sandwiches, like peanut butter and jelly or hummos with avocado.
I am 15 years old. In my school, we studied the agricultural industry, and, as a result, I want to become a vegetarian. I told my parents this, and they laughed at me. They called it a "phase," and told me to "let us know when you outgrow your idealism." They are refusing to prepare vegetarian meals for me, saying that I'll have to make my own meals if I want to go on a "crazy diet."
I am sincere. I can't believe the conditions they make these animals live in. I don't know how anyone can eat meat knowing about this.
How can I convince them to support me in this?
- Thinking of Going Vegan, Too
Maybe you should try making your own meals for school lunch, and your own meals for dinner and your own meals for breakfast. You could make a salad without any meat in it.
You could also try tricking your parents with vegetarian meat. When they eat it and see that it's good, you can tell them that they are eating vegetarian, too.
We eat a lot of vegetarian meals in my house. My parents are vegetarian, but I'm not. We eat a lot of eggs, and I like that. I also like to eat dolmas. It's my favorite food. Dolmas are grape leaves rolled in olive oil with rice stuffed in the middle. You could also eat vegetarian sandwiches, like peanut butter and jelly or hummos with avocado.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Matching Doggie Bowls?
Dear Dr. Sadie,
I have an aunt who's always been a bit eccentric, but truly lovely and harmless. She's a very sweet woman who never got married and never had kids. She's very maternal, and was a wonderful aunt to all of us while we were growing up. She has focused most of her energy on her dogs.
Last week, she sent out a "save the date" card for a wedding. We were all shocked, mostly because she wasn't dating anyone seriously at the time. It turns out that the wedding isn't for her, but for her two dogs. That's right, she's hosting a doggie wedding.
My mother has tried talking her out of it, but she won't budge. Given how wonderful she's been to all of us, we've all decided to be supportive. We're all going to dress up and go to the wedding. So my question to you is, what does one bring to a doggie wedding? Is there an appropriate gift?
- Confused, but Loves Aunt Mae
Maybe you should bring a doggy toy. If they want a doggy toy, I would suggest a new rattle for a baby. Maybe the doggies will have babies when they get married.
My mommy and daddy got married before they had kids. My aunt and uncle got married and I was the ring bearer. Then they had a baby - my cousin Ezzie. The same thing happened with Uncle Ted and Aunt Aimee.
Maybe you could bring a doggie cake with bones on it - sort of like doggy food.
I have an aunt who's always been a bit eccentric, but truly lovely and harmless. She's a very sweet woman who never got married and never had kids. She's very maternal, and was a wonderful aunt to all of us while we were growing up. She has focused most of her energy on her dogs.
Last week, she sent out a "save the date" card for a wedding. We were all shocked, mostly because she wasn't dating anyone seriously at the time. It turns out that the wedding isn't for her, but for her two dogs. That's right, she's hosting a doggie wedding.
My mother has tried talking her out of it, but she won't budge. Given how wonderful she's been to all of us, we've all decided to be supportive. We're all going to dress up and go to the wedding. So my question to you is, what does one bring to a doggie wedding? Is there an appropriate gift?
- Confused, but Loves Aunt Mae
Maybe you should bring a doggy toy. If they want a doggy toy, I would suggest a new rattle for a baby. Maybe the doggies will have babies when they get married.
My mommy and daddy got married before they had kids. My aunt and uncle got married and I was the ring bearer. Then they had a baby - my cousin Ezzie. The same thing happened with Uncle Ted and Aunt Aimee.
Maybe you could bring a doggie cake with bones on it - sort of like doggy food.
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