TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2010


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An online guide to events, night life and entertainment


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The big picture: Outdoor film screenings still abound


The closing credits at Monday’s screening of “Bonnie and Clyde”marked the end of this year’s Screen on the Green film series. But summer cinema under the stars isn’t over yet. If you’ve missed out on green grass and big screens, here are some options to round out the week.


TUESDAY: STARS ON THE AVENUE “When Harry Met Sally.” Tuesday’s showing of this Meg Ryan/Billy Crystal romantic comedy kicks off five days of films in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. There will be some chairs available, so get there early or bring your own. The other films are “The Maltese Falcon,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “The Blind Side” and “Chicago.”


c Tuesday-Saturday at 9 p.m.


Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk and Auburn avenues, Bethesda. 301-215-6660. www.bethesda.org. Free.


WEDNESDAY: NOMA SUMMER SCREEN “Groundhog Day.” These Wednesday


events are more than just movies. Stop by two hours before the screening for barbecue and music. If you haven’t done so yet, you’re running out of chances — this is the second-to-last screening. Next week’s screening is “Donnie Darko.” Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Second and L


streets NE. 202-289-0111. www.nomabid.org. Free.


THURSDAY: ULTIMATE UNDERDOG FILM SERIES “Happy Gilmore.” Spend time before


NOMABID LAWN AND ORDER: NoMa presents “Groundhog Day” on Wednesday. PLANNING AN EVENT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ? TELL U S . SEND LISTINGS INFORMA TION TO EVENTS@WASHINGTONP OST.COM


this Adam Sandler movie playing trivia and Wii. Gilmore joins Rocky Balboa in rounding out this series—“Rocky” screens next week. Thursdays at sundown. Canal Park, 200 M St. SE. 202-465-7093. www. capitolriverfront.org. Free.


FRIDAY: I WTHE ’90s FILM FESTIVAL “Dumb and Dumber.” The Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival celebrates the ’90s with a variety of movies, and screenings continue until Sept. 3. Fridays at 8 p.m. Gateway Park, Lee Highway and North Lynn Street, Arlington. 703-276-7759. www. rosslynva.org.


— Kristen Boghosian


ASK AMY


Angry daughter hinders access to grandchild


Dear Amy: My daughter forces me to


make an appointment to see my grandchild. Sometimes it is impossible because either she does not return the call or she says they are too busy. I baby-sat for three years, and


now that they no longer need me I am kept at arm’s length. I have been screamed at, called names and had doors slammed in my face — all while I was doing the baby-sitting. Now I am being pushed out of


my grandchild’s life because my daughter seems to have all this anger and hatred. Though her hatred is directed at me, it is really about her own unhappiness. I was always her punching bag. I want to walk away because the hurt is destroying me, but I’m concerned about my


granddaughter and her feelings. I don’t know what to do because my daughter is making it harder and harder to see the child. We have been excluded from birthdays, recitals, school functions, etc. We are not allowed to take her anywhere and she is not allowed to stay at our house. The truly sad part is that the


in-laws are not treated this way. They are included in everything and my granddaughter tells me about it. I’m looking for a support group because I wonder if there are other grandparents out there with the same problem.


Hurt and Sad This is a terrible and painful


situation. Parents sometimes use access to their children as a wedge to punish their own parents, and though this isn’t fair, legally parents have the


right to control who spends time with their child. You don’t say what factors might have led to this toxic relationship; obviously, the best course is to try to heal this rift in order to make life more peaceful for everyone. You shouldn’t tolerate being abused in order to see your granddaughter, and if the child witnesses or is drawn into it, it is very bad for her own emotional development. You should seek professional help to try to mediate a workable solution with your daughter. Your local department of family and children’s services will recommend a family counselor to work with you — with a goal of getting your daughter to agree to mediation. Grandparents groups have sprung up around the country as more grandparents wrestle with access, visitation and custody of grandchildren. Conduct an Internet search using the phrase “grandparents rights” to see if there is a group near you.


Dear Amy: When my wife and I first married 15 years ago, we struggled over whom to spend holidays with. We are the only family living close to my parents, and if we did not spend the time with them, they would be alone. My wife’s large family gathered


for every holiday at her parents’ house several hours away. We started out by driving back


and forth to honor both sides of the family. After a few years, my wife’s parents invited my parents to join them for the holidays, so that they would not be alone and


so that we would not have to spend so much time driving. This started a process that has continued for many years. My father passed away this


year, and most of my wife’s extended family came from great distances to honor him at his funeral.


I thank my wife’s parents and think it was a wonderful solution to a problem that many couples face.


Grateful Son-in-Law


I’m pleased to run a letter about in-laws that includes the words “wonderful” and “grateful.” Thank you for reminding us that these relationships can be extremely positive.


Dear Amy:


I am single and date a lot. A while ago, I had a date who got too drunk to drive (I think on purpose). I believe he wanted to stay the night. While I was concerned for his


safety, I wouldn’t compromise mine.


Dude slept in his car for a while and then headed home. I never went out with him again. He even had the nerve to try to


make me feel guilty later. Holding Her Ground


The worst reason to let someone spend the night in your home is if he is too drunk to be elsewhere. I agree with letting him sleep it off in his car.


Write to Amy Dickinson at askamy@ tribune.com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.


© 2010 by the Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Media Services


Humble baking soda conquers corrosion HINTS FROM HELOISE


Dear Heloise: Several years ago you printed a recipe for removing battery corrosion. Could you reprint that?


Holly, Hagerstown


Holly, I’m happy to. For flashlight and other small electronic devices, first remove the batteries, then use a paper towel to gently wipe away light corrosion. Use 2 tablespoons of baking soda and a little water — just enough to form a paste. Apply the paste to the battery terminals, and the corrosion should foam up and go away. Wipe all the areas with a clean, damp cloth, and dry everything well. Remember that moisture causes faster corrosion. To prevent corrosion from forming on seldom-used items, remove the batteries and store separately in a self-sealing bag.


Baking soda has so many uses around the home that will save you lots of money.


Dear Heloise: Here are a few more ideas for those plastic newspaper sleeves:  Put some in the car to use as makeshift plastic gloves in an emergency.  Use as trash bags in a pinch.  Use to store a wet umbrella. Lydia in Virginia


Dear Heloise: I enjoy flavored coffees, but


they’re expensive. I have discovered that powdered coffee flavors found in supermarkets are a nice substitute, especially when used in combinations.


For example, to duplicate the


flavor of an almond-coconut- chocolate candy, I use chocolate, coconut and an almond-flavored coffee powder. Use differing amounts to suit your taste. There is a cost to purchasing the


powdered flavors, but the powders pay for themselves in a few cups of coffee.


Kathleen Lamprecht, Front Royal Love your coffee hint, and what a


great way to save money but still enjoy a tasty cup of coffee!


Dear Heloise: I read about pre-purchasing


college items. Mount Union College (soon to be University) had a slightly different idea. It held a “garage sale” of items no longer needed by outgoing students (mostly seniors, I imagine) that incoming (or continuing) students could purchase to furnish their rooms. Anything left


over was donated to various charities.


Tim W. Elder, Louisville, Ohio Dear Readers:


Does your dog or cat freak out during thunderstorms? Just think how acute the animal’s hearing is. If it’s loud to you, imagine how it sounds to your pet! Keep your pets indoors during these noisy events, if you can. Stay calm yourself, and comfort the pet. Speak softly and slowly to the pet. You can turn on some music to help cover the noise. These hints will help keep everyone’s nerves calm.


Send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. Please include your city and state. © 2010, King Features Syndicate


Parents’ favoritism has the slighted one crying foul


Adapted from a recent online discussion:


Dear Carolyn: I recently admitted to my


parents that I feel slighted that they couldn’t afford to keep me at XYZ University for undergrad, but now they are willing to pay for my brother to go to ABC University for graduate school, which costs almost four times as much. They were really upset and basically called me ungrateful. I am now in grad school and paying my own way. It seems like they refuse to


see my point of view. I was accused of not being proud that my brother got into this top- notch school. And while I was trying to talk to them, they walked away from me. I’ll be home all weekend. Any


thoughts on how to lessen the potential awkwardness?


Accused ingrate Is there an evidence-backed


history of their favoring your brother? Or is this the first time you’ve felt stung?


Carolyn: This feeling has been eating


away at me for years. I have always felt like he was the golden child. He has no missed opportunities; he was never told


CAROLYN HAX


he couldn’t do something because it was too expensive. They always “made a way.” My brother has admitted observing this as well.


Accused ingrate again I’m really sorry. It’s one of the


crappiest things parents can do to their kids. Not just to you, but also to your brother since favoritism often creates friction between the have-sibling and the have-not. And, while there are plenty of kids who use their advantages well, my in-box is crammed with stories of these indulged, clearly favored kids who wind up stunted by their own expectations. But there are some good things here, too, even great. It’s great that your brother has acknowledged this to you. Validation is huge here, as is communication between sibs. You may not feel as if your parents have your back, but if your brother does, then that’s not only love and support from


NICK GALIFIANAKIS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST


a family member, that’s justice. Too often in these situations, a favored child would compete with you, or try to defend/ justify his unfair advantage. And while it would obviously


be better if the favoritism never happened, at least now you know the truth. You no longer need to look to your parents as sources of fairness because that ship has sailed.


So now you can make a choice: Wallow in bitterness, or liberate yourself from your old expectations of yourself and your family, and take pride in


what you accomplished after you were handed this clear disadvantage.


Re: Accused ingrate: So how the heck does he deal with the parents when he has to be home with them? What, if anything, does he say?


Anonymous


If — and only if — they bring it up, he says, “It’s your money to spend as you please; it just hurt my feelings, that’s all. I’m still grateful for what I have and I’m proud of what I’ve done with it.” (I’m using “he” because you did; no sex was given.) Otherwise, it’s time to leave this behind. Either way, his weekend mission is to start seeing this as who they are, not who he is. It’s difficult, but it will free him, where hoping they’ll be fair or acknowledge their unfairness will only continue to haunt.


Read the whole transcript or join the discussion live at


noon Fridays on www. washingtonpost.com/discussions.


Write to Tell Me About It, Style, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or tellme@washpost.com.


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