Journal 35 Expert's Advice column.

Examples page=3&feature-type=advice page=3&feature-type=advice

Ask That Tramp I Saw You With Last Night Dear Connie Vance, The other night I came home from work to find my prize azalea bushes completely wrecked. I didn't witness it, but I feel sure I know the culprits: the children next door who are always running wild in our yard. How do I keep my bushes safe without permanently alienating my neighbors? —Frustrated In Fairport Dear Frustrated, If you need advice so bad, why don't you go ask that tramp I saw you with last night? She must have had some interesting things to say or you wouldn't have sat there buying margaritas for her every 10 minutes. I'm sure she knows all kinds of things I don't, or you wouldn't have spent so much time talking to her, laughing at everything she said like she was the funniest person on earth.

Dear Connie Vance, There's a big company dinner party coming up at the boss' house, and I can't decide whether to "dress to impress" or just go with the casual confidence of slacks and a sweater. The invitations say it's just an informal cookout, but this is my boss we're talking about! What do you suggest? —In A Quandary In Quebec Dear Quandary, I'm sure that tramp I saw you with last night would know the answer to this one. She seems like the kind of woman who could tell you a thing or two about impressing the big boys! After all, she had you dancing to her tune for hours. I just happened to drive past your office, and your car wasn't in the parking lot. I guess you were working so hard you just had to take a little dinner and dancing break with that cheap slut.

Dear Connie Vance, My mother's 75th birthday is coming up, and I want to get her something really special. I want to go all out on this one, but I'm afraid I'll spend a fortune and end up with something she doesn't like. What would be an appropriate gift for an occasion like this? —Unsure In Utica Dear Unsure, I suppose your mother wears blue eyeliner and miniskirts, and hangs out at Eli's Mile High at two in the morning, batting her eyes at everything some big, dumb, married ox says, doesn't she? Maybe if I dressed up like a two-dollar whore and snuck around in the middle of the night, that'd satisfy you. Maybe then you wouldn't go galavanting around at God-knows-what hours! Is that what you really want, a tramp like her? You know what? I'm glad I saw you two. I gave you the best years of my life, you no-good, goddamned, two-timing son of Get out of my sight!

Write your own advice column Create a fictitious expert such as a medical doctor, marriage counselor, technology expert answer questions from three different people about medicine, raising children, relationships, computers, etc... You will need three questions, each one followed by a response of at least 150 words. Remember you are creating satire to convey a message/criticism about society. Look at your journal 35 for inspiration.