Miss Manners: The secret about my new house got out, and now things are awkward at work

DEAR MISS MANNERS I just moved into a new home and I yearned to keep that information private at the place where I am temporarily working Related Articles Miss Manners The bride s mother sent me a bill How should I respond Miss Manners Am I the only one who has this kind of restroom encounter Miss Manners Is there a way to discourage this man s witticism at my expense Miss Manners My boyfriend berated me in the parking lot over how I exited the church Miss Manners I gave my neighbor treats and got a rude phone call in return I m not particularly close to anyone there Several people are nice to me but not to the point of being friends Well word got out about my house and now several people have invited themselves over or hinted as much None of these people have ever socialized with me so I find it odd and awkward that they would suddenly invite themselves I don t entertain anyway but I know telling them that will not work I m just really bothered that they say You ll have to invite us over What would you do I need a list of excuses GENTLE READER No you need only one I m not planning anything Or fewer than one if that is viable a strained smile and silence Miss Manners understands that people who have trouble saying no might be sorry to disappoint those who importune them Or they may be cowed by the authority with which particular people state their demands But to give a specific excuse is to admit that the matter is open for discussion You say you are busy Well when will you be free they will ask You say that the house is not ready for visitors That s all right we don t expect it to be in perfect shape You say you have guests coming We d love to meet them And so on If you don t supply material they can t argue DEAR MISS MANNERS I am years old My mother insists that when I am offered another helping of food it s rude for me to reply No thank you I m full She says I should just say No thank you and leave it at that because no one wants to know whether I m full If I say that I am full she frowns and gives me a withering look In fact she gives me the same look when I just say No thank you because she inevitably thinks I m going to add that I am full However plenty of of my other relatives regularly say that they are full Is my mom right GENTLE READER Inevitably And Miss Manners agrees that picturing your full stomach has a bad effect on other people s appetites DEAR MISS MANNERS I was visiting a dear friend s home a minimal days after her husband died While I was there her adult daughter arrived from out of town I had not met her before Related Articles Dear Abby My friend announced there was no wedding date Then I determined her website Asking Eric I was fuming the entire flight Could I have sought for a partial refund Harriette Cole He says he wasn t himself on our disastrous first date Must I give him another chance Miss Manners The bride s mother sent me a bill How should I respond Dear Abby I got this new shirt and now women won t leave me alone We were introduced and then I noted I m sorry for your loss She right away disclosed I hate it when people say that and continued to complain about people reliably saying that What was I supposed to say in response I was speechless GENTLE READER Good Because you wouldn t have requested to upset your friend by offering double condolences for losing her husband and also for having a rude daughter Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website www missmanners com to her email gentlereader missmanners com or through postal mail to Miss Manners Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO