DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother confided in my sister and me that she has been seeing a psychic every year since we were born. After pushing her to tell us what the psychic said about our futures, my mother told me that the psychic said I would get married earlier in my life and have three children. My sister would go through a divorce and stay single with one child. My sister took these predictions very personally. She lamented about how she wanted to be the happy one and it was not fair since I do not even want to get married until later in life. I am not taking these predictions to heart, but my sister has been annoyed with my mother and wants her to see a new psychic. Could I offer to switch futures with my older sister to placate her? I think this whole situation is ludicrous. -- Flopped Futures, Shreveport, Louisana

DEAR FLOPPED FUTURES: Some people truly believe in the wisdom of psychics. It sounds like your mother is one of them. Because your sister trusts your mother, she now thinks she is doomed. Being a skeptic about such things, it is hard for me to support their beliefs. The simplest thing for you to do may be to tell your sister that while you do not believe in the power or vision of psychics, you do believe she will lead a great life. You can add that you are happy to swap your prediction with hers.

The important point for you will be not to take either prediction to heart. Live your life without focusing on the words of a psychic. Base your steps on your own intuition and your conscious effort to build a great life for yourself. When your sister comes to you with questions or doubts, suggest that faith in a higher power and in herself should be her guides, not the words of a psychic.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have recently moved into a new apartment building. My neighbors seem friendly, but I have one complaint. My downstairs neighbors host some sort of slam poetry session every week. In my mind, there is no reason for this to be happening in an apartment, especially one where the neighboring apartments have to listen to it. I want to leave a note on their door urging them to relocate to a cafe or any open mike night in the area, but my roommate says that could only cause the poetry to get louder. I was never asked or warned about these poetic sessions, and I think it is ridiculous that this is allowed on Monday evenings. Should I just go ahead with the note or call the landlord? -- Shut Down the Slam, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SHUT DOWN THE SLAM: You didn't mention what time these slams end. Start directly with your landlord. Mention the slam and the time that they typically end. If they end loud and late, you may have a good chance of getting your landlord to intervene. He may not be able to stop them entirely, but he may be able to get them to end earlier. Check the noise violation codes in your neighborhood to be sure.

(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 accidentally spilled water all over my work laptop two days ago. I am so upset with myself. I let the laptop air out upside down, but there are still glitches with the processing system (screens will close or zoom in on their own). The computer functions poorly, but still turns on and connects to the Internet. I do not have the money to replace it now, and I doubt repairs will be much cheaper. I do not want to have to crawl to my parents asking them for money, but I know I will not be able to work to my full potential until I have a functioning laptop. If my boss walked over and saw the state of this computer, I would be so embarrassed. It will not even let me select certain text or click where I want to type! Should I stick it out with this computer for financial reasons? I do not want to have to deal with a loan or debt of any sort, especially for a laptop. -- Tech Trouble, Cincinnati

DEAR TECH TROUBLE: Move past your embarrassment and confide in your boss immediately. It is likely that your company has insurance that covers all of the equipment -- including laptops. While it is not ideal to have to repair or replace equipment, your company should be prepared to handle such hiccups. Apologize to your boss. Explain what happened and ask if the company can have it repaired or replaced. Assure your boss that you are not normally careless. Express your desire to do your best, and ask for support in getting your computer fixed.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a fumble at work yesterday. While giving a presentation with one of my colleagues, she cut me off and talked over me. I did not want to cause a scene, especially with those higher up in the company, so I spoke less and less during the presentation. Afterward, my colleague had the gall to mention that she carried the presentation. She steamrolled over me, and even presented the parts I was supposed to speak. I told her she overtook the presentation, and she told me I was not enough of a leader to stand up for myself. I am not sure what the higher-ups in the company thought about the presentation, but I do not want it to reflect badly upon me. Is there someone I can talk to so I can tell them why I was not talking during the presentation? Am I just going to have to let this one go? I do not want to cause problems, but I also do not want anyone thinking I am mousy or quiet. -- Steamrolled, Milwaukee

DEAR STEAMROLLED: There is no going backward and fixing this situation. Unfortunately, in the work environment -- as well as elsewhere -- some people are so competitive that they will throw you under the bus if you aren't able to stand up for yourself. Learn from this situation. Next time, be prepared and confident enough to take the lead on your part of a presentation. Speak up. You might even say, "Oh, thank you, (co-worker), but I've got that section of the presentation." And then proceed without skipping a beat!

(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: My hometown friends and I have recently parted ways to go off to our respective colleges. A few of us made a semi-serious promise to each other that we would tell the others if they gained the dreaded "freshman 15" by Thanksgiving. I am committed to health and fitness, but not all in the group are this way. I noticed through photos and video chats that one of my friends is gaining weight. She will even send me text messages proclaiming, "You better be ready to tell me I got fat!" I would never tell someone they got "fat," but I would be lying if I told her all of the cookies and candy hadn't caught up to her. I am hoping to avoid this conversation when I go home, since I never expected this promise to be taken seriously. As long as my friend is happy, I will support her, but I don't know what to do or say if she brings up her weight gain. Should I redirect the topic or tell her the truth when I see her? -- Freshman Fifteen, Denver

DEAR FRESHMEN FIFTEEN: Given that your friend has brought up your pledge since being at college and since gaining weight, take her at her word that she wants to hear the truth -- gently revealed. When she comes home and if she brings it up, tell her -- in private -- that you have noticed that she seems to have put on a few pounds. Ask her if she is happy. If so, leave it at that. If she says she is concerned about her weight, suggest that she go to the gym at school. You could even agree to be buddies long-distance and schedule workouts a few days a week and hold each other accountable. That is only if you would like to do such a thing.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel as though I am going through a problem many girls would love to have: My boyfriend is buying me too many gifts. I am always slightly uncomfortable with receiving gifts, but my boyfriend says he loves buying me things. Earrings, sweaters, chocolates and even mini-vacations to hotels in nearby cities are all gifts that have been given to me multiple times. I am not high maintenance. I think being treated to a nice dinner is the best gift possible. Whenever I propose the idea of no gifts, my boyfriend laughs and says that is never going to happen. Not only do I find these gifts unnecessary sometimes, it puts pressure on me to reciprocate! I wrestle the check away from him at dinners and do buy him presents occasionally, but I don't think spending so much money on each other makes sense. Also, I don't have as much disposable income as he does and would love to limit gifting, but the conversation never goes well. What is the best solution to this frivolous problem? -- Gift Guilt, Dallas

DEAR GIFT GUILT: Tell your boyfriend that you would like him to use his resources differently. Rather than lavishing you with gifts, why not start an investment account where you save toward a goal. Refuse the gifts, even though he keeps bringing them, and redirect him toward a savings or investment instrument or even a charity. If you stop accepting, he will eventually stop giving.

(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.)