EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA--Lifestyle

Take The First Step: Nothing good can come of heroin use

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:04:00 EDT

Dear Dr. Levy: Some of my friends have been snorting heroin. They said they won't get addicted and you can only get addicted if you inject it. Is that true?
A: I am glad that you are questioning your friends because they are completely misinformed. A person can definitely get addicted to heroin by snorting it. The heroin we now see is very potent. Not only can it lead to addiction, it is not uncommon for a person to first begin snorting heroin and then start injecting it. In fact, many people have first started to snort heroin and over time, they eventually start using it intravenously.

Postured for recovery: Chiropractor works spine to help patients cure pain in neck, and back, and arms, and head ...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:03:00 EDT

For the past 11 years, North Andover resident Tom LaChance has put his back through the ringer.
He owns and operates his own FedEx Ground truck — day in, day out. A prerequisite of the job is to be able to lift a 150-pound package, and that ability gets tested regularly.

Health Briefs

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:03:00 EDT

Senior suppers at Holy Family
METHUEN — Senior suppers will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St. Cost is $5. Reservations are necessary as tables fill quickly. Call 1-800-488-5959, ext. 375.

From womb to world Moms-to-be forgo privacy to share their ultrasounds on the Web

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:02:00 EDT

Social networkers have found a new frontier for the ever-blurring line between inner and outer worlds: ultrasound photographs.
Browse through MySpace profiles or the blogosphere and you can find an expansive collection of in utero snapshots at various stages of the fetus's growth, from grainy, barely readable pictures to the much more vibrant 3D and 4D pictures that show depth and movement.

Horoscope: Bernice Bede Osol

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:02:00 EDT

Friday, July 18
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — If you are too demanding about having your own way, it will arouse the same ultimatum from those who have to deal with you.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Usually you are a gracious person who aims to be affable to all you encounter. At this time, however, these noble characteristics are likely to be absent unless there is something in it for you.

Dear Abby: Father laments conversation gap with his only daughter

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Dear Abby: I am the father of a middle-aged, unmarried, well-educated daughter I'll call "Yvette." My problem is, whether we're together or talking on the phone, Yvette seems to find it difficult to converse with me.

Do North calendar

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:22:00 EDT

AUDITIONS
COMEDY AUDITIONS. RJ's Comedy Express seeks local comedic talent for upcoming open mike and comedy nights in the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire. Call Raymond Poirier, 603-382-0445 or 603-793-3725. Mail tapes to 12 Auburn St., Plaistow, N.H.

Steve Miller Band keeps on rockin': Pop icons to perform at Comcast Center on Saturday

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:21:00 EDT

A lot of people divide Steve Miller's career into two distinct eras.
There is the bluesy psychedelic pop/rock period from 1967 to 1972 that produced five albums and gained him considerable credibility as a songwriter and guitarist, but little in the way of commercial success.

Joker's Wild: Batman's nemesis more freakish than ever in 'Dark Knight'

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:21:00 EDT

Thief. Mass murderer. Psychopath. Clown Prince of Crime.
The Joker — a villain who inhabits the universe of Batman's Gotham — has earned many names for his wrongdoings.
Of all the crimes this devilish character committed in his 70 or so years of existence, though, his latest deed may just manage to surprise the most virulent Batman fans: He steals the show in "Dark Knight," the second film in a modern Batman cinematic franchise opening nationwide tomorrow.

A letter to Heath Ledger in honor of his final role

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:20:00 EDT

Dear Heath,
I've been trying to write a film review for "The Dark Knight" and finding it nearly impossible. I mean, why write an ordinary review for a film that is anything but ordinary? So instead, I decided to write this letter to you, the man I've come to know over the past few years and more recently — especially in the wake of your untimely death earlier this year — to greatly admire.

Horoscope: Bernice Bede Osol

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:19:00 EDT

Thursday, July 17
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Companions will appreciate your quick thinking, perhaps more than you do. Your immediate response to problematic situations saves them a lot of grief.

Dear Abby: Friends pitch in to help keep wedding costs under control

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:18:00 EDT

Dear Abby: I had to laugh when I saw the letter from "Not Sure If I Do" (May 8), who hesitated to attend a potluck wedding at which guests would be expected to pitch in and do dishes.
That sounds a lot like a Quaker wedding. In my meeting house there would be no minister, no music — perhaps some wildflowers picked from a nearby field. The couple would recite vows they had written. The only cost would be the courthouse fee and whatever the couple spent (if anything) on wedding attire.

Learn a new food A little primer on soba noodles

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:38:00 EDT

Soba noodles are thin, square, gray-brown Japanese noodles made out of a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour. The more buckwheat in the noodle, the more delicate the texture and the stronger the flavor. They're usually served either hot in broth, or cold, with a dipping sauce on the side. Though you usually buy them dried, they'll still feel soft to the touch; if kept in an airtight container, they'll stay fresh for several months. They take less time to cook than Italian noodles.

Tot chefs Kids' cooking camps sizzling in popularity

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:37:00 EDT

Drop the s'more and take that hot dog off the stick — one of the hottest trends in summer camp has kids whipping up haute cuisine.
From rec-department lunchbox cooking classes to $2,650-a-week chef training for teens, camps nationwide are offering cooking alongside — sometimes in place of — canoeing and other more traditional camp activities.

Horoscope: Bernice Bede Osol

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:37:00 EDT

Wednesday, July 16
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Find productive ways to utilize your time with projects that hold your interest and attention.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — At a social gathering or the office watering hole, try to keep your conversations to light topics of general interest. Don't say anything mean about someone who isn't present.

Dear Abby: Mom's reluctance to discuss sex puts daughters at risk

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:35:00 EDT

Dear Abby: My 17-year-old niece, "Nicki," was recently diagnosed with an STD. When her mother, my sister-in-law "Cynthia," found out she was horrified. She had ignored several family members — including me — who had tried to warn her that Nicki was sexually active and not taking proper precautions.

Yard Dirt: Being responsible with leftovers no easy feat

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:34:00 EDT

There are a lot of reasons I don't like synthetic lawn chemicals, but the one that's nagging me most right now is the problem of leftovers.
I have a bag of Grubex in the garage with maybe 10 cups of granules left and I don't know what to do with it.

Savory muffins spice up summer mornings

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:33:00 EDT

Muffins have become a popular worldwide favorite. Nowadays, wherever there is a coffee shop, you will most probably find muffins — if you're lucky huge, savory ones, such as cheesy-bacon and sausage-corny muffins.

Great Gardening: Dig carefully when moving azalea bush

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:33:00 EDT

Q: I have a beautiful azalea bush that is being crowded out by other bushes. I want to move the bush to another area of my garden. When and how should I do this?
A: Move the azalea now or wait until early fall. Just be sure there is time for the plant to get settled and grow new roots before winter begins and don't transplant in very hot weather.

There's a world of recipes using oregano

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:32:00 EDT

Oregano is an herb found in Italian, Greek and Mexican cuisines, but it's a relatively recent flavor for the American palate. It is said to have been brought to the United States when soldiers came home from World War II.

Turning junk mail into gardener's gold

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:32:00 EDT

Inside my house, the shredder is the equivalent of the compost bin outdoors, based on how much it is put to work. I shred everything. In fact, I derive great pleasure from it. If you think that sounds a little odd, just know that my kids argue over who gets to shred the next stack.

Shrimp salad roll is a little work, but well worth it

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:30:00 EDT

Munching a shrimp salad roll while lounging oceanside, waves lapping at my feet, is a favorite summer fantasy.
I don't often get to the beach, but this summer I definitely will be indulging the first part of that fantasy, eating many warm, buttered hot dog buns jammed with lobster's less expensive cousin.

Grocery store offers exotic flavors for tortillas

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:29:00 EDT

Your grocer's Latino foods aisle offers a bounty of weeknight cooking shortcuts.
The most obvious choice is salsa, which can go on and in so many things, effortlessly adding tons of flavor. Spoon it over baked haddock or cod, as well as baked potatoes with cheese. Or use it to spike pasta or pizza sauce.

Middle Eastern flavors spice up easy grilled chicken skewers

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:29:00 EDT

For incredibly flavorful grilled chicken skewers with minimal effort, this wet rub of olive oil and Middle Eastern spices turns basic poultry into something spectacular.
This seasoning blend produces deep, savory flavors. If you prefer a bit of heat with your meat, add a dash of cayenne. Small vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes or baby onions, also could be added to the skewers.

Creating a home theater requires TV know-how

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:28:00 EDT

If you don't know a burn-in from a black black, your TV is probably stuck in the last century.
It took three months of investigation to decide which type of flat-screen television was best for us, picking up some new vocabulary on the way: "refresh rate," "screen performance" and "black blacks." You may want to study our findings before you begin your own shopping trip.