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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015 FEATURES 5A Husband won’t consider compromise Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: Six years ago, our daughter left her dog with us. We’ve grown to love “Lassie” and would never give her back now. But she wears down the furniture, scratches the floors and leaves lots of hair all over. Last year, we were blessed with grandkids, so now our living room is gated off from Lassie. We keep her in a large crate, which is very comfortable and that I refer to as her “apartment.” She seems to like it, so when she is not playing outside, I put her in the crate so she doesn’t roam the entire house. Well, my husband is having a fit. He says I am cruel to “cage an animal.” I now sleep alone in my bedroom while my husband and Lassie use the rest of the house. My husband has no interest in my feelings on the matter and refuses to consider a compromise. What do you think? — Can’t Stop Cry- ing Dear Crying: According to the Humane Society, crating a dog is a perfectly appropriate way to train the animal not to destroy the house. The crate becomes the dog’s “home.” Even so, it is not recommended that you leave the dog in the crate too many hours at a time, because all animals need Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar exercise and human interaction, and you don’t want the crate to become a punishment. The point is to train Lassie not to scratch the furniture or do other destructive behaviors. But a certain amount of wear and tear is to be expect- ed from any animal companion. If you are trying to prevent Lass- ie from leaving hair around the house or wearing down the fur- niture through normal usage, you are being unfair. Of course, your husband is being equally unrea- sonable by banishing you to the bedroom while he cavorts with the dog. Tell your husband that you are willing to rethink the issue if the two of you can discuss it with a dog trainer and both promise to abide by the professional advice given. Dear Annie: My sister has been in long-term care for more than a year as a result of several strokes and a broken hip. I recently ran into her broth- er-in-law. He asked me how she was doing. He said he didn’t know where she was staying. So I told him. This brother-in-law lives one mile from his nephew, my sister’s son. Please, people, don’t forget about your loved ones. Don’t give excuses. And if you decide to vis- it, refrain from carping about your lot in life. My sister can’t tie her shoes, dress herself, cut a piece of chicken or use the bathroom with- out assistance. I guess you could say she’s in her own kind of prison without parole. — Her Sister Dear Sister: A lot of people are reluctant to visit relatives or friends in nursing homes because they don’t know what to say or how to spend the time with some- one who may not be communi- cative. They feel awkward and avoid going. So here are some suggestions: Bring photographs of people they know, play music they grew up with, read from a fa- vorite book, ask whether you can take them for a walk. Once you see how simple it is and how grat- ifying it can be, you will be more inclined to go again. 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’ve fall- en many a time. How else would you have become so good at walking? Staying emotionally balanced will be easy today once you decide what to ignore. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s easy for people to forget what they hear, harder for them to forget what they see and almost impossible for them to forget what they do. Use this knowledge to make a memora- ble impression. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll be able to duplicate what you learned, but this will only bring you good fortune if you also apply your own thought process to the problem. Stay wide awake. CANCER (June 22-July 22). There are many reasons to speak of your skills modestly, if at all, today. Perhaps the best reason will turn out to be the look on their faces next week when they see what you can do. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). “Hot” describes the thing that’s fresh out of the fire and unsafe to touch. Unless you’ve acquired a set of oven gloves, it would be best to let that hot thing in your life cool down before you approach. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have a deep inner zeal that is so much a part of who you are that you don’t even realize how many people walk around without passion in their lives. You’ll provide energy for someone who lacks it. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Whatever you do to cultivate your imagination — re- search, whim-following, exploring — none of it is a waste of time. Your days and nights will be enriched for having nurtured a deep inner life. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s said that it’s not what you know but who you know. Today it won’t matter what or who you know. Knowing things won’t get you through like feeling things will. Be com- passionate. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Whether the job is big or small, your aim is to do it right. The only trouble is, you need good instruction. Your Internet search en- gine will be your best friend. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). New birth brings with it a sense of optimism. Whether the birth in question is a being, an idea, a company or a friendship, the result will be the same: hope. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When the farmer was deciding on the evening meal, he wisely left alone the goose that laid the golden eggs. Remember who or what the “goose” is in your life, and don’t mess with it. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). They want to talk of past glories; you do not. The thing you haven’t done yet is the most glo- rious. It holds for you the potential of what you may yet become in your life. TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 25). You haven’t always had the care you needed to help you blossom to the fullest degree, but that changes with the generous support system around you this year. A financial boost in October helps, too. Get training in January because sharp skills will earn you a prize. The theme for 2016 is: love reciprocated. Sagittarius and Leo people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 11, 17, 10, 50 and 21.