Dear Annie: I've been dating "George" for four years, and I love him dearly. His family is very kind, but they have a couple of habits I find inappropriate.

The first is snorting. When their noses are stuffed, which seems to be a good deal of the time, they snort constantly. When we're at a restaurant, I'm embarrassed and more than a little grossed out. They also pick their teeth in public with those little plastic flossers.

George used to snort, too, but I finally told him it is rude, and he has, for the most part, quit. Is snorting medically required for some people? Is snorting and tooth picking considered rude, as my mother always taught me? Is there a way to kindly tell these people to knock it off? -- Nauseated

Dear Nauseated: Um, no. You can ask George to suggest to his parents that they see a doctor about their sinus congestion (it could be allergies), and to pick their teeth in private, but otherwise, all you can do is decide if you want to be seen in public with them. Sorry.