Do you want to ask a question? Send an e-mail to questions@ catscall.com or write to:

Catherine Specter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
34 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222

... or visit her Web site at catscall.com

DEAR CAT: What's your call on someone being barefoot in the office? Yes, I'm serious. One woman here does that all the time. She says this way her feet don't hurt at the end of the day. It's bad to see it, but just thinking about it is nasty. Is this a woman thing I don't know about? -- CLUE ME IN

DEAR CLUE: Yes, it is! I'm shocked you haven't read Cat's latest book: "The Secret Barefoot World of Woman Things." It's an international phenomenon detailing all the ways in which we (women) can gross out you (men). The first 10 chapters explain how to gross you out at home. The last 40 are about parks, offices and civic events. Your coworker obviously read Chapter 37 -- though she missed the footnote about hygiene and decorum.

Cat's Call: When I'm done laughing, I'll send a copy to both of you.

DEAR CAT: I just received a "save the date" for a wedding next year that isn't on typical stationery; it's a magnet with their pictures, so you see it on your fridge all year long and couldn't possibly forget the date (or their faces). I guess it can be considered creative and fun, but do I really want to look at their faces for a year? My question: Is it bad form to throw out the magnet? My mother says that's me "not going along with the celebration." My thing is, it's my apartment, and I like a certain decor. Your call? -- SAVE THE DATE, NOT THE MAGNET

DEAR SAVE: You'll go along with the celebration when it happens. Until then, it's your apartment and you can keep or toss whatever you want. My regards to your fridge, and my apologies to your mom ...

Cat's Call: This call's for you.

DEAR CAT: I'm 45 and my sister is 44 -- we're wondering about your thoughts on sending thank-you notes. We understand their importance (that someone's time, money and careful thought went into the gifts), yet we've found that most younger folks don't send or believe in thank-you notes. My son told me, "I say thank you in person, why do it again in a note?" Three years later, I'm still waiting for a thank-you note for a $100 wedding gift! Lots of cash in my world! What the heck is going on? Did I miss a change in good manners? -- THANK YOU

DEAR THANK: Whether an official "thank you note" is required depends on a few things: occasion, your relationship to the recipient and the gift itself. Wedding presents absolutely require thank-you notes. Mugs filled with candy for the office grab-bag? Nah. Birthday presents? Yes for a professional contact, no for an office friend. I'm not surprised teenagers don't know all the "thank you" rules, but (hint) that's where you come in. Proper manners haven't changed, but the more casual nature of the e-mail/texting/cell phone world might leave some people confused. A good rule of thumb ...

Cat's Call: When in doubt, send a note out.

Cat's "Cleverity" Contest: In my July 31 column, I asked readers to submit a clever way to use "cleverity" in a sentence (in response to a query from a woman who was annoyed at a date trying to impress her with big words like cleverity). The winner has been notified via e-mail. Thank you to everyone who submitted fun, exceedingly clever, witty and hilarious responses.