The Gazette from Cedar Rapids, Iowa • 15

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Thurs. July 18, 1996 1 5a Advice Entertainment Hives can be a headache Taupin ready tb make marlc 'Can we make this happen every FAMILY DOCTOR Tom Hanks Directing Q. I am so frustrated. I have these blotches that appear on my body. But they fade away, and I can never seem to get to my physician while they are still there.

My mother claims it is hives; she had them too as a young girl. Does any of this make enough sense to you, so that you can figure out what I have now, and what Mother had 40 years ago? A. It's always extrefmely difficult to make an accurate diagnosis about a skin condition without seeing the lesion or rash, but since your doctor seems to be in the same boat, let me Swelling may accompany the rash, and the appearance of the skin changes constantly for the duration of the hive attack, which may last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Hives are the result of an allergy or exposure to some type of skin irritant. The allergy may be to food, food additives (such as food coloring or preservatives), medications (either prescribed or over-the-counter), or substances that have been inhaled during breathing (dander, dust or pollen, as examples).

Hives may also result from an infection or insect bite, and some people develop hives when their skin is exposed to extremes of heat or cold. First aid for ordinary hives requires you to stop any vigorous physical exertion and apply cool compresses to the skin. This will help reduce the itch, which becomes worse when you are warm. Antihistamines are useful in combating the hives, but the most important thing you can do is to try to discover just what sets them off. Keeping a diary of daily activities can help.

If the hives or swelling becomes worse or is accompanied by wheezing, dizziness or shortness of breath, an emergency visit to your hospital or physician is a must, as these are signs of a severe reaction. Short of that, hives are more of a nuisance than a severe disease, so you need hot be overly concerned. Allan Bruckheim Tribune Media Services try. Your mother's diagnosis may be as close as anything I can tell you. Hives are itchy red blotches that suddenly appear anywhere on the body and then tend to fade out, with a new crop arriving within minutes.

They may be as small as a pea or as large as a dinner plate, with all sizes in between occurring at the same time. made this picture and assumed "Brett was just hanging around the set a lot." Lance Henriksen, who stars in Chris new "Millennium" drama for fall, says it took some major convincing by the "X-Files" creator to get him to do a television show. The actor, who's starred in such films as "Aliens," "The Quick and The Dead" and "Pumpkinhead," says Carter invited him to guest on "The X-Files." He passed. A year later, Chris informed Lance he'd written a series with him in mind. "I read it and I was completely amazed," says Henriksen.

The actor, who plays a crime-solving forensics expert in the highly anticipated Fox series, says his initial concern was whether the quality of the "Millennium" pilot could be maintained. "It was so complex and wonderfully done, I thought, There's trouble in the DEAR ABBY A Abigail Van Buren j7 Universal i Press a)r Syndicate ij rjKk ear Abby: My husband I 111 and I are totally incompatible in the bedroom. I am not talking about sex; I'm talking about our sleep habits. Tom likes the windows open with the room air cool, the radio playing, and the curtains open so the morning light streams in. I like to be warm, so I object to the cool air as well as the street noise.

I prefer the room to be dark and quiet, and I can't fall asleep to music playing or sleep through bright lights in the morning. I've tried earplugs to block out the sound, but they don't always work and besides I want to be able to hear my kids. We do have an electric blanket with dual controls, but No Annual Fee VISA Gold By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith Tribune Media Services OLLYWOOD Things are really buzzing for Bernie Taupin, who's launching his "Last Stand in Open Country" album and his new Farm Dogs band while his "Phenomenon" film track, "Dance With Life (The Brilliant Light)" sung by Bryan Ferry, is making its own splash. "I definitely want to do more movie songs," says the feisty Taupin, who is out to convince the world his new band is more than just a sideline between collaborations with Elton John. "I would love to have Farm Dogs do a soundtrack for a movie.

The perfect one would be SHOW BUSINESS BEAT 'All the Pretty he says, referring to the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's acclaimed novel. He adds, "Mike Nichols owns the property. That's the movie I would kill to do music for." Taupin says Elton gave him positive feedback on "Last Stand" while the album was a work in progress, but he didn't get around to mailing EJ a finished disc until last week. "We do very separate things and lead very opposite lives when we're not working together," notes Taupin, who sinks most of his non-musical time into raising champion Cutting Horses on his and his Santa Ynez, Calif, ranch. John is at work on a Disney-backed rock musical version of "Aida" for Broadway.

"We're' good personal friends and we both want each other's approval of whatever we do, but we're very different. I don't think Elton knows what a horse looks like. He's not a horse kind of guy." Tom Hanks has his track shoes on. It was expected he would have until November to get "That Thing You Do" the picture he wrote and directed through post-production. However, 20th Century-Fox has decided to move up the release date of the picture about a '60s rock band from Thanksgiving to Oct.

4. Michael J. Fox might be coming back to the TV series scene in the wake of a string of big-screen losers, but you'd never guess it from the credits on his "The Frighteners" flick. Those credits include mention of a personal chef for Fox while he was making the movie. His buddy Woody Harrelson also makes this column's list of Summer '96 Notable Production Credits with his brother Brett listed as his trainer on "Kingpin." The fact Brett served in such a function proved to be news to some close to the production, who didn't know Woody had a trainer while he Elegant Repeats "Upscale Resale" Now accepting Fall Items, Formal Wear Wedding BY APPOINTMENT Women's Casual Professional Clothing A Accessories, Brutal, Formal, Mother's Dresses Wedding Initiations 3531 ML Vernon Rd.

SE 365-1070 Hours: M.T.W A 10-6, Th. 10-7, Sat 10-5 Chris made a promise he'd be there for me day or night no matter where and he's kept true to it. When we did the pilot, my knees were knocking and I was praying it was going to be great. When I saw it, it was more than I thought it was going to be." Midway through filming of his "Private Parts," shock jock Howard Stern "is loose as a goose in front of the camera," relates veteran actor Richard Portnow, who is playing Stern's father, Ben, in the feature based on Stern's best-selling autobiography. The actor, who co-stars in Universale fall-debuting CBS "EZ Streets" series, adds, xO "Howard seems to be having a good time.

He picked up all the mechanics of doing take after take very quickly. It's pretty impressive to see how easily he can alter his delivery." Portnow tells us he met with Stern's parents and "picked up some very useful things" with which to infuse his portrayal of Stern, Sr. "He gesticulates with his forefinger whenever he speaks and there's a certain way he says 'Shut up! Sit down! Don't be stupid, you adds Portnow. "When I heard a tape of him saying it, I thought, 'Yes! This is the way it sounds from someone who has said it thousands of NCUA 0 APR FIXED Rate FURNITURE MART DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAMOS 3GB-SS8S Dsign Shop on Second Floor SAVE BIG NOW! While Supplies Last (319) 365-8609 or 1-800-677 POOL 9 bedroom compromise in the bedroom. Tell him if he'll agree to turn off the music or use a headset, you'll agree to leaving the windows open.

Then, wear warmer nightclothes and buy a sleep mask at the drugstore to block the morning light. You both need to "give" a little. To receive a collection of Abby's most memorable and most frequently requested poems and essays, send a business-sized, self -addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby's "Keepers," P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, III. 61054-0447.

(Postage is included.) Waterloo, N.Y. You can go to the head of the class for this fabulous hint. We also want to thank all of our wonderful readers who took the time to send us a note with information on the family tree charts. Heloise Dear Heloise: When preparing iceberg lettuce for washing, I remove the stem and entire core quickly and effortlessly by using a curved, serrated grapefruit knife. Elizabeth S.

Leonard, Arlington, va. Credit Union Sewing everyone living or waking in Linn County. Northeast -5012 Center Point Rd. NE Southwest 619 20th Ave. SW' Marlon -985 31st Street ints for charting you am i ly tree aside from regulating it, there are other issues we can't agree on.

Please help! Don't suggest sleeping in different rooms. We don't have a spare bedroom. SLEEPLESS AND SUFFERING Dear Sleepless: You and your husband should HINTS FROM HELOISE needed. The possibilities are endless. I created my stepchildren's family trees just this past year for Christmas and they loved them! My husband had them printed (very reasonably) in black and white, so when I gave the originals away, I had a copy, to frame for myself, just in case something happened to the original.

Hope this helps. Joan Scott, r3- THE GREAT 00 2ST STREET SE VXT-J Visit the JULY BLOWOUT! ear Heloise: A few colli II umns ago, a reader wrote Mmr for help trying to find a family-tree chart for her boss. My suggestion for her is to go to the local high school in her area and have one of the many talented art students create a family tree to her boss's liking. Even a senior citizens art class or other local art group might be interested in helping him. One that is used as an original with blank spaces where names would be put could possibly be copied and used over again as FAMILY CIRCUS MARMADUKE POOL TECH -INC Has Your Everyday Vaeatlonl Above Ground Pool Sale.

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Sat. 8 5:30 Sunday 10 5 A plugger wife knows the honeymoon's over when she has to bait her own hook. TODAY'S CHUCKLE II There's only one way to handle men. Now, if we could only find out what it is. Is DM) STILL MAO JUST BECAUSE 1 PATCHED THE HOtfS IN HIS BOWLING.