THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
FEATURES
5A
Grandma is playing hardball
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Dear Annie: Last summer, my
19-year-old college student grand-
daughter asked to rent my basement
bedroom, with its own bathroom and
access to my laundry room. I agreed
and asked for a minimum rent to cover
utilities. She attends school on a schol-
arship and works two full-time jobs,
and I postponed payment of rent until
her next student loan came through.
The problem was, her unemployed,
single-parent boyfriend with no car or
driver’s license was here all the time. I
offered suggestions of nearby job oppor-
tunities and the chance to work off his
“rent” by helping out around the yard. But
he always had an excuse as to why the
jobs wouldn’t work out and never seemed
physically up to doing any yard work.
I did my best to make this situation
work. However, they were having par-
ties when I was away and trashing my
home. After the second time we had
words, they left, leaving most of her stuff
here. She then decided to move in with
her parents, although she was actually
living with her boyfriend and his parents.
My son and daughter-in-law have not
said or done anything about this situation.
I think they are enabling their daughter.
She came back once for clothing and then
informed me that I could go in with the
rest of her family for her Christmas pres-
ent to furnish an apartment for her and
said boyfriend. That was the last straw. I
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You got to
know a very pleasant person, only to later
meet an extremely unpleasant person in the
same being. This is the polarity of human na-
ture. Right now, it’s more useful to recognize
it in yourself than it is to recognize it in others.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). One rule is
that if you can lose it in a shipwreck, it was
never really yours to begin with. Yet there are
possessions in your care that you strongly
identify with, and you’ll spend hours main-
taining and enjoying them today.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Feelings are
not wrong or right; however, some resonate
a lower vibration than others. The higher your
vibration is the lighter and more joyful you
will be. Choose thoughts that make you feel
better.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Many peo-
ple aren’t ready for criticism, and when they
ask for it, what they really want is encourage-
ment. Encouragement helps them feel seen
and understood, as well as giving them the
motivation to go forward.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The pleasure of
reading awaits you. Actual paper will be best,
as that will be the most expressive medium
for your soul. Besides, your eyes need a
break from the glowing screens.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There are end-
less supplies of facts available to anyone on
the Internet or in the library. Do not confuse
information with education. Educate yourself
by learning how to apply knowledge.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Misery is when
you can’t leave the party because you don’t
have a vehicle or when you can’t leave the
conversation because you can’t find an out.
Happiness is having your own (emotional
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
gave her a Christmas card with a note say-
ing her gift is that she does not owe me the
two months’ rent and four months’ stor-
age of what is still in that bedroom.
My granddaughter and her mother
are both upset with me. I feel she was
deceitful, rude and disrespectful of my
home and me. I am not handing out
any more favors until she grows up.
Am I wrong? — Tough Love Grandma
Dear Tough: Not at all, but you can-
not expect your freeloading granddaugh-
ter and her enabling mother to agree with
you. You do not owe anyone a furnished
apartment. Do whatever you think best
and ignore the rest. We’re on your side.
Dear Annie: I read the letter from
“Run Out of Ideas,” whose high-
school graduate nephew plays video
games in his parents’ house all day
and seems to have no interest in grow-
ing up and being responsible. This
nephew has lots of company.
Please address the “boy crisis” in this
country. Thousands of young men in
their late teens and 20s are just like the
nephew: “perfectly content not to go any-
where in life.” Your advice wasn’t wrong,
but it ignored the fact that his nephew
represents a social trend and a problem.
Maybe you should explore what’s wrong
with our society that so many young men
are so disinterested in being productive
and pursuing success. — Waco, Texas
Dear Waco: There are plenty of
young men who are productive, success-
ful and responsible members of society.
For the others, there are undoubtedly
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employment, poor wages and high turn-
over, substance abuse, mental illness,
laziness and overly indulgent parents
who issue no consequences for loiter-
ing. Studies show that job-hopping is no
more excessive for this generation than
previous ones. Parents have to insist that
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rent, or get counseling to achieve those
goals. But decent employment has to be
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from job to job feeling undervalued, be-
ing underpaid and getting nowhere.
Here’s a suggestion from one of
our readers:
Dear Annie: “Run Out of Ideas”
should have a local military recruiter
visit his nephew “Peter.” There is no
better organization in the world to turn
kids into adults. — John Q. Public
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
and physical) transportation.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The differ-
ence between the things you keep and the
things you throw away has to do with what
you identify with and find useful in the mo-
ment of choice. Just be aware that a different
moment may bring a different feeling.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Don’t
try to have the perfect conversation. It won’t
happen, because it doesn’t exist. But for the
most part, even a boring conversation is bet-
ter than no conversation; it’s that important to
connect now.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Before
you take out that credit card, remind yourself
that “enough” is not always “more.” In fact, of-
ten “enough” is found when you get rid of the
excess that’s causing you to miss the trea-
sures in your possession.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A loved one
is trying to finish personal business and not
so attentive to you as you would like. In fact,
this person may be downright thoughtless or
rude, but it’s worth excusing for now.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). High ex-
pectations are the enemy of action. What if
you lowered your aim by half? Halve it again;
what does that look like? The point is to have
such a small mental hurdle that you can baby
step over it.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 30). The
events of the next seven weeks help you
realize what a wonderful life you have. You’ll
conspire with loved ones in March to improve
your domestic environment. April boosts your
reputation. A major deal is finalized in June.
Create mischief with a fascinating someone
in July. Libra and Cancer adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 18, 3, 11, 27 and 45.