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My fiance and I go to a potluck Christmas party each year at a coworker's home. A different co-worker holds the party each year. It's a bring your own booze party. We both enjoy good wine. Is it okay to bring our own glasses to these parties? He says the wine just doesn't taste as good in a regular glass. While I agree with his assessment, I'm very uncomfortable and feel a bit snooty bringing our own glasses. What do you think?

My significant other and I are headed to Cape Canaveral and Orlando this weekend. He's involved in some astronaut autograph show and I have some time all my own. Besides shopping, I wondered if there are any decent casinos in the area? If you know of any, please give me details. Thanks!

My daughter's dog, a German Shepherd mix, has become ill over the last couple weeks. He does have another appointment at the vet on Monday, but we're still trying to figure out what's wrong with him.

Here's the history: Tyson is about three years old. A couple weeks ago, he began to lose a little weight and was only eating about a third of what he usually did. The glands around his throat swelled. The vet put him on amoxicillin, and he seemed to improve. They also performed tests to see if he had cancer. The test was "inconclusive"; they stated whatever they found MIGHT have been reactive to an infection.

For some reason his meds were switched to something else after he improved; I'm not sure why. He became ill again, so my daughter called the vet and Tyson was put back on amoxicillin.

He did not improve this time. He has lost more weight, and his ribs and spine are clearly visible. His glands are swollen again and he's developed some sort of liquidy type growth at the base of his throat. Also, he is eating what he normally used to but still losing weight. He is still the friendly dog he always has been but has lower energy, has been panting and has just begun to drool.

Any thoughts on what he could have? A stubborn infection? A thyroid condition? Cancer? Anything else?

I'm looking for new foods to top baked potatoes with. I've done the butter, sour cream, chili, cheese. Any other ideas?

I've been getting my oil changed at a local service station on a regular basis. They leave a sticker in my car each time. It mentions "Max 10W", and I know it's a synthetic oil. I'm getting a low oil warning so I went to the local Walmart and picked up a quart of 10W30 synthetic oil. However, when I opened the hood, the oil cap says to use 5W30. Can I put the 10W30 in, or will that mess things up? I have a 2005 Grand Prix.

The CEO at my agency is demanding, self-centered, and prone to quick anger. Morale has taken a nosedive in the last year or so as many of us do not feel like the valued employees we used to be. (He's been around for three or four years.) It isn't all bad - when he first began running the organization many of us were impressed with his high level of energy. I recently found out he's being treated for bipolar disorder among other things. This explains much.

There's nothing I can do about this as this is a privacy issue, and it's not my place. I'm just interested in your opinions. Can/should a person with a mental illness run a company?

We will be heading to Las Vegas next month. We're eager to check out the new City Center. It looks like there's a really nice selection of restaurants, and I'm looking for recommendations from people who have eaten at any of them.

Also, what do you think of the new place? Is it pretty impressive?

I have this strange recurring dream. It's not every night but has happened maybe a dozen times over the last three years or so.

I go to one of those standalone public restrooms, like what you'd see in a park or rest area off the highway. However, every toilet has something wrong with it. Many are soiled on the seats, both wet and the other stuff. Others have lots of water on the floor, and still others have no doors or curtains or anything for privacy. I finally settle for one with no privacy but someone else has already taken it.

What do you dream interpreters make of this one?

I am on day 13 of my period. It's not particularly heavy but I'm getting a bit frustrated. I think I'm going through the first stages of menopause - I do have to throw the covers off at night pretty frequently. I have also lost about five pounds in the last month without really trying, and my lower back hurts constantly. My periods have been pretty irregular for the last three years or so but I've never had such a long one. I'm 49. I do have a gyn exam scheduled in about six weeks. Should I worry before then?

After a recent test, my total cholesterol was 243. The LDL was in the 150s and my HDL (the good one) was "off the charts" according to my doctor at 86. He was very pleased with the HDL but still wants me to get on a low fat diet to get the numbers down because of the total. Would the HDL lower proportionately or stay around the same?

You may have noticed once women reach a "certain age" they all have chin length hair or shorter. I have always worn mine shoulder length and I have a friend that has hair down to her waist...and we're both in our 40s. So is there a special reason/event that makes older women chop it all off?

I will be making my first trip to Washington, DC, in a couple weeks. We've got some things scheduled - the Capitol, Washington Monument, Monticello, Mount Vernon. We can't get into the White House because there's a 30 day notice for that. Any other must-sees you'd recommend?

To add to a running joke with a few friends of mine, I'm looking for online photos of well-known people wearing tropical shirts. Please send me your links if you know of any.