No One Likes Holding Scaly Hands December 19, 2009

Hola Katie,

How do I keep my hands from getting so dry in the winter?  My cuticles are so dry they’re starting to crack, and it hurts!  My fingers are scaly!  HELP!

Pam, 32

Dear Pam,

Ahh winter hands.  I know them well.  The cold, dry air wrecks havoc on your poor hands, and there’s nothing you can do about it.  Right?

There is plenty you can do.  First of all, make sure you’re drinking enough water.  Being well hydrated keeps your skin hydrated, too.  Drink water.  Just do it.

Keep hand cream with you at all times.  Put it on after you wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, or just when you have a free minute.  Overnight, lube your hands up really well, put socks over your hands, and let the goodness sink in.

Cuticle cream will be your new best friend.  Apply it when you don’t have anything to do for a little while, and let it sink in really well.  You can find it in the beauty aisle at any store.

Yucky, dry winter hands can be helped.  Just be sure to remember to reapply!

Protect Yourself…Crab People May Be Coming December 15, 2009

Dear Katie,

How can I protect myself from crab people?

Timothy, 27

Dear Timothy,

Crab people are a legitimate concern in today’s world.  With all of the swearing, sex, and violence on television, it’s only a matter of time until they come seeking blood.

To protect yourself from crab people, I suggest full body armor.  Never take it off.  Never.  Not even to shower or sleep.  Crap people know as soon as it comes off.  While you are waiting for your armor to come in the mail, try aluminum foil covered pots and pans.  Crab people are terrified of aluminum foil.

If you have no idea what Timothy is concerned about, check out South Park episode “South Park is Gay” from season seven.  Your questions will be answered.

South Park Studios

Flo Can Sell Me Insurance Any Day! December 9, 2009

Hi Katie,

Who plays Flo the Progressive Girl?  She’s adorable (and hot).

RJ, 32

Dear RJ,

Ah, Flo.  If I needed car insurance, and lived in TV Land, she’d be the one I’d run to.  We’d skip through a meadow, holding hands, frolicking, and making daisy chains….whoa, lost my train of thought there.  Enough of my Flo fantasies, let’s get down to business.

The actress who plays Flo is Stephanie Courtney.  She’s no rookie actress, either.  She’s appeared in Mad Men, she had a brief appearance in Blades of Glory as the reporter at sign-up, and even ER.  In 2005, she appeared in a commercial for Wienerschnitzel.  She’s a member of The Groundlings Theater in LA, and is 39 and married to Scott Kolanach, lighting director for The Groundlings.

Flo has appeared in Progressive commercials for the past year or so.  She has a large following, and currently has 226,553 followers on Facebook alone.  She also had the honor of being one of the top Halloween costumes of 2009.  Check out her Facebook page to look at some of the pictures, some of them are really good.

Here are a few links for maximum Flo.

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Progressive’s Flo Unofficial Website

The Pangea of Friendship December 4, 2009

Dear Katie,

I have these two friends that I’ve known since freshman year of college.  Since our junior year, they’ve stopped making an effort to hang out with me. It’s always me that calls to see if they want to hang out, and half the time they don’t answer. I haven’t seen them in over a month, despite the fact that we live within walking distance of each other.  Now they want to have a holiday party.  I can’t decide, should I go and see if I can reestablish our friendship, or should I tell them that I can’t go, and get over them?

Becky,  21

Dear Becky,

Do you remember taking vows saying that you’d always be friends?  Did you sign a contract?  If not, you don’t have to make an effort to stay in touch when it seems that you’ve grown apart.

When you met your friends, you were a freshman.  You are now a few years older and wiser, and have probably grown a lot as a person since then.  Your friends have probably grown, too.  You’re more mature, and looking back on the fun times you had with them, and they might not seem so fun anymore.

If you don’t have an interest in continuing the friendship, you may have just grown apart so much that the gap is too far to build a bridge.  You’re North America, they’re Europe.  You used to be connected, but now there’s an ocean between you.

How were you invited to this Christmas party?  If by phone or in person, I’d say give it a shot.  They cared enough to find you and tell you about it.  If it was by email or Facebook, I’d say skip it.  They may have invited everyone they knew, and it’s not personal for you.

These things happen.  Are you still best friends with the same people from kindergarten?  Probably not.  People grow and move on, and sometimes it’s best to just let it happen.  Someday you might reconnect, but let that happen organically.

Substitute Boyfriends Need to be Hidden from Roommates! December 2, 2009

Katie,

My boyfriend lives six hours away, and he wants to get me a sex toy for Christmas.  I’m OK with the idea, but I’m a little bit embarrassed about having it in my apartment with three roommates.  Any suggestions?

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

I’m sure your boyfriend will be thrilled that you are “OK” with his choice of gift for you.  Perhaps he can be moderately enthusiastic about yours for him.  If you aren’t interested in this particular item, throw it under your bed and forget about it.  He lives six hours away, he won’t find it.

As for the roommates, hopefully they aren’t snooping through your things, but you should probably do your best to keep this particular item hidden.  That would be traumatizing for all parties involved.

The classic hiding place is the underwear drawer.  Normal people don’t go rifling through someone’s skivvies, so this is a somewhat private place.  An empty suitcase works, too, as long as it doesn’t make noise when something is rolling around, or even under a pile of sweaters in your closet.  Under your mattress is also a great hiding place for things you want to keep to yourself.

Even though your boyfriend already told you what you’re getting, try to act surprised.  After all, it’s the thought that counts.

Trust Your Instincts November 30, 2009

Katie,

How do you know when you have met a person of interest that you can trust? How do I know when I can truly trust a person after the many times before I have been told to trust someone and they hurt me?

Brandi, 20

Dear Brandi,

When in doubt, trust your instincts.  If someone has hurt you before, they are probably going to do it again.  They might not, but then again, they might.  People don’t change much.

If you meet someone new, and you seem to hit it off, don’t go giving them your social security number and date of birth just yet.  Let them prove themselves to you.  If this is a friend-of-a-friend or someone you know through others, ask them a little bit about that person.  If you’re trying to guard your heart (or other body parts…), it’s worth it.

OK, so you have been warned several times not to trust this person.  Are the people telling you this reliable?  If you think they are, maybe it’s time you listen to them.  Sometimes taking the advice of others really can save you.  They are just trying to help you out.

Trust is a funny thing.  It’s so hard to earn, but so easy to take away.  Don’t go around trusting people right away, make them earn it.

Prepare Yourself For Begging November 29, 2009

Folks, I’m out of questions.  Completely out.  I would sincerely appreciate if I had enough questions to answer for quite some time.  That’s right.  Flood me with questions.  Send them on in to askkatieblog@gmail.com and I’ll answer them.

Thanks everyone,

Katie

I Do Believe in Betty Crocker! November 25, 2009

Hey Katie,

Was Betty Crocker a real person?  She would make an epic grandma.

Taylor, 22

Dear Taylor,

Perhaps instead of dreaming of grandmas who can bake you a pie out of a box, you could call your own grandma.  I’m sure she’d appreciate it.

To answer your question, no, Betty Crocker isn’t real.  She was an ad campaign from 1921, designed as a friendly face to put on products.  The name is just a friendly name; she’s not named after anyone in particular.  She also had a radio show at one point in time.

I’m sorry you can’t have your dream grandma.  You’ll just have to learn to bake by yourself and use your imagination.

Here are some websites to keep you entertained.

Betty Crocker

Wikipedia

Betty Crocker on Facebook

 

A Theological Question November 23, 2009

Dear Katie,

Why does God hate me?  Every night I think about how stressed out I am and hide under my covers and bawl.  Jesus didn’t die on the cross for me, he died for everyone else, and it makes me sad.  Buddha has been a bust so far.  Please help me.

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

I’m sorry to hear that you are feeling this way.  It sounds to me like you might need more help than I can give you.  I would suggest talking to a priest or another religious figure in your life, since you think that God hates you.

If there is a God, he doesn’t hate you.

Your feelings aren’t healthy, and neither is the stress you are feeling.  I would suggest talking to someone, such as a counselor or a trusted friend.

I hope that you start to feel better, and that you resolve the problems you are facing.

Just Say No To Caffeine November 23, 2009

Katie,

Can you consume caffeine while pregnant?

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous Caffeine Addict,

This goes down as shortest question I’ve ever had.  Hopefully you’ll receive a short answer.

WebMD (one of my favorite websites, in case you can’t tell) recommends staying away from caffeine altogether while pregnant, but moderate use is not going to harm the baby after the first trimester.  “Large amounts of caffeine have been linked to premature birth and low birth weight,” so stay away from the Red Bull.

iVillage, a website for women, has more detailed information.  I’ve included the link at the bottom so you can read it.

My advice is this:  when in doubt, just don’t consume it.  It’s only caffeine, not water/air/sleep/other things that you and your baby have to have.

WebMD

iVillage

Baby Center