Dear Annie: <$>My husband and I have been married for 25 years and have two sons. “Dan” is a wonderful husband and father.Dan has a friend who calls him constantly — several calls a day, most days of the week. “Chuck” always has a reason to call. “Where is milk on sale?” “Where’s a good place to golf?” Sometimes it’s just, “What are you doing today?” He even calls during our vacations.

Dan knows how upset I am with his annoying and pesky friend. We have small children who require our attention. Chuck is married, and his wife is always working or involved with other activities. They don’t have children.

Dan tries to ignore the calls, but Chuck keeps at it, either on our home phone or Dan’s cell phone, until my husband responds or calls him back. Dan knows how much Chuck irritates me — we’ve even had arguments about it — so now he waits for me to leave before he returns the calls. I have asked Dan to tell Chuck that the overwhelming calls annoy me and he must limit them. But Dan is afraid of hurting Chuck’s feelings and refuses to talk to him about it. Dan says our life is strong and no one can come between us, and I need to let it go. Is he right? — Frustrated Wife in Saginaw, Michigan<$>Dear Saginaw: <$>We’re wondering why Chuck’s feelings are more important to Dan than yours. No one should be calling your husband several times a day for no particular reason, interrupting family vacations and annoying you. Chuck expects Dan to provide his entertainment. Dan needs to set some limits, and Chuck needs a hobby.

Dear Annie: <$>My best friend, “Lisa”, has been dating “Larry” for a year. Lisa is 56 and has never married, although she has been in several long relationships. She has a beautiful home, a good job and many friends. Larry has been married twice, has a rundown home, doesn’t work and has no friends.Since Lisa has been with Larry, I have seen less and less of her. He is very demanding of her time to the point of smothering her (her words, not mine). She claims she’s not happy in this relationship, but won’t do anything about it. She has all but cut me out of her life.

My husband and I have invited the two of them over a few times, but Lisa always has an excuse why they can’t come. I don’t know what she sees in a man with no job and three kids with two different women. I recently discovered Larry is on a website for registered sex offenders, and the description frightened me. Do I tell Lisa? I’d be devastated if I lost her friendship. — Scared for My Friend<$>Dear Scared: Tell Lisa you found her boyfriend on this website, and let her check it out on her own. We also worry there may be some abuse going on in a relationship where Lisa is isolated from her friends. If you want to save the friendship, say nothing derogatory about Larry. Ask Lisa if she needs help, but otherwise try to be supportive of her needs while minimising the criticism.

Dear Annie: <$>Over and over I hear about women who don’t get enough affection (without sex). Where are the articles and books for men who don’t get enough affection?I’m a 30-something man. I do housework, listen and try to give my wife a loving home life, yet I still feel like a deviant for expecting emotional and physical affection. I’m not expecting you to miraculously fix the relationship. I guess I just want to know how odd I really am. — HopefulDear Hopeful: <$>We suspect you are not odd at all. Most men appreciate affection from their wives. Unfortunately, too many couples confuse affection with foreplay, and that is where a lot of problems begin.