DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have a great relationship. We work in the same school system. He's an administrator; I am a counselor. We sometimes go to joint meetings, but when we do, he always acts awkward, like he doesn't even know me. I understand we have to behave professionally, but not as if we don't know each other.
Recently, we were leaving a meeting and no one was around. I was going to give him a peck on the lips to say goodbye, and he turned away as if he wanted nothing to do with me. What is the proper etiquette when spouses work together?
-- More than a co-worker
DEAR MORE: Demonstrations of physical affection are not appropriate in a workplace situation if other people are present. You say you and your husband have a "great" relationship, so I'm advising you to discuss this with him and tell him how it made you feel.
Because no one was around, there should have been no harm in a simple "peck" goodbye. Personally, I think he owes you an apology. What he did wasn't nice.
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I host many holidays, Thanksgiving, Passover, etc. Invariably, everyone gathers in the family room and several people put their legs up on the ottoman with their shoes on. It drives me crazy! I view it as no different than walking on someone's furniture.
My wife thinks I should say something. I actually have done that in the past, but not for years. When I did, it made me look like the bad guy. Is this a weird fetish of mine or am I right?
-- Paul
DEAR PAUL: If you prefer that your guests not put their feet on your furniture with their shoes on, speak up and say so. Doing that doesn't make you a bad guy or a fetishist. It's your home, your preference, and it isn't rude to address something that bothers you, especially since it's something that you have mentioned before.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, Calif. 90069.
High Profile on 11/22/2015