Nick C. M

I'm trying to decide if I'm rightfully disappointed or a spoiled brat. My Dad died a year ago and left neither me nor my sister, or any of his four young grandchildren, anything whatsoever. Zero. The entire estate, not a small one, went to his second wife, who we have always supported. I thought we all had a solid relationship but this has me really doubting it. I just don't get it. Plus we have kids soon to be in college and one of us is nearly bankrupt.

Some dude just sent my wife a picture of his pecker, am I permitted to reply with a picture of my machete?

My wife and I have two young kids. She is highly attuned to their sleep patterns. When they do not go to sleep for long durations of time, she goes berserk, cussing, wailing, etc. She has even struck me. I try and appease her and offer to help but she is very difficult to deal with. I love her and the kids but this has been going on for 2 years. All that matters are the naps/nighttime sleep intervals. I have suggested she go to counseling but she just cusses me one side down and up, castigating me for suggesting she has anything wrong with her. I am at a loss. I want to help her but it's like she doesn't want any help. She seems to want for me not to intervene. I have tried to enlist the help of her own immediate family and while they concede she has always had anger management problems, they do not seem to be invested in a solution. I do not want to divorce my wife but this situation cannot go on.

I want to buy an NFL jersey but in thrown off by the descriptors. What does "Game," "Limited," and "Elite" mean? What should I look for for highest quality? Is "Authentic" the best? I did buy an NFL jersey once without looking at all this and found it a little uncomfortable (fit not good, scratchy). What is your recommendation?

I disconnected the battery cables. I'm interested in the On Board Diagnostic "OBD" or "check engine" light. It was on before the disconnect but now it's off. How many miles until it cuts on again?

I usually drink about 2-3 beers a night and go to bed at 10 pm usually. I am taking a job where I may get drug-tested during the day. How long does it take for the alcohol to cycle out of my system?

We are hiring a nanny and we're uncertain as to what kind of contract (employer/employee) is needed and also should we get a worker's comp policy on her in case she's injured on the job. We're not made of money but we definitely need some help.

My lawn mower was sputtering a bit this morning so I put some oil in it. Almost immediately a big cloud of white smoke started billowing out. It shut off. What is the issue?

How does one deal with a passive-aggressive family member? By addressing the behaviors or ignoring them? We have one who is always insistent they are right and then withholds information to spite us because she believes we don't care when we don't kowtow to her.

My Dad's wife recently told me they don't like my wife because she eats too much and she and I are overweight (we are not obese, just overweight). She also said they don't like my wife's parents because they fix a lot of fattening food when they visit from out of state. I remarked that the comments seemed a little hypocritical because she and my dad each smoke like 2-3 packs a day between them (in their house no less). She said "eating too much is ten times worse for you than smoking." She said are also mad at my wife because she won't allow the children to visit their home because of the smoke. "They're not going to drop dead the minute they walk in," she said. Any recommendations on how to handle this family drama? I feel my dad may have a different opinion but he always just remains silent to avoid "controversy."

My two year old son hits me and my wife when he doesn't get his way, like when we end an activity or begin mealtime, or bath or bedtime. They're not painful hits of course but we want him to stop. I'm trying to avoid spanking him but I've already tried talking to him sternly, warning him not to do it again and he keeps doing it.

My 48 hour trial is about to end.

So what is the deal with them? What is their issue? I don't get it.

My weight has definitely gone up during my wife's pregnancy. What percentage of men do you think gain weight during the pregnancy?

I ran out of my Zoloft over the weekend. I've been off it four days now and I feel great. I have the Rx refilled now but wondering if I should talk to my doctor before resuming. Any Zoloft users out there had this happen - where you feel better after running out?

My wife asked me if we wanted to donate the umbilical cord blood once our baby is born (sometime in May). What are the pros and cons of keeping it vs. donating it? I am new to all this.

I cook a fair amount, but it's easier (and cheaper) just use dry herbs and minced garlic in glass bottles than the fresh herbs and freshly minced garlic; what can I expect taste-wise if I use the fresh stuff?