Author Jeanne Phillips, the daughter of the original advice columnist Dear Abby, poses for a photo in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.DEAR ABBY: My daughter is being given a baby shower by a close friend. I made it clear I did not want to know the gender of the baby before the birth. When my shower invitation arrived, it began with “It’s A Girl!” I won’t say anything about this to my daughter because I want her to enjoy her party, but maybe this will help others who would prefer waiting for the surprise. Am I wrong to have expected my invitation to be non-gender-specific? — GRANNY-TO-BE
DEAR GRANNY-TO-BE: Yes. In this day of sonograms and gender-reveal parties, you are in the minority about being kept in the dark. The hostess was probably unaware of your preference.
DEAR ABBY: Many years ago you published a “Do Not Call” number for unsolicited phone calls. It worked great for a long time. I’m now starting to receive a lot of these calls again. I am elderly (88), arthritic, and I struggle getting out of my chair to answer the phone because I think it’s a family member or friend calling. Do you still have that number? I think a lot of people would like to have it. — CARRIE IN QUINCY, MASS.
DEAR CARRIE: I went searching for the number of the Do Not Call Registry and found it in my Consumer Action Handbook, published by the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. The toll-free number is 888-382-1222.
If, after your number has been in the National Registry for three months, you continue to receive calls, you can file a formal complaint using the same toll-free number. This will stop most — but not all — telemarketing calls. Unfortunately, calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors and some organizations with which you already have a relationship are still permitted.