Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.comment From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Couple are worlds apart about trip Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 14:37:03 EST Message-ID: \SE E;COMMENTARY;COMICS;DEAR ABBY \SS (WS) \HD Couple are worlds apart about trip \BY Abigail Van Buren \CR UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE DEAR ABBY: I have recently come into a large sum of money (six figures). Now for my problem: I've been planning a two-month vacation for my boyfriend and me. I'm 37 and he's 35. I have told him that I would be willing to pay for airfare to and accommodations in the south of France. All he would have to do is save enough for his spending money. Abby, he has shown very little interest in this trip, so I went ahead and made all the reservations for plane and hotel accommodations to Paris, where we will rent a car and drive to Nice. It seems every time I mention this trip, he complains about the hassle of passports, booster shots, etc. I can't understand his attitude. We have gone together for four years and could never afford a trip out of the country before, and now that I'm giving him the opportunity, he seems bored with it all. Am I wasting my time? Should I continue with these plans or forget the whole thing? Who in his right mind wouldn't jump at the chance for a free trip? What do you think, Abby? - UPSET IN VANCOUVER, British Columbia DEAR UPSET: I think you're not getting the message. For whatever reason, your boyfriend is much less interested in foreign travel than you are. You could save yourself a rude awakening (and a lot of money) if you went without him. Why don't you consider it? You will soon find out if he's the man for you - or just a four-year habit. DEAR ABBY: My family and I live in an upper-middle-class residential neighborhood. Upon returning home from work today, I noticed that some prankster had thrown an egg at my front door. The same thing happened several years ago around Halloween. At that time, my housekeeper actually saw the kid throw it. We confronted the parents and were not too surprised when they jumped to their child's defense. They even accused my housekeeper of having lied when she said she had seen the boy throw it! Since there was no eyewitness to today's event, I can't make baseless accusations, although, I must admit, I have my suspicions. I suppose I should be grateful that the egg could be scrubbed off, although I was tired and irritable. I know worse stunts could have been pulled, but I hope that if kids read your column (I know mine do), they will realize how poorly such stunts reflect on themselves and their upbringing. - EGGED ON IN OVERLAND PARK, KAN. DEAR EGGED ON: I see nothing amusing about defacing property. If this happens again, call the parents of the child you suspect and share your feelings. And if that doesn't put a stop to it, talk to your local police. They might like to keep a file on the youngster while the crimes are still "petty." DEAR ABBY: A reader signed "Cooking With Alcohol" wrote: "I baked a Southern Comfort Cake that contained 1/2 cup Southern Comfort (80 percent proof alcohol) in the mix and 1/4 cup in the glaze . . ." Abby, it can be 80 percent or 80 proof, but it can't be both! Proof is twice the percentage of alcohol. Thus 80 proof is 40 percent alcohol. If Southern Comfort were 80 percent alcohol, it would be 160 proof. - STEPHEN DEAN, FRESNO, CALIF. DEAR STEPHEN: Thank you for educating me. Thus far, you and Ralph Beaman of Boothwyn, Pa., are the only readers who corrected the error. Abby's family recipes are included in her Cookbooklet. Send a long (business-size), self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet No. 1, PO Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM