Dear Cat: My boyfriend loves free stuff so much that he raids maid's carts at hotels for toiletries or goes back repeatedly when free samples are being offered. He thinks most rules in life don't apply to him and tries to find ways around them. Now I'm fed up!

	Do you want to ask a question? Send an email to questions@catscall.com or write to:   Catherine Specter   Post-Gazette   34 Blvd. of the Allies   Pittsburgh, Pa.   15222

On a recent trip he had 10 bags of free junk plus five bags of luggage he always gets on the plane without paying extra. While in line at airport security, he handed me one of the bags and said, "Say this is yours." I didn't know what was in the bag, although it was probably harmless. I don't like to break rules so I refused. We argued in front of others, and I finally left him to deal with it alone. Soon afterward, I got a voicemail saying it was over between us for what I did. Was I wrong? -- Left Him Holding The Bag

Dear Left: That guy gives new meaning to the phrase "excess baggage." Newsflash: You're allowed to be fed up. You accepted his freebie-itis as an annoying quirk, but once it negatively affected you, you put your foot down and he wasn't havin' it. So he dumped you (via voicemail) as punishment -- what a selfish tool. This is one time to follow his lead ...

Cat's Call: Stow the relationship in the overhead "ex" compartment.

Dear Cat: I hoped to make your Halloween column because my question is about "costume etiquette." My wife and I are going to her office costume party, and I planned to go as Rush Limbaugh. My wife is uncomfortable because she says the two things you shouldn't bring up at a party are religion and politics, and Rush is very political and I will only start trouble. My call: It's a party, for goodness sake. What's the big deal? Your call? -- Rush Me An Answer

Dear Rush: I never liked that "no religion or politics" rule. There's only so long you can talk about weather, sports, work or travel plans. Your costume idea is priceless. Go for it. Halloween is about dressing up, poking fun and just having a good time. My hunch is your wife will be pleasantly surprised at the laughs you'll get.

Cat's Call: You might even scare a few people into offering some treats.

Dear Cat: In your Oct. 24 column (Just Ask Cat: Tell the truth about liars) I understand why the friends "investigated" that guy, but it makes me wonder: What has become of trust? I think trust should be a given, yet those friends mistrusted not only the guy but also their own friend's judgment. And we know even if they tell her the truth, she'll date him anyway. Just makes you think. -- Trustworthy One

Dear Trust: Trust is a funny thing. Some think it's a given, others think it's earned (I'm one of them). Trust is too valuable to give away willy-nilly. Whether the friends were right to sleuth is a tough call, but at least they had her best interest in mind, not their own.

Cat's Call: That's what friendship is really about.