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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2015)
FEATURES 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 Son’s girlfriend demands too much Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: Twelve years ago, my son moved his girl- friend into our home. “Lena” lived with us for four years, and we treated her like family. They broke up, and Lena moved out. She then married someone else and now has an adorable 6-year- old daughter. We have remained such good friends with her that my husband walked her down the aisle at her wedding. My son is now 30 and has never married. Unfortunately, his current girlfriend is de- manding that we sever all ties with Lena, and she is causing problems for us with our son. We have tried to reassure them both that the old flame is no threat to their new romance, but it hasn’t helped. We live in a very small town where everyone knows each other. Is it fair for us to be treated this way? — Mom Dear Mom: Of course not, but that doesn’t solve the prob- lem. The new girlfriend is terri- bly insecure and needs to control everyone around her, including you. She doesn’t realize how her attitude damages her relation- ship with you. Your son permits this because he wants to keep Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar seeing her, and as long as he does so, you will need to limit your contact with Lena in order to have a relationship with your son. We only hope he doesn’t marry this girl. She sounds like a major headache. Dear Annie: My husband is a girl watcher. I find it very hurtful that I can’t keep his at- tention. He is constantly look- ing around, and when he zeroes in on some young blonde with a great figure, he repeatedly stares at her. I have confronted him a few times about this habit, and he denies that he is doing it. Am I being irrationally jealous? Do I need to just get over it? Every- thing else at home seems fine. — Want Him To Look Only at Me Dear Want: Your husband’s behavior is boorish, but not threatening. Most guys look. The problem is, he is so blatant about it that it becomes disre- spectful to you. If he truly does not realize he is doing this, you need to call his attention to it. Behavior modification can work. Smile and say calm- ly, “I see you’re checking out the blonde at that table. She is pretty. But you are a bit obvi- ous when you keep staring.” He may deny it, but because he knows you can tell, he should be more willing to admit that his technique needs work. It is important not to become angry or annoyed. Your goal is to get him to notice his own behavior enough to control it. We don’t believe he means to hurt you. As long as he isn’t approaching these women and attempting to get a date, please try to be tolerant until he ma- tures. Dear Annie: This is for “Stuck in the Midwest,” who wants to convince her husband to move to a warmer climate. She should get on Google Maps and show him the street view of all the places in her “new city.” — Tried It 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). You like to be around the kind of people who know what they want, and you don’t mind if what they want is you. But you prefer a direct approach. You’ll be skeptical of roundabout communication. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You want everyone to know who you love, but you don’t want them to talk about your love life. That’s why you’ll keep your business pri- vate. It will drive your nosy friends nuts. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Are your ex- pectations realistic? If you’re frustrated, the answer is no. But that’s not a problem! All you have to do is adjust and then revisit the situation until you hit that sweet spot where expectation meets reality. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your skills may seem arbitrary to you, and sometimes you think they don’t matter to anyone out- side of your little corner of the world. Not true! The reaction you get from others will prove the point. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have a nose for trouble, and you’ll use it today to steer away from the danger, not toward it. You don’t need the excitement. You’ve already seen enough drama, and besides, you’re too busy. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Compli- ments are gifts you sometimes feel awk- ward accepting. Take them, and you feel greedy. Turn them down, and you feel rude. The way to go is to shift the focus back to the graciousness of the one doing the complimenting. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Cultivating a content and thankful spirit can seem diamet- rically opposed to your main ambitions, but it’s really not. Finding something to appreci- ate in the less than ideal will attract good luck. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s weird how the smallest things can expand your heart as big as a hot air balloon and set you sailing across the cloudless sky of your mind. This all happens for one reason: You were noticing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you lose your cellular connection with someone, it’s not because the other per- son isn’t there and wanting to talk to you. It’s just outside interference. Other person- al connections are the same. Call again. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). A con- flict may be subtle at this point, but it’s there all the same. You’re not imagining it. In fact, you have witnesses. Play it cool. Show ev- eryone watching that you’re above this fight. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There are interesting people out there you know about and want to meet. Also, there are equally interesting people you know noth- ing about who want to meet you. Be open to the friendliness of strangers. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The old saying goes, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” As the sign associated with feet, you might take a more practical approach for instance, a sturdier pair of shoes. SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 18). You’ll meet the people you want to know this year. You might find that you’ve ideal- ized them, or you’ll hit it off like a candle and a match. May is your perspective-changer. A new goal carries you through the follow- ing two months. Spend on your family and on creating special experiences. Capricorn and Aquarius people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 14, 39, 34 and 36.