Dear Margo: I find the idea of full-body scanners at airports to be absolutely disgusting and a violation of my right against unreasonable search and seizure. And if you're carrying anything internally, they're completely ineffective. I had to fly into Denver for work, so I did some research, and — oh, no! — that airport is reported to have one of those intrusive, privacy destroying, ineffectual-at-preventing-terrorism machines. The sniffer machine is supposed to be more effective, and it's far less intrusive. I tried to decide which I'd rather have: pictures taken of my naked body or a stranger patting me down. I decided on the pat down.

When Mom's in the Dating Market

Dear Margo: As an adolescent, a teen and then a 20-something, I always thought that by the time I was in my 30s, my mother and I would finally see eye to eye, as I would have finally reached the status of "adult." Well, here I am. And there she is. It seems the older she gets the more difficult she becomes. It's her way or the highway. Coupled with this are her hypersensitivity and insecurity. She's touchier than ever and takes everything personally.

Now Mom is single again — and trying to date. The problem? Her insecurity stops her from "putting herself out there." What if no one asks her out? What if she's not asked on a second date? What if no one e-mails her from the online dating site? And then, when she does date, she is so hard on men that one strike and they're out! I've tried telling her to lighten up and give them more than one chance, but she's taken to spending time with the same (albeit wonderful) girlfriends. She's beautiful, fun, funny and loving. But she needs to chill out. How do I communicate this to her? — Big Little Girl

Dear Big: Here's something easier to do than changing your mother: Take a cross-country trip on a lawn mower. If you are in your 30s, your mom has to be middle-aged, and unfortunately, her insecurity level is set, along with her hypersensitivity quotient. If she won't give a man a second chance to knock her socks off (figuratively, of course), that is part of her personality.

Alas, the answer to how to communicate that she chill out is that there is no answer. She is going to think and behave as she always has. If she winds up spending her time with the girlfriends, well, so be it. And who knows? She may stumble into a man with dovetailing neuroses, and voila! So, my dear, you chill out. — Margo, historically

When All People Want To Talk About Is Your (Supposedly Glamorous) Job

Dear Margo: I have what many would consider a glamorous job in the entertainment industry. After years of struggling to break in, I'm finally doing well and making a good living doing what I love. Although the industry isn't nearly as glamorous on the inside, I find the work fulfilling and hope I can do this the rest of my life.

My problem is that virtually all of my friends and family (even my parents!) now want to talk about nothing else. I try to steer the questions away from me and toward other people's lives and interests, but inevitably, it comes back to the same interrogations about what I'm working on, the famous people I've met or industry gossip.

I don't mind discussing this sometimes, but it's tiresome to feel like I'm being grilled every time I get together with friends. (I have great new friends in the same line of work who, happily, never want to "talk shop" when we're out. But that doesn't mean I want to let my old friendships go.) The few times I've tried to discuss this directly with people, they either think I'm putting on a show of being "modest" or trying to cut them out of my new life. How do I get people to understand that nobody wants to spend all their free time talking about their career — even a fun career? — Sick of the Spotlight

Dear Sick: I know a little something about your industry, and it really is hard for "civilians" to grasp that it's a business like any other. It can be boring; and the workday is not spent dishing or having lunch at The Ivy with Brangelina. To deflect the questions, I would finesse things by saying you don't know anything new, haven't heard any good gossip and sometimes life at work just seems to be watching the Teamsters lean against cars. (Inside movie business joke. Not a slam against the Teamsters. No need to write to complain.) — Margo, routinely

Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers' daughter. All letters must be sent via e-mail to dearmargo@creators.com. Due to a high volume of e-mail, not all letters will be answered.