Dreams of perfect family dinners with everyone sitting down delighting in each other's company remain with us as we go “brain dead” and forget fight we had with Uncle Joe two years ago and reality that we can't stand Aunt Liz's two bratty kids. We try to ignore or we harbor resentment about events such as year dog bit your cousin and you remembered all too late that you were allergic to cats and that your grandmother had two.

December is often a very stressful and sad month, when all while we hear jingle bells and are told how happy we will be. Real families are complex, composed of different personalities and values. Sometimes they really are able to get along for extended periods of time. Other times, differences are too pronounced and being “flesh and blood” isn't enough to make everyone get along or even like each other.

Additionally, there are so many divorced families, single families and blended families that longed for image of Norman Rockwell's traditional family is rapidly fading. Children have to be shared and shunted between households. Families splinter and new mates appear. Religious and political beliefs differ and all while everyone gets exhausted from working so hard to get along.

Desperate

Dear Desperate,

I regretfully inform you that technical problems you raise often come with system purchased. Evidently you did not look around at similar systems or read fine print prior to making your purchase. Many in your situation try quick solutions, immediately try other systems, are driven to drink or in total frustration simply trash current system. Unfortunately our current state of technology remains limited and whatever your upgrades, there are always glitches.