Ask Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Oh great. My co-worker just announced she has MRSA. Apparently, she got it at the gym, but her doctor said this whole town is crawling with it: the grocery store, post office, schools, bars, restrooms, Trolley, you name it. Needless to say, I have sanitized the workplace and common areas, but what else do I need to do to protect myself from this viral Zombie plague?

– The Boy in the Bubble

Dear Hamster Ball,

You know, I’ve heard people talk about MRSA before. But I always conflated it with Mensa, the high-IQ society that puts out the puzzle books no one ever finishes. You know, someone says, “My niblings both got MRSA by age 13,” and I say, “What a couple of geniuses!” You got me wondering about this MRSA, though, and after five minutes on the internet I’m now thoroughly terrified.

– The card says “Moops,” Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Why the heck doesn’t Sirius XM have a punk rock channel? They’ve got everything else – smooth jazz, acid jazz, improv jazz, Elvis, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett and even a channel devoted to love songs. Give me a break – Sid Vicious is rolling over in his unmarked grave. The punk genre

was one of the most important, if not the most important, musical and cultural underground rebellion of the 20th century. And not even so much as one single station devoted to it – but hey, we got “Hair Nation.” Srysly?

– Bullocks

Dear Mr. Rotten,

Really? You think Sid Vicious is rolling over in his grave because corporate broadcasting isn’t profiting from his music? He’s just as upset that he didn’t beat Adele for a single Grammy this year. But if you need to feel secure that punk rock is accepted by the mainstream, “Sid Vicious” was an answer on Weekend Edition’s Sunday Puzzle just this past weekend. And they said rock and roll will never die.

– Fade away, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

So, my daughter had her third birthday party recently, and, well, one thing led to another, and next thing you know I was doing whiskey shots. It is a celebration, after all, and I was not driving anywhere. But I think some of the other mommies, as well as my in-laws, were looking on disapprovingly. Especially when I wore the pin?ata as a party hat and took a little siesta on the couch. This is my first kid, so I’m not sure what proper kiddie party protocol is, but I sure had a good time. So what’s the big deal? It’s as much her birthday as it is mine, am I right?

– Party Momimal

Dear Fiestma,

The fact that you took a nap at a 3-year-old’s birthday party indicates that you are completely in bounds here. Your kiddo simply needs to make friends with cooler parents. Ones who won’t narc on you for celebrating the anniversary of your labor pains. So keep it real, mamacita. Just be sure to sterilize your home. Those little buggers carry MRSA.

– Party on,