Boss fighting with wife through her?

DEAR AMY: My boss and I are both in our early 50s and have been working together for more than 15 years. My kids have graduated from college, and my husband and I are working to save for retirement. Our home life is great, but my boss is married to a very demanding gal. His business partner retired three years ago. The business is doing well, but every day is a grind and it is all on his shoulders. It is just the two of us in the office. I've noticed he has started a new habit. He will come to my desk, sit down and start an argument. At first I couldn't figure out what was happening. Recently I've been able to escape with an excuse that I had an errand to run. He is very passive aggressive about these arguments and tries to make me feel like I am causing them. I have always loved my job but not so much lately. How can I help my boss stop this new habit?Looking for Easy StreetDEAR LOOKING: A passive-

aggressive person will goad you into an argument and then wonder why you are so hot and bothered. When your boss does this, he is using the argument as a valve to release his pent-up anger and frustration.

This is not only inappropriate but very bad for business.

Ask for a meeting during a calm time. Tell him, "I know you are under a lot of stress and I want to try to help. But lately I have noticed that you have been behaving differently, and it is really affecting my ability to do my job well." Give him a chance to change. If he can't, avoidance isn't a bad strategy.

DEAR AMY: For all of those stressed-out couples wondering whether to invite boozy family members to their weddings: My brother has a drinking problem and always acts out when drunk. Before our daughter's wedding, I told him we really wanted him to be with us but that if he drank at the wedding, we would ask him to leave. I was proud that he was a perfect gentleman. Proud Brother