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Dear Helaine and Joe:

Even if money and time are tight, you can still have a wonderfully rich and full Thanksgiving. All it takes is a little organization and a willingness to let go of the need to do everything.

Sarah on "Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth":

You'd think the thin strips of wood above our fireplaces were gangplanks the way they make us quake at the knees when it's time to dress them up for the holidays. Even those who love to decorate for the season feel stage fright when it comes to tackling mantels. But I've got a secret for you: Creating a marvelous look on your mantel is simple when you follow one of these two strategies:

Q: I used my fireplace for the first time this year and noticed that the brick lining is cracked. A friend told me that I should never use mortar to repair the bricks, but he didn't know exactly why. He only knew it was not a good idea. I decided to wait until I could find out more about repairing the fireplace. Can you help?

The accessories in your home reflect your personality. Since Halloween has passed, you can now concentrate on Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, so let's focus on making your home more inviting and representing that great personality. Let's start with Thanksgiving accessories.

Poisoning caused by binge drinking -- drinking excessively within a short period. For men, that's five standard-sized alcoholic beverages within two hours. For women, it's four or more standard-sized drinks, which is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink with one shot.

Everybody liked Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. He was smart, funny, handsome, a gifted athlete and a talented performer. In his senior year at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, "Gordie" was co-captain of the varsity football team and started on defense for the school's New England championship lacrosse team.

As men age, their testosterone levels naturally drop.

But for some men, the male sex hormone may sink so low that they not only lose all interest in sex, but suffer more falls, have memory problems and experience anemia.

A new national study will explore whether applying testosterone gel to the abdomen, torso or upper arms can reverse those effects.

Most women who want to lose weight just want to fit into a smaller dress or pair of jeans. But not Linda Ann Spurza of Lutz, Fla. She lost weight so she could live longer.

Just before Thanksgiving, officials of the international drug company Novartis will be joined by a gaggle of local, state and federal officials in a business park on the edge of Holly Springs, N.C.