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The Citizen, 1997-05-14, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14,1997 Formal fashion faux-pas By Mark Nonkes Ahh...prom night once again. For years teens have been taking their date to the biggest night of the school year. They get up enough nerve to ask someone to it; or they already have a boyfriend/ girlfriend who agrees to go. They pay the money, and a couple of weeks later they get this fancy invitation. Now all they do is wait for the big night. Females get really worked up about this event. They get out of school early on prom day and go to the hairdressers. Their hair is done, they put on their makeup and eagerly wait. We males just do our hair as ... well, we don't put much effort into it. We shave, shower, then drive over to the girl's house. Her parents take pictures, then JANN FLANDERS Advice for parting friends Dear Jann Flanders, I used to really enjoy spending time with my best friend, Sara. Now, though, it seems all we do is fight! I find myself really annoyed with her. She's not the same person she was when I met her. How can 1 let her know how I feel without becoming her worst enemy? WORRIED DEAR FRIEND, There are different ways to handle every situation, with pros and cons to each. I'll give you some suggestions - show you what is wrong and beneficial to each, but ultimately it is up to you to decide which suggestion is best for your situation. By ignoring Sara, you can let her W 143 Josephine St.,Wingham (519) 357-2191 Enjoy our Flurrys Oreo • Skor • Snickers • Crispy Crunch Flavoured Cone Dips ■ Orange ■ Strawberry ■ Peanut Butter Chocolate ■ Blue Raspberry ■ Bubble Gum ■ & more Gourmet Milkshakes ■ Mocha ■ Cappuccino ■ B52 All kinds of desserts including: Toffee Truffle , Turtles Mud, Black Forest Surprise & Deep Fried Ice Cream Lunches, Dinners & Snacks Spicy Chicken Bacon & Cheese on a Chicken Burger Ice Cream Cakes with your favourite fillings. Plus - Our regular menu items including burgers, hot dogs, finger foods, desserts & beverages. Thursday night is cruise night ~ Prizes on the last Thursday of the month since you and your friends all pooled your money for one, you get into a limo and ride over to the school. Just wait a second ... I forgot to talk about what to wear ... hmm, let's see. Maybe I shouldn't be one to give advice about what to wear; by no means am I a fashion expert. Okay, well I guess I could tell you what not to wear. 10. No hot pink, like the fluores­ cent kind; we want to be able to see after we look at you. 9. If you wear braces, don't, tonight isn't the night to wear headgear. 8. No sun visors. 7. Leave the gym clothes home. No matter what anyone says there are no athletics involved think the two of you have simply drifted apart (if you do it by gradually seeing her less and less). You never even have to explain to her how you feel. The problems, though, can include Sara not getting the hint, or if you immediately quit speaking to her altogether, she could get very upset with you (you'd become the enemy.) This also doesn't solve anything. You could send Sara a note or make a phone call to explain you don't want to see her face, but there is the possibility that she could take it as a joke, and then get even more upset. A conversation with Sara, face- to-face is probably the least at the formal. 6. Anything that was worn in the 80s, from thick-framed glasses to the knee high boots is a big mistake. 5. No aprons, especially if you work at a meat packing plant. 4. Bathing gear, like water wings, bathing suits, goggles, flippers, bathing caps are a big NO. 3. Guys, if you want to wear a kilt that's fine...but wear underwear with it... there's no telling how windy it might be. 2. Jewellery that is bigger than your fist is gaudy and a bad idea. 1. Asa general rule if you can't get out of the front door at home because your outfit is too big - leave it at home. confusing way to get your point across. This involves a lot of courage and sympathy. Tell her as nicely, but firmly, as you can. Just think how you'd want her to tell you. Got a problem and you want, help? Write to me at Jann Flanders, c/o North Huron Citizen, Box 429, Blyth, Ontario. NOM 1H0 or drop your letter off at either Citizen office. MICROTECH COMPUTERS CANON - HEWLETT PACKARD 10 KING STREET CLINTON ONTARIO 519-482-3363 AUTHORIZED IPC DEALER Available through your local MDL Dealer Teenagers By Erin Roulston I've talked about smoking, I've talked about sex, and no way could I get away without talking about drugs. On TV, in books, in school and at home teenagers are constantly warned of the dangers of illegal drugs, yet out of 21 teenagers surveyed, age 14-19, 16 (76 per cent) had at least once or twice, tried illegal drugs. Two said that if given the chance, they would like to try drugs. Of all 21 teens, only three, all girls, said they never had and never planned to do drugs. Reasons for abstaining? "I don't want to," and "I don't have to pollute my body to make myself happy." They thought that doing drugs was stupid. The risks, such as being arrested or an overdose, strongly outweigh the rewards, and they have plenty of fun without being high. Two people told me that they had never been given an opportunity to try drugs because their friends weren't into that kind of thing, but they wouldn't mind trying. They were curious as to what the big deal was all about Everytime you turn around you hear somebody; a cop, a parent, a basketball star, telling you not to do drugs. You can't help but wonder what it is they are so adamantly against, they said. And, of course, it looks fun. The main reason for teens to try drugs was curiosity. The second most used excuse was simply "to get high." A couple of people did it to rebel against their parents. One girl's reason was "Well, there was this guy..." Most people had only tried a couple of times and usually people start with marijuana. Most people MDL DOORS 887-6974 uu 'Keep the, (Doors to the (future Open Beautiful Styles to Make your House a Home on drugs see marijuana as basically harmless: an illegal cigarette without the tar. Some even think it's less harmful because cigarettes are addictive, and pot is merely habitual. From marijuana people move on to oil and acid. Oil is a by-product from the same plant which makes marijuana. It's taken in cigarettes, so teens think it is a simple drug to take. Acid is a very powerful psychedelic drug and very appealing for teens. Other drugs, people I spoke to have tried, are hash and mushrooms. One person had also tried PCPs, cocaine-laced pot and uppers. The average to try drugs is Grade 10; the youngest person was in Grade 7. I asked the teens if they worried about health and law risks when they smoked up, and every single one of them said no. I also asked if their parents were aware of their activities, and most of them said no, and their parents would ground them for life if they knew. One girl said her parents did know, but that was because they did them too. I also asked 11 people if they thought marijuana should be legalized. Seven of them said yes, mainly for medicinal purposes, but also because they believed if marijuana was legal, fewer people would do it because the thrill would be gone. The four people who believed it should remain illegal said that if it were allowed for purely medicinal purposes, druggies would misuse it. Most of the people who did try marijuana just once or twice said that it wasn't at all worth the risk of getting arrested, but it was fun.