Q: My mother is in the last stages of aggressive cancer, bedridden and nearly comatose from the pain medication. We haven't always had a good relationship (actually we have never had a good relationship), but the thought of losing her makes me realize how much I really do love her. I know she has sacrificed a lot for me in her life, and now I feel like I lost out on something special, a relationship with her. I am having a really hard time coping with her dying and us never having the chance to talk about this. My brother tells me that I just need to let it go and not bog her down with my feelings. I don't know what to do. A: I am really sorry to hear about your mom and the pain she is e

One of Sacramento’s original piercing shops is closing down Sunday after almost two decades in business. Sub-Q Piercing and Tattoo owner Scot Rogers said the economy and the shrinking customer base led to the business’ downfall. “Since 2001, we’ve been in steady decline,” he said Wednesday at the shop at 1715 I St., the most recent storefront since opening in 1994 at 2022 N St. At its peak a little more than 10 years ago, the business drew 600 customers per month and had 11 employees. Today, Rogers said he is lucky if he can get 100 customers through the door, and he is the only employee. Unable to pay rent on the building, Rogers said the last day he will have access to the space is S

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting state park spending by $70 million and that  would require state parks that do not cover there own costs to be closed. 220 of 279 state parks would be closed if this proposal was put into place including Sutter’s Fort, the State Capitol Museum, the Leland Stanford Mansion, the California Indian Museum & Cultural Center, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and the Governor’s Mansion.