30 - Sunday, January 12, 1992 —- North Shore News LIFESTYLES Handling family calls during the holidays DEAR MISS MANNERS — Members of our family who live in different’ provinces call one another during the Golidays. Without fail, the caller gets besieged with: “Do you want to talk to everyone? I'll put Jody on, and then you can talk to Aunt Minnie ...”’ Judith Martin I feel that the callers (who are paying for the call) should decide whom they want to talk to. The callee (who’s not paying for the call) has no right to assume that the caller wants to talk to anyone not specifically asked for. Con- versely, I don’t want people ask- ing callers if they want to talk to mae; if they wanted to, they’d say so. The calls are virtually the same evecy year: ‘‘Hi, Merry Christmas! How is everyone? Bid you have dinner yet?" ete. A simple ‘Merry Christmas to all } would suffice, don’t you think? GENTLE READER — Weill, no. Miss Manners wants to know if Aunt Minnie had Christmas dinner yet. As you point out, she could have asked to have Aunt Minnie put on the telephone, it being the calfer’s nickel, or rather credit card. But perhaps she doesn’t quite know or remember who is going to be where for Christmas dinner this year, and would like to be saved the embarrassment of asking by name for six people while the forgotten seventh stands there with an increasingly strain- ed, expectant look. It seems to Miss Manners that putting on everyone, with the possible exception of the dog, is tather jolly, as if. they were crowding around to include that ‘Celestial navigation techniques scheduled MARINE ARTIST, writer and lecturer Colin Hempsall's celestial navigation course. has enabled many North Shore sailors to make successful voyages to the. South Pacific and back. The course will be offered dur- ing the winter term at North Shore Continuing Education (NSCE) on Thursdays from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20. Classes will run from 7 to 10 p.m. at Carson Graham Secondary School, 2145 Jones Ave. in North Vancouver. Hempsall will base course con- tent on his own experiences sailing his home-made 41-foot ketch from West Vancouver to Hawaii, Samoa and Tonga and will use his drawing skills to describe naviga- tional concepts. Participants will learn to read tables, apply data to worksheets and plot a line of position. Pro- cesses will include obtaining a line of position by a sun sight, taking a noon latitude sight and getting a latitude from a sight of Polaris. For more information and to register call 986-8888, or visit NSCE at 2132 Hamilton St. in North Vancouver. MISS MANNERS missing relative in the annual gathering. It would be tedious if it happened all year long. But just for Christmas? And as for the conversation be- ing repetitive, we call that ‘‘tradi- tion.” However, if you are the one calling and you grudge the time, you are free to counter the offer with ‘‘No, no, just give everyone my love.”’ DEAR MISS MANNERS — I am fairly thin, and I exercise to stay in shape. But I am certainly not perfect. In light conversation, people say things like ‘‘I am so heavy F can't buy any new things" or ‘‘If I was thin like you, I could wear outfits like that.’’ When the other person really does need to tose weight or shouldn't wear certain things, 1 never know the right thing to say. 1 feel that if 2 don’t say anything, IT am agreeing with them. What is a correct response that wouldn't hurt their feelings, even though what they are saying might be true? GENTLE READER — If peo- ple are going to insult themselves, Miss Manners understands the temptation to let them. But, like you, she will rise above it. Your reply should be a non- specific ‘‘] think you look wonderful."’ Look them smilingly in the eye when you say this, to indicate that the comment refers to the overall effect they make, not to how much they fill out their overalls. DEAR MISS MANNERS — While I was visiting my grand- mother, she informed me _ that eating my mashed potatoes with a . spoon was rude. Though this may not be important to most, mashed potatoes are a staple of life for me. Please teil rae what is proper. GENTLE READER — Grand- mothers are proper. Yours is right about the mashed potatoes. She probably does not want to deprive you of .a staple of your life; no more does Miss Manners. But both of them understand that any mashed potatoes you cannot convey to your mouth just as easi- ly with a fork as with a spoon are too runny anyway. ‘Dr. Brooke Mitchell, DDS. is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Wade DDS. is joining our Dental Practice starting on January 6, 1992 #300-1200 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver «above McDonald's Restaurant) ‘Appointments: 988-5014 “STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY” . The North Shore Union Board of Health has received a grant of $15,000 from the Provincial Ministry of Health. The Grant is available to be divided amongst community groups or agen- cies who come forward with proposals designed to “Strengthen the Community”. Applications are available to be picked up at North Shore Health, 132 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. Applications must be received by February 28, 1992. NORTH SHORE UNION BOARD OF HEALTH YORK House SCHOOL YORK HOUSE SCHOOL is a college preparatory day school K-12, which aims to provide the best possible educational opportunities for girls. YORK HOUSE has: *A challenging academic programme ¢ A wide variety of extra-curricular activities « Dedicated teachers ; *Smail classes . : We help prepare students for the challenges which the future will bring. “Testing 8 and interviews will be held between January For application or information you are invited to contact: YORK HOUSE SCHOOL . 1500 West King Edward Avenue Vancouver, B.C. . V6J 2V6 Tel: 736-6551 Fax: 736-6536 * The waiting list for kindergarten and grade 1 is now closed. . et aies uc] cll There's nothing complicated z about it. Our new Quick Controt” plan puts you in control fast. And it's hassle-free, so it's easy to stick with. You'll choose from deksious preplanned menus of “ the foods you ove. Meals that are a snap to prepare with minimat weighing -- 3 . and measuring. It even works when you're dining : out. Quick Control. So get with the plan and you'l telat tea cat 1 oy] see, success has never deen this simple. You" ‘ve Got it in You To Get It O8 You: Fes nexener wees moo rewesG ST) Ore gurney aren 088 egfevny 1992 Ore ours O80 r aa Vea al skeCied locators tor prepay mere Mastecant Cannot be comomed win omer gscoLrts of soecw ates Orrer TAWVORIC oF Pres 1 eins Wear Waksners a tegutered ragemare G@ WEIGHT WATCHERS INTEAMATIONGL INE WErGoy WATERERS OF SAITISH doin by February ist at these convenient times and locations: NORTH VANCOUVER 102, 123 East 15th St. «Mon. 5:00 & 6:45 pm eTues. 9:15 am, 5:00 & 6:45 pm WEST VANCOUVER Masonic Hail 1763 Bellevue Ave. eWed. 12:15 & 6:45 pm School Districe No. 44 (North Vancouver) School District No. 45 _ (West Vancouver) City of North Vancouver District of North Vancouver District of West Vancouver «Wed. 5:00 & 6:45 pm eThu. 12:15 & 6:45 pm «Sat. 9:15 am —