The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 57

2D THE PALM BEACH POST SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2002 Liz Smith Mother's behavior alienates her son I Dogs perceive babies differently Groom's sister loses patience Alters witnesses Le Cirque fire ear Abby: During the past 50 years, my 83- ear Dr. Fox: Lucky, our 8-year-old Labrador, is very protective of all our family members, and a joy to have around. When he sees us I year-old brother has been married and divorced eiuht times. Between marriages he Pear Ann Landers: My 40-year-old son was divorced two years ago from a woman who! cheated on him. One of her affairs resulted! in a child.

She never made any secret about 4hei fact that this little girl was fathered by another hugging, he nudges us and gently barks in an effort to be part of the act. But, if he sees anyone pick has lived with a number of women off and on. Now he has made yet another conquest. After BIRD'S-EYE VIEW of the Le Cirque fire: First, it wasn't really at Le Cirque, but in the up an infant or hears an lntant crying, he really appears dis- Palace Hotel overhead on the fourth floor. if I 1 turbed.

Once, when a friend's 1 hahv was nn a rahlf he circled Still, the acrid smoke cleared out the restaurant, while owner Sirlo Maccioni and his lieutenants stood outside in the courtyard, cosseting their patrons arriving for lunch. v. knowing a woman in her 70s for only three weeks, they tied the knot. However, now my brother wants me to meet his "bride" and prepare a fancy dinner in their honor. I have flatly refused.

I have no man. My son, however, is quite: attached to the child and; considers her to be his Since he was married to 'his' wife at the time the girl was; born, she is legally his. He was granted partial custody and lias the child every weekend. Shej is now 5 years old. I I refuse to acknowledge; this child as my grand-; daughter.

She is no blood! relation to me, and I have, ho; "IT-v. it and growled, and on two other occasions when our friends brought babies to our home, he made me so uneasy that I had to put him in the bedroom until they left. In a few months, we're expecting a visit from our first grandchild, and I'm uncomfortable at the thought of Lucky in the same room with the baby. Is there Ann Landers Dear Abby Abigail Van Buren and Jeanne Phillips Ask the Vet Dr. Michael Fox Barbara Walters was with Beverly Sills, Leonard Lauder and a number of ABC executives.

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, as well as Arnold Scaasi, joined the At 1:30, the fire was under control, and in wanders Manhattan's Carroll Petrie as if nothing had happened. Sirio takes her to her regular table and murmurs, "We don't usually call the fire engines, but today we Walters desire to meet another of his brides and make a big to-do about it. Am I wrong? I am 84 and can't take any more of this nonsense. Had Enough in Northern California Dear Had Enough: You're not wrong. I don't know how many of these wedding celebrations you have hosted for your brother, but at this point I think you should be a guest at their wedding banquet.

Dear Abby: I am a new father to my precious 13-month-old baby girl. My 76-year-old grandma helps us by baby sitting, but doesn't like being stuck indoors for hours at a time. My mother just told me that Grandma is buying an infant car seat so that she can drive the baby around town. Abby, the thought of my grandma behind the wheel makes me uncomfortable. I know I must say something, but she is one headstrong lady and won't like what she's hearing.

What is the best approach to all of this, Abby? Protective New Dad, Somewhere In California Dear New Dad: Seventy-six isn't necessarily over the hill. However, if you have any doubts about your grandmother's ability to drive safely with your child in the car, you must assert your parental responsibility and protect your child. Dear Abby: Please inform your readers that the American Association of Poison Control Centers has recently launched a new national toll-free telephone hot line for poison emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week 1-800-222-1222. The poison center can answer questions about household products, chemicals at work or in the environment, drugs, snake bites, spider bites, plants and mushrooms. More than 70 percent of poisonings are preventable.

Readers can also call the hot line for poison prevention information and for stickers to post the new hot-line number in their homes. Linda B. Kalin, American Association of Poison Control Centers Dear Linda: Readers, no matter what your location is, this one number will connect you to lifesaving advice and helpful information from your nearest poison center. All services are free, confidential and available for the hearing-impaired and for those who do not speak English. Dear Abby appears daily.

Write to her in care of The Palm Beach Post, P.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, Fla. 334164700. interest in accepting another man's child as partof my family. My son is upset about my attitude md; says the girl often asks about her "other grandma." She wants to meet me.

This is not! possible. He says I am being unreasonable. Am Not the Grandma in Virginia Dear Grandma: Whether or not your soais; biologically related to this little girl, he is, her! father in the true sense of the word. It is not.the! child's fault that her mother had an affair. Not only; are you depriving yourself of the joy of being grandmother to a precious child, you are also! denying the little girl the opportunity to getlo! know you.

Moreover, you are alienating your son; by being so stubborn, and it will eventually; damage your relationship beyond repair. I urge you to open your heart and accept this! child. You won't regret it. Dear Ann Landers: This is in response to the; letter from "Married But Still Looking's Wife, in; Atlanta." She said her husband downloaded-pornography and listed himself with an dating service. They both went for counseling, but; he didn't bother to tell the therapist about the; porn.

It is obvious that the man is in denial about' the seriousness of the situation. I used to look at pornography and believed it; wouldn't hurt my marriage. However, it changed; the way I looked at my wife, the way I treated her' and how I thought of my marriage vows'. It! affected her trust in me, and now, over a year she still gets nervous when I sit down at computer. I am doing my best to earn her respect again, but I know it will take a long time.

Pornography does hurt a marriage, or not the wife knows about it or the admits he has a problem. I hope this woman will; insist that her husband be honest with his thera-j; pist. It is the only way their marriage will Recovered in Dayton, Ohio Dear Dayton: While an occasional peek at girlie magazine is normal, a consistent dief.of: pornography can distort a man's perspective: about women and his expectations about intimacy. Thanks for being the Voiceofj Experience. Ann Landers' column appears daily.

Write toher in care of "The Palm Beach Post, P.O. Box 24700-West Palm Beach, Fla. 334164700. i. anything we can do ahead of time that will help him adjust to babies? F.M., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dear F.M.: A baby may be seen by a dog as non-human something to play with, like a toy or prey. Or, it may see it as a puppy, and treat it likewise. These and other mixed, signals may evoke a variety of reactions in the dog, such as curiosity, playfulness, protectiveness and devotion, as well as jealousy and insecurity if the baby is getting all the attention, as is usually the case. Dogs may accidentally hurt a baby or young child, but they rarely do it deliberately. The risk is that a caring dog may try to lift the baby up in its jaws and thus injure it, or even crush its skull.

There are several things you can do to help accustom Lucky to babies and small children. For one, I assume he is trained and obedient. If not, you should get to obedience school with him. Also, get a life-sized baby doll that cries. Let Lucky see you hold the doll, and let him sniff it while you talk reassuringly to him.

It's also very important that your dog not feel left out because of the newcomer. So, give Lucky plenty of TLC when your grandchild comes. Until you're really sure how your dog will behave, never let the baby out of your arms with the dog unsupervised. Dear Dr.Fox: In response to your request for readers to brag about their pets' skills, I offer my cat's trick for getting her breakfast. I've always been an early riser, and my cat expects me to feed her as soon as I get up.

On the rare weekend morning when I want to sleep a little longer, my Persian will jump up on the windowsill and rattle the blinds with her paws as loudly as possible, until I must get out of bed to get some peace and her breakfast! S.S., Arlington, Va. Dear S.S.: Thanks for sharing how your feline companion has developed an effective way of communicating her need for you to get up and fix her breakfast. It's remarkable how effectively and persistently animals can communicate with us and express their frustration when we don't respond. Dr. Fox's column appears Sunday.

Write to him in care oThe Palm Beach Post.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, Fla. 334164700. decided to do something a little special for you." LIZA AND DAVID still confounding their critics, still together in Monte Carlo and loving their life! They are living in a private villa and have fallen for Monaco, saying they want to live there. They already have a 12-bedroom estate on 2 acres, with horse stables and indoor-outdoor pools, being purchased in France at Neuilly.

The happy couple is fresh from dinner with Prince Albert, lunch with Prince Rainier and the ballet with Princess Caroline. Before Monaco, the Gests left London in triumph after being feted by Rosemary and Ken Lieberman (he's the billionaire chemist) at the restaurant San Lorenzo. The party boasted Vanessa Redgrave, Elaine Paige, Franco Nero, Joan Collins and Percy Gibson, Martine McCutcheon, Sir Andrew Uoyd Webber and Madeline, and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Bricusse, among others.

Hoping that Liza's newly renovated apartment will be ready in time, they plan to return to New York May 6 for rehearsals of Liza's Back! Miss Minnelli will perform essentially the same show as in London, but this time with 14 dancers and an 18-piece orchestra. She opens at the Beacon Theatre May 31. WHILE THE REST of America said "Aw!" fondly upon hearing that President George W. Bush's aide, Karen Hughes, was resigning from her position of power to "spend more time with her family," The Washington Post cast a jaundiced eye. Reporter Mark Leibovich noted that many people, including executives from Enron and Arthur Andersen, the embattled NASA administrator Daniel Goldin and the GOP's James Gilmore, "were all afflicted with family longings that coincided with searingly difficult job circumstances." But, in the end, Hughes, her 15-year-old son Robert and her husband, jerry, homesick for Texas, won the benefit of the doubt via "The Double Standard Excuse." In other words, a woman's concern for the men in her life makes rapre sense than a man's.

WW 1 Morning Monologue Horoscope by JOYCE JILLSON PALM BEACH CENTER FOR LIVING-' An Intimate Evening with Deepak Chopra, M.D. A Benefit Lecture Regulators crack down on abdominal stimulators Karen Hughes has resigned as White House adviser in charge of communications. She ran an awfully tight ship. In 15 months there were only two leaks at the White House, but she's not responsible for what Barney and Spot do in the Oval Office. President Bush greeted U.S.

Olympic team members from the 2002 Winter Games at the White House. The athletes must have inspired Grow Younger, Live Longer The Deeper Wound Ageless Body, Timeless Mind Monday May 20th 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles Times Abdominal muscle stimula PC -J7'V tors may be popular, but legal authorities aren't enthusiastic about some of the health claims made by manufacturers of the lmM Join Deepak Chopra as he dhpcb the current tmrtlw AfuiiMim ihuI sflukfifiMr rim uaraolji ii products. him. According to the latest poll, last week he finished ahead of all other world leaders in the Men's Downhill.

Laura Bush opened a Washington, D.C., exhibit of plastic donkeys and elephants called Party Animals last week. We're all prisoners of our patterns. Five minutes after she unveiled the party animals, she threatened to leave if they didn't quit The Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on some of the devices and, recently, a Napa County, Superior Court judge issued a preliminary of dying yuung at an advaHm) age. MMr mi. uimiii.

Tickets are $75 and available at I'alm Beach Center For Living Call (561) 630-8441 1 Seating Is Hmltrdf Purchase ytmr tickets in adfanu- ESI tfft. X3 3 ffijigyg MW Journeys Argus Hamilton Thtrc will be i Special UP. RrccpUiwi whh ftvpak Chopra pm u7 pm iht Brazilian (auti llatd pfeaw contact thr Palm Bradi Ltntrr hir Uvin for di-uik The event major spurnor te the hrsutiful "Just ftir Ytmm Program and fhnuurce U-nirc for Hiikdi A Will rk-tnu la Palm Ik-ach. In additkm, Miracle Jtmrnwti Maaxine lb Kracaxhly donating time and effort on behalf of thin tpa tal nlhL injunction halting the advertise ment and sale of Gymform Plus stimulators distributed by Indus-tex USA and two other Industex Signing al Kama 6 AoMe City Place, test Mm Btacb, I Mrnulay, May 2nt Those born today: Go over accounts, know where every penny goes, and your romantic partner will also become more financially stable. Entangled business matters can sort themselves out in July if you're patient.

Today's Birthdays: Author Harper Lee is 76. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III is 72. Actress-singer Ann-Margret is 61. Actress Marcia Strassman is 54.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno is 52. Actress Mary McDonnell is 49. Rock singer-musician Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) is 49. Actress Penelope Cruz is 28. Actress Jessica Alba (Dark Angel) is 21.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Get out of your normal routine, and youH find that your romantic luck is hot Taurus (April 20-May 20). If you don't know how to make your environment better, hire someone who does. Gemini (May 21-June 21). Be a financial winner, and make cash purchases whenever possible it'll be refreshing. Cancer (June 22-July 22).

Accept reality graciously. Your search for wisdom will be aided by a Pisces. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). What you know about money can be built on by a Capricorn or Virgo.

Ask inquisitive questions this afternoon. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). YouH finally reach your goal; celebrate with your nearest and dearest friends, Libra (Sept.

23-Oct. 23). Persistence is the key in getting noticed. Look beyond someone's bleak outer appearance. Scorpio (Oct.

24-Nov. 21). You might be irresistibly attracted to someone you never liked much. Pay attention to your dreams tonight Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec.

21). As far as getting more fun into your life, unplugging the phone and turning off the television will help. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).

Elders are too proud to tell you they need you. Observe them carefully. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).

It may seem as if people are imitating your every move, but they really are following your lead. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Your fickle love partner may finally make a decision, but you have the last word. corporations.

The device, which costs about The Quilt Garden drinking. Al Gore leads Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president in the latest poll. He's ahead 36 percent to 18 percent. Hillary would be polling a lot stronger among Democrats, but she refuses to give up hair spray, Earth Day or no Earth Day. John Ashcroft announced the arrest of 138 airport employees in Washington, D.C.

They lied, they misrepresented their background, and they gave false information in sworn statements. Under local law, they were arrested for littering. French president Jacques Chirac accused rival candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen of being an extremist, a racist and a xenophobe. It must be true. When John Rocker entered the Rangers game Tuesday night, the organist played the French national anthem.

The FBI has said that last fall's anthrax attacks were likely the work of a loner and not a foreign government. The CIA is not so sure. They looked into Saddam Hussein's personal job history and sure enough, he started out in the mailroom. Argus Hamilton is the host comedian at The Comedy Store in Hollywood (argusargushamilton.com) Full Service Quilt Shop in West Palm Beach Fabrics Gifts All Your Favorite Designers including the new lines $50, is sold over the Internet and in stores. A ban on the product in California was sought by the district attorney's offices in Napa and Sonoma counties on grounds that electrical stimulators can be used only by licensed doctors and physical therapists and that manufacturers need approval from state authorities to conduct sales.

The stimulators are touted to firm and tone muscles by passing electrical current through muscles, causing them to contract The injunction affects only Industex, not other manufacturers or distributors of electrical abdominal stimulators. But Daryl Roberts, Napa County's deputy district attorney, says his office is investigating other companies that sell such devices in the state. "We may have to bring more cases," Roberts said. The devices "are flat-out illegal. Second, the health claims are unsubstantiated and misleading.

Third, the products are misbranded; they don't have the appropriate warnings on them." Company representatives could not be reached for comment. Under federal law, electrical stimulators must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be sold directly to consumers. But FDA officials said that the agency does not have the resources to crack down on all offenders and, instead, will focus its efforts on encouraging manufacturers to seek legal approval to market their devices. Make labels for multiple cords ear Heloise: I have a hint that my husband, Mike, came up with. If you have numerous Hints from Heloise Open Monday Saturday 1 0 am till 5 pm 1911 Forest Hill Blvd West Palm Beach 561-304-0444 Continue to visit us and shop online at www.thequiltgarden.com worked when I cleaned the carpeting that is close to the moldings.

Mrs. Esther LewkowKz, Phoenix Dear Heloise: When we. travel out of state, we keep a copy of our itinerary on the front seat of the car, and a copy in my purse. This has the phone numbers of each family or motel where we will be staying in case we have an accident and are unable to tell police who to contact in that area (daughter, son, Carolyn from Virginia Write to Heloise in care of The Palm Beach Post, P.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, Fla.

334164700. items plugged into one outlet or a power strip, especially if it is behind a bed or entertainment center, take small labels and attach them to the end of the cord with the name of the appliance. This way, there will be no confusion if you need to unplug or move one. Michele Hanley, Jeanette, Pa. Give a Heloise hug to your husband! We love this hint in our office.

It came in handy when we moved computers around. Before we removed any cords to a computer, scanner, printer, we marked them. When it was time to put them back, it was easy to tell which cord went where. Heloise Dear Heloise: Just the other day, I tried something different to clean the moldings. I used an old, soft dish brush not only did it work on the molding, but it also Small Ads Get Read, Too Call 561-820-4300 to advertise in The Palm Beach Post.