Ask Emily for October 15, 2009
By Mark Bailey on Oct. 14, 2009
Dear Emily: My girlfriend and I live in a small apartment in a rural area. We have a problem with mice, but I’m writing because of my problem with my girlfriend. She refuses to let me call the landlord to take care of this problem because she is afraid he’ll buy the “non-humane” traps to kill the mice. I tried to tell her that these “humane” traps don’t always work, especially in the country where if you let the mice go, they find there way back into your house! Please help me talk some sense into her. – Mouse in the house
Dear Mouse in the house: You can start by explaining to your girlfriend that “humane” traps aren’t all that humane. Apparently, trapping mice can break up family groups, making it difficult for the caught rodents to relocate and survive in new surrounding. The only humane way to release a trapped mouse is in an area close by the home where it was caught. This increases its chances of surviving, but it doesn’t really solve your problem at all, now does it? You might as well let it stay where it is in the first place. But your girlfriend does have one point. Killing mice found in your home isn’t always a long-term solution; new little critters will just move into your home to take the place of their missing friends. Try eliminating temptations for mice (like pet food stored on the floor, a kitchen filled with spills, or indoor nesting areas, like old books and boxes).
Dear Emily: I am twenty-three years old and never had a flu shot before. But now I’m concerned about this H1N1 vaccine I keep hearing about. Isn’t true that you can get the flu from a fu shot? There seems to be a lot of rumors flying around about this vaccine, and now I think I’m more scared to get it than not get it. – Medical mystery
Dear Medical mystery: The H1N1 vaccine has been in the news a lot lately, creating questions and controversy. So it’s best to talk to your doctor to see what is best for you specifically. But what I can tell you, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is that the vaccine is recommend for certain groups of the population, including people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old (among others). I can also tell you that clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the H1N1 vaccine is both safe and effective, and the FDA has licensed it. Finally, the viruses in the flu shot are “inactivated,” so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot.
Dear Emily: If a guy opens up to you about a problem he is having with his girlfriend, could that mean that he likes you? I have a crush on this guy, “Harrison,” but he is dating my friend, “Jill.” But he came to me with all these problems he is having with her, like her flirting with other guys and not answering his calls all the time. So should I be optimistic that he may actually like me a little bit? – Looking on the bright side.
Dear Looking on the bright side: Hold off on celebrating just yet. You aren’t considering one, very important factor. You say Jill is your friend, right? Well, if she is, there is no way you should date Harrison. That is something friends don’t do; there is just too much tension created that could ruin (and end) the friendship. And I have some more bad news. It doesn’t sound like Harrison is having mixed feelings about his girlfriend, but rather he is jealous that he isn’t getting enough of her attention. That is a clear sign that he is still really into Jill. I know it’s hard to get over a crush, but that is exactly what you should try to do.
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