DEAR HELOISE: There are a lot of fliers who miss their connecting flight due to a number of reasons. If this should happen, use your cellphone to call customer service of the airline you are using to book the next flight available. You stand a better chance of getting a seat, and it's faster than standing in line.
-- Carlos in Seattle.
DEAR READERS: Check out the next two hints for more about flying.
DEAR HELOISE: Take all of your "in-flight necessities" and place them in a gallon-size plastic bag. Leave it on your seat as you are storing your overhead gear. This way, you won't block the aisle or hold up the boarding process looking for these items before you settle in.
-- Joanna F., Oklahoma
DEAR HELOISE: When traveling with a baby, make sure your diaper bag fits under the seat in front of you. Do not store it in the overhead bin. This makes it easier to retrieve, if necessary.
-- Susan in California
DEAR HELOISE: I'm writing to ask you how I can clean off my family's tombstones in the cemetery.
-- May D.A.,
Mount Holly, N.C.
DEAR READER: You didn't mention the material used for the grave markers, but here are some suggestions:
Gather these supplies:
• A bucket of distilled water.
• A gentle cleaner or soap (non-ionic is best, but there are others you can use).
• A nylon-bristled brush, sponges, old kitchen towels or T-shirts.
For granite, wipe down the headstone with water and a mild soap. Then wet a nylon-bristled brush and gently scrub the surface. Wipe with clean water and dry with old dish towels.
For marble, wet the stone first with water. If there is any growth on the stone, remove it using a plastic or wooden scraper. (A plastic spatula works well.) Use a gentle soap (non-ionic) to wash down the headstone. If there is a significant buildup, you may have to use a nylon brush.
For limestone, use the same methods as you would for marble.
DEAR HELOISE: Hate the smell of wet paint? Just put 1 ounce of vanilla in 1/2 gallon of paint, and that will help kill the odor.
-- Janice D., Alaska
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
MovieStyle on 11/23/2018