FEATURES
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015
Ask the neighbor to tone it down Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: How do I tell my
neighbors that it’s annoying and
frustrating to listen to their teen-
aged daughters shrieking and
screaming as they’re having fun
outside?
Often, I want to go out and
play with my dog, but I can’t
because these girls are behav-
ing like 5-year-olds, screaming
their heads off. There are things
I need to do outside, but the
noise makes it impossible. And
it’s horrible to have to listen to it
inside as well.
The mother says she doesn’t
like to interfere with the girls
when they’re having a good
time. Well, they may be enjoying
themselves, but the rest of the
neighborhood is not. People are
just too polite to say anything.
I don’t want to be offensive,
rude or hurt my neighbors’ feel-
ings. These parents and their
girls are sweet, good-hearted
people, but it seems that the
discipline and consideration for
others is simply not there. I don’t
want the girls to stop having fun.
I’d just like them to keep other
people in mind, too. But trying
to tell someone else how to dis-
cipline their kids is a very deli-
cate subject.
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
This has been going on since
the weather has warmed up. I
can’t even entertain outside be-
cause of the shrieking. Please
help, Annie. — A Frustrated
Neighbor
Dear Frustrated: You say
your neighbors are sweet and
good-hearted. Surely they would
not want people to think their
children are so annoying and
disruptive. There is nothing rude
or hurtful about saying to your
neighbors, “We’re happy the
girls are having such a great time
outside, but we would deeply ap-
preciate it if they could tone it
down a bit. I’m sure they don’t
realize how loud they are.”
Unless they are breaking some
local noise ordinances, there isn’t
much more you can do. But you
can repeat to yourself that “this,
too, shall pass.” Soon enough,
those shrieking teenagers will
be off to college (or adulthood)
and this will no longer be a prob-
lem. Until then, you might want
to invest in some noise-blocking
headphones and a fan.
Dear Annie: Two of us work
with a woman in our office who
sleeps propped up at her desk.
She snores lightly and wakes
herself up numerous times.
We have spoken to her about
this, to no avail. We don’t want
to tell the boss and get her into
trouble. But as you can imagine,
it is both irritating and distract-
ing. How should we handle it? —
Very Frustrated
Dear
Frustrated:
Your
co-worker is not getting enough
restful sleep at night. She may be
burning the candle at both ends,
or she may have a sleep disorder.
Suggest to her that she see a doc-
tor immediately because you are
worried about her. And please
don’t feel guilty about reporting
her to the boss. She is sleeping on
the job, which affects your abili-
ty to work and your boss’ bottom
line. But more importantly, she
may have a serious health issue
that should be addressed, and
that is how you should approach
it -- with genuine concern.
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). Some of
the people in your group seem to derive
great glee from tearing down the oppos-
ing or oppressing group. It would be toxic
to dwell there. The sunshine of social life is
kindness.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your psychic
feelers are out there and with remarkable
accuracy. If it could be, you’ll feel that it’s
possible. And if it can’t be, you’ll feel it’s im-
possible. Trust the instinct.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your friends
and fans make an excellent buffer to the
harsher realities of life. However, they can
also make you soft. The harsher realities
are the dumbbells to your weightlifting
goals.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s in our
animal nature to test things. Testing is the
nature of survival. You do it without realizing
it today, giving little pushes to your physical
and emotional environment in order to bet-
ter understand the limitations.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Bottom line: You
don’t have enough support. Your support
team is either too few in members or is fall-
ing down on the job. Get more people on
your side, even if you have to pay them.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your need to
work is as strong as it is basic, equal with
the need for food, clothing, shelter and love.
Dive in and get it done, but don’t turn it all in
yet. Save it to review and refine tomorrow.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ve been
a frequent guest in the homes and parties
of friends and acquaintances. Now it’s time
to thin about being the host. Start planning.
This will secure your position in the social
swirl.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The best
opportunities are the ones that don’t cost
anyone too much. The giver only gives as
much as he or she has to lose and the taker
only takes as much as feels comfortable.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s a
lot easier to have a positive attitude when
you’re actually happy. You might not wake
up that way, but right away you’ll start the
cycle by doing the things that make you
smile.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Even
though appearances only represent the tip
of the iceberg to you (i.e., the 20 percent of
the iceberg one can actually see because
the other 80 percent is below the water) you
still benefit from dressing the part.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ve
taken the first steps toward change. The
new behavior must be repeated dozens
and hundreds of times. With a little more
consistency you really can become the per-
son you always wanted to be.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The con-
servative business tactic is to get it in
writing, although “writing” doesn’t make a
person stick to the agreement. Perhaps an
eye-to-eye handshake is still the best close
to a deal.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (JULY 8).
You’ll perform heroic feats on a daily ba-
sis. Just make sure some of these daring
moves benefit you, too! August shows you
suddenly wanting something different and
you’ll waste no time in moving in your new
direction. An assertive approach to your
personal life will produce lifestyle improve-
ments. Sagittarius and Aries adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 3, 11, 29, 14 and 45.