Farm organizations took longer than usual to react and were remarkably nuanced in their response to this week’s long-awaited federal budget.

When the news releases did flow into inboxes, the responses were measured. None gave this budget a failing grade. There were no ringing endorsements either.

The Canadian government has come up with measures that will put real dollars into farmers’ pockets at a critical time. The impact of some of the “takes,” however, is less tangible. The consequences won’t become visible for years.

The government officially backed down on measures such as the enhanced capital gains provisions that would have increased the collection on land transfers by millions due to the relentless appreciation in farmland values.

When U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party at Mar-a-Lago on Halloween night, just as food aid to millions of Americans was being threatened by the government shutdown, pundits talked about the poor split-screen optics.

Sure, the feathers and furs, the beaded dresses and dinner jackets, the champagne and caviar, could be seen as tonally off in a time of trouble and uncertainty for so many.

But beyond that obvious and immediate discordance, has no one read the book?

A generic Roaring Twenties party can still deliver hot jazz, diamond tiaras and complicated cocktails, if that’s what you absolutely crave. When you bring F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jay Gatsby into it, you’re adding a whole lot of (possibly unintended) layers.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My mother-in-law had a wild-and-crazy youth and actually spent some time in jail. At the lake this fall she told me about some of her experiences, and what hard lessons she learned when she “went away” to do time in a correctional facility.

I have such admiration for her and what she went through, and also for how successful she is now. I’m a teacher, and I told her recently I’d love for her to share some of her experiences with my all-girls classroom.

To my dismay, she flatly refused! She isn’t talking to me much anymore. How can I fix this uncomfortable mistake?

— Crossed Line? Southern Manitoba

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: When my Winnipeg girlfriend got tired of me in the spring I got a summer job out of the province and recovered in the arms of another woman. She and I were great pals and sex buddies, but not a forever love match.

My old girlfriend lost her summer love in September, so she took lonely old me back. It’s just all right this time, but really not what the relationship was before at its best. I still love her, but I don’t like her or trust her so much now. Deep down, I’m still angry.

And now, my sweet summer sex buddy has taken a job in Toronto and contacted me to see if I would be interested in joining her there for a week holiday from Christmas to New Year’s Day.

I’m really tempted. I love the huge fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve in major cities. Should I jump back in with her? We’re probably not permanent, but she gets a big kick out of me and it’s good for my ego.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m in a long-term lesbian relationship, or so I thought. My wife came home from a business trip in Asia and was acting strange — kind of skittish if I tried to touch her.

I asked her what was wrong and she said she didn’t feel well from travelling and was going to sleep in the guest bedroom from now on. What?

She turned in early, but I could hear her voice immediately talking on her phone again for almost an hour.

I finally knocked on the door and she hung up the phone. I asked who she was talking to, and she said, “Oh all right, you might as well know sooner than later. I have another woman in my life who I met through work.” I was totally devastated.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m experiencing some fallout from Halloween. I’ve been separated from my wife for three months now and took my two daughters out for trick-or-treating last week.

Their mother said not to come by her place as the girls had already eaten lots of treats at home. That sounded fake to me.

Anyway, at the end of the night, the girls insisted on going to their mother’s house, and “tricking” her. So, I gave in and took them over in their costumes.

When we arrived, they yelled out, “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!” Then some big guy came to the door, and my girls yelled, “No! Get mommy for us!”

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I spotted an old lover at an annual Halloween bash, and he was in a full pirate costume. I recognized him right off the bat because the pirate thing is an act he’s been pulling off for years — and succeeding to the max with me, I must admit.

I was dressed as a sexy black cat to catch his eye. I waited for him to make his move. He likes to sneak up on me at parties and growl in my ear. It’s predictable, but still a turn-on.

His wife couldn’t make the party, as usual, so he came on his own in his van. It’s the way he travels best — a sneaky guy with a bedroom on wheels so he can make a quick getaway when he’s ready.

Why doesn’t this pirate leave his boring wife for someone like me, who could match his fire?