DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend and I recently got into a fight. She told me I talk about myself too much, but no one else has ever told me that. I thought I had always been a good friend.

How should I handle this situation? Should I try and talk to her or just let it go? -- Talked Out, Jackson, Miss.

DEAR TALKED OUT: You should address this with her, but before you do, take a step back and review your relationship. What is your friend's personality like? Is she a talker? Does she have a lot of issues she likes to talk about? Or is she somewhat shy? Is it hard for her to bring up topics that are on her mind?

The answers to those questions may help you. People who like to talk a lot often feel uncomfortable if the other person in a conversation is also talkative. It can feel like a competition for airtime, even if that's not intentional. If she is not one to speak up, she may find it difficult to get her points out in a conversation because it is hard for her to fill the silent spaces as she thinks about the topic or drums up the courage to make a point. It may be hard for you to notice her timing needs.

It also could be that in a particular conversation you may have talked a lot more than usual without realizing it.

Evaluate your interactions with your friend. Apologize for possibly talking too much and tell her what you think about the matter. Ask her to share why she feels this way. Do your best to listen. Ultimately, tell her your perspective and ask her to talk it out with you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: An acquaintance and I really hit it off recently. He seemed very flirtatious toward me. But I found out he is in a relationship. Even my friends think there's something fishy about this. How can I address the situation without being awkward or rude? -- Confused, Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR CONFUSED: Next time you see your acquaintance, call him out on his behavior. Tell him that you have enjoyed flirting with him and that you think he's fun. Listen for his response.

Tell him you were surprised to learn he has a girlfriend. Ask him if it's true and what he's looking for from you. Tell him that although you like him very much, you aren't interested in breaking up a couple or flirting with someone who is in a committed relationship. Make it clear that if he is in a relationship, you would prefer that he not flirt with you. That's not your style.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I hate learning about politics. I find everything so repetitive and boring, so I just end up not keeping up at all on current events. This leaves me completely unequipped to participate in a simple conversation about today's state of affairs. I feel stupid not knowing basic things about modern politics, but I just can't bring myself to read the paper or watch the talking heads with any regularity. What should I do? -- Fox Snooze, Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR FOX SNOOZE: We live in a democracy that exists so that the people can have some dominion over the policies and laws that govern our country. The system needs the people's participation.

I believe it is our responsibility to pay attention to what's going on in our national and local governments so we can insert our voice when needed. Is it always interesting? No. But it's not possible to hold onto the freedoms that we cherish without being willing to pay attention to what's going on in politics. To turn a blind eye to politics completely seems unwise to me.

That said, you don't need to watch all the talking heads or read every newspaper. I recommend that you pay attention to a broad range of media outlets, including foreign sources, so that you can keep abreast of what's happening in our world.

By the way, I believe the reason so many people choose not to pay attention is that they have the luxury of doing so. We live in a relatively safe country with many perks, including the general belief that we will not be in harm's way. Let's not take that for granted.

DEAR HARRIETTE: The gym and I have always had a strained relationship. Recently, however, I gained some momentum and was going nearly every day and working out for an hour. But I got a bad cold and had to stop exercising for about two weeks. Now I can't bring myself to go to the gym. How do I get my momentum back? -- Inert, Shreveport, La.

DEAR INERT: It is tough to restart an exercise regimen, especially if it isn't a natural part of your daily schedule. The good news is that you can drum up the energy to move your body.

If the gym seems too far to reach, wake up and turn on your TV to one of the many exercise programs that come on each morning. Or pop in an exercise DVD and get moving. If you feel like leaving your home, get up a half hour early and take a rigorous walk before starting your day.

Over time, you may find your way back to the gym, but the baby steps you take now will serve you in the future. You can do it. Get up, stretch, move your body. You are worth it!

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a waiter at a popular family restaurant chain in New York City. One evening a pregnant woman and her husband asked to see a menu and to be seated. The gentleman ordered a Sprite, and his wife ordered a glass of white wine. I looked at the woman with a puzzled glance, because she looked like she was well into her pregnancy.

At that moment, I was not sure what the proper protocol was. I walked over to my manager and asked him if was OK to serve a pregnant woman an alcoholic beverage. To my amazement, he showed me the law that says we are allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to pregnant women.

Morally, I felt uncomfortable serving alcohol to my pregnant patron. How should I conduct myself when a pregnant woman wants to drink alcohol at the restaurant? --Puzzled Waiter, Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR PUZZLED WAITER: It is your responsibility as a waiter to serve patrons what they order. Your boss was right that it is not unlawful to serve a pregnant woman alcohol. It is also true that it is not recommended that pregnant women drink alcohol -- I'm sure you have seen the warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

I've done a bit of digging to learn about the effects of alcohol on pregnant women. Many health professionals suggest that moderate alcohol consumption later in a pregnancy could be safe.

The problem is, every woman's body reacts differently to alcohol. So is it wise for this woman to drink while pregnant? No. But it's not your place to deny her whatever she orders. The exception would be the same as it is for any patron: If she had seemed intoxicated, you would have had the right to stop serving her.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was recently asked to my school's senior prom by a senior boy. (I am a junior.) Traditionally, only the senior girls are allowed to wear long dresses, while the underclassmen wear shorter dresses.

I want prom to be special, and part of that is wearing a long dress, but I'm afraid the seniors will get mad if I wear the long dress. What should I do? -- Prom-plexed

DEAR PROM-PLEXED: You already know that the senior girls may be a bit uncomfortable that you are coming to "their" prom. The politics of prom can be ferocious.

You need to decide what your intentions are. Do you want to potentially upset or even insult these young ladies? If not, why not find a lovely dress that is shorter than a gown but that still showcases your assets? Then you will look beautiful without seeming to defiantly break the rules of prom at your school. There's no need to start a fight at a party!