The mailbox is solid and sturdy. It's bolted in, good and tight. It looks like it can withstand a lot of weight - even the Visa and Capital One and MasterCard and American Express offerings that show up every day. Still ...   HOLIDAY CATALOGS - Holiday catalogs are stacking up and they're stacking up fast. American households get 19 billion catalogs annually, leading some to push for reform. CNS Illustration by Cristina Martinez Byvik. The poor ... [full story]

Q: We are really sad because our veterinarian has recommended that we have our dog's left front leg amputated. Our veterinarian has told us that because our dog is small and very energetic he will be able to play and enjoy his life for several more years following the surgery. We have never seen a dog with only three legs and are having difficulty imagining that our dog will be happy and playful again. However, ... [full story]

I recently spent a delightful afternoon chatting with a three-generation trio. They hooked up about a year ago in Legacy Corps. It's a multigenerational program that offers respite for family caregivers, socialization for older folks and mentoring for teens, including foster children, children raised by grandparents and those from low-income families. San Diego County homeowner Mary G., 80, who lives alone, was playing hostess to Barbara Love, 60, and Tierra, who at 16 asked to ... [full story]

Every year around this time, along with the catalogs and the Christmas cards, another sort of correspondence appears in the mailbox - the family holiday newsletter.   HOLIDAY NEWSLETTERS - Morsels of everyday life in a family holiday newsletter can be unappetizing, so keep it snappy! CNS Photo. In theory, newsletters are an efficient means of sending greetings while bringing relatives and friends up-to-date on significant events in your family's life. In reality, most newsletters are as ... [full story]

As the Ghost of Christmas Past would verify, Tom won't be the only turkey at the holiday dinner table. There's Aunt Betsy, the hypochondriac; brother Billy, who's tanked before the meal even gets started; sister Susie, who's as critical as ever; adult children who still whine, aging parents who still tell everyone what to do ....   FAMILY FOIBLES - Don't let a few family misunderstandings cause you to skip the annual holiday get-together. CNS Photo ... [full story]

Summit Meadows Adventures near Park City, Utah, offers a variety of guided snowmobile tour options for individuals as well as groups. Located on the beautiful Garff Ranch and operated by Deer Valley Resort, Summit Meadows is just a five-mile, 10-minute drive from Park City's Main Street. Scenic views of the Wasatch Mountains and canyons make this an adventure not to be missed. Free transportation from Park City is available.   SNOW WHITE - Summit Meadows Adventures, ... [full story]

Q: Stress, stress, stress! The responsibility for holiday gift giving for our grandchildren, who range from 6 to 17, turns grandmother into a frustrated worrywart. What does each want or need? How much does it cost? Is it easily available at the mall or on the Web site? Can it be returned or exchanged? Will each feel they received their fair share? Can my husband and I simply disappear in December? Any ideas for grandparents? ... [full story]

What if your partner has a long-term illness, like dementia or Alzheimer's that eventually prevents maintaining a supportive, loving relationship with you? As we live longer and the number of Alzheimer's patients rises, the question takes on new importance. Often spouses, who become caretakers for Alzheimer's patients, form relationships with someone else for companionship, intimacy and comfort. Recently though the flip side of such relationships has leapt into headlines with the announcement that retired Supreme ... [full story]

Living Christmas trees are "green" - no questions asked. But are they the best pick for you - and the tree?   TREES FOR SALE - David Ross of Walter Andersen Nursery stands among some of the living Christmas trees for sale at the nursery's San Diego location. As on option to evergreen trees, consider tree-shaped rosemary and holiday-blooming camellias. CNS Photo by John Gibbons.    CHOOSING A TREE - To ensure your tree lives a long time ... [full story]

It's a holiday tradition for Marcus and Marian Ordonez to hit the early sale at Toys "R" Us to buy gifts for their four children, and they saw no reason this year should be different.   NOT PLAYING AROUND - A Thomas the Tank Engine toy set at Geppetto's toy store in San Diego momentarily occupies 16-month-old Abby Levy. Despite high-profile recalls of Chinese-made toys, many parents are still out looking for Christmas gifts. CNS Photo ... [full story]

Q: Our friends keep their dog in a crate in their kitchen during the entire day when they are at work and at night when they are asleep. Although their dog seems well-adjusted, this seems very confining to us. Since we are thinking about getting a puppy, our friends are pressuring us to get a crate. Do you recommend crates? If we get a dog, we do not want him to feel like a prisoner ... [full story]

She was 98 and four months. Doris told me when she phoned asking about local transportation from her San Diego County home. Sure, she still drives. Her license is good until she's 101, but she needed to return some hearing aids and didn't want to drive across town. I offered to help if she'd talk with me first about what I hope will be my future - a ripe old age with good health and ... [full story]

It's that time of year again. Christmas carols trumpet across crowded malls. Tiny lights twinkle from rooftops and trees. Homes fill with laughter and frivolity.   SILENT PLIGHT - For some, the holidays are a time of stress and strain; we offer some ways to banish the blues from the season. CNS Photo by Howard Lipin. And all you want to do is burrow into the sofa with the TV remote and a bag of Oreos. While ... [full story]