THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015
FEATURES
5A
She’s concerned about nieces Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I am very con-
cerned about my brother’s daugh-
ters, ages 18 and 20. My brother
and his wife divorced when the
girls were young. He and his ex
do not get along and communicate
poorly. She often berates him, and
he remains silent.
Their daughters were shuttled
back and forth between their par-
ents’ homes, but they lived mainly
with their mother. Last fall, she an-
nounced that she had had enough
and the girls would now live with
their father while they attend col-
lege nearby.
The girls have been with my
brother and his wife for several
months, and they are miserable.
They have no friends there. They
communicate very little with their
father and stepmother and remain
in their bedrooms most of the day.
My brother’s wife has reached
out to them, to no avail. The old-
er girl is doing well in school, but
the younger one dropped out. She
promised to get a job, but hasn’t
found one yet. I don’t think she is
very motivated.
My brother buys his daughters
whatever they want, but they have
little respect for him. He buries
his head in the sand when it comes
to the problems in his home. My
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
nieces have no direction and lit-
tle self-esteem. The atmosphere
in their house is toxic, and I can’t
stand by and do nothing. What do
you suggest? — Concerned Aunt
Dear Aunt: We can tell that
you care a great deal about your
nieces, but they are both adults.
They do not need to live with
their father unless they choose to.
Dad seems quite willing to sup-
port them financially, and their
stepmother has tried to help. If
the atmosphere is as toxic as you
say, both girls would be eager to
relocate.
We think a lot of this is the
girls’ choice and unconnected to
Dad’s home. If you truly want to
help, please spend more time with
your nieces, either in person or
online. See what’s going on. Per-
haps you could give the younger
one pointers on finding a job.
She may be unmotivated because
Dad doesn’t demand that she find
employment, which he should. At
the very least, you would be an-
other source of emotional support
for them.
Dear Annie: When my hus-
band and I married, his family let
me know they didn’t like me. He
already had an ex-wife, and their
two children were the only ones
who counted.
My husband and I adopted sev-
eral children of various races and
nationalities. It amazed me that
my in-laws acted as though I had
adopted them by myself, “burden-
ing” my husband, when, in fact,
he loved them unconditionally. We
loved all of the children, including
the kids from his first marriage.
Our children picked up on the
fact that the grandparents cared
little for them. My husband seldom
visited them because of it. When he
died, I found his mother’s obituary,
which he had hidden from me. I
was hurt all over again when it list-
ed by name two surviving grand-
children and “five step-grandchil-
dren.” — Over It Now
Dear Over: In situations like
this, it is always the grandparents
who lose out. How sad for every-
one.
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
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Stop worry-
ing about whether you’re original enough.
You can’t help but be original — there is
no other you. Deliver and let the others do
the analyzing. They will anyway!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Ultimately,
planning will save you time. Work on your
blueprint before you start to build. When
you take the time to map out your main
objectives, you’ll be successful.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Someone
is working hard to make you proud. May-
be your opinion shouldn’t matter so much
to this person, but it does. Your sensitivity
in this matter will contribute to harmony
in your environment.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Acknowl-
edge human fallibility and accept your
own. No one is expecting you to be any-
thing other than who you are. If you don’t
allow yourself to make mistakes, you’re
not allowing yourself to grow.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Friends get
the benefit of your generosity. While they
may not be able to repay you monetarily,
their appreciation will make you rich in
ways you were not expecting.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Feel that
financial squeeze? You might say it’s an
invitation to do what it takes to become
more solvent. Review expenditures. A
few adjustments, and you’ll be better off
than before.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your envi-
ronment and your emotions are linked to-
gether. You’ll be at your best in a cheerful
place filled with natural light and happy
music. Take yourself there!
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your nu-
tritional needs change from day to day,
year to year. Check in with yourself to be
sure you’re changing with them. Also be
honest with yourself. Are you using food
for sustenance or for another purpose?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). This
game you’re playing has many rounds,
and the scoring is overly complicated.
Instead of waiting for the judgment, rate
yourself as you go. Your self-assessment
is what will matter most anyhow.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re
too talented to waste time in groups that
operate way below your skill level. You
are not running a charity, after all. It will
take extra effort to find a worthy group,
but it’s an effort you should make.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You
have something important to say. You
may even be bold enough to mention
what others wouldn’t dare voice. Yours
isn’t the only perspective, but it is honest
and thought-provoking.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Too much
introspection will get tedious. Throw the
attention off of yourself and onto a proj-
ect. You’ll still learn about yourself, but
you’ll have more fun doing it.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 27).
You’re strong, but next month, when the
stars send you someone to help you car-
ry your load, don’t turn down the assist.
Give up some baggage, and you’ll be in
a position for a May adventure. Family
business is favored in June. July brings
competition, romance and an investment
in your education. Virgo and Pisces peo-
ple adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
20, 11, 7, 45 and 39.