Welcome to the second annual selection of gift ideas from Miss Abigail’s Time Warp Advice. Burned out on shopping? This year I’m bringing you some ideas for gift certificates. I’m sure your loving family and friends will appreciate them more than a boring old tie or necklace. The pictures are from my collection of books, […]
Tag: 1930s
What to Do and What to Say When Paying Visits in Washington
If you are anywhere near Washington, D.C. this week, you know that today, April 23, is “NATO day” ~ trillions of dignitaries and their cohorts are wandering my fair city (by limo, of course). We are so pleased to host their visit, particularly since a majority of federal workers, such as myself, were granted a […]
Hey Joe, Could You Please Clip Your Nails in Private?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Help! How does one gently tell a young and impressionable co-worker that clipping his fingernails in staff meetings ~ and even at his desk ~ is distressing to the rest of us? Eeewwww. Signed, Grossed out by a Guy A Dear Grossed out: Staff meetings? Yuck. Hmm . . . Perhaps […]
Don’t Whistle While You Work
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I work in a small shop and one of my coworkers whistles very loudly. Many of us have asked him to stop because we think it’s rude to expose us to the awful noise. Maybe if he sees it in print he will stop. Signed, Sam A Dear Sam: Ask, and […]
Should Our New Neighbors Welcome Us?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: We recently purchased a home in a new subdivision. The only neighbor to come by so far to welcome us and introduced himself has been a young boy of seven. Since it’s been three weeks, I was thinking of taking the initiative and going to introduce myself. My husband thinks that […]
Tea, Anyone?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What can you tell me about the proper way to serve tea? If this is too general, would you kindly address afternoon tea service in the home? Still too general? Perhaps you might look at the question of accompanying food service (e.g., pickled jellyfish, toast points, hot buttered brioche &c.). With […]
Care of the Breast
Two things I must question about these “care of” pointers: 1) This excerpt is from a book called Secrets of Love and Marriage ~ I wonder, is this really necessary for a healthy, happy marriage? and 2) The book was written and edited by men. Hmm . . . 1939: Care of the Breast The tight, […]
Her Face Looked Like a Sequined Jacket!
Q Dear Miss Abigail: The other day I heard about a friend of a friend who’d had his tongue forked ~ that’s right, split up the middle. Then yesterday I saw a picture in the paper of a woman with some 200-odd piercings. Her face looked like a sequined jacket. Don’t you think this piercing […]
My Boyfriend Has B.O.!
Q Dear Miss Abigail: I really hope you can help me, because this is driving me up the wall. My boyfriend, who I love very much, has no idea of personal hygiene. He stinks, yet isn’t bothered by it. How can I kindly persuade him to wash before my nose runs away? Signed, Lydia A […]
Cosmetic Illusions
Recently, I wandered into one of those shops in the mall filled with smelly soaps, vanilla-flavored shampoos, and gift baskets for the bath. Before I knew it, thirty dollars had been charged to my credit card, and I was the bewildered owner of foot care products unknown to me before that day. I feel particularly […]