DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in my last summer before graduating college, and my internship fell through. I was told I had it after my interview went well. After a month of trying to contact anyone in the office with no success, I received a curt email saying I would not be needed after all. Originally, I was angry and felt strung along. I canceled my other interviews after receiving this internship. Now I am wondering what my next step should be. I got a job waitressing, so my summer is not wasted, but I do not know where else to turn. It seems too late to get another internship. What else can I do so getting a job is easier out of college? -- Summertime Sadness, Syracuse, New York

DEAR SUMMERTIME SADNESS: Don't give up yet. If you know your field of interest, do research in your area to learn what companies do that work. Contact them to see if you can volunteer part-time this summer. Be enthusiastic and focused when you contact them. Make it clear that they do what you want to do, and you want a chance to learn from them. Look for smaller companies that may have more relaxed rules about how they accept interns. Calling it volunteering might create more flexibility in their human resources considerations. If that doesn't work, ask to shadow leaders for a day in the companies you have identified. The point is for you to gain some exposure in your field during the summer.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My oldest daughter, Megan, lives in Vermont and recently took my dog for a vacation away from my smaller confines outside of New York City. Now Megan wants to keep my dog for good. As long as my active dog is happier there, I am fine with the transition. Except now my youngest daughter, Anna, really misses having a dog in the house. Should I ask Megan for the dog back? Should I tell Anna we're not keeping the dog anymore? I wouldn't mind getting a new puppy, but I am simply torn on what to do. -- In the Dog House, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR IN THE DOG HOUSE: A compromise that everyone may enjoy is for the two households to share the dog you already have. Let Megan have your dog for a month or so, and then take the dog back. This way, the dog gets the freedom and space to run around in Vermont and also continues to get to enjoy the family in your smaller confines in Brooklyn. Whenever either of you travels, give the dog to the other household. In this way, everyone wins, including the dog.

If you don't like the sharing plan, you have to decide if you have the energy to train a puppy. They are cute and lovable, but they definitely require a lot of attention. I would like to say that Anna will be willing to step up and help with the puppy, but typically children are unreliable. It's on you!

(Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: Every year, we are invited to visit friends who have a cabin in the woods. The setting is lovely, and we enjoy our friends. But every single year, no matter what we do, we come away with serious bug bites, including spider bites. We visited them a few weeks ago, and we are still suffering the consequences, with itching, burning bites all over our bodies. We are not wimps, but we are city people. My husband did a lot of research to find out the best way to stave off the bugs, but nature is winning -- big time. We love our friends, but we have decided we don't want to subject ourselves to this feeding frenzy anymore. What can we say to them so that they understand? -- No Bug Zone, Boston

DEAR NO BUG ZONE: There are many remedies for ridding a home of bugs; however, as you already know, if the location is in the heart of the woods, it may be impossible to get rid of them all. If you care to give the visit a last-ditch effort, you might talk to your friends about your concerns and ask if they can help to de-bug the place. You and your family could eliminate all fragrances, including face creams, moisturizers, shampoos and even deodorant.

If you are past the point of trying again, tell them as much. Admit that while you want to be adventurous, you are city people, and the bugs have gotten the best of you. Suggest that you spend time together in the city instead of the country. Be sure to thank them for their hospitality over the years.

Separately, go to your doctor to verify that the bites are healing properly and that no bug infected you with a disease or parasite.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am an on-again, off-again exerciser. It's terrible. Last year, I was so good and lost quite a bit of weight. Now, I feel like I'm back where I started. I really need to lose weight, but I find it very difficult to get motivated enough to do anything substantial about it. I am not a lazy person. I work very hard at my job and in my home, taking care of my family. Somehow there never seems to be enough time left for me to take care of myself. -- Need a Jumpstart, Washington, D.C.

DEAR NEED A JUMPSTART: Your biggest job is psyching yourself into putting you first. Believe it or not, the way that you can do your best at work and at home is by making yourself a priority. How? Start small. What did you enjoy last year when you were more physically active? Repeat that. While many trainers suggest working out three to five days a week, I am going to suggest that you consider your goal to be daily exercise. In this way, you get your mind in exercise mode. Whether you go for it every day or not, you set your mind and body in that direction. Choose something manageable, like walking or doing situps. Add a class if you can, where you get instruction on how to exercise. Enlist a buddy to work out with you. That can be motivating.

(Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I got so mad at a colleague recently. I was not nice to her when she reached out to me to follow up on the status of an overdue project. There had just been too many times when she dropped the ball, and I didn't feel like hearing what she had to say. In retrospect, I do not feel good about my behavior. Just because she is lax on the job doesn't give me permission to be rude or dismissive to her. Even though she could "deserve" the cold shoulder, I don't want to continue like that with her. I really want to apologize. How can I let her know I'm sorry for how I treated her without her taking it as if her behavior or poor follow-through at work is OK? -- Do the Right Thing, Detroit

DEAR DO THE RIGHT THING: Congratulate yourself on being sensitive to this situation. Yes, people can push your buttons when conditions are stressful. Having a co-worker with poor job performance over a period of time is one of those stressors. You are smart to want to make amends because of your behavior. As the saying goes, "Two wrongs don't make a right."

Ask your colleague if you two can chat. Apologize to her for being short or terse with her. Tell her you know that your behavior was not kind. Admit that you have been extremely frustrated because she has not been performing her job effectively, and the stress of how her poor job performance affects you took you over the edge. Ask her to forgive you for being rude. Probe to find out what the underlying reasons are for her not completing her tasks on time. If you can figure that out, you may be able to help guide her toward better job performance.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had an argument with my brother-in-law a few years ago because he was disappointed that I had not gotten my life together. While I do have a family, we don't own our home, and we have very little savings. I work for myself, and it scares me to think what will happen when it comes time to retire. Even though we had this chat a few years ago, I have not been able to do much to change things. I really am nervous now that I won't be able to retire ever, let alone when I'm 65, which is in 10 years. What can I do? -- Looking to the Future, Dallas

DEAR LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: The good news is that you are taking an honest look at your life right now. Figure out exactly how much money you have and exactly how much debt you have. Write it all down. Then contact a financial adviser who can help you assess how you can save for the future. You may not be able to create a 10-year plan that allows you to stop working, but work together to figure out what you can do to get yourself to a retirement goal.

(Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)