Show Standard-Examine- mym : employ©© Sired of criSies 7 rJi 1 V i By ABIGAIL VAN BUREN s Universal Pres M 1 K In reply to the letter from “Had Enough" it is certainly the privilege of consumers to criticize merchandise that they deem unsatisfactory for whatever reason but I take ver strong exception to the comment “Lord knows we pay enough for telephone service " Ll I am employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Co and I’ve “had The only presidents to play college football were (from left) Eisenhower Nixon Ford and Reagan Book relates presidential facts Newspaper In honor of Presidents’ Month and the presidential election year we offer — compliments of “The World Almanac of Presidential Facts” (Pharos $995) by Lu Ann Paletta and Fred L Worth — a few tidbits you can use to wow the gang at lunch Victims of unsuccessful assassination attempts: Andrew Jackson Theodore Roosevelt (as an Franklin D Roosevelt (as president-elec- t) Harry S Truman Gerald Ford (twice) and Ronald Reagan Bald presidents: John Quincy Adams Martin Van Buren and Dwight D Eisenhower Bearded presidents: Abraham Lincoln Ulysses S Grant Rutherford B Hayes James A Garfield and Benjamin Harrison Presidents who had moustaches: Chester A Arthur Grover Cleveland Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft Presidents who had no children of their own: George Washington James Madison Andrew Jackson James K Polk and James Buchanan Presidents who played football for their college teams: Dwight D Eisenhower for the US Military Academy Richard M Nixon for Whittier College Gerald R Ford for the University of Michigan and Ronald Reagan for Eureka College Presidents who served as indentured servants: Millard Fillmore as a clothmaker and Andrew Jackson as a tailor Presidents who did not attend college: George Washington Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Grover Geveland and Harry S Truman Presidents who were only children: none Last words of selected presidents — FDR: “I have a terrific headache” Calvin Coolidge: “Good morning Robert” Wood-roWilson: “Edith I'm a broken machine but I’m ready” Theodore Roosevelt: “Please put out the light” William McKinley': Moments before he died he was whispering the words of “Nearer My God to w Thee" Grover Cleveland: “I have tried so hard to do so right Rutherford B Hayes: “I Vnow that I’m going to where Lucy is" Ulysses S Grant “Water" Abraham Lincoln: “They won’t think anything of it” spoken in response to wife Mary’s question as to whether he thought the audience would mind if they held hands Millard Fillmore: “The nourishment is palatable" Zachary Taylor “I am about to die I expect the summons soon I have endeavored to discharge all my official duties faithfully I regret nothing but am sorry that I am about to leave my friends" James K Polk: “I love you Sarah for all eternity I love you” John Tyler “I am going Perhaps it is for the best” John Quincy Adams: “This is the last of Earth I am content” James Madison: “I always talk better laying down" Thomas Jefferson: “Is it the Earth? I resign my soul to God and my daughters to my country” John Adams: “Thomas Jefferson survives” (Adams did not knew Jefferson had died three hours earlier) Patrons of restaurants may voice complaints By JUDITH MARTIN United Feature Syndicate DEAR MISS MANNERS: In a very nice restaurant we were kept waiting for dinner a while longer than usual The waiter came to our table and apologized for the delay I thanked him and said in a polite way “Good! I am starving” Did I do something wrong? GENTLE READER: Is it rude to let restaurant employees suspect that the real reason you are there is to eat? Well no Miss Manners spends a lot of energy trying to persuade people not to make it clear to their friends that food is the main attraction for them at dinner parties If dinner at someone's house is late or not to your taste you are supposed to remember that it was chiefly their company and conversation you wanted The waiter neither entertains such an illusion nor desires You are quite at liberty to tell him politely that you would like to eat it DEAR MISS MANNERS: 1 have a very good friend who lives at Dear Abby Syndicate DEAR ABBY: V Kmght-flidde- 9k 11 nN y? Tuesday February 16 1988 r Miss Manners GENTLE READER: The phrase you need is “Hello? Hello? Hel-ioWhen your friend asks what the matter you say puzzled: “I heard other voices Is there someone else on the line?” “No” she says “I’m just talking to my mother” “Oh” you reply “Then why don’t you call me back when you're finished?” This is an example of the convenience of not always understanding what is going on By politely assuming that there is something wrong or she would not treat you in what would otherwise be a rude manner you force her to return to politeness But Miss Manners requests you also attempt a deeper understanding of what is going on You concede that emergencies warrant interruptions But it is entirely possible that your telephone visits are in themselves an interruption in the household life and that the problem would be solved if you either agreed beforehand when w'ould be a good time to talk or held your conversation on real visits where you could al?” home with her parents When 1 am talking to her on the telephone and her mother or children have something to say to so occasionally include your her they just start talking friend's family in the conversaThey don’t wait for her to get tion oil the phone and she doesn’t DEAR MISS MANNERS: A usually ask me to hold They just start talking to each other and I young man was killed by an autoam left in the air It's usually mobile while he was riding his trivial and something that could motorcycle Would it be proper for the driver to attend the boy’s have waited until the call was finished funeral or would it be more apHow do I tactfully handle this propriate to not attend in case of situation? 1 don’t want to hurt an embarrassing confrontation my friend's easily bruised feel- 'with friends and family? GENTLE READER: Miss Man- ings but I think it is very rude enough of people complaining about what Ma Bell charges for her services What would the writer pay for that little piece of magic that instantly connects you to a loved one whose voice you need to hear? And if you’re hearing impaired it gives you special telephone communication How much is a service worth that summons help to your door 24 hours of every day from police and fire departments and medical teams? Next time you're worried about your invalid parent your child who has moved away from home your new grandchild across the country or the friend you lost contact with years ago please stop and consider who puts you in contact with these people in just moments and what that little bit of magic is worth to you Your phone is the least expensive utility you have Ask anyone who has traveled abroad Thank you Abby — CARROL OLIPHINT DEAR CARROL: Your message came through clear as a bell! But could someone tell me how much profit the telephone company makes on each call — local and Accent on events long-distanc- e? UNION PACIFIC OLD TIMERS CLUB NO S: Valentine party scheduled for Friday has been postponed An announcement of the event will be published at a ners is not nearly so concerned about the embarrassment of the driver as she is about the agony of the bereaved who would have to add to their burdens the necessity of being civilized to the agent of the boy’s death No that person does not belong among later date DEAR ABBY: I was dis- Not only is this insulting to of us who are involved in those daughter is about getting married thinking She and Bobby have been living together for nearly seven years DEAR ABBY: My and have two children He wants to be married in a church but neither one of them belongs to one so his aunt is trying to get them married in the church she belongs to because it’s close to the hall where they w'ant to have their wedding reception My daughter would just as soon have a quick ceremony by a judge but Bobby wants a big church wedding with her in a white wedding gown and veil and him in a white tux He is paying for everything so she is doing it his way They have everything they need in a house so how do we go about telling people if they want to give them a gift to please make it money? Would that be in bad taste? I have heard it would be I thought maybe if the invitations were written up explaining their circumstances it would be OK What do you think? — KENTUCKY READERS DEAR READERS: It would be in poor taste to ask for money And it would be unthinkable to “explain their circumstances” in the wedding invitations I LOST 100 1 AND I'M 100 HAPPIER' mourning relatives and friends But that is not to say that he or she should not demonstrate evidence of extreme contrition It is just better to express it in a letter it will be easier for the family to The NUTRISYSTEM® Weight Loss Program Con Bring Out the Red You make a measured response to that than to a direct confrontation DEAR MISS MANNERS: most tressed to read in your column the expression: “It’s not over until the fat lady sings” the opera but it is an insult to all people who are overweight To perpetuate such a stereotype is certainly beneath you as a spokesperson for our society I truly believe that in this instance an apology is due — MARIANNE H OAKS GENERAL DIRECTOR SACRAMENTO OPERA ASSOCIATION DEAR MS OAKS: Oh come on! I assure you no offense was intended But to those I offended I offer my apologies We have been informed by our daughter and her fiance that they are planning a wedding in about 1 1 months The plans appear to be under the control of the Our comprehensive Weight Less Program includes: Nutritional flavorful groom In a case like this who is responsible for the bills? We plan to retire in about four years and low-calor- One-on-o- ne personal counseling Light exercise Maintenance for continued success are working toward this end Both people involved in the wad- ding have been working since they v'ere 1 8 Our daughter has not lived with us for six years The wedding being planned is quite elaborate and we have been Cd! Now And BeginToLose told rather than consulted about what will and will not be done Help! GENTLE READER: meals ie Contrary to a popular belief among bridal couples there is not and has never been a rule of etiquette enabling one set of people to plan a social event while requiring another set to pay for it Your daughter and her fiance are giving themselves a wedding Miss Manners hopes that you will have a pleasant time as their guest Successful Weight Loss for Life! As people vtrv so floes on tnflii'ifl jai s weignt loss 'stem me C 1CS7 Nut SUNRtDER & HERBAL LIFE Hpfi: s great nW With Barley Green you get the same hea'th benelits tor a lot lusr money lose weicht overcome sickonsr and disease naturally Call any- time 543 9513 People & M CERAMICS': OPEN HOUSE maim qlmm mmmsQ 2Qoff £17 N Harriwlll 7E2-1B4- Claim New clients only with the purchase of a Nutri System Program Call Rd today for A OGDEN 6 SuppitM le L Ph 479-022- 8 FREE-N- O OBLIGATION CONSULTATION BOUNTIFUL Ph 298-888- 2 J |