European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Odds amp end military wives learn own survival skills Cindy Chambers columnist everyone knows that military wives overseas Are often forced to manage the household while their husbands go off to the Field for weeks and even months at a time. A separate vacations like these Are very popular out in California and i can Tell you from personal experience that they do have their advantages. Like being Able to eat at Burger King three times a week and not feeling guilty about wearing Bunny slippers Down to the laundry room. Its Nice to be Able to lounge in bed on saturdays till 7 or 8 . Without having someone come in and ask me a Are you still asleep a and its a genuine pleasure to be Able to turn on a faucet without having to use pliers. Unfortunately there is one big drawback spending the night alone. As evening approaches i tend to lose my Pioneer spirit and begin to think in terms of How Long it will be before Charles Manson is released on Good behaviour. I know my fear of being alone at night is irrational. And i realize deep inside that my husband cannot be depended upon to protect us from burglars during those rare times that he is at Home. Still his presence lulls me into a false sense of Security that disappears every time he goes on Maneu vers. In be known Many women who have found in genious ways of coping with the same fear including those who  themselves to the Teeth every evening converting their bedrooms into veritable machine gun nests in their husbands absence. Many of these men consider Field training a Mere preparation for getting into their own quarters without injury. The problem with this solution is that in be been known to Hurt myself and others with nearly every household appliance made today. I shudder to think what i could do with something actually invented to inflict harm. Fortunately in a by no Means alone in my paranoia in our stairwell alone there Are a total of six women who share the belief that burglars can hear a duffle bag being packed from Miles away. Believing there is safety in numbers we have started hosting slumber parties during which we say awful things about our husbands play a wooly bully on the stereo and take turns keeping guard on the door. And one other thing we be decided to form a coalition. All we re asking for is hazardous duty pay for wives a round the clock Security and the Chance to take an occasional a separate vacation a with our husbands. Cindy Chambers is a military family member living in Sci Weinfurt Germany. Miss manners Judith Martin car miss manners a would you be so kind As to discuss the appropriate travel etiquette for randomly grouped Tours As opposed to a group of old friends neighbors etc., who have chosen to travel together. I found it irritating to be asked personal questions . About marital financial or physical status by absolute strangers. Nor did i enjoy being forced to look at grandchildren a pictures when i had paid to see the scenery in a new environment. It was worse than being captured by a Boring scat companion on an air plane a it lasted longer. Gentle Reader a As much As miss manners sympathizes with you in your desire for privacy in general and Freedom from intrusive questions in particular she cannot allow you to feel victimized by sociable grandparents. You May keep to yourself if you make it politely Clear that you wish to do so but group ours presume acquaintanceship. You May head off overtures with a forgive me but i came out Here to think and in a just not very Good company a if you Promise miss manners to accompany this with a Sweet regretful smile. Dear miss manners a please advise if i am Correct in using my business stationery for my personal letters or needs. I own the business so i Felt it was of but i do have doubts. Horoscope for the week of oct 21 Libra sept 23-oct, 22 boy Are you ready for a vacation break. Take it. Preferably in warm weather. Don t pour Salt on old wounds. Focus on relationships especially with opposite sex. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 examine sexual needs and desires. Don t allow recent triumphs to inflate your ego. A Little flexibility brings humility. Put yourself in a partners shoes. Sagittarius nov. 22-dec. 20 time to shift gears from Independence to cooperation. Zoom into action with a favorite sport your magnetic personality is recharged make it rub off on others. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 make an about face and open the door to fantasy. Turn to creative writing. Replenish your personal Library. Make your needs known to loved ones. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 you love to chitchat. But say no to gossip. Business and social affairs take the spotlight. Respect your elders. Get Back on your workout plan. Pisces feb. 19-March 20 Clear out skeletons in your psychic closet. Abandon guilt feelings. Talk openly with associates. Eliminate outmoded thought patterns. Mystery movies Are in Vogue. Aries March 21-april 19 Bury the Hatchet with a family member. Holding grudges  be your cup of Tea. Consider Home redecorating gentle Reader a owning the Ini miness no i docs you from the ethical violation practice by most people who write their business letters on office paper. You arc not stealing from your employer for which miss manners congratulates you. However you arc still committing an etiquette violation. Persona correspondence should not he made to look As if it had an official tone to it related to your work. By issuing an invitation on business paper you make it seem As it Yon Are courting people for a professional reason by writing your children a school notes on it you suggest that you will file an unfair labor practice complaint if the excuse is not accepted. Dear miss manners a is it proper Lor me to Wear a Gardenia or other fresh Flowers in the hair at a wedding if i m not in the wedding party also my children who arc 6 and 2, often get presents from friends or relatives. I have them write a simple thank you the 2-year-old scribbles to the sender. My friends think this is absurd. 1 think thank yous arc important at any age. I shamefully admit i am lacking in the social graces. I am trying As hard As i can to better my children. Gentle Reader a you arc doing Fine a much better than your friends in fact. Miss manners Husli Tats to think what sort of person someone would be who would think that Flowers served Only As a badge of Honor at weddings and were forbidden to Ordinary guests a much less who would discourage the teaching of writing thank you letters. United features schemes or move furniture around. Watch diet and health. Taurus april 20-May 20 if you Don t try. You can to succeed or fail. Give a project your Best shot. But scale Down your expectations. Say no to financial Monkey business. Gemini May 21-june 20 creative juices flow throughout the week. Be warmhearted to friends and relatives on the ropes. Stay on target in literary and artistic endeavours. Cancer june 21-july 22 put your nose to the Grindstone. Finish construction jobs. Sign papers. Avoid volcanic eruptions with family and friends. Fly the Friendly skies for a weekend getaway. Leo july 23-aug, 22 Don t hide inside your regal Ivory Tower. Fun and levity pay psychic dividends. Find misplaced items around your Homo and work place. Don t be a Hermit. Virgo sept. 23-oct. 22 visit the Library to re educate yourself. Financial matters turn you into an expert. Leave the past month behind. Turn away from noisy gatherings. Copley nows Sonvico october 21 1990 sunday to plus c Page 19